1. blogs that make me laugh until i cry.

2. actually, blogs and the freedom to blog more generally.

3. having to work harder this year and not hating every minute of lesson planning.

4. angels who've touched down on earth as my 4g class.

5. vitamin c pills. the big ones. and on that note, clorox bleach wipes. thank you mom. thank you day.

1. there are only 9 more months of listening to boys screaming/singing "i'm living in america" at my apartment.

2. a solid, industrious, almost like new radiator to keep my ice block warm.

3. sarcasm.

4. frosted flakes.

5. students i actually enjoy teaching.

1. the friends i made last year in bulgaria.

2. the friends i've made this year in bulgaria.

3. candles.

4. halloween candy!

5. project runway.

1. grace and humor in the instance of an internet outage... on my end and from those involved in remedying my problem.

2. beautiful fall sunsets. tonight's was pink and orange.

3. rotisserie chicken.

4. a sense of release and peace with just enjoying these last 9 months rather than taking myself too seriously.

5. weekend travel plans.

1. textbooks

2. textbooks

3. textbooks

4. textbooks

5. textbooks

1. all sorts of wonderful prospects on the horizon including (but not limited to): chipotle, a deep/thorough muscle massage, acupuncture, a chance to go back to something familiar, travel in the u.s. of a., driving, driving a new (to me) car, travel outside of the u.s. of a., white fenced farm chicken, coleslaw and cottage cheese, ohhhhhhh cottage cheese, bubble tea, insulated buildings and indoor heating infrastructure, drinkable tap water, a bathtub, hunting for a new job, exploring new places, revisiting old ones, disney's halloween and christmas parties and a childish dream to attend both next year, coffee/lunch/meals/beer with old friends and family.

2. a chance to do something over again.

3. courage to keep at this.

4. time off to sleep and regroup.

5. patience. i am surprised again and again how much i am grateful for patience- my own and the patience of others.

1. hershey's kisses.

2. peanut butter and bananas for breakfast.

3. the relief i feel knowing i will have a better experience this year. day one of school down and i feel overwhelming peace with my decision to move here and the outlook for the year.

4. languages and the challenge of learning and using them.

5. the onset of fall.