And so it begins...

Today was hard.  Overall, good, but hard.

I've had so many different teaching experiences over the years in so many different settings that I feel like nothing should surprise me.  I've taught in rural, suburban, and urban schools in the states.  I've taught English in Ethiopia.  I've taught or helped out in grades K-12 and have worked with kids with ADD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities.  I've taught kids from all different backgrounds, races, and socio-economic statuses.  I've tutored, helped out in classrooms, taught lessons in classrooms, student taught, co-taught, and substitute taught.

With all this experience, I've gained a wealth of knowledge and discernment, and I feel I have truly been prepared well to take on a full time teaching responsibility.  But all this being said, being a first time, full time teacher with the full responsibility of a class of students for the whole year is an enormous task to take on, and something in which all my previous experiences cannot compare.

It is a whole different ball game.  And not only is full time teaching on my own a whole different ball game, but being in Bolivia as a full time teacher is like a whole different ball game on another planet where you don't understand all the rules to the ball game.

I've had plenty of challenges, especially after teaching 1st grade at an inner city public school in Indianapolis.  I thought after that experience, I could take on anything.  (I also swore I would never teach 1st grade, but God has a sense of humor in making the only open elementary position at this school I felt called to in Bolivia a 1st grade position.)

Yet, this challenge is one in which I am not as familiar--having students not understand me!  And me not being able to understand students!  And not just because they mumble!  Like, I don't understand the words coming out of their mouths.  Like, they're either speaking Spanish or Japanese.  And it's so frustrating because so often today I felt I couldn't give them what they needed or I saw the looks on my students' faces of a mixture of frustration and sadness that communication between us was broken.  As my roommate, Bekah, exclaimed the other night "I HATE THE TOWER OF BABEL!" haha.  I couldn't have said it better myself...

God must be really wanting to push me, because the aid I met last week during work week, who I was supposed to have help me, who is fluent in Spanish (and might also know some Japanese actually because she is Japanese!) just quit...right before school started.  It was a surprise to everyone.

Thankfully, Paula, the pre-K aid is available in the afternoons to help me out (since pre-K is only in the morning), so I have her help in the afternoons which is a blessing.  And Scott might have found someone to help me out at least a couple days a week.  He introduced me to her at church on Sunday.  So pray that she accepts the position!  (She seemed a little hesitant about doing it...just the vibe I got).

What will also be a big help is Becca, the ESL teacher.  She was sick today, but she'll be working with a lot of my students.

I have one girl who was just sprung on me today so I had to figure out a desk and chair and makeshift cubby real quick.  Her name is Natalia.  She's new to the school, still only 5 years old, is Bolivian but was just at a school in China for awhile, and is now back.  She seemed clueless all day as to what I was saying.  She should be in kindergarten but I guess there was not enough room for her (which I don't totally understand).  She fell on her way to lunch today and hurt her mouth--her teeth were bleeding a little and her upper lip was slightly scraped.  I stayed with her while another teacher got her an ice pack.  But she was crying for awhile, not only because of the fall (which really wasn't too bad), but I think just from everything being so foreign to her and not being able to understand, and just thrown into the class last minute.  She kept saying "mama" and "casa" like she wanted to just go home.  And she wouldn't eat her lunch because her mouth was hurting.  I felt so bad for this little girl and though I tried to comfort her, it was hard when I felt nothing I said she could understand.  Thankfully hugs and a hand around the shoulder are universal.

I think this all is so frustrating to me is because my favorite part of teaching is when I see the lightbulb come on--when students get it.  And, I should say, that some seemed to get it and understand most or maybe even all of what I said today, which was so great to see.  But I was so...envious..in a way, when Victor game in my class for the special of the day--Bolivian Social Studies.  He spoke to the students only in Spanish and all of the students (even the 2 Japanese ones...they know Spanish too) seemed so much more comfortable, at ease, and happy!  They understood him fully and they weren't as nervous or scared or hesitant or giving him blank stares.  They responded to him so well, and I want that!!  Selfishly, I am so jealous of it!  And speaking unselfishly, I was so delighted to see my students light up and laugh and speak comfortably and effortlessly.       
I'm excited for the points of the year when lightbulbs turn on in my students' minds.  When listening and speaking and reading and writing all in English aren't burdens but are times of joy and of feeling a sense of achievement and accomplishment.

Even though it's hard and I wonder if I'm cut out for this, I know there's a reason I'm here and that God hand-picked these students to make up my first ever class as a "real" teacher!  And I am trusting in God for energy, strength, discernment, flexibility, and good time management since I don't really have lesson plans past tomorrow (I'm going day by day here...getting a classroom ready and figuring out curriculum guides and what to teach and how to teach and procedures and being in tons of meetings all in just a week is NOT enough time.)  So this weekend I will be planning all of next week, and I'll plan week by week after that (what we are required to do...but we were given grace this first week).

Your prayers with all of this craziness would be appreciated.  Also, please pray specifically for Natalia, Mayo, and Sakura since they seem to struggle the most with understanding me and communicating things to me.  And pray for Pablo!  He is a handful!  He's a sweet boy, but he cannot stop moving and touching things!! It was exhausting saying his name so many times, and I hated to take recess time away on the first day, but I made him move his clothespin to yellow and sit out for a few minutes in the classroom. 

I am SO tired after today.  I am not accustomed to getting up at 5:45 am.  It is NOT OK.  It's 9:30 and I'm calling it a night.

Much love and thanks for reading and for keeping in touch via technology!  Bekah and I already know we are going to be SO ready to go back to the U.S. at Christmas! ha! Not that we hate it here or anything, but we miss lots of the comforts of "home"...if nothing else, having only the English language spoken around us!