If you saw my facebook status a few (okay, many) days ago, I bragged a little. I mentioned a little joy and a big one.
First things first, the big one: my friend in Michigan was in a terrible car accident. Her car flipped going over 70 mph and was totaled. The paramedics expected her to be dead. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was the cross her mom had pinned to her sunvisor and she walked away, as she told me, without a rip in her tights! Now, this is a girl previously unconvinced, but she posted the photos of her mangled car with the caption "GOD IS GOOD." Saved physically and spiritually-- a miracle without a doubt.
As for my little joy... The other day on my walk back from school, I stopped into the ritzy gym near my house to see if they offer yoga classes. I really miss LILA east end yoga in Portland, ME so I go in and talk to them and find out that yes, therés yoga every Saturday at 11, but you've gotta pay 400 pesos/month membership to take any (and all) classes. That's a great price if you can make it to the gym every day. Knowing me, I won't. But they offer me a free prueba (trial) and give me a little card saying so.
So Saturday comes and I gear up (Katy's floral hand-me-down leggings and tanktop). It's a beautiful, sunny summer day. A day without rain por fin!!
Inside, the gym is cleaner than my toothbrush and it smells like fake lemon. There's even plants and a patch of fake grass to wipe your shoes on. Upstairs, it's open and inviting. There's a spinning class going on and it's full of people in the zone. A few of us wait outside the other classroom for a few minutes before staking out our spots with yoga mats. We chat a bit. I get into child's pose, stretch out some. The instructor hasn't shown up yet. Looking out the window (which stretches the entire length of the building) to my right, I can make out the street I kept coming to on my very first neighborhood walk. I must've come to that intersection 5 times before finally choosing the right combination of rights and lefts to make it home. Funny how a few weeks can feel like a lifetime ago once you ubicarse (recognize, locate) where you are.
The instructor isn't there yet. Someone turns on the factory-size fan hanging from the ceiling. The Argentines are talking to each other and their accent sits nicely in my ears. Feels good to hear Castellano en siguiente (continuously), without any English breaking it up.
The pretty gym worker from downstairs is suddenly in the doorway, her voice choked off by tense shoulders raised halfway up to her ears. Her fingers of her left hand are spread, palm turned up, face botox straight. She's late, she tells us. She holds a cordless landline in her right hand. It rests against her spandex hip. And she's not picking up, she says.
This may be my first time with Argentines looking preoccupied about time. Also, bangs are back in style here. 3 out of 4 of the women have bangs. 3 out of 4 are blonde.
I don't know why they're worried. The instructor will come. That's how Argentines are-- they like to surprise. Just when you give up hope, they arrive with a beso on the cheek.
Maybe not this time.
Either way, the sun's pouring in as if the entire wall is made of pure light.
Some people standing along the edge of the room leave with folded arms.
I'm just happy to have a yoga mat. A few sun salutations in, I hear "ella... ella, sí" (she.. she..) and I check over my shoulder. A handful of people are staring at me, rolled mats poised between their hands. Seems like you could lead the class, one says. Ja-ja, I laugh. I'm not a professor, I say.
You could be, the man says back.
Clearly these are beginners. Still, a flush of adrenaline births in my body.
I go back to a resting pose. When I come out, they're still staring. "Do you mind?" one asks. "Um, no, I say."
And they roll out their mats behind me. When I breathe in, I hear a soft chorus of inhales around me. When I exhale, it amplifies. I swan dive and in the mirror, I see 3 pairs of eyes and then my own. It takes a lot to stop myself from laughing.
I get over it. We're just practicing together, the way it should be. After a few minutes though, I see the gym staff lining the window to my left. The door opens and a few more "students" come in. The slap of mats unrolling.
Aside from a few corrections and many "así"s and "estirá"s ("like this"s and "stretch"s), I don't say much with words. Instead, I try to lead just by example.
Eventually I get out of my head, back into my body and we hit every pose in a sequential, flowing fashion. Our impromptu class lasts an hour and 15 minutes in all, and afterwards the three originals stay to talk. We stay for half an hour or so and it's the happiest I've felt in while, just to have some stranger-social interaction... which is what I miss most about living downtown in the Capital (where you're always getting lost and thus asking randos for directions).
So that's the gist of how I lead an Argentine yoga class by accident! And for the record, I get another prueba, since "hiciste la clase vos!"("you yourself gave the class!").
All in all, a small thing...but good enough for me! :]
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
On my walk to school on Valentine's Day...
I realized that I keep you all with me. Better said, I carry you with me. Even though I'm not the best at long-distance correspondence (I blame the postal service for taking roughly 3 weeks to mail a letter), I'm thinking of my friends and family all the time.
Want proof?
Let's count the people I carried to school with me just this morning...
In my bus bag from Taylor (1), I held a notebook from Crystal (2), a Bible from Brenda (3), stickers from Keonhee (4), a lunch bag from Becca (5), a notebook from Hollee (6) my planning binder from Missy (7) and my planner from my elementary teachers (+8),
On my person, I wore a bracelet from Nammy (9), a friendship bracelet from Emily (10), a hair tie from Emy (11), a watch from ___(12), a shirt from Jennie (13), underwear from Ony (14), a necklace from Monica (15), and earrings from my parents (17).
Not to mention, my brother and I wear the same deodorant (18), so that counts.
And as I walked, I listened to Justin's old iPod (19) on headphones from Jake (20).
These little recuerdos and my tendency to wear hand-me-downs remind me that all I have has been given to me, both the tangible and unseen.
Thanks a million times over for beingpart of my life! Love is in the air today and I'm wearing pink to prove it.
<3
Want proof?
Let's count the people I carried to school with me just this morning...
In my bus bag from Taylor (1), I held a notebook from Crystal (2), a Bible from Brenda (3), stickers from Keonhee (4), a lunch bag from Becca (5), a notebook from Hollee (6) my planning binder from Missy (7) and my planner from my elementary teachers (+8),
On my person, I wore a bracelet from Nammy (9), a friendship bracelet from Emily (10), a hair tie from Emy (11), a watch from ___(12), a shirt from Jennie (13), underwear from Ony (14), a necklace from Monica (15), and earrings from my parents (17).
Not to mention, my brother and I wear the same deodorant (18), so that counts.
And as I walked, I listened to Justin's old iPod (19) on headphones from Jake (20).
These little recuerdos and my tendency to wear hand-me-downs remind me that all I have has been given to me, both the tangible and unseen.
Thanks a million times over for being
<3
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Prayers
Thanks so much for keeping me in your thoughts, prayers, hearts, etc.! I really appreciate you all and am so blessed to have your support.
Here are some specific prayer requests I'm facing from the first month:
• Patience and wisdom in discipline... As Naty the principal reminds us "those who need love the most will ask for it in the most unloving ways." I've found this very true in my classroom. I still haven't found the right balance between stern-firm-enforcer and kind-calm-nurturer.
• Positivity... I've started to focus on the wrong things lately.
• Trusting God to handle the future... Though my job just started, it's already time to figure out what I'm going to do in June when the school year ends.
Praises:
Aside from the daily joys and special occasions...
2 friends from Hope were both miraculously saved from recent car accidents! God's hand very clearly visible in both cases.
My friend Katy made it to buenos aires safe and sound! She begins her yearlong around the world trip and she's started off in the right blistered foot.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Embrace the clichés
Even though I'm not sure whether or not teaching is my ultimate career, this job is perfect for right now! It's a mix of things that I enjoy:
Learning-- I get to relearn material, challenge myself to think differently (more visually, in simplified terms, and applied to concrete scenarios), and yet I get to choose the work. It's like giving presentations instead of writing essays.
Communicating-- It challenges me to speak better: more clearly, slowed down, projected, and generously decorated with gestures. It enhances my ability to express myself in multiple languages, including those that are nonverbal.
Acting-- I play the role of the teacher, whether I feel like one or not.
Modeling-- In the sense of being a role model, I share my relationship with God through learning, discipline, and patience-- standing firm but giving second chances.
Adapting-- In the process of stretching my comfort zone, this job tests my dependency. When the ground moves beneath me, I observe myself and where (to whom and what) I look to for stability and reassurance.
Appreciating-- It's another reminder that all that I have, literally everything, has been given to me. I didn't earn any of this and I love that!
Forgiving-- It challenges me to give others and myself some leeway to screw up. We do dumb things and life goes on.
Learning-- I get to relearn material, challenge myself to think differently (more visually, in simplified terms, and applied to concrete scenarios), and yet I get to choose the work. It's like giving presentations instead of writing essays.
Communicating-- It challenges me to speak better: more clearly, slowed down, projected, and generously decorated with gestures. It enhances my ability to express myself in multiple languages, including those that are nonverbal.
Acting-- I play the role of the teacher, whether I feel like one or not.
Modeling-- In the sense of being a role model, I share my relationship with God through learning, discipline, and patience-- standing firm but giving second chances.
Adapting-- In the process of stretching my comfort zone, this job tests my dependency. When the ground moves beneath me, I observe myself and where (to whom and what) I look to for stability and reassurance.
Appreciating-- It's another reminder that all that I have, literally everything, has been given to me. I didn't earn any of this and I love that!
Forgiving-- It challenges me to give others and myself some leeway to screw up. We do dumb things and life goes on.
Week 2 Overview 2/10-2/14
My second week:
3 students were out most of the week which made it difficult to move forward, but with the small classes we played games such as mrs. Strout's double up! Math game which is differentiated for different math abilities.
Our last class of the day was our 100th day party! We had games, 100 exercises, songs, and each student brought in 10 items-- ranging from food, plates, and cups to collections.
Sidebar: to show how sweet my students are, let me just tell you that Ana told the class I can't eat flour and made sure to warn me that her cookies were not gluten-free. Paula gave me her banana to eat instead, and Owen made sure that I had a lollipop because "it's not made with flour." Who knew second graders were so thoughtful?
Likewise, since Friday was Valentine's day, all the lessons were based on that. These two celebrations made me realize that lesson planning is easier when I have a theme in mind-- if not for the week, at least for the day. Then, I can adjust the theme to fit my objectives.
(A ring valentine from Annita)
Socially speaking, I'm doing better. And by doing I mean feeling. I branched out and ended up spending time with Becky, Kait, and Katie a couple times this week.
I'm also excited about the new 3rd grade replacement- she'll be taking over when the current teacher goes on her maternity leave, so for now she's observing, learning, preparing, and practicing. Something I bet the school wished they could've had me do, but as I learn by doing, I'm glad I jumped right in. Point is, just since talking a few times, I have a feeling we'll get along well.
3 students were out most of the week which made it difficult to move forward, but with the small classes we played games such as mrs. Strout's double up! Math game which is differentiated for different math abilities.
Tuesday we celebrated 100 days of school! Mrs. Strout helped me come up with some ideas, and I based all the lessons that day on the theme of 100.
For example, in Bible, since we'd been talking about unselfishness and kindness with the story of Esther, we completed 100 acts of kindness! They had sheets with the numbers 1-100 and they had to color a number for each act of kindness they did before, during, and after class.
Then, in Social Studies, since we've been learning about the Ice Age, extinction, and climate change, we drew Buenos Aires now and what it'll look like in 100 years. This also helped prep for talking about the Earliest Americans and what we study when we discuss lifestyle, such as clothing, food, and housing.
For example, in Bible, since we'd been talking about unselfishness and kindness with the story of Esther, we completed 100 acts of kindness! They had sheets with the numbers 1-100 and they had to color a number for each act of kindness they did before, during, and after class.
Then, in Social Studies, since we've been learning about the Ice Age, extinction, and climate change, we drew Buenos Aires now and what it'll look like in 100 years. This also helped prep for talking about the Earliest Americans and what we study when we discuss lifestyle, such as clothing, food, and housing.
Our last class of the day was our 100th day party! We had games, 100 exercises, songs, and each student brought in 10 items-- ranging from food, plates, and cups to collections.
Sidebar: to show how sweet my students are, let me just tell you that Ana told the class I can't eat flour and made sure to warn me that her cookies were not gluten-free. Paula gave me her banana to eat instead, and Owen made sure that I had a lollipop because "it's not made with flour." Who knew second graders were so thoughtful?
Likewise, since Friday was Valentine's day, all the lessons were based on that. These two celebrations made me realize that lesson planning is easier when I have a theme in mind-- if not for the week, at least for the day. Then, I can adjust the theme to fit my objectives.
Socially speaking, I'm doing better. And by doing I mean feeling. I branched out and ended up spending time with Becky, Kait, and Katie a couple times this week.
I'm also excited about the new 3rd grade replacement- she'll be taking over when the current teacher goes on her maternity leave, so for now she's observing, learning, preparing, and practicing. Something I bet the school wished they could've had me do, but as I learn by doing, I'm glad I jumped right in. Point is, just since talking a few times, I have a feeling we'll get along well.
A spiel on the four seasons inside me
I'm from Maine, it makes sense why I'm moody. It's proven that outer environment affects our inner state. Growing up where I did, I got used to change-- both outwardly and inwardly-- but only recently, I've come to appreciate those changes.
As a state, Maine takes pride in its change of seasons-- that we've got beaches and ski slopes, leaf peepers and well, okay, not a great spring, but plenty of wildlife! Obviously, most of us prefer the warmer months (we're only human), but when it comes down to it, we need change.
At heart, I'm a summer kid because I love the water and free time and the sun warms my attitude, but I'm also all for fall. I love the colors and the energy in the wind. It's exciting and nostalgic at the same time. Winter is beautiful if you can get outside to see it. The trees look so honest stripped and sillhouetted by snow. Spring takes a little more work to love, since it's often covered in winter's waste. But the fact that it works through the gray to push some color back in place amazes me.
Okay, so nothing new. We <3 nature!
Let me restate. We love nature when it's around (outside of) us, but how about when it manifests in ourselves? When we notice natural changes in or on our own bodies? Or even worse-- in those of other people? Think: body image issues. We're all probably pretty familiar with how often we shame ourselves and each other for things we have little to no control over: our looks, wrinkles, height, shape, etc. We're also pretty used to hearing why it's wrong.
Don't do it, right?
K good, that's settled.
But how about when nature manifest itself in us or others in ways less tangible. For example, we all know that we're supposed to appreciate wrinkles as the marks of experience. Well how about heartache? Isn't that a result of experience too? And don't forget depression, which can be linked to specific situations or not.
In my limited life experience (how many times can I use that word?), I've noticed that emotions, reactions, and behaviors are often judged pretty harshly. We (myself included) often view negative spectrum emotions as bad things to get rid of as quickly as possible, and when someone doesn't or can't flush them away, we assign blame to that person.
I realize I'm using very vague language. I haven't thought this through, but I'm typing it out anyways.
How about like this: when someone's down, we may try to cheer them up. If that doesn't work though, we put them down further by naming them a downer in our minds. Maybe we're afraid of catching the downer disease, I don't know.
But why is feeling sad or lonely so bad? Of course it's uncomfortable. But we need it. Discomfort reveals our true selves and can help give us the energy we need either to make or to take another change. For me, life is never so binary as to be all good or all bad. It's always a mix. Think yin and yang, push and pull, action and reaction. We need them for balance.
What if, just as we're being taught to appreciate the changes in our bodies, we saw the changes in our emotions as we do the earth cycles? Using our emotions like a compass, what if we vacationed to the four seasons inside, and really took them for what they are? (cheesy? yes, but who cares?)
As far as my mood, it changes in the wind. The "problem" with that tendency to change is that it convinces me completely. When I'm up, I'm up, and when I'm down, I'm low. I sometimes forget that summer won't stay forever and I sometimes think winter won't ever end. But what I'm saying is, if I can remember that there's always a change of seasons down the road, maybe I can welcome each one for what it is.
In addition to just discussing for the sake of it, this post is also a disclaimer. I'm saying this for your sake: in the future, if you're reading my blog, don't take me too seriously. If I'm going on about how great life is here, don't romanticize it. Just as if I'm negative, don't be alarmed. Todo llega en su momento. Everything comes together. And I'd like to be present at every step on the way.
That being said... I do try to blog when I'm in a good mood :)
Now have some nature pics. If you made it to the end, you earned it!
As a state, Maine takes pride in its change of seasons-- that we've got beaches and ski slopes, leaf peepers and well, okay, not a great spring, but plenty of wildlife! Obviously, most of us prefer the warmer months (we're only human), but when it comes down to it, we need change.
At heart, I'm a summer kid because I love the water and free time and the sun warms my attitude, but I'm also all for fall. I love the colors and the energy in the wind. It's exciting and nostalgic at the same time. Winter is beautiful if you can get outside to see it. The trees look so honest stripped and sillhouetted by snow. Spring takes a little more work to love, since it's often covered in winter's waste. But the fact that it works through the gray to push some color back in place amazes me.
Okay, so nothing new. We <3 nature!
Let me restate. We love nature when it's around (outside of) us, but how about when it manifests in ourselves? When we notice natural changes in or on our own bodies? Or even worse-- in those of other people? Think: body image issues. We're all probably pretty familiar with how often we shame ourselves and each other for things we have little to no control over: our looks, wrinkles, height, shape, etc. We're also pretty used to hearing why it's wrong.
Don't do it, right?
K good, that's settled.
But how about when nature manifest itself in us or others in ways less tangible. For example, we all know that we're supposed to appreciate wrinkles as the marks of experience. Well how about heartache? Isn't that a result of experience too? And don't forget depression, which can be linked to specific situations or not.
In my limited life experience (how many times can I use that word?), I've noticed that emotions, reactions, and behaviors are often judged pretty harshly. We (myself included) often view negative spectrum emotions as bad things to get rid of as quickly as possible, and when someone doesn't or can't flush them away, we assign blame to that person.
I realize I'm using very vague language. I haven't thought this through, but I'm typing it out anyways.
How about like this: when someone's down, we may try to cheer them up. If that doesn't work though, we put them down further by naming them a downer in our minds. Maybe we're afraid of catching the downer disease, I don't know.
But why is feeling sad or lonely so bad? Of course it's uncomfortable. But we need it. Discomfort reveals our true selves and can help give us the energy we need either to make or to take another change. For me, life is never so binary as to be all good or all bad. It's always a mix. Think yin and yang, push and pull, action and reaction. We need them for balance.
What if, just as we're being taught to appreciate the changes in our bodies, we saw the changes in our emotions as we do the earth cycles? Using our emotions like a compass, what if we vacationed to the four seasons inside, and really took them for what they are? (cheesy? yes, but who cares?)
As far as my mood, it changes in the wind. The "problem" with that tendency to change is that it convinces me completely. When I'm up, I'm up, and when I'm down, I'm low. I sometimes forget that summer won't stay forever and I sometimes think winter won't ever end. But what I'm saying is, if I can remember that there's always a change of seasons down the road, maybe I can welcome each one for what it is.
In addition to just discussing for the sake of it, this post is also a disclaimer. I'm saying this for your sake: in the future, if you're reading my blog, don't take me too seriously. If I'm going on about how great life is here, don't romanticize it. Just as if I'm negative, don't be alarmed. Todo llega en su momento. Everything comes together. And I'd like to be present at every step on the way.
That being said... I do try to blog when I'm in a good mood :)
Now have some nature pics. If you made it to the end, you earned it!
Nostalgia pie
I've come down with a serious case of nostalgia. I miss being here two years ago. I knew it would be different coming back, but feeling it is a different story. Trust me, I love it here! It's a great experience and I'm very comfortable, aside from my mundane schedule right now. But for starters, I'm not in the heart of it anymore. I'm on the outskirts, both physically and figuratively.
When I was living in the microcentro, I was surrounded by all things Argentine. I never heard English away from my classmates and the tourist attractions were the buildings next door. There were always things to explore. I'm sure there are out here too, but it takes more time, more planning. Just like getting involved. I have the resources, I just need to muster up the willpower! I've got to just rally my energy and put in the effort to speak Spanish even when I'm spoken to in English, to go out of my way and comfort zone to invest in the people around me.. I'm sure once I get the hang of school (lesson planning, classroom managing, etc.) then I can focus on the other things.
For now I'm just trying to learn how to teach... and that's plenty.
What I liked then:
the energy, constant action
always meeting people
public transport
speaking Spanish
having a support system in my classmates/friends
learning about the culture, history, economy
taking classes at different universities
What I like now:
the responsibility and structure (a professional job)
the quiet of this neighborhood
safety, less stress
expressing my personality through my own language
exposure to many different cultures all at once
luxury of getting out of the city, seeing green spaces
having more free time in one sitting
I'm definitely in the best possible location right now, with a blend of people and places, but I'll always love la primera vez que yo conocí a Buenos Aires... cuando me enamoré completamente. :)
Thanks for reading this splurge of words!
PS. remember my first trip outside the city 2 years ago?? To Tigre? Well that's really close to where I'm living! Maybe this weekend I'll take some more time to pasear through the area.
When I was living in the microcentro, I was surrounded by all things Argentine. I never heard English away from my classmates and the tourist attractions were the buildings next door. There were always things to explore. I'm sure there are out here too, but it takes more time, more planning. Just like getting involved. I have the resources, I just need to muster up the willpower! I've got to just rally my energy and put in the effort to speak Spanish even when I'm spoken to in English, to go out of my way and comfort zone to invest in the people around me.. I'm sure once I get the hang of school (lesson planning, classroom managing, etc.) then I can focus on the other things.
For now I'm just trying to learn how to teach... and that's plenty.
What I liked then:
the energy, constant action
always meeting people
public transport
speaking Spanish
having a support system in my classmates/friends
learning about the culture, history, economy
taking classes at different universities
What I like now:
the responsibility and structure (a professional job)
the quiet of this neighborhood
safety, less stress
expressing my personality through my own language
exposure to many different cultures all at once
luxury of getting out of the city, seeing green spaces
having more free time in one sitting
I'm definitely in the best possible location right now, with a blend of people and places, but I'll always love la primera vez que yo conocí a Buenos Aires... cuando me enamoré completamente. :)
Thanks for reading this splurge of words!
PS. remember my first trip outside the city 2 years ago?? To Tigre? Well that's really close to where I'm living! Maybe this weekend I'll take some more time to pasear through the area.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Meet the Class
I have 10 students in my 2nd grade class. This is what I've learned about them so far:
Of these 10...
1 speaks English at home
2 have special learning needs
3 are very obedient
4 are girls
5 take ESL classes
6 are boys
7 test my limits
8 speak Spanish at home
9 have perfect attendance
10 are wonderful
For the boys, we have:
Daniel
Owen
Amir
Juan
Matéo
Alí
For the girls:
Ana
Andrea
Annita
Paulita
My classroom
The angle I see
Shoutout to crystal for the calendar! The kids love imitating it.
Uno game starters
Playing uno during break
Mad minute! Muahaha
During break the girls like to write me messages on the board
Practicing letter writing during break!
The boys always save a seat for Paula
Cave art in their desk caves!
Of these 10...
1 speaks English at home
2 have special learning needs
3 are very obedient
4 are girls
5 take ESL classes
6 are boys
7 test my limits
8 speak Spanish at home
9 have perfect attendance
10 are wonderful
For the boys, we have:
Daniel
Owen
Amir
Juan
Matéo
Alí
For the girls:
Ana
Andrea
Annita
Paulita
Star decos: Christmas present from aunt Andrea many years ago! They've been used in Maine, michigan, and now buenos aires!
"May I take your photo?" "Why Miss?"
Using break time to write letters
So focused.. A rare moment captured forever!
:)
She got into it!
I've officially survived my first week as a teacher
First day at school: Don't think I've ever had so many people actively praying for me--
multiple parents of the students told me today they have been praying for me. One couple sent me a long email to welcome me, too!
The first day went well-- there was nothing to do but dive headfirst-- the headache hit me at the end of the day, proving I was in go-mode and not relaxing as well as I need to. We covered all the beginning of the year staples: class policies, new rules, jobs, room setup... they caught on well to my hand signals and though they were rowdy, they were also pretty patient.
We met Snuggly, the traveling class bear from Mrs. Strout's first grade class at GPCS in Maine. Read her description on him and all the fun places he's gone!
We talked about summer vacations, discussed season changes, decorated leaves that Missy sent with me, played get to know you games, learned about Groundhog's Day, and learned my version of the Lord's Prayer-- set to a vinyasa yoga sun salutation.
First reactions: the kids are so cute they're hard to teach because they're hard to discipline! I want to cuddle them forever.
Second Day:
Teaching exhausts me.
I need to work on pacing, asking questions, classroom management, simplifying, and visuals.
I do not like Tuesdays with my back-to-back Social Studies classes at the very end of the day.
Highlights: I still have a voice.
Wednesday:
Amazing improvements in teacher-student relations!
Highlights: Snuggly Poem made of (semi-) rhyming couplets;Extinct vs Endangered Animals- surprisingly excited response to this lesson, "Miss, can we finish at home? I want to do more!"
Thursday:
Light's shining through the end of the tunnel! The weekend is almost here. Every day is better than the last.
Highlights: "Good Advice Obstacle Course" in Bible, going to a student's birthday party after school :]]
Friday:
On cloud 9! In such a good mood all day! I love my kids. And I love not being around them for two days!
Highlights: Pin the Part on the Letter in Language Arts, Cave Art in Social Studies, 3 kids stayed on "green" (good behavior) all week!
As I said on Facebook: "Finished my first week as a teacher and I'm ready to adopt all the kids in my class! I can say this because it's the weekend and I don't have to see them till Monday.. "And it's true. I'm sick of them, they're sick of me, but I think we already love each other!
At the end of the first week at school I'm amazed by how much I've learned about teaching. I feel like I've still got a long ways to go, but I'm getting there poco a poco. I have a pretty good feel for each student-- how they respond, what we need to work on, and how to motivate them. Problem is, each student is different and there's just not enough time to help each one individually.
The other teachers are great resources-- they give me advice when I ask and they're good models for hands-on teaching. I love watching them interact with the students. It's never angry or whiny or begging. They have very concise conversations with their students and the point gets across.
Not to mention, Mrs. Strout has been actively offering me resources (created by herself and by others), time, and ideas! It's incredible. And remember my great friend Missy?! She's been a big support this whole time. She could've chosen to be bitter or snobby that I'm teaching even though I didn't study education (her major), but instead, she's been a true friend to me.
All in all, I'm well taken care of.
During the week I get really exhausted but I'm hoping I'll get a better hang of it in time, just knowing how much energy to give, when to pull back, etc.
I've seen improvements in my pacing and in my interactions with the students though. Thank you for continued prayer! I need it, but don't we all...
multiple parents of the students told me today they have been praying for me. One couple sent me a long email to welcome me, too!
The first day went well-- there was nothing to do but dive headfirst-- the headache hit me at the end of the day, proving I was in go-mode and not relaxing as well as I need to. We covered all the beginning of the year staples: class policies, new rules, jobs, room setup... they caught on well to my hand signals and though they were rowdy, they were also pretty patient.
We met Snuggly, the traveling class bear from Mrs. Strout's first grade class at GPCS in Maine. Read her description on him and all the fun places he's gone!
We talked about summer vacations, discussed season changes, decorated leaves that Missy sent with me, played get to know you games, learned about Groundhog's Day, and learned my version of the Lord's Prayer-- set to a vinyasa yoga sun salutation.
First reactions: the kids are so cute they're hard to teach because they're hard to discipline! I want to cuddle them forever.
Second Day:
Teaching exhausts me.
I need to work on pacing, asking questions, classroom management, simplifying, and visuals.
I do not like Tuesdays with my back-to-back Social Studies classes at the very end of the day.
Highlights: I still have a voice.
Wednesday:
Amazing improvements in teacher-student relations!
Highlights: Snuggly Poem made of (semi-) rhyming couplets;Extinct vs Endangered Animals- surprisingly excited response to this lesson, "Miss, can we finish at home? I want to do more!"
Thursday:
Light's shining through the end of the tunnel! The weekend is almost here. Every day is better than the last.
Highlights: "Good Advice Obstacle Course" in Bible, going to a student's birthday party after school :]]
Friday:
On cloud 9! In such a good mood all day! I love my kids. And I love not being around them for two days!
Highlights: Pin the Part on the Letter in Language Arts, Cave Art in Social Studies, 3 kids stayed on "green" (good behavior) all week!
As I said on Facebook: "Finished my first week as a teacher and I'm ready to adopt all the kids in my class! I can say this because it's the weekend and I don't have to see them till Monday.. "And it's true. I'm sick of them, they're sick of me, but I think we already love each other!
At the end of the first week at school I'm amazed by how much I've learned about teaching. I feel like I've still got a long ways to go, but I'm getting there poco a poco. I have a pretty good feel for each student-- how they respond, what we need to work on, and how to motivate them. Problem is, each student is different and there's just not enough time to help each one individually.
The other teachers are great resources-- they give me advice when I ask and they're good models for hands-on teaching. I love watching them interact with the students. It's never angry or whiny or begging. They have very concise conversations with their students and the point gets across.
Not to mention, Mrs. Strout has been actively offering me resources (created by herself and by others), time, and ideas! It's incredible. And remember my great friend Missy?! She's been a big support this whole time. She could've chosen to be bitter or snobby that I'm teaching even though I didn't study education (her major), but instead, she's been a true friend to me.
All in all, I'm well taken care of.
During the week I get really exhausted but I'm hoping I'll get a better hang of it in time, just knowing how much energy to give, when to pull back, etc.
I've seen improvements in my pacing and in my interactions with the students though. Thank you for continued prayer! I need it, but don't we all...
Thursday, February 6, 2014
jotted down thoughts from week one
Tuesday- Sunday
My mood seems to go down with the sun.
-----
I met one of my students in the week that I was setting up my classroom. Her name is Ana and she's a doll-- very polite, shy, and sweet. Since she was there all day with her mom Naty (the principal), I had her take a break from coloring to help me wash and dry some rulers and containers.
Later, in secret, Naty showed me a drawing of a blonde girl with a big smile and a bow in her hair. Underneath was written "Miss K" with hearts.
Naty relayed Ana's reaction to me "Oh Mom! I like her! She's pretty. But I did not understand a word she said."
It was then that it clicked that, even if only half of my students are in ESL class, all but one are English Language Learners. Which means slowing down, simplifying, and using gestures. Thinking before speaking-- not something I'm good at.
----
There's a MacDonald's nextdoor to BAICA. I never go to McDonald's even in the States. But I was in emergency mode. I'd eaten no dinner, breakfast, or lunch, and then I had meetings all day. I first went to Jumbo the higher-end grocery, but had nowhere to eat my ricecakes and bananas outside of BAICA. Walking back with bags in hand, I couldn't stay away from the wooden deck out front with nice wooden chairs and a big poster of a Toblerone McFlurry in back. I caved and then zoned out with icecream in my mouth.
The sound of rustling plastic brought me back and I looked down to the stray McDonald's dog who camps out on the deck. He was rummaging through my groceries, sifting through as if shopping himself! Unlike most stray dogs I've ever encountered, he listened when I said no, looked up at me, then promptly rolled onto his back whimpering and whining for me to pet him. He settled for wriggling his tummy against the bottom of my flip-flop, but he was hard to resist.
-----
My old study abroad classmate / Balvanera neighbor came from the capital to hang out! It was so nice to see her. Felt like no time had passed, though I know we've both changed in small ways. We walked from BAICA and came upon a river and park area, which was full of water-watching people. Some were feeding babies, others were ignoring theirs; some were drinking lemonade, others Fernet y Coca; some were fishing, others were littering (broken lawn chairs, mostly).
A bizarre place. Different from the more posh neighborhoods along the main avenue.
Oh and on the walk back, remember those all-age playgrounds?! Done and done. Got me some serious hip-swing action!
-----
There's a bird outside my window that sounds like a kid yelling in agony, "Owww!!" so much so that I want to go outside to check. Goosebumps all over.
----
Woke up to that terrible bird screaming all morning.
----
The bird turned out to be a lost loro (parrot) that flew into the tree outside my window! The neighbors were pet-sitting it when it escaped. It took 2 ladders, 10 hours, and a crew of electric wire workmen to coax it back to the ham in the cage. That is one special bird. I would have killed it off by that point.
----
I heard someone in the hallway say, "Have you met Cheri yet? Blonde hair and red cheeks." The second part, my eternal description...
-----
Friday was official orientation, started off with a devotion led by the pastor. The day ended with a home-cooked dinner at la casa España, where all the other single teachers live except me. Katie invited me and she was so hospitable. She'd found a gluten-free recipe (stuffed peppers, homemade mashed potatoes), had all the ingredients ready, and we got to it! After eating plenty, we hung out with the rest of the girls at the house, and then I headed back home on foot with a tupper of leftovers. I've been walking more, which feels great! I walk to school when it's not raining (25 minutes)..Vero's is exactly halfway between España and BAICA.
----
I need a social life...
---
Saturday, Jemy's godmother came over and it was a blast playing cards, all 5 of us.
At night I finally went into la Capital! It was incredible and felt like coming home. Even in the rain, the excitement was overwhelming. I took the train in, then moved with such ease from Retiro to Microcentro to meet up with a friend. We arrived on either side of the crosswalk at the same exact time. It was on the same block we'd first met and last said goodbye and I was really nervous. We ended up having a great time though, catching up over dinner and drinks and paseando por Palermo (walking through Palermo). It was a true Porteño night, as I didn't get back to my bed until 7am. Suffice to say, I skipped church the next day..
----
Here's the pool at night!
My mood seems to go down with the sun.
-----
I met one of my students in the week that I was setting up my classroom. Her name is Ana and she's a doll-- very polite, shy, and sweet. Since she was there all day with her mom Naty (the principal), I had her take a break from coloring to help me wash and dry some rulers and containers.
Later, in secret, Naty showed me a drawing of a blonde girl with a big smile and a bow in her hair. Underneath was written "Miss K" with hearts.
Naty relayed Ana's reaction to me "Oh Mom! I like her! She's pretty. But I did not understand a word she said."
It was then that it clicked that, even if only half of my students are in ESL class, all but one are English Language Learners. Which means slowing down, simplifying, and using gestures. Thinking before speaking-- not something I'm good at.
----
There's a MacDonald's nextdoor to BAICA. I never go to McDonald's even in the States. But I was in emergency mode. I'd eaten no dinner, breakfast, or lunch, and then I had meetings all day. I first went to Jumbo the higher-end grocery, but had nowhere to eat my ricecakes and bananas outside of BAICA. Walking back with bags in hand, I couldn't stay away from the wooden deck out front with nice wooden chairs and a big poster of a Toblerone McFlurry in back. I caved and then zoned out with icecream in my mouth.
The sound of rustling plastic brought me back and I looked down to the stray McDonald's dog who camps out on the deck. He was rummaging through my groceries, sifting through as if shopping himself! Unlike most stray dogs I've ever encountered, he listened when I said no, looked up at me, then promptly rolled onto his back whimpering and whining for me to pet him. He settled for wriggling his tummy against the bottom of my flip-flop, but he was hard to resist.
-----
My old study abroad classmate / Balvanera neighbor came from the capital to hang out! It was so nice to see her. Felt like no time had passed, though I know we've both changed in small ways. We walked from BAICA and came upon a river and park area, which was full of water-watching people. Some were feeding babies, others were ignoring theirs; some were drinking lemonade, others Fernet y Coca; some were fishing, others were littering (broken lawn chairs, mostly).
A bizarre place. Different from the more posh neighborhoods along the main avenue.
Oh and on the walk back, remember those all-age playgrounds?! Done and done. Got me some serious hip-swing action!
-----
There's a bird outside my window that sounds like a kid yelling in agony, "Owww!!" so much so that I want to go outside to check. Goosebumps all over.
----
Woke up to that terrible bird screaming all morning.
----
The bird turned out to be a lost loro (parrot) that flew into the tree outside my window! The neighbors were pet-sitting it when it escaped. It took 2 ladders, 10 hours, and a crew of electric wire workmen to coax it back to the ham in the cage. That is one special bird. I would have killed it off by that point.
----
I heard someone in the hallway say, "Have you met Cheri yet? Blonde hair and red cheeks." The second part, my eternal description...
-----
Friday was official orientation, started off with a devotion led by the pastor. The day ended with a home-cooked dinner at la casa España, where all the other single teachers live except me. Katie invited me and she was so hospitable. She'd found a gluten-free recipe (stuffed peppers, homemade mashed potatoes), had all the ingredients ready, and we got to it! After eating plenty, we hung out with the rest of the girls at the house, and then I headed back home on foot with a tupper of leftovers. I've been walking more, which feels great! I walk to school when it's not raining (25 minutes)..Vero's is exactly halfway between España and BAICA.
----
I need a social life...
---
Saturday, Jemy's godmother came over and it was a blast playing cards, all 5 of us.
At night I finally went into la Capital! It was incredible and felt like coming home. Even in the rain, the excitement was overwhelming. I took the train in, then moved with such ease from Retiro to Microcentro to meet up with a friend. We arrived on either side of the crosswalk at the same exact time. It was on the same block we'd first met and last said goodbye and I was really nervous. We ended up having a great time though, catching up over dinner and drinks and paseando por Palermo (walking through Palermo). It was a true Porteño night, as I didn't get back to my bed until 7am. Suffice to say, I skipped church the next day..
----
Here's the pool at night!
Dreams
Since being here I've dreamt in detail about a mix of many things.
Thought you should know that...
Crystal picked Jason's nose "like always" through the cover from his newest movie
Jake turned into a shaggy blonde dog-wolf
Mom and Dad own circle slides to reveal never-before seen colors in the moon's atmosphere
Buenos Aires has a front-lawn open-top aquarium with hippos and whales in the same tank
Hope put on a production where a girl's head became the cake everyone ate
I have a secret closet of clothes in the downstairs of Christchurch
Jay-Z showed me how to "show what I've got" and was not impressed
Birds are crazed human females trapped in rubber cases
Sigmas came and trashed my front lawn with half-eaten apples from my apple tree
A dalmatian dog poured out his depression to me, half tears, half telepathic
A very important post. Thanks for reading.
Thought you should know that...
Crystal picked Jason's nose "like always" through the cover from his newest movie
Jake turned into a shaggy blonde dog-wolf
Mom and Dad own circle slides to reveal never-before seen colors in the moon's atmosphere
Buenos Aires has a front-lawn open-top aquarium with hippos and whales in the same tank
Hope put on a production where a girl's head became the cake everyone ate
I have a secret closet of clothes in the downstairs of Christchurch
Jay-Z showed me how to "show what I've got" and was not impressed
Birds are crazed human females trapped in rubber cases
Sigmas came and trashed my front lawn with half-eaten apples from my apple tree
A dalmatian dog poured out his depression to me, half tears, half telepathic
A very important post. Thanks for reading.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Sunday-Monday ramblings
Sunday was church all together. I slept like a brick that first night and woke to a knock on my door. It took me a few minutes to process that it didn't fit in my dream sequence and then to convince myself to open my eyes. Chachi came in to ask if I'd like a cup of coffee, which Vero brought up shortly after, made the Argentine way-- instant, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet espuma (foam). It's all in how you add the water to the coffee and sugar mix, just a few drops at a time, while stirring rapidly.
Church was so lively! Lots of singing, dancing, and saludos (greetings), supported by a rooted teaching.
Some people spoke about their experience on the mission trip and two sisters performed a choreography to Coldplay's "Fix You," as they relate it to God's response to the loss of their third sister. This is the evangelical baptist church that adopted BAICA a few years ago when the school was dropped by Network of International Christian Schools (NICS). The pastor of the church is head of the board, so I was glad to hear him preach and get a feel for his demeanor.
He based the sermon on Matthew 13:44 (the parable of the man who discovers treasure in a field, buries it, then sells all his possessions with joy and buys the field) and how it relates to "serendipia divina" (divine serendipity). If I remember correctly, the main points were that each of us is searching for something (think the pursuit of happiness), whether we know what it is or not, that God sometimes intervenes to give us something better than we could've imagined, and that divine serendipity is a call BY God FOR God. Just like the man in the parable, when we find a relationship with Jesus (the treasure, the kingdom of heaven), we realize that it's lo más valioso --worth much more than anything we could save for ourselves (all our possessions) and we respond to that with joy, listening and following God's call.
Personally, "God's calling" has been a phrase I've grown up with and eventually got sick of hearing. It sounds churchy and vague, a seeming excuse for Christians to do what they want under the guise of being "called" to buy such-and-such a car, to marry so-and-so, and to quit whatever job they had. But I have a new perspective on it. My whole issue with "God's calling" was the deciphering part-- until I realized it's already been deciphered. Jesus already spelled out God's calling: love God, love others. That's our calling. It's really that simple (and yet so difficult most of the time). Now, I think when we understand that as the calling, then of course the spirit can and does lead us to strategic specifics.
My point is that when we focus on that core calling, the details fall into place. They can be exciting, enchanting, begrudging, etc. but they're most of the time pretty superfluous. The specifics of your location, career, whatever don't really matter in the big picture. Sure, to us, environment can feel like it matters a lot. It's easier to enjoy yourself when you're around your best friends instead of strangers, just as it's easier to worship in church than when you're stuck at the airport. The details of our situation can either help to remind us of or distract us from our calling, but we often get caught up in them. I'm not convinced God cares if we paint the house red or blue. If we trust that God's in control, then we can relax a whole lot and focus on just being open to him. And if we're genuinely trying to experience him through showing love to others, God can use us anywhere.
Anyways, after church, I met an overwhelming amount of people, including some other teachers at BAICA!
We stopped for takeout, ate together at home, relaxed by the pool, and then went to la feria in town.
On Monday, the school director picked me up from Vero's to have lunch with some BAICA staff--
from front left to back
Flor, the kinder director
Andy, the school director (the first person I spoke to at BAICA)
Katie F. the 5th grade teacher from Oklahoma
Kate S. the 4th grade teacher from I forgot
Becky, the 1st grade teacher from Kansas City
Me
Naty, the primary school principal (the one who hired me)
It was a really nice lunch, aside from the embarrassment of everyone trying to figure out gluten-free menu items at a milanesa (breaded, fried meat sandwich) restaurant. Afterwards, I rode with them to BAICA where Naty gave me a tour and introduced me to all the office staff and anyone wandering the hallways. The last stop on the tour was my 2nd grade classroom! The excitement hit me then all at once.
The rest of the day was free for me to set up my room. And then a little panic hit me. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a bare room like a new dorm for me to decorate and fill with my ideas? But since I'm taking over mid-year, the room was... overfull. Suffice to say, I spent the rest of the afternoon pulling out books of all different genres, sizes, and levels going all different directions from the shelves and stacking them in piles on the floor. 4 days and counting...
Then the head primary teacher/6th grade teacher Donna from the UK met me and we walked to a new cafe where we waited for Courtney, an ESL teacher from Pennsylvania.
Everyone has been so accommodating and kind! My only complaint is I've got an allergic reaction, but if that's my biggest problem, things are just fine :)
Church was so lively! Lots of singing, dancing, and saludos (greetings), supported by a rooted teaching.
(Bad taste to record in church but I wanted to show you)
He based the sermon on Matthew 13:44 (the parable of the man who discovers treasure in a field, buries it, then sells all his possessions with joy and buys the field) and how it relates to "serendipia divina" (divine serendipity). If I remember correctly, the main points were that each of us is searching for something (think the pursuit of happiness), whether we know what it is or not, that God sometimes intervenes to give us something better than we could've imagined, and that divine serendipity is a call BY God FOR God. Just like the man in the parable, when we find a relationship with Jesus (the treasure, the kingdom of heaven), we realize that it's lo más valioso --worth much more than anything we could save for ourselves (all our possessions) and we respond to that with joy, listening and following God's call.
Personally, "God's calling" has been a phrase I've grown up with and eventually got sick of hearing. It sounds churchy and vague, a seeming excuse for Christians to do what they want under the guise of being "called" to buy such-and-such a car, to marry so-and-so, and to quit whatever job they had. But I have a new perspective on it. My whole issue with "God's calling" was the deciphering part-- until I realized it's already been deciphered. Jesus already spelled out God's calling: love God, love others. That's our calling. It's really that simple (and yet so difficult most of the time). Now, I think when we understand that as the calling, then of course the spirit can and does lead us to strategic specifics.
My point is that when we focus on that core calling, the details fall into place. They can be exciting, enchanting, begrudging, etc. but they're most of the time pretty superfluous. The specifics of your location, career, whatever don't really matter in the big picture. Sure, to us, environment can feel like it matters a lot. It's easier to enjoy yourself when you're around your best friends instead of strangers, just as it's easier to worship in church than when you're stuck at the airport. The details of our situation can either help to remind us of or distract us from our calling, but we often get caught up in them. I'm not convinced God cares if we paint the house red or blue. If we trust that God's in control, then we can relax a whole lot and focus on just being open to him. And if we're genuinely trying to experience him through showing love to others, God can use us anywhere.
Anyways, after church, I met an overwhelming amount of people, including some other teachers at BAICA!
We stopped for takeout, ate together at home, relaxed by the pool, and then went to la feria in town.
On Monday, the school director picked me up from Vero's to have lunch with some BAICA staff--
Flor, the kinder director
Andy, the school director (the first person I spoke to at BAICA)
Katie F. the 5th grade teacher from Oklahoma
Kate S. the 4th grade teacher from I forgot
Becky, the 1st grade teacher from Kansas City
Me
Naty, the primary school principal (the one who hired me)
It was a really nice lunch, aside from the embarrassment of everyone trying to figure out gluten-free menu items at a milanesa (breaded, fried meat sandwich) restaurant. Afterwards, I rode with them to BAICA where Naty gave me a tour and introduced me to all the office staff and anyone wandering the hallways. The last stop on the tour was my 2nd grade classroom! The excitement hit me then all at once.
The rest of the day was free for me to set up my room. And then a little panic hit me. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a bare room like a new dorm for me to decorate and fill with my ideas? But since I'm taking over mid-year, the room was... overfull. Suffice to say, I spent the rest of the afternoon pulling out books of all different genres, sizes, and levels going all different directions from the shelves and stacking them in piles on the floor. 4 days and counting...
Then the head primary teacher/6th grade teacher Donna from the UK met me and we walked to a new cafe where we waited for Courtney, an ESL teacher from Pennsylvania.
Everyone has been so accommodating and kind! My only complaint is I've got an allergic reaction, but if that's my biggest problem, things are just fine :)
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