You know you're in Wyoming when...

... spotting a moose is as commonplace as seeing a squirrel.

 ... you continue on a leisurely walk, even though you're blatantly told to "be bear aware". 

(By the way, have you heard of bear spray?)

It's a real thing.

... a triceratops skull is for sale (for $34,000) - because someone here WILL buy it!

... everyone has the same idea on a beautiful summer afternoon. ENJOY IT!

 ... you drive 35 to keep MOOSE alive.

...you see snow in July.

... the rodeo is the place to be on a Wednesday night!

... you feel both humbled and terrified by your surroundings.

... you just can't get enough of the beauty.

The Voyage and Settling In

Our drive to Wyoming was a really pleasant one! It took about 15 hours and the scenery was great! I especially loved passing through Utah. What a beautiful place! 

This photo was taken by my parents who were driving behind me.

Driving through Utah

When we arrived at the cabin late on Sunday night, I was pleasantly surprised to see a vase of beautiful flowers and thoughtful notes from the families of my students! :)

What a warm welcome!

The cabin that I will be living in for the next year is absolutely stunning! The spiral staircase, cozy bedrooms, furnished deck, and wrap-around porch with rocking chairs are just a few of my favorite amenities here. I truly couldn't have imagined such a beautiful home...

The pond behind the garage

The driveway

A close-up of my view of the Tetons

 This is a view of the cabin and garage from the second story of the school.

It will be a nice and quick commute to work ;)

I never thought much about staircases, and then there was THIS one... :)

I feel so blessed to have had my parents join me on this big move! We’ve been spending the last few days enjoying downtown Jackson and Yellowstone Park. It’s been such a joy having them here for this exciting experience! I can’t wait to host more of my family and friends in this beautiful place over the next year!

Spending the evening at the People's Market at Snow King

Downtown Jackson

Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful!

Buffalo and the Tetons

Well, now that I’m all settled in, I’ll be spending the next five weeks becoming better acquainted with Jackson and preparing for the upcoming school year. I can’t wait to dive in!

An Epic Summer Adventure

I don't know about you, but I've had an incredible summer so far!

I spent one month traveling the coast of Sicily, enjoying its stunning beaches, visiting relatives, making great friends, indulging in local cuisine, and teaching English to Italian kids! This voyage was definitely my best trip to Italy yet!

Here are some pictures of my awesome adventure!

Paragliding over San Michele near Lake Garda

Visiting Casteltermini, Sicily, where my mother grew up

Exploring the old town of Aragona, where my father grew up 

(That's his childhood house on the left; it's over 600 years old!!!)

Scala dei Turchi in Agrigento, Sicily

San Giorgio Church in Modica, Sicily

Building volcanoes at Comiso City Camp

 

Ancient ruins in Ragusa, Sicily

 

The beautiful sunset I enjoyed everyday for two weeks in Rometta Marea, Sicily

 

An adventure to the Aeolian Islands! This was taken on the island of Panarea

Stromboli! We visited this volcanic island and watched the volcano erupt as we sailed away that evening!

 Milazzo, Sicily

Sailing the Mediterranean Sea

My silly students in Rometta :)

A typical day at English Camp

 

I would love to hear about what you've been up to this summer! What have you been doing to bear the overwhelming heat of the Arizona desert? Have you traveled? Tried a new hobby? Gotten lost in a great book? Tell me all about it! You can send me an email at this address: TeachingInTheTetons@Gmail.com.