Week Three

Wow. Just wow. Week three is already done. In just three months, I will be back in the States for Christmas break. I have been in St. Lucia for five weeks, and I am amazed at how far we have come from the initial culture shock.
Despite my fears about grade one, I am already seeing amazing growth in my students. My students are getting better at having listening ears on and controlling their voices, something that stressed me out when I first started. My students are buying into our "team and family" culture, where we encourage, respect, and love each other. After just three weeks, my students give me several hugs a day and tell me that they love me. During read aloud time, students make predictions where they start off their sentences by saying, "I predict..." (I find this to be a big win for grade one students.) My students love love LOVE props, something we did in Milwaukee to encourage each other. So far I have taught them Ballin, Hot Chili Pepper, Two and a half claps, firework, and the Incredible Hulk.
Kirsten and I have both been asked by the church to teach piano lessons and Sunday School. They are giving us time to settle in, but I am sure we will be off and running with those activities in a few weeks. It is interesting to have a separate church and school, something that we would not have if we were teaching back in the states, but we enjoy getting to know different people and being able to build relationships with a variety of people.
The highlight of my week outside of school was probably eating brats for supper last night. We splurged $20 EC ($8 US) for five brats, and it was the perfect way to end a busy school week! Nothing like brats to remind you of home.
"I can do all things through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13