Book Week

My apologies for not updating my blog, time has seemed to escape me in recent weeks. Exhaustion has become a daily thing, and I realize that teaching tends to do that to everyone. However, I wouldn't trade my teaching for anything in this world (okay, maybe the repayment of my student loans).

This week has been fantastic and yet so frustrating that I do not know whether to laugh or cry. Book week is upon us. This entire week is dedicated to promote regular reading to our students and celebrate the adventures we can take through books.

Monday was quite comical, at least from the children's perspective. All the teachers had to dress up as book characters and dance to "I like to move it, move it" (a famous song from the movie Madagascar). However instead of "I like to move it, move it" we altered the words to "I like to read it, read it". Being the teachers that we are, Budi and I naturally forgot about this until five minutes prior. Thankfully I have an abyss of drama costumes in my closet. We managed to find costumes that are of likeliness to characters in Harry Potter. Success!

Monday was also the day of Grade 3's movie theater company. In our UOI, we have studied organization between departments and groups. For the past few weeks, the kids have developed a movie theater company in which they all had different roles. When everything fell into place (mainly on Monday), the kids sold tickets to a showing of "Despicable Me" to the PYP. It went smoothly, but proved to be very tiring.

Tuesday was pajama day. This was by far one of my favorite days in past weeks. It was also a blessing in disguise as I overslept and rolled right out of bed before heading directly to school. Seeing the kids in pajamas was pretty much the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Even Budi donned traditional Indonesian bed clothes (t-shirt and sarong).

In trying to find a tie-in to reading and pajama day, we played "Bedtime Stories" and read books with our stuffed animals for the better part of the day. The kids were thrilled, and what they didn't realize was that the teachers were probably even more thrilled. It was a relaxing day in a serene atmosphere and provided us with the ability to catch up from the day before.

To be honest, I'm not sure what today should have entailed in regards to book week. As I think back of the day's events, I am pretty confident that neither Budi nor I tied anything to this themed week. Oh well, we'll make up for it tomorrow when we have a four hour activity with Grade 6.

Thus far, I'd say it has been a successful week for promoting reading. The kids are really getting into it, and it's suffice to say that the teachers are as well. Looking forward for the days to come...

The Longest Week

Coming back to school was a big refresher. To see familiar faces and do the thing I love most: teach. Everything was fantastic until about Monday afternoon. I began to feel faint and feverish just past noon. It wasn't much longer until I went home sick for the day.

I was sick with high fevers the next day and ended up at the doctor's office. It turns out that I got sun poisoning. Despite the fact of putting sun screen on nearly every hour, the fact of being almost directly on the equator with exposure of ample amount of UV rays put me at a larger risk of getting it. In all honesty, it didn't matter if I took a bath in sunscreen, apparently it was inevitable. I guess the next time will have to be taken with extraordinary measures to prevent it.

So, what did I do all week? Well I was restricted to my bed and the couch. As much as I enjoy just hanging out, four straight days of it is bound to drive a person crazy. My neighbor courteously gave me all the seasons of Alias and I averaged about a season a day plus a few naps in between. Although that seems like a waste of a day, it's the best I could do to preoccupy myself instead of all the itching and pain of the sunburn.

The only real downside is that I'm missing out on socializing. I feel like I've had zero exposure to humanity (minus the doctor visits) since Monday afternoon. It's more difficult that you could imagine. I've managed to make due, talking to myself, talking to my cat, etc. Yes, it's lame, but I got to the point where I just needed to talk.

It's been an eye opening experience being confined to my house. It makes me realize that I'm not invincible or irreplaceable. So in a way, this was a good situation to push me on my butt and give me perspective.

Holiday in Bali

Chinese New Year is something that we just don't celebrate in the States. Well, I've come to appreciate the holiday because it gives us a couple of days off of school. During these days, I traveled to Bali, one of the famous Indonesian islands, with my friend Putri.

We left at seven in the morning on Thursday via the damri (airport bus) and slept most of the way to the airport. The night before we stayed up far too late because we were too excited to sleep. You know you are splashing with excitement before a family vacation or a field trip - well that's how we felt. Too happy to sleep, too anxious to sleep.

We got to the airport in record timing, thanks to minimal traffic and spent the next two hours at a donut shop. We were revved up to go that we could barely sit and wait until our flight boarded. Another nap in the plane got me immediately to Bali.

The sun was shining, the breeze was hot and heavy when we stepped off the plane onto the runway, but I was too busy looking around at everything around me. Because Putri and I only had carry on luggage, we were able to get out of the airport quickly and catch a cab to our hotel in Legian (leg-ee-on). There are two touristy towns in Bali that are overwhelming with shops, people, trash, and motor bikes. Legian is one of them and the other is Kuta (coo-tah). The reason we stayed here and did not travel north to the more quiet towns was that we wanted to go dancing at night. So we traded in the serene atmosphere for a more roaring frat town - definitely not my style, but we made it work.

We got to our hotel and checked in. We each had our own room. It was quite small, but honestly I didn't need much more than the basic entities because the sole purpose of the room was to sleep.

Wasting no time, Putri and I walked the town to get lunch and start shopping. Bartering there is a must, but it is tricky, especially in our scenario. The vendors are willing to go much lower with an Indonesian, but with a bule (white person) they tend to be obscenely high. Putri was an excellent buffer and managed to get numerous things at dirt cheap prices.

I've realized over the past few months here that Indonesians tend to think that white people are made of money. It's like they think that we have a money forest in our back yard and we can just pick some off a tree or two whenever we need it. Some people get really annoyed with that, as did I at first. However, now that I've been here for so long, it's just a way of thinking that can't be changed.

Our shopping trip was successful and by five o'clock in the evening we had made our way to the beach (which was about a quarter of a mile from our hotel) to watch the sun set beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean. The day had turned cloudy and overcast halfway through so there weren't many colors painted in the sky, but it was beautiful.

After getting some dinner, the two of us decided to rest. You would be surprised how an all day shopping excursion could make you literally want to fall to the floor and wither in exhaustion! Our original plan was to take a short nap and go dancing that night - but we overslept and the taxi service was closed, not to mention that is was literally pouring buckets of rain. So instead of dancing we went to bed and planned for an early morning.

Breakfast was at a little joint just outside of the hotel. I had freshly made apple juice and a raisin danish. It was delicious and just enough to get me going for the day. We rented a motorbike from the hotel and headed northbound to a famous island temple called Tanah Lot. It was about an hour drive and I was the designated driver on the way there. Driving is a lot more difficult in Bali because there is a lot more traffic. There are two forms of surviving the streets on a motorbike: take traffic head on the on the opposite side of the road or driving on the shoulders and sidewalk. My heart was racing like a horse almost the entire drive up. Being so close to cars was out of my comfort zone.

We got to Tanah Lot late morning. After maneuvering through market streets, we arrived at the beach where the famous Hindu temple erected out of the ocean. It was originally a huge jagged boulder that ended up being carved into a beautiful temple. There was, of course, lots of picture taking. After we got our fill of that, we walked the seaside to numerous cliffs where many random temples stood over the water.

It was interesting to be immersed in a new and foreign religion. Living in Java has made me keenly aware of Muslim culture and religious traditions. However, Hinduism is a religion that dominates this island. Not only with the countless temples, but on the streets of the island. There are offerings of flowers, plants, food, and incense in front of driveways and stores. These offerings supposedly "honor the dead, offer homage to the island gods, and bid request for safekeeping."

It's difficult to come face to face with Hindi traditions (let alone Islamic tradition in Java) as a Christian. I find myself overwhelmed sometimes. How do Christians respond to this? How should I respond to this. Some say the best way is to ignore it...I just can't seem to ignore it. Some say to witness to them until they're blue in the face...but here that's beyond offensive. But then I realize that I am called to do something special here - I am being a Christ-like example and teaching Christ to a new generation in my school. That is my calling, and even though I wish I could be superwoman and change the whole world, I recognize the importance of focus. In the meantime I will strive to walk in Christ's footsteps and show His love and compassion everywhere I go.

After my visit to Tanah Lot, we drove down to Kuta, the neighboring town of Legian. We drove past the Bali bombing memorial site which remembers the victims of the heinous terrorist bombing in 2002. Although we didn't have time to stop and look closer, I was able to get a picture while riding passenger on a motorbike.

We purchased refreshing fruit smoothies before hitting the famous Kuta Beach. The beach here was a lot cleaner but full of market sellers that sold a range of merchandise and services from pedicures, sarongs, surfboards, dresses, massages, and much more. We found a patch of shade and indulged in a relaxing nap before heading to the clothing market about a kilometer away from the beachfront.

Near dinner time we headed home to take an extended nap before heading out to go dancing. The rain delayed us several times, but we made it home as soon as we could. When we woke up, we were so incredibly sunburned that we cancelled our dancing night once again and stayed in bed.

Saturday, our last morning in Bali, we woke up the the rain. We had plans of going to a quiet town about an hour north of Legian, but the rain has it's effects on travelling as well. Instead we enjoyed a lengthy breakfast at a cafe and waited for the rain to subside. Putri told me in her Javanese culture (which is a specific Indonesian ethic group) they throw a pair of underwear on the roof and the rain will stop. Since both of us were on our last pair, that option was out. We instead made due with the rain.

We bopped around the town, doing some sporadic shopping before getting lunch at an Australian restaurant. It was nice to have some western food. I enjoy Indonesian food, but I crave western food a lot, and this was a nice fill.

The rain finally stopped and we walked to the beach. We found a little restaurant on the beach and enjoyed a drink before heading back to the airport. Our taxi ride was a little nerve wracking, but I've learned to entrust your life to your taxi driver (no matter if he is the star student of the BMV or the world's worst driver) or you will never get where you are going.

Our flight was twice delayed but we kept ourselves occupied. When we finally took off, I fell into a deep sleep and woke up again in Jakarta. Quick flight, or so it seemed.

It was a great holiday and I am particularly glad we chose to leave on Saturday so that I have a day to recuperate before heading off to school. Another week ahead before the next holiday, which happens to fall on Valentines. It's a busy week, but it will be nice to get back to a temporary norm. I find that no matter how much I wish for the next school holiday, I tend to miss being at school even more.

Hope this Bali trip brought a little warmth back home in the snow-stricken states. Until next time...

3...2...1...Blast Off

Like any Friday, the kids are filled with the wiggles (although I'm starting to realize that this isn't just happening on Fridays). The day was quite productive despite the anticipation of the weekend.

Recently the kids started on their movie theater company and are separated into different departments so to plan an all PYP movie event. I have to admit that I am pretty impressed with their hard work and determination. They were very concerned about every little detail and worked with other departments to make sure everything was accounted for and running smoothly.

By the time their work dwindled down for the week, it was time for English. I was definitely not prepared for what happened today. I was in the middle of talking about sequencing when one of m kids started sneezing. After four times a lake of snot blasted out of his nose and landed about two feet in front of him and the remainder of it oozed down all his arm. I had to bite my tongue to the point of bleeding to hold back the laughter that was throbbing inside of me. It wasn't but a few moments later when one of the girls saw the jungle of snot and began to puke. She was holding it in with her best effort but it was spurting between her fingers. She raced to the bathroom so to not make a display of her lunch on the linoleum floor.

I couldn't hold it in. Not even a little. Neither could Budi. We were literally laughing so hard that we were wheezing, trying to catch our breath. An orchestra of laughter followed and there was no turning back to the lesson. Everyone was far gone.

In a desperate attempt to get them back to a peaceful state, we started to do yoga. It worked for about two minutes but the giggles kept bursting out of them. So we did the invisible wall sit. This is where you put your ankles and knees together, hands above your head, and bend down to half of your height. Keeping a straight back is a must in this exercise. Kids were dropping on the floor like flies. They tried so hard to hold their stance but their muscles were burning and shaking.

There were four boys left and I said that the winner will get chocolate. This made them work harder, but the longer they stayed in this position, the harder it was not to give up. Four quickly became two; one of those two being one of my more naughty boys, Braven. Sweat was dripping down his face and all over his body. He kept screaming "chocolate!" to keep himself motivated. After about six minutes (no joke) we called it a tie. The two fell over and laid on the floor. Their clothes were soaking in sweat and a pool of it was left behind when they got up.

Everyone got in their seats soon after and laid their heads on their desk to rest while I read our class novel "Pelican Cove". They were wiped out.

At the end of the day, all of my kids told me, "Ms. Marie, we are going to practice all weekend so that Monday we can have another invisible wall sit contest. Bring chocolate." I had to laugh. Their determination seems to brew a contagious concoction that affects their peers.

It definitely was a day for the books though. Lots of laughs, lots of exerted energy trying to calm kids down, and of course snot rockets and upchucking. The kids were already talking this afternoon as if it was some untouchable historic event. Gotta love the enthusiasm and humor of eight year olds!

The Fruit of the Spirit

At the age of five I already knew the fruit of the spirit by heart, I even had a handy dandy song to help me remember. It wasn't until years later that I realized what each of them truly meant.

In the last few weeks we have taken each"fruit" and dissecting what each one means to my kids in Bible class. It wasn't until recently that I realize the importance of incorporating every single one of these every single day (whether it's a good day or a bad day).

Today we worked on a very intensive project that is tied with our digital portfolio and our upcoming chapel. The project sounded simple - create each word with our bodies - it definitely was more stressful than I initially thought.

The kids all gathered in the atrium (our outside courtyard) and strained up to see me as I was on the fifth floor balcony shouting out orders of how to create letters by twisting and turning their bodies. Budi was a big help but to be honest, I think both of us are partially deaf - which in turn stirs up confusion and chaos (it's no surprise to me anymore that chaos is a natural element in my classroom).

As I was snapping pictures and losing my voice with every command, I realized that applying the fruit of the spirit to my daily life is something that I struggle with. Sure, some of them are easy like love, gentleness, and self control (I guess that's the teacher in me).

However having joy bubble out with every waking breath I take is a little more difficult task to get a handle on. I really try to choose joy but some days I want to just give up and say "Today I just want to be miserable, let me wallow! Feel free to join me if you want - misery indeed thrives on company!" Yes, not the best attitude to take, but don't you ever feel like doing that sometimes too? Oh and don't get me started on patience. That is a daily struggle, especially with the few select rambunctious fireballs I have in my class.

However, as I reflect on these thoughts of my mental conversation, I realize that not everything in our Christian walk is supposed to be a piece of pie.If it was, well that would be stinking amazing; but then as we fight incessantly to keep these fruits ample each day, God reveals himself in ways we never thought possible.

This unit and this project have really made an impact on the kids, but to be honest, I think it made an even bigger impact on me. Teachers are meant to teach, and that's true, but I really think teachers are meant to learn too. I have discovered more about myself, my character, and my identity in Jesus Christ in these past months of being a teacher than I ever have in my entire life.

Operation Destruction of Creepy Crawlies

I hate anything that creeps and crawls - especially when that something creeps and crawls on my floors. I definitely took my Dad's fearlessness for granted when I lived at home because I could just shriek and he'd come (sometimes from a dead sleep) to kill even the most minuscule insect. Now I live on my own and have to deal with all the scary creatures of the world that burglarize my house.

Yesterday there was a ginormous scorpion that greeted me as I was getting a glass of water in the morning. I've learned not to shriek because them my cat (who thinks he's a dog) comes racing down the steps and slides everywhere (because he's bow-legged) and usually gets a nasty counterattack from the teeny beast, even though it's about 1/100 of the size of the cat. Instead I took my handy-dandy art canvas (why I actually have that in my house is even something I am curious about) and smacked the scorpion to smithereens.

Tonight I got a surprise visit from the loathed cockroach that lives in the corner nook behind my bathroom door. I only see him on rare occasions, and every effort to destroy him has been an epic fail. I was convinced that tonight would be the night that I would be able to slay the crunchy leaf-looking villain. With a toilet brush in hand I frantically darted around my basement bathroom trying to crush him. It's harder than it sounds. There are not that many places to turn around in that refrigerator-sized commode. I was one swat away from killing it before it scurried off in retreat to its hideaway. Next time....he will surely die.

I like to be creative with my attempted assassinations of the assailants that try to take over my house. Next time I pick off another creepy crawly, I might even just take a broom and play golf with it in the back yard. Who knows, the iguana that lives in my backyard might like the appetizer!

Yes - it sounds malicious - but don't doubt that you wouldn't do the same thing if you were all alone with no one to do petty disposing of invasive creatures.

The Annual Age Growth

My birthday has always seemed to be a big event every year. Not with parties, not with presents, but with the people I spend it with and all the mental build up of getting one year older. I tend to convince my family that we should celebrate my birthday for the entire month of January. I'm not quite sure how that all started, but I've milked that philosophy dry to the point where it's a joke rather than a reality.

This year was a little different. While being home at Christmas, I celebrated a few weeks early with my family, only to come back and with 2 weeks until my actual birthday. However, upon waking up that morning, it felt like birthday had come and gone. I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary, but I was in for a surprise.

My teaching partner, Budi arranged for a cake to be made for morning devotions and we had a small party with all of the PYP teachers. The cake was delicious but gave me quite a sugar jolt that seemed to reverberate through the better part of the day.

All throughout the day while I was teaching, random students interrupted my lessons with presents from other teachers: chocolates, jewelry, cards...It was all so sweet. My students got a kick out of it as they tried to figure out who all was sending these gifts.

In the afternoon I had break duty. During this time, my students decorated the room and made cards for me. When I came in they all sang happy birthday and we had more cake. At this point I was flying high in the sky from all the sugar I had.

To end the day, my neighbor had a big birthday party for me that included all of the expats. It was great food (baked potato soup, homemade bread, and salad), dessert (chocolate chess cake), presents, and fantastic fellowship with my other family home away from home. Then just before bed, I got to talk to my mom and dad on skype for some of my last birthday wishes of the night.

I realize that a birthday is just another day that really isn't all that special except for the fact that you get one year older (which tends to freak me out every year). I was truly blessed to have such an amazing birthday. The Lord has put such amazing friends and family in my life. Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Love to all of you!