Children's honesty

So the other day I was behind my desk and one of my students comes back from the bathroom, and she stops in the doorway and loudly calls across the room, "Miss, I'm wet!" So I asked, "Is it raining or something?" (because that has been the case several times when kids come in soaked. And she responds "No, I peed on myself!" I was surprised that she would just blurt that out in front of all the other students, but I quickly hurried over to her and asked one of the other teachers keep an eye on my kids while I handled the situation.

Another day I saw one of my boys back in school and I simply stated, "It's nice to have you back!" and he looked at me questioningly, and I continued "you weren't here yesterday!" And he looked at me and stated so matter-of-factly, "Because I was sick with diarrhea yesterday!" in front of everyone!  I had to hold in my laughter, but I think it's so funny how these kids don't really get shy or embarrassed, they just tell it like it is! 

Stuck in the JUNGLE!!

This morning, we got up, went to church, came home, ate lunch and after that we decided we should go spelunking. Alex and I had already checked out this cool cave like a month or more ago, but we didn't go inside before because there was only two of us and we didn't have any lights, so we decided to save it for another day. So today our other roommates agreed that they wanted to go check out the cave too, so we grabbed flashlights and piled in the car and headed several miles out to the cave. Once we get there however, we got out of the car, but the girl driving didn't grab the keys and another girl went to lock the car and I shouted out to make sure someone had the keys, but it was too late. She slammed the door with the keys still inside. Fortunately, there was another vehicle of Korean tourists just pulling up. So we asked the tour guide lady if she could look up the Piersons when she got back and let them know that we were stuck out there. So after about an hour, we had finished exploring the cave, and I suggested that a couple of us hike out to the road, just in case that lady hadn't called or whatever. So Cyndi agreed to hike with me and we had to go about a mile out till we ran into people and there was a security guard at this lookout place and he sees us and asked if we had gotten help. And we said no, and asked if they had called the Piersons. And they said that they couldn't help us. And we didn't know ANYBODY'S phone numbers! So we asked this guy if he could call the police and he said he couldn't do that, and he radioed his headquarters and they gave him the number of a locksmith. But we didn't want a locksmith. Then a bunch of Americans came rushing out of the trees, and the guy told us to go ask them for help. This group was mostly a bunch of American marines who had been playing this game called the hash run(which is a whole other story). And they get back to their cars and pull out a bunch of beers and we approach them and tell them our situation and ask to borrow a cell phone. Well there was no service out there, so this girl offers to give us a ride down to get service. So we do that, call the police, and through a lot of hassle we get the Pierson's number and we call and get their voicemail. So we leave them a message and then the girl drives us back up to where we met her and by this time the sun was setting and she couldn't drive on the road back to the cave because it's full of deep potholes, so Cyndi and I are in flipflops, but we start running back to the cave, where we had left the other three girls with the car. It was getting dark and we had about a mile to run, trying to not trip in the bazillion potholes, and trying to not miss the turnoff to the caves and then we see some figures in the road up ahead. So we thought that maybe the girls were walking toward us, so I shouted out their names, but then quickly realized it was a bunch of cows and we had spooked them, so they charged off into the trees. FINALLY, we get back to the girls and we see them all huddled on the roof of the CRV and they were like, "is help coming?" and we're like "NOPE! we left a message!" So we all hike back that mile again and finally meet up with these Americans, and it turned out one of them was our student's dad, and so he took us home. But then we got home and nobody was here. Everyone was out looking for us! So we finally find Ken's cell number, and call it and leave another message, and then sat outside and got acquainted with our neighbors until finally some of our compound residents came home to see if we were there and they called off the search party. So it was a pretty crazy day, but we have our car back, and we're safe and sound back home. 

SUPERTYPHOON!!

We're packing up and prepping for a major typhoon. We're no longer just on typhoon watch, we're in typhoon warning, and it's very possible that this one can intensify into a super-typhoon which is like the WORST kind!! But who knows, maybe nothing will happen. I was teaching in my geometry classroom as the maintenance men were boarding up our windows this morning. Then after school we had to prepare the bottom floor for flooding. As one of the students was leaving the school she had forgotten her binder on top of the car and they drove out into the street and the binder fell off and the papers blew EVERYWHERE! So Sharla, Holly and I witnessed this happening, and the student's mom pulled over and we three teachers were out running in the middle of the street chasing these papers that the wind was trying to carry away. Cars were stopped in the middle of the road with their hazard lights on as we weaved between them trying to rescue all of the homework assignments. We were all laughing as we're running around and other driver's would point out papers for us to retrieve, and we finally rescued them all and got them back into the hands of the student! 

So now we're back home getting our own personal belongings together to go and stay out at the compound by the clinic because if this storm is as bad as it is expected to be, I'm pretty sure our house is going to be wrecked! It's not concrete, in fact, I found out from a former resident of Saipan that our housing was only meant to be temporary and was expected to only last about ten years and I'm pretty sure we're past that expiration date! So I'm really praying that the storm won't hit that hard, so we won't be homeless. Fortunately for our reef surrounding our island, we should stay pretty safe from tsunamis. Don't quote me though, these are all things that I have just heard. In a few days I'll be able to tell you all what really went down! So please keep Saipan and Guam and any other places to be affected in your prayers!

Community Service

Community service day at school is slightly different on this island. The first part we were just picking up trash along the streets which is pretty normal for community service. But the last part, we went to the beach to plant coconuts and coconut saplings. Why? you may ask. I really don't know. Something to do about fresh water maybe?? I'm not sure. I have already mentioned that pretty much all the tap water on the island is diluted salt water, right? So we wash our dishes and ourselves in half salt water everyday. The people who live on the compound at the clinic however, are very lucky because they have rainwater. We get plenty of rain here. It doesn't just rain in Saipan, it DUMPS buckets for like 10 or 20 minutes and then just stops. On rainy days, like today, it'll just dump sporadically throughout the day and we'll have frizzy hair and what not, but that's just island life. I had a student leave today. He was just a temporary student and he's heading back to Japan. Some families do that, they come vacation here for a few weeks or months, and put their kids in school for that short time, and then they go back home. So now I'm back down to 10, which is ok with me. 

Nothing too exciting real recently. I guess we're still on typhoon watch. This wind and rain are really loud and crazy as I'm writing this. Kinda fun. Maybe I'll go outside and take a fresh water shower ;)

PITIFUL!!!

That's what I have to say about the Typhoon that shut down all the schools. Just a little bit of rain and wind. So disappointing! Well, I guess at least this way, there were no destroyed houses, or anything. But in my household we had wanted to feel God's mighty power in a storm. (I must confess though that I was less excited than the others, because I didn't want to deal with the aftermath of the typhoon). But alas, it was a very weak storm and so on the second day of typhoon watch, since nothing had been happening, Alex and I decided to go swimming, because the waves looked so fun! (Usually the water never gets up to waist deep and it's boiling hot). So we were swimming in the ocean and it was kinda scary because the water was really murky in the storm and the tune from Jaws kept playing in my mind over and over again! We were in about chest deep water when I saw one of my students in her parents trying to wave us in. Then a policeman was walking on the beach waving us in. So we swam over the policeman and he apologized for ruining our fun, but he didn't feel it was safe for us to be out there in that weather. Go figure. Then my students family told us that a man had drowned out there last weekend and they still hadn't found his body! Personally, I didn't feel like we were in any danger. There was no lightening. The current was very weak, not enough to knock us off our feet. So thank goodness we were not in any danger. Right now my student Rinto is trying to look over my shoulder. He is a smart student and always finishes his work early. So I guess I should get back to teaching now! 

Typhoon Watch!

Today our school is closed down due to a typhoon warning! I guess sometimes it just gets rainy and windy mostly here, but I guess this one is supposed to be pretty bad. Like roofs might get ripped off! The power is most definitely going to go out, so if you don't here from me for a few days, don't worry about it. We've got local friends who have been through these before who will take care of us. So no worries, but maybe you could still pray for us. I'm just excited to not have school today! 

Yesterday we had an awesome day at a water park at one of the resorts! We got a good discount because we're friends with one of the lifeguards there. There was this one slide that was called the toilet bowl ride. Now I know what it's like to get flushed down a toilet!! There was also a wave pool and a bunch of other fun slides and rides! Then there was a group of Korean tourists who were way too excited to see our group of american girls. It was pretty funny though. ONe of them wanted to race against Cyndi swimming, and she won of course! It was an all around fun day! Enjoying Saipan so much! Love you all! Bye for now!

Makin Friends....

I've quickly discovered that it's not only the church members, but EVERYBODY in Saipan is really friendly. The people at the laundromat, the people at the market, the workers at the resorts.....everyone is so happy and willing to serve. At the place where we do our laundry, we just drop off a load and they will wash, dry and fold clothes for only 3 dollars! It cost me that much to do laundry in college AND I had to do it myself. And you can totally trust them with your belongings, which is AWESOME! I love it! 

Then tonight Cyndi and I were jogging and decided to make a quick stop at the market(because gas is expensive here, so we figured we'd save a trip). And the man there (I have a feeling he's the manager, but I'm not sure) came up to us and was very friendly (not in a creepy way) and offered to pre-cut our meat if we call ahead so it would be ready for us right as we arrive. I don't even eat meat, but everyone here does, so I thought it was very kind of him to have that genuine willingness for service. 

Now how amazing is that, when non SDA's can set an awesome example like that? And if we have God helping us, think of all the good and all the differences we could make in peoples lives. I love Saipan for showing me that there is still so much good in people, even when I have my doubts. I just think its awesome and so I wanted to share that. 

Now I need to head off to bed because I have another long school day ahead of me tomorrow. I'm up to 11 students now, who are all about 6 or 7 years old. It's really good for building up patience, but very exhausting. So Goodnight all!

Adventures in the Rain

Yesterday after church it was pouring down rain and so most of the roommates decided to just stay in and relax all day. But not me and alex! We asked to borrow "Rusty"( this beat-up old rusty little pickup truck) and the two of us ventured out into the pouring rain to drive out to the Grotto. The Grotto is this cool little underground cave/swimming hole area, and you have to hike down some pretty steep stairs to get there. The church people took Cyndi, Sharla, Holly and I out there our first weekend, but Alex was sick and so she missed out. So yesterday I took her there for her first time. We had so much fun because after that we found this other really cool cave(not in the water) but we didn't hike in because it went down about a hundred feet and we were alone and we didn't have flashlights. But we did use Alex's camera flash to see how deep it went. So instead we climbed up the jungles and rocks around it. There were so many bugs and worms and we were soaked and muddy, but we had such a great time! Then we came home and took hot showers (which our tap water is half salt water) and then we got in bed and watched a movie, Fireproof, which is a really good movie actually. At first you will think its dumb because it has HORRIBLE acting, but it has really good messages. So that pretty much sums up our weekend, today we're going out again to go snorkeling with the Piersons in the rain! Miss you all back home!

this is a saipan-da! Basically a panda with a big yellow rhino horn/nose thing

Late for the First Day of School

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I was late to the first day of school. I was sick, but I was on time. I am late posting about the first day of school, hence the title. Thursday last week was our first day of school. Thursday and Friday were only half days and were really more of an orientation, introducing them to the new school year, what lies ahead of them, classroom procedures, etc. Those two days the kids were perfectly behaved and I thought that this year was going to be a breeze! (If you have ever taught before you are probably chuckling because you know what a huge wrong assumption i made). Starting Monday my kids are already feeling comfortable in the classroom(which is good, but only to an extent). Kids constantly out of their seats. kids all trying to talk at the same time after I tell them to quietly work on their assignments. My room is full of what we call "helpless handraisers"! These are the kids who don't want to figure out anything for themselves and so they want you to hold their hands through it. 

As of monday I am now also the 9th and 10th grade geometry teacher. I love the little kids, but it's nice to have a chance to teach a class that is a little more independent. I have 6 boys and 1 girl in that class. All smart kids, but I struggle with two of the boys because one doesn't really know english(really hard to explain geometry with a language barrier) and then there's this other boy that I sat beside him and tried to help him through a problem, but he would never respond to anything I asked him. So I couldn't tell if he doesn't understand it, or just doesn't want to do it. I kind of think that it's just the latter, because after I spent quite a bit of time with him on one problem, breaking it down, he did three more all by himself just fine. So I'm still trying to read my students. This is only my second day in geometry, so I have plenty to learn about them. And my 1st and 2nd graders are all sweet kids, and so it makes it hard to discipline them when they misbehave. But I am confident that repetition and consistency will train them well. It feels like I'm putting in a lot of time and energy right now, and it's exhausting, so I hope that it'll be a lot easier in the next couple months. 

Roach Rampage!

This afternoon I was doing some more cleaning and organizing in my classroom and I found and killed about 7 cockroaches in a two hour period! Not my favorite experience. I'd be going through my desk drawers and on would run across my foot and I would have to chase it down to kill it, and those things are fast and not easy to kill, and their guts can be smushed out with their legs still moving! Yuck! But at least hopefully that means that there will be less to kill once I have all my little kids in the room. 

We did eat at this AMAZING Thai food restaurant for lunch! The school treated us for that, so that was really nice. I don't even know what all I ate but it was all delicious! I may never leave Saipan, because the food here is so good. I even tried dried seaweed with my rice yesterday and loved it. You should all come visit and taste the food!

After we left school we decided that us roommates should have our first trip to the beach this evening. The places that we were going to go to looked pretty rundown so we went to one of the hotels and the beach there still wasn't that nice! There were like a million sea cucumbers all over the place and my roommates wanted to cook them! GrrrrOOOsss! But they didn't. Alex is like on the edge of having pneumonia or something, so please pray for her and pray that none of the rest of us catch it, especially right before school starts. Four of the school teacher's live in one house, so imagine how awful it would be to have almost half the staff sick! Well, I'm off to bed! Hope all of you are well!

Safe in Saipan!

Well, I'm here! Actually I've already been here for a few days, but it seems like since we've arrived it's been on the go all the time! So much preparation to do! We landed Thursday night, and Friday morning we were taken to get new driver's licenses, groceries and health clearance. The clinic was an interesting experience. The doctor was an American middle aged guy, with a mullet and an earring and he was wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. I don't think Uncle Keith has EVER gone to the office looking like that! 

Anyways, they've been taking really good care of us while we've been here. Lot's of pasta and rice! This is definitely the island for me! Saturday we went to sabbath school and I had to give a personal testimony, last minute. Yikes! Cute small church, probably can't hold more than fifty people. After church we had a yummy potluck and then came home to change for the "island tour". It's tradition to make the "newbies" ride in the back of this beat up old truck for the tour. It was raining on us most of the time we rode back there, but it was warm rain, so it wasn't too bad. My favorite stop was this place called the "Grotto" or something like that. It's like this underground place to go swimming in the ocean. So beautiful, the water is an awesome color of blue! I was scared to see if there were any fish though (fish scare me). There were also these high rocks down there that we could climb and jump off of, and I did! A few of the church members tagged along on our excursion and were laughing at us and taking pictures. good times! Mike Stafford and his family were with us as well. He has the cutest kids ever! (For those of you who don't know, Mike and his parents and stuff were in Africa when he was in highschool and I was just a little girl)(right mom and dad?) Anyways, had so much fun! 

Today was a lot of work at the school moving stuff and rearranging all of the classrooms! I'm teaching 1st and 2nd grade and so I did a lot of work in my new classroom today. A lot of the church members helped and so did their kids. Ps. I think Asian kids are the cutest kids in the world! So excited to get to be their teacher! Start school this thursday, and have a lot of work to do before then, but I will try to keep you updated! Love to all and thanks for all of your support!

countdown!

33 days until I leave for orientation in Hawaii! All of the sm's going to teach on islands meet in Hawaii to get about a two and a half day crash course on teaching before they split us up and send us to our designated islands! I'm a little nervous but very excited to take on this new adventure! I wanna thank all of you who are supporting me to get there! Love you so much!