Bajan Adventures--Day One

Spring break was coming up quick, and Kirsten, Tanya, and I were looking at options to get off island. After debating a few different islands, we settled on BARBADOS!

We arrived at the airport, and had a three minute gut-wrenching heart attack that we missed our flight. THANKFULLY we were looking at the arrivals instead of the departures. Our plane was delayed an hour or so, as we were sitting in the waiting room, air-conditioning on full blast, literally FREEZING. I never thought I would be that cold in St. Lucia. Soon enough we were up in the air, flying from one paradise to another. We landed in Barbados at 10 p.m., took a taxi to our hotel which was located on the Atlantic Ocean. Even though it was dark, we stood at the coast, smelling the salty sea air, listening to the waves crashing on the rocks.

The Bridgetown bridge

Day one was an ADVENTURE. We took bus to "The Boatyard," a popular beach that everyone and their mother told us to visit. When we arrived, we realized it was just like the touristy beach in St. Lucia--although amazingly soft sand, and clear, bright blue waters. We walked into Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, and found the bus station. We paid $1 US each to get on a bus that would take us across the island to Crane Beach. I was amazed by how many Bajan locals offered to help us along the way. I'm going to guess not many tourists take the bajan buses...

We arrived at Crane Beach and spent a few hours lying on the beach, and climbing rocks to get a gorgeous view of the coastline and exorbitant hotels.

Getting back home made me a little nervous. We knew the buses came through every hour, but we did not know when exactly in that hour the bus would pass. We made our way to the main road, and waited across the street from our bus stop in the shade of a house that was in the progress of being built. Just imagine, three white girls randomly sitting on the porch of a house. The bus pulled up within 10 minutes, we got on, and got off at Oistins, a town famous for their fishing market. We bought drinks and sat on the beach for a while, taking in the Caribbean blue waters and the waves crashing.

We stopped at Chefette, a fast food joint in Barbados, and it was DELICIOUS!!! So good, Kirsten had it four times during our trip! When we got back to our hotel, we sat and watched the stars and the waves for a bit before crashing pretty quickly.

**Bajan Fun Fact** Barbados is the only Caribbean island not in the Caribbean. It is surrounded completely by the Atlantic Ocean.

God's Plan > my plan

Note: This blog post is not about St. Lucia. This blog post does not include any beautiful beach scenery or adorable pictures of my kiddos. This post is just going to be me, being completely transparent.

Growing up, I always pictured myself living the WELS dream: going to Martin Luther College, finding Mr. Right, graduating, getting married, and starting a family, all before the age of 25. While at MLC, finding "the One" seems to be the number one goal and is constantly talked about, brought up at every possible moment.* But what about people who fail to gain their MRS. degree? Are they abnormal? Is something wrong with me because I am not 23 and married?
It was my junior year at MLC when it hit me--my "plan" was not going to happen. It's almost laughable thinking back to those moments, worrying about how I would keep myself alive, entertained, fed... How was I expected to graduate, move somewhere currently unknown, and live ALL BY MYSELF?!
Now I am living in St. Lucia with two roommates. (God is awesome. He knew I could not live alone.) I at one time thought being single was incredibly sad, but I now realize the many blessings of being single.

(Just a Few of) The Blessings of Being Single

1. I am learning how to be independent--I am horribly dependent, and I enjoy the chances I get to be an "adult." Tanya and Kirsten push me to do adult things, like hand in our electricity payment and call out "Bus stop, driver" on the bus.
2. I have to kill bugs, all by myself--Yes, this does not sound like much of a blessing, but it's somehow making me tougher. 
3. I have the freedom to focus on myself--This sounds incredibly selfish, but after a long day at school, I am able to reheat leftovers, kick back, and watch Netflix without feeling guilty. I don't have to worry about trying to please or work my schedule around someone else. (Not saying I don't want to in the future, it's just nice for now.)
4. I am able to focus fully on teaching-- I am not distracted by trying to make a long distance relationship work. It's not easy, and I give major props to those couples who can make it work across hundreds or thousands of miles.
5. I have time to learn how to cook--Because that's the number one thing a husband wants... Still a work in progress.

Our God knows exactly how to meet our needs. I may not be married out of college, but I am blessed with amazing supportive roommates. I never would have in a million years guessed that I would be serving my Saviour in the Caribbean, teaching six-year-olds and piano lessons. I firmly trust that God, in HIS timing, will show me the man I am meant to spend my life with. I am not distraught that my life has not turned out to be what I originally thought, but just humbled and thankful for everything God has given to me. God's plan far outweighs anything I could ever imagine for myself. God is good. All the time.

*I am not MLC bashing. I am merely stating the culture of MLC. MLC is a great place to meet good, Lutheran spouses before you receive your assignment and are scattered across the US.

No I'm not Dead

Well folks, it's been quite a while! I am quite positive my lack of blog posts has not kept anyone up at night, wondering what I've been up to, frequently refreshing my blog page, wishing for another post. If you have been doing that, I greatly apologize and hope it is not too late for you to get a life.
We are officially half-way through second term! Midterm break started today, and there is only a month left until  EASTER BREAK! Tanya, Kirsten, and I are planning to venture off island, although we have not decided which island to visit. We are currently looking at Trinidad and St. Vincent, and I will be content with either one!
This term has been going quickly. Second term felt like starting all over again, reviewing routines and procedures, remembering how to treat our team and family in love, raising our hand when we speak...all that good stuff. I am always amazed by my loving students--I am already getting emotional just thinking about saying goodbye to them at the end of the school year.

Smiling despite the rain

Yesterday was our Independence Rally and Festival School. The program portrayed the timeline of St. Lucia's history. The school, stage, and tents were decorated in blue, black, white, and yellow, the colours of the Lucian flag. Students and parents were seated underneath tents, which I assume were orginally meant to protect from the sun. The performance started half an hour late, clearly running on Lucian time. Much to our disappointment, storm clouds rolled in three separate times, complete downpours. The rain delayed the performance even longer, and we were soon sitting in our chairs with the mud and puddles at our feet. Thankfully the rain finally stopped and the show went on. My grade ones depicted the French and the British, who fought for St. Lucia fourteen times. My kiddos were the unlucky French, who had to die at the end of our performan
ce, having lost the Battle of St. Lucia in 1778.

My students decorated the tree!

The food festival began after the performance. Sweets, pizza, chicken, local juice, and icicles (popsicles) were for sale. The kids could pay to go to the disco room, which was blasting Caribbean jams and the latest hits. There was a "Make me Beautiful" room, where kids could get massages, makeup done, and painted nails. The Independence Rally was a busy and exhausting day, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Kirsten's parents are visiting for the week, and we are currently how we will spend our free days with them. We have discussed going to Fish Fry on Friday, hiking Pigeon Island, and possibly horseback riding on the beach or parasailing. I am thankful for this restful and relaxing break!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Back to Island Life

After a wonderful 3-week-long vacation visiting friends and family in the COOOOOLD Midwest, Kirsten and I have returned to our beautiful island home!
While I was home, I got quite spoiled not having to plan suppers or cook for myself. The first couple days of being back were an adjustment, realizing that we have to stock up on food, and actually prepare meals in order to stay alive. I am striving to become a better cook, and this week I learned how to make popcorn on the stove! What an achievement! You have to start somewhere...
It felt quite odd to be back, spending our time in the classroom and being reunited with our kiddos. I am so proud of my students, who hopped right back into the swing of things, but still showed signs of exhaustion and were often tempted to put their heads down on their tables. No way jose! Not in my classroom!
In my classroom, we started writing SHOUT OUTS to each other. It is heart-touching to see the smiles on the children's faces when a classmate reads their name and compliments them for doing something well. I even have dedicated part of my limited wall space to post the shout outs, and will send the shout outs home with the students after a week or two. I pray this will bring my TEAM and FAMILY even closer as we build each other up!
Kirsten's sister, Kelsey, is visiting the island for two weeks and is staying with us. The other day, she made supper for us, which was DELICIOUS! She is quickly learning the ways of the island and seems to enjoy spending as much time as she can at the beach, which is where we are headed later today.
One of the first days back at school, another teacher commented how I had gotten "chubby" over break and how I must have enjoyed myself being home. Five months ago, this kind of comment would have made me upset, but I have adjusted to the directness and bluntness of Lucian people. Nevertheless, I have been waking up early before school to exercise. I have even started doing yoga before bed. It's a new year, and I am trying new things!

Kirsten and I love our Packers!!!

Last night, Kirsten, Kelsey, and I met with Professor Hunter from MLC and his wife at their hotel for supper and drinks, as Kirsten and I shared stories of our experiences at school and church and life in general. We are giving him our OFFICIAL decision soon as to if we are staying or receiving our assignment in May. Prayers are appreciated!
This weekend, we are looking forward to relaxing, the beach, being reunited with our church family tomorrow, and probably a bit of school work. Can't complain!
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

Week #16

Wow. How time flies. We have officially completed was our last week of classes before exams and Christmas practice. 

On Sunday, Kirsten, Tanya, and I went to Anse Cochon to go snorkeling with Pastor Tom, Jen, their son, and a family friend. As soon as we got there, it started raining, but the sun was still shining. God blessed us with a fantastic and vibrant rainbow, which ended on the beach close to where our towels were. We found the end of the rainbow! 

In school this week, I began reviewing with my students for their exams next week. My goal was to convince my students that they should not be fearful or nervous while taking exams--exams are a time to show off how much they've learned. I am excited to see how well they do!

This week Kirsten and I bought ICE CREAM, which we ate with the apple crisp Kirsten made on Wednesday. It. Was. Heaven. It finally started feeling like fall around here, just in time for winter to arrive in the States.

Thursday was Thanksgiving. It was an odd feeling going to school knowing that family and friends back at home were enjoying eating turkey and watching football all day. After school, we went to Thanksgiving Dinner at Pastor Tom and Jen's house, which is the largest Thanksgiving party I have ever been to. There were about forty-five people in attendance, and the food was endless. I haven't eaten that well in a LONG TIME. I even drank coffee at 8 pm, just because it was Berres Brothers coffee from Watertown, WI. We ended our long Thanksgiving day by going to KeeBees bar and watching the first half of the Packer game with Pastor Bram, Ravi, and Mr. Erik from church. Because of the time difference, the game didn't start until 9:00 Lucian time, and we finally called it a night around 11:00. It was a laaaaate night, considering I'm normally in bed by 9:30.

On Friday, Kirsten and I got to satisfy our Domino's pizza craving. We were curious to find out if it was different from the Domino's back at home, and we were quite pleased to find out it tasted exactly the same! 

I just realized I talk about food a lot. And I'm not sorry. I think food is what keeps me sane when life gets crazy. I am eager to get home and RELAX in a little over two weeks!

Beautiful Anse Cochon

In health this week, we learned about dental hygiene and practiced flossing with egg cartons!

We LOVE our apple crisp and ice cream.

How to Teach/Not Teach Piano to the Visually Impaired

Kirsten and I have begun volunteering our time after school on Thursdays to  teach piano lessons at church. After school, Pastor picks us up at 4:30, to make the long drive through traffic to get to church by 5 for our first piano lesson. Lessons normally go until 8, which makes for a long day, but it is awesome to work on our relationships with people from church. Between Kirsten and I, we have 10 piano students so far.

This last Thursday was my first lesson with a man from church who is visually impaired. He plays percussion in the church band and has been interested in learning how to play the piano. My first thought? This is my first time teaching piano. How am I going to make this possible? The answer: teamwork, communication, and lots of understanding. 

We started the piano lesson by getting used the the piano, feeling the black and white keys. At first, I felt ignorant calling them the white and black keys--he couldn't see the colours, so I started saying thin keys on top, which is a lot more time consuming to say than black keys. Finally I just explained why I called the keys black and white. We felt the keys, finding groups of two and groups of three black keys. I explained how to find C, by feeling for a group of two black keys and sliding down to the left. He explored the keys and was able to identify the keys by going up and down and saying the note names.

Then it hit me, how do we learn songs?! I was frazzled. I opened up a piano book to a random page and read him the notes of Ode to Joy, a few notes at a time. It worked well at first, but then after a few measures, we were talking past each other and I am fairly certain I was confusing him to no extent. Finally, we took a deep breath, clarified the notes, and he was able to play through the whole first line of the song, remembering every note in the correct order. 

I asked him what I could do to help him be successful, mentioning that I was going up to the States in a few weeks for Christmas, and he asked if  I could find Braille piano books for him, and Braille note labels for the keys. I am eager to bring back the Braille resources to help him learn piano!

I am POSITIVE I am going to learn as much, if not more, than Mr. Richard. Clarity of words is SO IMPORTANT! After just one piano lesson, I am realizing that I take my sight for granted. I sat down at the piano with my eyes closed after the lesson, and it was incredibly challenging. What an amazing blessing it is to have sight and be able to see all of the other blessings God has given to us! As challenging as the half hour lesson may be, I know that God will bless both Mr. Richard and my efforts and we will both be learning!

Un-Lucian Weather

We have been experiencing some interesting weather down here. When we first came to the island, we were amazed that rain showers lasted about five minutes and then the sun was out once again. This past Friday, we were at school when around 10 am, the clouds broke open and it poured rain. The rain was coming down so hard, I had to use my REALLY LOUD teacher voice so my students could hear the words for their spelling test. I was amazed when the rain kept coming down for about four and a half hours. Parents were rushing to pick up their children. They were telling stories of how the roads were flooding, town was a chaotic mess, and roundabouts and bridges on the main highway were being closed. The rain finally stopped around 2 and it was an eerie calm. The sky was still gray, and the air was cool. The yard in front of the school was one ginormous pond. We were able to leave school once all the students were picked up, which was around 3 o'clock.
I was very thankful for a few things. None of my students cried, even when thunder crashed, lightning lit up the sky, and the power went out. I was thankful I got to work on my relationships with the students whose parents came late to pick their children up. I had three students who were teaching me French, Spanish, and Arabic. I was thankful I did not have to worry about getting home, since our only challenge was dodging pot-hole lakes on our minute walk down the road. I was extremely thankful our wifi and electricity came back on shortly after come home from school. I am thankful my roommate's laptop is fully functioning again after getting saved from the huge water puddle that leaked into our house. God kept everyone safe through the storm, even the man who was sucked into the sewer system by means of an open manhole cover was rescued. Never a dull moment in St. Lucia...
Yesterday at church, a couple was visiting from Wisconsin, and the wife turned out to be one of the teachers who taught at St. Marcus while I was student teaching there last year! The small WELS vibe can be felt all the way from St. Lucia!
School was cancelled today due to inclement weather, which has not been seen yet. I am definitely enjoying the day off by doing laundry, practicing piano, starting a new TV series, and maybe even a NAP! Yes, cancelled school is probably more exciting as a teacher.