- My mom buys really really nice toilet paper. The stuff is so super-absorbent I count out 4 squares instead of just pulling the roll. Seriously, took some getting used to. Also surprising how often I still go to throw tp into the trash, only to redirect mid-motion.
- There is high fructose corn syrup in EVERYthing. EVERYTHING.
- I don't care for the Mexican-grown avocados that are apparently my only choice here. This makes me VERY very sad.
- I miss Inka Cola.
- Snow and slush in vast quantities aren't as fun- nay, not even as tolerable- when one cannot locate one's kick-butt snow boots...
- Everybody here has so - much - space. As in houses and personal property. Granted, we live close to rural areas, but even the 'city suburbia' is spacious when compared to majority of Lima. And the houses themselves are spacious, even the small ones... Houses are starting to 'look normal' again now, but I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Just like I didn't like it that the 'normal Lima' residential vistas no longer jarred me- it was just 'normal' to see. And it was good when new people came and I saw it through their eyes again for the first time. People can become accustomed to ANYthing, if they are exposed to it long enough.
- I despise the job search process.
- I have the most AWESOME family in the world- immediate and extended, and on both sides of my family. (Notice I did NOT say 'perfect', but 'awesome'. There is a difference, and I think that the key to having an awesome family is to recognize and embrace the imperfect status that will ALWAYS exist.
- I love driving on real highways and byways again.
- I love having a real postal service again.
- I miss being able to hail a taxi in front of your home and being taken directly to the door of your destination for pennies... well, couple of bucks. If it's kinda far... Door to door service where I'm not driving... sigh. I didn't miss the actual 'driving' the way Cindy always did. (public transpo? I'll take it!)
- I almost cried in church because the songs they were singing weren't in Spanish: cried because I MISSED the SPANISH. I missed the worship leader at the church I went to in Lima. Missed how energetic the singing there was.
- I have been a little bored in church- my brain is like: what? this is it? it's all in English? i don't have to translate and assimilate? um, ok, um, wait- is he still talking? missed that all-English paragraph- really? all English?
- I have a lot of stuff packed in a lot of places. Almost none of it readily accessible.
- I have a little room in which to 'unpack' my stuff- therefore almost none of it truly unpacked. Such is life living in a room in a basement already filled with things from your old apartment and your sister's, and then all the normal basement things mom and dad have down there.
- I miss my mattress in Peru. It was comfy. (No comment on the one here.)
- Pretzels are cheap again. (relatively speaking)
- I miss living with Chessa, Heidi, Kari, and Christina. I miss the silly read bird being passed around secretively and unexpectedly between us in new and laughter-inducing places.
- Things SEEM further away from each other here... maybe because i have to be the one driving now...
- I have absolutely NO IDEA who half the people on the news are ('real' news makers, or sports/entertainment), nor the details of any of the national news/govt debates on deficit, health care, etc etc etc... NO CLUE about anything that's been happening.
- I have had enough of winter now. I am SO ready for an ENTIRE summer spent in one hemisphere.
Tuesday, February 15
Time keeps on tickin'...
...Into the future. I feel like I should post a new post just because that last one was so despairing. So, here is a post of thoughts in 3 weeks of being back in the States:
Wednesday, January 26
How hard can it be?
Really, how hard can it be to figure out the next best step for the rest of your life? (It'd be easier if my fingers weren't numb due to the cold basement and I didn't have to backtrack to fix so many typing mistakes as a result of said numbness...)
I mean, come on. Joyce Meyers told me to be determined. Okay. So does the Bible. Even better!!! I'm determined to be a teacher. Ok. The internet is supposed to make that easier too. ok. Here's an idea: why aren't teaching standards national??? I'm so tired of trying to navigate the morass of 'what do i have to do to get certification' based on what state I'm planning to teach in. GIVE ME A BREAK. Talk about a system built in the times of living your whole life in a 50 mile radius! MOBILITY means I can go anywhere in this country, but I have to decide where I'm gonna end up in five years right NOW so that I'll know what requirements I need to fulfill. But really, it doesn't much matter anyway, because unless someone else is going to pay for this, I ain't going anywhere any time soon.
So, I start looking for all those 'things' people say exist: programs for high-need areas, programs for women over 35 (that's me!) to go back to school, blah blah blah... MORASS of internet sludge...
Places to post your resume... great, okay, but I LOOK TERRIBLE ON PAPER, and I don't HAVE $85 to pay to post anything, thank you very much, no thank you.
TESOL/TEFL/ESL certification, because at least then I can be qualified to teach abroad... OH. MY. STARS. Go ahead, I dare you: put "online TEFL courses" into google... go on. Holy cow. And all touting their great and all-important accreditation, and all with different accrediting organizations... So how do I know which ones just MIGHT be accepted by US school entities at a later date? I don't, I guess. At least, I can't find that info. And the little info I did find seems to change from- you guessed it- state to state!!! So, I've got my last $500 to spend on 1 program... I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette!
Come ON people. I want to teach. I want to work hard and study hard to learn to be a better teacher. I am willing to go just about anywhere in the country to do so. What google search do I run for that???
Really, how hard can this be? (And do I have to spend much longer sitting at this computer? Cuz I think I'm developing a hemorrhoidal condition.)
Seriously, prayer for research that actually yields profitable results in the matter of finding gainful employment is appreciated. Especially pertaining to pursuing TEFL, etc. certification/diploma online in order to make myself more marketable (and I just would really LIKE to do it!!!!) Thanks. And now my fingers aren't moving so I'm going to bed. ;)
I mean, come on. Joyce Meyers told me to be determined. Okay. So does the Bible. Even better!!! I'm determined to be a teacher. Ok. The internet is supposed to make that easier too. ok. Here's an idea: why aren't teaching standards national??? I'm so tired of trying to navigate the morass of 'what do i have to do to get certification' based on what state I'm planning to teach in. GIVE ME A BREAK. Talk about a system built in the times of living your whole life in a 50 mile radius! MOBILITY means I can go anywhere in this country, but I have to decide where I'm gonna end up in five years right NOW so that I'll know what requirements I need to fulfill. But really, it doesn't much matter anyway, because unless someone else is going to pay for this, I ain't going anywhere any time soon.
So, I start looking for all those 'things' people say exist: programs for high-need areas, programs for women over 35 (that's me!) to go back to school, blah blah blah... MORASS of internet sludge...
Places to post your resume... great, okay, but I LOOK TERRIBLE ON PAPER, and I don't HAVE $85 to pay to post anything, thank you very much, no thank you.
TESOL/TEFL/ESL certification, because at least then I can be qualified to teach abroad... OH. MY. STARS. Go ahead, I dare you: put "online TEFL courses" into google... go on. Holy cow. And all touting their great and all-important accreditation, and all with different accrediting organizations... So how do I know which ones just MIGHT be accepted by US school entities at a later date? I don't, I guess. At least, I can't find that info. And the little info I did find seems to change from- you guessed it- state to state!!! So, I've got my last $500 to spend on 1 program... I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette!
Come ON people. I want to teach. I want to work hard and study hard to learn to be a better teacher. I am willing to go just about anywhere in the country to do so. What google search do I run for that???
Really, how hard can this be? (And do I have to spend much longer sitting at this computer? Cuz I think I'm developing a hemorrhoidal condition.)
Seriously, prayer for research that actually yields profitable results in the matter of finding gainful employment is appreciated. Especially pertaining to pursuing TEFL, etc. certification/diploma online in order to make myself more marketable (and I just would really LIKE to do it!!!!) Thanks. And now my fingers aren't moving so I'm going to bed. ;)
Sunday, January 23
It's been- One Week...
...since I left Peru, said goodbye, took a plane to Atlanta.
(I love that song, One Week. However, I will not attempt to continue writing in the rhyme scheme of said cancion.)
A week ago, I was there, in the Jorge Chavez International Airport, boarding a 767 for Atlanta, connecting to Chicago Midway. A week ago, I was still on Peruvian soil. A week ago, I was still on summer vacation.
Now, I'm just unemployed. Now, I'm sending/submitting job applications, reluctantly; interviewing and procuring employment being the miraculous blessing that it would be, it would also be the final punctuation mark of NOT using that return trip ticket February 21. I've said already, and known it would be true: So far, it hasn't been THAT much harder to leave Peru and come back to the States because it's the third time I've done it. The previous two times, I was home for a month, and returned. It will get harder as the days pass, and my time is spent seeking gainful employment and trying to unpack my 36 years of life back into one room in my parents' basement, instead of seeking missionary support and repacking my next year's worth of teaching into two 50-lb suitcases.
I am reluctant to go to church tomorrow, to thank all those wonderful people for making my three years possible, especially this last year, and to tell them that I've no idea what I'll be doing now. I don't want to think about the fact that I don't get to prepare my classroom for the next group of third graders- for Diego, and Vittorio, for Sara Isabela and Paula and Hannah and Grecia, for Luciano and all the others whose stories I have heard from second grade teacher Katie Guerrero.
I don't want to think about the fact that I don't get to prepare ANY classroom, ANYwhere, for ANY students. That's really what I don't want to think about. And yet, I have to, if I ever want to get BACK to doing just that: I've got to figure out, search out, apply and pray for HOW God will put me back into a classroom, somewhere. Because if nothing else, my 3 years in Peru showed me very clearly that in a classroom is exactly where I desire to be, where God intended me to use the abilities He's given me.
I don't want to think about the fact that in this economy, I'll be lucky to find ANY job, let alone one that I'll actually grow in and enjoy. That's the fear I battle now: that I'll take the first available job because I need money to live by, and I'll end up in a position that saps the joy of living right out of me. Because that's what happened the last time I was in a similar situation, and it was, quite honestly, a little bit of hell on earth. My conviction that God will provide for me in a way that will NOT strip me of all joy is at war with the fallen fear of future unknowns, of becoming a stress and leech to my wonderful family.
I am not sure HOW I can still be fearful- my life is a testimony to the gracious provision of God, a witness to the blessings He bestows when I am following His will in faith. Fear, or Faith: that is the question, really.
When I have stepped in faith before, He has vanquished fear and led me beside still waters and green pastures through blackest shadows to a table of surety and safety set in the very presence of the things that seek to destroy me...
What has God done for you? When has He stilled your fears and amazed you with His mercy and provision? Seriously, I'd like to hear stories from others. Like it says in Romans, that 'all these things' were written for the encouragement and hope of others to come... (paraphrased), hearing the stories of others gives us the encouragement to hope that we often lack on our own. Can you take a moment to share? With everyone, or just to me?
Thank you all for your continued support. I have received some 'extra Christmas' checks that have really been helpful. I have felt always that I am prayed for, and that is such a gift for which I can't express my thanks enough.
One week. 4000 miles. What will one MORE week bring? (Eyes on Jesus, not on my own footprints, right?)
Peace and grace to you all,
Emily
(I love that song, One Week. However, I will not attempt to continue writing in the rhyme scheme of said cancion.)
A week ago, I was there, in the Jorge Chavez International Airport, boarding a 767 for Atlanta, connecting to Chicago Midway. A week ago, I was still on Peruvian soil. A week ago, I was still on summer vacation.
Now, I'm just unemployed. Now, I'm sending/submitting job applications, reluctantly; interviewing and procuring employment being the miraculous blessing that it would be, it would also be the final punctuation mark of NOT using that return trip ticket February 21. I've said already, and known it would be true: So far, it hasn't been THAT much harder to leave Peru and come back to the States because it's the third time I've done it. The previous two times, I was home for a month, and returned. It will get harder as the days pass, and my time is spent seeking gainful employment and trying to unpack my 36 years of life back into one room in my parents' basement, instead of seeking missionary support and repacking my next year's worth of teaching into two 50-lb suitcases.
I am reluctant to go to church tomorrow, to thank all those wonderful people for making my three years possible, especially this last year, and to tell them that I've no idea what I'll be doing now. I don't want to think about the fact that I don't get to prepare my classroom for the next group of third graders- for Diego, and Vittorio, for Sara Isabela and Paula and Hannah and Grecia, for Luciano and all the others whose stories I have heard from second grade teacher Katie Guerrero.
I don't want to think about the fact that I don't get to prepare ANY classroom, ANYwhere, for ANY students. That's really what I don't want to think about. And yet, I have to, if I ever want to get BACK to doing just that: I've got to figure out, search out, apply and pray for HOW God will put me back into a classroom, somewhere. Because if nothing else, my 3 years in Peru showed me very clearly that in a classroom is exactly where I desire to be, where God intended me to use the abilities He's given me.
I don't want to think about the fact that in this economy, I'll be lucky to find ANY job, let alone one that I'll actually grow in and enjoy. That's the fear I battle now: that I'll take the first available job because I need money to live by, and I'll end up in a position that saps the joy of living right out of me. Because that's what happened the last time I was in a similar situation, and it was, quite honestly, a little bit of hell on earth. My conviction that God will provide for me in a way that will NOT strip me of all joy is at war with the fallen fear of future unknowns, of becoming a stress and leech to my wonderful family.
I am not sure HOW I can still be fearful- my life is a testimony to the gracious provision of God, a witness to the blessings He bestows when I am following His will in faith. Fear, or Faith: that is the question, really.
When I have stepped in faith before, He has vanquished fear and led me beside still waters and green pastures through blackest shadows to a table of surety and safety set in the very presence of the things that seek to destroy me...
What has God done for you? When has He stilled your fears and amazed you with His mercy and provision? Seriously, I'd like to hear stories from others. Like it says in Romans, that 'all these things' were written for the encouragement and hope of others to come... (paraphrased), hearing the stories of others gives us the encouragement to hope that we often lack on our own. Can you take a moment to share? With everyone, or just to me?
Thank you all for your continued support. I have received some 'extra Christmas' checks that have really been helpful. I have felt always that I am prayed for, and that is such a gift for which I can't express my thanks enough.
One week. 4000 miles. What will one MORE week bring? (Eyes on Jesus, not on my own footprints, right?)
Peace and grace to you all,
Emily
Monday, January 10
Weather still exists.
Well, dear friends, weather DOES still exist. Not here in Lima (Except for last Wednesday night, when it actually RAINED for the first time in 3 years), but it does still exist. I'd forgotten about weather. I'd forgotten about organizing one's life around weather, according to the weather, as a result of unexpected weather.
This morning, God, and my good friend Dana Chen, reminded me that weather still exists. I have a ticket to leave Lima tonight, arrive in Atlanta tomorrow morning, and fly into Chicago at 11 a.m. Dana is picking me up and driving me the couple of hours to Elkhart, Indiana, and home. Well, at least, that was the plan, before The Weather.
Dana remembers that weather exists (living in Chicago, one cannot forget it), and so she was smart enough to check my flights when she heard about the storms in the southeast... I didn't even KNOW about storms, and it NEVER would have occurred to me to check. Because weather doesn't exist here. You never have to check anything. Ever. Dana checked. And this morning by 11:00, my flight from ATL to Chicago had already been canceled. So she called me. And I tried to log into my itinerary and couldn't. So she called Delta, and discovered my NEW travel arrangements.
NEW travel arrangements: Arrive in ATL at 8:00 a.m. Sit in ATL airport until 7:30 p.m. Leave for DETROIT. Stay in Detroit airport until 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Fly to Chicago. Instead of 12 hours travel time: 36 hours, plus some driving. I am not too excited about this. For many reasons. One of which is buying airport food for a day and a half is NOT in my budget... (since my support was only through December, I am now officially unemployed). Any way....
Had sister Cindy call Delta reservations for me. Cuz let's face it, wouldn't Delta prefer it if I just took myself out of the equation for a few days? I'd much rather enjoy the weatherless summer of Lima for a few extra days than to sit around enduring various airports in uncomfortable seats and public restrooms, with no traveling companions to watch my ultra heavy carry-on bags...
So, now I am leaving Lima SATURDAY night/Sunday morning. And arriving in Chicago Sunday at 11:00 a.m. And Dana will still pick me up and drive me home to Indiana. And there will be whoopie pies from Auntie JoAnn, and much rejoicing.
Assuming the weather holds.
;)
This morning, God, and my good friend Dana Chen, reminded me that weather still exists. I have a ticket to leave Lima tonight, arrive in Atlanta tomorrow morning, and fly into Chicago at 11 a.m. Dana is picking me up and driving me the couple of hours to Elkhart, Indiana, and home. Well, at least, that was the plan, before The Weather.
Dana remembers that weather exists (living in Chicago, one cannot forget it), and so she was smart enough to check my flights when she heard about the storms in the southeast... I didn't even KNOW about storms, and it NEVER would have occurred to me to check. Because weather doesn't exist here. You never have to check anything. Ever. Dana checked. And this morning by 11:00, my flight from ATL to Chicago had already been canceled. So she called me. And I tried to log into my itinerary and couldn't. So she called Delta, and discovered my NEW travel arrangements.
NEW travel arrangements: Arrive in ATL at 8:00 a.m. Sit in ATL airport until 7:30 p.m. Leave for DETROIT. Stay in Detroit airport until 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Fly to Chicago. Instead of 12 hours travel time: 36 hours, plus some driving. I am not too excited about this. For many reasons. One of which is buying airport food for a day and a half is NOT in my budget... (since my support was only through December, I am now officially unemployed). Any way....
Had sister Cindy call Delta reservations for me. Cuz let's face it, wouldn't Delta prefer it if I just took myself out of the equation for a few days? I'd much rather enjoy the weatherless summer of Lima for a few extra days than to sit around enduring various airports in uncomfortable seats and public restrooms, with no traveling companions to watch my ultra heavy carry-on bags...
So, now I am leaving Lima SATURDAY night/Sunday morning. And arriving in Chicago Sunday at 11:00 a.m. And Dana will still pick me up and drive me home to Indiana. And there will be whoopie pies from Auntie JoAnn, and much rejoicing.
Assuming the weather holds.
;)
Wednesday, December 1
SURPRISE!
Last week, or maybe the week before, I informed my children that I did not think I would be coming back to Peru next year because I don´t have enough support money. I asked them to pray for me, for what God wants me to do next. The next day, half my class was not at line up after the recess bell rang. I asked the remaining half where everyone was; they replied that they were all in Ms. Miller's office. Since she is the principal, and since having half my class in with the principal is generally not a GOOD thing, I went to go see what was happening. I approached the door to her office and see about 8 little heads all studying the multicolored all-teacher class schedule that Ms. Miller is holding up in front of them. huh? One girl sees me and they all immediately run out of the office to me and turn me around and tell me I can't be in there. I began noticing a strange phenomenon: every time I walked in the general direction of my children during a recess or after school, screams ensued and they all ran away from me, or quickly shoved things behind them, etc. So, apparently, my kids are planning something. Cool.
One girl asked me a week ago if I would be here on December 1. I replied that I would, and I hope she would be too. This morning, I made sure I was wearing something nice. I had first recess duty, on the playground where all my girls and some boys always play. None of them were there. Only the boys playing soccer down on the field. OK. Bell rings, we go upstairs, we do grammar, we get called out for our group picture, and the girls are completely worried about where the picture will be... but relax when i tell them it's on the playground.
We go back up and do math. They are working fairly well until right before the bell is supposed to ring for lunch. Then, an undercurrent of *something* runs through them all as one of them notices the time and tells everyone else... The bell rings, I say, put your books away for lunch, and the entire class erupts - and i do mean ERUPTS- into excited cheers. Wow. They are all so genuinely on the edge of their seats barely able to contain themselves that it's all I can do to say the next sentence: you owe three minutes, which I'll begin as soon as everyone has their desk cleared and heads down. But, it must be said; the little x's are on the board. Loud exclamations of unhappiness follow the announcement, but I am treated to an exhibition of the fastest 'putting away and heads down' my kids have ever done...
Now I can't help but smile as they are all vibrating with excitement, and I say "This is going to be a really LONG three minutes."
Boy, was it.
When I told them to sit up for prayer, cheers erupted again. I dismissed them by groups, firmly reminding them to wash their hands before getting their lunches and sitting down... About 6 girls attach themselves to me as I leave the room and start down the stairs, literally pulling me along, telling me to close my eyes. Ever tried closing your eyes being pulled along by six 9-yr-olds? It's interesting, to say the least. I'm pulled into the 'kid's gym' which is a medium sized room used by the little kids for gross motor skills, and used by the rest of the school for large meetings, choir rehearsal, multi class events, etc. By now I can hear my whole class telling me to close my eyes, and then to open them- and a giant "SURPRISE!" (I wish I had a video of THEM in those moments... I'd love to see that.)
There in the room are two tables with chairs, one table covered with food and a cake. They're all excitedly telling me "we did it all!" "we didn't have any help, except a little from Ms. Miller" "it's a party for you!" And they really DID do it all: after a few minutes I realize that they're telling me "so-and-so bought this" or "paid for that" and I ask "You spent your own money?" And several of them, with big grins, nod excitedly and say the random things they'd saved the money from and decided to use it. "But," one of them was sure to tell me, "Some of our parents did have to help just a little bit." They made sure to tell me they brought many of the things because I couldn't get them in the United States, and of course there was Inca Cola.
They pull me over to look at the cake, covered in fondant and decorated with custom messages: Miss Leinbach at the top, and 'Jesus is our Savior' and 'God loves you'. Then they show me all the decorations they've made and hung up on the walls and windows. Long garlands of paper chains, mostly made out of normal lined paper, COLORED with crayons and colored pencils, cut into strips and stapled into the familiar paper chain decoration. Purple balloons. (of course) Posters with messages of "we'll miss you" etc. One poster was especially wonderful, but I'm going to try to take some pics or video and post it rather than describe it.
We ate, we drank, we were merry (towards the end just a little TOO merry... boys....) and had a blast watching all the other classes watching us have our party. OH, I forgot the paper and cotton ball crown that was plunked down on my head upon being told to open my eyes! (The cotton was the fur lining around the bottom...)
Then, right at the end of lunch recess time, as I'm gathering them all back in to clean up the absolutely DESTROYED room, one of the girls picks up a rather large bag of confetti, and asks if she can throw it... I'm thinking of all those little round pieces and the cleaning guys... and two of my boys are thinking they'd each like to have the bag, and before I can say anything, the bag's been torn and a giant cloud of confetti is showering down over half the room in shades of pink, purple, and white. And the screaming commences. I realize it will never get cleaned up until it's been enjoyed, so, we threw confetti at each other for awhile, and at me especially, hunkered down on all fours to avoid getting any in my eyes... Pink rain...
They cleaned about half of it up... the areas that were the most densely covered got swept (they argued over who would use the broom) and a good quantity put into a bag for a girl to take home for her upcoming birthday party. Best wishes to that mother. ;)
It took us all of the class period after lunch to clean up (they DID successfully throw away all their trash, and clean off the tables) and I handed them over to Mr. Miguel for computer class with a grateful heart: they were flying high, and Miguel is just the person to rein them back in, quickly and effectively.
There were a few actual "gifts" (including chocolate and some yummy smelling soaps) but really the best gifts were all the cards and letters and pictures they wrote and drew. And, of course, the event itself.
Kids are awesome. My kids are awesome. I will definitely never forget this day.
~Miss Leinbach, a blessed by God third grade teacher for two more weeks.
One girl asked me a week ago if I would be here on December 1. I replied that I would, and I hope she would be too. This morning, I made sure I was wearing something nice. I had first recess duty, on the playground where all my girls and some boys always play. None of them were there. Only the boys playing soccer down on the field. OK. Bell rings, we go upstairs, we do grammar, we get called out for our group picture, and the girls are completely worried about where the picture will be... but relax when i tell them it's on the playground.
We go back up and do math. They are working fairly well until right before the bell is supposed to ring for lunch. Then, an undercurrent of *something* runs through them all as one of them notices the time and tells everyone else... The bell rings, I say, put your books away for lunch, and the entire class erupts - and i do mean ERUPTS- into excited cheers. Wow. They are all so genuinely on the edge of their seats barely able to contain themselves that it's all I can do to say the next sentence: you owe three minutes, which I'll begin as soon as everyone has their desk cleared and heads down. But, it must be said; the little x's are on the board. Loud exclamations of unhappiness follow the announcement, but I am treated to an exhibition of the fastest 'putting away and heads down' my kids have ever done...
Now I can't help but smile as they are all vibrating with excitement, and I say "This is going to be a really LONG three minutes."
Boy, was it.
When I told them to sit up for prayer, cheers erupted again. I dismissed them by groups, firmly reminding them to wash their hands before getting their lunches and sitting down... About 6 girls attach themselves to me as I leave the room and start down the stairs, literally pulling me along, telling me to close my eyes. Ever tried closing your eyes being pulled along by six 9-yr-olds? It's interesting, to say the least. I'm pulled into the 'kid's gym' which is a medium sized room used by the little kids for gross motor skills, and used by the rest of the school for large meetings, choir rehearsal, multi class events, etc. By now I can hear my whole class telling me to close my eyes, and then to open them- and a giant "SURPRISE!" (I wish I had a video of THEM in those moments... I'd love to see that.)
There in the room are two tables with chairs, one table covered with food and a cake. They're all excitedly telling me "we did it all!" "we didn't have any help, except a little from Ms. Miller" "it's a party for you!" And they really DID do it all: after a few minutes I realize that they're telling me "so-and-so bought this" or "paid for that" and I ask "You spent your own money?" And several of them, with big grins, nod excitedly and say the random things they'd saved the money from and decided to use it. "But," one of them was sure to tell me, "Some of our parents did have to help just a little bit." They made sure to tell me they brought many of the things because I couldn't get them in the United States, and of course there was Inca Cola.
They pull me over to look at the cake, covered in fondant and decorated with custom messages: Miss Leinbach at the top, and 'Jesus is our Savior' and 'God loves you'. Then they show me all the decorations they've made and hung up on the walls and windows. Long garlands of paper chains, mostly made out of normal lined paper, COLORED with crayons and colored pencils, cut into strips and stapled into the familiar paper chain decoration. Purple balloons. (of course) Posters with messages of "we'll miss you" etc. One poster was especially wonderful, but I'm going to try to take some pics or video and post it rather than describe it.
We ate, we drank, we were merry (towards the end just a little TOO merry... boys....) and had a blast watching all the other classes watching us have our party. OH, I forgot the paper and cotton ball crown that was plunked down on my head upon being told to open my eyes! (The cotton was the fur lining around the bottom...)
Then, right at the end of lunch recess time, as I'm gathering them all back in to clean up the absolutely DESTROYED room, one of the girls picks up a rather large bag of confetti, and asks if she can throw it... I'm thinking of all those little round pieces and the cleaning guys... and two of my boys are thinking they'd each like to have the bag, and before I can say anything, the bag's been torn and a giant cloud of confetti is showering down over half the room in shades of pink, purple, and white. And the screaming commences. I realize it will never get cleaned up until it's been enjoyed, so, we threw confetti at each other for awhile, and at me especially, hunkered down on all fours to avoid getting any in my eyes... Pink rain...
They cleaned about half of it up... the areas that were the most densely covered got swept (they argued over who would use the broom) and a good quantity put into a bag for a girl to take home for her upcoming birthday party. Best wishes to that mother. ;)
It took us all of the class period after lunch to clean up (they DID successfully throw away all their trash, and clean off the tables) and I handed them over to Mr. Miguel for computer class with a grateful heart: they were flying high, and Miguel is just the person to rein them back in, quickly and effectively.
There were a few actual "gifts" (including chocolate and some yummy smelling soaps) but really the best gifts were all the cards and letters and pictures they wrote and drew. And, of course, the event itself.
Kids are awesome. My kids are awesome. I will definitely never forget this day.
~Miss Leinbach, a blessed by God third grade teacher for two more weeks.
Monday, November 1
SCIENCE FAIR IS OVER
And there was much rejoicing!
I think that it went ok. We'll see what kind of feedback we get from people next week. I still have to finish grading the project display boards (all of which were left after the Fair Friday night so that we as teachers CAN grade them at a more leisurely (read: not frantic) pace), but otherwise, no more Science Fair. Except to put all the wisdom and experience of three years of this thing into a binder for future generations. (read: whatever poor schmuck gets stuck doing it next year.)
No school today. Using a friend's computer to send this brief update out to the world. Still not able to connect to the internet on my computer. Wireless or wired. doesn't matter. really need to factory reset it, i guess (AGAIN) but it's SUCH a pain and process, and what if this time it DOESN'T work? (all five - or 4?- previous times it's worked like a charm.) If it doesn't work, then i'm stuck with a computer lacking years and years of Windows updates and many of hte applications that i've downloaded and won't be able to download again.
Scouring the internet for possible help and solutions simply gives me a headache. I'm NOT a computer guru. Sigh.
Next decision: do we have a spelling bee this year or skip this year? I'm in charge, and it was originally scheduled for three weeks into the Science Fair process, which just wasn't a sound decision, but especially if the coordinator is also on the Science Fair Committee. So, I was given the option of canceling or postponing. I elected postponement, becuase I really do see a great deal of benefit from doing a spelling bee. HOWEVER, postponing means doing it in November (now) and I failed to realize that this is also the time for Family Day, the gigantic school-wide event that is mostly planned by parents. shouldn't interfere, except that parents are going to want to be focusing on Family Day, and not spelling bee, and with the end of the year, TEACHERS are going to be wanting to focus on TEACHING curriculum, and not losing time to spelling bee. and then there's the Christmas program... Anyway. Despite all the truly wonderful things that spelling bee teaches, i'm beginning to think that because of when it was programmed into the school year, this year we might not have it. Program it into the year early on next year. But, don't know if that is still a decision that I can make, after being offered the decision earlier...
I'm excited because it appears that Cindy is coming to Peru for a visit!!! and I am rather despondent to start thinking seriously of packing and going home to nothing. Well, ok, not NOTHING. Going to home to family and friends. But nothing else. No job, no money, no place to live other than my parents' basement, no transportation... I keep reading those promises of God's got a plan for His children and I keep fighting back the bile. God got me this far, through equally "hopeless futures"... I guess I just feel like, how many times do I expect Him to pull a rabbit out of the hat for me?
And, as I wrote that, I realized: it's not Him pulling a rabbit out of a hat... it's ME giving up on trying to create a rabbit on my own to put in the hat. How many times will I go through this silly song and dance of thinking I'm supposed to create the rabbit and pull it out??? HELLO, McFLY? God tells us not to rely on our own understanding, our own powers of provision, our own anything. Everything we have is a gift from Him, and (as JEsus says) what kind of Father doesn't give good gifts to his children when they need them? That's the thing- WHEN they need them. And there I am am, back at the same place i've been so many times before: wait patiently for the Lord, instead of TELL ME NOW GOD.
So, I'll keep doign what I can to prepare for what comes next (updating my resume, for example) and I'll just keep praying for help in trusting Him to give me the next gifts when I need them. (Ever read The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom? If you haven't, DO SO. Read it yesterday. this idea was illustrated many times in that book.)
okay, i need to go to school and prep for the week. Thanks for being there, wherever "there" is for you!
with love-
Sunday, October 24
The ULTIMATE love/hate relationship:
TECHNOLOGY
The ultimate in "I love it!" and "I hate it!"
Recently, the former was expressed when I was able to copy, collate, and staple a front/back 8 page fractions booklet for my kids in about 5 minutes. Thank you GOD for a copier in working condition!
The latter ("I hate this!") has been expressed frequently in reference to my laptop and its apparent recurring inability to actually communicate with the internet. And the fact that NO ONE can figure out why.
I vote for demon possession, but I've been told by people who really ought to know such things that demons probably don't possess inanimate objects.
I'm NOT convinced. Seeing as how this computer goes through the same series of symptoms and then complete and utter dysfunction once every six months or so... and no one who really should know such things in the world of computers can come up with any reason. *sigh*
So, I'm back to (again) factory reset or buying a USB wireless adapter, and hoping the non-wireless symptoms that have appeared all the other times don't appear this time...
But, I wanted to let the world at large know that I'm not dead, I'm simply behind the ultimate firewall.
Oh, and not laptop but technology related: My internet VOIP phone- a wireless model from Vonage- still WILL NOT connect to the router inside our apartment, but WILL connect to any of the 6 unsecured wireless networks that I walk through on my way to and from school and the grocery store. So, when I want to talk to my sister, or parents, or friends in Chicago or Denver... I choose the least noisy street corner for the time of day, and camp out in front of some random house or apartment building or pharmacy... and i talk on someone else's internet. Because the router ten feet from my bedroom won't connect to my phone.
I'm trying to laugh about it, really. Sometimes, I succeed.
On a more serious note- prayers would be appreciated for me as I am right now going through a pretty serious "holy crap HOW am i going to live when I leave Peru???" phase... When I think about how much it's going to cost me to live in the States... even living on beans and rice, and scrimping on everything, the difference in cost of living is appalling, and the outlook for gainful employment makes me want to vomit.
So, my stomach would appreciate your prayers, becuase it doesn't want ulcers, and right now, that's what's in ITS future! (laugh)
I'm also beginning for go through the first stages of "I won't be here for that next year" or "I won't be here when that happens in the life of so-and-so"... and it's getting tougher and tougher. Especially since I haven't got a "happy" thing to look forward to that I WILL be doing...
But, that is the topic for another blog, and the owner of this borrowed laptop (which DOES talk to the internet) would like her computer back, so I'll be writing that one later.
I love you all and appreciate the fact that you care enough about me that you're reading this! Thank you!
~mle
The ultimate in "I love it!" and "I hate it!"
Recently, the former was expressed when I was able to copy, collate, and staple a front/back 8 page fractions booklet for my kids in about 5 minutes. Thank you GOD for a copier in working condition!
The latter ("I hate this!") has been expressed frequently in reference to my laptop and its apparent recurring inability to actually communicate with the internet. And the fact that NO ONE can figure out why.
I vote for demon possession, but I've been told by people who really ought to know such things that demons probably don't possess inanimate objects.
I'm NOT convinced. Seeing as how this computer goes through the same series of symptoms and then complete and utter dysfunction once every six months or so... and no one who really should know such things in the world of computers can come up with any reason. *sigh*
So, I'm back to (again) factory reset or buying a USB wireless adapter, and hoping the non-wireless symptoms that have appeared all the other times don't appear this time...
But, I wanted to let the world at large know that I'm not dead, I'm simply behind the ultimate firewall.
Oh, and not laptop but technology related: My internet VOIP phone- a wireless model from Vonage- still WILL NOT connect to the router inside our apartment, but WILL connect to any of the 6 unsecured wireless networks that I walk through on my way to and from school and the grocery store. So, when I want to talk to my sister, or parents, or friends in Chicago or Denver... I choose the least noisy street corner for the time of day, and camp out in front of some random house or apartment building or pharmacy... and i talk on someone else's internet. Because the router ten feet from my bedroom won't connect to my phone.
I'm trying to laugh about it, really. Sometimes, I succeed.
On a more serious note- prayers would be appreciated for me as I am right now going through a pretty serious "holy crap HOW am i going to live when I leave Peru???" phase... When I think about how much it's going to cost me to live in the States... even living on beans and rice, and scrimping on everything, the difference in cost of living is appalling, and the outlook for gainful employment makes me want to vomit.
So, my stomach would appreciate your prayers, becuase it doesn't want ulcers, and right now, that's what's in ITS future! (laugh)
I'm also beginning for go through the first stages of "I won't be here for that next year" or "I won't be here when that happens in the life of so-and-so"... and it's getting tougher and tougher. Especially since I haven't got a "happy" thing to look forward to that I WILL be doing...
But, that is the topic for another blog, and the owner of this borrowed laptop (which DOES talk to the internet) would like her computer back, so I'll be writing that one later.
I love you all and appreciate the fact that you care enough about me that you're reading this! Thank you!
~mle
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