5:30am comes very early...

I am just about ready to go to bed, but I just thought I'd send a little update since it's been a little while. This week went well. I took over two more classes(kindergarten and second grade) and I had a blast with both of them. This week, Middle school and High school are on the list and it is also my week of "full control". It should go fine<- at least I am telling myself that. I am planned, approved and most everything is copied off. Bring. it. on. The good news is that middle/high school follow the same schedule and Tues/Thursday are homework days- so I only had to plan for three more days. It still was a little more work then I was expecting and I am left wondering how teachers have time for much else besides school!! But then I remember that I am still writing out full lesson plans- ie ones I would turn in. So that takes a little more time:)
But anyways, I am super excited for stuff I have planned this week:) The first graders are studying butterflies and the second graders are studying quilts! How fun! I had a little too much fun planning for this week I think. Hopefully they will enjoy it! Goodnight everyone! 5:30 am comes verrrrry early.

The Adventure continues...

I experienced my first earthquake today. 5.1 magnitude. Quite the adventure. Needless to say, I really did not know what was happening until it was almost over. I was so scared I was frozen in my seat. "Proper" earthquake safety says to get under something- like a desk. I spent most of the earthquake running around the room trying to find a desk. I then spent the last 15 seconds of it or so trying not to throw up- I was quite nervous. Give me a tornado any day over that! It also didn't help that as we were walking back into the school (leaving the building is the second step in earthquake safety) my cooperating teacher got quite close to my ear without me seeing her and exclaimed "Well that's something to write home about". Good thing God made skin so tight, because I jumped so fast that- if skin was looser- it would have not gone with me. Ohh, what an adventure!

I thought I would take this time to reflect on my last two-ish weeks here and everything I have learned so far. One thing I always appreciate about travelling is that you learn so much about yourself and life by doing it.

So here are my life lessons/what God has shown me through coming to Nicaragua(the two are intermixed, so bear with me here)-

1. After a long, hot and dusty day, a COLD shower is the most amazing feeling.

2. God knew what He was doing when he placed me at NCA. Student teaching is stressful and I have only been worrying about it since sophomore year. Trust me when I say- God saw the big picture with this whole thing. *there is a whole lot more I could say about this, but it's not internet appropriate. More like, let's sit down over a cup of coffee and we'll talk...God never ceases to amaze me.

3. "There is something about this country that makes you go to bed early and get up early." For the past two weeks, I have been up by 5:30 am. Morning person much? I think so...

4. I have found that my calling to be a teacher is not something I should be worrying about at 5:30 in the morning. Or at 6:30 in the morning. Because for the past week, those times have been the times when I am least likely to feel "called" to do anything except go back to bed. I just need to trust that the "re-affirmation" will be coming later in the day...Usually at about 9:35am when I go pick up my little first graders.

5. Geckos are gross. In cages they are fine. Running around my shower, not so fine.

6. Don't eat the lettuce. If you do, it will take two weeks to feel normal again.

7. I should have dyed my hair brown...it would eliminate a lot of problems.

8. Running sprints/running in general helps me organize my thoughts.

9. Tortillas- if left for more then two days- turn into a pile of mush.

10. If you think apartment living is noisy at Dordt, I can hear everything my neighbors, and their neighbors, and THEIR neighbors do at all times of the day.

11. I never knew my hair was so...curly.

12. Singing Spanish praise songs at 7am on a Friday is the best way to end a busy week.

13. I am seriously rethinking some major things about my life. ie. where I want to be next year. I am anxiously awaiting God's direction.

14. God places people and places in your life for a reason. Often times, i don't even know my own wounds until I am in a place of healing for them. People are so real down here. There is no beating around the bush or excuses made for with-holding parts of their lives. They are simply who God created them to be and accept who other people were created to be. And it's wonderfully refreshing.

15. and last but not least- Coke is amazing outside of the States.

There you go. So little things I have learned so far and some big life lessons God is working on teaching me. I just have to keep reminding myself that this side of Heaven, I am a work in progress. The destination makes this worth it:)
Have a marvelous Friday everyone!

A little insight into life in Nicaragua...

This morning, one of the couples at the school announced that they had been robbed-like "hole punched in fence, broken into, house completely ransacked, kids' Christmas toys stolen" kind of robbed. The couple themselves were doing okay with it, but their kids were feeling quite violated and vulnerable. I can totally understand why. This incident spawned quite the interesting conversation in 7th grade homeroom this morning. The boys had been reading a story about how they should not store up treasures on this earth "where moth and rust destroy or where theives break in a steal". All the boys had heard what had happened to the other family and they were all eager to share their own stories of being robbed. It amazed me because EVERY SINGLE HAND WENT UP! Everyone had a story to share. "My friend was robbed last week!" "Thieves took my Playstation." "I was robbed at gun point and they took my backpack." Robbed at GUNPOINT. It blew my mind. These kids are in seventh grade. SEVENTH! And already this is what they have experienced. My teacher's words after that little conversation were "Everyone has had an experience with it." Even her. (She shared her story with me after class). Here I am, a little blond haired, blue eyed girl from Iowa who has spent the last three/four years not locking my door. Granted, I am usually the one pushing for it to be locked but sometimes certain people can't remember their key...:)...so the door stays unlocked. The differences between the two worlds just blows my mind sometimes. I doubt this will be the last time I am completely shocked my something, it is most likely the first incident in many. It just never ceases to amaze me how easy my life has been.

First Day- check!

Today was my first day in the classroom. I have to say, the alarm clock going off at 5:35 am, was not terrible. I had gone to bed at 8:30 the night before so that might have had something to do with it. Thankfully, I was also feeling much much much better this morning. Advice of the day- never eat the lettuce. And did you know that most cases of "traveller's sickness" result from E-coli? Good thing the sickness has finally run it's course:) Anyways, today was my first day. I didn't really do much aside from observation and a few meetings. All I can say is that you know the semester is going to be great when your 7th graders turn and mouth "Oh the horror!" at you when the teacher mentions you are going to be their teacher. Note: they were doing this in response to me wanting to teach them (not about me). They just couldn't understand why anyone would want to do such a thing:p Maybe I really am crazy...

Welcome Home:)

So the last few days have been such a whirlwind! Alli and I arrived in Managua on the 5th, made it through customs unharmed but confused (there were THREE forms to fill out! THREE!) and almost missed seeing our ride( who is both the HS principal and my supervisor) excitedly waving and jumping up and down. She promptly gave us both hugs (I apologized for smelling awful) and she laughed and said to not worry about it. Her first official words to me were “Can I help you with anything?” Then she grabbed my biggest bag and we were off. We had to pick up one more teacher with her two daughters, so we did not go far. But I did get my first view of Nicaragua! It was warm and sunny with palm trees everywhere I immediately felt suffocated in my sweat shirt and jeans. We waited about 30 minutes in the airport before heading out to our new home.
As we were driving along, I was trying to take in everything while listening to the principal explain everything. Everything is in Spanish and it’s beautiful. I can actually understand it- which is the coolest part. There were also people everywhere! People were standing, walking, crossing the street, talking. It all seemed slightly chaotic to me, but I know to them it all makes sense. The weird thing about Managua is that there are no tall buildings- even though it is a city. I was told they were all destroyed in an earthquake several years back and no one has bothered to rebuild them. That would explain why all the people around were confusing to me. All the people around make sense if it’s a city, but I was thinking we were in a suburb due to the lack of tall buildings.
We finally made it to our new home- La Quinta Allyson- and spent about an hour unpacking before the principal came back to take us to the store. In that hour a lot happened. We realized we had no hot water, that the tv does not work and that there was a lot of stuff we needed. We also met some very nice Nicaraguan ladies- not quite sure who they were- and Alli’s teacher stopped by to invite us over for dinner and to ask what we still needed. She was able to provide me with a lovely pillow I knew it would all work out. The principal also came back with a pitcher of water and some kitchen stuff for us. It’s amazing how willing everyone has been in helping us get settled in. (Apparently we are the first student teachers to have our own apartment; the others have all stayed with other people.) We went to the grocery store and I hate to admit it, but I had some expectations about this place that were quickly proven wrong. I am used to not being able to get “familiar products” outside of the States such as peanut butter or marshmallows. Most of the time, the product looks familiar, but the packaging is way different (such as ketchup being in bags and so on). In Nicaragua they not only have familiar products, but the packaging is just about the same- only in Spanish. I felt like I was in a grocery store in the States and I bought Kraft macaroni and cheese if that tells you anything. Weird.
The rest of the weekend was quite a whirlwind. We had a teacher retreat and I have to admit, it was quite the nice way to meet people. What better way to get to know your supervisor then through a friendly little game of Dutch Blitz. I won I also had my first taste of rice and beans. I like it, but I could see it getting old after a while. The teacher retreat lasted Friday and Saturday morning, then it was back to the school to do a little planning. My teacher is super awesome and I think we are already going to get along quite well. I am excited to actually get into the classroom and start planning. That starts Monday! Tomorrow it’s Spanish church and more getting used to life here. So far, my Spanish is pretty good, I just need to work up more guts to use it.

Goodmorning?

I don't understand why you are talking to me. Can't you tell that I spent the night in the airport? I smell like the floor and frankly you are a little too peppy for 5:30 am. These were the thoughts going through my mind as two young men at the airport Starbucks struck up a conversation with Alli and I. Topic of interest: Where is Dordt college(we were wearing matching sweatshirts?) Alli was too tired to be thinking and promptly replied "I don't know". I mumbled something about it being in Iowa and our two new friends mulled over this new information with much interest. "What brings you to Texas?" They then asked. "Well, we are actually in route in Managua, Nicaragua," I replied. "Really?! Us too!" I cringed a little because the reply was a little too enthusiastic for the time in the morning. I tried to match his excitement, but failed miserably. "Wow. Really?" I replied flatly. We then proceeded to talk about why we were going. Our two new friends were vacationing down there because they "needed a break". Our conversation ended fairly quickly when they started making jokes about how Dordt must have only made two sweatshirts and on and on. Alli and I were way too tried to find anything witty to say back and they eventually left us to our coffee and muffins. Yes, this is the kind of stuff that happens at 5:30 am in the Houston International Airport. One more flight, then we shall be there:) Good morning everyone!

travelling

Despite popular belief, I actually really hate the actual "travelling" part of any travel adventure. Once I am where I am going, I'm fine but this whole packing, repacking, flying over the ocean stuff is just no fun. For starters, I am an awful packer. I usually get sick and tired of packing at about 15 minutes into the process and then proceed to shove everything into my bag. Inevitably, I will forget something that is very important. For example- I left all my pens and sharpies at Dordt...not like those are very important to teachers or anything. I have scheduled a quick trip to Target this morning. Oh well, I am just praying that I didn't forget anything terribly important for Nicaragua. Passport- check. Jacket- check. Addresses (for postcards)- check. Money- Check. Guide to Student teaching- check. I think I have it all. Hopefully. I guess I'll find out when I get there:) Hasta la vista a Los Estados Unidos! Voy a ir a Nicaragua!