Talent Show Performance... finally

Okay the lovely Katie Y (oh I mean, Katie N!) made my a copy of the talent show dance and left it as a little surprise when I came back to my new apartment. So, though it happened a month and a half ago, I thought I would post this little piece of entertainment. Even if you're not amused, I would recommend watching until the very end as my favorite part about the whole thing was hearing the students SCREAM like we were celebrities.

Okay, enjoy!

Verano

In what I thought would be a summer of me figuring out where I am going to move next ended up being a summer of discovery about life instead. Here's what I learned:


"Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You'll find what you need to furnish it - memories, friends you can trust, a yearning for learning, love, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey."
         -Anonymous


Simple, right? I found out really quickly this summer that a home is not a home because you grew up in it or because the walls are painted your favorite shade of blue. A home is a home because of all the things you can take away from it. I was fortunate enough to see many incredible people this summer and make some great memories with them all. So it looks as though my home is wherever I happen to be at the time, living and loving in the present.


And now I am back in Guatemala. Aubrey and I moved to a new apartment and its already feeling like our home. I am feeling ready for the school year, ready to take on new challenges, to meet my new amazing coworkers, to hang out with my awesome new students, and continue to learn from each new day. Though I would love to be sitting in a park eating a baguette in Paris with Zack, or bike riding with Sarah through the trails of Seattle, or eating burritos from a truck outside Home Depot with Weston, or kayaking on the lake with my mom, etc. I think all that means is I have wonderful people and memories in my head to add to the furnishing of my home. 

h-o-m-e

Call it slacking or call it traveling, it doesn't matter because I haven't updated in awhile. Right now I am sitting on my brother's couch in Paris while he sleeps off the excitement of seeing the final Harry Potter film in theaters. I thought I would try to reflect on some of the summer at "home" as it has definitely been one of the most interesting ones I've ever had.

First, being a teacher is awesome. Mainly because I get to hang out with cool little people all day and watch the thrill of learning take place on their faces in the form of a smile. Also, I get to work with other equally-motivated and inspiring people who teach me things of all sorts everyday. And also because we all get to take a break from it all each summer and winter. This summer vacation thing is something I have had the luxury of enjoying my entire life. I learned this year, however, that summer vacation as an adult is just not the same. For me, the world stops for 5 weeks and I can take some time to see the people and things I've been aching to see all year. But for everyone else, time keeps on ticking. It makes summer a little more lonely when there is no one to join you on your adventures but it also makes the times you do share with people that much more amazing (aka, thanks for making the time, friends!)

Kansas: I headed back to my alma mater first in order to attend the wedding of my dear, dear friends Shelby and Cody Roberts. Shelby is essentially the reason I went to KU in the first place and Cody is essentially the reason I accomplished what I set out to do athletically. They both played a big role in my college athletic career, but have also been equally amazing friends to me since I was 18-years-old. Basically, missing their wedding was not an option :) Seeing old teammates, athletic department mentors, and friends made the trip not only meaningful and relaxing but it also made me realize that though I grew to love Lawrence as my home away from home, that my life there could never be the same even if I did return for longer than a weekend. People have moved on, grown up, and started the next chapter in their lives. It was a sad reality as there are many times that I'm sure we all wish we could "go home again," but it was also comforting in the sense that we can still go back to that place from time-to-time, see the people who impacted our lives, and be thankful for that stepping stone in life we called college. I'm sure I will occasionally miss those days for years to come but at least I know now that returning to a place doesn't make the "home" feeling come back; it was the people in the place that made it a home in the first place.

an amazing couple whose love is one that should be used as a model by all

Jayhawks are the only birds I'll ever love :)

Sarah, reminding us all that you can do
anything you set your mind to.

Washington: For some reason, I thought spending 9 days at home would be a good enough fix. I didn't take into consideration the time it takes to travel, that my friends and family have jobs, and that Seattle never has sunshine until July 5th, a mere 3 days after I left. Though I have been spoiled by the Central American climate this year and was thus freezing in Seattle most of the time, it felt so good to be there. It is such a beautiful city that really has it all, including many wonderful people who have remained in my life even though I haven't lived there in 6 years. I was still sad that I didn't really walk in the door and have that instant "home" feeling, but I'm starting to see a trend in this hope for a home I keep having. Allison came to Seattle for two days and after getting to show her my city, I felt a lot more pride towards it and excitement about the possibility of coming back there (no promises, Mom! just a thought...). I also got to see my sister compete in a full ironman which inspired me in so many ways. She told me that she dreams of me coming home and becoming her training partner which sounds lovely and stupid at the same time (no promises, Sarah! just a thought...). Just meeting up with my family and friends for dinner felt so good and yet so foreign at the same time. I will be back in Seattle again (and Seattle only this time) for December so maybe when it's grey and raining all day I'll feel differently about the place :)

oh heeeeeeeeey!

Paris, you are so darn pretty inside but where's the
elevation change? Yerkillin'me!

Europe: And now, I'm in Paris with my brother. Having toyed with the idea of going abroad again but this time to another region on the world, I've been looking at this trip as a test run. Paris is beautiful, almost enchanting. People are constantly out in the streets walking around, eating outside at cafes, reading books in the park; such a contrast from the capital city I am currently living in. But Paris is also astronomically expensive and there are many things that I love and don't love about everyday life that do and do not exist here. Examples: I love being active and doing outdoorsy things... very few people here exercise and there are no mountains to climb or lakes to swim in. I don't care about fashion or image (or even bathing really)... people here care about those things a lot. I can't stand excessive waste and lack or resourcefulness... Paris cuts a lot of corners in this area (like pumping thousands of gallons of water into the streets each night to "clean them" when places like Guatemala have limited access to water). But I'm not here to complain about this city, I'm just learning that though it may be perfect for my brother (surrounded by French speakers, lots of amazing food to eat and cook, plenty of places to walk, etc.) it may not be perfect for me.

So proud of this guy. His French, I've been told, is just as good as a native speaker.  In learning new languages he's also gained wisdom in words and phrases, ideas and concepts, that don't even exist in English. S-T-U-D.

We went to Berlin for 5 days and both really liked it there. Its definitely different from Paris in a number of ways but it was a really safe, clean, easy-to-get-around city. The history there is also amazing. Seeing the Berlin wall, the Jewish History Museum, the Holocaust Memorial, the contrasts between East and West Berlin; it was definitely an educational visit. It was also really refreshing to walk around aimlessly trying to find new things to do without having to feel on guard. Related to this, I am looking forward to going back to Guatemala in a sense because I'm planning on going back with a strengthened confidence. Fear permeates fear so worrying about bad things happening only makes life more, well... scary. 

Berlin Wall... love this quote.

In all, I've learned so far to continue to keep an open mind. The world is so freaking humongous and I haven't even begun to really understand that. I am looking forward to having summers free to travel for many years to come and am also lucky enough to know people all over the world that I can visit along the way.

Picture Walk through my Guatay Birthday

Though the day was full of hilarious mishaps such as running 6K to a rugby game only to hear the final whistle blow, running home in the pouring rain, and finding out our restaurant of choice closes at 4pm on Saturday, the day ended up being lovely because it was filled with lovely people...

shawing :)

Crispy Banana....dats right

AMIGOS!

compliments to the chef, Miss Aubrey Hellenbrand

It didn't taste like a banana but boy did it look like one.

you can always spot the gringas with their streamers

A part of me doesn't want to explain this picture at all to allow you to make up your mind about it but the other part feels obligated. There was a pole, in the middle of a bar, that all these ladies were using as a "dancing aid." I of course decided to use the pole for its original purpose; climbing. Luckily I had a cheering section to help me check off one more thing off my list of "things I stil have to do in Guatemala before I leave."

My wife/bff/counterpart/partnerincrime/loverforlife

Thanks everyone who helped me celebrate being ALIVE :)

Guatemalan Wart Removal?

Alright, it may sound disgusting but it does make for a hilarious blog update. I have had a wart under the nail on my left hand thumb for almost 4 years. I have gone to three different doctors in two different states that all tired different methods including a blistering agent, prescription acidic treatment, and liquid nitrogen (twice!) to get it removed. Nothing has seemed to work. Normally, I would leave it and just let me body take care of it in due time but because of its location, it made it nearly impossible to use that thumb without discomfort. So, I decided to try my luck with the Guatemalan dermatologist a few weeks ago.

Makenzie and I both went in for an appointment because she had one on the palm of her hand and the sole of her foot that were also causing her discomfort. The doctor asked what we had done to try to get rid of the warts and after explaining the various unsuccessful techniques, he suggested one I had not quite prepared myself for. He said he would burn it off... with fire. The shocked look on my face led him to explain that after a local anesthetic I would not feel a thing and the wart tissue would be killed completely. After the numbness set in, the shocked look on my face left temporarily as the doctor went to tend to another patient. The look quickly returned, however, when the doctor came back in with a face shield and a medical blowtorch. Seriously. He burned that sucker off for a good 5 minutes because so much of it was under the finger nail and, after four years of taking refuge in my finger, was really deep into the tissue. To say that it was terrifying would be a bit of an exaggeration but it was definitely one of the most bizarre doctor experiences I had ever had.

I am attaching a link to show you the pictures of the wart because I do not think they are appropriate to post openly on this blog. By clicking the link, you are taking full responsibility for the risk of looking at something that has made many people squirm with discomfort, feel nauseous in disgust, and shriek in horror. Though I personally do not think its that bad, I will let you all know that it is healing nicely but slowly. I'll try to put a more recent photo shoot of my thumb up in the next few weeks. Until then, if you're looking for an efficient means of wart removal (<-- here's the link!) that does not take out a chunk of your finger, let me know what you find!

Last Day of School...Two Weeks Late

Well, as expected, I had every intention of writing as soon as the school year ended in order to remember what an incredible day we had on our last day in 3A but it didn't happen. I went into it worried that I would be too emotional to have fun, remembering over and over again that the year was really over and that when we started school again come August, those 21 little dudes would no longer be the kids I claimed to be my own, the ones that taught me more than I had ever learned in any classroom, the ones that when all else seemed to be going wrong were the only ones that could make me smile. Luckily though all these things were true, the day was jam-packed with so much fun that there wasn’t a second to waste on being sad.

Crazy Day! (theme chosen by the crazy people in 3A)

The day started out with the Elementary Talent Show. After a little convincing, the elementary teachers were able to pull off a surprise act for the students to the song “The Time” by the Black Eyed Peas. I had a vision of all us teachers lip-syncing to our classes expressing how we had had the time of our lives and it was really all because of them. We added a stint of choreography, put on some sweet shades, and danced the song away. The kids went nuts! It felt like we were rock stars at a concert with the sounds of their screams. With the added adrenaline of the whole day, I did a round-off back flip on stage and instantly became “the most popular teacher in school” (quoting a second grader). All day the kids thanked us for surprising us, asked “how you do that?!”, and laughed about certain dance moves that their teachers busted out. It was the perfect way to start the day and one that if I ever get a copy of, I will surely put on this blog.

intense s'more making

After playing at recess, we came back to class and started going through the rest of the surprises we had in store. First up? S’mores. That’s right, my students in Guatemala had never experienced the art of s’more making. Never had those gooey, crispy treats touched their lips and never had they enjoyed the feeling of panic as their marshmallow lit on fire and began to turn a textured shade of black.  I felt it was my duty as their educator to ensure that not only did they know how to find an equivalent fraction and include adjectives in their writing, but they knew how to create a desert with the careful patience and precision that goes into making s’mores.  So, armed with tea candles and wooden kabob sticks and with the help of Miss Nancy the Spanish teacher, we went to work making s’mores. The kids loved them, obviously, and were so excited that they ran around school bringing other teachers s’mores or roasted marshmallows on a stick. When the activity came to an end because we had expired all of our materials, the kids reported that it was the coolest thing we did all year. Little did they know, the day had only just begun :)

The next activity was one that wrapped up our year of community living by expressing how much we appreciated each other. I gave them the cards I wrote them with our class collage on the front and on the inside they went around the classroom and wrote one sentence explaining something positive about the other person. I went around the class and did it too so that I could have a card from them as well. My favorite sentences were the following:

“I can’t explained in words how I love you and how you change my life.”

“You brought happiness, knowledge, smiles and laughs to this classroom.”

“You are the best teacher I ever had and I wish you were my teacher more”

And…

“Have a good vacation” :)

Not only were they able to dazzle me with their English skills one more time but they also had an understanding for feelings that I had no idea were possible for people so young. Sometimes being in elementary its hard to really see if they kids are taking anything away from what they are learning but luckily I was able to see on that last day of school that, if nothing else, they learned how to feel grateful.

Just when I thought the day couldn’t have any more surprises involved, my kids turned the tables and threw me a “surprise” birthday party. I put quotation marks around the word surprise because it’s really hard for a group of chatty 8-year-olds to keep something like that a secret. A few of the kids asked to go to the restroom during lunch and almost instantly came dashing back to tell me that the secretary (my dear friend Claudia) needed me in the office. I made them work for it and pretended to not understand why the office would want me, why they wouldn’t come get me, or why they needed me during lunch. As soon as they started to get frustrated with me though, I headed down to the office and laughed with Claudia about how much time I needed to kill before heading back to class. When I returned, there were decorations, food, posters, and kids everywhere. A few parents came and they just kept reminding me over and over again that it was all the kids’ idea and they just brought the materials. They also made me a book that all the kids signed and a poster where they all wrote the three reasons they loved me. Throughout the whole day, this was the one thing that really made me choke up. In a time where birthdays were becoming the least important thing (when before they were my favorite thing) I was so touched that those kids went to such an effort to surprise me. And my favorite line from the whole day was when one sassy girl said, “See Miss Hannah, you aren’t the only one with surprises!”

Surprise!

We then went to our own private recess where the students asked me to do more gymnastics the entire time but I continued to pretend to have no idea what they were talking about. We headed back to the class for the last hour of the day to watch a 32 minutes slideshow (password: Inter3A) about the whole year. They pig-piled me with hugs when they were finished, I passed out the “summer challenge” packet I made for them (an 26 page packet of work that if completed is rewarded with a free lunch with Miss Hannah next year), and gave out the last student newsletter. Then, it was over. We stacked our chairs for the last time, cleaned out the rest of the things from our desks, packed up the backpacks, and… that was it. Unfortunately for me and my already shaky emotions, about 6 girls gripped onto me sobbing uncontrollably and refusing to go to their buses. They were all kind of egging each other on it seemed so I had to just laugh at them and remind them I would not only see them everyday next year in the halls but I would also see them in 30 minutes at the third grade party they were having at a students’ house. It was a pretty intense moment but one that they were able to shake off as soon as they got to the party and ate hot dogs and ran around for hours.


 And that was the year. My first year teaching, an experience I will never be able to replicate, was completely finished. Looking back on the year I can honestly say that I went into it feeling very uncertain about myself as an educator. By the end of the year, I think I finally found my confidence. My students made it easy with their constant eagerness to learn new things and the kindness they showed me and their classmates everyday. I’ll never forget this particular group of kids and though it hurts to think that for some I may never know what they do or do not amount to, I am so thankful that I was able to spend in year my of life in their world, learning more from them than I could ever teach.

A photo taken at our last parent conferences with my tutee's mom. I love this picture because I think it epitomizes the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." A Japanese special education teacher, a Guatemalan homeroom teacher, an American tutor, and a Colombian family. Truly one of the most beautiful aspects of international teaching.

Final Destination

Okay I literally have 7 minutes before I need to be somewhere but thought it would be very beneficial to write down what I'm thinking and feeling about this last day of school. I've already cried this week and have no idea how I'm going to get through today. We are having a talent show, a slideshow, we're making s'mores, doing affirmations and hopefully hugging each other all day. I'm nervous to see my students in an hour and hope that they can see that all my emotions are because I just truly love them. I can't imagine what I would be like if I were leaving Guatemala for good, so in that case I'm glad I'm going to still see 3A next year. I'm looking forward to getting the second graders next year too as we taught lessons to them this week and they were so adorable it hurt a little. Basically, I'll touch base again when I am finished with today if I have enough brain capacity to do so but in all, I really just can't believe its over. I'm not happy. I'm not sad. I really just can't believe it.

Here's to living up today!