2-27-08

We're furiously preparing for Field Day around here. I'm working the score table again, and it should be less stress this year since we should already have the ribbons ready. Since this is the third year I'm doing score, I've got my system pretty much worked out. We are doing it in a different place this year, so that should be interesting. I think I'm gonna miss it being within walking distance of the beach.

Once Field Day's done, I'll be concentrating on the spring program, for which we're using a program on the life of Fanny Crosby from a Soundforth book of junior programs.
And of course, a blog entry wouldn't be complete without a couple of student quotes.

In PE we've been learning to pass the baton correctly in preparation for the relay during Field Day. On Monday, I was asking my second graders why we were using a certain hand to hold it, and Sophia raised her hand and said, "So that we will fast-en up!"

I was talking with Luis after class today, and he was talking about how hard it was to keep from talking in class. I was joking with him, and said, "Yeah, life's rough, isn't it?" He said, "Well, not so much since we have the opportunity to be saved, but some other things are tough."

Trilingual conversation, Lunar eclipse, the death of a chair, and a new best friend

Quite a strange title, but it helps me to remember the things I wanted to write about, and it reminds me of the days Amy and I used to email and compete to find the strangest subject lines possible that many times had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the emails (remember the 99 bottles of nail polish, Am?)

First of all, the trilingual conversation. I've ben able to pick up a bit of ASL since I've been here. I understand much more than I can actually sign, but I'm still in the learning process. Milagros (one of our college grads who happens to be deaf) was working as a hall monitor and was trying to communicate with a parent, but it wasn't working. Many of the parents are able to make basic hand motions, but others, especially those who aren't as familiar with the school have a little more trouble. I happened to be passing through, and asked the mom what she needed. Since I know Spanish, I understood what she needed and turned to communicate that with Milagros. Most of my sign language, however, I associate with English words, so when I turned back to the mother to explain, I started talking to her in English, and didn't realize my mistake until she looked slightly confused. Talk about brain fry! I thought 2 languages was hard, but adding a third is even more interesting.

Lunar eclipse-it was pretty neat. I sat outside for an hour or so and watched and took pictures. I wasn't the only one out on my street. There were about 3 others from time to time coming out with their cameras.

The death of a chair-as I was sitting on the walkway in front of my apartment, my only portable chair (not a recliner) slipped off the edge and broke. =( Oh well, one more thing for the shopping list.

My new best friend-Tide to Go! I love this stuff-it has saved me embarrassment and stained clothes many times. It's saved a a few friends too. =)

Wish I had more time to write, but I must go to supper!

2-13-08

I've gotten tired of trying to come up with titles that usually sound cheesy to me, then I never end up writing because I can't come up with a title, so here goes with using the date for my title. Maybe I'll write more-who knows?

Probably not since I wrote all that 11 days ago.

I have decided that January in Puerto Rico provides what is quite possibly the world's most perfect weather (as long as I could vacation to see snow every once in a while). It's cool at nights and in the mornings, and not obnoxiously hot throughout the day-the weeklong forecast reads "Hi-81 Lo-72" 7 times in a row most weeks, occasionally with some rain thrown in.

This semester 8th grade choir has started, and we've had surprisingly good attitudes and participation. We'll see how long that lasts us, but for right now it looks good.

Last night we had an interesting visit-the mom is very faithful in her Pentecostal church, and neither father nor son are saved, but seem to be interested in the things of the Lord. I'm hoping they'll come visit on Wednesday night.

Soccer season was canceled for not enough kids signed up. They were sad and so was I. I was loooking forward to the fun and extra exercise, but I guess we'll have to wait for next year.

I've started work on our spring program. Hopefully it will not drain me quite as much as the last one.

And just as I was typing all this, Judith came in looking for a translator, so I saved it and left. After I finished with her meeting, as I walked out of the room, another 2nd grade teacher asked for a translator, and by the time I was done with that, it was 4:15, and I had to devote myself to finding a ride home. I was hoping to make it home at 4, so I would have time to walk to Walgreens before it got dark and do some last minute Valentine's Day shopping, but that didn't happen. Everyone who would go home early enough was gone by 4:15, so I stayed. It worked out alright though, because Mrs. Rojas had to go to Costco, and she didn't want to go alone, so I was able to go with her, and get at least the candy I needed. When I got home, I went to the pharmacy almost right across the street to get the gift bags that I needed. So, in the end it worked out, but I didn't get back to the computer until this morning.