Who am I? My name is Aurora, but everyone has called me Rorey since I was young. I was born in New York on July 11, the same day that Skylab fell to earth. In 1990 my family moved from New York to Oregon, and have been there ever since. After high school, I attended the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) and got my B.A. and M.Ed. both in the field of education. Once I graduated I moved down to Oakland, California to teach special education to students with severe behavior and special education needs at Spectrum Center. It was an intense job, to say the least, but I stayed there for 6 years as both a teacher and administrator and learned a tremendous amount not only from my colleagues, but also the students.
While there, I met a wonderful man named Cody, and in 2008 we moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to teach special education to local students at a little school called The Learning Connection. While in Southeast Asia, we had many opportunities to travel to other countries and meet some fantastic people. We had many visitors, took many photos and had incredible experiences. (More about our life in Malaysia can be found at roreyandcody.wordpress.com.)
- Me and Cody in Singapore
Cody and I both arrived in Tanzania on July 22 and are finding it very easy to fit in with the school community and are learning more about Dar es Salaam more and more every day. We are excited to be part of the IST community and are excited to get to know each and every one of you better as the year progresses.
Here is a little more about me:
Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?
A: I would be a travel photographer or a pastry chef.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I have so many: cooking, photography, music, reading, scrabble, cards, yoga, pilates, tennis, blogging, camping, hanging out at the beach or pool, anything outdoors and of course traveling.
Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: My mom often reminds me that I wanted to be a chicken trainer at a very young age, but as far as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher.
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
A: Pod-casts, reality T.V. (especially Project Runway, Top Chef, American Idol and Runs House,) really loud hip-hop music, and reading blogs.
Q: What is your biggest fear?!
A: Without a doubt, needles. Supposedly I have had the fear since I was a child, but without fail, when ever I get a shot, I cry.
Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?
A: I love road trips, traveling to new places and anywhere warm where I can swim but after living in Malaysia for two years now, I wouldn't mind a trip to the mountains to go skiing.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: From my dad, "work hard, play hard." Words I live by.
Q: What do you value most in others?
A: Compassion for others, honesty and the desire to share and teach others.
Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?
A: Confidence
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?
A: My grandmother. She passed away when I was young, and I know my mom considered her mother to be her best friend. I would like have the chance to get to know her as well.
One random thing about myself:
I could watch the Wizard of Oz every day and still love it to bits.
