“Please please don’t write anything awful,” I begged the reporter over the crackly cellphone line. “I just got this new job and I really like it and I’m not trying to get thrown out!”
Darren chuckled and calmly replied, “I’m a reporter. No one would talk to me any more if I violated their trust. This will be a positive, inspiring story, really.”
The Herald reporter was true to his word, and what follows is the link to the article about my transition from Boston Public Schools, to a journey around the world, to Boston Public Schools again: “Intrepid Teacher Back to School with ‘Eye of Tiger.’”
Read and enjoy… and please do also get the cheese-tastic song “Eye of the Tiger” stuck in your head as it now is in mine. (“Ba ba BA!”)
It’s rather interesting that this article came out the very first day students returned to Boston classrooms… including my new one! I’m happy to report that the first day of school was exhausting (as can be expected from waking up at 5:15am and seeing 7 different classes of up to 31 students in the course of 6.5 hours), but it was GREAT.
Darren summed it up well: traveling for 9 months was amazing, and so is being back here teaching.
My mother reminds me that we are now entering the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Indeed, as I hoist up my new-job-work-filled backpack and head off to sign a lease on my new apartment (so long, for now, nomadic lifestyle!) there is a glittering feeling that one turn of the Earth has ended and a bright new one has just begun.
So: L’shanah tovah! Happy New Year! May we all have new starts as sweet and delicious as the apples and honey we’ll munch tonight.
Curious about the story behind me petting that GIANT tiger? Click here for my Thai Tiger Temple article!
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Cameron L. says
November 17, 2015 at 9:20 amYou seemed very calm while touching that Tiger. How did you accomplish not being scared? I know that I would scared out of my mind.
Arleth says
February 26, 2015 at 7:02 amThat’s so amazing that a reporter wrote about you and you were able to be next to a tiger. Now I also have “The Eye of the Tiger” stuck in my head.
Yong Shi says
February 25, 2015 at 8:09 pmI really like the picture with you and the tiger.
Amy H. says
June 18, 2012 at 10:08 amYou’re so popular that even the Herald wrote about you! Now I’m heading to your precise article about the tiger temple.
Kenneth Holman says
May 10, 2012 at 7:05 pmWas it scary to go up and pet the tiger? I would have been scared because it only has one small chain.
Lillie says
May 10, 2012 at 9:58 pmRead the article!
Morgan M. says
December 20, 2011 at 4:16 pmIt must have been fun taking a picture with a tiger. How did it not try to eat you?
Lillie says
December 20, 2011 at 4:41 pmRead the article https://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2009/09/19/tiger-temple/ carefully! It has a hint!
Koraliz says
December 18, 2011 at 10:31 amI’m definitely clicking the link leading to that tiger story.
San Dam says
October 16, 2011 at 9:53 pmI can relate to Thailand tigers because i have seen one before. Thailand was a cool experience for me.
Keiana Cox says
December 13, 2010 at 6:08 pmHey, Ms.Marshall
I when I read this article and seen the pictures I thoguht it was soo cool because you got to see the tiger up close and pet it. But at the same time I would have been so scared and congrats : D You must have been happy when your website got featured in the newspaper!
Jackie Foley says
November 29, 2010 at 9:12 pmDear Ms. Marshall,
That is SO cool how you were able to pet that tiger, it looks huge! Also, congratulations with having your website featured in the Boston Herald. See you in class. :)
Deborah Hiwot says
November 22, 2010 at 7:32 pmWow! That tiger is huge! I would be in the car and ready to drive away from that thing before it kills me!?! I think though, your very brave to pet it Ms. Marshall. I’m afraid of all animals cause I always think they’ll bite me.D: If their was a kind of tiger that would never hurt anyone then I would definetley adopt one and raise it :). Thanks for posting this cool article.
Courtney Canale says
November 20, 2010 at 12:52 pmHi Ms. Marshall,
It sounds like you had a lot of fun on your trip. That tiger is huge! I wish I could pet one. I love animals but my mom said she will not buy me a pet tiger. I think she thinks I might have it attack my sister. I would never do that though, I’m not that mean to her and I don’t hate her.
chris says
November 17, 2010 at 1:12 pmDid you get bit by that tiger?
Mohamed Abdelrahim says
October 29, 2010 at 8:10 amI like the tiger. Were di you get to pet it like that? Why is it not attacking you?
Xiu Na says
October 27, 2010 at 9:33 pmI think it’s cool how you pet a giant tiger because if I were there, I probably wouldn’t get any closer than about 10 ft away from it. :)
Mary O'Shea says
October 24, 2010 at 7:47 pmHello Ms.Marshall, Nice article sounds like fun. Congrats! (:
Tajmara Kebreau says
October 24, 2010 at 9:21 amHey Ms.Marshall! I love that picture of you and the tiger. how could you touch it? I would have been petrified. You must be really brave
Sheena says
October 1, 2010 at 6:58 pmWonderful! Be sure to check out the links. That is a very big cat!
Melissa Dicato says
September 16, 2010 at 3:28 pmI love that you left your day job for a little bit and adventured around the world. Thank you for sharing this story for the world to read. Do you think you will take some more time off from work and travel again like this?
Lillie says
September 17, 2010 at 8:31 amThanks for your kind comment! The lovely thing about being a teacher (besides helping shape the glory of our country’s youth) is that we have 3 different week-long vacations during the school year, plus 2 months off in the summer. A scheme is underway for some epic travels during those breaks very soon, so stay tuned!
the destination india says
September 14, 2010 at 4:03 amgreat pictures.
Lillie says
September 12, 2010 at 9:19 pmThanks, all, and happy new year! Indeed, Laura, it’s fabulous to go back to school for a change! :)
Laura says
September 11, 2010 at 5:39 amCongrats! I bet being back to school is nice for a change :)
Suhasini says
September 11, 2010 at 2:18 amLillie, extraordinary writing. Too good. The photograph of tiger appears to be awesome and incredible.
Regards,
Suhasini
http://indiancolumbus.blogspot.com/
A unique travel blog
Emily says
September 10, 2010 at 5:10 pmLillie, what a fabulous article about you! Congratulations! How cool.
And l’shanah tovah to you, too! I was raised Jewish :)
Okie says
September 8, 2010 at 4:52 pmWow…that’s way cool. Congrats. :)