The Long Road Home

Well, I'm back. Of course any of you reading this would probably know that already, but in case you're wondering, I made it.

It was not the easiest trip I've ever made. Monday morning, the day I was leaving, I woke up early feeling very sick. Unfortunately the sickness didn't leave. I made it to Miami, wrestled my bags (all 120 lbs. worth) from the baggage claim and somehow met up with the van that took me to my hotel (thanks to a shortage of flights to Tulsa I had a forced overnight in Miami). After I checked in I hauled my bags up to the room and collapsed, only to find out that because the room was pre-paid I wasn't given any "luxury items" ...including a remote control and phone service. I made it down the block to a pay phone to call my parents and let them know I was alive (barely) and bought some Gatorade so I wouldn't get too dehydrated...since I was still incredibly sick.

Anyway, to cut the travel nightmare short I made it back to the airport with all my bags and onto the flight without any problems. I made my connection (even had time to stop for coffee, thank you America for Starbucks!) and landed safely in Tulsa, where I completely lost it as soon as I saw my parents. I don't know what I would have done without them. They took me home and put me to bed, bought me more Gatorade and crackers, and nursed me through the next five days of sickness. I don't know what caused it all...I did start taking an anti-parasitic medicine, which I'm pretty sure made me even sicker (the cure is worse than the ailment...NO KIDDING). Thankfully after I finished the medicine the sickness went away, and I was able to start eating again. Now if only I can make myself stop...Just kidding, although I have been enjoying all the yummy food America has to offer...the more grease soaked the better!

Now I'm back in Siloam Springs, busy unpacking and applying for jobs. Unfortunately there are no openings this year at my old school, so I'm beating the bushes at all the other districts in Northwest Arkansas. Everyone keeps saying there will be something, and I believe them...but being unemployed is still a scary place to be!

I don't know if I'll keep up this blog...I think if I keep blogging it will have to be on a new site...Dana in the States maybe. Anyway, I just want to thank all you faithful readers and supporters for your thoughts and emails and prayers. I never would have survived this past year without you! I'll leave you with this blessing, the one SAM gave me during my last prayer meeting:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Kinder Graduation

I survived! I was so nervous about graduation...you just never know what kindergarteners are going to do when you put a group of them on a stage in front of lots of people! But they did great. They remembered to sing, and even occasionally to smile. No one fell, they kept their hands to themselves, and none of them cried. I had one student who did show up - he was supposed to do three parts, but I assigned them to other students and they did them perfectly! It could not have gone more smoothly...thanks I know to the power of prayer!

After we finished our program, which included six songs and three Bible verses, I took them out into the hall and dressed them in their caps and gowns. They looked so adorable...so serious when we brought them back in and gave them their certificates.


There we a couple minor glitches of course...aside from missing a student we were also missing a diploma, which we didn't discover until we called the student's name and realized we had nothing to give him! We also, unfortunately, were missing the cake. There was some miscommunication with the bakery, (they thought we were sending a taxi for it, we thought they would deliver it since it was already paid for) so the cake didn't get to the school until around 2:00pm (the reception was over by 10:00am). Oh well, we put it in the lounge and all the teachers were able to enjoy it.

That afternoon (Friday) a group of eleven SAM singles (plus Hannah and Charles, and some girls from Canada) headed up to Samaipata for the weekend. It was freezing cold, so we spent most of the time huddled around the huge concrete monstrosity that posed as a fireplace. (It's the strange, redish-colored sculpture right behind us).
It took about three hours to heat up, but once it did it was hot! We played lots of games, chatted, and generally "chilled" (no pun intended). It was exactly what I needed after the craziness of the last week of school.
And here I am, sitting in my empty classroom. It's almost over. It's good, I'm ready to come home. But sad. All part of leaving I guess. I've started saying my goodbyes...not easy at all. I'm trying not to think of it as forever...after all, I'm pretty sure I'll come back at some point, if only for a visit. Anyway...They happy news is I will be home in ONE WEEK!!

Rainbow's end

Well, this is it. My last week of teaching. We ended the year with a unit on the colors of the rainbow. As I was thinking about what I would post this week I couldn't help thinking that each one of my students has a color all their own, and that together they've shone so beautifully this year.

When I think back to my first reaction to being asked to teach kinder, (I think my exact words were "there is no way that I am qualified to do that") I am amazed at how much I've enjoyed this year. There were some serious challenges - an unfamiliar curriculum, no experience with the age level, and 75% English second language learners...pretty daunting hurdles to climb! But God is so faithful to keep His promises. I know it is only by His grace that I had the patience and enthusiasm I needed this year. I wish I could tell you in detail about each one of my precious students, but I don't have the time right now (and I don't want to bore you) so I thought I'd just give a little sketch of three of them.

Carlos Andres

When Kelly was first introducing the students to me she told me a little about each one. She described Carlos Andres (no, not just Carlos, but Carlos Andres) as being very bright with an amazing Spanish vocabulary. She said that he understood most of what she said, but refused to talk to her in English. As I interacted with him I noticed the same thing - he would only respond to me in Spanish, even after I told him that I didn't understand. It went pretty much like that for the entire first semester. Finally, at the beginning of second semester, we told the students that they were no longer allowed to use Spanish in the classroom. If they did, there were dire consequences...their clothespin would be moved!! It took two times of moving his clothespin for Carlos Andres to begin using English. By the end of the first week he was using complete sentences, and after a month he was surpassing students who had used English since the beginning of school. His English usage is hilarious...it's scary to hear some of the phrases he uses, because I know he got them directly from me! One of my favorite examples was just a couple days ago. Kelly came into the room to get him for some one-on-one instruction, and he told her "Okay, give me just one second." (I didn't realize how often I said that until I heard him say it...now I realize I use that phrase all the time). Carlos Andres is absolutely precious with so much potential...he already knows he's going to be a scientist when he grows up. I can see him discovering a cure for the common cold.

RaquelRaquel is one of the two kindergarteners whose parents are with SAM. Her dad is our Security Team leader, and her mom keeps busy taking care of her and her two younger sisters, as well as being involved in the Children's Ministry team. Raquel is also extremely bright...she sometimes showed signs of being bored during class (she'd much rather draw elaborate pictures of princesses and flowers than write her letters on her worksheet). Raquel's mom is Bolivian, and her dad is American, so she is one of the fortunate kids to be truly bilingual. In the early days she was always quick to translate another student's question for me. She has also shown some amazing spiritual insight. We were talking at prayer meeting last week, and out of nowhere she said, "God always answers our prayers, but He doesn't talk to us right?" I responded that that was true, though we can read His words in the Bible. She thought for a minute, then said "Sometimes we just have to wait and see what happens to know what His answer is. Like if I wanted a really fancy bike, but I didn't get it, I would know that God was saying 'no' because I don't really need it." Raquel shows me how the faith of a child is so powerful, and why God tells us to be like children. She's already well on her way to becoming her dream...can you guess what it is? Yup...a teacher.

Samuel

Samuel was one of my most challenging students in the beginning. He refused to participate in class, and would often lay down in the middle of the carpet during our morning circle time or math groups. I couldn't tell if he was tired, bored, or just didn't understand what was going on. It took a long time, but slowly he began to pay attention, and even volunteer answers during class. This picture shows how far he's come...last week he chose playdough for his center, and completely on his own he carefully cut out the numerals and used a cookie cutter to make the corresponding group. We had done something similar in math time, but he definitely took it one step further in applying it! I've seen him grow so much this year...in self-control and motivation as well as in knowledge and skill. His dad is a very high banking official, and I think might have some connection to the government as well. Needless to say Samuel will have every opportunity money can buy. He's made a good start...if only he will keep on persevering.

I have stories like this about every one of my students...I can't wait to share them all with you. I am so thankful and humbled that God gave me charge over these kids. Please join me in praying that as they grow and mature, their faith will remain constant and pure...the faith of a child.

Mariposario and more

This past week was packed with fun and adventures...and birthdays! Monday we celebrated Lidia's birthday by taking her out to a fancy French restaurant. We got all dressed up and had a marvelous evening being catered to and waited on.

Lidia, me, Laura, and Dovanna all gussied up for our evening out

Tuesday was a national holiday (Bolivia's Labor Day) so we all had the day off. Dovanna, Kristi, and their friend Christina and I decided to go to the mariposario (butterfly gardens). It is a beautiful place...manicured lawns, gorgeous landscaping, ten terraced swimming pools that empty into each other, a lagoon with canoeing, not to mention the largest butterfly dome in the world!

Dovanna and me on top of the observation tower, at the very top of the dome. We could see all over Santa Cruz - all the way to the mountains!

Isn't the vegitation amazing? So lush and green...we felt like we were in the middle of a rain forest!
We had the best time, wandering around, exploring, and being silly. Here's my favorite moment...holding a huge tarantula! Those of you who know how much I love spiders can see that I've come a long way...

Yes, he's alive and very real!

Friday night was the one-night-only production of The Importance of Being Earnest, put on by the SCCLC high school drama class. They did an amazing job...complete with period costumes and even accents! It was such a treat. I did feel for the non-English speakers in the audience though. Even my brain was tired after trying to follow Victorian English for two hours. Here's my theory. The brain only has enough space for a certain number of words. Therefore, as I'm expanding my Spanish vocabulary my English vocabulary is shrinking. Unfortunately, though my ability to speak English is declining, my Spanish is not improving! To all of you who think I'll come back speaking Spanish, let me just say...HA!

Saturday we celebrated Kristi's birthday Bolivian style...complete with the grand tradition of "biting the cake," where the birthday girl took a bite out of the side of her cake, and as she did her "friends" pushed her face into it! Seems like kind of a mean tradition to me, and also rather detrimental to the cake, but it's funny to watch (I'm just glad I doged that bullet on my own b-day!)

Kristi's friends got a little carried away with the face smushing...but don't worry, there was enough cake left for us all to have a piece

Sunday afternoon Katie and I took Dana W. out for her birthday. We went to a really delicious upscale buffet, where they actually cook the food right in front of you. The we had dessert at Fridolin, the premiere bakery in Santa Cruz. I'm now paying for all my scrumptious consumption ("the blessing" has been visited upon me), but it was worth it!!

Tomorrow we're having another "paro" (strike) in protest of the new education laws the President is trying to pass. The laws would basically limit and dictate the curriculum of every private school in the country. Eventually he wants to see private schooling outlawed completely. You can definitely pray for private education to continue in Bolivia!

Another "sur" (south) wind has blown in, so our temperature are dropping. We're also having a thunderstorm at the moment. It makes me want to go home and curl up with a good book! Maybe that's what I'll do tomorrow...then again, maybe I should start packing! Three weeks from today and counting!!

A Bolivian Wedding

This weekend I got to attend a Bolivian wedding. Two Bolivians (Jimmy and Christina) who work with SAM got married. It really wasn't a completely typical wedding, but there were some aspects that were very typical! Most Bolivian weddings take place at night - they start about 7 or 8pm and usually go until after midnight. This wedding was supposed to start at 10am on Sunday morning. Laura and I rode with Jeff and Beth Hause, who were participating in the ceremony so they had to be there by 9:30. We were the first to arrive...and the only guests for a long time. Finally, around 10:30, most of the guests had arrived and were starting to seat themselves at the tables. A very harried woman suddenly rushed around the room, setting numbers on the tables. Then she started going up to each guest and telling them which table to sit at. She had this huge list (there were over 200 guests) and you were supposed to tell her your name and she'd find what table you were at. I know, doesn't seem like the most efficient way to do things does it? (Joy, I can just picture you cringing and rolling your eyes). Laura and I were told we were supposed to be at table seven. We found tables five, six, eight, and nine, but no seven. Finally I found the number way across the room...on a table that also said number fifteen. The woman grabbed the seven and scurried over to a table marked "Familia de la novia" (Family of the Bride) and set it down. None of us were family (in fact we were almost all North Americans), but we sat down anyway.


The whole wedding was pretty much that way. The ceremony started at 11:30, and took place in a little garden behind the reception room. There wasn't room for the guests to stand in the garden, so we just stood and watched through the french doors.

After the ceremony we all sat around and waited some more while they went to take pictures (fortunately there was the novelty of a chocolate fountain to keep everyone entertained...until they ran out of plates. Then people used napkins, with rather disasterous results). Finally the bride and groom came back, and they started serving lunch (by now it was 1:30). Toward the end of lunch they started the special music, which included several songs and a dance number by an adorable ballerina. After the boquet toss (which I thankfully did not catch...who invented that crazy tradition anyway?) we passed out bubbles and lined the exit to send them off. This was a very non-Bolivian thing to do. Usually the newlyweds are the last to leave. However, Jimmy and Christina had a plane to catch that left at 4pm...and planes don't wait, even for newlyweds, even in Bolivia. I think it was 3pm by the time we sent them on their way...they still had to drive to the airport, and they hadn't changed clothes yet (hopefully they had their luggage with them).

It was a shame to rush through everything, but I don't think anyone really felt concerned except for Dana Wilson, who was trying to be the coordinator (Paul Kiensle started calling her"DayLo"). She did a great job...considering what she was up against.

Virginia, Laura, Dana W., Katie, and me

After the Hause's dropped me off I went into my room and slept for two hours. The experience was really fun over-all, but I think one Bolivian wedding is enough for me!

Old Miss Sterling had a farm...

So I decided to totally sell out as a kinder teacher and actually develop my own unit. I mostly did this because I had a ton of extra time on my hands when I had a student teacher, and I thought it would be fun to try. It was...though way too much work to do all the time! Thank goodness for wonderful teachers who post their ideas on the web - most of my unit was pieced together from other sources.

Mauricio, Carlos Andres, and Kailey pose in front of our barn...the kids helped me decorate the scene with torn tissue paper. We'll add animals this week.


I got the idea to do a farm unit from a song that I wanted to teach my kids called Color Farm. The song is to the tune of BINGO, but it talks about a farmer and his animals which are all named after different colors. These animals are not your typical garden variety...the horse is named Green, the duck is Orange, and my favorite, the cow, is Purple!

Here are Clara, Santiago, and Joash adding their own artistic touches to our barnyard animals.


Even my centers all had a farm theme...in the dramatic play center the students pretended to be farmers or farm animals, the book center was filled with farm books, and in writing students decorated their own farm counting book. Here are Sofia, Alexis, and Raquel in the block center, with their original design for a barn (I didn't have any plasic animal figures, so they used our counting bear instead).


Mauricio and Raquel enjoying the book center...their favorite reads are Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type, Down on the Silly Farm, and The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

In addition to being Farm Week in kinder, it also turned out to be birthday week! Tuesday was Andre's big day...he's now 14 (going on 25). His basketball team also won their second consecutive Championship trophy that day. Go Eagles!

The Basketball star poses with some adoring fans...Lidia's childhood friend and her husband




Wednesday was Laura's special day...at least I hope it was special. I threw a surprise party for her in kinder...craziness let me tell you! I was so busy rushing around making sure it went smoothly I completely forgot to take pictures! Wednesday was also SAMair's 30th Anniversary celebration at the hanger...again no pics (sorry, I'm a slacker) but it was really neat to see a slideshow of all the people who've been involved with and helped by SAMair over the years. We have one plane right now and two pilots that keep busy flying back and forth to hard to reach rural locations all around Bolivia.

This weekend was a much needed break from traveling. It was nice to spend time at home, though I felt a little guilty for not checking something else off my list! Oh well, there's always next weekend.

Fancification

So, the thing about living in Bolivia is that you feel hot/sweaty/dirty/messy most of the time. So when the opportunity presents itself to get all dressed up and "fancified" you jump at the chance. That opportunity came Saturday night - Junior/Senior banquet. I won't go into a detailed description of what happened, because you've all been there - the video, the slideshows, awards, speeches, songs, etc. I'll just give you what you really want...pictures!

Here we are...in the DRESSES! Sorry mine is kind of hard to see...but Dovanna's makes up for it! Yes, it is gold with glitter...but doesn't she look classy in it? And yes, mine is (gasp) strapless!

We teachers clean up nice...if I do say so myself! From left to right: Dovanna, Emily J., me, Emily B., Katie, Molly, and another girl (not a teacher) whose name I don't recall.

Lidia's girls: Me, Laura, Dovanna

Here's Hans with his two ladies...since I didn't have a date he generously offered to take me too...sweet of him huh? I'm pretty sure he was the envy of every other freshman guy.

One last shot...gotta show off my sexy shoes. They were the highest heel I've ever worn...I'm pretty sure I was at least six feet in them. But you've gotta admit they look good!

So ends the banquet...all that prep, and it's over! Oh well, getting ready for it was half the fun I think. But now I definitely need another occasion to wear the dress (and shoes)!

Of course the real story is the adventure I had getting back from San Javier to make it in time for the banquet...scroll down for the scoop!

Further Bridge Adventures

My most exciting (that is, dangerous) adventures always seem to involve bridges. Case in point: last weekend's trip to San Javier.

By Wednesday afternoon I was feeling pretty nervous about the upcoming trip to San Javier, because I'd been told by several people that the one-way bridge that is the only way across the Rio Grande (the Bolivian river that runs northeast of Santa Cruz which must be crossed in order to get to San Javier) had recently been closed for hours at a time. Getting across it would be chancy at best, both going and coming back. This was especially a problem because we were supposed to get back to Santa Cruz Saturday afternoon, in time to get ready for the Jr/Sr banquet that night. Katie and I had a long discussion about the possiblity of being stuck on the wrong side of the bridge, and came up with a plan that included life jackets, long knives, and belly-crawling through mud (okay, so we let our imaginations run just a little bit wild).

Anyway, praise God (why do we ever doubt?) we had no trouble at all getting across Friday morning, and made it to San Javier without incident (though we had a close call with a little girl who almost darted across the road in front of us, and we also passed a horrific accident that involved two double-trailer semi-trucks). We had a great time hanging out with Elliott, and also met another single American guy who works for the Peace Corps who is living in San Javier (his name is Geoff - you can pray for Elliott as he witnesses to him and that Geoff will be open to the gospel).

Here we are, the two Danas and Katie in front of a blooming toburochi tree (also know as a pregnant tree) in the plaza downtown San Javier.

We left "bright and early" Saturday morning...or at least that was the plan. It was a little after 10 when we actually got on the road, but we had smooth sailing all the way to the bridge. Again we didn't have to wait at all, just drove right onto the bridge. Now, let me describe this "structure" to you. It's actually a train trestle that they adapted for cars by laying boards horizontally and vertically across. The problem is they didn't actually attach any of the boards to one another, so everything's loose.

Things were going okay until Dana drove up onto the end of a board and the other end flew up in the air, and her tire got stuck in the hole. She carefully backed up off the board, but it stayed up. Katie got out to investigate, and discovered that there weren't any cross-beams underneath that particular board, and if Dana tried to drive over the hole her tire would fall through the bridge. Katie tried to move the board, but it was too heavy for her to lift by herself. Her struggle was observed by the two Bolivian men in the jeep behind us, who enjoyed it immensely and made no move to get out and help her.

Finally one got out, only to offer to drive Dana's SUV over the spot for her, since we were obviously silly women who didn't know how to drive over a bridge. It was only after we pointed out the huge hole and the fact that no one could possibly get over it without the beam in place that they finally helped move the board back. We breathed a huge sigh of relief as we made it to the other side. I don't think I'll try crossing that bridge again in a hurry! Anyway, all's well that ends well...praise God for watching over us.