I’m not sure I would have made it all the way through this week without the Lord’s strength. Monday afternoon felt like Wednesday and Wednesday felt like Friday. There was never a day that I actually ate my lunch during lunch, which is actually okay since we have lunch at 10:45AM. I think that because so many students missed school right after Christmas break; everyone is trying to catch up and get extra help. I really enjoy helping students during lunch and after school, but this week just seemed like during any free time, there was someone who needed a little help. It’s actually been fun for me to be able to help students one-on-one though. I really love to see each one when they get that “Ahh…Now it makes sense!” look on their face. Makes me remember that I really do love teaching.
Since you all can’t be in my classroom I’d like to give you an example of a actual conversation takes place: It all starts on a Thursday…
Me: “Okay class, we have two more sections in this chapter and next Thursday we are going to have a test over Chapter 7.”
Class: (groans)
Me: “Come on guys, you know this stuff, don’t worry you’ll do great!”
Fast forward to the following Tuesday (Keep in mind, since last Thursday the words “Test on Thursday” have been written on the board):
Me: “Okay your homework is the chapter review and we will go over it tomorrow in class and review all of Chapter 7 for your test on Thursday.”
Ricardo: “Mees, we have a test?”
Me: “Someone answer that question for Ricardo.”
Rene: “What stuff is on the test?”
Me: “Come on guys, we just finished Chapter 7, you have a test on Thursday on Chapter 7!”
Wednesday (Review day, the class is split up into groups of 4 and we play a review game all day during class)
Thursday:
Me: “Put away all of your notes and get out a pencil and your calculator.”
Ricardo: “What are we doing?”
Daniella: “Is this a quiz?”
Me: “Nope, today is your test.”
Ricardo: “We have a test?”
Rene: “What chapter is the test on?”
Vivian: “Oh Mees, I’m going to fail.”
Me: “You guys will be fine, we reviewed all day yesterday and the test is just like the review.”
After taking and turning in the test…
Leda: “Mees that was a hard quiz.”
I was thrilled to be able to stay at the Humuya Inn (best Hotel in Tegucigalpa, and all of Honduras for that matter) on Thursday night. The Crooks put me up in a comfy room, and I was able to just have a night to myself. It was really great and just what I needed. I didn’t get any work done, but I think that was just the ticket!
After school on Friday, Jess, Laura and I went with the Crooks to the Varsity girl’s soccer game. It was a fun game to watch, but it ended up in a tie (0-0). Why someone once decided that leaving a game in a tie was okay is beyond me? Who wants to go home after a tie? I’m pretty sure there is no other sport besides soccer that there doesn’t have to be a W or a L. I tried to explain my concern, but no one else seemed to have such strong feelings on the matter.
After the game, we headed to the Humuya Inn to just relax and burn some time until our 7:00 movie started. We went to see Tangled with the girls, which was my first time going to a movie theatre here. Mimi had called around and found the only place that had the movie playing in English. We were pretty pumped because we had planned to go the weekend before but it didn’t work out. Finally we were going to see this movie that we had only heard good reviews about. We got our popcorn and drinks and headed in. We walked in as the previews were rolling, and quickly realized our dilemma. Spanish. They only had it in Spanish, so we had two options. Go to a different movie, or watch it in Spanish. We chose the latter. It actually was still really cute, and Andrea helped me through most of the movie. She would lean over and update me every so often to make sure I was still following along :)
Saturday morning I went downtown to the market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Danielle and Diana had told me that they always go, because the produce is really good and insanely cheap. I got tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, carrots, mandarin oranges and a pineapple for a little over $4.00. There are so many people, and countless numbers of vendors selling all sorts of things. Somehow, we ended up going down the meat alley. This could have been a mistake for me, but it’s an experience I don’t think I’ll ever forget. It’s definitely a smell I’ll never forget. I saw livers, stomach lining, chicken feet, cow tongue and I don’t even know what half of the other things were. I may just become a vegetarian.
Living in Honduras never fails to provide me with new experiences. Some better than others, but all very different! I'm grateful for such a diverse experience, just imagine the stories I'll be able to tell my children one day about walking under a waterfall, playing soccer with street kids and so many teaching tales!
(pictures to follow hopefully)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Getting back into the swing of things
Well it's been almost a couple weeks now since I left Richmond and landed in Tegucigalpa. It was definitely a hard transition to make after such an enjoyable break, but it's good to be back and busy again. The first few days after I arrived were not easy for me at all. The only thing I could think about was home, my family and Jeremy and how much I wanted each of those things. My heart was in a constant aching and I could not get it to stop.
As some of you know, my prayer has been that while I am here, I want to be "completely here". I don't want to miss the opportunities that the Lord has placed in front of me solely because I am looking towards the future. So I had been praying this prayer over and over, that the Lord would help me to "live in the moment" and to be filled with His Joy. I really wasn't seeing a difference in the way I felt about being here, until last Sunday night. I was reading through Daniel Chapter 1, and I realized that even though we may be going through tough times, it's our responsibility to choose joy each day. And then after talking to my mom about it for a while, she told me that I am the one who controls my attitude, no matter what the situation. I began thinking about all these truths that the Lord was throwing in my face. I came to the conclusion that even though I was praying for Joy, I wasn't choosing to be joyful. The Lord provides us with new mercies each morning, but if we don't choose to take them, then they kind of just go to waste. That night I decided that I would choose Joy on Monday morning, and every morning for the week. I cannot explain the difference it has made in my life. Each day has not been perfect by any means. But I have begun to enjoy being here again, enjoy teaching again, and enjoy my students again. I am so thankful for those little bits of truth that the Lord shows us in so many different ways.
I've only taught 7 days of school so far, but I am starting to feel like I'm getting a better feeling for what I'm doing. I've changed a few things in my classroom management and teaching style, and I think they have really helped. I'm pretty sure one of my students hates me now, but I'm okay with that. This same student told me once that she wanted to be like me, but now, since I had to take her cell phone and be much more strict with her, I'd guess she might think differently. I realized at the end of last partial that I was not being strict enough with all of my rules in the classroom, so I've really tried to buckle down. It really has helped, and I think my students are responding well.
Yesterday was the second time for Parent-Teacher Conferences. I teach around 100 students, and I had about 10 parents come. So far I haven't had any irate parents. They are all understanding when I tell them why their child is doing poorly. Which is usually one of two reasons: 1) They haven't done their homework, or 2) They talk and pay no attention to me during class. I'd venture to guess that this is probably the universal reasons why students do poorly, not just in Honduras.
I went to see the Girl's Soccer Team play after school on Wednesday. Several of my students play on the team and were really fun to watch. Girls don't get quite the recognition here as boys do, so I was glad to be able to support them. IST beat Discovery School 3-0. The girls did really well (as far as I could tell.) Also, Jess and I got to ride to the game with a couple of my students, which was really fun. Alejandra and Vivian are sisters and I teach both of them. They are really thinking about going to Liberty when the graduate (one is a junior and one is a sophomore)! I'm really trying to talk them into it:) How cool would it be for them to live so close to me in VA? I could visit them all the time!
Last night several of us girls got together and watched "The Holiday"! Such a chick-flick. It's funny how watching movies like that have changed for me. I used to get super excited and get those little butterflies in my stomach whenever cute and romantic things would happen. Now, those scenes just remind me of something that I have really experienced in real life (with Jeremy of course). It makes me just as happy to think of that, if not even more happy to know that I have the real thing waiting for me back home. I did however, enjoy watching the other girls react to all of the sweet scenes with "awww" and "He is just the perfect man!" comments:)
I look forward to the weekend every week. It's a great perk of teaching to be able to sleep in two mornings out of seven. Starting on Thursday afternoon (because Thursdays are my really long and busy days) I get excited just thinking about the weekend. So in essence, my weekend starts on Thursday nights and lasts until Sunday night. I really don't mind Friday's because they are not very busy for me. I usually am able to get a lot of planning and work done for the next week and so that my weekends are less busy with schoolwork. Today I am actually going with the Crooks and spending the night at their house tonight! I need a little "family time"! Have I mentioned I love the weekends?
Now to get a few things done and enjoy the rest of my weekend!
As some of you know, my prayer has been that while I am here, I want to be "completely here". I don't want to miss the opportunities that the Lord has placed in front of me solely because I am looking towards the future. So I had been praying this prayer over and over, that the Lord would help me to "live in the moment" and to be filled with His Joy. I really wasn't seeing a difference in the way I felt about being here, until last Sunday night. I was reading through Daniel Chapter 1, and I realized that even though we may be going through tough times, it's our responsibility to choose joy each day. And then after talking to my mom about it for a while, she told me that I am the one who controls my attitude, no matter what the situation. I began thinking about all these truths that the Lord was throwing in my face. I came to the conclusion that even though I was praying for Joy, I wasn't choosing to be joyful. The Lord provides us with new mercies each morning, but if we don't choose to take them, then they kind of just go to waste. That night I decided that I would choose Joy on Monday morning, and every morning for the week. I cannot explain the difference it has made in my life. Each day has not been perfect by any means. But I have begun to enjoy being here again, enjoy teaching again, and enjoy my students again. I am so thankful for those little bits of truth that the Lord shows us in so many different ways.
I've only taught 7 days of school so far, but I am starting to feel like I'm getting a better feeling for what I'm doing. I've changed a few things in my classroom management and teaching style, and I think they have really helped. I'm pretty sure one of my students hates me now, but I'm okay with that. This same student told me once that she wanted to be like me, but now, since I had to take her cell phone and be much more strict with her, I'd guess she might think differently. I realized at the end of last partial that I was not being strict enough with all of my rules in the classroom, so I've really tried to buckle down. It really has helped, and I think my students are responding well.
Yesterday was the second time for Parent-Teacher Conferences. I teach around 100 students, and I had about 10 parents come. So far I haven't had any irate parents. They are all understanding when I tell them why their child is doing poorly. Which is usually one of two reasons: 1) They haven't done their homework, or 2) They talk and pay no attention to me during class. I'd venture to guess that this is probably the universal reasons why students do poorly, not just in Honduras.
I went to see the Girl's Soccer Team play after school on Wednesday. Several of my students play on the team and were really fun to watch. Girls don't get quite the recognition here as boys do, so I was glad to be able to support them. IST beat Discovery School 3-0. The girls did really well (as far as I could tell.) Also, Jess and I got to ride to the game with a couple of my students, which was really fun. Alejandra and Vivian are sisters and I teach both of them. They are really thinking about going to Liberty when the graduate (one is a junior and one is a sophomore)! I'm really trying to talk them into it:) How cool would it be for them to live so close to me in VA? I could visit them all the time!
Last night several of us girls got together and watched "The Holiday"! Such a chick-flick. It's funny how watching movies like that have changed for me. I used to get super excited and get those little butterflies in my stomach whenever cute and romantic things would happen. Now, those scenes just remind me of something that I have really experienced in real life (with Jeremy of course). It makes me just as happy to think of that, if not even more happy to know that I have the real thing waiting for me back home. I did however, enjoy watching the other girls react to all of the sweet scenes with "awww" and "He is just the perfect man!" comments:)
I look forward to the weekend every week. It's a great perk of teaching to be able to sleep in two mornings out of seven. Starting on Thursday afternoon (because Thursdays are my really long and busy days) I get excited just thinking about the weekend. So in essence, my weekend starts on Thursday nights and lasts until Sunday night. I really don't mind Friday's because they are not very busy for me. I usually am able to get a lot of planning and work done for the next week and so that my weekends are less busy with schoolwork. Today I am actually going with the Crooks and spending the night at their house tonight! I need a little "family time"! Have I mentioned I love the weekends?
Now to get a few things done and enjoy the rest of my weekend!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
My Life in Virginia
So I know this is supposed to be about my crazy adventures in Honduras, but I thought it would be a good idea to write about my time at home. Since I teach at a school that follows an American plan, we got two weeks off for Christmas, just like schools in the States. I was so thankful to be able to go home during the break, because being away from my family and friends during this time of year would have been unbearable. However, my visit home was absolutely wonderful and everyday was filled with spending time with Jeremy and my family.
Not a day went by that I did not have fun plans to go out, or stay in and just enjoy the Christmas season. One of my favorite nights was when Jeremy and I went out on a double date with the Hubers. We all hopped in the car and were trying to decide where to go to get dinner when Ms. Janet suggested that we go Port Arthurs, the Chinese restaurant in Newport News. Jeremy then suggested Hayashi Hibachi, which is where they cook the food right in front of you. I was a little skeptical and if I'm not mistaken, I don't think the Huber's were super excited about it either, but Jeremy convinced us that it was going to be amazing. So we headed that way and boy were we in for a treat. The atmosphere, food and company were wonderful. The cook joked with us, we caught food in our mouths and left the restaurant completely stuffed. After dinner we enjoyed a leisurely ride looking at Christmas lights and chatting the whole way home.
Other activities over the break included going to the Christmas play at church, making and decorating Christmas cookies (to look like people we know), going dress shopping with mom, watching Christmas movies, going Ice Skating, going out to dinner with the Pittmans and Riddicks, having a snowball fight, having a family gameday, making pancakes for my boyfriend, decorating the Christmas tree, going to the Christmas Eve service, playing Just Dance over and over, spending the night with Coopie, getting a free bike from Conte's, going for a run in the park, playing with Will and Reese, making homemade pizzas, falling asleep outside in a hammock, going shopping with Jeremy, and spending New Year's day at home with my family :)
If I went into detail about everything this blog would take forever, and quite frankly I'm a bit exhausted from two weeks of going to bed late, getting up early (because my body just won't sleep in), being busy everyday, and a day of traveling back to Honduras.
Things I learned over the past two weeks:
1. I love Jeremy.
2. There's no place like home.
3. My church family cares for me more than I can express.
4. I enjoy teaching in Honduras.
5. Having to stay home because of the snow is a good thing.
6. I love Jeremy.
7. Staying in Honduras for one year was a good decision.
8. I love Jesus more than when I left for Honduras in June.
9. Leaving Jeremy and my family is really hard.
10. I love Jeremy.
11. Mom and I don't really enjoy shopping, but we enjoy spending time together.
12. Crying can sometimes make things feel better.
13. I love my family and my family loves me.
Okay, so these aren't all things that I learned over the past two weeks, but they were definitely confirmed.
I'm off to bed for now to catch up on some sleep. Spending time with the Crooks tomorrow! Back to life in Honduras. I'll be sure to keep you posted on how things are going. Thanks again for all of the prayers and support. All of you who read about me, pray for me and give financially are greatly appreciated. I really can't thank you enough for your love.
Not a day went by that I did not have fun plans to go out, or stay in and just enjoy the Christmas season. One of my favorite nights was when Jeremy and I went out on a double date with the Hubers. We all hopped in the car and were trying to decide where to go to get dinner when Ms. Janet suggested that we go Port Arthurs, the Chinese restaurant in Newport News. Jeremy then suggested Hayashi Hibachi, which is where they cook the food right in front of you. I was a little skeptical and if I'm not mistaken, I don't think the Huber's were super excited about it either, but Jeremy convinced us that it was going to be amazing. So we headed that way and boy were we in for a treat. The atmosphere, food and company were wonderful. The cook joked with us, we caught food in our mouths and left the restaurant completely stuffed. After dinner we enjoyed a leisurely ride looking at Christmas lights and chatting the whole way home.
Other activities over the break included going to the Christmas play at church, making and decorating Christmas cookies (to look like people we know), going dress shopping with mom, watching Christmas movies, going Ice Skating, going out to dinner with the Pittmans and Riddicks, having a snowball fight, having a family gameday, making pancakes for my boyfriend, decorating the Christmas tree, going to the Christmas Eve service, playing Just Dance over and over, spending the night with Coopie, getting a free bike from Conte's, going for a run in the park, playing with Will and Reese, making homemade pizzas, falling asleep outside in a hammock, going shopping with Jeremy, and spending New Year's day at home with my family :)
If I went into detail about everything this blog would take forever, and quite frankly I'm a bit exhausted from two weeks of going to bed late, getting up early (because my body just won't sleep in), being busy everyday, and a day of traveling back to Honduras.
Things I learned over the past two weeks:
1. I love Jeremy.
2. There's no place like home.
3. My church family cares for me more than I can express.
4. I enjoy teaching in Honduras.
5. Having to stay home because of the snow is a good thing.
6. I love Jeremy.
7. Staying in Honduras for one year was a good decision.
8. I love Jesus more than when I left for Honduras in June.
9. Leaving Jeremy and my family is really hard.
10. I love Jeremy.
11. Mom and I don't really enjoy shopping, but we enjoy spending time together.
12. Crying can sometimes make things feel better.
13. I love my family and my family loves me.
Okay, so these aren't all things that I learned over the past two weeks, but they were definitely confirmed.
I'm off to bed for now to catch up on some sleep. Spending time with the Crooks tomorrow! Back to life in Honduras. I'll be sure to keep you posted on how things are going. Thanks again for all of the prayers and support. All of you who read about me, pray for me and give financially are greatly appreciated. I really can't thank you enough for your love.
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