So recently I woke wondering how many days I had until Halloween when I realized it was already November. The time has gone by so fast. I think the months are confusing to me because during November in Michigan I would be donning my winter coat and getting up early to karate chop the ice off my car windshield while here, it is still warm enough to go to the beach.
Speaking of which...I did get to go to the beach for the first time on Sunday. I was shocked to find that the water was actually...warm. For a Michigander like myself who always expects a battle of wits with freezing water...it was a very, very pleasant surprise. Though sometimes I wonder what it would be like to see the faces of the native Dominicans in Lake Michigan....in November. Polar Bear Club anyone?
This week I also went on my very first field trip with my class. We went to the zoo in Santo Domingo. Now, Santo Domingo is much warmer than Jarabacoa and so after about an hour of walking around and seeing the animals....we were covered in enough sweat to desperately want to go back to sitting on the air conditioned bus. We ended up eating at Price Smart which is very similar to Sam's club. Where we went wrong though was we gave the students pop and ice cream and then put them on a bus for two hours. It's amazing what students find to entertain themselves from telling jokes to taking off their shoes to stick their feet in their classmates' faces. Watching the students tap each other and pretend it wasn't them or hide behind curtains brought back a lot of memories from my own school days...it is weird being on the other side..a part of me wants to write apology notes to my elementary teachers for all the creative ways my classmates and I came up with to entertain ourselves on buses....also probably should include my parents on that list as well.
35 days until I go home for Christmas. I'm really excited about seeing my family again and I'm definitely wearing running shoes so as soon as I see them I can run like a crazy person to give them hugs...but I know that a part of my heart will be left here. Jarabacoa has changed for me over the past 100 some days. It has gone from a scary unknown foreign city...to a place I've grown to call home. I'm beginning to believe that home is not a place, but people. People who you can relax with, laugh with and cry with. God is so good and I honestly don't understand or get why he has blessed me with so many amazing friendships here, but I'm so thankful that no matter where life takes me, God will be there and in Him I will always find my home.
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:19
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