"Miss, have some fries..."

I know I just posted, but I had to update....

After school I walked over to Carl's Junior to use the internet, try and upload pictures and meet up with Julie. I hadn't been there long when three seniors from my school (one was one of my students from 3rd period) walked in. They saw me immediately and sat down to talk. They ordered food and ended up looking at my pictures (mostly of my family and their football season - they all played). My student used my computer to check his facebook, and they shared their fries with me and we joked around and just chilled for close to an hour.
After awhile, Julie walks in and they say "Oh, Miss, your friend is here!" and they get up and let her sit down and then get all shy and want to be introduced. Then one clears their trash off the table and they leave to go to the wrestling match over at Tafuna.
They just put me in such a good mood. This is why I love this place, and why I love all my students even though they drive me nuts half the time :)

I was successful at getting pictures on here.. I know they are long overdue, but enjoy!

 My cheerleaders giving out candy ula's at senior night

 One of my senior boys

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Thanksgiving Day activities::

 Freshman class meeting, led my Mr.Samoa Samoa, former WSU football player!

 Christian Club

 tug-of-war

Helping with the volleyball game!

with Melinda and Heidi

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Time with friends

Hanging out for Peter's birthday

 Jessica and I

with Erin and Amber

portion sizes are a bit out of control here..

Julie and I on the boat to Anu'u

Rosa, Julie, and I

Ready for White Sunday!

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A few pictures from the PTA fundraiser performances:

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Halloween/Spirit Week

my old room with some of the fall decorations that my sister sent

"Did Knights wear Nikes?"

I'm currently sitting in Melinda's nice air conditioned classroom, using the internet and listening to Christmas music on Pandora....(love Michael Buble's stuff!)....we got out of school early today because the water in the drinking fountains was somehow contaminated. So 5th period was cut short. My class did not have time to finish their test review (finals are next week) but we will still have time to review next week, so I am not too worried. And I am definitely not complaining about getting out early! I have a lot of grading to do to get ready for the end of the semester....which I will likely procrastinate on until Sunday afternoon, as usual.

It's a bit weird to have Christmas just a couple weeks away. There are no snow days, roaring fires, or bulky sweaters. It is still in the 80's every day, with sunshine, coconut trees, the bright blue-green ocean and everything. The only thing that let's you know it is the holiday season are the Christmas decorations everywhere, and the preparations for holiday parties and concerts.

To those teachers out there:: I just did a project with my students that I feel went really well!! My World History classes have been studying the Middle Ages. Since finals are coming up, I did not want to give them a big test, and we have been doing a lot of presentations with posters and such. So we did something different. I had them in pairs, and they interviewed each other, asking questions about what life was like during the time period. One was the interviewer (several said they were "from CNN") and the other was a person from the Middle Ages (like a knight or peasant). We had everyone from Charlemagne to a person suffering from the Bubonic Plague. They presented earlier this week, and it was great! I loved the questions they came up with and some of the responses were pretty funny... for example, one of my 3rd period boys was acting as a knight. He began every answer with "well, back in the day....". When asked what kind of armor he wore, he said "Did you see that movie The Lord of the Rings? Kind of like that." Hilarious. A few even made swords and a crown and "armor" out of a cardboard box, so I took a few pictures. I will try to get them uploaded soon.

All of the volunteers have a Mid-Service conference here on island after finals week. I am excited to see everyone (the volunteers on the outer islands are coming!) and to hear more about their experiences. I feel like it will be a nice way to wrap up the first semester before we all head out for break. (Hawaii!!!!)

here are the pictures I took after they presented the interviews...

WorldTeach Essay Contest

Drew, our field director, asked all of the volunteers to submit entries for an essay contest. I went into this assignment with a very ambitious idea of what I wanted to write, but at the end of the day, I ran out of time. The whole essay I had in mind did not come together (but I am going to continue working on it for later...), but here is the excerpt that I submitted....Enjoy!!

The Stinky Puddle

I hear the bus coming before I see it. Samoan music blasting through the speakers announces the arrival of my ride to school. I stick my arm out and the multi colored vehicle pulls off the road. I climb in, squeeze past a few passengers, and find an empty seat. It is 6:45 am, and on its way to another 85 degree day. The bus smells of sweat and cigarettes and I am thankful for the air rushing in through the window. We pass by roadside stands selling fruit and brooms. People have begun cooking, and the bus is filled with the smokey smell of bbq as we make our way into town. I reach up and pull on the thin cord that winds its way around the interior of the bus, and the driver immediately pulls over to drop me off. I begin my walk to school, past full garbage cans waiting to be dumped, the busy store, and the stinky puddle.

            The stinky puddle is easily the worst part of my walk. It sits right next to a small sewer station. After a heavy rain the puddle is even bigger and stinkier. Right after I pass the store, crowded with people running in to grab breakfast, I smell the puddle. The sidewalk is still covered with water from the last downpour. The puddle in all its brown leptospirosis-filled glory lays at the edge of the sidewalk. The road ahead is full of cars. I stand at the edge of the puddle and wait. Wait for a break in the traffic to make my way across the sidewalk. If I walk too quickly, I may slip and fall into the stinky puddle. If I walk too slowly, a car may come up and drive through the puddle, subsequently splashing me with the contaminated water.

            The white pickup ahead has slowed to go over the speed bump. Now is my chance. I gather my courage, check my balance, and walk briskly down the sidewalk next to the stinky puddle. It has rained so much that the puddle is larger than before. My flip-flops begin to slip off of my feet. I slide slightly to the right, but quickly regain my footing. However, this momentary lapse in balance has cost me precious time. The white pickup is quickly approaching. At the speed it’s going, I will never make it to the end of the sidewalk, and out of the line of splashing. I walk as fast as I dare, and brace myself. But at the last second the driver of the white pickup swerves to the left, avoiding the puddle, and leaving me dry and stench-free. I let out a sigh of relief and continue on my way.