Hi everyone!
Well once again I find myself at the end of another week and weekend and wondering where the time has gone. Each week seems to go by faster than the next, which leaves me wondering when Christmas will appear! I actually pulled out some Christmas music today, as the wind and rain beat down outside my apartment. It kind of fit the mood!
I've been struggling with homesickness (for friends and places) this weekend, but am trying to look ahead to when I actually get home and will wish I am back here. The world has its twists and turns, and I know that recalling the past with more enthusiasm than you lived in it is one of those. So I am trying to put that enthusiasm in the present. Some days it is tough. Friends are constantly on my mind. It's been difficult to relate to some of the other SM's here. I get along with all of them just fine, but bonding takes its time, and when you have such a wide range of personalities it can be really difficult.
My roommate, Lorena, has been a real blessing though, and she and I have shared some of our trials and I think God put us together for a reason. I just keep praying that things will fall into place for me and I won't think about friends back home and at school so often through the day. Lorena and I had a great time the other night after the guys' last basketball game. It was pouring rain outside and after getting back mostly dry with the help of umbrellas, we decided to go right back outside and get wet. So we swang on the swings and ran around for quite some time, just enjoying the coolness and lighthearted feeling that always comes with playing in the rain. Earlier we had gone to one of her student's house for a birthday party, and while the women sat and watched tv and the men sat outside and drank and talked, Lorena and I sat and played with some of the kids. I had them teach me more Pohnpeian words, and I am confident I'll never be fluent in this language! It's just going to take more work than I have time for. But I am trying, and it's fun to learn new words, even while the kids are laughing at my efforts. That's one of the hard parts, they are shy and would rather laugh at your attempts than correct you and teach you how to say things right. Atleast they speak english! Hopefully I'll know atleast a decent amount of Pohnpeian by the time I leave though.
Well this week has been a fun one in class. I am enjoying my kids more and more. They bring their silly sense of humor to the classroom and all our activities, and I find myself laughing more and scolding less. I am wanting to be more of their friend than teacher at times, and sometimes it's really difficult for me to put the name of one of my favorite students up on the board for misbehavior. I have to remember to be consistent, and though I'll talk to the students for misbehavior quite frequently, it's actually difficult for me to give out punishment a lot of the time! They are wonderful kids though, and they are definitely warming up to me. I have to fend off about 5 of my boys at lunchtime as they crowd around my desk for some purpose or another. They get a little rowdy and I send them away sometimes, but mostly they just like to stand there and talk amongst themselves and tell me stories. The girls gather in their little groups and talk in Pohnpeian and laugh (oh how I wish I could understand what they're saying!), then ask me silly questions that somehow relate to their topic of conversation. Then we'll head to P.E. and I have to chase them out of the bathroom and tell them that they are beautiful already and to quit primping and go play. The boys naturally have vacated the classroom almost before I've told them they can go, flinging their uniform shirts at their desks (they have t-shirts underneath) as they run for the gym and their basketball and volleyball games. I played soccer with them one day, but attempting to run and kick a ball in a skirt (a wrap one no less) was a little much, and I was so hot afterwards that I decided that I would probably just stick to playing games after school when I could change and not care about being dirty the rest of the day. Mostly I just watch or grade papers. If only we had air conditioning...
We gave out "early warning" grades this last Friday, and I was very sad putting several D's and F's on the reports. It frustrates me to not be able to get some of these kids to study. I have some that make all A's--do fabulous on their homework, and are very eager to learn. Then I have students that won't participate unless I directly ask them a question (and half the time they aren't listening), and as hard as I try to get them to listen and learn when it comes time for the tests they do horrible. I guess there's all kinds in every class. I asked the previous teacher of my one students who is failing everything but one or two subjects how he passed 6th grade and she told me "All D's." Passing and learning are really not the same in my world, and I think he would have done better to repeat the grade, instead of wallowing in a new one. Guess that's not how the system works though.
Well every Friday we have chapel here--and split into different grade sections all day to rotate through. The 5th, 6th, and 7th graders all go together, so we have a good sized group to sing songs with. My kids aren't the best at participating with the songs (they're in that "too cool" stage), but usually I can coax them to sing a few (walking or standing by them usually gives them a renewed effort!), and then someone has a worship thought/story. I have to say my favorite song to here them sing is "Lord I Lift Your Name On High." These kids just belt it out and at one part they are so loud and it sounds so awesome that it sends chills down my back. This last week I was asked to do the worship thought, so I told them a story about a tornado that my aunt and I almost drove through, and how our guardien angels and God had been watching out for us as she was impressed to stop at a store-which caused us to just miss it in the next town up. This next Friday will be different since it is class picnic day. I guess all of the school splits up with whatever other classes they want to and decides on a place to have a picnic. The parents are supposed to help out with the driving and such, and we get to spend most of the day relaxing and playing, so I can't wait. It'll be a good change of pace to get to spend some time outside the classroom with the kids.
Well I suppose I should finish my grading for the night and get some sleep. I get less and less as the week wears on and by Friday I am just spent, so I need to start early. I've got to get some better habits. When I'm practically falling asleep in my cereal as I'm attempting to do devotions in the morning I always promise to go to bed earlier, but somehow it doesn't happen. Anyway, thank you to those of you who have been writing me with encouraging words, and for all of your thoughts and prayers. I miss you all.
Love in Christ,
Lindsey
p.s. I don't remember if I ever sent my phone number here out, but for
anyone who would like to add a little sunshine to my life and surprise me
with a call here's the number. 011-691-320-5607. Just a warning, you have
to have a phone card or it'll cost you about $6.00 a minute. And I'm 15 hours
ahead of eastern time... Have a wonderful week!!
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