Week one

Lets's see...where did I leave off? Well on Tuesday I had my very first all day teacher workshop. I mean I have never been to one to compare it too, but I have a feeling it will be hard to top this one. Doulos had a man named Jim Linder come all the way from Illinois to come speak to us about Positive Discipline. Okay, for those of you who are not teachers, don't stop reading here...I won't go into too much detail about what he talked about. He covered so many valuable things about being a teacher and the importance of positive discipline. In short, his main point was "What you think about, gets bigger." Genius statement really...whether you are a teacher or not. Think about it...if all you think about is the negative in your life, then it will get bigger. So big in fact, it will be very difficult to see the good. It is definitely a statement to think about. In my classroom, if I always dwell on my troubles with my students, it will block the beauty in each of them. Likewise, if I walk into my day joyous to be serving children of God, I will hopefully get a glimpse of what He sees in them. I don't mean to be too mushy or even sound like I know how to do this because its hard...and I don't. I thought it could be something worth sharing to challenge us all. Do with it what you will...

On a lighter note, Melanie (the teacher I am serving under in Kindergarten) and I have been setting up the classroom all last week. I am really excited to be teaching with her. She is very purposeful with everything she does in her class. I feel like I've already learned how to be resourceful when creating things for my class.

So Melinda, Robyn and I have been compiling a list of things that other student teachers are NOT experiencing. This list will continue during our time here...we hope you like it.

1. Fitting 9 people into a 5 person car

2. Having a mouse creep through their room (FYI we are keeping a running tally in our house to see who can spot the most mice...so far (unfortunately) I am winning)

3. Not being able to communicate with your house mom and really most people in the community for that matter

4. Hiking to a magnificent waterfall on a Saturday afternoon

5. Walking 30 minutes to and from school

6. Getting to wear chacos to school everyday

7. Recieving welcoming yells and whistles for being an American...2 to 3 times a day

8. Watching cockroaches run across the floor...or counter...and laugh about it.

Be on the lookout for more to come as the weeks progress :)

On Saturday a group of teachers went hiking to a waterfall called the Upper Jimenoa. It was seriously the best day! I could not contain my excitement...and I'm sure some of you can picture my expression. I have some more pictures posted on my facebook if you would like to see. The water was soo cold but very refreshing after our walk. Right as we were about to leave it started to rain (as it does atleast once a day) and let me tell you...those mossy rocks are more slippery than they look. Lets just say I took a few spills... That night Melinda, Robyn and I got home and were exhausted. We took showers, or well atempted it and the water shut off halfway through my shower. Sidenote: when it rains here, which is everyday, the water shuts off so you really have to play it just right and get to it before it's all gone haha. We were beat from the day and went to bed at about 8:30...on a Saturday night...don't judge.

We started school today, but I am too exhausted to write about it just now, but I will post later on this week and let you know how it's going! I will sum it up in one word for now: PATIENCE.

Until next time mis amigos...