The best rewards ever.

3 of our 8th graders: Fenzy, Bertha
and Mason (on right)

                 I waited an extra week to write again because I was looking for something particular to tell you about. I didn't want to force something out just to keep up regular postings. But I do have something I really want to share with you today. The rewards and benefits I get here. Now since I am a volunteer and you are helping me survive daily expenses, I don't really get much "benefits" from my job other than free housing and a paid for visa (which is still pretty good). But I've been given different priceless rewards teaching these kids.

        Honestly, I've always enjoyed kids a lot. But after working at a low-class day care for 2 years, I needed a break from child-care. But in this school kids come from public schools where shaming is considered discipline, and classroom philosophy is basically survival of the fittest, meaning some of the transfer kids in 3rd grade had not even learned to read yet. But it is absolutely incredible to witness what love and one-on-one attention can accomplish! One example I experienced was our 8th grade kids. They are the oldest in the school and Ms. Sarah has been working with them to become leaders and role-models to the other kids. So since about 3-4 weeks ago I've been tasked with helping them prepare and learn their skit for their upcoming convention. Trust me when I say it was not all fun and games. Everyday at 2:45pm I would announce to them we had to go out to practice and everytime I was met with: "Oh Miss Julia we don't want to. We want to get our work done!" "Schoolwork is more important!" "It's fine Miss Julia we don't need to practice!" "Why do we always have to practice?"           
                                         -I mean...what kind of complaints are those???!!!

(f.l.) Mason, Bertha and Corvie performing their skit!

But I insisted they practice their skit, and set a deadline for them to have it all memorized! This last week they were expected to perform the skit and 2 songs for their peers, and when the day finally came, they were nervous but ready! They even preferred the skit to be the last event because it "was the best!" Their classmates loved it and laughed in all the right places! Before the performance I did a pep-talk circle with them and we prayed and got them pumped. It was an incredible experience to watch them work hard and stretch themselves, step outside of their comfort zones and perform. A cool side-story was on performance day we were preparing downstairs while the K-1st had their break. When the bell sounded Fenzy and Corvie (8th gr) were acting all old and tough and got 15 little kids lined up as they were supposed to, quieted them down, prayed with them and guided them into the classroom, while  Mr. Jorge and I just watched them entirely impressed. Don't they just sound like great kids?!

Christina and I
at the beach today

            I want to tell you about some kids who have been special to me especially these first few weeks. First is 13 year old Christina (who also goes by Makayla), I had mentioned her before when I told you about having to stay late with a student and help with Math homework. Well this was Christina. We're pretty certain she is dyslexic so she struggles to get through reading and understanding instructions in her books. But she is so smart! Well I have spent a lot of time with her 1-on-1 in class and so we have just kinda become buddies. On the day of my birthday she came up to me with a picture she had drawn for me (It said "Lordy, lordy look who's 24!) and was just beaming with pride and excitement when she gave me a big hug. Probably the best gift I have ever received! Oh and btw, she excitedly announced yesterday that she had read and understood the instructions in her math-book all by herself, and today after going to the beach she told me she planned to get all of her work done on time Monday! We'll see how that goes!
         The other I wanted to tell you about was Mason (pictured above). Mason is the school-president and he is 15 years old. Mason is also roughly 6 ft tall! I'm estimating but I'm pretty sure that is a legit estimation. He is a good kid, an amazing cook and such a great leader at the school. Any time Mason hears a kid giving me unnecessary attitude he snaps at them and tells them to behave and speak respectfully (he does this for most teachers). Along with his insanely contagious chuckle, gentle spirit and genuine heart, we are all certain he will become a great man one day!

This school has many more of these precious kids who continually make me feel like I have been rewarded better than I could have ever imagined! This is why I chose this field.

Love,

Jules

           

I'm an independent person! almost...

Helping Keren memorize the Beatitudes in English... was quite the
  struggle....I felt so bad for her because she had to learn the KJV,
and she is barely learning English with me as it is...
Foto: Juan Funez

                  Update on overcoming fear:  I took a taxi by myself three times this week!!!! Let me tell you the stories on these moments of personal growth! So Tuesday night, I'm home alone while Deborah and Sarah are out teaching. I get a message saying: "hey let"s go to dinner at this place! Take a taxi and meet us here!"  I suddenly get super stressed and inquisitive...I'm like: "Okay, lets do this! But when should I leave to meet you on time? What do I tell the driver? How much will it cost me? And will I get ripped off?" Well, they gave me all the info I needed and said if I saw any of our kids from school in the neighborhood they would probably like to help me! So I walk down the hill from our house (mind you it gets dark here after 6 pm...so... its already dark!) I get down to the area right before the main road and look around to see if any of the kids are hanging out. Guess who I saw: My girl Makayla, who I helped yesterday for over an hour in math. So I walk up to her and go: "Soooooo, you feel like helping me out in return for helping you with your math?" I told her it was my first time taking a taxi by myself and my Spanish is not very good yet. She smiled and said "yeah!" So with her and two other younger kids we went out to the road. They explained to me that the taxis will beep when they pass you and you just stick out your hand and wave for them to stop. When we got a taxi she told the driver where to take me and got a good price for me! When I got in and the car took off, the kids yelled "bye" after me and another passenger in the car looked at me in surprise and asked me how I knew the kids, I told her I was a teacher in their neighborhood, and she goes: "Ooooh! That makes so much sense!"

Sweet little Patrick whose family
lives down the road.

        A few days later I had to go to the doctor to get something checked out and I passed by Makayla's house on my way to the road, she goes: "Miss Julia, do you need help getting a taxi again?" I returned: "Do you want to help me again?" She answers: "Yeah I should help you because I heard you practicing Spanish today and you're not very good with the speaking yet!" Well....I can't really argue that yet, so I let them help me again and I'm glad I did. BUT getting back from the doctors office was a little bit more tricky. I successfully waved down the taxi ..but when I got in and told him the name of my neighborhood he had no clue where that was. So I just motioned for him to go straight (there is only one main road on the island so it goes everywhere). I kept an eye out for landmarks I memorized (because addresses are not real things here, my maps app is the most useless thing i have at the moment) and when we reached it I just said "aqui por favor!" (here please) and he stopped! Not bad for my first time being an independent person, if I do say so myself!!!

         Update on my classes: My Kindergarten kids are able to identify colors, and numbers for the most part. I'm beginning to teach them to ask each other "What's your name?". They love singing our "Good Morning Song" And they think "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" song is awesome. Fun fact: One of the hardest words for them to pronounce so far is "Ears" the sounds that come out when I point to my ears are hilarious! And I utterly regret teaching them to say "I don't knooowww!" Because now they like to use that to get out of harder questions....(of course that phrase they remember!)
My Elementary girls are super silly. Their favorite part of class is when we play GoFish at the end of a lesson. They actually know a lot of basic phrases but they simply lack a lot of Vocabulary. Tried teaching them family members this week...let me tell ya... Trying to explain in English what and aunt and uncle is....NOT as easy as one would think!! But they are cute! Friday I decided should be an English game day, so we played Pictionary and Hangman and GoFish. FYI, I generally don't believe in letting kids win everything (or participation prizes for that matter) just because they are kids (and I usually have to win in order to make the games move along or finish up class, a burden I know!) but I had to let them win a few times because they were getting seriously depressed haha. I still didn't let them win everything though.......
                             I'm not competitive! You are! Whatever!
But Go Fish is the only game I refuse to let them win on if they didn't earn it. We have played it many times now and they know what to do, so I give no mercy! And a few of them have beat me several times already!
               I really am loving teaching at this school! We had a teachers 'party' this week and it was fun to bond with the people I work with! It's a great team! Everyone is good at their job and everyone works their best at all times!
Below you can see a picture of Mr Jorge, who leads the K-2nd grade room, helping the Kindergarten kids learn their monthly scripture during the end of the day exercises!

Update on me: Health has been a bit tricky as of late! But the doctor we go to is super sweet and very well respected! He also has two kids attending our school! But it's getting better and I'm taking my medicine! So hopefully by the time I write again I will be decently healthy! Funds are still around the $3000 mark! So please keep praying for that! There's quite a bit of sickness going around some of our kids and teachers (Flu season knows no borders as well) and we are all in a very tight space so germs galore (It's possible I got everyone else sick). Some of the older kids are preparing for a convention on the mainland. It will be exciting for them because none of them have ever even been on a plane! 

I start adult evening classes the week after next! It will be an entirely different experience for sure! Please pray for that whilst I prepare!

Love,

Jules