I blame this post on an evening coffee

Drinking coffee in the evening is not a good idea, take it from someone who is writing a blog at 3 am.

Anyways, since I am wide awake and there is no one to talk to...funny how everyone else had the nerve to sleep...I decided to write my blog.

First off we have entered the time when the Christmas break countdown is no longer depressing. I mean when you say we have 37 days until Christmas vacation , it is hard to be excited, but a week and a half...now that is definitely doable....even on a lack of sleep.

School has been busy as we enter review and finals week. Even my fourth graders have finals, though unlike their high school counterparts, they try to avoid their homework by throwing their pencils out the window and dragging each other around the classroom by the foot. Also, the water bottle challenge is running rampant. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a pile of water bottles outside from teachers throwing them out windows. If you haven't been introduced to the water bottle challenge then you haven't been around a kid in the past 4 months. Sometimes I think my students think that learning is just the commercials between their competitions, but I have the last laugh by disposing of their bottles, so many of them only get one flip in class before Miss Nussbaum swoops.

Even though they drive me absolutely crazy some days, my students have wormed, scooted and danced their ways into my heart. It's hard not to love people who greet you every morning with a hug and a smile....insist on writing your name in hearts on the board and are determined to impress you during breaks. I had even one student demonstrate how she could bite a leaf...after which we had a discussion on things you should eat and things you shouldn't.

I'm also excited about our Christmas show and my students are super excited about dancing to Justin Bieber. Not a real Christmas classic, but it is extremely difficult to come up with dance moves to a famous carol. Hopefully all goes well.

Speaking of carols, there really aren't that many sung here in the Dominican Republic. On the radio at cafes, I usually only hear Justin Bieber on repeat. I guess songs such as "Let it Snow," "Baby it's cold outside" and "frosty the snowman" are hard to relate to on a tropical island. There is a plethera of Christmas lights though and since there are no resident Christmas trees, people have gotten creative by stringing lights on tree trunks and bushes. There is also a blow up snowman outside a store downtown dressed in cheerleader gear with writing on it that says "Let's Sno" It doesn't work in so many ways which makes it that more hilarious.

Well I wish you all a good night/ good day as we prepare for our sixth day of December. For anyone who is feeling stressed out, only 19 days until Christmas...now you can't be sad about that!

A Weekend to Remember

Today was the big day!  It was the day of the half marathon in Santo Domingo.  Last year the race was held at 5 in the afternoon, which is an awful time since you spend the whole day with butterflies in your stomach worried about what to eat and drinking so much water, you have to run to the bathroom every half hour. Also, it is very difficult to work up the energy to run when the day is more than half over. So, suffice it to say, I was very grateful, that the organizers realized their flaw and changed the time to be 6:20 in the morning.

Anyways, a 6:20 race time means that it is near impossible to drive up the day of, so we decided to head down Saturday afternoon and make a weekend of it. First off, I have to give all driving and navigating props to the amazing Allison. She not only maneuvered the labyrinth of the Santo Domingo streets with an incredible calm, but also worked her horn like a pro. I would compare Santo Domingo to any big city in the United States, except the difference is that traffic laws are taken merely as suggestions. Three lane highways are conveniently assumed to fit four or five cars across and no turn left signs are only for amateurs as people are turning left at these intersections from the farthest right lane.  

We arrived in Santo Domingo late afternoon and had a chance to meet up with Rovian at the botanical gardens. It was much too difficult to try to find his apartment without Siri or any other GPS to guide us. We then headed to the first mall (of the day) to pick up our racing packets. After taking our photo with the mannequins who have much more balance standing on one foot than we do, we headed to the second mall to walk around.

Visiting the malls in Santo Domingo, felt like stepping into the future from Jarabacoa. I mean, they had actual elevators there! The mall was decorated with angels and elves and even false promises of "let it snow."  After a very unusual rendition of the Nutcracker performed by employees at a makeup store, we headed to Bath and Body Works, where we might have gotten a little carried away with the "try me" bottles. I felt a little like Alice in Wonderland and by the time I left the store I smelled like an entire garden. It took about an hour before I began to smell like a normal human being again.

We ate at the food court and even had the time to watch a movie in a theater which is something I haven't done for at least a year. The movie screen is much bigger than my computer screen, believe it or not. After the movie, we took Rovian back to his apartment and headed to our hotel which was definitely one of the highlights of the trip

We stayed at one of the fanciest hotels in the city, and even had a room on the executive floor which you had to have a specific room key to access.

 Our room was quite extravagant with a great view of the city and even a full bathtub with pocket doors. Also there was a television in our bathroom mirror!










I definitely felt like we were living the high life, especially after enjoying the complimentary executive breakfast after the race. There were at least 7 different types of cheese, a whole assortment of meat including salmon and even watermelon juice. Now, you know some place is really fancy when they start making new fruit drinks that few have heard of.

Our race began at 6:20, so we headed to the park at 5:30 to make sure we arrived on time. The city of Santo Domingo was so very different in the morning and the roads were much easier to traverse when they were not jampacked with cars and motos and people. We arrived at the park with plenty of time to get ready for the race. After putting on our bibs and lacing up our shoes, we headed to the starting line and started the race before the sun had even woken up for the day.

The half marathon course was definitely not designed by a runner. You make two loops. One loop involves seeing the streets of Santo Domingo and running by many buildings in the business district before heading back. That loop is pretty nice, because you are distracted by the changing scenery and it is very much like a running tour of the city. The second loop is like a never ending treadmill. You cross the start line with 7.5 miles to go, and run one flat street that goes on and on and on. You run on this street with nothing to distract you, but kilometer signs and the discouraging thought that you are getting further and further away from the finish line and you'll have to turn around and run back every step you run out. Needless to say by the time you make the turn and start heading back, you're mentally broke and it takes everything that is in you to refuse to lay down on the street and make tar angels.

My goal for the race was to run no mile over 9 minutes and with my last mile of 8:59, I succeeded my goal with one second to spare. I was even able to beat my previous half by six minutes, so the race was a success over all. After returning to the hotel and taking much needed showers, we packed up our tired selves and headed back to Jarabacoa.

I'm so grateful for this weekend and the chance to break up the normal routine. Weekends like this, also make me aware of how blessed I am to surrounded by so many amazing people. I think I will end with the following quote by C.S. Lewis. I'm so thankful for the friends who give so much value to my life.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy and art. It has no survival value. rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." -C.S. Lewis 

Rainy with a chance of christmas lights

It is hard to believe it is already November, mostly because the weather outside is static.  While in Michigan the trees are shedding their summer leaves and preparing for their snowy overcoats, here the flowers still bloom as adamantly as they did when I arrived in July. It almost feels like we are reliving the same month over and over again and each day is different, yet somehow so much the same.

Christmas decorations have already been put up around Jarabacoa, so those who hate seeing giant snowmen before Thanksgiving should never come to the Dominican Republic where the lights are strung before Halloween. Being a Michigander, it's weird seeing lights hung on trees still in full bloom, but at least decorations mark a litte bit of the passing of time and break the normalcy of the seasons.

The onbeat of time has definitely brought on thoughts of the future. As a teacher, I am a constant planner and like to always know what's next or at least pretend that I have all the answers. I have no idea where I'll be next year at this time and that thought definitely terrifies me. Will I stay in the country or will I return to Michigan? I've had a lot of advice about waiting patiently, but not knowing what you're waiting for makes the waiting much more difficult. It's like standing in line at a theme park and not knowing whether you're waiting  for the kiddie train or the world's largest drop...if you knew what was at the end of the line, it would be easier to wait for it. Anyways, I'm definitely learning a lesson on patience whether I like it or not.

Today was our fourth "rain" day of the school year and it was a beautiful surprise to find out late last night, I had one more day of the weekend. Rain had flooded parts in the towns below us, so the entire community had the day off school. It was nice to meet up with friends I hadn't seen in a while and of course make bread, which rose for 5 hours after being forgotten.

One of my highlights of  my day was getting a moto concho driver who actually gave me change back and welcomed me to the country after I announced I had lived here for almost two years.... Also, he shocked me with his vast knowledge of the United States while proudly informing me that he was very much aware that Pennsylvania was very close to Michigan. It's in the right general direction, so I definitely gave it to him.

 School begins again tomorrow,  and I need to figure out how to choreograph a dance to Justin Bieber's Santa Claus is coming to town for our school Christmas show, but I wish everyone a very happy Dominican rain day and as we enter into the Christmas season, may the odds be ever in your favor.  

Life as I know it

If September was a slow moving snail, then October was the flash, I feel like last week we were just starting October and tomorrow is already Halloween. I just realized we have three weeks until Thanksgiving and then three more weeks after that until Christmas break, so for all those people who are burnt out, there is hope.

Life has been good here in the Dominican Republic and I realized I have learned a lot about myself and have grown in my time away from the "comforts of home."  I joined a Bible study this fall with other Americans down here and it has been a huge blessing to have a group of girls to cook dinner with once a week and do life together. Our Beth Moore bible study has inspired me and I enjoy getting up early in the morning and getting the chance to be a student again instead of the teacher.  

For school, my class and I are taking baby steps. This month is definitely improvement on last month. I don't come home every night exhausted and ready to cry, so either my class is getting better or I am more used to the drama, but I think the hardest days are behind me. My favorite story has been a girl who wasn't turning in her homework and getting D's and F's and writing on the board: "I am the worst person in the world." I had a conference with her and her mom and after that talk, her mom and her worked together to complete all her missing work. She now has all As and Bs and during an assignment on writing things we love, she listed more things than all the other students and she even included herself. So there are definitely moments where I feel I get to make a difference.

The biggest change this coming month will be Rovian moving to the capital to start med school. It will be hard not to see him every day, but I've come to realize that this his life's dream, so it's selfish to be sad when someone who has been waiting so long for something, gets the chance to actually do it. He has definitely been a huge comfort after hard days, so I think I'll be investing more in the ice cream industry with these upcoming months without him, so if anyone needs to find me, that's where I'll be.

I recently found out that  a church member has cancer and after the shock at this revelation, I went to type "that is so sad," but I never sent the words because my next thought was: he gets to go home. I don't want to sound callous and I will grieve for his family and for the absence of his presence at church, but after seeing the way he has lived his life over the past 20 years of mine, I cannot be sad for something that has been his life's dream: the chance to see God and be with Him. I love the following quote by C.S. Lewis and I will leave you with it. 

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

I hope you all have a blessed day and as we begin November, we remember to be thankful for the blessings in our lives.

From Snow Days to Hurricane Days

Hurricane Matthew has arrived just in time to ring in October with presents of rain and no school days.  I've had many questions about the weather conditions here in Jarabacoa and I wish I had more to offer. It has been extremely mild, with trickles of rain sprinkled throughout the day but mostly sunny. Jarabacoa is protected by the mountains around it and so receives little of the storms that plague other areas.

We've had school cancelled for the past couple days which has been nice, though after a five day break I know that I will be ready to return. You can only "buttprint" (sit on a couch all day) for so long before you begin going a little stir crazy.

Please continue to pray for areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic which are being hit by fiercer weather and that strong shelters are provided for everyone there who needs them.

The Children who need the most love often ask for it in the most unloving ways.

This year has definitely challenged me in ways other years haven't. There are only ten of them and yet at the end of each day, I feel more exhausted  than teaching double that amount.

 The students remind me of angry bees, constantly up and buzzing around each other, stinging each other with words I would never dare say out loud. Learning seems to be simply the secondary reason to go to school, the commercial break so to speak between amusing themselves in other ways from ruler fights, to cutting paper to even flipping a water bottle and making it land on its base...over and over and over and over again.  Like Dominican traffic laws, they take directions as a mere suggestion and not until the threat of a "fine" or an "infraction" will they finally find their seat. Sometimes I feel like the teacher in Charlie Brown who talks in a garbled fashion where no one is really listening.

Today started out similarly. and after Spanish class two of my girls were in tears and mad at the world because they had lost a game and my boys being the great gentlemen that they are, had insulted them. During spelling, they seemed to exaggerate their sadness/anger and tried to form a little pity party where they would look at each other and cry and refuse to do any work...throwing anything off their desk. When the other students went to break, I held them back to talk to them about their behavior. That it is okay to be angry and sad and upset, but to keep fueling it, is not healthy.

I talked with them and it actually humbled me.... One girl began "I became bad when my parents started fighting...everyone is fighting at my house." The other one said "I became bad when I lost my mom."   Their responses floored me....that they thought somehow they were bad people and that they had suffered great losses in their early lives that I still haven't experienced. Instead of reprimanding them, I held them while they cried and told them I loved them and that God loved them and that they were beautiful people who made mistakes.

I love how God keeps humbling me. When I get frustrated and angry, he reminds me in quiet ways that the surface issue, isn't always the real issue. That hurting people hurt others and that even though our basic response is to punish and reprimand, the best response is to be vulnerable, to love especially during the times we feel like hating. As Martin Luther said, "Hate cannot drive out hate....only love can do that." So if you feel inclined to pray...please pray for my students and also for me...that I learn to teach with God's wisdom and patience and that I open my arms and my heart more often than I open the discipline chart.

First Week of School

Be firmer, be sterner, be stricter, be meaner! These thoughts were coursing through my mind as my students refused to sit down or do their work.This week has been exhausting as I've tried to corral 10 students who have been stigmatized as one of the worst classes in the school. It has been head butting head, pushing until one will bends to the other and I was determined to come out on top.

Many students had been causing me problems, but one student in particular I was very leery of. He was always chatting with his classmates and getting him to write a single word took constant redirection and supervision. I'd walk away and walk back and he'd still be at the exact spot I'd left him 10 minutes before.  I'd given him infractions and he'd refused to go down to the office until I'd started counting or threatened to write him more infractions. He'd yelled at me and it seemed that the more I pushed, the harder he pulled.

One of the first assignments I asked my students to do was write a letter to me about themselves, at least 10 sentences. This was for me to get a writing sample, but also to know what was important to them. As I walked around to make sure the students were writing or at least redirect them back to the task, I was hesitant to approach him. since writing was definitely not his forte. I was shocked when I approached him to see two sentences written on his paper. That was much less than anyone else, but those sentences floored me.
"I love fourth grade. This is the best grade ever and Miss Nussbaum is the best teacher ever."

I didn't deserve those praises especially not from him.It really gripped me and I realized that I was wrong. I was wrong with trying to add more discipline, more punishment when they weren't behaving. Maybe, instead of figuring out how to fix them, I needed to fix myself first, change my teaching styles to fit their needs instead of change their behaviors to fit my teaching style

Later on, I caught the same boy talking while he should have been writing. I approached him and decided instead of disciplining him to ask him if he'd be less distracted sitting at my desk to do his work. He looked at me strangely, then replied he didn't know. I moved him to the teacher's desk and he got started right away. Part of the problem was the distractions around him and by punishing him for his behavior, I really wasn't looking for the catalyst.

This weekend, my job is not to make my discipline system better, I believe that is fine the way it is. My goal is to revamp my lesson plans, change them in order to fit the needs of my students. No matter how much I love my powerpoints, they don't learn well that way. And the note the boy wrote. I'm going to keep it in my top desk drawer or perhaps frame it as a reminder that the students are the most important part and if they don't learn the way we teach, we need to teach the way they learn.

There's No Place Like Home

Life in another country is scary in theory. You are surrounded by people and a culture that is entirely foreign to what you are accustomed to. The "norms" have changed and the only people and places you've known your entire life can only be reached by plane. It's scary in theory.

The reality of it is much different. As I sit here and write this letter, its hard to put into words what it's like to live abroad, because after a period of time it no longer feels like "living abroad."  Humanity is humanity everywhere. Underneath it all, we are one and the same and its a beautiful thing, that even with language barriers and different family backgrounds, we can grab each other's hand at the end of the day and say "you're just like me."

Jarabacoa is no longer the "place I'm going to be for the next year, it has become the "place that I live." at least for the time being.  I remember at my family reunion this summer, someone asked me where I lived and I without hesitation I responded "the Dominican Republic.' She looked at me strangely before moving on. I realized that my mindset has changed. I'm no longer on the countdown to how many days until I go back home to Michigan, because for me Jarabacoa is already home.

I love this city with its mountain views and palm trees.

I love walking to church on Sundays.

I love worshipping God in a different language and realizing that my God cannot be contained within a language or a culture.

I love early morning runs while watching the sun rise, basking the mountains in purple.

 I love attempting to make new dishes for supper and settling in for a Hallmark movie at the end of a long day.

I love walking to get ice cream (with sprinkles of course)

I love bilingual game nights where Dominicans and Americans come together in a Spanglish fashion and laugh and joke and play Skipbo as the sun goes down,

And most of all I love the fact that I'm no longer living abroad, I'm just living.

Start of Year 2....Jarabacoa look out ;)

A 3:45 alarm is useless...if you are already up at 3:00. My flight from Detroit left at 7:30 in the morning on Saturday and I was ready to go. With two suitcases, weighing 46 and 48 pounds respectively, a backpack filled with cookies, oyster crackers, books and odds and ends that wouldn't fit in either suitcase, a laptop computer, and dear old Glitzy (a stuffed cat or bear, its never been decided either way) I was ready to go. 

In Detroit, I first went through security and getting an OK and not needing any sort of pat down made feel like I had aced some really challenging exam. After security, I found my way to my gate where the airplane had been overbooked and they were offering people travel vouchers in increasing amounts (up to $600) to change to a later flight. I think everyone who wanted one, had a seat at the end and we were on our way to Atlanta.

In Atlanta, I had about 35 minutes before my plane was boarding, so I hurried to the tram station as quick as I could and upon entering the tram, I ran into one of my running buddies from Jarabacoa. Now, to understand the full extent of this coincidence, Atlanta is the biggest airport in the United States and is enormous. The tram has multiple cars and runs every 2 minutes and I had barely missed the previous train. Neal, that's what we will call her since that's her name, isn't coming back to Jarabacoa, but was in Atlanta on her way on a different trip. So, it was so much fun to catch up with her on the 3 minutes 31 seconds trip to concourse E. Also, in Atlanta, I ran into another friend going to Jarabacoa and so were able to chat briefly  boarding.

After landing in Jarabacoa to the applause of the Dominicans, we got out and headed into the airport. (Please note the applause is for the landing, not for our disembarkment, but probably could have been for both) The airport was jam packed with people. The line wound back and forth and instead of a sea of people, it was more like an ocean. Apparently, the Dominicans decided it would be a good idea to have the records of every single traveler who enters country, so they had to fingerprint EVERY SINGLE PASSENGER! The line lasted a good hour and a half and I felt increasingly worse for the Rovian and my taxi driver who were waiting outside to pick me up. 

The ride back to Jarabacoa seemed short, I swear it gets shorter every time, and we were soon back into J-city as Rovian put it so poetically. The city was slightly different than I had remembered from July, there was a few more additions on buildings and my house had been reorganized and rearranged, so it took a while to find everything that I needed. I'm excited that I have a roommate and that she seems nice. We took her on her first moto ride, baptizing her in the culture, to my favorite restaurant for a celebratory welcome back feast.

I'm looking forward to seeing what year 2 will bring. I'm excited to see how God will move in my life. Please keep me in your prayers as I keep you in mine and let's pray not for a year without challenges and frustrations, but for a year where we grow and continue on that winding path that God has set before us. 

A year in the rearview mirror

300 days ago I was boarding a plane to come to the Dominican Republic for the first time, scared out of my whits. When I arrived and realized I was in a foreign land where I knew absolutely no one,  I prayed that the time would pass quickly. Unfortunately, my prayers came true and it feels like just yesterday that I said hello to the people I will soon say goodbye.

What is it like to live abroad for a year...I cannot quite put it into words, except that after a few months you stop living "abroad" and you're living at home. The city around you becomes as familiar as the back of your eyelids and the foreign strangers become people you love and cherish with all your being.

I've attempted for two days to put into words what this past year has been like, so since I failed with words...I thought maybe pictures would suffice.

In August I arrived at my house. Here is a a picture of me on my first full day in Jarabacoa. I was pretty scared and nervous,



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I got to meet some pretty amazing American and Dominican teachers.  Here is our first picture together. It is amazing how different we look.

On the first Friday we had a hurricane party since school was canceled due to rain. It was the only day that got canceled due to weather and we took full advantage with an impromptu party of dance lessons and movies.

I'm so thankful for the many adventures I've gotten to have. Where else can you go rappelling down waterfalls and whitewater rafting with your friends?

 Cooking lessons were also an integral part of my experience. From learning how to cut up an actual chicken (not something I necessarily want to do a lot) to cooking rice, I'm very thankful for my patient teachers.





Probably one of my favorite accomplishments was running the half marathon with these fabulous chicas. Conquering 21 km together in the capital was pretty beastly.  Also, I loved training with them. Waking up early before school to watch the sunrise on a run has been one of my favorite parts of the Dominican Republic.

 Jarabacoa is also known for its mountains. The first time I attempted to climb Mogote (the highest mountain in Jarabacoa) I ended up crawling most of the way up and have the mud marks to prove it. It was pretty steep, but the view at the top was worth it.

 Who can forget little Rufus? The little kitten I got to love for about a week before life became to hard for him. I remember waking up every two hours in the middle of the night and running home at lunch to give the little guy a bottle. He was a lot of work, but I'm glad I got to love the little guy while he was here.

And of course dinners with Juan and Kristin. Juan looves my singing voice and if he could would listen to me sing all day (please note the sarcasm) Kristin is a fabulous cook and when I grow up I want to be just like her. She is one of the kindest people you'll ever meet and someone anyone would want to emulate.

And any kind of end of year review would have to include this boy. Having him in my life is one of my favorite blessings that I have received here in the Dominican Republic and it would be impossible to think about Jarabacoa without thinking of him. He's been there for the cooking adventures and the geocache explorations. He's been there for the game nights and driving lessons. He's been there for the tears and the laughter. I'm so thankful for this goofy, intelligent man and so glad we got to have so many adventures together

Birthday Surprises

Turning quarter of a century old couldn't have been more jam packed with surprises and fun than what it was. I was told that I would have a busy day, but I never expected the birthday I got.

It started out on Monday when my students told me there was "something they weren't supposed to tell me." After the many indiscreet whispered huddles that stopped and started based off my proximity and  of course the kid who told me "I'm bringing cups," I was pretty confident by Wednesday that something was going down. It's hard to be discreet when you're ten, it's not who gets to keep the surprise the longest, but who gets to tell the teacher that matters. Anyways, even though I did know or was aware of something going down at lunch, I still was surprised and overwhelmed by the amount of love and of course the "confetti" that ended up being hole punch circles that I still am finding in my hair. Also, the size of this gigantic pink chocolate cake!!

After school, I was told to not make plans, but that my afternoon was already planned out. Since no one seemed to know what I was doing (yes I admit to talking to several people to see if they just knew) I figured it was going to be something simple. I was told that my night would involve my three favorite things: food , family and friends and unfortunately sometimes it probably really does go in that order, especially if ice cream or pastelitos or oyster crackers are involved. First stop was my favorite restaurant where I got to eat pastelitos and empanadas. DELICIOUS!!

The second place we went was the Rosalias and got the most delicious orange popsicle ever and found out that Rovian had gone to the grocery store and purchased all of my favorite foods. YUM!! Then of course, game night which involved me losing three straight games of Rummikub. So, I suppose ever since turning 25 I haven't won a single game...that's unfortunate. Anyways, it was still very nice. 

Then for the final stage I was blindfolded, so I didn't know where I was going and anyone who knows anything about me, knows that I am directionally challenged, so I had absolutely no sense of where I was. All I knew was that I was climbing a lot of stairs and then I was left standing somewhere with a hard edge to the left of me. At the time, I was convinced I was outside in a park somewhere at the start of some maze and that I would have to wind my way through things or that one step would send me down a hill. I was very chatty and I found out after the blindfold was removed that I was standing in a doorway, surrounded by people.....laughing. There was food, and the highlight of the night was definitely Karaoke and the  performance by all of us on "My Heart will Go ON" in spanish. especially belting out the chorus with everything we got.
Titanic Spanish Version

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR MAKING MY DAY SO SPECIAL!!

Thursday Thoughts

I tutor a student who is low in math and every single day, there is a moment when he gives up, he throws his pencil down, tears come to his eyelids and he sits listless. Everytime I try to coax him, it doesn't work.

"Don't look at the whole problem, just look at the part we are doing. I don't care about the problem, just do 72 +7, you can do 72+7." Too often though he gets so caught up in the whole picture, he cannot break it down into steps. I keep reminding him that I know how to do it and I am helping him, but when he is lost in his frustration, he cannot see that I know where we need to go.

I'm frustrated with this situation, but also its eye opening for me. How often do I throw up my hands in frustration and say, "God I can't do this, are you crazy? What you're asking me to do is simply impossible, I'll never make it." God reminds us that we don't have to look at the big picture; the end product, just the first step. He also reminds us that he is there with us through our problem and he knows exactly how to solve it and he will help us get to the "big picture"

My next step is to stay at Jarabacoa Christian School for another year. I don't know where I'll be after that, but I just feel like I'm not done with Jarabacoa yet. I feel as if I left now and returned home I'd be filled with regrets and questions of what might have been. There is more for me to learn here. There is more for me to do.

 I've learned so much about myself too. I want to see what God has in store for me for another year. 

Spring Break and All That JAZZ!!

First official day of spring break!! And isn't it a beauty. After a very long taxing break of trying to argue with my students of why they can't run and slide across the floor or take the entire day off to play games....spring break could not have come at a better time. Of course, the most exciting news is the fact that my parents decided to finally see the beautiful place where I live. It does feel strange though, like my two worlds have collided. It's weird to remember I'm still in the Dominican Republic after seeing their familiar faces.

They arrived safe and sound on Sunday and trust me I was ready to see them. I think I actually introduced myself on several occasions as "Hi I'm Kara...nice to meet you...I'm excited because my parents are coming in ______ days."

Today, we had the opportunity to go to the waterfall! It was a beautiful, sunshiny day, though of course that means us gringos got sun burnt.. We got bread for sandwiches and got to picnic by the water. Only 7 months of living here and I finally realized how to order deli meat from the supermarket! Oh, the small victories! Then of course there was getting to play all the card games I missed and of course all the smack talk with my parents. By the way, if anyone asks...I won a few times ;)

I am excited for the next couple of days of spring break and having the opportunity to show my parents more of my city.

"The heavens declare the glory of the Lord. The skies proclaim the work of his hands." -Psalm 19:1

The whole kitten and caboodle!

This blog is dedicated to a little ugly white ball of fur which we called little Rufus and the brief time our lives intersected. 

On Sunday during a run Rovian and I almost stepped on two newborn baby kittens, no more than a couple of days,  laying on the middle of the sidewalk. I would have walked past them and never looked back, but one of us, being Rovian, had a bigger heart and scooped them up so they wouldn't be stepped on and carried them home. The first thing was trying to figure out how to feed them. We ended up dipping an old sports bra pad in cow's milk and trying to get them to drink off that. Miraculously , despite our lack of experiences, the two kittens survived the night. The new problem was what to do with them with school and other things. Ended up spending my breaks coming home to feed them and after school running to the local pet store to pick up a baby pet feeder and also figure out what they were actually supposed to eat since the cow's milk we were giving them was probably not the greatest idea. After school, one of my students and his family agreed to take one of the little kittens so I was left with one....the ugly one. He received the name Rufus since he resembled the naked mole rat off Kim Possible. 

I lost sleep a lot of sleep, getting up to feed him every couple of hours and of course worrying constantly about my new helpless dependent. 4 a.m. bottle feeding and cuddling my little companion was not how I pictured a day in the D.R.  He kept defeating the odds despite my noviceness and what an experience I got to have caring for something so small. 

Rufus died in the night. I'm not sure when, after not hearing him cry for milk for over 7 hours, I got up to find his limp body huddled in the towel. I'm going to miss the little buddy, but at least I hope that by prolonging his life by a couple of days, he got to see that the world isn't so cruel and heartless as the abandoned kitten on the sidewalk was led to believe. 

Life is precious. I guess that's the lesson for us. To live is an awfully grand adventure. You are alive today....now what are you going to do with that gift? 

Valentine's Day Thoughts

Happy Valentine's Day World! Today was a great day to appreciate the beautiful country I get to be in. I had the opportunity to go on a long run with my running buddies this morning and watching the sun peek over the mountains is one of the most beautiful sights I can see. I feel like it is so hard to look at nature and everything it entails and not see the hand of God all over it. It is His own love letter to us, and there definitely couldn't be a better valentine.

Valentine's day really got me thinking about what love truly is. We of course have our Hollywood version, myself being a sucker for the cheesy Hallmark movie, but I feel like God's version of love is so vastly different.  I think that one of the reasons there are so many divorces is that we have lost track of what love is, We are so caught up with emotions and feelings and feeling special, that we don't realize that all the hype we think is love, is really something else entirely. Love isn't about butterflies in the stomach and gazing into each other's eyes, love is messy. Love isn't fairy tales and happily ever after...it is the hardest thing we are called to do.  In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13 talks a lot about what love is and at the end of this description it states that love never fails. Love never fails.....

I think a lot of us don't want to love because it makes us vulnerable. To love anything or anyone gives them power over us...the power to hurt us worse than we ever thought we could be hurt.  We'd rather stick to emotions and when they are gone pack up and head out, than to love someone so much we'd be willing to give up our own happiness to ensure that they are well cared for.

 I am praying that this year, God breaks open my heart a little at a time and continues to teach me what love truly is. I pray that he fills me with the love that has nothing to do with feelings, but with the love that is all encompassing and determined to fulfill the needs of others. I pray that when my students ask for directions after I've explained fourteen times or for the student who decides to wander around the room, He gives me patience and kindness and helps me to show my students that no matter what they do, I will always care and support them. I pray that when I think about love, I don't picture my cheesy Hallmark movies, but I see Jesus choosing to die the worst death imaginable to save the very people who had nailed him to the cross. 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." -1 Corinthias 13:4-7

New Year Resolutions.

I believe that every month has a theme. July has independence, December has Christmas and of course January is the month of resolutions. The month to decide how you will make 2016 a better year. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to change about this year and I think I finally hit on it. I want to stop always looking ahead to events and appreciate the small moments we are in today. I've realized that too often I begin to countdown to Friday, or the end of the school day or sometimes even until bed and when I do this, I miss out on the moment we are in. I've decided to  start appreciating the good times, but also the frustrating times for what they are.

1. I'm going to appreciate the tears and frustrations of my students because I understand that they trust me enough to help them with their problems and they feel free to be vulnerable in front of me. 

2. I'm going to appreciate parent concerns  because I understand that means that they love their children and care so much about them that they will fight for them. 

3. I'm going to appreciate disagreements with friends because it means that those relationships are strong enough that we don't need to rely on always try to please the other person.

4. I'm going to appreciate feeling physically and mentally exhausted because it will mean I accomplished something that day.

5. I'm going to appreciate making mistakes and failing because it means that I tried something new and different.

6. I'm going to appreciate my students messing up, making wrong choices because it will give me the opportunity to teach them a lesson about life and that we aren't perfect.

7. I'm going to appreciate the dirty dishes in the sink because it means that we have food to eat and the opportunity to eat together.

8. I'm going to appreciate waking up before the sun because it means I have someplace to be and that my day has a purpose

9.  I'm going to appreciate long walks to the grocery store because it will give me a chance to be outside and enjoy the beautiful landscape

10. Most of all I'm going to appreciate the moments when I feel that I'm not good enough or strong enough or capable of the task at hand because it will humble me and remind me of my continued dependence on God.

Not Quite Deja Vu

Coming to Jarabacoa again from the United States brings back memories of my first journey here in August. It was the same and yet everything was so different and I am so thankful for that. The first time I arrived...I was terrified. I was nervous about going through customs, finding my luggage and of course getting picked up by complete strangers. I was nervous about attempting to talk Spanish and not being able to see my family for four months in a row.

I remember entering the house and being overwhelmed at times by homesickness. I remember one day in particular, sitting down on the floor in my room, tears rolling down my cheeks and saying. "God I cannot do this on my own strength.  I'm alone except for you. You have to help me, because you're all I got right now." I love and appreciate that moment because it made me not only aware of my own weaknesses, but also of God's presence. I don't feel that homesickness anymore. God not only gave me strength but also friends like family here and a love for this country.

Coming to Jarabacoa a few days ago was a lot different than my arrival in August. I was eager to see friends and recollect the piece of my heart I had left here. Walking around the city, it was nice to be back in the warm culture.  Seeing the familiar faces of my friends and being able to hug my little students made me so happy and feel like I got back something I didn't know I was missing.

There is no longer that ache in my heart because even though I love and miss my family dearly, I'm home here too and that is the greatest gift I could ever receive.

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:20