36 hours and counting of continuous rain.
I'm off on an adventure this weekend to the coast so hopefully we will have sunshine there and some beautiful beaches and no injuries as we hike...if indeed that is what we end up doing.
This weekend is a lesson in patience, spontaneity, and life outside the 23km circle I've been living in here!
I will try and post pictures when I return.
24 January 2009
23 January 2009
Surivor Dominican Republic
Unofficially I have already lost said game to Karyn Staats because she's been here longer. I took my title from her.
Anyways...this week was a battle of outwitting, outsmarting and most definately outplaying my students. They were in it to win it I could tell, but sadly they lost. Third quarter is a part of the year I have not seen ever in my teaching career....it's truly GAME time! This is when you make it or break it as a teacher.
When you make it this far you feel as though you've succeeded in something. For me that something is my sanity but this week my students tried mightily to break that sanity. Sadly this was not a good week for support at school either. With about 30% of our teaching/administrative staff out during the week I had no where to turn. Thankfully God only gives us what we can handle. I managed to make it through the week of temper tantrums, split pants, spilt milk(true story), and fits of rage {leading to broken pencils}. God has a very specially eye on my class...things could go so much worse than they have.
This week we were fortunate enough to have Wednesday off...which should be a mandatory day off of school. Granted it would take longer to finish school but having the day in the middle of the week to recouperate from the stress of Monday and Tuesday. And then when Thursday and Friday come they just fly on by.
Some urgent prayer requests..
Parent/Teacher conferences. I have requested to meet with several of my student's parents due to their child's behavior. Pray that God will give me wisdom to say what I need to say via a translator and that we have translators. I am still not able to carry a good conversation in spanish. With the information I have to get across I need to be concise and professional instead of me stumbling over my vocabulary.
A friend here has been very hurt by things that have been happening here both at school and at home. Please pray that God will comfort her and show her the next step.
Yulissa, our AMAZING 1st-4th Spanish teacher. She is not older than me and has two small children 1 and a half and 4. Her mother-in-law has been in the hospital for the last few days (possibly even a week). In the DR you don't leave someone unattended in a hospital because nurses are scares and occassionally you need to replace IVs etc... Needless to say she is very tired from spending nights at the hospital with her. Yulissa is an amazing woman of God, please pray that she would regain her strength and that her mother-in-law would be healed.
For my attitude...I fear we have entered the second winter rainy season...so far it has been raining for about 24 hours straight. Last time this happened it rained for nearly 5 consecutive days! I struggle with sunlight withdrawl so not seeing sun makes me very sad and mopey. Please pray that I will snap out of it! It affects my interactions with others and just makes me what to cry all the time. Not to mention it's chilly without heat...sweats and sweatshirts it is becasue it's only about 60 degrees...I know in the states I'd be running around in shorts, but without heat and continually damp clothes it's chilly!
Most Exciting News!!! The Scholastic Bookfair is coming to JCS!!!! HOORAY FOR THE CHANCE TO GET GOOD BOOKS FOR MY KIDS!!!! Please pray that I don't spend my WHOLE salary there....which I will say is mighty tempting!
Anyways...this week was a battle of outwitting, outsmarting and most definately outplaying my students. They were in it to win it I could tell, but sadly they lost. Third quarter is a part of the year I have not seen ever in my teaching career....it's truly GAME time! This is when you make it or break it as a teacher.
When you make it this far you feel as though you've succeeded in something. For me that something is my sanity but this week my students tried mightily to break that sanity. Sadly this was not a good week for support at school either. With about 30% of our teaching/administrative staff out during the week I had no where to turn. Thankfully God only gives us what we can handle. I managed to make it through the week of temper tantrums, split pants, spilt milk(true story), and fits of rage {leading to broken pencils}. God has a very specially eye on my class...things could go so much worse than they have.
This week we were fortunate enough to have Wednesday off...which should be a mandatory day off of school. Granted it would take longer to finish school but having the day in the middle of the week to recouperate from the stress of Monday and Tuesday. And then when Thursday and Friday come they just fly on by.
Some urgent prayer requests..
Parent/Teacher conferences. I have requested to meet with several of my student's parents due to their child's behavior. Pray that God will give me wisdom to say what I need to say via a translator and that we have translators. I am still not able to carry a good conversation in spanish. With the information I have to get across I need to be concise and professional instead of me stumbling over my vocabulary.
A friend here has been very hurt by things that have been happening here both at school and at home. Please pray that God will comfort her and show her the next step.
Yulissa, our AMAZING 1st-4th Spanish teacher. She is not older than me and has two small children 1 and a half and 4. Her mother-in-law has been in the hospital for the last few days (possibly even a week). In the DR you don't leave someone unattended in a hospital because nurses are scares and occassionally you need to replace IVs etc... Needless to say she is very tired from spending nights at the hospital with her. Yulissa is an amazing woman of God, please pray that she would regain her strength and that her mother-in-law would be healed.
For my attitude...I fear we have entered the second winter rainy season...so far it has been raining for about 24 hours straight. Last time this happened it rained for nearly 5 consecutive days! I struggle with sunlight withdrawl so not seeing sun makes me very sad and mopey. Please pray that I will snap out of it! It affects my interactions with others and just makes me what to cry all the time. Not to mention it's chilly without heat...sweats and sweatshirts it is becasue it's only about 60 degrees...I know in the states I'd be running around in shorts, but without heat and continually damp clothes it's chilly!
Most Exciting News!!! The Scholastic Bookfair is coming to JCS!!!! HOORAY FOR THE CHANCE TO GET GOOD BOOKS FOR MY KIDS!!!! Please pray that I don't spend my WHOLE salary there....which I will say is mighty tempting!
20 January 2009
Times they are a changing...
Happy Inauguration Day/3rd Quarter
This week is a week of change for many people...some are starting new semesters, some are starting new quarters, and some are starting new careers.
My students made the switch yesterday from history to science. They also were introduced to the 90-minute Language block used in the US schools. I am so excited to have a schedule that allows me to break my day up and actually focus on the key components of the English language. I am hoping that through using this method, I can improve their quality of work all around even the smallest bit. My 90-minute block allows me to teach spelling, phonics, and grammar all at the same time with a built in read aloud time! Normally by 3rd grade phonics are fairly automatic in the states, but I'm starting at square one. I am focusing on blends to start with because many of the students can't read our spelling list and the blends that are on it. Phonics is also crucial to good spelling. I have amazing spellers in my class, but I have a few that are going to see the benefit of daily phonics.
Thanks to Natalie for my amazing b-day gift of the first 8 books of "The Magic Tree House" series. My kids are loving them; especially my boys! Hooray!!!
My students also started music yesterday. After talking to almost all the teachers all the students are learning about the musicality of Michael Jackson...yep, I really hope they learn the Thriller dance just because it would be really funny! I'm excited for my kids to do music because I share the same excitement for music as they do. I miss piano tremendously and I occasionally go play on the schools untuned piano.
I am in need of wisdom with a few of my students because of their incredibly unruly rude behavior. Many of my children have close to free reign at home so enforcing rules for them is sometimes difficult. I receive many tears because they aren't used to being told no or follow the directions...today I made 2 students cry because I disciplined them. At least they don't enjoy their punishment. If their behavior continues I'm not sure what I will be doing with them - other than prematurely graying.
Tomorrow we have off due to it being Agriculture Day...I'm not going to complain for a day off and away after the first 2 days this week.
This week is a week of change for many people...some are starting new semesters, some are starting new quarters, and some are starting new careers.
My students made the switch yesterday from history to science. They also were introduced to the 90-minute Language block used in the US schools. I am so excited to have a schedule that allows me to break my day up and actually focus on the key components of the English language. I am hoping that through using this method, I can improve their quality of work all around even the smallest bit. My 90-minute block allows me to teach spelling, phonics, and grammar all at the same time with a built in read aloud time! Normally by 3rd grade phonics are fairly automatic in the states, but I'm starting at square one. I am focusing on blends to start with because many of the students can't read our spelling list and the blends that are on it. Phonics is also crucial to good spelling. I have amazing spellers in my class, but I have a few that are going to see the benefit of daily phonics.
Thanks to Natalie for my amazing b-day gift of the first 8 books of "The Magic Tree House" series. My kids are loving them; especially my boys! Hooray!!!
My students also started music yesterday. After talking to almost all the teachers all the students are learning about the musicality of Michael Jackson...yep, I really hope they learn the Thriller dance just because it would be really funny! I'm excited for my kids to do music because I share the same excitement for music as they do. I miss piano tremendously and I occasionally go play on the schools untuned piano.
I am in need of wisdom with a few of my students because of their incredibly unruly rude behavior. Many of my children have close to free reign at home so enforcing rules for them is sometimes difficult. I receive many tears because they aren't used to being told no or follow the directions...today I made 2 students cry because I disciplined them. At least they don't enjoy their punishment. If their behavior continues I'm not sure what I will be doing with them - other than prematurely graying.
Tomorrow we have off due to it being Agriculture Day...I'm not going to complain for a day off and away after the first 2 days this week.
16 January 2009
23
23 is the 8th prime number in case anyone cared...it also happens to be my age now. i don't like the sound of 23. however it was michael jordan's number...which segweys me into 10 years ago. looking back on my life 10 years ago i was awkward 7th grader living in a new place just making friends. how funny that 10 years later i too find myself in a new place making friends.
i am extremely thankful for natalie who is now my longest constant attendee of birthday events in last 4 years. not having the same group of people every year is extremely difficult, but it makes for interesting stories later on in life.
i have now celebrated my birthday on 3 continents and in 4 different time zones. the states, england and now the DR...surprisingly all have had one thing in common the last 4 years...gray, cloudy, rainy skies. i was thinking this will be the year i have a warm beautiful day for a birthday. perhaps next year i will have sunshine a typicallly cloudy day.
tonight i will be celebrating with the 8 single ladies of JCS. it should be a good time of laughter, pizza, and cake. i am thankful that i can share my day with them despite my teariness at the moment at the dread of having a party.
Just a recap of my birthdays over the last 5 years:
2005 Home
2006 Upland, working behind the front desk for many hours as a sub that eventually earned me a full time job!
2007 Oxford and London England
2008 Washington D.C. Various war memorials and bus
2009 D.R.
i am extremely thankful for natalie who is now my longest constant attendee of birthday events in last 4 years. not having the same group of people every year is extremely difficult, but it makes for interesting stories later on in life.
i have now celebrated my birthday on 3 continents and in 4 different time zones. the states, england and now the DR...surprisingly all have had one thing in common the last 4 years...gray, cloudy, rainy skies. i was thinking this will be the year i have a warm beautiful day for a birthday. perhaps next year i will have sunshine a typicallly cloudy day.
tonight i will be celebrating with the 8 single ladies of JCS. it should be a good time of laughter, pizza, and cake. i am thankful that i can share my day with them despite my teariness at the moment at the dread of having a party.
Just a recap of my birthdays over the last 5 years:
2005 Home
2006 Upland, working behind the front desk for many hours as a sub that eventually earned me a full time job!
2007 Oxford and London England
2008 Washington D.C. Various war memorials and bus
2009 D.R.
14 January 2009
.concerts.bowling.swings.kickball.
When you live on an island and work at a small school and don't speak the language well you spend a lot of time with the other people you work with and their friends. This weekend was no exception. For quite possibly the first or second time since being in the DR I have had a weekend that was entirely full!
Thankfully I was able to get all of my work done to and yet manage to have time to play. Friday was a great day because it meant that I had survived the first week at school! Rachel had a friend in from the capital Job who she knew through teachers from last year as well as her many mysterious friends here in the DR. Anyways Job came to visit. Naturally we had a party/gathering/pizza&game night. So over pizza, chips, salad, and salsa our evening began...
After a few hours of food and conversation it was time to bust out the games. Half of us played Tabbo and the other half played "Bang!"(an Italian western game). Once we all got bored with our respective games it was time to pull out a game that resembles Pictionary and Telephone...names pending or yet to be invited...comments or suggestions are welcome. So gathered in a circle there sat twelve grown adults laughing hysterically at stories that transpired from one thing to the next.
Saturday included glorious coffee cake at the Christy, Karyn, and Rachel's house. Nothing to start a day like a warm hot breakfast. Granted it was more like brunch but it was still wonderful. I was also able to finish 98% of my grades on Saturday morning as Ben and Anna had gone to the beach and Nola needed some company. Saturday evening we attended a concert held at my church for the youth of several churches in the area. We all knew several people who were playing in the concert and it was a wonderful time! I loved the feeling of worshiping with people around my age again...it made me very nostalgic for TU chapel. Most of the songs they sang were songs that I have already mastered in Spanish so I felt that I could truly enjoy my time and worship God!
Sunday it was my turn to make breakfast. Breakfast turned out okay despite the long ordeal that it involved. In the span of getting breakfast ready I dropped 3 flaming matches on my toes, nearly burnt several pancakes, had things fall on my head from the cupboard and a few other things. I was frazzled by the time it came ot eat. Thankfully the food tasted okay.
Sunday evening I went bowling. Now had I known that I was going to go bowling in the DR I would have brought my handy dandy bowling brace. Bowling was so much fun; we went to celebrate/send off Revani who is headed stateside to go to college! I would have never guessed that there were serious bowlers here, but there are. On the flipside I also went bowling with people who had never been bowling before in their life and they were 21! Just not that common I don't think.
And then sadly Monday came and it was back to school. I have survived this week but it hasn't been without the Lord's help. My students were absolutely insane early on this week! Today I was given the chance to play at recess with my kids. I had so much fun playing kickball, swinging, giving underdogs to the little first and second graders who can't pronouce my last name. I wish everyday of teaching could be so enjoyable!
Prayer:
Continued joy in my students
For my Bible study with Christy Elmer- that we would really hear what God wants us to hear
For relationships within the school
Migranes - I have been getting very bad migranes lately and I'm not sure why. Earlier this week I woke up and spent my morning before heading to school sick and in pain.
Praise:
For a wonderful day
For a weekend full of fun times and memories...like almost dying on CE's pesola! But don't worry I'm fine...just wasn't on 100% of the way.
For lack of illness thus far::I have had a few stomach bugs but nothing to the point where I have needed serious care.
Thankfully I was able to get all of my work done to and yet manage to have time to play. Friday was a great day because it meant that I had survived the first week at school! Rachel had a friend in from the capital Job who she knew through teachers from last year as well as her many mysterious friends here in the DR. Anyways Job came to visit. Naturally we had a party/gathering/pizza&game night. So over pizza, chips, salad, and salsa our evening began...
After a few hours of food and conversation it was time to bust out the games. Half of us played Tabbo and the other half played "Bang!"(an Italian western game). Once we all got bored with our respective games it was time to pull out a game that resembles Pictionary and Telephone...names pending or yet to be invited...comments or suggestions are welcome. So gathered in a circle there sat twelve grown adults laughing hysterically at stories that transpired from one thing to the next.
Saturday included glorious coffee cake at the Christy, Karyn, and Rachel's house. Nothing to start a day like a warm hot breakfast. Granted it was more like brunch but it was still wonderful. I was also able to finish 98% of my grades on Saturday morning as Ben and Anna had gone to the beach and Nola needed some company. Saturday evening we attended a concert held at my church for the youth of several churches in the area. We all knew several people who were playing in the concert and it was a wonderful time! I loved the feeling of worshiping with people around my age again...it made me very nostalgic for TU chapel. Most of the songs they sang were songs that I have already mastered in Spanish so I felt that I could truly enjoy my time and worship God!
Sunday it was my turn to make breakfast. Breakfast turned out okay despite the long ordeal that it involved. In the span of getting breakfast ready I dropped 3 flaming matches on my toes, nearly burnt several pancakes, had things fall on my head from the cupboard and a few other things. I was frazzled by the time it came ot eat. Thankfully the food tasted okay.
Sunday evening I went bowling. Now had I known that I was going to go bowling in the DR I would have brought my handy dandy bowling brace. Bowling was so much fun; we went to celebrate/send off Revani who is headed stateside to go to college! I would have never guessed that there were serious bowlers here, but there are. On the flipside I also went bowling with people who had never been bowling before in their life and they were 21! Just not that common I don't think.
And then sadly Monday came and it was back to school. I have survived this week but it hasn't been without the Lord's help. My students were absolutely insane early on this week! Today I was given the chance to play at recess with my kids. I had so much fun playing kickball, swinging, giving underdogs to the little first and second graders who can't pronouce my last name. I wish everyday of teaching could be so enjoyable!
Prayer:
Continued joy in my students
For my Bible study with Christy Elmer- that we would really hear what God wants us to hear
For relationships within the school
Migranes - I have been getting very bad migranes lately and I'm not sure why. Earlier this week I woke up and spent my morning before heading to school sick and in pain.
Praise:
For a wonderful day
For a weekend full of fun times and memories...like almost dying on CE's pesola! But don't worry I'm fine...just wasn't on 100% of the way.
For lack of illness thus far::I have had a few stomach bugs but nothing to the point where I have needed serious care.
10 January 2009
Palm Trees and Mountains
I am back and doing my best to enjoy and readjust to life here.
Biggest news - Nola nearly doubled in size since we were gone. So she's now not so small and cuddly...and she's definitely found her lungs. :(
Coming back was a fairly uneventful aside from huge turbulence over the mountains in the DR. Natalie and I made it through security with all our items and began our journey back to the warmth that had been calling us since we left.
Monday I spent about 4 hours at school getting things set up and re-arranged my room since I had a student leave over break.
Tuesday officially began school again despite the looks of our straggled numbers at morning annoucements. The 4th grade class had 5/12 at flag time and gained a 6th part way through the morning.
Anna's brother is here this week too so I haven't had much company to spend time with which made for a fairly lonely week, but it was ok. Because now I'm making up for the lack of human interaction early on with a people filled weekend.
This next week is the 4th-12th grade finals week so they only have half days. I will be spending my week teaching 8-3:15 as usual; with a few late nights thrown in for report card filing. yippe.
Then on Friday we have staff training so no students and semi-three day weekend! :)
I'm so thankful that I was able to come back this semester and teach. But when the time comes to say goodbye I don't know if I'll be able to return to suburbia. I was reminded how much I dislike the uniformity of middle-america. Life here is so vibrant and colorful with glorious flowers and mountains all around.
Biggest news - Nola nearly doubled in size since we were gone. So she's now not so small and cuddly...and she's definitely found her lungs. :(
Coming back was a fairly uneventful aside from huge turbulence over the mountains in the DR. Natalie and I made it through security with all our items and began our journey back to the warmth that had been calling us since we left.
Monday I spent about 4 hours at school getting things set up and re-arranged my room since I had a student leave over break.
Tuesday officially began school again despite the looks of our straggled numbers at morning annoucements. The 4th grade class had 5/12 at flag time and gained a 6th part way through the morning.
Anna's brother is here this week too so I haven't had much company to spend time with which made for a fairly lonely week, but it was ok. Because now I'm making up for the lack of human interaction early on with a people filled weekend.
This next week is the 4th-12th grade finals week so they only have half days. I will be spending my week teaching 8-3:15 as usual; with a few late nights thrown in for report card filing. yippe.
Then on Friday we have staff training so no students and semi-three day weekend! :)
I'm so thankful that I was able to come back this semester and teach. But when the time comes to say goodbye I don't know if I'll be able to return to suburbia. I was reminded how much I dislike the uniformity of middle-america. Life here is so vibrant and colorful with glorious flowers and mountains all around.
01 January 2009
Detour de Lincoln Oasis
Well, "Happy New Year" to everyone. I hope everyone is staying warm right now especially if you happen to be in the northland. It's cold outside! Well, my new year's started off well and has progressively gotten more interesting as the hours have gone on.
And then started driving to see my wonderful friends in Fort Wayne. I've been waiting too see them since July! So I'm driving along enjoying my drive and my Dominican music because right now that's the closest thing to warmness I have. But sadly at mile marker 149.45 
my car died...mi coche es muerto. :( que triste!!!! All my plans in my brain are going haywire and I'm freaking out which I tend to do when things don't go according to my 10 page Google driving directions. Yes, 10 pages for some reason my printer printed the directions in the visual impared font size.
my car died...mi coche es muerto. :( que triste!!!! All my plans in my brain are going haywire and I'm freaking out which I tend to do when things don't go according to my 10 page Google driving directions. Yes, 10 pages for some reason my printer printed the directions in the visual impared font size.I don't know if you've ever had your car just die on the highway - the Illinois tollw
ay/highway system - one minute you're going along and then there is nothing...it's pretty much the scariest thing in the world. I thougt for sure I wasn't going to make it to the shoulder, but I did and quickly called my parents. Not exactly the phone call a parent wants to get ever, but it's not the worst phone call they can get either. So after explaining my situation I begin my very long, very cold wait (my nose still hasn't thawed).
ay/highway system - one minute you're going along and then there is nothing...it's pretty much the scariest thing in the world. I thougt for sure I wasn't going to make it to the shoulder, but I did and quickly called my parents. Not exactly the phone call a parent wants to get ever, but it's not the worst phone call they can get either. So after explaining my situation I begin my very long, very cold wait (my nose still hasn't thawed).Between the first phone call to my parents and the tow truck arriving I have 3 state sherrif officers stop to see if I was okay. I would now like to thank the Illinois State Police for their kind and courteous officers. Granted even with their presence I still felt like I was going to die by semi-truck or SUV...let's just say I'm happy I'm not there.
So after my hour wait for the tow truck he finally arrives. I am now frozen, most likely experiencing the first signs of frostbite or hypothermia due to have no heat in my car. I did however have my sleeping bag, which I used for a little while but then realized it wasn't going to help me since I didn't have a hat on covering my head! 
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! Always keep a spare hat in your car! You never know when you'll need to keep your body heat contained while waiting stranded on the side of the road! Also never turn down the opportunity for a hot beverage when one is available and the temperature outside is below 30 degrees.
Anyways. I am now sitting in the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis over 80/94 enjoying free wireless and heat! I must admit I feel slightly like a homeless person lugging around my luggage waiting for my replacement car to arrive. Not only lugging it around by changing and washing up in a rest stop bathroom...this is a new experience; hopefully not to be repeated in the future.
Good news: in less than 45 minutes I should be on the road again :)
Better news: in 2-3 hours I'll be seeing my friends
Great news: in 24 hours I'll be at TU!
Bestest news: in 72 hours I'll be over the US flying south to the warmth of the DR!!!!
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