No Countdowns This Year.

Every year I have been in the Dominican Republic I have had a running countdown for Christmas break. Usually it has started in October around when I've purchased my tickets and every day I used to check it for how many days until I get to go home...This year I don't have a countdown.

I don't have a countdown because this is my first year in a while that I haven't felt burnt out. I'm not counting down the days because I don't want them to go fast. I love spending time with my little ones every single day. I was so nervous about teaching first grade when I started and tried my very best to switch to upper elementary and now I'm so so so glad that God kept me here.

Being a first grade teacher definitely walks that line between teacher and mom more than the older grades. You cannot give an assignment and then check out or walk into or out of the classroom unnoticed. First grade demands a lot emotionally...but it also gives a lot emotionally. I probably sound most like a mom when I say I really love all my kids in their own little unique ways.

I love the boy who sneezed during a Christmas presentation and then looked at me horrified and said, "Miss Nussbaum why didn't you say, 'bless you?'"

I love the girl who chased me around the playground with 10 hula hoops to "catch me" while I was on recess duty and was very successful in moments when I was watching others and was unaware of her.

I love the boy who crawled into my lap when he accidentally banged his head.

I love the boy who escaped gym class to sneak to my classroom because he had fallen down and wanted reassurance.

I love the two girls who after I put one picture made for me on our cabinets,  they took it upon themselves to make pictures and put them up  so the cabinet was no longer blue, but a sea of drawings.

I love that all my students created their own conga line to the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in the classroom.

and most of all I love the moments when the students after struggling and struggling with a concept finally get it and are so so proud of themselves and want to share it with the world.

My favorite part of my job is that for a small window of time I get to be part of their lives. They may not remember the little moments, but maybe and hopefully some of their future decisions will be impacted by some of the lessons they learned in first grade.

Not Just a Typical Sunday Morning

Being in a new place is exciting, adventurous, and amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But some days it is hard living away from the people and the culture you are most familiar with. There is always a little bit of an awkward period between moving to a place and feeling completely settled. I think the "lonely days" spread out. For example at the beginning maybe once or twice a week, toward the end maybe once a month, but everyone I believe in a new place experiences a lonely day every once in a while.

This past weekend, I had a "vulnerable" day. Rovian had gone to Jarabacoa, and some of the other people I hang out with were busy and so I was feeling a little bit of cabin fever and lonely. I often don't mind going to church by myself, but on Sunday, I was feeling a little apprehensive about sitting by myself in church and standing out in the crowd as one of the only "gringas." I went to church anyway. I snuck into the back a little late and sat a couple seats down by some Americans, hoping maybe they might say hi. I hadn't even asked God for someone, I just was feeling a little low. God saw me, though. He saw me.

In the middle of a song I look in front of me and I saw a girl, as I looked closer, I realized she looked more and more like one of my running buddies from Jarabacoa. I literally ran down the aisle  and there she was, sitting in my church. She apparently had been visiting the capital with her dad and boyfriend. I stood there and I cried. I felt overwhelmed by God's love, that He saw me and wanted to show me His love, even before I ever petitioned him for it.


But of course, God didn't let this be the end of the story.In my four months of attending that church, I have never seen a person from Jarabacoa, but in this one morning church service, there ended up being several people from Jarabacoa. During offering, another couple we knew from Jarabacoa sought us out. Their little family had been visiting in-laws in the capital. At the end of the service another group of people from Jarabacoa appeared, having been visiting the capital as well.  Finally, I was approached by an American woman from the church, who sought me out from the crowd to ask me about myself.

When God gives, He doesn't give as humans give, He gives over abundantly. I have been reading through the miracles of Jesus and you see how time and time again he responds over and beyond what is required. If someone is dead or sick, Jesus touches them and they don't just start to get better, they immediately get up and begin to walk and talk. If there isn't food, Jesus breaks bread and not only is everyone fed, there are baskets and baskets of leftovers.  Why does God do this? Why doesn't He just meet the basic need and go on. I think God wants to show us that His love for us is infinite. He doesn't just want us to have some things. He wants us to have EVERYTHING! He didn't just send an angel to save us (not saying it would've worked), He sent his ONLY son.

In this moment in church, I was overwhelmed. Because I realized, God demands so much of us, not for selfish reasons, but because He loves us. Because He is good and He wants us not only to have a good life here, but to actually have and experience what He has, an eternity in Heaven. That is the most extreme over abundant gift I have ever heard of. God wants to share His home with our homeless souls until the end of time. Amen to a good God whose power never ends and whose love for us is unimaginable and undeserving.

"And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."- 2 Corinthians 9:8

Day to Day Life in a Foreign Country

It's been a while since I posted, I would like to say that it's been because I've been super busy, but it's probably more because there really haven't big grand moments to talk about. And I guess this blog is just going to be about the day to day...what it really means to live as an expat in a different country and that it isn't always as scary or as romanticized as we tend to make it in our heads.

This is officially my third year living in the Dominican Republic and I can scarcely believe it. Before coming here, I probably couldn't even show you the country on a map let alone tell you anything about it.  I just want to share some things I've learned during this journey and how I've grown over the past three years and of course as the school teacher I am, I'm going to make a list so bear with me.

1. Cultures are different, but that doesn't necessarily make one better- One big thing I've learned is that so often subconsciously (or not) we think our own culture is superior because that is how everyone does things where we are. However, being able to truly invest in another culture, I have had the opportunity to see that different doesn't always mean bad. For example, here the people are much more care free and laid back. This characteristic definitely stresses Americans out who don't have the patience to wait in long lines or months for a repair man to finally show up, but it has its advantages when socializing with other people and not constantly feeling your blood pressure soar toward the roof. Also, some things that I thought were super weird when I arrive like throwing away toilet paper, are super normal to me now, like why would you flush paper...weird right?

2. English is harder to understand than Spanish-  I struggle understanding Spanish speakers, but I really struggle understanding Spanish speakers talking in English. Who is with me? If I expect to hear Spanish and they attempt to say something in English, I'm usually trying to find the spanish word and get so confused. So, understanding Spanish is much easier I've realized than understanding English with a heavy Spanish accent...who knew?

3. Standing out like a sore thumb- I'm beginning to understand how immigrants feel in the United States. No matter how long they've lived there or how much they have acclimated to the culture, they will always be the foreigners because of how they look. It kind of feels ironic that in the states, it is the people with darker skin that often stand out, well here my pale skin and blonde hair highlight the fact that I was definitely not born in this country. The weirdest part for me actually, has been going back to the States and being "normal" after months of being the "americana" "gringa" and "rubia" I feel like we have a little bit of reverse discrimination because the oddball Americans are treated better than the resident Dominicans.

4. No matter where you go, people are still people and you are still you- This sounds odd, but let me explain. When you go to a new place, you often expect big grand differences and life changing situations, but in reality, most often, things are pretty similar to life back home. People are still people. No matter where you go, you will find people who are very much like you and who you can connect with and people who are very different from you. Also, your habits will follow you to your new place for better or worse. For example, my habit of watching television while completing lesson plans, has definitely followed me here and I have spent waay too much time watching shows while planning and of course the seasonal hallmark movies are a must.

5. You will change- It won't happen over night, but being in a new culture will change you. I didn't really think about this fact until someone came to visit me after not seeing me since I had just arrived in the country a year earlier. They remarked on the fact that I seemed "older" and "different"  somehow in a way they couldn't describe. As we adapt to the new culture, we adjust different parts of ourselves and we become somewhat different than when we started. I think from being in this culture, I have become less stressed and worried about what others think and definitely I lot more blunt about what I think. For better or worse, a think a piece of Dominican culture will always be a part of me.

6. People are still people....you are still you....and GOD IS STILL GOD-  This is my favorite part about being here: that I can visibly see how God transcends cultures, countries and languages. How a poor Dominican farmer, can cry out to the same God with tears in his eyes and that God hears him and that God knows him and that He knows me. We hear the words omniscient and omnipresent and all knowing all the time associated with God, but being able to physically glimpse how he touches people and speaks to people simultaneously in their own language is astounding.  We worship a God...a God who can be at all places at all times, speak in all languages at all times and know everything that goes on at all times. WOW! And the fact that he takes the time to know us each individually is incredible. Of course the rocks would cry out...How Great is Our God?????

The Strength in the Weakness

So this blog will have little to do with my life here in Santo Domingo, but more of my thoughts or insights while being here. Being in a new place, really has forced me to assess myself as I react to new stimuli, see what strengths and weaknesses I have and something I've stumbled upon has really proven to be an eye opener in how I view myself and how I view others.

Our weaknesses and our strengths are in fact the exact same thing. The thing you love most about yourself or your best friend is the exact same trait that you hate most.  I truly believe that God  gifts us with a  specific trait that mirrors His own heart , but as we are human we don't have the same control over these gifts and so often struggle to maintain these Godly traits in our own imperfect souls.

For example, some people are born leaders, they take charge of situations and find solutions to problems. This is a God given gift, yet this amazing trait can also come across as pushy, bossy or aggressive. People who are easy going and take life one step at a time can be seen as passive or unable to make decisions. Also, people who are empathetic and are good at reading other people, often are seen as overly emotional.

This has been a big insight because I've realized that when we view the weaknesses of ourselves and others through the lens that this is God's gift, we are able to appreciate it more and also learn to control and change the behavior. The source of our greatest weaknesses is in fact controlling the great strengths that God has gifted us with. For example, thinking in retrospect, my greatest strength is that I have a super strong conscience which makes me trustworthy and honest to a fault. My greatest weakness is the fact that I have a super strong conscience which makes me judgemental, over think nearly everything and feel guilty when I don't need to.

When you think about yourself, your students, your coworkers, your spouses, your best friends and even the people who drive you up a wall, I challenge you to find the gift and then I promise you will view them  and yourself in a whole different way.

"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." -1 Corinthians 12:7

First Grade Adventures Month 1

They say you act like the people you spend the most time with, so I  think I need to owe apologies that my main social interaction is approximately 14  6-year-olds. No wonder my bedtime now ranges between 8:30 and 9:30 every night and instead of wanting to eat fruits and vegetables I am forever craving brownies.

Anyways, first grade has been going well. The most difficult part about first grade and I'm sure other primary teachers can attest, is that first graders need so much direction on how to complete activities and assignments, but their attention span is super short. I feel very much like airline stewards who have to spend the beginning 10 minutes giving pertinent emergency instructions to an audience of passengers who are not listening. So it's definitely a balance between trying to make the directions short and sweet and giving enough information so the kids don't just walk over to their desk and draw a family portrait instead of write about their favorite part of the book and yes this has happened.

After being a hard core fan of upper elementary and its "sweet spot" of students being at the right age to still love school, but also be able to go into topics deeper and have responsibility over their work, I definitely was a little apprehensive about teaching first grade. But to be honest I absolutely love my students. I think my favorite part might just be how uncomplicated their lives are. I love how their problems are so fixable, from tears about a broken pencil to not deciding which food to eat for lunch. 

I'm constantly reminded of the bible verse (Mark 10:15) where it talks about receiving the kingdom of heaven like a little child. I think as we adults, we so often over complicate our lives. We see every gift with strings attached, every kindness as something we must repay and even Heaven as something we must earn. But looking through eyes of kids, everything is black and white, you either have something or you don't. If someone offers you something, you take it and don't ask questions, if someone offends you, you hurt and sometimes even get mad or sad, but then when they say sorry, its forgotten. There are no grudges. That is something I hope to learn from my students. You deal with the issue at hand and then once you find a solution, you move on..... no bringing up the situation later, it's over, it's solved. I hope to teach my students this year to read and write, but I also hope to grow from them. I hope to go to God like they come to me with complete faith that He can solve the problems. 

First Day of First Grade

So Friday was my very first day teaching first grade. At first, I bemoaned the fact about starting on a Friday, but after coming home exhausted and barely able to keep my eyes open, I'm very thankful that I have a weekend to gain some of the energy back from the day.


I will have 14 little ones this year, 7 girls and 7 boys, but only 10 came on Friday. I guess some parents wanted to extend the summer a couple more days.  The students arrived, a little shy, but eager to see their classmates forgotten over the summer. I was very surprised how many of the students and parents spoke English flawlessly.  I hope my students will learn from me this year, but I believe that I will learn more from them this year. I will share a couple of things that I learned my first day of school.

1. 6-year-olds have a very short attention span-  I mean I guess I already knew this, but calling on a student as I'm in the middle of explaining directions and having them say "I'm hungry, or I'm thirsty." is not always the response you expect.

2. Directions aren't always as clear as you think- I was trying to explain to a little boy how to sit properly and I patted my legs and I said sit like this. He got up and sat on my lap...well that wasn't exactly what I was going for.

3. Unprepared for moments are much more common- The scariest moment of the first day was when a girl who was eating chips suddenly stood up w and started to hold her hands in the choking position and her face was getting redder and redder. To say I was scared would be an understatement. I was actually behind her, getting ready to attempt the Heimlich when she started speaking and crying. Hearing her speak was a relief since I knew she was getting air, so I let her know she wasn't choking and got her water, but still a scary moment.

4. Eating a super early lunch makes the day seem longer- our lunch is at 9:40! Can I repeat that again 9:40! So by the time 12 rolls around, it feels like the middle of the afternoon. I ended up buying snacks for my students the last period. You may think it's because I'm nice, but honestly it was just for self-protection against 14 little hangry 6 year olds.

5.  My assistant is amazing- I honestly don't know what I would do without her and it is only the first couple of days. She came up with many of the ideas for the classroom and did all of the artistic displays and stepped in many times to help out when I was feeling a little overwhelmed. She officially gets her teaching certificate in the spring and I know she will make one fantastic teacher!

A Tale of Two Cities: From Jarabacoa to Santo Domingo

A week ago I officially moved to Santo Domingo, well at least for the upcoming year. I always tell everyone who moves anywhere, that the hardest part is that first week, getting used to the newness, so my first week is behind me and proud to say none the worse for the wear. It has been a busy week and there is so much to tell, so I'll just give the brief highlights.

1. I am so very thankful for my welcoming committee, aka my roommate who made sure that we had power in our apartment for when I arrived and who has been introducing me to the 21st century aka things like Uber and Shazam..  She even convinced me that there is a possibility that I might need to have a smartphone. I've been holding out as long as I can, but there comes a point when directionally challenged people like me realize there is a benefit to having things with built in GPS. Also, it is near impossible to go anywhere without providing a phone number these days, but alas it's probably time to come out of my rock and join the real world. 

2. My apartment has also been a real blessing. It came to us furnished. We have a pretty large living area and my room itself has air conditioning, so that has definitely been a step up from Jarabacoa. I also live very close to the malls and nearby grocery stores, which is very beneficial as you lug home all your groceries. Speaking as a completely third party objectively with absolutely no personal interest in the matter.... full bags of groceries including two bags of flour get to feeling pretty heavy after a block, so that is a BIG PLUS!

3. I had the chance to go to my very first crossfit gym. We went to the training course, so supposedly not that difficult and it really wasn't...until two days later when going down the stairs in IKEA felt akin to Chinese water torture, who knew that 12 minutes of exercise would cause all the grunts and groans for 48 hours afterwards. Sadly, everyone at IKEA soon did.

4. For my first weekend back I got the opportunity to return to Jarabacoa. After spending time at my local cafe, it felt a little odd not walking back to my old house and I was feeling a little "nomad"ish, but I am definitely glad to have the opportunity to see people I knew, walk the familiar streets and feel a little bit more at home. 

5. We have just started teacher training meetings and I am definitely feeling a little overwhelmed about everything that will need to be accomplished before next Friday when the students come. I will be teaching first grade, for the first time and so the newness of that as well as trying to figure out how to decorate my classroom is a lot to do and be working on. My classroom is bigger than ones that I have taught in before, which is a benefit and a disadvantage, as now I need to figure out how to fill all the space. Anyways, I am feeling a mite bit stressed about the vastness of this project, so if you are a praying sort, please just pray for a little bit of peace and clarity as I prepare to teach these little ones.

6. Last and certainly not least, my very favorite part of living in Santo Domingo is being closer to this boy. He is still taking classes at INTEC but it's nice to know that he is only a couple of subway stops away versus 2 hours. My apartment might be a tad more extravagant than his, so I'm sure it's a more beneficial studying point as well. Anyways, I'm very grateful for having him close and being able to see him more than a couple of weekends a month.

7. I must end by giving the glory to where it belongs. I think that moving to a new place, makes you discover more about yourself and the thing that I discover every time I move is how lost I am without God. He is the great provider and the great caretaker and no matter how far we go, as long as we keep our eyes on Him, we will always be home.

"The Lord is near to all who call on him." -Psalm 145:18

The End of An Era

As I sit here packing up and preparing to say goodbye to this chapter of my life...I can't help but feel nostalgic over this time here. God has perfect timing and I have grown so much and in so many ways. I just want to share some of my favorite memories of Jarabacoa and this time that God has given me.

1. JARABACOA SMALL TOWN LIFE

 have loved my time in Jarabacoa.

I love the culture, where you get your vegetables at the local market, have to stop for the crossings of donkeys, horses and bulls and people have time to stop and say hi. With its beautiful mountain views and numerous waterfalls, Jarabacoa is its own little paradise.

 2. MY STUDENTS

Though they have driven me nuts on occasion I do love the job that I got to have and teaching my fourth graders made every day exciting. Together we learned a lot and I am very grateful for each one of them and cannot wait to see where they go in life. 

3. MY RUNNING BUDDIES

One of my very favorite parts of Jarabacoa has been these beautiful strong girls. I love the accountability we have given each other to get up every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday before the sun and go explore the mountains and trails of Jarabacoa. I've loved sharing my life with these girls and also I've loved how we've pushed each other to do more than we could ever imagine. I never would have guessed I would do not one, not two, but three half marathons in my time here and I'm so grateful to each one of these girls and know I'll never find a running group half as great as them.

4. MY BIBLE STUDY

These ladies have become more like family than friends over this year.  I'm thankful for every Wednesday, we got to gather and cook for each other and share in the laughter and in the heartbreaks. May God bless each one of you who have poured into my life and as you go off and follow God wherever he leads. 

5. SCHOOL FRIENDS

I'm so thankful for the teachers I got to work with at JCS, both the Dominicans and the Americans. We were blessed with a great group of people. We've rooted for each other and laughed at the antics of our children. We've met on the weekends for dinner and even go on adventures together. I've loved finding a family away from home in my friends and I will miss each and every one of them.

6. The Boy

 I'm going to do my best to not make this sappy,so we'll see how it goes. Rovian has been the greatest blessing of my time here in Jarabacoa. God knew I needed someone super special during this time away from my family and He delivered in a big way. I'm not going to try to describe Rovian in words, because I don't know anyone who could capture his character that way. But I'm grateful that I get to hang out with someone who makes me a better person every single day.

The Beginning of the Lasts

Today was our official last day of school for the students and I felt like I finally got the closure with my students I wanted. We spent the morning playing card games, sharing our favorite parts about fourth grade and what we learned.  We ended the day with a school wide water fight and the firefighters coming and hosing down everyone and everything as the last day of school tradition. It was fun to finally shed the teacher persona per say and piggy back some of the students and run through the hoses, squealing with laughter. 

As I'm beginning my seasons of lasts, last day of school, last long run, last shower (fortunately this one is still to come)  it brings my thoughts back to the beginning of my Jarabacoa adventure and how far I've come. One of the most vivid memories for me was on my knees on the floor of my room feeling overwhelmed and homesick and I just remember crying out to God that if He had led me here, He would lead me and He would help me because I felt like I was at the end of my rope. And let me tell you,  God SHOWED UP. 

God showed up in so many incredible ways during my two years here. I am so thankful for the friends I found in my fellow teachers, my bible study and even the surrounding Americans who have made this place feel more and more like a home. I am so thankful for the students I got to be with each and every day. Though, not every day was glamorous and there were definitely days I wanted to scream, yell, cry or throw them out the window, I feel incredibly blessed to have been a part of their lives. We've grown together and through the year together, we've left a part of ourselves in the other people and no matter what I truly believe a piece of each of my students has found a way into my heart.

I am apprehensive about my move to Santo Domingo. It is a much bigger city than Jarabacoa and with it comes big city life.  But after seeing what God has done here in Jarabacoa; the ways that He has answered prayers I hadn't even prayed for yet, I am confident that He will go before me and He will provide. I am so excited to see how God will show up in Santo Domingo. Happy Summer Everyone!

"The Lord himself goes before you and he will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8

To be a teacher

Compared to my previous three years as an upper elementary teacher, there was definitely something very different about this year. You'd think with 9 students, life would be a breeze, but surprisingly this year challenged me more than any of my others. With my small group of students, I often felt more of a mother than a teacher. Pencils and homework were thrown out windows, and they picked on each other in ways that only siblings could, knowing exactly what to say to get on the each other's nerves.

The first week was very exhausting and I think I went to bed before 8 most of the nights, dead on my feet and wondering how I would ever get through the year. Well, as the year is beginning to come to a close, I'm beginning to wonder how I'll say goodbye to these kids. 

I had a dream that it was June 18 and I was already home for the summer at my house in Michigan. It was relaxing and rejuvenating and yet I felt uncomfortable with the fact that I couldn't remember how the year ended. I didn't remember how finals went or how the final goodbyes were said and it made me sad that I couldn't remember the end of the year. When I woke up in my own bed in Jarabacoa, the first thing I felt was relief. Relief that I had the chance to finish the last three weeks with these students and send them off into the big world of fifth graders.

As teachers, there are so many hoops we need to jump through. So many grades to note, lessons to plan and behavior to manage. It's so easy to caught up in the daily struggles and grind of the school week and not realize that the things that take up the most time, are not really the most important things. With the influx technology, the passing on of knowledge and giving grades is becoming more and more arbitrary and it is no longer the most important thing teachers can do. I think the most important job  is to be able to look at a student and say, "I see you...I see your potential, now let's help you become all that you can be." 

It is our jobs are teachers, not to be the flame for the students, not to teach them to rely on us, but to ignite the flame for themselves. I had a parent once tell me that anyone could be a teacher, you just have to find worksheets online, print them out and pass them out. But he as well as other people are completely missing the point. Learning isn't about memorizing a teacher's words or phrases and spitting them back out on a worksheet. Anyone can do that, that's easy, but that's not teaching. Teaching is about truly seeing your students for who they are and teaching them the value of hard work, creating their own perspectives and inspiring a love of knowledge within them.  Teaching them how to get along with others, practicing how to respond when they're feeling overwhelmed or anxious, and learning how to be proud of a job well done. I have given a worksheet on occasion to just supplement a lesson taught or a skill learned, but a worksheet passer outer would be a sorry excuse for what it truly means to be a teacher.

Adventures of a Month's Time

April was definitely filled with many overwhelming and beautiful adventures.I'll stick to the main three for time's sake: climbing Pico Duarte, birthday adventures and a half marathon to cap off the month.

Climbing Pico Duarte

 During spring break we took on the highest mountain in the Caribbean (Pico Duarte) which is about 10,164 feet tall. There was a group of about 13 of us and we all carried a backpack with a sleeping bag, clothes as well as some of the food for the 3 day journey. We also traveled with 3 guides on mules and there was one mule to carry pots and pans for cooking at camp and also an "emergency mule" if anything were to happen. Day 1 was definitely the hardest, the trail winds up and up through mud and rocks without much respite for the first 5 hours of hiking.
There were times when it took all the mental power inside of you to put one foot in front of the other as you looked up and saw a path seeming to lead to the sky.  We stopped every hour to rest and make sure everyone was caught up and of course snag a few handfuls of trail mix. At about hour 6, the path started leveling out.

We got to the camp La Comportacion which is about 2 miles from the summit at around 4 in the afternoon. We threw on our sweatshirts, sweatpants and sat around a fire. At La Comportacion there was running water and a large cabin to sleep in, but no electricity. Without books, ipads or phones to entertain us, we sat around the fire and just talked. There is something very freeing about not having technology and just being present with those around us. It was nice to be able to talk without any distractions and enjoy the view. The downside of being up so high was the biting cold.  Even the sleeping bag didn't provide enough warmth and the hardest debate was between wearing my sweatshirt while in my sleeping bag, or using it as a pillow.

On Day 2, we summited Pico Duarte and had lunch at the top overlooking the valleys below. When you're up so high the surrounding nature of pine trees looks more like something you'd find in upper Michigan and not on a tropical island. There is a bust of Pablo Duarte at the top and a statue of him laying broken  a couple feet over the cliff. Some say the statue fell, others say he was pushed. It didn't take nearly as long to climb to the top and back down, so we spent the rest of the day at La Comportacion.

On Day 3, we headed down the mountain.. this time there were no breaks, just full steam ahead. I think after being in the wilderness for 3 days, everyone was looking forward to showers and beds and the Dominicans were looking forward to "no more gringa food." After eating peanut butter, trail mix and spaghetti for three days, they were ready for their pica pollo, rice and beans After leaving camp, I never saw the Dominicans the rest of the trip.  It was very nice to get back to level ground again and take off the layer of mud and dirt that had been caked on.

It was probably the first and last time that I climb Pico Duarte. It was an amazing experience with amazing views and I got to get to know people on a whole new level, but it's hard to erase those first five hours of that hike....perhaps next time I'd ride a mule.


Birthday Adventures

My 26th birthday also occurred during this month on April 27. I didn't know if I should plan something or if Rovian was going to plan something for me, so I asked my friend to figure it out. She told me sneakily to not make plans for Friday and so I didn't. On Wednesday is our traditional bible study night where we all meet to make dinner, share about our week and learn more about God, so I was confident nothing was happening on Wednesday. I was told that Suzanne, the host of Bible study that night, had already gotten all the ingredients for dinner and all I would need to bring would be 50 pesos.

Rovian came over after school and told me he could  take me to bible study since it was a little too far to walk. He said he was first going to get something to eat, I could come with or stay at my house. I decided to go with him and also that I needed to go to the supermarket. After eating a pastelito at my favorite restaurant, we drove over to Suzanne's house to discover the door locked. I decided to skip Bible study then and head on home.

Lo and Behold upon coming in to find everyone from bible study as well as people from school standing around my living room underneath birthday banners and decorations and a table lined with delicious breakfast foods. I was speechless for words since I never saw it coming. Everyone had played it very cool. Looking around the room...I just felt very blessed to see my friends who had become my family away from home.
In the pictures on the left are members of my bible study and on the right are the two sneaky party planners. 

 



Final Chapter of April: Adventure Half Marathon

So we found out there was going to be a half marathon in Jarabacoa, so all of my running buddies and I signed up for it way back in March. I never read the details, just thought a leisurely run through the roads of Jarabacoa would be super fun and beautiful, also we wouldn't have to travel anywhere for the race.

During one run, we decided that we'd run the course and see how it was. It was a trail run and at the very beginning there was a hill that wound up and up and up,very similar to Pico Duarte and after that the trail was an adventure trail that involved many steep hills and even river crossings. After about 3 miles of the trail, we actually couldn't figure out which way it could possibly go and ended up turning back. This "practice run" on the course definitely made me very apprehensive about the race. I had thought it would be a road race when it turned out to be a route similar to Pico Duarte.

On the night of the race we went together to get our race packets and we even made shirts to show that we were united with our names on the back. We were the "team traditionally built" coined by  "The Number one Ladies' Detective Agency books, but the Dominicans still called us the gringa team. We had pasta together and played games and of course took pictures in our new shirts.

The race administrators told us that the marathon started at 7:00 and the half marathon started at 7:30.  We ended up getting to the course around 6:55, a little earlier than expected and we were dallying around as the administrators called for the 3 minute warning, 2 minute warning for the race at 7:00. Allison went up to someone and asked if the marathon was started soon and the guy said, it wasn't just the marathon, but the half as well. With 30 seconds left we started trying to find our whole group of five and hurry to the starting line. We got a little extra running, because we basically got there as the person shouting "3, 2, 1...Go!"

The course was as imagined, though the first half was more downhill than I expected. Unfortunately that meant that the second half was going to be an uphill battle, literally. There were a few small hills, but majority of the hills were too steep and rocky to run up and so most of the hills were speed walking or in the second half, slowly walking. There was even a river crossing where you came down  a hill...splashed through the water which reached your lower calf and then started climbing the next hill.

One of the natural obstacles of the race was a group of bulls that emerged in front of us on the path. The drivers of the bull told us to keep back and it was too narrow to pass, so we ended up literally walking behind the bulls for a good mile as the drivers tried to urge the bulls forward. Only in the Dominican, would your race be interrupted by a group of bulls. Eventually though, they did take another way.

At the halfway mark, I unfortunately lost the other girls as I got stuck behind someone else on a very narrow part where it was impossible to see the path due to the weeds. The last 6.5 miles were torturous...there were hills that went up and up and even walking was painful. At mile 11, I ended up even walking the straight parts and only running the down hills. Finally after 2 hours and 45 minutes of running, almost an hour longer than my previous half, I made it to the end. I've never been more happy to see a finish line before in my life.

That was definitely one of the most physically exhausting things I've ever done in my life, but I'm proud of us and our accomplishments. If you never push forward and try new things, you'll never know what you're capable of. I'm very thankful for this strong,fierce ladies, who took on a mountain and are the very best running buddies.

Normalcy of the Dominican Republic

Spring Break has started out with a bang and a lot of puddles. The rain has definitely made itself present this week, and with the rain came the citywide blackouts. I went to a birthday party lit only by candles and well-placed headlamps and yet it was a success. Not having power, can definitely be an inconvenience, but it also can be a  blessing. No internet, forces people to be present. We were all there together eating food and enjoying company without feeling the need to check facebook messages or get online and there is something so freeing in that. 

Today is one of the first times we don't have running water, which is kind of ironic with the torrential rains we've had the past couple of days. Feels like we get to experience life as it were a hundred years with last night lit by candle light and today filling buckets of water to use to wash dishes.Not complaining, it just makes things like running water and light bulbs seem even more impressive.

My roommate has her family in town this week and with that comes the realization of things I've normalized over the past two years that really aren't normal for the United States standards. Here are a list 

1. Noisy Streets- I remember the first nights I came here and not being able to sleep because of the roosters, dogs and motos that were constantly driving up and down the street outside my window. I even had to play music on my headphones to try and block out the noise. Now, I no longer am aware of the constant noise until someone new comes and complains about not being able to sleep because of all the ruckus outside. It's amazing what you get used to.

2.  Dish Soap- Here in Jarabacoa, we use Axion as our dish soap and we wash our dishes in cold water. I forget how odd that is until someone comes and points it out.

3. Washer and Dryer-  A Dominican Washer and Dyer is definitely something that took some time to get used to. The old fashioned centrifuge definitely takes some balancing, but you always feel a little more successful when the motor finally kicks into gear. I forget that in America, you just have to click a button.

4. Traveling the streets by moto- It's weird to remember a world where the majority of people drive around in cars,where here there are probably at least three to four motos to every car you see. 

5. Dominican Pesos- Dominican Pesos have become more normal to me than U.S. dollars and after handling the heavy pesos coins, U.S. currency feels fake because it is so small and light. 

Future Plans

As I feel my time in Jarabacoa is drawing to a close, I've really been praying and struggling over future decisions. Where will I be in 5 months from now? As a born planner and a teacher to boot, it's been hard to not know where the future is heading as it looms closer and closer. I've loved my time here in Jarabacoa, but I've really felt that it's time to move on and continue moving forward. My options have been Santo Domingo or Michigan. where there are more opportunities to grow as a teacher and of course being closer to people I care about. 

International schools hire much sooner than Michigan schools, so I had to start applying for schools in November. I think the best advice I got was that interviews puts the process in God's hands and allow him to open and close doors where needed. I started out interviewing at one school and I was discouraged after my second interview after talking with some of the teachers about the curriculum. I just felt I wouldn't be a good fit there. 

I had an interview with another school and I liked it though there seemed to be few American teachers and I was curious if I would stand out. I really loved the area the school was located in, as it was in the "heart" of downtown and the area where many embassies, restaurants and malls were within walking distance. It was also considered one of the safest parts of the city. 

I stumbled across another school by chance while googling schools in Santo Domingo. I had never heard of it before, but it was a Christian School located in the capital. I sent them an email asking for more information. They invited me for a Skype interview and a week later I visited their campus to discover that it was in the same safe area as the other school. A week after the Skype interview, they offered me a one year contract as a first grade teacher as well as providing housing close enough to the school to walk. 

With the offer on the table, it definitely put time lines down and put a little pressure on the decision making. With one week to make a decision, God provided people in my life to offer great advice and prayer  including my bible study girls and my parents. I am so grateful for everyone behind the scenes. I really don't deserve the people God has put in my life to back me up, but I realized those blessings are the pure definition of His grace and love. 

 I decided to accept the position. Though, I'm apprehensive about moving to the big city and teaching first grade for the first time in my life. I really feel peace with this decision and that God has a hand in it. I'm so thankful for all the people who have been praying with me through this decision. Please continue to pray as I prepare for this new exciting chapter.

Sometimes I wish I could just have an advanced copy of my life book

It's hard to believe that it is February already and I've officially called Jarabacoa my home for over a year and half. Time really does fly. Growing up, I was always such a homebody and  I rarely went to summer camps because I'd always get terribly homesick. I just share this because being away from home has always been hard for me, but it really hasn't been here. I remember the first week I arrived and there were days where I felt like I was breaking and barely holding myself together and there was one afternoon back in August 2015, I remember hitting the floor and saying "God, you brought me here and I need you because I have nothing else. And God answered by bringing me more than I ever needed. He brought lifelong friendships, He brought me joy and most of all, He brought me peace and He made Jarabacoa a home.

Now a year and a half later, I look to the future. I'm beginning to feel its time to move on, but not in a bad way, sort of the way a butterfly feels when he's ready to break out of his cocoon. "For everything there is a season and a time to every purpose  under the heavens." -Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2  I feel like I've almost come full circle. A year and a half ago, I felt the itch to try something new and different and that it was time and now I feel the same momentum carrying my onward.

The hard part is definitely not knowing where I will be six months from now. I've been working on understanding God's will, but I think what I really want is a postcard or even a text message from God telling me what I should do. I feel like the child who wants the parent to tell them what school they should go to, what major they should follow, who they should marry, or where they should live, but I'm beginning to see that God doesn't work like that. He gives us guidelines and despite really wanting Him to sit down and give me an advanced copy of my life book, I think He does give us freedom in multiple right choices. If you're as interested in this topic as me, the following video has some great insights....Jefferson Bethke Talk

"The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord let his face shine upon you and give you Peace." -Numbers 6:24

A different perspective

Sometimes we get so caught up with the routines of life that it takes someone else to notice the beauty around us. This past week we got a new roommate and showing her around the city made me appreciate it all over again.  I loved seeing the mountains, the waterfalls and the safety of the city through her eyes and realizing just how lucky I am to be here. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the small negative things and they bleed into the blessings, so for this blog, I just want to share some of my favorite things about being here.

1. The views- I can never get over the views from Jarabacoa. Standing and overlooking the city and seeing the rivers far below and the purple mountains in the background always takes my breath away. There are few places more beautiful than this little mountain town.

2. The temperature- After a freezing couple of weeks in Michigan, it is nice to get back to the 60 and 70 degree days. The city of eternal spring is definitely living up to its name. I love that its chilly enough in the nights for a blanket, but not necessary to wear a sweatshirt, mittens and socks to bed to stay warm.

3. The church-  I'm so thankful to have found and be involved in a church that I really love The people are kind and I appreciate the messages are applicable to my daily lives. I especially like the chance to worship in both English and Spanish and seeing that God is far above my little world of one language. I realize it is sometimes difficult to find a church you really love, especially one in another country and I am so glad for that.

4. The large group of Americans- I do appreciate that I am not the "solo gringa" in the whole city and that I don't stand out like a sore thumb. I am so thankful for the community of Americans to meet and greet and have a little piece of home far away. I love hear English on the streets and being able to relate with so many different people who are here for all different reasons.

5 Being able to learn more Spanish- On the flip side, I am also grateful to get to practice and learn more Spanish. It's difficult and there are definitely days when I'm doing really well and days when I'm doing not so well, but I love the patience of the Dominicans and the fact that I'm a lot farther than I used to be.

6. My Bible Study-I started a bible study this fall and I love love love the chance to go out on a weekday and have dinner and just do life with other American girls in the city. I love the chance to discuss God and have a group of people who you can cry and laugh with.

7.  Skype and Internet- I am so thankful for internet and skype and the ability to keep in contact with my family. I keep thinking how awful it must have been for the people who traveled west in the earlier days and the only way to communicate was by letters and there was little chance of ever seeing your family again. I'm so grateful to be able to see my family and my little niece and nephew in one click of a button

8. Running Buddies- One of my favorite things about Jarabacoa is exploring the city on foot with two of the best running buddies. I appreciate we all share a passion for exploration and have probably trekked over 500 miles together all in the wee hours of the morning.

9. My School Community-I'm so thankful for my school family. I see those teachers every day and I'm so glad we get to meet for dinners and plan lessons together and just do life together.

10. My Students-Even though they drive me nuts a large portion of the time, I'm grateful for the chance to be with them and watch them progress this year. Students who refused to do work are now excited about their work and it makes me so proud as their teacher.

11. My boyfriend- I'm not going to get mushy, but I'm so thankful for him and the fact that he's been there for me in so many occasions and someone I completely trust and rely on. I think I would be a lot more stressed and overwhelmed if he wasn't in my life.

12. The opportunities to try new recipes and cook- I love trying and experimenting with food and at home I don't get much of a chance since my mom is a great cook and doesn't relinquish the kitchen without a fight, so it's nice to get to try new recipes and experiment a little in the kitchen.

13. School Breaks- I'm grateful for the days off we do get. The fact we get weekends to rejuvenate and refuel so that we can come back to school on Monday, refreshed and ready to go.

14. Relationship with God- These past two years have been so exciting and so big in a lot of ways for me and there have been a lot of firsts. I don't know how I could manage it without knowing that I wasn't alone and that no matter what God was in control and that I can turn to him no matter what. There's freedom in being able to fall at the throne of God. I have no idea where I would be today, but I couldn't be the person I am without the confidence that God is with me.

Goodbye to Snowy Michigan

There's many different ways this blog could have gone and many beginnings that were created depending on the day. For example, had I written this blog on my first day of travel, I would have spoken about the delayed and cancelled flights from Santiago to New York and the kind teachers who let us stay the night with them and gave us a ride to the airport the following morning. Had I written this blog when I arrived in Michigan, I would have talked about the joys of seeing my family again including my niece and nephew and the joy of seeing their smiling faces and their pleads to play with them or chase them around the house, or even sled down the hills with them. Had I written this blog throughout Christmas break, I could have written about visiting my grandparents in Illinois, or the excitement of Christmas day with my family or even the freezing cold snow that I was blissfully unaware of in the Dominican Republic. A las, I write this blog on the eve of my departure, so my thoughts are more focused on goodbyes, the happy goodbyes such as to the cold weather and the sadder goodbyes to my family and friends.

It has been a great Christmas break and I am very much looking forward getting back to warm Jarabacoa and seeing friends there again, but to get there you have to travel the road of goodbyes and sometimes the hardest goodbyes are the ones you don't see coming. It strikes me as odd, but a hard goodbye for me this winter break is saying goodbye to my students, not my current students, but my ones I had two to three years ago. It's amazing how all it takes is one year for students to imprint themselves on your heart forever.

One of the hardest parts of coming to JCS in the beginning was leaving my students behind and even though it's been two years, I'm still humbled by how much we still mean to each other. I enter the school and I hear my name being echoed down the hallways first in whispers and then louder and louder almost as a chant. Then come the hugs because even though we've grown in so many ways, we're still a family as well. Even though they've grown taller and their voices have dropped and they now know how to tie their shoes, to me they're still mine.


 I understand now why students have the same reaction to seeing their teacher year after year even though they are no longer the children they once were. During our year together they changed me, I changed them and together we became a family.

So, to all the teachers out there, wherever you are . Thank you, you are making a difference and your work means something because there are students who perhaps are now adults themselves who still think of you fondly for how you changed a little piece of their life forever.