INTERNET!

Well folks, it's finally here. After three weeks of going back and forth about who owed who money, the school finally got our internet turned on. I skyped with my mom for 2 straight hours, paid my forgotten credit card bill, checked up on some people, and then got intensely bored with it all. Funny how you can totally get used to not having computer access in such a short amount of time.

So here is a short list of things I need to update everyone on:
1. My new class!
2. My new house!
3. Trip to El Salvador!
4. New people!
5. My little brother's approaching trip to Guatemala!

Lets start with the first two and then perhaps the others will come in another blog entry (I don't want to write TOO much and bore you all).

First day of school!

So, this year I am section 3B instead of 3A and alls I can say is that they are totally lovely little people. I had been warned all last year that this group of kids were really wild and less motivated than my kids but I haven't seen any signs of that at all (I mean, obviously they are 8 and are a little wiggly but they are super fun at the same time). I'm already loving all the hugs and kisses and high fives I'm receiving each morning and getting to know what makes this group tick. Its funny being a second year teacher because for some reason I thought I would be getting third graders that were at the same level academically as my third graders were at the end of last year... not a chance! I completely forgot how slow the beginning of the year is as they are really more like second graders than third at this point. But I'm also doing a much better job of teaching the procedures and routines so I think my class this year will probably progress faster than last year.

Putting together our puzzle pieces

Oh, you know, playing Zip-Bong :)

I have twenty-one students, two are new to Inter, one having moved to Guate from the Dominican Republic and the other from Tanzania, and six of the twenty-one are Aubrey's old kids. They are very excitable, motivated by praise and whole class rewards, understanding of the mistakes we all make, and absolutely hilarious. I have to share one story about when I finally felt like I had my first "moment" with this group. We were reading Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business (a 3A favorite passed on to the next generation), where Junie B's mother asks if she has any suggestions for baby names. Junie B throws out the idea of "Teeny." Then Junie B's mother explains, "Well, Teeny is a great name for the baby when it is little, but what will we call the baby when it grows up?" Junie B, with all her sass, responds with, "BIG Teeny!" My kids absolutely. lost. it. They had the rolling-on-the-floor, holding-gut, wiping-tears-from-their-eyes laughs and seeing their reaction to understanding a joke... IN English... made me SO happy. At first I had the biggest grin on my face but then as I scanned the room and watched as every kid held tight to make sure they didn't pee their pants in laughter, I started laughing the same way. When we finally all caught our breath, I told the kids it was time to go home and they all yelled, "Nooooo! One more chapter!" Unfortunately, I had already read one chapter more than I should have so I hustled them out of class. As they grabbed their backpacks and headed for the buses, I couldn't handle the cuteness of them shaking their heads and smiling while the mouthed "Big Teeny" all the way home. This was the day I decided I officially loved 3B :)

Guest Speaker #1: Mr. Juan Pablo speaking about Citizenship :)

Teaching Kindergarteners how to tie their shoes :)

Since the first day of school, we've had two birthday parties, three visiting hamsters, zero kids sent to the principal, twelve parents come to Open House, two chain links for everyone doing their homework, only one set of tears, and twenty-one smiles every single day. I'm very excited to see all the magic unfold in 3B this year and to learn even more from this group.

Lunch with some 3A alumni

If you're wondering if I've already forgotten about 3A, do not worry! They are still a big part of my life. They have to walk past my classroom from the fourth grade classes to go to the bathroom so multiple times a day kids will walk by with arms outstretched and say in a slow-motion voice, "Meeeeeeeeeeessssssss Aaaaaannnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" I also get the best hugs ever from them at recess and lunch and in the hall and in the bathroom and other inappropriate places. I've had a few kids come visit me during their recesses or invite me to play in their game of basketball. I even got to have lunch with two of my kids from last year because they completed a summer challenge packet I gave them to work on over the summer. I'm planning on going to one student's goodbye party as his family heads to Seattle (yahoo!) and am going to Antigua with a mom and student next weekend. I think its safe to say that last year was a total success in terms of keeping those kids in my life. I cannot wait to see what they accomplish in school and know that they will be in touch for years to come.

My new house is just perfect. Its a lot smaller and older than our old one but not only does it have fast internet (well, except for when they cut us off) and hot showers, but it also comes equipped with awesome neighbors, the ability to walk to the grocery store, the safety to run in the streets (alone even!), and a cold but refreshing pool. What else could we ask for? Aubrey and I are exponentially happier at this place and are really looking forward to hosting more visitors this year (hint, hint!).

Speaking of visitors.... ZACK IS COMING! ON WEDNESDAY! My students are jazzed, my friends are pumped, and I am going crazy with excitement. He is staying for almost an entire month and within the time that he will be here, we have one three-day weekend and one four-day weekend; YES! I'm really looking forward to paying him back for being such an amazing host for me this summer and for him to get to see a completely new part of the world. I'm also excited to see him interact with my students as I know he has put some thought into perhaps becoming a teacher someday.

four days until I'll be reunited with this guy!

Alright, well I still have more to report but I need some breakfast first. I'm planning on blogging again this weekend and even posting more pictures so stay tuned.