Kaselehlie maingko!
Ya iromai? (How are you?) My Pohnpeian is pretty much limited to these and only a few other phrases haha. So when our school meetings are run entirely in Pohnpeian.... yeah, I can get lost pretty fast! But I'm learning as much as I can every day. My favorite word in Pohnpeian is meleilei (meh-lay-lay) which means peace. I think it would be an absolutely beautiful name for a little girl!
I apologize that I don't have any picture to share this time. Ever since my camera and iPhone got stolen, I have no way of taking pictures anymore. It's a dilemma that I'm working on fixing soon, as I want to share so much of my everyday life with people back home. To be honest, I'm not sad at all about physically not having my items anymore... it's funny how living abroad can really open up your eyes to the truly important things in life. I've realized how unimportant my physical stuff really is. Back home, I've left boxes and boxes of clothes, jewelry, furniture, decorations... you name it. And I haven't missed it a single day since. My iPhone? Oh well. It's just an object. It sounds so corny, but I've really realized that I don't need any of that stuff that I thought I did. What's important are the people around you, and living and sharing those experiences with them. Even as far as physical appearances... I used to take at least an hour to get ready for school, and now? Maybe less than 15 minutes. I have so few outfits to choose from, it's pretty easy to pick one out in the morning. And makeup? I'll brush on a couple strokes of mascara but that's all. My hair? It's up in a bun every single day. No more straightening or hairspray or whatever I did.... and I still feel 100% beautiful and confident about myself! When it comes down to it, my students won't remember ten years from now what outfit I wore or how pretty I was a certain day... but what I'm hoping that they take with them is the confidence and strength that comes with learning, and the potentials that each of them have.
Which brings me to my next thoughts on my first year of teaching... It's hard for me to actually call it full-time teaching because I only teach 4 out of 8 sections, and many of the days are shortened due to rains (today, it was the case of a possible typhoon) or a broken cafeteria or you name it... But nonetheless, I am teaching. My four sections are extremely different, and each of them has a different personality which is the beauty of it. I'm learning every day better ways to teach them or new ways of thinking. Overall, I am extremely impressed and shocked at how smart, intelligent, and creative my students can be. Although they have been extremely shy, and continue to be at times, I'm starting to see their personalities and little funny quirks starting to come out. Pohnpeian culture is very different from American... the students are very shy, slow to speak up or stand out in a crowd, and often prefer traditional ways of learning in the classroom. Whenever I try something new like stations, vocabulary posters, group work or games... it usually takes a little bit for everyone to be completely comfortable with it. But give it a while, and these students will show you intelligence beyond measure. Last week, I saw a student who had never once spoken in class or asked a single question (I assumed she was confused and lost with the material) completely dominate her math quiz. Or when I see a student lend a hand to help their classmate out when their eyesight is so bad that they cannot see their own paper. These students have such beautiful souls- so quiet, so humble, and so selfless. I am constantly broadening my views of what a classroom should look and feel like, because these students are so different here. But it's a good kind of different. They are (most of the time) so focused and value their education. They are able to see that education is their only key at succeeding at life, so they take every opportunity they can to grasp onto that. I can only pray that I am strong enough to get them there.
This afternoon, I went to volunteer at the local library for "story time", in which around 10 students between the ages of 5 and 12 came to sing songs, listen to stories, and do some arts and crafts. I can be honest that I felt pretty silly doing the Hokey Pokey in front with everyone staring at me, but at least they got a good laugh! We read the "Real Story of The Three Pigs" (if you've ever read that children's book it's written from the point of view of the Big Bad Wolf). During arts and crafts, I was able to walk around and meet some of the children, learning their names, favorite colors, and what school they go to. It's funny, how you will see children here with almost nothing on their backs, wearing broken flip flops, torn shirts, stained shorts... but they are some of the happiest and most smiley kids I've ever met! The children here bring such a smile to my face, and they are always excited to meet me and learn more about someone different from themselves. I'll try to get some pictures at "story time" next week :)
There are some days that I am desperately missing life back in Wisconsin. When I see pictures from back home of the changing leaves, football games, and the crispness in the air... ahh those are some of my favorite things! What I wouldn't give to just bundle up in some blankets next to a campfire and enjoy some of my dad's cooking. I keep reminding myself that this experience, although hard, will teach me more about myself than I ever thought. At this point, the island is out of eggs, butter, cheese, and many fresh vegetables... yes, I will admit that I sit here and dream of food about 60% of the time (but let's be honest, that's nothing new haha). It's the little things that make me happy, like finding frozen strawberries at the store from which I was able to make my mom's famous Strawberry Shortcake recipe! I almost cried because it tasted exactly like hers :) Like I said, it's the little things that count.
Okay, well the rains are getting pretty bad right now and I want to be able to post before our internet gets knocked out. I hope everyone's school year is going well and you all are enjoying fall! I am enjoying the constant variations between scorching, humid heat and humid rain. The humid part never leaves haha. Kaselel!
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