T’s Neighborhood

the random thoughts I had during the day (yesterday) that I managed to write down...

The internet is down. I left my lesson plans on the computer at home. School doesn’t start until 7:30 but kids have been yelling outside the room since I got here just before 6:30. But I’m excited for this day. It’s funny how we teachers still get amped up for the first day. I went to bed at my usual 9pm last night but was woken up at 11 by a friends call. Of course, after the call, I couldn’t fall back asleep. After rolling in circles on the bed for an hour I gave up and read. No idea what time I fell back asleep. The alarm at 4:36 was early. The taxi at 6 was late. But everything works out. Supposedly today I will be getting my car back and the internet hooked up at my house. I’m not holding my breath. However, it’s a good day. I saw an amazing sun rise this morning while I was dancing around my room to worship music. Yes, though I can’t sing, I do dance around the house at 5am. I never said I wasn’t crazy.

Made it through almost an hour and a half of advisory and half an hour of 1^st period. The internet is back up. I love that we are actually following the planned schedule (such a change from MS first days of school). Hated going over all the “don’t” rules with the kids. Tried to explain how much fun they would have if they just acted right. Wish you could have seen the looks on the faces of my first period kids when I told them I don’t care where they sit or if they even sit at all. Priceless. I really should write MasterCard commercials.

to copy a friends blog...

i know you. you've always wanted to visit Guatemala, haven't you? right, right? and now's your chance, with your special Moyfriend [insert ruthiefriend] living right in the capital! the following is a list of our long weekends for this upcoming academic year; i'm already so excited about the travel that will be accomplished this year and hope that you'll be able to come down and hang out. we'll see awesome things, i promise.

now, you go and check out kayak.com, or wherever you normally search, for ticket prices.

12-15 september 2009, dia de independencia (4 days)

17-20 october 2009, dia de la revolucion (4 days)

26-29 november 2009, thanksgiving (4 days)

12 december 2009 - 5 january 2010 (really long time...)

5-7 february 2010, random day off (3 days)

27 march-5 april 2010, semana santa (long time...)

7-10 may, mother's day

Note- I´m typing on a spanish keyboard and there is no spellcheck. I could go back and reread everything but my hour of free computer time (I´m at a language school in Xela, Guatemala - blog to come later) is almost up. Deal.

My favorite part of the summer. Amber, Naphtali and I escape for 5 glorious days in the wilderness. No cell phones, television, computers or internet allowed. We don´t even have timepieces with us. We wake up with the sun and go to bed when tired (at least this year we did manage to bring a flashlight with us in case we needed to go adventuring at night – last year it was left in the suburban).

This is the time and place where countless adventures unfold – paddling through lightning storms, swimming naked in the middle of the day, drinking copious amounts of vanilla rum, discussing everything under the sun, making up songs to the tune of the itsy bitsy spider, digging trenches with camping cups during storms, bob the bobber, canoes falling off the top of the truck while on the highway... This is the time where I can be myself. There is no fear of judgment and missunderstandings are resolved in love. We laugh together and share out deepest thoughts and dreams and fears. I love these two ladies more than I can say and I would do anything for them. They have blessed my life in countless ways and taught me so much about what it means to be a true friend. I would not be the same without them.

This was our second year for the Ross Lake adventure. Last year, with three people in two canoes, we only made it as far as boundary bay. This year we were determined to finish the entire 50 mile trip. It helped that instead of two canoes we only brought one and a kayak. Funny how last year we had two canoe´s full of gear and this year only one plus a little in the kayak – yet there was nothing we lacked.

I did the first four days in the kayak and then gave it away for the last day. I would have let the paddle earlier, and I did offer, but we ran into some pretty rough weather and so it was best that I had the canoe and the responsibility if it flipped. Our second day was the worst. First I put on the rain skirt (thank you again daddy for saying that I should take it when I would have left it at home). But as the waves got choppier and choppier, the wind was almost parallel to the direction I needed to go, I eventually decided that I would put on the life jacket as well. I was resigned to the fact that I was probably going to be swimming in the not to distant future. At one point the girls asked me if I was okay. My answer – Yup, I have my life jacket on. They did not find that comforting. Even though there were a few waves that crashed over my kayak I felt lucky because at least I had the rain skirt while the girls had nothing to protect them from the rain.

So everything else about school may suck but at least I know I'm a damn good teacher. Some excerpts from end of the year reflections and parent emails -

[From a parent] I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for being the best Math teacher Diego has ever had. Thank you for believing in him, for pushing him hard, and for teaching him not only math skills but also to reach his full potential.

I believe math this year has been the most engaging and educational experience in math. I have never had such a good math class or teacher (honestly) I never fully enjoyed math but this year has helped me understand that math is not a complete torture but a interesting learning year.

My favorite thing about my math teacher was that we could talk things that weren't related to math. we had a lot of confidence.

My favorite thing about Ms. Kuhnau is her sense of humor.

I am so thankful that I had you as a teacher. Please don't think that my sucky grades say anything about how I feel about you. You are the best math teacher I've had in my life...I doubt I'll ever find such a great math teacher. I will never forget you.

You were very nice and patient. You did really cared about each person. You always checked 2 see if I was ok.

This was the first year I liked math so this was the best class ever.

You teachers [referring to the 8th grade team] are one of the best teachers I ever had. NO, No, let me be clear. You are the best group of teachers I've ever had...Ms. Kuhnau was so creative and "REALLY PATIENT" with us.

Thank you so much for making math fun again. Last year I absolutely hated math. You brought the fun back. Thank you for everything you have taught me and for making such a boring subject like Math, my favorite subject.

My favorite thing about math class this year was we weren't assigned any big, fat textbooks.

My favorite thing about math class was that I finally had an organized binder. Everything is much much easier when every classwork, homework and lesson has a number.

I did not like the loud voice of my math teacher. [I'm pretty sure this is because my loud voice kept him awake.]

Ms. Kuhnau thank you for being the best math teacher I ever had. I will really miss you next year in Math!

The favorite thing about the teacher is that she knows how to have fun and make us study too.

I loved the way that you were very organised. That is something I will take with me forever...I loved your class. And I love you very much. I wish you could go to 9th grade.

This year has been the best math I have ever had because I understanded the concepts really good by the way you teached the class!

I want to use this time to say to you, you were my best math class teacher. I am not saying it just to be nice but because it is what I think. You were one of those teachers that teaches in a fun but strict way and for me that is the best way to learn.

My favorite thing about my math teacher was that she took excellent pictures and she was a great dancer, a very elastic person and an excellent teacher.

...you are just like one of us, even though you through a shoe, marker, and eraser at me. I still love you.

What I liked about math was the baseball game [an actual math project we did] and the UEFA games at the TV [champions league finals were on during school so we skipped math and watched them live on the internet]. The part of class that should stay the same would be the class website and the thing she should change would be me "siting on a chair all day."

The part I didn't like about this class is that you were always supervising me. One little thing I did, you always caught me and punish me. You should watch other people, too.

What I didn't like about the teacher was that she disappeared misteriously from time to time. [It's true...sometimes when they are doing classwork I slip out without telling them.]

...let us chew gum.

I didn't enjoy the first lesson [of the year] about rational and irrational numbers. I think that it wasn't a helpful lesson compared to other ones.

I really liked your way of teaching = with strange names like zoom zoom. They may be strange but you always remember them....As I said before, I liked the way you teach and make us laugh...if you scold us it was because we brought it on ourselves.

Ms. Kuhnau, you are actually my best teacher I've had in many years. I don't say this to have a good grade, I say this because its the truth. I loved to learn many skills from you.

Normally I hate math because they are just boring numbers that have to be a certain way and I can't give my opinion on them. but this year it was fun because the teacher was great and it was easy...Ms. Kuhnau, Thank you for being my teacher this year and, for not getting mad or freaked out or even annoyed of my wierd craziness (well unless you did not tell me) Honestly, you have been the best teacher I ever had and I think that you could teach every subject and you would be a great teacher.

I don't really like doing math but is fun how you teach it.

My favorite part in math class is everyone was helpful to me in the first class I came and my teacher too was helpful. My favorite thing about my math teacher is she did not leave anyone from the class until he or she understands everything.

Thank you for being such a great teacher all the year. Im gonna miss your class and you. You are a great teacher and for being su sopportive in this momentos we are living, im never goina forget it.

one more day left.   the latest email...

We would really appreciate it if all grades could be completed by 3:00 on Friday.  Do not beat yourself up, however, it would be really great if we could have all grades by  3:00 on Friday.  I know everyone is busy but it would keen if we could get grades entered by Friday.  Man it would be awsome if all grades were in by Friday.  Think about the worry free weekend you could enjoy if you just had those grades in by 3:00 on Friday.  Just thought that I would mention how groovy life would be if we got grades in by Friday.  This e-mail is starting to sound like one of Adam's speeches.

only 2 more days of school!!! Here is the latest email from my principal.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record playing Barry Manilow tunes - I really need all available bodies out and about these last few days - extra recess / lunch supervision - and kids supervised from the beginning of class until the end of the period. I have 5 kids in the office for fighting, HS kids hanging out on the playground - students planning on wetting staff members on the last day - 2 issues of inappropriate behavior (sexual nature) and it is stinking Tuesday morning of finals week. Enjoy your last days with your students - keep the STINKING lid on because these kids will become as WHACKED as we allow them to become and I am tired of SIT AND GETS in the office.

Scenario 1

I walk into the bank with no ID.  My account number is written on a scrap of paper.  I do not fill out a withdraw slip.  I tell the teller how much I want and he gives it to me.  End of story. 

Somehow this is perfectly fine in Guatemala.

Scenario 2

I write a check to myself and take it to the bank to cash it.  Our school has an arrangement with the bank to allow this without a waiting period.  I have done this practically every month since arriving.  When writing the check I put June 2nd instead of June 3rd.  After I realize this I simply put a 3 over the 2 and initial it.  No big deal. 

What I didn't realize is that this is a big deal.  Guatemala will not accept checks with any changes on them.  Even if it is just the day.  To make the story more interesting, that was my last check.  I can't go home and get a new one.  Thank goodness for how the school takes care of us.  They are going to advance me the money and take it out of next month's paycheck.  So it all worked out, but really - date changes void checks?!?!

a good friend introduced me to this youtube video. it's one of the best i've seen and i've shown it to most of my classes. for awhile i'd been thinking about having the kids write their own versions but there was never time. we finally got the chance to try on thursday and what they came up with was beyond anything i would have imagined. i've been trying to make a video of them but i think i'm going to have to go to the mac lab because it isn't going to work on this computer. for now i have the powerpoint presentation that i spent the last 2 hours playing with. i know it's ghetto but this is me videotaping the computer screen while i talked. it was the only thing i could think of to do.

enjoy.

I could try to write a lot but the pictures speak for themselves. All I really need to say is...SO MUCH FUN!

Weekend 1 in Antigua -

During the week they came to the orphanage with me-

Weekend 2 at Lake Atitlan -