Only the hard and strong may call themselves Spartans. Only the hard, only the strong.

It has been a very long time since my last entry. I am not sure where to start. I am also not sure where to start because it would be friday, and my brain is pretty much fried. But I will try.

Good luck trying to following my thought process. Only a few are able to understand. :)

A few weeks ago I woke up on a Tuesday morning, having not slept very well the night before, with no voice at all, a headache, and a runny nose. That night I had a fever, I felt horrible, and I actually got cold for the first time here on the island. I pulled out my sleeping bag and climbed and still was shaking. Even though I was very sick, I managed to make it out of bed and walk to my classroom. I wrote a note on the board to my kids "Good Morning :) I am very sick, I have no voice. Please turn in your homework and start on your Morning Task" My kids were very respectful for about the first 5 minutes. They came up to me and whispered " where do I turn in my homework in Miss Kaitlin?" I couldn't hear them because my ears were all plugged up so I whispered that they needed to speak up because I couldn't hear them. Looking back on it, that wasn't the best idea I have had. I could have had a really quite class, but that would have just been to easy.

After having a whole big water bottle of airborn, then another one of Emergen -C  I had a very soft, scratchy voice. And of course I forced myself to yell to get the attention of my crazy children. They really weren't that crazy, I just wasn't up to my standards which made it increasable hard. Overall I lost my voice for about a week, and it ranged from almost none existent, to very low and raspy, then to very high ( I have been told like a chipmunk). Teachers talk a lot. For about a week it was very much the Mute leading the blind. I am feeling much better know, but when my family sends me boxes of cookies and rice crispy treats it is very hard not to eat some. So I am slowly starting to lose my voice again. I am very glad that it is the weekend. I don't have to speak if I don't want too :)

O lets see what else has happened... 

The week that I was sick we had friday off for The Marshall Island Labor Day ( I have absolutely no idea how to pronounce it), So molly and I decided to go Moo Moo shopping. I have no idea if that is how you spell the dress that we wear, but that is how you say it. So that is how I am spelling it today.  Moo Moos feel like pajamas, it is wonderful. I love wearing them, they are very loose fitting ( could possibly pitch a tent under one) very stretchy and only slightly see-through. The patterns on them are rather indescribable. They will take you to all of the generational styles all in one dress.

Anyway so we go on a walk, not really knowing where we were going.  We figured that, well its a small island, and it couldn't be that far. With cameras at the ready we set out on our adventure. Well after walking for about an hour and only having two small bumps in the road we decided to ask for directions. We made a U turn at the hotel and started heading back, wondering if we had missed the shop on the way there or not. Even though our walk wasn't realistically productive, Molly and I were able to see what life is really like on the island. In many cases, the pictures are unable to tell the whole story. The trash that lines the streets, the houses that look like they are about ready to just fall over, and the happy dirty children running out into the roads. It is a completely different world here, there are days were it feels like Hogwarts almost. We have a Ministry of education, Ministry of this or of that.... And with our bathmate always saying that we are still waiting on our Headmaster to arrive... There are days.

On the way to the Moo Moo shop we stopped at EZ price and I got a raspberry Ice Tea and a few other stuff. Arizona tea is like magic here, all of the children would walk up to Molly and I saying Hello and holding up there hand in a shape of a cup. Wanting some of the drink. Smiling Molly and I decided that  if we shared them we wouldn't have any of it  left. To be honest I didn't want to get the children sick... ha okay... Moving on. In addition to getting raspberry ice tea I got a Machete. :D It was beautiful. I love it. I have only used it a few times so far, but it has been completely worth it. You don't mess with the small white ladies with a Big      machete... 

There is always more to the story, more than a person lets on. So I would like to give a few adjectives and interjections to the drama going on right now. ADJECTIVE.... INTERJECTION. Okay. That is about all I will say about that. But my kids are learning about nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, interjections, pronouns and all that fun stuff. The Grammar rock videos have been wonderful :) I have the songs stuck in my head all of the time.

I know that I am skipping a lot but I am going to fast forward to this week.

We are learning about the fruits of the spirit in bible class, and right now we are starting the unit on peace. One of the first stories is about Joseph and so I decided to show my fifth graders the movie Joseph: King of Dreams. Such a good movie. I have watched it four times already here. Finishing up the movie on friday, my kids had a " it clicked" moment, at the very end of the movie when Josephs brothers are bowing down to him... One of my boys shouts out... " Its like his dream, it is like the STARS." (Brilliant) Yes, yes it is. Those moments are few and far between.

Putting the Brilliant in parenthesis just now reminded me of the math lesson that we had on Thursday. But I need to share a quick back story first. 

I had a really bad day, nothing was going right and my children were very restless. Then ended up striking out again. I take great joy in seeing there faces as the strike out. Not much has change since high school. Anyway, I had to give my kids a school mandated math test and like normal some did okay and some did not so well. So after going through the entire test with them making sure they understood their mistakes we went to our first math lesson is over a week. It was about Millions and Billions. It was a struggle. I can't describe how difficult it was for all of my kids or wrap their minds around. I taught it in at least five different ways. Then I told them to do their best and do the mixed review at the bottom of the page and we will be finished for today. I was done, I was going to talk to our curriculum coordinator and say we need different books because this isn't working. So as my patience was running very thin my kids were working on the mixed review. Which consisted of adding, subtracting and a few very simple word problems. A few of them were constantly raising their hands " Miss Kaitlin, I don't understand." I told them that I would be with them as soon as I could. I get to my first student and I read the question out loud. " There are 100 dimes in one roll". Question 38 : How much does one roll cost? I explained that there was 100 dimes all combined together, then proceeded to ask my student how much a dime cost. He didn't know, so I then taught him how much each coin was worth thinking that its okay he isn't one of my smarter kids it will be okay. After explaining to 8 children how much a dime cost I had had enough.  I stood up and Said " Class, Class, Class... They answered Yes, Yes, Yes?  Class can someone raise their hand and tell me how much a dime cost?" Even after explaining how much a dime cost to 8 students, only one student knew. This would be the same student that goes to the gym with a few of the SM's and I to workout, this would be the same student that Bev had in her first grade, this would be the same student that when I asked him what an adjective was he answered " a word that comes out of my mouth" followed by his contagious giggle. And so only one of my students knew what a dime cost. I was so upset. I told them to just turn in there papers, still speaking very calmly and nicely telling them not to worry about it. I made it into the AV room and exploded, I am very glad that Molly was there to listen. O my, it was bad. I couldn't believe that my 5th graders didn't know how much the coins that they use for currency cost. aahhhhhhh...

Okay back to my other story. ( we know have a different math book, that is much better for my kids) We are learning about adding and subtracting, to build a good foundation. -Side note- I was talking with the high school math teacher and he was saying that a few of the high school kids don't know how to add and subtract. So I AM going to teach my kids how to add and subtract, even if that is all that we accomplish in math this year.

We were learning about how you have to add the numbers in the ( ) first. YEAH! They get it! So then after lunch my kids went to P.E. - P.E., Health, Music and Computer classes are Wonderful! First because my kids are learning about physical fitness, music, and technology but the more important part is that I get a BREAK! That is sacred time. It is " All kinds of good":D

Next story: Every other Tuesday night we (only the women) " GET" to go to a women's ministry meeting. Which starts at 7:30 and usually goes till 8. Well that was not the case two Tuesdays ago. Molly and I get ready to go to the church for 7:30, both having so many other things that we have to grade and do for class the next day. We walk in and sit on the right side of the church, as it was filling up it ended up being the SM girls on the right, everyone else on the left. Well they decided to only turn on the lights and fans on the left side. In addition the majority of the service was not in english, which wouldn't have been a big deal except it didn't end at 8 pm. The service ended at about 7:30 and then we were informed that we were going to have a baby dedication/Baby shower/ first birthday party. There was no escaping, there was no sneaking out of the back silently. We were stuck in the church till about 9:15. Both of us didn't know what was going on the majority of the time, and it was very hot and I forgot to bring water. It was defiantly an experience. So by the end, of the baby part of it, I was starting to get frustrated because I had SO much to do, and this was just a waste of my time. But when everyone started to sing and proceed to the back of the church towards the one year old baby. (On birthdays you are supposed to bring money-but seeing as we didn't know that we were going to one none us brought money) the atmosphere changed in the church. Listening to the surround sound of song, smiles and the baby giggling. We slowly walked up with folded dollar bills, that were given to us, and we put them inside the babies clothing or in her hands. As much as it felt like it was completely inappropriate, because of the similarities to strippers. Everything and every one was at peace. The sound of the women's voices echoed in the church and it slowly began to rain. Once the song was done, the Babies Grandmother prayed for her. All of the SM's were invited to the babies 1 year old birthday party the next night. That is a really big thing here on the island too. After that women's ministry was finished they gave us fruit drinks and some homemade donuts, both were very good.

Then as fast as we could, respectfully of course, Molly and I booked it into the AV room. ( Only moments before all of the guys in the AV room were wondering where all of the girls were, then making the connection that we were in Women's Ministry and that it was about 2 hours two long, they started to make up stories of what we were going to say when we actually came into the AV room)  We   slam open the door, and the boys ask with smiles... So, how was it.... Molly and I just start talking really fast and really loud, we unloaded everything. We were both talking at the same time, adding to each others points. All of the boys started laughing. So after that whole experience Molly and I just decided to wing it the next day and play Uno with everyone in the AV room. There are many times where we just feel completely overwhelmed with the classroom stuff that we have to accomplish, then on top of that we have to go to so many parties, functions, church things that is seems like we have no time to do anything else.

A few mornings ago I woke up with the biggest craving for Olive Garden. It was unreal how much I wanted to have a peach tea, salad, some bread sticks and those fried things that I always get. AHHhggg it was so intense. Number 1 craving thus far: Olive Garden. Then maybe chipotle, In and Out, Taco Bell, Home made food, Cucas, Angelos, Vinces, Fresh peach pie from Marie Calanders... The list goes on. Not only are the food cravings intense here, I have been having dreams every night. Nothing in particular but I never do that. Plus the day dreams, it is ridiculous. I can just sit and close my eyes and completely walk through my house, or be able to drive down Redlands Boulevard. I came into the AV room the other day after a really bad day of school and one of the guys was playing his guitar. I sat down on the couch next to him, closed my eyes and I was home. I was with my friends and everything was okay again. 

So back to the one year old baby shower... A few of us went to the birthday party that was supposed to start at 7:00, we went to prayer meeting at 7:30 and left for the party at 8:45 got there shortly after and it started just as we walked in. There were, and I kid you not, about 300 people there for a one year old. To be honest I am not sure how a one year old is going to remember that big of a party but who knows.

So a few of us went though the food line, the vegetarian line, which had chicken and fish in it, but it was way shorter. So we got out food and sat right next to the lagoon. It was a wonderful evening. Discussing the usage of the phrase " All Kinds of "... you can use it in many ways. EX: My kids are all kinds of crazy, the food was all kinds of good today. You get the point. 

Finally here... I still feel like I am leaving out so much stuff that has happened while I have been here. (having a taco night, making choplet gravy, I have no idea)

But for the past week Molly and I have been going to the Wellness center in the afternoons with the boys. One of the things that make life complicated here is that we cannot walk in groups with the same number of guys and girls. Such a pain. Anyway we strategically plan how all of us will get to the gym on Monday, Wednesday and friday afternoons. Instead of doing the insanity workouts in the morning I am now doing the same work out as the guys in 300 did before the movie. FOR SPARTA!!!! ahahaha 

It is really nice to workout, it is different every time we go to the gym ( I am defiantly going to bring my camera next time). This last time we walk in and they are playing local music that sounds like a mix of mexican and Hawaiian. Almost impossible to workout to. 

But overall after the first day Molly and I couldn't lift up our arms, the second day I had to help Molly take of her PJ's because she couldn't get it around her shoulders. Just the simple things like taking close on and off were a challenge. But by friday things were getting easier.  If I come back looking like I could have been an extra in the movie 300, ehhh it wouldn't be all that bad :)  ha but that probably won't happen.

There are many days were I wonder if I can make it through, If i can physically, mentally and spiritually guide and teach these children what they need to know. The majority of the time it is completely overwhelming. But Listen to a song for me... Fire and Rain by James Taylor. ( I gave my staff worship talk about that song on this friday) 

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus 

You've got to help me make a stand 
You've just got to see me through another day 
My body's aching and my time is at hand 
And I won't make it any other way 

Only the hard and strong can call themselves Student Missionaries... Only the hard, only the strong.