Christmasy Things

Hello Friends--

If you read my blog from last year, I mentioned that I've been covering for a 4th grade teacher who is sick. She's still too sick to be a school, but thankfully she's out of the hospital. That dengue stuff is no joke. Pray for her, she's been sick eight days now.  Well, tonight is the elementary Christmas program, so I am not only subbing during the school day but also I'm with 4th grade for tonight's performance. Students are to be back by 5:30 which didn't leave me enough time to go home and return after school.  I'm taking the extra time as an opportunity to get this blog written. It is Tuesday, after all; my blog day.  It's rather nice being able to type this on the desktop here at school with my 'Christmas Playlist' on YouTube playing in the background.  My iPad typing skills just aren't this fast yet; nor do I know how to multitask with it that way.

Its starting to feel a bit more Christmasy around here. Sunday my church had a special Christmas service and lunch afterwards. I always love a chance to experience a new part of this culture.  Rice, stemmed veggies, chicken, and pork aren't what I consider a typical Christmas dinner.  I didn't even have to ask what type of meat the pork was--the pig's head with the apple stuck in it were sitting front and center on the serving platter.  As a appetizer, while we were waiting for the food, we are grapes; something I haven't had for a very loooonnnnggg time.  Grapes and apples are typical Christmas foods here.  Since they are so expensive to buy in the DR these fruits are usually save for special occasions such as Christmas.

Last night my Bible study group went Christmas caroling around to homes of various staff members. It was such a fun time for all of us. Several times we had the Dominican neighbors of the staff member come out to listen to us.  At one point we even had two different strangers videoing/taking pictures of us. One staff member we visited sent out an email today thanking us and shared that a visiting, unsaved relative was impressed. What a fun way to be a testimony to the real meaning of Christmas.

I have 3 1/2 days before heading back to the States for Christmas.  It's really strange to think that I'm going to be back in the States.  I haven't been there since May!  What will it be like? Culture shock-maybe, cold-definitely.  Strange, confusing, welcoming, joyful--I don't really know.  Probably a bit of everything.  Can't wait to see everyone :)


Here's one last thing before I finish---the staff at school got together and planned a "What doe the fox say?" flashmob for the students.  You can check out the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deBRKsqmzOE.  I'm on the very end on right,  I'm cut out of the frame until towards the end when we start to circle up. 

Happy Tuesday and Feliz Navidad!!!

It's great. I love it! Part 2

So often I'm asked if  I like the DR or how my job is going. And while this title is true, I have a hard time explaining why I feel that way.  I love being here yet I can't really say any specific thing that I love. I just love the combination of everything. 

One day some students asked if I liked the food.  I eat most of it and it's good but I'm not crazy about it. At home, I just cook American foods that I like; but that could also be because that's what I know how to cook. Plus we have Dominican food every day for lunch at school. For all my adventure-ness and traveling I'm pretty content to stick with foods I know I like. I am kinda a picky eater.

I love being around Spanish. Hearing it and being able to speak it--even though I don't very often because tengo vergüenza (I'm shy).   I'm learning more little by little. I've found a church without other Americans and my friend is the only English speaker.  I'm looking forward to getting more connected next semester and using lots of Spanish.

I love, love, love singing worship songs in Spanish.  My roommates from last year were probably tired of Spanish worship because I played it so much. My church plays some songs I know in English, but many are of the Spanish songs are new to me. I love that. I feel like it gives me a chance to experience how Dominicans worship, rather than American worship in Spanish. Once while listening to Spanish worship a friend said, "I love this. It's so happy!" Another friend replied, "It makes me want to dance." Perfect summary right there.

I love teaching. Even though I'm a sub this year I am still able to do some of my own ideas and plans.  Last week our librarian was away for a training conference for a day.  For the kindergarten lesson she gave me the book but let me create the activity. I fully enjoyed finding a worksheet to go with it on Pinterest.  Then I adapted it to find the kindergarten level and amount of class time we had.  This week I was in fourth grade for most of the week (one of the teachers is sick).  This was such a great learning experience.  Surprisingly, I've never worked much with kids at this age level so everything was new to me. This was really my first experience with upper elementary kiddos. I have so much knowledge and experience with younger kiddos that it's pretty easy to make something up on the spot and go with it when I need to. This week with fourth grade was just so different. They don't like the same things younger kids do, they don't respond to things the way I expect. Every day got a little easier as I learned a little bit more about how to interact and teach this level.  If I have my own classroom I'd still want  lower elementary but I'm glad for this experience and the chance to learn something new.  Who knows? Maybe if I spend more time in fourth grade it will grow on me.

I love that it's 80 degrees out while friends back home are posting picture of 18 or 4 degree weather.  I just Skyped my family and they showed me a foot of snow out the front door.  I love that snow, but the cold, not sure how I'm gonna handle that when I get back next week. Brrrrr....

I love that I work at a school that makes it possible to live in the DR (I even get paid this time!) while helping those less materially blessed than us.  Last Saturday I helped carry concrete for a new floor at the home of one the school cleaning ladies.  Previously, she'd had a  dirt floor.  SCS was able to raise the money for the concrete through a Jean Day fundraiser. When I arrived four or so of her family members were working.  Several other staff members were also there to help out as they could.  My  legs were covered in concrete and my arms ached the next day but I loved serving were I could.  I've heard stories all week from different staff members sharing this lady's thankfulness and joy for her new floor.  She's the only believer in her family, but we pray this act of kindness will soften some hearts. 

I love so much about being here, being in this culture, but if I kept adding to this list I'd never post this blog.  Gracias por leer.  ¡¡Feliz Navidad!!

Tuesday, Blog Day!

Over a month ago, probably more like two, I scheduled for myself Tuesdays as blog writing days.  Since then I've written maybe one blog post.  Something always seems to come up: my roommates last week, out to dinner, shopping trip, or a Skype call.  The busyness (or the nothing-ness) of life gets in the way quickly. So before this makes yet another Tuesday without a blog post, I want to quickly write something. This isn't the '"It's great. I love it" Part 2' post I've been wanting to write, but I'm trying to make a habit.

Wisdom teeth and Thanksgiving.  Exciting, right?   Okay, maybe not so much.  This makes two years in a row that I've spent Thanksgiving in the DR.  Sunday night was the SCS potluck Thanksgiving dinner at the directors home.  Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and apple crisp, plus tons more that didn't make it on my plate. We have these all staff get together once a quarter and I love that we all gather in a huge circle in the yard for a time of singing and worship.  After the food and the worship, I got to hold a teacher's newborn baby for at least thirty minutes while she caught up with another staff member. That made my night, I would have kept her longer if possible. :)

Wednesday was a half day at school with bunches of kiddos dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians.  After all the time I've spent in Latin countries and their camps/youth groups I shouldn't be surprised but how much they get into costumes and dressing up, but I still am. They always go all out.

Wednesday afternoon I headed to the dentist to have my wisdom teeth removed, all four. Oh, I wasn't put to sleep either; my headphones were my best friend. When I first meet with the dentist in planning this he told me it would only take 20 minutes. That seemed a bit fast to me. I timed he; he was done in 17.  Numbing shots and all that, excluded from 17.  My appointment was at 2pm and I was walking out by 3pm.  My family had a real fun time Skyping me that afternoon as I tried to figure out how to talk while all numb. I spent Thanksgiving day reading The Two Towers and watching the Macy's parade on TV. I was able to eat mashed potatoes for dinner still.  That's the nice part about Thanksgiving food; most if it is still edible on a soft food diet: mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce.  

Everything about this has gone great, even compared to what I've heard from people had heir teeth out in the States. I love having all this extra space in my month now, but my teeth are all very sensitive now as they're adjusting to take advantage of that space.  Other than that, I really don't have any pain.  I get my stitches out tomorrow :) 

If you're thinking about having your wisdom teeth out it's super cheap here, and the dental office is very clean, modern, and up to date. I've had no complications.  Unfortunately, your flight would be more expensive than the surgery.  

Hopefully, you'll see another blog post on each of the two Tuesdays before Christmas break.  And hopefully, I'll see YOU over break.  I'm coming back to the States just five days shy of a full seven months here.