Strange things happen here sometimes. This afternoon, we sat at a traffic light for the longest time I think I have ever sat at a traffic light in my life, and we were the first ones at the intersection. We were on the way from picking up supper, and we stopped at a light. At some point after we stopped, I uncovered my Mc Flurry and got started eating it. By the time we finally got a green light, I was within 4 bites of finishing it! I wasn't eating fast either-I like to make desserts last.
Also, it seems that some truckers here have this habit of naming their trucks, presumably after a loved one, or something. On the road today, I saw this huge dump truck, and right across the front grill it read "Abuela Maria". Now I'm sure she appreciated the thought, but I'm not so sure that if I was "Grandma Mary" that I'd want a dump truck named after me.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Friday, January 20, 2006
Conversations with my students
During music class Monica raised her hand and asked, "Teacher, when you were in fifth grade, did you ever tell your teacher that the dog ate your homework?" I told her, "No, Monica, I never did that....I never had a dog!"
I'm still wondering how that came up in music class.
After piano lessons, Isabel was being her usual dramatic self and flopped onto the ground in the hallway. "Teacher, I think I broke my scapula!" she said. When I asked her if she knew where/what that was, she said yes and pointed to her backside. (for those who don't know, the scapula is the shoulder blade)
During a discussion of loud sounds and soft sounds in her piano lesson, Bianca (first grade) and I started to talk about animals, and I asked her what her favorite animal was. She replied without hesitation and with a huge grin on her face, "Skunks!" When asked why, she said, "Because they are black and white, and for me they are so pretty!"
I'm still wondering how that came up in music class.
After piano lessons, Isabel was being her usual dramatic self and flopped onto the ground in the hallway. "Teacher, I think I broke my scapula!" she said. When I asked her if she knew where/what that was, she said yes and pointed to her backside. (for those who don't know, the scapula is the shoulder blade)
During a discussion of loud sounds and soft sounds in her piano lesson, Bianca (first grade) and I started to talk about animals, and I asked her what her favorite animal was. She replied without hesitation and with a huge grin on her face, "Skunks!" When asked why, she said, "Because they are black and white, and for me they are so pretty!"
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Things I'm thankful for
1. Cell phones
2. Verizon
3. Good friends with cell phones who also have verizon
4. advice and encouragement
5. chocolate
6. my students, even the ones who leave their piano books in their school desk over the entire Christmas break
7. flip flops and flip flop weather
8. coworkers that make me laugh
9. God's faithfulness even when we are unfaithful
10. computers, email and the internet
That's the current rundown. There's more, but for right now these are the ones most on my mind. God is good!
2. Verizon
3. Good friends with cell phones who also have verizon
4. advice and encouragement
5. chocolate
6. my students, even the ones who leave their piano books in their school desk over the entire Christmas break
7. flip flops and flip flop weather
8. coworkers that make me laugh
9. God's faithfulness even when we are unfaithful
10. computers, email and the internet
That's the current rundown. There's more, but for right now these are the ones most on my mind. God is good!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Back to work
I'm back from hibernation. Actually, I just went home for Christmas, and computer time on a computer that's not mine was not found in abundance. I generally had enough time to check email. Anyway, I got back to PR on Monday after a wonderful Christmas break. I really enjoyed myself, though I probably did spend a little too much money. I ended up buying a few things that are hard to get here, as well as some warm shoes since my flip flops and sandals didn't really do the job in the "frigid" (at least compared to where I am now) Georgia weather. Seeing my family was nice-the kids have really shot up in the last five months. Seeing the cat was alright, she seems to like me. Now that I'm back, Priscilla's cat bites me every time I come near. I'm wondering if she can smell Muffin and is jealous. Oh well. I also enjoyed going to church, for the preaching and music and the fellowship as an added bonus. I discovered while playing in orchestra, that my violin likes Puerto Rico, or probably more precisely Puerto Rico's weather. The weather at home makes it go out of tune much more often, and it's also harder to tune because the pegs slip just as soon as I have it fixed. Here in PR, the pegs never slip, and it doesn't go out of tune just sitting in the case. There's also a different sound to it here in PR. I enjoyed playing anyway, even sitting in front of Mrs. Black and getting bonked on the head by a bow. =)
Amazingly enough, while I was home I really didn't get bugged about having (or not having as is my case) a boyfriend, which is fine with me. Everyone else who's here says that it's not fair I didn't get harassed, apparently they got harrassed enough for themselves and a little more for me too. =)
Yesterday Nicole gave me my Christmas present that Amy sent down here with Carla. The gift took the scenic route. =) Carla kept forgetting to get it to me before Christmas, which I understand since things were a little crazy at home because of her mom's surgery. Anyway, I' m glad to finally have it. I was so excited when I opened the package yesterday. She sent me a new cd, and a tape. The tape was of 2 messages preached in BJU chapel by a pastor from Mexico. He preached in Spanish and his son translated. Am has ben telling me about the messages, and it was really neat to finally hear them. The cd is one I have had my eye on since I heard about it. I don't exactly remember the title, but it is a Spanish cd put out by the Wilds. Sergio Ramirez sings all the songs on the cd, and he has a great voice. I have really enjoyed the cd, since several of the songs were already favorites in English it's been neat to hear them in Spanish too. It was also just fun to get stuff from someone at home.
School started back today. It has ben a pretty decent day so far, but slightly....dare I say it?....boring. I've only had 2 lessons so far, and my next one isn't til 1. One student didn't have a book, plus his mom doesn't like the time he's having his lesson, so we're working on changing it, but there's ben some miscommunication, so he didnt' have a lesson today. Another student moved away over Christmas break, so obviously he didn't have a lesson. The two lessons I did have went really well. Solange has improved even though she really didn't practice much over the break. She's learning her notes better, and counting as well. I feel like I have an especially big responsibility with her, because of a conversation I had with her mom. I met her mom in the mall about a week before we got out of school, and her mom told me that they have pulled her out of her guitar lessons at the conservatory because she was enjoying piano so much and losing interest in guitar. She really is doing well, and I hope I can do her justice. Charlene finished her book today, and I think she was really excited. I was, anyway. She's my first student to finish her book, and I can really tell she practiced over break. Her lessons are always enjoyable to teach since she practices!
I'm glad this is only a 3 day week-I'm so tired. I think my body is having to readjust to the heat, so I'm not sleeping really well. I've always had trouble sleeping when it's hot, but I had begun getting used to it. Going home where my toes froze in the house messed with my mind a little, I guess. Hopefully soon I will get a decent night's sleep. Maybe Saturday, or Monday since we have it off for MLK day! I still think it's funny that I get that day off, and my family who lives in his hometown doesn't get it off.
Amazingly enough, while I was home I really didn't get bugged about having (or not having as is my case) a boyfriend, which is fine with me. Everyone else who's here says that it's not fair I didn't get harassed, apparently they got harrassed enough for themselves and a little more for me too. =)
Yesterday Nicole gave me my Christmas present that Amy sent down here with Carla. The gift took the scenic route. =) Carla kept forgetting to get it to me before Christmas, which I understand since things were a little crazy at home because of her mom's surgery. Anyway, I' m glad to finally have it. I was so excited when I opened the package yesterday. She sent me a new cd, and a tape. The tape was of 2 messages preached in BJU chapel by a pastor from Mexico. He preached in Spanish and his son translated. Am has ben telling me about the messages, and it was really neat to finally hear them. The cd is one I have had my eye on since I heard about it. I don't exactly remember the title, but it is a Spanish cd put out by the Wilds. Sergio Ramirez sings all the songs on the cd, and he has a great voice. I have really enjoyed the cd, since several of the songs were already favorites in English it's been neat to hear them in Spanish too. It was also just fun to get stuff from someone at home.
School started back today. It has ben a pretty decent day so far, but slightly....dare I say it?....boring. I've only had 2 lessons so far, and my next one isn't til 1. One student didn't have a book, plus his mom doesn't like the time he's having his lesson, so we're working on changing it, but there's ben some miscommunication, so he didnt' have a lesson today. Another student moved away over Christmas break, so obviously he didn't have a lesson. The two lessons I did have went really well. Solange has improved even though she really didn't practice much over the break. She's learning her notes better, and counting as well. I feel like I have an especially big responsibility with her, because of a conversation I had with her mom. I met her mom in the mall about a week before we got out of school, and her mom told me that they have pulled her out of her guitar lessons at the conservatory because she was enjoying piano so much and losing interest in guitar. She really is doing well, and I hope I can do her justice. Charlene finished her book today, and I think she was really excited. I was, anyway. She's my first student to finish her book, and I can really tell she practiced over break. Her lessons are always enjoyable to teach since she practices!
I'm glad this is only a 3 day week-I'm so tired. I think my body is having to readjust to the heat, so I'm not sleeping really well. I've always had trouble sleeping when it's hot, but I had begun getting used to it. Going home where my toes froze in the house messed with my mind a little, I guess. Hopefully soon I will get a decent night's sleep. Maybe Saturday, or Monday since we have it off for MLK day! I still think it's funny that I get that day off, and my family who lives in his hometown doesn't get it off.
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