Tuesday, October 9th:
As we walked to school this morning, Sarah made the comment that this was the coldest day yet ... somehow "frostbite" even made it into the conversation :) It still gets pretty warm by the afternoon, but the early mornings and evenings are pleasant.
I had a much better day, even though 5B wasn't very good. "Pedro" is acting out again. It's amazing how much his misbehavior affects the class; it has made me more thankful for his one week of outstanding performance. I know that a large portion of the overall class behavior is my own attitude. I went to school feeling more encouraged about the day, but by the second class, I wasn't feeling very well. Thankfully it wasn't a "just get through the lesson" day, though I did leave school wondering how/why I'd regressed (or the class had regressed) to teaching for two minutes, disciplining a student, teaching for one minute, sending a student out of the class...
During the breaks I visited with some of the older students. It is nice to build relationships outside of the classroom setting and apart from the teacher-student roles. I remind them that they are setting the example for the younger students. And every so often, I ask one of them to speak to their younger brother (or sister) about behaving in class ... and it works!
At 1 pm, I walked to the market to T's office. She is the lady I met last year who introduced me to the orphanage. She works for an organization that protects the rights of local citizens. When I arrived, she told me that they were waiting for the supervising organization to come and make their monthly inspection. The visits are unannounced, so she wasn't exactly sure when they would arrive. I ended up waiting for two hours. We talked for a bit, then I graded papers in a separate room while they conducted a meeting with the supervisors. Close to 3:30 pm, T and I left the office to walk around the market. We bought shwarma to-go and ate them in a juice shop. I had "keis" juice (apricot). Afterwards, we visited some of the shops that belong to her relatives and stopped by the "bala" or second-hand market to buy T a new bag. By then it was close to 5:30 pm when we said our goodbyes. I was able to have a profitable conversation with T. I trust that the Lord will continue to provide opportunities for good discussions, especially as she has expressed that I am her only friend here. I need to pray for wisdom in this area. T is twice my age and I often feel that I do not have the knowledge or experience to challenge her with deeper thinking.
I came home and graded papers. God was good to me; the work was not as difficult as I'd expected. I had prayed that my time with T would honor Him ... in His goodness, He blessed me with a more relaxing evening than I'd planned. After I finished grading, Sarah and I ate popcorn and watched a movie. At 9 pm, I got to Skype with Dad. It was encouraging to talk to him. Despite our vast geographical difference, we seem to struggle with similar trials.
Wednesday, October 10th:
There was a mosquito in my room last night! I was up until 11 pm with the biting and buzzing, then again at 1 am, 3 am, and 5 am! I tried to pray, but was overwhelmed with the physical exhaustion. The alarm went off, already 5:30 am! I felt myself sinking into discouragement, but was determined not to get ready for school, until I'd sought the Lord earnestly for a better attitude and a desire to please Him first. He answered prayer! My reading took me to Psalm 50. As I read, I began to ask myself, "Who am I to demand anything of God? Do I believe that He is the God who 'called the earth from the rising of the sun' and has 'a fire that devours before Him?'" Humbled, I read verse 15. "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." This is the command of the God I serve. Today He will deliver me. Today He will cause me to glorify Him. Encouraging thought that this does not depend on my willingness, my health, or my attitude.
It was with a much lighter heart that I walked to school today. After my talk with Dad last night, I decided to change up my routine. Thankfully, I was able to start right away. A group of boys from 5B was hanging out in the garden before the bell rang. I walked up to them, "Cewani bashe!" (Good morning!) They shook my hand, eyeing me quizzically. Their faces relaxed as they realized I was just there to chit-chat. Eager to have my attention, they asked me questions and told me that in Kurdish, they say "charsham" (day four) instead of Wednesday.
When I walked into class, I wrote "Wonderful Wednesday" on the board and explained that my dad always tells my brother to have a wonderful Wednesday when he drops him off at school. I wanted to share that phrase with them, so they could have a wonderful Wednesday (or charsham gelleck hoshe) too! I handed out stickers to students who were working quietly and that seemed to keep them quiet until about the last 15 minutes of class. Sarah came in twice to check behavior and take students out of the class if needed. I didn't end up sending any of them out, but three of the boys may need it tomorrow.
5A can be emotionally difficult. They seem to have a lot of drama in that class. A boy made an inappropriate hand gesture behind my back that I happened to catch. One of the girls ended up crying. And half the class laughed at her for it! I took time at the end of the lesson to talk to individual students about their behavior. I tried to emphasize that God's command to love others more than ourselves is more important than math.
6B was really talkative, but I think they felt that I was in a better mood. One student commented, "Miss, you are happier today!" Of course they all wanted to know why this Wednesday was wonderful, and it took some time to explain that any day can be exciting!
During the break, I visited with one of the teachers who was "responsible" for the older grades during "garden". She taught me a little Kurdish and I told her about my weekend in Erbil. After she left for her class, I sat with some of my girls, eating "finger chips" and talking about the little things. Two girls insisted on giving me packs of chocolate biscuit-sticks. It was cute to watch them "argue" over whose were better. I enjoyed being around my students ... God gave me many reasons to be thankful for His mercies today.
6A has been an exceptionally good class. There are two students who can be disruptive, but the rest of the class has sat quietly, ignoring the distractions for the past two days! It's been fun to teach them and I hope I am getting to know them a little more.
After school, Sarah and I taxied home, then went to the corner store for fruit. I was able to listen to a sermon and take some time to think/meditate before we had to prep for our team meal. At 4:30 pm, we walked to A&L's with John and Mary. Lisa made an amazing stirfry with Teriyaki sauce. We had fruit salad on the side and for a special treat, Mary made homemade donuts! Mmmmm Good! A poor internet connection made for a short Skype call. We had more time to visit and talk about the plan for next week when Dave and Lisa will be here.
On another note, I have been missing home a lot lately. It is a slow emotional drain that I don't spend much time thinking about, but creeps up on me suddenly. There are the emails from home that remind me of all that I'm missing out on. I've missed the process of test-driving and buying a new van, going to Caleb's football games, camping out for battle of the bands with lemon meringue pie and hot chocolate, enjoying belly laughs with a house full of boys ... Lord willing, the boys' adoption will through at the end of the month. How I've thought about being there for them! It hurts to think of missing it ... Then there are the little things. Henry using the same sippy cup as Eithen ... the memories go back to Eithen at that age, my mind wanders through his first year with us, his second birthday, and then I stop suddenly, realizing that the next ten months will be blank. I won't remember what Eithen was like when he turned three - if he was reading words, or riding a two-wheeler, or singing songs. I focus on the present until I find myself playing Duplos with Zander just like I did with the brothers right before I left. The brothers and I built a huge staircase that bordered a house with tiny windows (much like a house in Duhok). Next thing I know, I'm watching "The Princess Bride" with Sarah and repeating all of the great movie lines that Hannah and I memorized. "Stop that rhyming now, I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?" The days move on, but every so often I am caught in the past and the longing to be back with my family. This email came from Mom just as I was finishing the blog:
Yesterday for nap Eithen wanted to bring his 'sissy book' (Guess How Much I Miss You) to nap. He wanted to "read" it to me, but after the first page of your voice, he got very serious. He turned to snuggle into me and made motions that I was to continue for him. When I turned the page he said, "where that big bear doe-ing?" "Why he over the water?" (the picture shows the bigger bear on the far side of the river and the baby is watching from the nearside.) I said, "Going to Iraq." "oh" E said, Then after a long pause..."dat me (the little bear) and dat sissy (big bear across the river). Then we finished the book and the last page the big bear and the little bear are back together and cuddling close. Eithen put me in the position of the big bear and made himself in the position of the baby bear and said, "dat me and sissy agether."
Showing posts with label Market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Market. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
September 25th and 26th: Trial and Error -or- Learning Lessons the Hard Way
Tuesday, September 25th:
6A went well. We were able to get through the material and everyone seemed to understand. Sometimes I think it is easier to explain things the second time around. Other times, I think I explain it better, but they don't necessarily follow since the explanation is shorter.
Graded papers in the teacher lounge until school let out at 2:30pm. I was able to chat with students as they left. The school gave Sarah and I two more bins so we could use them for a makeshift couch. As I was carrying them out, two of my students offered to help. I am really thankful for "my kids" - I even find myself loving the ones who cause so much grief in class. Class wouldn't be half so interesting without them ;)
I took a taxi home, then Sarah and I put together our "couch." We ate popcorn and watched a movie just to enjoy our accomplishment. Graded papers, wrote the quiz for tomorrow, then headed for bed.
Mary, Sarah and I took a taxi to school since we weren't sure if
our escort was picking us up again, and we waited until 8:15 for him to arrive (apparently
we don’t need protection anymore). :) My first class was not very good. One of the
students wouldn't sit still during the lesson and refused to stay outside for
five minutes. I told him to go to the principal and tell him that he could not
behave in class. Five minutes later, he was back with principal and it turned
into a “he hit me first” and “it wasn't my fault” drama. The principal ended up
telling everyone to sit in their seats and then left. It was frustrating. What I look to as my last resort seemed to
have no effect. In my next class, I had a student, S, pull the exact same stunt.
Since they had their 15 minute break afterwards, I took S with me to my 6th
grade class. It turns out his cousin is in that class (and also happens to be
the student who was held back and is doing extraordinarily well.) They sat together, but after a little while,
the cousin complained that S was bothering him. As I directed S to another
seat, S muttered something in Kurdish. The class gasped. At first, I didn't think anything of it, since S does this to me all the time in our 5th
grade class. I usually ignore it since the other students will only tell me,
“He said a bad word, Miss” and then laugh. My older students were not laughing
though. They said he called me a bad name. Two of the boys said they would take him to the principal. I let them
go, hoping that the principal would believe them, but not thinking anything
would happen after the scenario in 5B.
When they came back, they told me that the principal had suspended
him. I didn't get the whole story, but I hoped they had accurately represented what had happened in class. It bothered me for quite awhile after class since I worry that the administration will think I am complaining about every little issue that arises. I am trying to handle classroom discipline on my own, but not sure how far to let problems go. Anyway, we had a good class
afterwards and I was able to stay through the break to explain problems to some
of the students.
6A went well. We were able to get through the material and everyone seemed to understand. Sometimes I think it is easier to explain things the second time around. Other times, I think I explain it better, but they don't necessarily follow since the explanation is shorter.
Graded papers in the teacher lounge until school let out at 2:30pm. I was able to chat with students as they left. The school gave Sarah and I two more bins so we could use them for a makeshift couch. As I was carrying them out, two of my students offered to help. I am really thankful for "my kids" - I even find myself loving the ones who cause so much grief in class. Class wouldn't be half so interesting without them ;)
I took a taxi home, then Sarah and I put together our "couch." We ate popcorn and watched a movie just to enjoy our accomplishment. Graded papers, wrote the quiz for tomorrow, then headed for bed.
Wednesday, September 26th:
We walked to school this morning - first time this week! I had to make copies and ended up waiting in the copy shack for ten minutes. I was able to practice my Assyrian a little - I say a word, and then they pronounce it right back at me ... exactly the way I said it! :) Well, not exactly, but sometimes it seems I never get "close enough."
My first class went well, especially since we had a quiz and I took off points if they talked. Unfortunately, when I wrote one students name on the board, he left and got the principal. He insisted that he was only talking because the student behind him was calling him bad names. There are four boys that consistently tattle on each other and I'm not sure how to handle it. I've told them to bring it to me after class, but by then it isn't an issue. Of course, they have to turn it into a disruption in the middle of the class. At one point, three of the four boys had left (two to get to the principal, unbeknownst to me, and another to the bathroom). The class was unbelievably attentive and we got a lot of work done. Unfortunately, the two students came back with the principal. The principal could tell I was surprised to see him and asked if I had given permission for the students to get him. I told him no, hoping that he would realize the students are taking advantage of my lack of Kurdish and dragging him in unnecessarily. He scolded them and they were better after that. I ended up giving the rest of the class an extra point on their quiz for being so attentive. Still wondering how to deal effectively with my students when they go to the principal without permission...
The rest of my classes were fairly uneventful. I gave a quiz in each one. Because I take away points instead of writing X's on the board, I don't have to worry about losing my break. :) I ended up spending it with the students, giving them their phase averages and telling them which assignments they've missed. (It turns out that the student who called me a bad name wasn't suspended. He was in class today, but more subdued.)
Sarah and I met with the curriculum coordinator right after Sarah's last class. It was a short meeting about grade books and class attendance. Afterwards, we walked down to the vegetable den. We bought an "asberry" or fruit slushy, which involved a lot of pantomime in order to figure out the flavors. I got nectarine and Sarah got strawberry. Next, we got some fruit for team meeting. Again, this involved some pantomime. We wanted to get watermelon, but they were all too big. Then we tried some grapes but they had seeds. I figured out the name for seeds, then asked if they had some without the seeds. Apparently, Iranian grapes are seedless, but the Kurdish ones aren't. Bought some anyway, along with a kilo of oranges and a kilo of green apples. On the way home, we went by the DVD store to exchange a "na bashe" (not good) disc, and then picked up a new internet card. It turns out that our internet is either good for 45GB or one month, whichever comes first. On the 20th, I got a message saying we needed to recharge. Even though it was 5 days before the end of our month, I bought a new card, figuring that this is Kurdistan and the dates were off. It lasted for two days, then I got a message telling me I needed to recharge again. Turns out our month does end on the 25th and we only get 10GB between the time we use up our 45GB and the start of the next month. A teacher at the school explained all of this to me, so we waited until today to buy a new card. Anyway, Internet is back up and running and we are connected with the rest of the world.
Graded papers, then Sarah and I cut up fruit for our team meal. Mary made pizza casserole, which was delicious! We had fruit on the side, then Lisa (actually Andy) made apple crisp for dessert. Ahhh, the taste of FALL! We had a good Skype call, then chatted about how we want to organize our team time. We ended up deciding to meet another day of the week for more focused spiritual discussion and use Wednesday nights for team meal and Skype. We will see how it works on Monday ...
Finished grading, then off to bed. It took a long time for me to fall asleep last night because a mosquito kept bothering me. I finally killed it, but was up again at 1am to kill another one that had bitten me several times. Again at 3am, I found their triplet (or as Sarah dubbed him, the resurrected mosquito) and managed to exterminate it. Realized that I could use this as an exercise to pray expectantly and asked the Lord to put it to an end. I was able to read and pray each time I got up, so the night wasn't wasted, although I did get very little sleep. Pushed back my wake-up until 6:30 for the usual morning routine. Hopeful that tonight will be more restful.
We walked to school this morning - first time this week! I had to make copies and ended up waiting in the copy shack for ten minutes. I was able to practice my Assyrian a little - I say a word, and then they pronounce it right back at me ... exactly the way I said it! :) Well, not exactly, but sometimes it seems I never get "close enough."
My first class went well, especially since we had a quiz and I took off points if they talked. Unfortunately, when I wrote one students name on the board, he left and got the principal. He insisted that he was only talking because the student behind him was calling him bad names. There are four boys that consistently tattle on each other and I'm not sure how to handle it. I've told them to bring it to me after class, but by then it isn't an issue. Of course, they have to turn it into a disruption in the middle of the class. At one point, three of the four boys had left (two to get to the principal, unbeknownst to me, and another to the bathroom). The class was unbelievably attentive and we got a lot of work done. Unfortunately, the two students came back with the principal. The principal could tell I was surprised to see him and asked if I had given permission for the students to get him. I told him no, hoping that he would realize the students are taking advantage of my lack of Kurdish and dragging him in unnecessarily. He scolded them and they were better after that. I ended up giving the rest of the class an extra point on their quiz for being so attentive. Still wondering how to deal effectively with my students when they go to the principal without permission...
The rest of my classes were fairly uneventful. I gave a quiz in each one. Because I take away points instead of writing X's on the board, I don't have to worry about losing my break. :) I ended up spending it with the students, giving them their phase averages and telling them which assignments they've missed. (It turns out that the student who called me a bad name wasn't suspended. He was in class today, but more subdued.)
Sarah and I met with the curriculum coordinator right after Sarah's last class. It was a short meeting about grade books and class attendance. Afterwards, we walked down to the vegetable den. We bought an "asberry" or fruit slushy, which involved a lot of pantomime in order to figure out the flavors. I got nectarine and Sarah got strawberry. Next, we got some fruit for team meeting. Again, this involved some pantomime. We wanted to get watermelon, but they were all too big. Then we tried some grapes but they had seeds. I figured out the name for seeds, then asked if they had some without the seeds. Apparently, Iranian grapes are seedless, but the Kurdish ones aren't. Bought some anyway, along with a kilo of oranges and a kilo of green apples. On the way home, we went by the DVD store to exchange a "na bashe" (not good) disc, and then picked up a new internet card. It turns out that our internet is either good for 45GB or one month, whichever comes first. On the 20th, I got a message saying we needed to recharge. Even though it was 5 days before the end of our month, I bought a new card, figuring that this is Kurdistan and the dates were off. It lasted for two days, then I got a message telling me I needed to recharge again. Turns out our month does end on the 25th and we only get 10GB between the time we use up our 45GB and the start of the next month. A teacher at the school explained all of this to me, so we waited until today to buy a new card. Anyway, Internet is back up and running and we are connected with the rest of the world.
Graded papers, then Sarah and I cut up fruit for our team meal. Mary made pizza casserole, which was delicious! We had fruit on the side, then Lisa (actually Andy) made apple crisp for dessert. Ahhh, the taste of FALL! We had a good Skype call, then chatted about how we want to organize our team time. We ended up deciding to meet another day of the week for more focused spiritual discussion and use Wednesday nights for team meal and Skype. We will see how it works on Monday ...
Finished grading, then off to bed. It took a long time for me to fall asleep last night because a mosquito kept bothering me. I finally killed it, but was up again at 1am to kill another one that had bitten me several times. Again at 3am, I found their triplet (or as Sarah dubbed him, the resurrected mosquito) and managed to exterminate it. Realized that I could use this as an exercise to pray expectantly and asked the Lord to put it to an end. I was able to read and pray each time I got up, so the night wasn't wasted, although I did get very little sleep. Pushed back my wake-up until 6:30 for the usual morning routine. Hopeful that tonight will be more restful.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
September 3rd and 4th: Dust, Discouragement, and Delight?
Monday, September 3rd:
Wanted to mention an interesting experience ... a few days ago, I put on the lotion that I had used exclusively during my first 5 months. As soon as I took a deep breath of it, the memories came flooding back. Nothing specific, but all the feelings brought on by different experiences during those first months. I've noticed that with other "familiar" smells - tea in the market, cigarette smoke, dolma, kerosene - but this was definitely the most intense experience yet.
All of my classes went well. I was challenged by Saturday's lesson to be the teacher that serves her students, uses day-to-day experiences as teachable moments, and knows the material. In some ways, math seems to be harder than art. The ability to create my own art lesson plans meant that I was able to find ways to communicate important lessons through the projects. Math is much more structured. My focus these last few days has been rules and procedures. I know this will help create a positive learning environment, but I feel discouraged when there is so much repetition and so little time for "real" student interaction. I fly from one class to the next, teaching through the younger students' break and preparing for class during the upper level break.
Despite the discouragement that overtakes me during times of reflection, the moments I spend in class are always energizing. The first class of the morning seems to be doing well with more structure. I really love each of the students in that class; my goal is to find a way to individually motivate them and connect with them. The next class went smoothly as well. Two of the boys weren't sure they wanted to implement the new procedures, but were more willing after they realized that all the other students (including the "new" kids) were doing it. I have two new girls in the class (in addition to the two new boys mentioned in another post). The one looks perpetually alarmed, and I am trying to figure out if that is her normal facial expression or if she is just adjusting to a new school.
At the end of each class, I handed out a slip of paper that read, "Your student was TERRIFIC today!" to the one who demonstrated the best behavior, participation, etc. Not only did that little piece of paper have a significant impact on the class, it was also a good reminder for me to look for the positive.
At 10am, as I walked into 6B, all of the students had their books open and were working on the in-class assignment SILENTLY! I was thrilled! They are an exemplary class. Everyone of them comes prepared with their materials and homework, having read today's lesson the night before. I will stay busy trying to challenge them.
After class, I helped the curriculum coordinator organize the library - out with the old books and in with the new. It is amazing how many books they fit into such a small space. When Sarah finished with her class, we walked down to the second-hand part of the market to find her a new schoolbag. She also bought a new shirt. We went through a couple different shops and had a 50% success rate. The shops we go to normally were closed, but thankfully we were able to find what we were looking for at the ones that were open. As we headed for home, it looked like a dust storm was moving across the mountains to the north.
I graded papers for most of the afternoon. At 6:30, the entire team met at the "Sheep" restaurant for meat tikka (or beef on a skewer). The meat was good and we enjoyed hanging out. In the evenings it is definitely cooler, so our walk home felt more like a relaxing stroll.
From this evening's devotion, "The Lord trieth the righteous" - "You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant of grace." May the winds of school and culture and loneliness cause me to take firm hold of Christ.
Tuesday, September 4th:
This morning I had a progress chart for "Pedro" (that is the name I gave him last year in the blog). I told him that each day he behaves well (i.e. doesn't get sent out of the room), I will put a smiley face on the chart. At the end, we will see how many smiley faces he has and I will show it to the principal and curriculum coordinator. He was pleased with the idea, which was evident in his behavior during class and test score (100%).
I gave a "Rules and Procedures" test in each of my classes. It was a good way to reinforce what we have been learning and reviewing the last few days. As a result of 6B turning in all of their homework, I was inspired to "make a deal" with both sixth grade classes. If they turn in all their homework until December, I will let them have a party. They negotiated for: cell phones, food, no math, no homework, and games. I made them stop at laptops, but I hope the "deal" will be a good way to reward the entire group for their diligence. (As a side note, turning in homework is usually optional. Not only has that been the standard in the past, but only one assignment per week is counted in the gradebook anyway, so many students don't worry about missing the other four.)
After we finished our classes, Sarah and I helped another teacher collate 120 phonics books (about 15 pages each) for her first graders. We managed to avoid paper cuts, but both of us ended up being attacked by the stapler! On the walk home, we both noticed that it was definitely warmer today. It was nice to walk into a cool, relatively smell-free apartment. Sarah and I changed into our lounging clothes, got a snack, and then separated to start on schoolwork.
After getting home, I felt tired ... tired of myself. I heard myself talking all morning long, then on the way home, I heard all the thoughts "myself" thinks throughout the day. Unfortunately, I found I was still stuck with "myself" even in my room at home. Poor Sarah ... she's stuck with "myself" too.
The realization that 50% of my job is paperwork hit me when I looked at the stack of papers I had been grading. I paused for a moment, feeling a sudden sense of urgency to figure out why I am here. Last year, I was certain that it was nothing but God's providence that brought me to Duhok. Trusting in His wisdom, my eyes were opened to see His work in this place, spiritual growth in my life, and encouragement for those back home. During the summer months in America, I didn't bother thinking about a reason for coming back - I simply knew I had made a commitment and that staying at home would have gratified the flesh. Sitting on my bed with two more classes to grade, I started to wonder if I shouldn't have taken the time to figure out why God wanted me to come back, and more importantly if I shouldn't try to figure it out right now. My eyes wandered up to the wall where I recently hung the words, "Delight in the Lord." I concentrated on the meaning and realized that I have my reason - God has brought me here to delight in Him. I long to have purpose, to be intentional, to know there is significance in what I am doing, but God is teaching me to delight only in Him. How easy it is to delight in what we have been given, or what we are doing ... and how hard it is to delight in Someone other than ourselves. Delighting in God means that I must come to know Him better. I am reading a book by Edwards on God's chief end. I pray that through the study, I will learn to pursue God's ends rather than my own.
Wanted to mention an interesting experience ... a few days ago, I put on the lotion that I had used exclusively during my first 5 months. As soon as I took a deep breath of it, the memories came flooding back. Nothing specific, but all the feelings brought on by different experiences during those first months. I've noticed that with other "familiar" smells - tea in the market, cigarette smoke, dolma, kerosene - but this was definitely the most intense experience yet.
All of my classes went well. I was challenged by Saturday's lesson to be the teacher that serves her students, uses day-to-day experiences as teachable moments, and knows the material. In some ways, math seems to be harder than art. The ability to create my own art lesson plans meant that I was able to find ways to communicate important lessons through the projects. Math is much more structured. My focus these last few days has been rules and procedures. I know this will help create a positive learning environment, but I feel discouraged when there is so much repetition and so little time for "real" student interaction. I fly from one class to the next, teaching through the younger students' break and preparing for class during the upper level break.
Despite the discouragement that overtakes me during times of reflection, the moments I spend in class are always energizing. The first class of the morning seems to be doing well with more structure. I really love each of the students in that class; my goal is to find a way to individually motivate them and connect with them. The next class went smoothly as well. Two of the boys weren't sure they wanted to implement the new procedures, but were more willing after they realized that all the other students (including the "new" kids) were doing it. I have two new girls in the class (in addition to the two new boys mentioned in another post). The one looks perpetually alarmed, and I am trying to figure out if that is her normal facial expression or if she is just adjusting to a new school.
At the end of each class, I handed out a slip of paper that read, "Your student was TERRIFIC today!" to the one who demonstrated the best behavior, participation, etc. Not only did that little piece of paper have a significant impact on the class, it was also a good reminder for me to look for the positive.
At 10am, as I walked into 6B, all of the students had their books open and were working on the in-class assignment SILENTLY! I was thrilled! They are an exemplary class. Everyone of them comes prepared with their materials and homework, having read today's lesson the night before. I will stay busy trying to challenge them.
After class, I helped the curriculum coordinator organize the library - out with the old books and in with the new. It is amazing how many books they fit into such a small space. When Sarah finished with her class, we walked down to the second-hand part of the market to find her a new schoolbag. She also bought a new shirt. We went through a couple different shops and had a 50% success rate. The shops we go to normally were closed, but thankfully we were able to find what we were looking for at the ones that were open. As we headed for home, it looked like a dust storm was moving across the mountains to the north.
I graded papers for most of the afternoon. At 6:30, the entire team met at the "Sheep" restaurant for meat tikka (or beef on a skewer). The meat was good and we enjoyed hanging out. In the evenings it is definitely cooler, so our walk home felt more like a relaxing stroll.
From this evening's devotion, "The Lord trieth the righteous" - "You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant of grace." May the winds of school and culture and loneliness cause me to take firm hold of Christ.
Tuesday, September 4th:
This morning I had a progress chart for "Pedro" (that is the name I gave him last year in the blog). I told him that each day he behaves well (i.e. doesn't get sent out of the room), I will put a smiley face on the chart. At the end, we will see how many smiley faces he has and I will show it to the principal and curriculum coordinator. He was pleased with the idea, which was evident in his behavior during class and test score (100%).
I gave a "Rules and Procedures" test in each of my classes. It was a good way to reinforce what we have been learning and reviewing the last few days. As a result of 6B turning in all of their homework, I was inspired to "make a deal" with both sixth grade classes. If they turn in all their homework until December, I will let them have a party. They negotiated for: cell phones, food, no math, no homework, and games. I made them stop at laptops, but I hope the "deal" will be a good way to reward the entire group for their diligence. (As a side note, turning in homework is usually optional. Not only has that been the standard in the past, but only one assignment per week is counted in the gradebook anyway, so many students don't worry about missing the other four.)
After we finished our classes, Sarah and I helped another teacher collate 120 phonics books (about 15 pages each) for her first graders. We managed to avoid paper cuts, but both of us ended up being attacked by the stapler! On the walk home, we both noticed that it was definitely warmer today. It was nice to walk into a cool, relatively smell-free apartment. Sarah and I changed into our lounging clothes, got a snack, and then separated to start on schoolwork.
After getting home, I felt tired ... tired of myself. I heard myself talking all morning long, then on the way home, I heard all the thoughts "myself" thinks throughout the day. Unfortunately, I found I was still stuck with "myself" even in my room at home. Poor Sarah ... she's stuck with "myself" too.
***
The realization that 50% of my job is paperwork hit me when I looked at the stack of papers I had been grading. I paused for a moment, feeling a sudden sense of urgency to figure out why I am here. Last year, I was certain that it was nothing but God's providence that brought me to Duhok. Trusting in His wisdom, my eyes were opened to see His work in this place, spiritual growth in my life, and encouragement for those back home. During the summer months in America, I didn't bother thinking about a reason for coming back - I simply knew I had made a commitment and that staying at home would have gratified the flesh. Sitting on my bed with two more classes to grade, I started to wonder if I shouldn't have taken the time to figure out why God wanted me to come back, and more importantly if I shouldn't try to figure it out right now. My eyes wandered up to the wall where I recently hung the words, "Delight in the Lord." I concentrated on the meaning and realized that I have my reason - God has brought me here to delight in Him. I long to have purpose, to be intentional, to know there is significance in what I am doing, but God is teaching me to delight only in Him. How easy it is to delight in what we have been given, or what we are doing ... and how hard it is to delight in Someone other than ourselves. Delighting in God means that I must come to know Him better. I am reading a book by Edwards on God's chief end. I pray that through the study, I will learn to pursue God's ends rather than my own.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
August 25th and 26th: Back Up and Running!
Saturday, August 25th:
Arrived in Erbil around 3:30 pm with Andy, Lisa, Zander, Zephie, and my new roommate, Sarah. It seemed much easier to navigate the airport than last time, but I think it must have been because there were three extra sets of hands and a lot more experience! Driving from Erbil to Duhok, it didn't seem like we'd been gone all that long.
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We got to our apartment about 7:20 pm after stopping at Newroz Telecom to pick up an internet card (so thankful they were actually open!)
We were greeted outside our door by the neighbor kids who promptly helped us take our bags up to the apartment. Andy turned on the water for us, we switched on the electricity and in no time at all everything was up and running. Sarah unpacked and moved into her room. I set up the internet and was successful in creating an adhoc wireless network for both of us to use - hello iPad!
Went to bed around 10, but couldn't fall asleep until after 2 am. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that I am really back here, that I am jumping into the ring again for round 2 with no guarantees that it will be any easier. As I lay in bed asking the Lord for help, I was reminded of a conversation with my best friend, Jessica. She was telling me that as we re-enter the arena God has called us to (whether it is having your 10th child or going back to a foreign country), we tend to remember the difficulties and trials, when we should be focusing on all the grace (at times extraordinary grace) that was given to meet those struggles. I pray that these next ten months will be evidence of that grace and the goodness of the One who provides it.
Sunday, August 26th:
Slept in later than I had planned, but Sarah and I got ready quickly so we could run our errands before the day got too hot. We left at 10 am and it was already about 90 F. I showed Sarah around the market and we picked up a new faucet for the entryway sink, a showerhead, and some miscellaneous items. I had to mentally prepare to face the barrage of staring eyes, smells, and feelings of complete cluelessness. I don't often pray for strength, endurance, and wisdom as I park at the grocery store back home, but it is something I do here every time I go to the market. After dropping off our things at home, we went to the nearby shops where we picked up some groceries - peanut butter, juice, water, chocolate (the essentials) :)
In the afternoon, I switched from tour guide to handyman:
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Sarah and I cleaned house, hung up some pics...
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...then rested during the heat of the day. I wasn't really feeling motivated to unpack, but dove in and got the job done. John and Mary had been delayed by a day, so it was a relief to hear they were in a taxi and on their way. Bishops, Sarah, and I met up at Sarky's for dinner, then brought back a pizza for the Nelsons. It was fun to hang out as a team again. I finally felt at home and able to thank the Lord for bringing me back. Missing Dan, Julie, and Stacy, but excited to see what this new year will bring.
Arrived in Erbil around 3:30 pm with Andy, Lisa, Zander, Zephie, and my new roommate, Sarah. It seemed much easier to navigate the airport than last time, but I think it must have been because there were three extra sets of hands and a lot more experience! Driving from Erbil to Duhok, it didn't seem like we'd been gone all that long.
Bus ride home:
Sarah and Zephie
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Andy and Lisa
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Lisa and Zander
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We got to our apartment about 7:20 pm after stopping at Newroz Telecom to pick up an internet card (so thankful they were actually open!)
We were greeted outside our door by the neighbor kids who promptly helped us take our bags up to the apartment. Andy turned on the water for us, we switched on the electricity and in no time at all everything was up and running. Sarah unpacked and moved into her room. I set up the internet and was successful in creating an adhoc wireless network for both of us to use - hello iPad!
Went to bed around 10, but couldn't fall asleep until after 2 am. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that I am really back here, that I am jumping into the ring again for round 2 with no guarantees that it will be any easier. As I lay in bed asking the Lord for help, I was reminded of a conversation with my best friend, Jessica. She was telling me that as we re-enter the arena God has called us to (whether it is having your 10th child or going back to a foreign country), we tend to remember the difficulties and trials, when we should be focusing on all the grace (at times extraordinary grace) that was given to meet those struggles. I pray that these next ten months will be evidence of that grace and the goodness of the One who provides it.
Sunday, August 26th:
Slept in later than I had planned, but Sarah and I got ready quickly so we could run our errands before the day got too hot. We left at 10 am and it was already about 90 F. I showed Sarah around the market and we picked up a new faucet for the entryway sink, a showerhead, and some miscellaneous items. I had to mentally prepare to face the barrage of staring eyes, smells, and feelings of complete cluelessness. I don't often pray for strength, endurance, and wisdom as I park at the grocery store back home, but it is something I do here every time I go to the market. After dropping off our things at home, we went to the nearby shops where we picked up some groceries - peanut butter, juice, water, chocolate (the essentials) :)
In the afternoon, I switched from tour guide to handyman:
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Sarah and I cleaned house, hung up some pics...
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...then rested during the heat of the day. I wasn't really feeling motivated to unpack, but dove in and got the job done. John and Mary had been delayed by a day, so it was a relief to hear they were in a taxi and on their way. Bishops, Sarah, and I met up at Sarky's for dinner, then brought back a pizza for the Nelsons. It was fun to hang out as a team again. I finally felt at home and able to thank the Lord for bringing me back. Missing Dan, Julie, and Stacy, but excited to see what this new year will bring.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
May 1st through 2nd (Days 114-115): Growing Friendships
Forgot to mention yesterday:
1. The lawyer that T works for is our principal's son! What a small world!
2. As Stacy and I walked home from our team meeting last night, I saw something that I dearly wish I could've photographed. Two women were talking towards us. As they passed, the verse flashed through my mind, they are "blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." The first of the two women was rather tall and thin with a patch over one eye; her other was squinted shut. She had a deformity in one leg that made walking difficult. Her light-colored clothing was frayed and barely seemed to cover her long extremities. Holding her hand was another woman who was in many ways a complete opposite. Shorter and wider than her companion, the second woman was dressed in a black burka, an ensemble that completely covers the body, including the eyes. It was difficult to say who was leading whom ... an obvious parallel to the statement Jesus made.
May 1st:
Sent Mom an e-card with flowers for May Day. When we were in elementary school, Hannah and I used to pick a bunch of flowers on the way home from school, leave them on the doorstep, and run away after we rang the doorbell. As we got older and moved out of the house, we would order flowers and have them delivered. Now, I have to send her virtual ones!
Today is Labor Day here, so we didn't have any school. It was a pretty relaxed morning. I really felt the need to talk to Mom, but it was already 10pm their time. I was asking the Lord to help me look to Him for my comfort, when the thought crossed my mind that I ought to check Skype. God is so good to give us the earthly comforts we need ... Mom was online! She was just reading my blog and sending me an email, so we were in the same mindset! Had an encouraging time talking to her. She is always faithful to point me to the Lord and encourage me in truth.
Visited with Mary afterwards. With all the company and sight-seeing we haven't really been able to talk, so it was refreshing to know how she was doing and just get caught up on each other's lives. The enemy is quick to mark the slightest lack of communication and use that to stir up strife. I am so thankful for a team that squelches those attacks right away.
Stacy and I went out in the afternoon and bought ice cream, then brought them back to eat with Mary. (The guys went to Amedy, so it was just us girls). I spent most of the day catching up on emails and preparing the final examination for math.
For dinner, Stacy and I were planning on going to Sarky's, but they were closed. We ended up meeting John, Mary et al at the Tantuni restaurant, where they serve the rolled up sandwiches. Stacy and I had some time to kill before meeting them, so we went to a bookstore and I finally found a map of Iraq in English, an English-Kurdish verb book, and a picture dictionary in English-Kurdish! I've been looking for the last three months for resources like these and just now found them ... better late than never! After dinner, we all walked to a "gift store" about two blocks away - they have a lot of antiques there and some locally made things. Everything is heaped up in piles and crowded onto a few shelves against the wall. There is barely enough room to move around. All six of us piled in and reached over each other trying to find some good deals. Some of the items were pretty expensive, but we dug for the cheaper things and bartered with the owner. When I got back home, I went through my list of gifts to buy ... I think I am officially done! There are a few perishable things I want to get right before I leave, but I'm glad to know that I've found a lot of things I wanted to bring home and share with everyone.
May 2nd:
Funny how a day of doing nothing can make me so tired! A little slow getting up, but after my "cardio kickboxing" routine I was ready to go.
Had a pretty good class this morning ... at least they are improving. [I was telling Stacy how it used to be, "at the beginning of the year there were ten or so boys who were acting up. As soon as I disciplined one, another one popped up shouting and then another standing on his desk. You know it was like that game..." Stacy finished my sentence, "you mean, Whack-a-mole?" We busted up laughing!] Nowadays I really only have to deal with about three of the boys and talk to them after class; the rest I can look at and they'll quiet down.
[I have my window open as I'm writing this and I can hear thunder outside. It was pretty overcast today, sounds like a storm is moving in.]
Today was one class after the other. I had two art classes back-to-back. Both worked on their books really well. The first class had to sit quietly with their arms folded for a couple minutes, but then they got into their drawings and were fine for the rest of class. I was feeling a little discouraged during their session because during the break right before, the vice principal asked me to help at the art show (which I've already been working on with the other teachers). I failed to realize that he was asking for extra help (not asking if I had finished my portion), answered hastily, and immediately regretted not being more patient, especially as I realized that the rest of the teachers in the room were listening. A poor testimony on my part since I know that most of the teachers have little respect for the v.p. already. Another reminder not to walk in my own strength, trying to prove that I am capable! Anyway, I was little more subdued, but my kids never fail to cheer me up.
The 11am class was amazing ... again! I am so thankful for them. I've really seen a turn-around in two of the boys. They were the worst ones and made the class difficult. Now they are my best artists! The two pout-y girls have also come 180 degrees, so the class is pretty mild now.
Had a short lunch break, then off to the 12:15 math class. They are doing really well, even though I have two boys in the back who have turned their desk into a soccer field. By the end of the session, I have a handful of "soccer balls" (paper wads) that I've confiscated. Graded some papers, then off to the 1:45 art class. They usually start out a little rowdy, but settle down once we start drawing. Most of the girls want to take their books home to finish since they spend so much time coming up with a clever idea, start to draw, erase, and start again...
Walked home as fast as I could, then J (T re-named her, "Julee" after our first interview, so I'll start using that...) picked me up and we went to the girls' orphanage. We brought some beads and elastic so they could make bracelets and necklaces. The younger girls enjoyed it, but the older girls pulled me away after a little bit and we hung out in their room. We pieced together a conversation in English and Kurdish ... The call to prayer went out (or "answers to prayer" as Zander calls it), and the girls asked me how I pray in America. I tried to explain, but they didn't understand, so I asked them if they wanted me to show them. Even though they didn't understand most of it, I asked God to bless our time and help me learn to communicate with them. I had an enjoyable time. Julee dropped me back off at home, then I unwound for a bit before getting motivated to grade a stack of math papers.
Skyped with Lisa in the evening regarding the art show tomorrow ... her phone ran out of minutes. Technology is awfully convenient! Then headed for bed.
1. The lawyer that T works for is our principal's son! What a small world!
2. As Stacy and I walked home from our team meeting last night, I saw something that I dearly wish I could've photographed. Two women were talking towards us. As they passed, the verse flashed through my mind, they are "blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." The first of the two women was rather tall and thin with a patch over one eye; her other was squinted shut. She had a deformity in one leg that made walking difficult. Her light-colored clothing was frayed and barely seemed to cover her long extremities. Holding her hand was another woman who was in many ways a complete opposite. Shorter and wider than her companion, the second woman was dressed in a black burka, an ensemble that completely covers the body, including the eyes. It was difficult to say who was leading whom ... an obvious parallel to the statement Jesus made.
May 1st:
Sent Mom an e-card with flowers for May Day. When we were in elementary school, Hannah and I used to pick a bunch of flowers on the way home from school, leave them on the doorstep, and run away after we rang the doorbell. As we got older and moved out of the house, we would order flowers and have them delivered. Now, I have to send her virtual ones!
Today is Labor Day here, so we didn't have any school. It was a pretty relaxed morning. I really felt the need to talk to Mom, but it was already 10pm their time. I was asking the Lord to help me look to Him for my comfort, when the thought crossed my mind that I ought to check Skype. God is so good to give us the earthly comforts we need ... Mom was online! She was just reading my blog and sending me an email, so we were in the same mindset! Had an encouraging time talking to her. She is always faithful to point me to the Lord and encourage me in truth.
Visited with Mary afterwards. With all the company and sight-seeing we haven't really been able to talk, so it was refreshing to know how she was doing and just get caught up on each other's lives. The enemy is quick to mark the slightest lack of communication and use that to stir up strife. I am so thankful for a team that squelches those attacks right away.
Stacy and I went out in the afternoon and bought ice cream, then brought them back to eat with Mary. (The guys went to Amedy, so it was just us girls). I spent most of the day catching up on emails and preparing the final examination for math.
For dinner, Stacy and I were planning on going to Sarky's, but they were closed. We ended up meeting John, Mary et al at the Tantuni restaurant, where they serve the rolled up sandwiches. Stacy and I had some time to kill before meeting them, so we went to a bookstore and I finally found a map of Iraq in English, an English-Kurdish verb book, and a picture dictionary in English-Kurdish! I've been looking for the last three months for resources like these and just now found them ... better late than never! After dinner, we all walked to a "gift store" about two blocks away - they have a lot of antiques there and some locally made things. Everything is heaped up in piles and crowded onto a few shelves against the wall. There is barely enough room to move around. All six of us piled in and reached over each other trying to find some good deals. Some of the items were pretty expensive, but we dug for the cheaper things and bartered with the owner. When I got back home, I went through my list of gifts to buy ... I think I am officially done! There are a few perishable things I want to get right before I leave, but I'm glad to know that I've found a lot of things I wanted to bring home and share with everyone.
May 2nd:
Funny how a day of doing nothing can make me so tired! A little slow getting up, but after my "cardio kickboxing" routine I was ready to go.
Had a pretty good class this morning ... at least they are improving. [I was telling Stacy how it used to be, "at the beginning of the year there were ten or so boys who were acting up. As soon as I disciplined one, another one popped up shouting and then another standing on his desk. You know it was like that game..." Stacy finished my sentence, "you mean, Whack-a-mole?" We busted up laughing!] Nowadays I really only have to deal with about three of the boys and talk to them after class; the rest I can look at and they'll quiet down.
[I have my window open as I'm writing this and I can hear thunder outside. It was pretty overcast today, sounds like a storm is moving in.]
Today was one class after the other. I had two art classes back-to-back. Both worked on their books really well. The first class had to sit quietly with their arms folded for a couple minutes, but then they got into their drawings and were fine for the rest of class. I was feeling a little discouraged during their session because during the break right before, the vice principal asked me to help at the art show (which I've already been working on with the other teachers). I failed to realize that he was asking for extra help (not asking if I had finished my portion), answered hastily, and immediately regretted not being more patient, especially as I realized that the rest of the teachers in the room were listening. A poor testimony on my part since I know that most of the teachers have little respect for the v.p. already. Another reminder not to walk in my own strength, trying to prove that I am capable! Anyway, I was little more subdued, but my kids never fail to cheer me up.
The 11am class was amazing ... again! I am so thankful for them. I've really seen a turn-around in two of the boys. They were the worst ones and made the class difficult. Now they are my best artists! The two pout-y girls have also come 180 degrees, so the class is pretty mild now.
Had a short lunch break, then off to the 12:15 math class. They are doing really well, even though I have two boys in the back who have turned their desk into a soccer field. By the end of the session, I have a handful of "soccer balls" (paper wads) that I've confiscated. Graded some papers, then off to the 1:45 art class. They usually start out a little rowdy, but settle down once we start drawing. Most of the girls want to take their books home to finish since they spend so much time coming up with a clever idea, start to draw, erase, and start again...
Walked home as fast as I could, then J (T re-named her, "Julee" after our first interview, so I'll start using that...) picked me up and we went to the girls' orphanage. We brought some beads and elastic so they could make bracelets and necklaces. The younger girls enjoyed it, but the older girls pulled me away after a little bit and we hung out in their room. We pieced together a conversation in English and Kurdish ... The call to prayer went out (or "answers to prayer" as Zander calls it), and the girls asked me how I pray in America. I tried to explain, but they didn't understand, so I asked them if they wanted me to show them. Even though they didn't understand most of it, I asked God to bless our time and help me learn to communicate with them. I had an enjoyable time. Julee dropped me back off at home, then I unwound for a bit before getting motivated to grade a stack of math papers.
Skyped with Lisa in the evening regarding the art show tomorrow ... her phone ran out of minutes. Technology is awfully convenient! Then headed for bed.
Monday, April 30, 2012
April 29th through 30th (Days 112-113): Tired, but Trusting
April 29th:
Went to bed last night thinking about why it bothers me so much when people come up and tell me that I must be from China or Korea or Japan. It's happened a couple times in the last few days and I can get really upset by it. When I tell them I'm from America, they scoff and tell me that my parents must be Asian. Sometimes I feel like I have to go through my entire history just to convince them that I'm American. When I look in the mirror, I often think that my outward appearance isn't an accurate representation of who I really am, but then I have to wonder, "Who am I, really?" When I get down to the heart of it, I belong to God, which means that no human form will ever be an accurate representation. "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." I read through some Scriptures and found comfort in seeing how often Christ was mis-identified as only "the son of a carpenter," an unprofitable Nazarene, and as being bound in his relationship to his earthly brothers and sisters. Though perfect and sinless, the outward appearance that Christ took on Himself, being without form or comeliness, associated Him with sinful man. People scoffed at our Savior when He told them that He was not of this world and became angry when He declared Himself to be God. He didn't try to convince them or argue with them, He showed them by His works who He was. "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
Went over for French toast with John and Mary and their guests. We had a nice time talking, then sang some hymns together and listened to a sermon from John and Mary's pastor in Pennsylvania. I left for school a little early and had some copies made for Mary (naturally, there was enough paper and ink for her print job!)
The "rowdy" class had some trouble settling down. So finally for the last 25 minutes of class, I made them sit with their hands folded and wrote their names on the board if they made even the slightest noise. When they realized I was serious, they started to quiet down. We'll see if it lasts into tomorrow...
At 10:15, I subbed for the science teacher for my second fourth grade class. We went through the lesson and did some of the practice problems. When I saw them again 12:15, we finished working on the lesson problems and then I released them to the garden for about 20 minutes.
My 11am art class went REALLY well. They are working on making their own books. I am giving them the sentences (borrowed from a book I read when I was little), then they are drawing the pictures. Today they drew a picture of themselves over the words, "God always sees me." Every student in the class (except for two) worked diligently and did their best. I was really impressed with the drawings they produced!
At 1pm, I went to H's to tutor J. We had a nice time, even though H has bad allergies right now. She fixed me some yummy pasta and then made me waffles with ice cream, chocolate sauce, pancake syrup, and banana slices! SUPER GOOD! J wasn't too motivated today and really wanted to draw, so I wrote words on the paper, which he drew after reading the word aloud.
Took a taxi to the market and bought a lot of the gifts I was looking for. Felt very successful. Came home and Skyped with the family. The boys had lots of fun things to tell me. At 6pm, John, Mary, Matt, Brad, Henry and I went to dinner at Shendokah, which is a pretty fancy restaurant and hotel on the other side of town. We ate outside ... the weather was perfect. I had parzola which is like a lamb chop. I really enjoyed it. It was nice to sit around and share experiences (well, most of the time ... sometimes I feel like I answer a little too eagerly, wanting to talk in English and say something about what I'm learning here. It brings out a side of me that isn't pleasant.) After dinner it was a little harder to squeeze into one taxi, but we made it home!
April 30th:
Three locals have told me that I look tired in the last few days, so apparently I must really look as tired as I feel! Got some good sleep last night, but between the heat and my allergies I don't have as much energy as usual.
Yesterday I told the "rowdy" class that whoever did not bring their homework today would go to the principal. Four students failed to bring it! We ended up sitting with our hands folded again; it was unbelievable to see how many of them kept pushing and pushing - talking, moving their desks, throwing pieces of eraser - primarily the four who didn't turn in their homework. In the end, I took them to the principal, but I'm not sure what their discipline was.
During the break I graded papers and watched Matt and Brad play soccer with the kids. Three first grade girls came up spontaneously and gave me hugs, held my hand, and told me their names. It was nice to get so much love! I definitely count that as one of God's blessings. During the break, I also gave the curriculum coordinator the names of the students who have turned in less than three of the six homework sets I have assigned. He is anxious to have their grades improve, but I told him that they can't improve if they aren't turning in homework. He agreed and said he would talk to them.
My 12:15 class went well. I feel like I can have a little more fun with their group - even if they are being noisy, they will respond and quiet down when I speak to them. We were about 15 minutes into the lesson when the curriculum coordinator and the principal came into the room. They asked if they could interrupt for about 5 minutes, then proceeded to call the names of the kids on my "no homework" list. They made them stand at the front of the classroom and went through each one, scolding them for only turning in ___ homework sets out of the six. It was an agonizing process, especially as I watched the students sit back down somewhat disheartened. After the principal and c.c. left, I took a minute to tell the class that when they get in trouble, I feel like I am getting punished too. I want to help them and encourage them, but can't make them turn in their homework. They seemed to respond positively - several of the students who had been reprimanded came up and asked me what they needed to turn in. The c.c. and principal went into the classroom next door and gave the same lecture (I felt sorry for the teacher who was overseeing the class at the time). It is sad to see how they used shame to achieve compliance, instead of showing the students that they have a teacher who wants them to learn and grow and cares enough for them to say something about their poor performance... something I pray that God will allow me to demonstrate to my kids, little by little, day by day.
Met with the curriculum coordinator afterwards since a parent had complained / given suggestions for improvement regarding my tests. I was able to answer two of the three complaints satisfactorily - 1. I grade every piece of homework they turn in 2. I give them the answer to the bonus question (ex: What is mercy?) in class and write it on the board to see if they are paying attention. The third was a suggestion that I move the number of points possible from the beginning of the question to the end and use the term "marks" instead of points. All I could do was smile and say, "Sure" (which is exactly how the curriculum coordinator felt too).
A little after 1pm, I walked down to the market to T's office (from the orphanage). Since leaving her position at the orphanage, she is working for Heartland Alliance, which provides free legal counsel to Iraqi's. Their office is on the fourth floor of what looks like a clothing department store. When I arrived, she introduced me to her boss as "Helen Mezuri," which generated some conversation. After finishing up the monthly report she was writing, we explored the market, ate a bag of chips, looked at jewelry, and got some tamarind juice (I'd never tried it before - sort of sweet and sour). I enjoyed talking with T and asking her questions. She is forward-thinking and has some interesting ideas. Found myself praying often that God would give me the words to stay and keep me from inadvertently doing things that would be disrespectful. T introduced me to some of her distant relatives who own different stalls in the market, so I will be able to shop there in the future.
Came home and made the salad for tonight's team meeting. Mary made lasagna soup, and Julie and I had the sides - bread and salad. We Skyped with Dave and Lisa, then had a fire on the roof with a cheesecake dessert that Lisa made. Felt that I needed to walk in the strength of the Lord many times today, and was grateful to see the many ways He met that need. I am finding that it is possible to stay positive when I am resting in His strength. I used to get so discouraged, even depressed for months on end. Now, I can go into situations and instead of focusing on my shortcomings, I simply ask God to show me what He is doing. The stress to be successful, get things done, and see results melts away - I see that all things are ordained by Him and that He delights to be my strength through every situation.
Lately, external negativity seems to encroach on my joy in the Lord. All around me people are discouraged, stressed, and frustrated ... it becomes draining. But then I realize that this is just one more area I need to rely on the Lord for strength. He endured much greater negativity, but continued steadfastly in the will of His Father. By Christ's example, I know that it is possible to remain positive, but need the daily remainder that it is in His strength alone. I can't depend on myself to know how to comfort others, alleviate their stress, or calm their frustrations, I must continually turn to the Lord to give me patience and wisdom, ultimately trusting Him to meet their needs.
Went to bed last night thinking about why it bothers me so much when people come up and tell me that I must be from China or Korea or Japan. It's happened a couple times in the last few days and I can get really upset by it. When I tell them I'm from America, they scoff and tell me that my parents must be Asian. Sometimes I feel like I have to go through my entire history just to convince them that I'm American. When I look in the mirror, I often think that my outward appearance isn't an accurate representation of who I really am, but then I have to wonder, "Who am I, really?" When I get down to the heart of it, I belong to God, which means that no human form will ever be an accurate representation. "When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." I read through some Scriptures and found comfort in seeing how often Christ was mis-identified as only "the son of a carpenter," an unprofitable Nazarene, and as being bound in his relationship to his earthly brothers and sisters. Though perfect and sinless, the outward appearance that Christ took on Himself, being without form or comeliness, associated Him with sinful man. People scoffed at our Savior when He told them that He was not of this world and became angry when He declared Himself to be God. He didn't try to convince them or argue with them, He showed them by His works who He was. "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
Went over for French toast with John and Mary and their guests. We had a nice time talking, then sang some hymns together and listened to a sermon from John and Mary's pastor in Pennsylvania. I left for school a little early and had some copies made for Mary (naturally, there was enough paper and ink for her print job!)
The "rowdy" class had some trouble settling down. So finally for the last 25 minutes of class, I made them sit with their hands folded and wrote their names on the board if they made even the slightest noise. When they realized I was serious, they started to quiet down. We'll see if it lasts into tomorrow...
At 10:15, I subbed for the science teacher for my second fourth grade class. We went through the lesson and did some of the practice problems. When I saw them again 12:15, we finished working on the lesson problems and then I released them to the garden for about 20 minutes.
My 11am art class went REALLY well. They are working on making their own books. I am giving them the sentences (borrowed from a book I read when I was little), then they are drawing the pictures. Today they drew a picture of themselves over the words, "God always sees me." Every student in the class (except for two) worked diligently and did their best. I was really impressed with the drawings they produced!
At 1pm, I went to H's to tutor J. We had a nice time, even though H has bad allergies right now. She fixed me some yummy pasta and then made me waffles with ice cream, chocolate sauce, pancake syrup, and banana slices! SUPER GOOD! J wasn't too motivated today and really wanted to draw, so I wrote words on the paper, which he drew after reading the word aloud.
Took a taxi to the market and bought a lot of the gifts I was looking for. Felt very successful. Came home and Skyped with the family. The boys had lots of fun things to tell me. At 6pm, John, Mary, Matt, Brad, Henry and I went to dinner at Shendokah, which is a pretty fancy restaurant and hotel on the other side of town. We ate outside ... the weather was perfect. I had parzola which is like a lamb chop. I really enjoyed it. It was nice to sit around and share experiences (well, most of the time ... sometimes I feel like I answer a little too eagerly, wanting to talk in English and say something about what I'm learning here. It brings out a side of me that isn't pleasant.) After dinner it was a little harder to squeeze into one taxi, but we made it home!
April 30th:
Three locals have told me that I look tired in the last few days, so apparently I must really look as tired as I feel! Got some good sleep last night, but between the heat and my allergies I don't have as much energy as usual.
Yesterday I told the "rowdy" class that whoever did not bring their homework today would go to the principal. Four students failed to bring it! We ended up sitting with our hands folded again; it was unbelievable to see how many of them kept pushing and pushing - talking, moving their desks, throwing pieces of eraser - primarily the four who didn't turn in their homework. In the end, I took them to the principal, but I'm not sure what their discipline was.
During the break I graded papers and watched Matt and Brad play soccer with the kids. Three first grade girls came up spontaneously and gave me hugs, held my hand, and told me their names. It was nice to get so much love! I definitely count that as one of God's blessings. During the break, I also gave the curriculum coordinator the names of the students who have turned in less than three of the six homework sets I have assigned. He is anxious to have their grades improve, but I told him that they can't improve if they aren't turning in homework. He agreed and said he would talk to them.
My 12:15 class went well. I feel like I can have a little more fun with their group - even if they are being noisy, they will respond and quiet down when I speak to them. We were about 15 minutes into the lesson when the curriculum coordinator and the principal came into the room. They asked if they could interrupt for about 5 minutes, then proceeded to call the names of the kids on my "no homework" list. They made them stand at the front of the classroom and went through each one, scolding them for only turning in ___ homework sets out of the six. It was an agonizing process, especially as I watched the students sit back down somewhat disheartened. After the principal and c.c. left, I took a minute to tell the class that when they get in trouble, I feel like I am getting punished too. I want to help them and encourage them, but can't make them turn in their homework. They seemed to respond positively - several of the students who had been reprimanded came up and asked me what they needed to turn in. The c.c. and principal went into the classroom next door and gave the same lecture (I felt sorry for the teacher who was overseeing the class at the time). It is sad to see how they used shame to achieve compliance, instead of showing the students that they have a teacher who wants them to learn and grow and cares enough for them to say something about their poor performance... something I pray that God will allow me to demonstrate to my kids, little by little, day by day.
Met with the curriculum coordinator afterwards since a parent had complained / given suggestions for improvement regarding my tests. I was able to answer two of the three complaints satisfactorily - 1. I grade every piece of homework they turn in 2. I give them the answer to the bonus question (ex: What is mercy?) in class and write it on the board to see if they are paying attention. The third was a suggestion that I move the number of points possible from the beginning of the question to the end and use the term "marks" instead of points. All I could do was smile and say, "Sure" (which is exactly how the curriculum coordinator felt too).
A little after 1pm, I walked down to the market to T's office (from the orphanage). Since leaving her position at the orphanage, she is working for Heartland Alliance, which provides free legal counsel to Iraqi's. Their office is on the fourth floor of what looks like a clothing department store. When I arrived, she introduced me to her boss as "Helen Mezuri," which generated some conversation. After finishing up the monthly report she was writing, we explored the market, ate a bag of chips, looked at jewelry, and got some tamarind juice (I'd never tried it before - sort of sweet and sour). I enjoyed talking with T and asking her questions. She is forward-thinking and has some interesting ideas. Found myself praying often that God would give me the words to stay and keep me from inadvertently doing things that would be disrespectful. T introduced me to some of her distant relatives who own different stalls in the market, so I will be able to shop there in the future.
Came home and made the salad for tonight's team meeting. Mary made lasagna soup, and Julie and I had the sides - bread and salad. We Skyped with Dave and Lisa, then had a fire on the roof with a cheesecake dessert that Lisa made. Felt that I needed to walk in the strength of the Lord many times today, and was grateful to see the many ways He met that need. I am finding that it is possible to stay positive when I am resting in His strength. I used to get so discouraged, even depressed for months on end. Now, I can go into situations and instead of focusing on my shortcomings, I simply ask God to show me what He is doing. The stress to be successful, get things done, and see results melts away - I see that all things are ordained by Him and that He delights to be my strength through every situation.
Lately, external negativity seems to encroach on my joy in the Lord. All around me people are discouraged, stressed, and frustrated ... it becomes draining. But then I realize that this is just one more area I need to rely on the Lord for strength. He endured much greater negativity, but continued steadfastly in the will of His Father. By Christ's example, I know that it is possible to remain positive, but need the daily remainder that it is in His strength alone. I can't depend on myself to know how to comfort others, alleviate their stress, or calm their frustrations, I must continually turn to the Lord to give me patience and wisdom, ultimately trusting Him to meet their needs.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
March 24th and 25th (Days 76-77): Last Day of Break and First Day Back to School
Yes... the picture you've all been waiting for!
Here we are in our Kurdish attire (you might see the men wearing these outfits around town and at the market, but the women don't really wear their Jilli Kurdis except for special occasions, like Kurdish picnics!)
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March 24th:
I had a great time at the soccer clinic this morning! Picked up Lisa and Julie in a taxi. Even though we were right on time, we ended up chatting with students while we waited for the attendant to unlock the gate to the soccer field (everyone here runs on Kurdish time, which is usually late). My allergies were still bothering me, so I felt a little lethargic starting out. I stayed for both girls' sessions and helped coach the goalies. For the last twenty minutes of each session, the girls scrimmage against each other. Since there aren't many players, the coaches end up scrimmaging too. The older girls' group was a lot of fun and I am starting to connect with some of the players. I stayed to watch the fourth grade boys' session and take pictures of my students. During the scrimmage they needed an extra player, so I jumped in and played with them. I think the boys thought it was pretty neat to have their teacher play with them. Of course it helped that I scored a goal!
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Stopped for a sandwich on the ride back and picked up some vegetables at the corner stand. After I ate, showered, did some laundry and baking, I visited with Mary over a cup of tea. Henry is now rolling over, and Mary has two recipes for bread that are both amazing! Went back home and prepped for school. I also switched over the clothes in my closet and put away all my sweaters ... in the hope I won't need them for the next few months. Ate a light dinner, then went to bed early (at least earlier than I have been). Thankful that I am not as sore after soccer as each week passes.
March 25th:
Uncertain what today's class would bring. Prayed for much wisdom and patience as I walked to school. It was a beautiful morning and nice not to wear a jacket. As soon as I walked up the steps to school, I realized just how much I'd missed it.
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As I was hanging up my laundry, I heard my Skype "ringing" and sat down to talk with Mom, Dad, Stephen and Jaden. The internet has been acting up a little bit lately, so our call was interrupted several times as Skype tried to "find our connection." Still enjoyed hearing their voices and getting all the news from home.
After our call, I made a fruit smoothie (with frozen banana, apple, nectarine juice and a little bit of yogurt.) Yummy! Then off to bed...
Here we are in our Kurdish attire (you might see the men wearing these outfits around town and at the market, but the women don't really wear their Jilli Kurdis except for special occasions, like Kurdish picnics!)
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March 24th:
I had a great time at the soccer clinic this morning! Picked up Lisa and Julie in a taxi. Even though we were right on time, we ended up chatting with students while we waited for the attendant to unlock the gate to the soccer field (everyone here runs on Kurdish time, which is usually late). My allergies were still bothering me, so I felt a little lethargic starting out. I stayed for both girls' sessions and helped coach the goalies. For the last twenty minutes of each session, the girls scrimmage against each other. Since there aren't many players, the coaches end up scrimmaging too. The older girls' group was a lot of fun and I am starting to connect with some of the players. I stayed to watch the fourth grade boys' session and take pictures of my students. During the scrimmage they needed an extra player, so I jumped in and played with them. I think the boys thought it was pretty neat to have their teacher play with them. Of course it helped that I scored a goal!
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March 25th:
Uncertain what today's class would bring. Prayed for much wisdom and patience as I walked to school. It was a beautiful morning and nice not to wear a jacket. As soon as I walked up the steps to school, I realized just how much I'd missed it.
View from the school
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The school
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Kids playing on the new Mini-Tennis court
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It was good to see the teachers again. Everyone was really friendly - makes me hopeful that I will build some profitable relationships during the next few months. My 11am class was starting to be a challenge right before I left for the break, but thankfully they were attentive today. They even remembered the principles we were focusing on three weeks ago! It really made my day when one of the girls (who happens to have the worst sulky face I've ever seen) followed directions without even being reminded!
After class, I headed right out and caught a taxi to Zeri Park to visit H from the International Fellowship. The taxi driver didn't know where to go, but he "phoned a friend" and got directions. :) I am going to help tutor H's five-year old son - English is their second language, so it has been difficult for him to enroll in an English-speaking school here. His dad works with him in the morning before work, but H would like him to have more practice. [I talked to the curriculum coordinator at CSM, and they don't need me to teach 3rd grade Humanities anymore. I was asking the Lord why, when H expressed their need for English help. Thankful to be able to use my time in this way.]
H and I ate lunch together (I had real kimchee for the first time in ... 3 months?), then J (the little boy) and I wrote a story using simple three-letter words. He was so happy to be able to read it to his mom before I left.
I caught a taxi home and even though the driver didn't know the sweet shop that we usually use as a reference point, I was able to direct him to my neighborhood using Kurdish directions. It was encouraging to realize I can get by much better than when I first arrived - still a long way to go, though. After I got home, Stacy and I walked down to the market. She caught the bus to go to her English lessons, and I headed off to the second-hand part of the market. It seems like just yesterday we were there to buy sweaters and winter apparel, now I am in need of a few summery clothes. It took a lot of digging, but I found a long, cotton skirt and two blouses (both appropriately long, but light enough for the warm weather).
On the way home, I stopped at the vegetable den and picked up salad fixings for tomorrow night's team dinner. At one stand, I was perusing their leafy greens and picked up a bunch; at the same time I heard a voice at my elbow say, "Spinach." The voice belonged to the customer standing next to me - I think that was about the extent of his leafy greens vocabulary since he didn't know what parsley was. It was an interesting part of the everyday experience here - one minute the taxi driver doesn't know where to go (seems rather crucial, doesn't it?) and the next someone is helping you identify spinach (not so crucial...).
As I walked home, my thoughts were focused on my reliance upon God and how my pride strives so hard to be independent. I found myself thanking God for how far He has brought me since this time one year ago, when I first began preparing to go "where ever He might lead."
Once I got home, I threw a load of laundry in the washer, then got busy in the kitchen. Since the spinach doesn't come pre-washed in a sealed baggie, I spent 20 minutes cutting off all the stems and hand-washing it. (All that training as a flower cleaner certainly paid off!) Thankfully I have a lovely salad spinner (one of those one-of-a-kind finds at the market), so that cuts down on some of the time at the end. Completed the same process for the parsley.
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As I was hanging up my laundry, I heard my Skype "ringing" and sat down to talk with Mom, Dad, Stephen and Jaden. The internet has been acting up a little bit lately, so our call was interrupted several times as Skype tried to "find our connection." Still enjoyed hearing their voices and getting all the news from home.
After our call, I made a fruit smoothie (with frozen banana, apple, nectarine juice and a little bit of yogurt.) Yummy! Then off to bed...
Monday, March 19, 2012
March 18th and 19th (Days 70-71): We're Moving Up in the World... Duhok Now Has Celery!
March 18th:
Slept in until 9am. Didn't feel as sore when I woke up, which was an answer to prayer. Stacy and I went to the Cultural Center so she could register for another Kurdish class. Snow was still on the mountains, but the sun was shining, so it was a nice day to be outside. We walked down past the market to a parking lot that acts as a bus stop. We had to wait until our bus filled up, then we were off! Two Kurdish women behind us were empathizing over the difficulties of going to the village for Nawroz when it wasn't appealing to their children - they spoke in Kurdish, but Stacy translated the gist of their conversation. It was fun to "eavesdrop" on the lives of everyday women here. We drove for about 15 minutes to the other side of the city. The bus let us off at the bottom of a hill and we walked to the Cultural Center on the top. From there, we had an amazing view of Duhok. The houses are brightly colored - pinks, greens, blues, and reds. It was a crystal clear day, the air was fresh from the snow, and everything about the city was vibrant. After she registered for the class, we walked back down the hill and caught a taxi to Mazi. Stacy went home while I picked up a few groceries.
When I got back home, I did some laundry, vacuumed, and prepped two graham cracker crusts for tomorrow night's team dinner. The sun was energizing and I felt like cooking. I walked down to the stand on the corner and bought some vegetables, then came home and tried out a new yellow curry recipe to eat sometime this week. At 4, I skyped with my family and Mom took "me" into each room so I could wake up the boys. :) Eithen did a puzzle with me and Mom updated me on life back home.
For dinner, Mary invited me over for black bean, pumpkin chili. It was yummy! Dan and Julie came over too and we had a fun time joking around. (Dan likes to give me a hard time and I dish it right back). Mary also made pumpkin spice muffins, which we enjoyed for dessert.
I didn't realize how much I had packed into one day until I sat down... felt really tired and happy to go to bed.
March 19th:
Spent some time reading God's Word and praying when I woke up this morning - much needed as I have felt dry and listless in spiritual things. A dream that I had last night was bothering me, but as I thought on it and prayed over it, I became convicted that it was an attack from the enemy to discomfit and distract me. God helped me overcome and I found joy as the day went by.
Julie and I went to the market around 1 so she could buy some sports clothes for the soccer clinic. Afterwards, we got a juice then stopped at the vegetable den (where they now have celery!) By the time we finished, the smoke, bright sunlight and over-stimulation worsened my dull headache (that has been lingering for over a week) to a semi-migraine. When I got home, I took some pain reliever, which helped, then had to get right to work, making dessert for tonight's team dinner.
Stacy's English lesson was cancelled, so we talked in the kitchen for a little while as the pies were finishing up. Around 5:30, we met up with John and Mary and walked to our team meeting together (stopping for vanilla ice cream on the way). Lisa made shredded barbecue chicken sandwiches with apple slaw! Julie and Mary whipped up the sides - potato salad (with celery) and yummy pesto pasta salad. I made an apple pie with graham cracker crust for dessert, which we enjoyed after our Skype call with Dave. Julie had picked up our Kurdish dresses from the dressmaker, so we oohed and awed over them. (We had them fitted right before we left for Suly.) When we got home, Mary and I had a little "party" and put the elastic in the dress and pants, then modeled them for pictures (coming soon).
Slept in until 9am. Didn't feel as sore when I woke up, which was an answer to prayer. Stacy and I went to the Cultural Center so she could register for another Kurdish class. Snow was still on the mountains, but the sun was shining, so it was a nice day to be outside. We walked down past the market to a parking lot that acts as a bus stop. We had to wait until our bus filled up, then we were off! Two Kurdish women behind us were empathizing over the difficulties of going to the village for Nawroz when it wasn't appealing to their children - they spoke in Kurdish, but Stacy translated the gist of their conversation. It was fun to "eavesdrop" on the lives of everyday women here. We drove for about 15 minutes to the other side of the city. The bus let us off at the bottom of a hill and we walked to the Cultural Center on the top. From there, we had an amazing view of Duhok. The houses are brightly colored - pinks, greens, blues, and reds. It was a crystal clear day, the air was fresh from the snow, and everything about the city was vibrant. After she registered for the class, we walked back down the hill and caught a taxi to Mazi. Stacy went home while I picked up a few groceries.
When I got back home, I did some laundry, vacuumed, and prepped two graham cracker crusts for tomorrow night's team dinner. The sun was energizing and I felt like cooking. I walked down to the stand on the corner and bought some vegetables, then came home and tried out a new yellow curry recipe to eat sometime this week. At 4, I skyped with my family and Mom took "me" into each room so I could wake up the boys. :) Eithen did a puzzle with me and Mom updated me on life back home.
For dinner, Mary invited me over for black bean, pumpkin chili. It was yummy! Dan and Julie came over too and we had a fun time joking around. (Dan likes to give me a hard time and I dish it right back). Mary also made pumpkin spice muffins, which we enjoyed for dessert.
I didn't realize how much I had packed into one day until I sat down... felt really tired and happy to go to bed.
March 19th:
Spent some time reading God's Word and praying when I woke up this morning - much needed as I have felt dry and listless in spiritual things. A dream that I had last night was bothering me, but as I thought on it and prayed over it, I became convicted that it was an attack from the enemy to discomfit and distract me. God helped me overcome and I found joy as the day went by.
Julie and I went to the market around 1 so she could buy some sports clothes for the soccer clinic. Afterwards, we got a juice then stopped at the vegetable den (where they now have celery!) By the time we finished, the smoke, bright sunlight and over-stimulation worsened my dull headache (that has been lingering for over a week) to a semi-migraine. When I got home, I took some pain reliever, which helped, then had to get right to work, making dessert for tonight's team dinner.
Stacy's English lesson was cancelled, so we talked in the kitchen for a little while as the pies were finishing up. Around 5:30, we met up with John and Mary and walked to our team meeting together (stopping for vanilla ice cream on the way). Lisa made shredded barbecue chicken sandwiches with apple slaw! Julie and Mary whipped up the sides - potato salad (with celery) and yummy pesto pasta salad. I made an apple pie with graham cracker crust for dessert, which we enjoyed after our Skype call with Dave. Julie had picked up our Kurdish dresses from the dressmaker, so we oohed and awed over them. (We had them fitted right before we left for Suly.) When we got home, Mary and I had a little "party" and put the elastic in the dress and pants, then modeled them for pictures (coming soon).
Saturday, March 17, 2012
March 14th and 15th (Days 66-67): Time to Play Games and Hang Out
March 14th:
Had a fairly quiet day at home. Stacy, Mary and I went to the Dollar Center and then the market. I have a new favorite bread stand across from the market. They sell small loaves of bread some with a cheese and others with a date filling. I tried a new round loaf - it was light and buttery, melted in my mouth!
Went to Andy and Lisa's in the evening for a few more rounds of the Name Game. Each person gets three slips of paper and writes down a person, place and thing, which are placed in a bowl. The bowl is passed around in a circle and each person tried to get their teammates to guess as many of the slips as possible in 30 seconds. In the first round, a player draws a slip of paper and describes the words to their teammates. Once someone guesses correctly, the player can continue describing words until the time runs out. In the second round, the player can only give one word ("um" counts!) And in the third round, each player has to act out the words he/she draws. We had a great time eating ice cream and laughing at each other's silly antics! It was officially decided - brunettes are smarter (or at least better at the Name Game) than blondes!
March 15th:
Slept in until 10am! John, Mary and I went out to the market around lunch time. They bought a few household items and then we showed John the Dollar Center. We ate meat "rollas" near the market for lunch and then walked home. We finished watching Little Dorrit (a Masterpiece TV series based on Dickens' book) and then Mary and I made coconut chicken curry for dinner. The electricity went out (city and generator) so we ended up making most of the meal in the dark! It finally came on in time for us to eat...
Had a fairly quiet day at home. Stacy, Mary and I went to the Dollar Center and then the market. I have a new favorite bread stand across from the market. They sell small loaves of bread some with a cheese and others with a date filling. I tried a new round loaf - it was light and buttery, melted in my mouth!
Went to Andy and Lisa's in the evening for a few more rounds of the Name Game. Each person gets three slips of paper and writes down a person, place and thing, which are placed in a bowl. The bowl is passed around in a circle and each person tried to get their teammates to guess as many of the slips as possible in 30 seconds. In the first round, a player draws a slip of paper and describes the words to their teammates. Once someone guesses correctly, the player can continue describing words until the time runs out. In the second round, the player can only give one word ("um" counts!) And in the third round, each player has to act out the words he/she draws. We had a great time eating ice cream and laughing at each other's silly antics! It was officially decided - brunettes are smarter (or at least better at the Name Game) than blondes!
March 15th:
Slept in until 10am! John, Mary and I went out to the market around lunch time. They bought a few household items and then we showed John the Dollar Center. We ate meat "rollas" near the market for lunch and then walked home. We finished watching Little Dorrit (a Masterpiece TV series based on Dickens' book) and then Mary and I made coconut chicken curry for dinner. The electricity went out (city and generator) so we ended up making most of the meal in the dark! It finally came on in time for us to eat...
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
February 20th and 21st (Days 43-44): Surprise Party and then the Long Awaited Initiation
February 20th:
Praising the Lord - my 8:30am class went REALLY well! Before class began, "Prissy" made a comment that could have been taken as rude, so I asked her if we were going to have any problems for the day. She said she would be good and the rest of class went smoothly. All the students got right to work on the assignment, kept working diligently, and turned in their best work so far. I was concerned because they finished with quite a bit of time to spare (none of the other classes were able to even complete the project). I was searching my mind for something else I could have them work on, when I realized I should reward them for doing what they were supposed to! [I think this was a kind reminder from the Holy Spirit.] We had quiet free time for the rest of class and I think it was appreciated. (I always loved when teachers would do that in middle school and high school!)
As I was grading art books in the teacher room, the administrator asked me to substitute for a sixth grade class. Thankfully, this was the same class I had observed when Lisa was working on an art project with them, so they weren't unfamiliar with me and knew I taught art. We worked on a project that I had left over from my classes. Classroom maintenance was a little difficult as I didn't know their names and most of the boys are bigger than me, but we made it through.
Walked to the market afterwards and met up with Stacy. We found a gift for one of her friends' children (who was born on the same day as Stacy) and walked through the market to pass the time until lunch. Around 11 we walked to a Turkish restaurant to eat, then to a Turkish bakery for Stacy's favorite cookies.
Home for a little rest before heading to the 1:45 rowdy class. Thankfully they were better than usual - not terrific, but behaved well enough that I let them go to the garden for the last 15 minutes of class. (I hope I don't end up regretting it...)
Walked to Holland Bazaar to pick up Stacy's birthday present and then to the second-hand shop nearby (this is the one with dishes, electronics, glasses, etc.) to find Stacy a "new" mug (hers broke). On the way home, stopped to get groceries and ended up with a heavy load to carry home - at least I got my weight training in! By the time I arrived home, Stacy had left, so I was free to start on her birthday dinner - bean burritos. I'd already cooked up refried beans the other night and set to work on homemade tortillas. It was quite a process, but nice to know how to do it - I'm thinking some nice, hot tortillas with butter and sugar are on the agenda in the near future. Carted everything over to Mary's (who was gracious enough to host so we could allay any suspicions). Then waited for Stacy to get home. I thought I was pretty smooth - didn't get antsy or pushy about leaving... when we "SURPRISED" her though, she said she already guessed. Oh well, at least the food was good. I had brought some Taco Bell packets with me from the States and added them to the beans, so they would have an "authentic" flavor :) Lisa brought chips (made from Lebanese bread) and salsa and Julie brought drinks and Mexican rice. Yummy! Mary made cheesecake brownies for dessert and we decorated it with candles. I was exhausted, but enjoyed just being with everyone.
February 21st:
Even though there is still snow on the mountains around us, the sun was shining brightly this morning. For the first time since I've been here, I didn't have to wear my winter jacket to school. The 9:15 class went well - some of the boys hurry to finish their assignment, so I am constantly handing back their art books and telling them, "Add more detail" or "Redo this and make it neat" or "Now you need to color it." Sometimes I sound like a broken recorder and what's worse, the kids must think so too since I will occasionally overhear them mimicking me with the same intonations! Oh dear!
After class, I needed some time to unwind and walked through the second-hand clothing section of the market. I like to take my time, so it was good to go alone. "Early" in the morning (about 10:30am) is also the best time to shop since there are hardly any shoppers and you have all the space you need to look through the massive piles. The only downside is having the shop keepers watch you the entire time. Some are polite though and stand outside so I don't feel so pressured to hurry. One of the vendors wanted me to learn the Kurdish names of the clothes - "chacket" and "bloos" were easy to remember; unfortunately the other fifteen he tried to teach me didn't really stick. :) In the end, he cut me a great deal on a gray pea coat, which will be nice as the weather gets a little warmer.
Went home and ate a leftover burrito for lunch, did a load of laundry and prepped for the afternoon class. The kids weren't as good as yesterday; in fact, one of the other teachers came in and yelled at them because she could hear them in the room next door. The students told me afterwards that I needed to be more like that teacher - shout and be mean to them and then they would listen. "Be strong, Miss" they told me. (Apparently a broken tape recorder isn't too impressive.) Once again, I was reminded how weak I am in myself and how much I need the Lord's help. The students settled down long enough to work on the assignment, but the last ten minutes of class were agony. I had to release the students one at a time (with the usual, "how will you be better next time" question), and even then two of the boys wrestled with each other until they were the last ones in the room.
Walked home, enjoying the sunshine, but feeling a little low. I am really congested and my face actually hurts a little (and yes, Dad, I am taking Vitamin C, forcing fluids and using nasal spray.) :)
Decided I would make some peanut butter cookies. (I am looking for a way to connect with the teachers at school a little better. I think substitute teaching helps - since we don't work a full schedule like the local teachers, it can create a rift between the "Americans" and the "locals" - I also know they liked my peanut butter dessert the other day. Besides subbing, I am going to try bringing in teacher treats once a week - something new for them to try and possibly a good conversation starter.) Anyway, for the cookies I had to use some substitutions, so when I pulled them out of the oven I was really heartbroken - they were peanut butter crumbles. They had no likeness to a cookie (other than their shape before touching them with a spatula) and tasted like really sweet, slightly burned, crumbly peanut butter pieces. [I'm not sure what to do with them ... I tried mixing them with yogurt but they have that baking powder texture ... if anyone has any ideas, please send them my way! I may buy some ice cream and try them as a topping next.] After my failure in the kitchen, I reminded myself that "when the horse bucks you off, you've got to get right back on," so I decided to use the old, tried-and-true date bread recipe. Grandma sent me her mom's recipe, so I made two loaves - the one I've made here twice and Great Grandma's version. Everything was going along splendidly, when halfway through the baking time, I started to hear a loud hissing noise. The next thing I knew, I was smelling gas! Ugghhh... I'd been told, "You know you're living in Iraq when you run out of gas in the middle of cooking" so the thought flashed across my mind, "I've been initiated!" A short-lived triumph, I ran across the hall... John graciously came over to take a look. The release is probably broken, so we are without gas until I can get the replacement part. Mary let me use her oven to finish my loaves. Thankfully, they came out beautifully! I am expectant, waiting to see how God will bless this gift to the teachers as the enemy was clearing trying to hinder me in the endeavor!
Ate a salad and some yogurt (no stove to warm things up), then caught up on correspondence.
Praising the Lord - my 8:30am class went REALLY well! Before class began, "Prissy" made a comment that could have been taken as rude, so I asked her if we were going to have any problems for the day. She said she would be good and the rest of class went smoothly. All the students got right to work on the assignment, kept working diligently, and turned in their best work so far. I was concerned because they finished with quite a bit of time to spare (none of the other classes were able to even complete the project). I was searching my mind for something else I could have them work on, when I realized I should reward them for doing what they were supposed to! [I think this was a kind reminder from the Holy Spirit.] We had quiet free time for the rest of class and I think it was appreciated. (I always loved when teachers would do that in middle school and high school!)
As I was grading art books in the teacher room, the administrator asked me to substitute for a sixth grade class. Thankfully, this was the same class I had observed when Lisa was working on an art project with them, so they weren't unfamiliar with me and knew I taught art. We worked on a project that I had left over from my classes. Classroom maintenance was a little difficult as I didn't know their names and most of the boys are bigger than me, but we made it through.
Walked to the market afterwards and met up with Stacy. We found a gift for one of her friends' children (who was born on the same day as Stacy) and walked through the market to pass the time until lunch. Around 11 we walked to a Turkish restaurant to eat, then to a Turkish bakery for Stacy's favorite cookies.
Home for a little rest before heading to the 1:45 rowdy class. Thankfully they were better than usual - not terrific, but behaved well enough that I let them go to the garden for the last 15 minutes of class. (I hope I don't end up regretting it...)
Walked to Holland Bazaar to pick up Stacy's birthday present and then to the second-hand shop nearby (this is the one with dishes, electronics, glasses, etc.) to find Stacy a "new" mug (hers broke). On the way home, stopped to get groceries and ended up with a heavy load to carry home - at least I got my weight training in! By the time I arrived home, Stacy had left, so I was free to start on her birthday dinner - bean burritos. I'd already cooked up refried beans the other night and set to work on homemade tortillas. It was quite a process, but nice to know how to do it - I'm thinking some nice, hot tortillas with butter and sugar are on the agenda in the near future. Carted everything over to Mary's (who was gracious enough to host so we could allay any suspicions). Then waited for Stacy to get home. I thought I was pretty smooth - didn't get antsy or pushy about leaving... when we "SURPRISED" her though, she said she already guessed. Oh well, at least the food was good. I had brought some Taco Bell packets with me from the States and added them to the beans, so they would have an "authentic" flavor :) Lisa brought chips (made from Lebanese bread) and salsa and Julie brought drinks and Mexican rice. Yummy! Mary made cheesecake brownies for dessert and we decorated it with candles. I was exhausted, but enjoyed just being with everyone.
February 21st:
Even though there is still snow on the mountains around us, the sun was shining brightly this morning. For the first time since I've been here, I didn't have to wear my winter jacket to school. The 9:15 class went well - some of the boys hurry to finish their assignment, so I am constantly handing back their art books and telling them, "Add more detail" or "Redo this and make it neat" or "Now you need to color it." Sometimes I sound like a broken recorder and what's worse, the kids must think so too since I will occasionally overhear them mimicking me with the same intonations! Oh dear!
After class, I needed some time to unwind and walked through the second-hand clothing section of the market. I like to take my time, so it was good to go alone. "Early" in the morning (about 10:30am) is also the best time to shop since there are hardly any shoppers and you have all the space you need to look through the massive piles. The only downside is having the shop keepers watch you the entire time. Some are polite though and stand outside so I don't feel so pressured to hurry. One of the vendors wanted me to learn the Kurdish names of the clothes - "chacket" and "bloos" were easy to remember; unfortunately the other fifteen he tried to teach me didn't really stick. :) In the end, he cut me a great deal on a gray pea coat, which will be nice as the weather gets a little warmer.
Went home and ate a leftover burrito for lunch, did a load of laundry and prepped for the afternoon class. The kids weren't as good as yesterday; in fact, one of the other teachers came in and yelled at them because she could hear them in the room next door. The students told me afterwards that I needed to be more like that teacher - shout and be mean to them and then they would listen. "Be strong, Miss" they told me. (Apparently a broken tape recorder isn't too impressive.) Once again, I was reminded how weak I am in myself and how much I need the Lord's help. The students settled down long enough to work on the assignment, but the last ten minutes of class were agony. I had to release the students one at a time (with the usual, "how will you be better next time" question), and even then two of the boys wrestled with each other until they were the last ones in the room.
Walked home, enjoying the sunshine, but feeling a little low. I am really congested and my face actually hurts a little (and yes, Dad, I am taking Vitamin C, forcing fluids and using nasal spray.) :)
Decided I would make some peanut butter cookies. (I am looking for a way to connect with the teachers at school a little better. I think substitute teaching helps - since we don't work a full schedule like the local teachers, it can create a rift between the "Americans" and the "locals" - I also know they liked my peanut butter dessert the other day. Besides subbing, I am going to try bringing in teacher treats once a week - something new for them to try and possibly a good conversation starter.) Anyway, for the cookies I had to use some substitutions, so when I pulled them out of the oven I was really heartbroken - they were peanut butter crumbles. They had no likeness to a cookie (other than their shape before touching them with a spatula) and tasted like really sweet, slightly burned, crumbly peanut butter pieces. [I'm not sure what to do with them ... I tried mixing them with yogurt but they have that baking powder texture ... if anyone has any ideas, please send them my way! I may buy some ice cream and try them as a topping next.] After my failure in the kitchen, I reminded myself that "when the horse bucks you off, you've got to get right back on," so I decided to use the old, tried-and-true date bread recipe. Grandma sent me her mom's recipe, so I made two loaves - the one I've made here twice and Great Grandma's version. Everything was going along splendidly, when halfway through the baking time, I started to hear a loud hissing noise. The next thing I knew, I was smelling gas! Ugghhh... I'd been told, "You know you're living in Iraq when you run out of gas in the middle of cooking" so the thought flashed across my mind, "I've been initiated!" A short-lived triumph, I ran across the hall... John graciously came over to take a look. The release is probably broken, so we are without gas until I can get the replacement part. Mary let me use her oven to finish my loaves. Thankfully, they came out beautifully! I am expectant, waiting to see how God will bless this gift to the teachers as the enemy was clearing trying to hinder me in the endeavor!
Ate a salad and some yogurt (no stove to warm things up), then caught up on correspondence.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
February 18th and 19th (Days 41-42): At the Market, In Eewack
February 18th:
Thankful to sleep in - woke up without a sore throat! Also awoke to snow outside with layers covering the mountains. Went to Mazi with Stacy for lunch (they are the only place to consistently have French fries), then did my weekly shopping. Afterwards, I went over to Lisa’s and we went down to the market for some “fun” shopping. I bought a salad spinner, spice containers, and ceramic bowls with plastic lids! By the time we were finished, Lisa and I had our hands full. There are little boys selling sturdier plastic bags for shoppers like us – I was tempted to rent the boy to carry everything! It was fun to get out. Lisa and I explored a side of the market that I had never been into before. When I got home I made baked enchiladas, which really turned out like an enchilada pizza since I used flatbread instead of tortillas. It still tasted good! I also used my new salad spinner to make a spinach-like salad with carrots, apple and a garlicky dressing I picked up at Holland Bazar. Yummy! A quiet rest of the evening.
February 19th:
Had a great Skype call with my family first thing this morning. [The other day Mom teasingly asked Eithen, "Where is Sissy anyway?" Eithen replied without hesitation, "In Eewack." We've never told him that, but he must be picking it up from all the conversations!] My sister is back at home, visiting the family so I got to talk to her too. Mom let Eithen stay up so he could talk to me. He seems anxious to be near the computer whenever I am on Skype, darting in and out with things to tell me or show me. Mom and I had a good talk and she was able to encourage me. For the past two days I’ve struggled with the discovery of more compulsive habits. Throughout my life, I can look back on many times when I’ve become preoccupied with MY space and how it is arranged and organized. That tendency has been creeping out over the last week. The preoccupation grows to a state where my mind is not at rest and it can be likened to a storm brewing in my thoughts. Because it is such a different state of mind than I have had for the past month (one of peace and assurance in God), I know it is sinful. The more I grappled with finding out the hidden sin, the more layers I found to confuse the issue – things that others have said about this compulsive behavior in the past, self-contempt for having this struggle, discouragement because it seems a never-ending problem. I spent several hours yesterday just praying over it and reading Scripture to find an answer. The misery I felt at knowing, or even just sensing, that something had come between me and the Lord was agony. It encouraged me to pray for those who are in a lost condition, not knowing what it is to walk with God and live in separation from Him every day. Though I was hesitant to bring up the issue with Mom (as I know I have a tendency to manipulate the conversation so I can hear what will be comforting to my flesh instead of exhorting to my soul) my discouragement came bubbling up. Mom told me she had been praying for me the last two days very specifically and I shared everything with her. As we talked, I realized that there was an event last week that triggered my compulsive behavior. I was looking at the behavior itself to find the sin, but didn’t go far enough back to see that the sin triggered the behavior. I had panicked last week (internally) over a situation that disrupted my sense of stability. Instead of dealing with that emotion and turning to the Lord, I brushed it aside. The situation kept coming up and I kept pushing my emotions down. Eventually, instead of turning to the Lord for comfort, I turned to my space and my things. I subconsciously told myself that if I could exercise enough control over them, I would feel stable again. As I already mentioned, this is an often repeated behavior; seeing it again made me discouraged because it felt like I would have to conquer something that has long been part of me. I pleaded this with the Lord telling Him I knew I could not do it in myself. Through my conversation with Mom, He graciously showed me that the source is external and that it is my response that it is sinful (not turning to God, but turning to something else for comfort). God knows my makeup, He knows how natural it is for me to organize, to take care of things, and create structure – He is not changing those things, but showing me that I can’t turn to those for comfort, I need always to turn to Him. How gracious our Heavenly Father is! My heart was so relieved. I left our Skype call feeling joyful again!
Went to school a little early to finish grading from last week. As I waited outside the classroom, it sounded like the teacher before me was having trouble with the students. I prayed that the Lord would give me wisdom. When it was time for art, the students weren’t very attentive. The entire class ended up copying sentences for nearly half the time while I continually reminded them to settle down. We finally worked in art books, but even then only one or two students really put effort into the assignment. It is discouraging to have an entire class so passive. Praying for wisdom so that I can motivate them.
Got home and visited with Mary over a cup of chai (yummy - I love our tea times!) Went home and ate lunch. Later, Mary and I met Julie at the market to look for fabric. It is almost picnic season. (I’ve determined it must be similar to a “season” in Victorian England as I have been told I need “something suitable to wear!”) We went shopping for fabric so that I can have a Kurdish dress made for me. It took a lot of looking, but at last I found a fabric I love (I was just beginning to give up hope at finding anything I’d like). We picked out matching fabric for the pants, shirt, and vest. I will be sure to post pictures once it is finished.
Came home and relaxed, then went to John and Mary’s for waffles. We had a nice time visiting – it was fun to hang out just like we would in America. Thankful for all the emails from family and friends. It is always encouraging to hear news from home!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
February 16th and 17th (Days 39-40): A Couple Slow-Paced Days
February 16th:
Had a leisurely morning at home. Went to class at 1:45pm. The kids were a little antsy (it is the last period of the day on the last day of the week), but after a few of them had to copy sentences, the rest of the class settled down and we had a good art session.
When I got home, I went to John and Mary’s and watched Henry so they could go to the hospital to visit one of our neighbor boys. (They think he might have leukemia). They got back just in the nick of time - Henry was ready to eat! A little while later, John, Mary and I went down to the market to look for more kitchen storage. We went to place that sold them the original one and bought an identical piece. We also picked up a vacuum. The store owner called up a friend who delivered the kitchen “cabinet” and dropped us off at home. We unloaded everything, and then went out to dinner with Stacy at Sarky’s Pizza. We finished around 7:30pm just in time for game night at Andy and Lisa’s. We didn’t end up playing games, just sat around, ate snacks, and talked until 11pm. It was nice to relax and visit without anywhere to go or anything to get done.
February 17th:
Went to International Fellowship at Andy and Lisa’s. Our group was getting too large to meet all together, so we ended up splitting into two groups. Andy, Lisa, and I all meet in the same group. Enjoyed holding the two babies in our group and was able to get to know more of the ladies.
Walked home and fixed lunch. A friend from the other fellowship group came over and visited with Stacy and me for a little while. She is really sweet and an encouragement to be around. After she left, I was pretty tired and took a quick nap. Spent some time journaling as I am struggling with another deeply-rooted habit in my life. I had a good time in prayer and several Scripture verses came to mind as I confessed my sin to God. I am a little discouraged as I know this will be an issue to be battled repeatedly and must be fought unwaveringly with perseverance. Yet I am encouraged knowing that Christ has already overcome and that the Holy Spirit is making intercession for me before the Father. Thankful to receive emails from family and friends.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
February 12th and 13th (Days 36-37): Anne of Green Gables Part Two
February 12th:
Went to class this morning, only to find that the students were busy decorating their classrooms for Valentine’s Day with their homeroom teachers. My 11am class teacher asked for a little extra time, so I watched her class for a few minutes. The students were excited about their “very nice” classroom (“it is nice, Miss?”). I took them down to the art room where it was difficult to get them settled down and paying attention. Once they started working on their posters, the rest of class went fairly well.
I walked home, ate lunch and caught up on correspondence. For dinner, I thawed chicken stock and made chicken and dumpling soup. Skyped with my family in the evening – it is always fun to hear about the things the brothers come up with and write down on their “lists.” Went to bed early as I was tired from all the traveling over the weekend.
February 13th:
Walked to school at 8am. It was pretty windy, even though the sun was shining. I got an extra workout since my skirt acted like a giant sail making it harder to walk against the wind. My first class of the morning begged me to let them finish decorating their classroom for Valentine’s Day. Being the softy that I am, and since I know they wouldn’t have been very productive anyway, I agreed. This is the same class with the drama issues last Wednesday. As it turns out, the sassy student, “Prissy” who had to stay behind last week, is also the student who drives a lot of the classroom drama. I had noticed it on a few occasions before, but today she and I ended up in a showdown. It reminded me (again) of Anne of Green Gables - this time when Anne is teaching at the girl’s boarding school and has to overcome all the family prejudices through the school play. I agreed to let the girls decorate and even offered to play a game on the whiteboard with the boys. “Prissy” wanted their homeroom teacher to come help them (and even made a point of telling me that they especially didn’t want my help). I ignored the latter comment and told her that their homeroom teacher was with another class and couldn’t come, but they could try to do their best without him. She fussed and complained to all the other girls, making it clear nothing would be right without the other teacher. When she left the room on an errand, the other girls started putting up some of the decorations. I encouraged them and the boys acted like they were interested in helping. The moment “Prissy” returned, the atmosphere changed. She pointed at the decorations and told the girls that it was terrible and didn’t look good. They stopped immediately and the boys went back to kicking around balloons (which of course she didn’t like.) I decided to break the class into teams so each team could decorate a part of the classroom without Miss Prissy’s criticism. The boys thought it sounded good, but “Prissy” declared she didn’t want to decorate anymore and they’d rather do work. I decided to take a class vote, but each time one of the girls raised their hands to decorate the room, “Prissy” shot them a threatening look and they lowered their hands. After asking each student individually what they preferred and getting the same subservient answers from the girls, I decided I was not going to back down. I told the girls to get out copy paper and write sentences while the boys decorated. “Prissy” tried the “I don’t have any copy paper” trick (I wasn’t born yesterday), so I ripped some out from my notebook and set it down on each of their desks. I told them that if I did not get one from each of them by the next class, I would send them to the principal’s office. They were too stunned to refuse. The only sentence that came to mind was “I will love my neighbor as myself” and because I was so fired up, I told them they had to write it 50 times (there was 15 minutes left in class). Two of the girls turned theirs in by the end of the day. We will see what Wednesday brings. The boys happily decorated the classroom.
Even though this was originally “the best class” on my caseload, I have often been compelled to pray for them. Once I had to stop writing on the board (before class had started) just to sit down and pray. I think there are some character lessons to teach them though they may not even be through art. I pray that my disgust with “Prissy’s” manipulation and consequential reaction will be used for God’s glory though I regret not seeking His face at the time.
Stayed at the school and visited with Mary for a little while. From 10:15 to 11am I substituted for a second grade teacher. It was interesting to be in another classroom. While I enjoyed working with new students, I left thankful for already having established rapport with my students. During the break, my afternoon class eagerly showed me their decorated classroom and begged me to let their homeroom teacher take my afternoon session so they could finish decorating. He agreed, so I did not need to come back at 1:45pm.
Went home for lunch with Stacy (we picked up a rotisserie chicken) and took a short nap afterwards. In the afternoon, I went to the market for some fruits and vegetables. I found a shortcut to the market (more scenic) too, so the walk is nice. I still have to brace myself for all the stares (and when I walk alone some of the younger men will whistle, or they will try to say “Hello” even though it would not be proper for me to respond. Sometimes I will even hear them whisper something about “Cheena” or “Yapan.” I told Stacy about this and she jokingly responded that I should snap back “Kurdi,” but of course that would only cause more problems. It’s fun to laugh about the annoyances though.) At the market, the vendors are more polite and it is always a relief to walk away with all the things I came looking for.
Cooked up a storm in the kitchen. Pulled apart the chicken and froze the meat for future enchiladas and curry; then made chicken stock with the bones. Boiled a half kilo of dates, pitted them and cut them up (I found a worm at the bottom of my bag last time, so decided to clean all of them at once this time). Baked some date bread (figured out the oven and didn’t burn it this time!), prepared some no-bake peanut butter bars for tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day party, and made granola. Phew! When I finished, I ate a chicken sandwich, then Skyped with Jessica! It was good to see her, but hard to know what to start talking about. Once we finally got settled into a conversation, the internet kept dying, so we had to cut it short. Seeing a familiar face from back home brought back a lot of memories and was really encouraging.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
February 5th through 7th (Days 29-31): One Month, Magnums and a Hair Trim
February 5th:
Beautiful weather again! Today was a holiday, so we didn't have any school. I was especially thankful since I am a little sore after yesterday's carpet cleaning. Loafed around the house until 10, then Stacy and I ran some errands and went to the market. I bought some large pots for cooking. (We have a small sauce pan, one small pot, and a frying pan, so it is difficult to cook anything on a large scale.) I'm looking forward to trying refried beans soon! :)
For lunch I heated up some food that the neighbors brought over. Around 1, Andy came by with the rug (thankfully it didn't rain last night or today, so it was completely dry). He also brought a new modem that he picked up for me last night. Hooray for internet again! John came over at the same time and replaced our entry light (he had just gone out and bought a new bulb for it). Then Mary and their little baby boy joined us, and Stacy and I had a fun little gathering in our apartment for 20 minutes or so. Can't get over how helpful everyone has been - I am really blessed to have such a considerate team.
Later, I went out to Holland and bought some jeans (they are actually Wranglers!) Then took a taxi to Mazi. I picked up the staples that I like to get from Mazi to last me the week (juice and yogurt) along with kitchen tools (a spatula and measuring cups) and "specialty" items (tortillas and whole wheat penne). My "big" adventure for the day was the taxi ride home. Unfortunately the driver didn't know the location that we usually use as the landmark to get us home, so I had to give him step-by-step directions. I really don't know any useful words outside of "straight ahead," "left" and "right," so the driver had to put up with me as I repeated the same phrases over and over without really being able to give him any general information about the final destination. Thankfully, we worked it out and I ended up at home.
The little neighbor girl was out in the alley and helped me carry my bags upstairs. She came in and then wandered around, looking at things. I decided to make the most of it and asked her the Kurdish names of things. I tried to write down the phonetic spelling of the words so I'd remember them, but I think that interacting with her was more important. Since she didn't speak any English, we couldn't really communicate outside of pointing at things and saying their English and Kurdish names.
Ate more of the neighbor's rice with some bread from Mazi. Then I cooked up a kilo of potatoes (in our new pot!) and made mashed potatoes - some for freezing, some for breakfast burritos, and some for fried potato pancakes. Mom and Dad talked to me on Skype (the brothers were at Grandpa and Grandma's house) and we had a good 1.5 hour conversation.
February 6th:
I have been here exactly one month. Thankful for all the things I have learned in the last 30 days. I still feel like I have a long way to go. I am prone to compare myself with fellow team members and think that I should have accomplished more by now, but I must continue to trust that God will direct me where I need to go and lead me through the lessons I need to learn. In many ways the time has flown by.
Had my 8:30am class this morning. They were good and attentive. Walked home afterwards and passed John and Mary on their way to class. It was fun to see familiar faces! Stacy and I ran some errands, then came home for lunch. The neighbors brought even more food last night. (Since it was a holiday, they had a party to celebrate and shared their food with us - it will take Stacy and I several days to finish ALL the food they brought). After eating some of the food for lunch and getting geared up with an ice coffee, I headed back out for the 1:45pm (rowdy 4B) class. I was greeted with pounding desks – not fists on the desks, but students picking up their desks and pounding them on the tile floors. Several of the boys were also in the mood to fight, so it took a little while to get them all settled down (not to mention I had to physically put myself in between them to get them to stop).
All the classes (including 4B) are settling into our new system – first we review concepts learned, then practice new concepts in our art books (today they had to “draw three emotions”), lastly they get to work on a graded project that incorporates all the lessons so far. For the projects this week and next, I am having each class work on a collaborative poster. The students are paired up and working on a section of 1 Cor. 13. For example, a team might have to draw “Love is patient” or “Love is not arrogant.” Next week, I will tape all the pieces together so the class will have one large poster. The best poster will go someplace prominent in the school so other students can see it.
Before allowing the class to leave, I told them they had to sit down and “be perfect.” (Usually I release the students in the order of who had the best behavior in class.) It took 7 minutes before everyone was perfectly still (even then there were a few minor exceptions – the students were getting tired of waiting for the one lone student who would not obey, so finally one of the students forced him into his seat and sat on him – I decided to fight the “no physical contact” battle another day, glanced around for the split second that everyone was sitting, and then dismissed them with a relieved sigh.)
After class I did some laundry, read my emails, and went over to visit with John and Mary around 4:30pm. We enjoyed a cup of tea, talked about how the Lord had brought us here, and then walked to Sarky’s Pizza for our team meeting. It was fun to have the whole group together… at last. Our end of the table split a cheese pizza and a veggie pizza – really yummy! Unfortunately the restaurant was out of finger chips (French fries have a lot of names around here)! We took our time and chatted, then left when the babies started to get fussy. On the way home, we stopped by Holland and picked up ice cream bars (Magnums). Stacy and I went over to John and Mary’s to enjoy our ice creams and talk about games, movies, and dreams.
February 7th:
Overcast this morning. They say it will snow in the mountains this week. Went to the 9:15am class and had a good lesson. The students were a little fidgety, but once they began working in their art books and on the brainstorming part of the project, they settled down. In each class I have a handful of students who show real artistic talent – it is fun to see what they will come up with as I challenge them with different types of projects. Though the other students may not be naturally gifted, most have shown improvement in the last month and I am beginning to see where their strengths lie. This is a real encouragement to keep pushing all of the students and challenging them to step outside their comfort zone.
After grading art books, I went home for lunch with Stacy (more of the neighbor’s food), then went back to school to prep for my afternoon class. I was going to try something new and take the students to the art room to work, but the administration ended up having a meeting and only announced it about an hour beforehand. I switched to plan B and got the posters ready to take to their classroom. I had a few minutes to observe Lisa teaching a 6th grade art class – neat to see what the older kids can do – then headed up to 4B to see what another day would bring. More fighting and general rowdiness, but I tried to get them started on their posters right away and that helped settle everyone down. Only two of the groups turned out mediocre posters, the other nine groups really worked hard to incorporate detail, action and emotion and I was pleasantly surprised with their illustrations.
Walked home in the rain and got pretty wet, ate an after school snack, then left for Dan and Julie’s house. I was going to take a taxi, but there weren’t as many driving by (usually they are back-to-back every second), so I ended up walking the whole way. I was pretty wet by the time I got to their house. After a cup of tea to help me warm up, I trimmed Julie’s hair! I was a little nervous getting started, but some of the things I’d learned from my hairdresser and past experiences began coming back to me and I think it turned out alright.
Caught a taxi on the way home. The driver was impressed with my Kurdish – ha! He didn’t know the “usual landmark” either so I had to use my three Kurdish directions. Thankful to arrive home warm and dry. Fixed a “burrito” for dinner – I fried up some potatoes, mixed in some chicken (from the neighbors) and cheese, then folded it all up in a tortilla with salsa (which I found at Holland the day they had Soy Sauce). Perhaps not authentic Mexican, but it tasted good!
Updated my blog in the dark with no electricity. It sounds like a storm is brewing outside.
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