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I have spent the last two days recovering from my 3-day adventure to the annual high school retreat. I only have one question: How can these kids be so energetic with so little sleep?! My mom tells me, "How quickly you forget." I have to say that I received the best birthday present on Saturday: sleeping in my own bed. It was beautiful!
Thank you so much for your prayers for the retreat. The logistical nightmare of transporting 300 people went off very well. We didn't leave anyone behind at school, at the camp, nor the two stops that we made for bathrooms and food.
I was at the camp numerous times as a student and it was, again, a little surreal to go back as the adult. They have made tremendous improvements to the grounds, the buildings, and the food in the years that I've been gone. It was so much fun to watch the students enjoy their time. The cement slide at the pool was a favorite among students. I think, at one point, they had 10 students piled onto each other to form one train going down the slide. Later, they did a rapid-fire sequence that had kids racing down the slide after each other and then jumping up and running back to the top.
Injuries were relatively few as well. Some cuts. A lot of colds and sniffles. And a few rugby-related injuries. But no hospitalizations required. The nurse was in the cabin next to me and I can attest to the fact that she deserves two weeks off for the number of calls she had while we were there.
I enjoyed being able to watch Tim play sports with his friends on Friday during
the sports competitions. His team won the soccer tournament. Then he played a couple games of rugby as well. I'm not sure how his team made out in that though. He's on the bottom of this pile somewhere during one of the rugby games.
On a spiritual note, the retreat went well. There were many distractions during the chapel services but I think most of the kids really enjoyed the times of worship and the things Jason, the chaplain, had to say. My prayer for the students as we left the retreat was that their spiritual awareness and commitment will continue to grow during this school year.
Thank you so much for your prayers!
I will be out of touch for a while (no comments on how I usually am anyway). The entire high school leaves today to go on the Student Council Retreat. Please pray that this will be a time of community, spiritual teaching, and learning from one another. I am excited about this time out of the city and getting to know my students outside of the classroom. Prayers for safety are also coveted as missionary kids generally count "getting injured" among their top skills.
The first week of school is officially complete! However, we had a few complications along the way. Standard fare in the Philippines but they certainly didn't help us gain momentum as we started the year. Schools all over Manila were canceled on Thursday due to flooding the previous day and in anticipation of more flooding on Thursday. As it turned out, Thursday was a gorgeous day! A little bit cooler than some of the previous days and not too sunny. I took advantage of the nice day to go meet the CRWM area director. It was great to sit down and talk with him for a bit. Also managed to get a couple of things on my "mall list."
Friday dawned gray and ugly. The torrential downpours started pretty early. By the end of 6th period, school was let out early due to flooding. My housemate and I didn't even try to head home. We hung out at school until later in the afternoon when we left with a couple other teachers to have dinner at a NY-style pizza place and a special treat of Starbucks. Yum yum.
Back to school. It is strange to be back but everyone has been so welcoming. I have 80 students right now. That could change as a few individuals change their schedules around. Don't tell them but I'm in awe of these students. They are very different from my Chicago students. When I ask them to do an assignment, they do it! Without complaint! It is going to be so much fun to keep a step ahead of them as they travel this journey through my class. I've been reading their Summer Reading assignments this evening. They are opening up pieces of literature to me that I've never read. Their descriptions and accounts of these books makes me want to put down my grading and pick up a book. I can't wait to see the plan that Jesus has in store for us this year. Excitement!
The school year got its official start this morning with the flag-raising ceremony. Technically, we didn't have a flag-"raising" as there were torrential downpours. Typhoon Egay is headed our way which means that it has rained off and on all day today.
The parade of flags before the raising of the Christian and Philippine flag is a moving time. 
This year, there are 17 separate countries represented within the student and faculty body. My housemate's elementary students carried the flags onto the stage and did a great job. There were prayers for the beginning of the school year offered by a faculty member who has served for 50 years, the president of the senior class, and the president of Student Council.
Please keep those people who will be truly affected by this incoming typhoon. Extreme rain causes some inconveniences for me (wet everything, not being able to leave school because of flooding, soaking wet clothes and bags) but that is nothing compared to those families who live in the squatter villages of this city. I can't imagine the frustration of these hard rains along with the dangers to which their families are exposed. On this night, I am thankful for the roof over my head and the electricity that is still on.
Proper wording should be: "I Did Survive" (the first day at least). My first day went remarkably well. My students are very different from my US students - I predicted as much. I am excited about this school year and the interesting conversations and discussions that lay ahead.Things I Learned on Day 1:
1. Be prepared for chaos.
2. Get your lunch early from the student store.
3. The questions never end.
4. It is okay to save things for tomorrow.
5. Learn to say "no."
After a fantastic week of an informative orientation and a refreshing out-of-town staff retreat, the school year gets its big start tomorrow! I am looking forward to a productive and fun term. I hope that I can follow our retreat speaker's challenge "to create a yearning for the vast and endless sea." My prayer is that Jesus will use me in His creation of a yearning for both English Literature and Himself in my students.
My friend Lorraine has tagged me to write 8 random facts about myself and then tag eight other bloggers. I'm not sure I know eight other bloggers but I'll write the random facts.
8 Random Facts With Special Focus on My Recent Move
1. I think airports are some of the most interesting places in the world. They're good places for people-watching. And in Manila, there were thousands of people to watch at the pick-up area. It is a loud and noisy and hot place.2. I met my roommate in the airport. We decided to be roommates there. Not really but it sounds pretty funny.
3. I have recently acquired a consortium of pets. A dog, two cats, multiple fish, and a couple of geckos that like the bugs in my house.
4. I LOVE the pool on campus. I will be spending many hours there. It was not there when I graduated. A new development that I'm in love with!
5. I had yummy food at a little place called Lemongrass. It might be an Asian replacement for Yes Thai but nothing will ever top Yes Thai.
6. I had my passport photo taken at a Filipino-style photo booth, ie. there was absolutely no notice that there was even a photo booth in the building. In fact, the guard at the door, in the same lobby, did not know that the ONLY other guy in the lobby was manning a photo booth. We had to wait for 5 minutes for the camera batteries to charge, then were led to the stairwell for the white background, picture taken, waited another few minutes for the picture to be processed on the printer. So fantastically random that it just made my day!
7. I discovered that my cousin Kevin's 8-hour traffic direction class for surveyors was a waste. Kev, all you need to know is how to shoo people off of the road. On my way home tonight, a work crew was working directly in the center of the road. There were barriers around the workzone but one guy was sitting on a bit of concrete in front just swatting people to the sides. He was wearing no reflective material nor was he holding any "slow down" sign. Just sitting there, swatting cars.
8. I'm certain that all the alum friends that I have are jealous of the amazing "V" food that I get to eat. Today's fare was AMAZING cinnamon rolls, yummy fruit, rice, Filipino chopsuey, pancit incredibiliosa, lumpia (not banana - I'm going to find some of that tomorrow), and pork
barbeque. Too good!
Just wanted to let everyone know that I did arrive safely and soundly in Manila last night at 10:20 pm. All of my bags were off the carousel within minutes. I'm at my new house and excited to be here. I will update more when I recharge my computer battery and get a little more settled!
Tonight marks a countdown of hours. It has been a week of "one-last's." One last time to visit Anna at work. One last shopping excursion with Rachel. One last time with friends. One last cuddle with my birthday-baby cousin. One last visit to my favorite Grand Rapids restaurant - Real Food Cafe (okay, more like two lasts. We're going to hit it on the way to the airport tomorrow too.) I leave fully aware of what I am leaving behind.
I've had this knack since we first started doing our major moves of living in the past even as the future was starting. I want to go into this adventure full force. However, it will not be easy to say my goodbyes to my sisters, my grandparents, my family, and my friends. I'm expecting many tears tomorrow at the airport. I just hope they aren't all mine.
I'll see you all when I get there!
the sports competitions. His team won the soccer tournament. Then he played a couple games of rugby as well. I'm not sure how his team made out in that though. He's on the bottom of this pile somewhere during one of the rugby games.
