U.S.: Grad School (my cat got stuck in a tree)
Have you heard the one about that time when my cat got stuck in a tree?
Yeah, so one fine Saturday a few weeks ago I decided to take my stir-crazy feline to a nearby park. It would be great, I thought. I could lay on a blanket, read up on communicative teaching methods in the college language classroom, and my kitty could roll around in the grass until her heart exploded with contentment. I strapped on her harness, hooked on the leash, stuck her in an open tote bag, and headed out the door towards the park down the street.
Upon finding (what I thought was) the perfect spot to set up camp, I spread out my blanket, sat down, and opened my book. Half a page in, Luna was a happy cat rolling all around in the grass. One page in, she started to nibble on each blade of grass. While my companion was active and somewhat overstimulated, my Saturday afternoon plan was off to a good start.
Indirect remarks from passerby distracted me slightly as I made it through pages 2-4. I heard, "Oh my gosh, is that a cat?" and "Look at the cat!" from literally every person who walked by us. I didn't let their silly comments hinder me. Obviously, this is a cat. Cats deserve to go to the park too, okay?
And then it happened. She spotted a bird. It was then that I learned that when taking one's cat to a park, it is important to not sit too close to a tree. Even though I had a secure grasp on my end of the leash, she bolted up the tree faster than I've seen any cat climb anything. She nestled herself into the lowest crotch of the tree--approximately three feet above where I could reach--and did not lose eye contact with the bird she was chasing. Meanwhile, there I was, standing at the base of the tree, calling for my cat to come down.
After a few gentle tugs on her leash, I realized that getting her down was not going to be an easy or quick feat. I stood there in pre-panic mode, wishing the nearest group of park-goers would come to my rescue instead of snickering under their breath. I yanked a bit harder, and then even harder, until finally Luna let go of her grip and free-fell backwards into my arms. "That's it, kitty," I said. "We're going home."
It makes for a good story now, especially because no birds, cats, or humans were harmed or lost in the process. Also because the fire department did not have to be called. And now to avoid having my once-interesting blog turn into only stories about my cat, I would like to give an update on a project started during my time in Nicaragua.
Cafe Caribe, the coffee shop which I helped my host mother to open and run, has recently re-opened and is back in business after having closed twice before. Its first location was ideally towards the center of town, but rent was too high. That led to it moving to our home, convenient because it eliminated the rent bill but inconvenient because it moved us further from the city center. This time my host mother has purchased a house in a more central location, renovated it, and business has been picking up. I share this story as a business adviser proud of her host mother's ambition and perseverance. Here is a glimpse at the new place:
My hopes are high for the new location and the new chapter in this business's life.
Yeah, so one fine Saturday a few weeks ago I decided to take my stir-crazy feline to a nearby park. It would be great, I thought. I could lay on a blanket, read up on communicative teaching methods in the college language classroom, and my kitty could roll around in the grass until her heart exploded with contentment. I strapped on her harness, hooked on the leash, stuck her in an open tote bag, and headed out the door towards the park down the street.
Upon finding (what I thought was) the perfect spot to set up camp, I spread out my blanket, sat down, and opened my book. Half a page in, Luna was a happy cat rolling all around in the grass. One page in, she started to nibble on each blade of grass. While my companion was active and somewhat overstimulated, my Saturday afternoon plan was off to a good start.
Indirect remarks from passerby distracted me slightly as I made it through pages 2-4. I heard, "Oh my gosh, is that a cat?" and "Look at the cat!" from literally every person who walked by us. I didn't let their silly comments hinder me. Obviously, this is a cat. Cats deserve to go to the park too, okay?
And then it happened. She spotted a bird. It was then that I learned that when taking one's cat to a park, it is important to not sit too close to a tree. Even though I had a secure grasp on my end of the leash, she bolted up the tree faster than I've seen any cat climb anything. She nestled herself into the lowest crotch of the tree--approximately three feet above where I could reach--and did not lose eye contact with the bird she was chasing. Meanwhile, there I was, standing at the base of the tree, calling for my cat to come down.
After a few gentle tugs on her leash, I realized that getting her down was not going to be an easy or quick feat. I stood there in pre-panic mode, wishing the nearest group of park-goers would come to my rescue instead of snickering under their breath. I yanked a bit harder, and then even harder, until finally Luna let go of her grip and free-fell backwards into my arms. "That's it, kitty," I said. "We're going home."
It makes for a good story now, especially because no birds, cats, or humans were harmed or lost in the process. Also because the fire department did not have to be called. And now to avoid having my once-interesting blog turn into only stories about my cat, I would like to give an update on a project started during my time in Nicaragua.
Cafe Caribe, the coffee shop which I helped my host mother to open and run, has recently re-opened and is back in business after having closed twice before. Its first location was ideally towards the center of town, but rent was too high. That led to it moving to our home, convenient because it eliminated the rent bill but inconvenient because it moved us further from the city center. This time my host mother has purchased a house in a more central location, renovated it, and business has been picking up. I share this story as a business adviser proud of her host mother's ambition and perseverance. Here is a glimpse at the new place:
My hopes are high for the new location and the new chapter in this business's life.
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