one step closer.....

I received my passing test results today for my last state exam. Some of you might realize the extra significance of this and the effort involved. Thanks to all of you who supported me, prayed for me, and put up with me throughout.

I cried when I got the results, tears of joy. For earning my credential and mostly for getting one step closer to Bhutan. I am eagerly awaiting my approval from the ministry so keep up your good thoughts.

I am finally a teacher!

Tim

The Title

The blog title, "Tiger in a Trance" is a line from the Grateful Dead song and more specifically a Bobby song St. of Circumstance. There are also tigers in Bhutan and they are considered sacred animals. I one day hope to visit the Royal Manas Park in Bhutan. It ajoins a The Manas Park in India and doubles as a tiger preserve. I learned yesterdays that asiatic lions still live in prides in India. Its amazing they can find their niche on the subcontinent with over a billion people. Humanities impact is stunning. Hopefully Bhutan will teach me something of living simply. I hope its as biologically diverse as advertised.

I think back to my trip with aunt Mare to Yellowstone. She always said she was training me. Now I know it was for this next adventure. This blog might just serve as an e journal for me as I prepare for my journey. In the meantime I hope to enjoy my family and the beauty of Marin county. I havent been up to Mt. Tam in so long. Regardless she will always be my spiritual compass and my center.

I am anxious as the process unfolds. So much to do so little time. I am having teaching nightmares already. They take place at Sun Valley where I student taught. I am always late and unprepared. I am eager to teach again but many questions plague me. How will I learn the names of forty students with Bhutaneese names. I plunder the teacher blogs for insight. Their content scares me and thrills me at once.

The phrase echoes in my head, "You will reach the far off lands if you keep hope alive within you."

Starting....Now

As of right now I am sitting comfortably in my moms lovely home in San Rafael California. The best part of this house is tending my garden and the gorgeous view of the San Pablo Bay. I enjoy watching sailboats sail in and out of the inlets and the Richmond Bridge lit up at night with tiny headlights twinkiling like stars. Im sure life in Bhutan will be very differant to say the least. I am most concearned about infestation and rodents. The BC women are much tougher than me no doubt. For now I am focused on things that I dare not scribe here. Like the RICA exam and earning my final credential approval. Awaiting approval by the Ministry of Education in Bhutan. The very reason this blog was created.

So lets call this a test run. I hope I will follow my dream to the end and a brand new beginning for whatever that is worth. I am now a blogger. I wonder if anyone reads these things.