I am so excited to be writing my very first blog post! To add to my excitement, I am writing it from my Air Canada seat on my way to Reggio Emilia.
When this year started, I vowed that it would be one dedicated to me – an ‘All About Me’ of sorts. I have been so involved in being the best mom that I could be, that I have forgotten about meeting my own needs. Then, one night, while searching for something on the internet for work, I found the link to the Ontario Reggio Association of Ontario – this link ended up changing my world.
I began to explore the link’s website. It showcased many of the great learning opportunities that the Association offers. The professional learning opportunity which caught my eye was the Canadian Study Week in Reggio Emilia. I read the tour information and my interest was immediately peaked. I closed the link and eventually went to bed. I woke up the next day thinking about the tour…and the day after that…and the day after that…I kept thinking about what a great opportunity that the Study Week could be. I then started talking about it at work and sharing the idea with my friends. When I mentioned it to my daughters, I knew that it had become something important - I was hooked!
I have never done anything like this before. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I just kept thinking that the trip fit right into my New Year’s Resolution – to make this year about me, so I booked my trip!
A short time after booking the trip, I started receiving e-mails. I started to do some of my own research on Reggio Emilia. This involved many nights on Google and also reading the books: The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Experience in Transformation and The Authentic Classroom: Experiencing Reggio Emilia in the Classroom. They were both very informative and helped me make connections to some of the work that I was already doing, as well as peak my excitement further of the upcoming trip.
The countdown began and now, here I am … on my way to Reggio Emilia. I still can’t believe that I did it! I am so proud of myself for taking steps outside of my comfort zone.
I am going to try to get some sleep, as I have a layover in Frankfurt, before reaching the Bologna airport.
More stories of the BIG adventure to come! But first rest…
Night,
Vassi
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