Meet Maria Antonia!

From Second Grade-Birthdays

MaAntonia's birthday was on Monday. I had the privilege of getting to be at her birthday party over the weekend, helping to celebrate with friends and family.

MaAntonia doesn't have any brothers or sisters but she does have a cat that she loves. Her favorite color is orange and her favorite food is sushi. MaAntonia also likes to dance ballet and play soccer. Her classmates appreciate her because she is smart and nice.

MaAntonia has impressed me with her passion for telling people about God and for her concern for those who do not know Him. Pray that she will continue to be bold and strong in sharing her faith in the years to come.

Camp-Out

School isn't all fun and games...just a little! :)

On Friday our class celebrated the completion of a paper chain across our classroom. Each link in the chain represented 100 minutes of reading done by 1 student in 1 week for his/her Reading Log. We celebrated by having a camp-out/pj party and a special reading day!

The day started off with me greeting each student at the door with "Good Night" and ended with eating popcorn, marshmallows, and other snacks under a tent built in the middle of our classroom. The day also included: sleeping bags, pillows, stuffed animals, PJs (some students even brought in legit suitcases!). We also had two surprise guests read their favorite books to us. Also, we had the special opportunity to have Olga's brother, who was visiting our school for the day, with us for a little in our classroom.

Even though the day was exhausting (we did everything but sleep!), and a lot of work for me, my aide, and several other teachers who pitched in (rolling up sleeping bags, sweeping up popcorn spills, helping students find lost slippers, etc.)...it was so worth it! It was fun to change into PJs, laugh and be silly with my students, and enjoy the special day with them!

I am so thankful to God for the growing relationship I have with each of my students and for each of their unique qualities.

Click the collage for a larger view.

More pictures and also some video clips at: http://picasaweb.google.com/soofee.tee

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Did you know that...?

CULTURAL TIDBITS:

1. Colombians do not like to sit on a warm seat. (When someone leaves their seat on public transportation no one will take it right away and the next person to occupy the seat may even fan it with their hand before sitting down.)

2. Fanny packs and man-purses are totally acceptable and very common in Colombia.

3. Colombians do this crazy fast wrist-flick-finger-snap thing to show they did/saw something crazy or bad or unbelievable...I think it's an ability they're just born with because I have yet to see any gringo do it successfully.

4. Colombia loves its holidays; many are celebrated on Mondays and there are even some mandatory days off (that don't hold any significance) that schools must give!

5. Colombians will answer a phone call no matter when it comes or what you are doing because it is considered rude not to.

6. In Colombia it is considered impolite to throw/toss something to someone. Instead it is polite to hand it directly to them.

7. Colombian Christians tend to be very conservative in regards to drinking, dancing, and tattoos. (I didn't expect this to be the case considering the nature of Colombian culture.)
8. It is very rude and disrespectful to "throw" a car door (you may even be asked to get out of a Taxi for closing a door too hard).

9. Colombians show a person't height by holding their hand sideways with the bottom/pinky side of the hand showing the height. Holding the palm down is only used for animals and objects.

(Please Note: These are GENERALIZATIONS. However, I have heard each of these things come up in conversation with both Colombians and Americans and have also seen/heard many of these truths with my own eyes/ears while living in Bogotá, Colombia.)

Top 9 Lists

TOP 9 LISTS

Just Because...

What I love/would miss about Colombia:
9. Fifty cent ice cream treats off the street
8. Restaurants and stores in walking distance
7. Abundance of beautiful, affordable, fresh cut flowers
6. Cheap manis, pedis, and haircuts
5. Fresh bread, yuca, fresh fruit juice, plantains, arepas, Quatro and Postobon Manzana soda
4. Christmas lights
3. Adding –ito , -ita, –cito, -cita to the end of names as a sign of affection
2. So many shades of green and so much biodiversity
1. Colombians: my students, my student’s parents, my co-workers, my neighborhood guards, my church family…

What I love/miss about PA:
9. Stores/restaurants that open before 1:00pm
8. Reliable hot water
7. My car; driving
6. Drying my clothes in a dryer
5. Mom’s cooking, Turkey Hill ice cream, peanut butter, pickles, and even casseroles
4. Dollar stores, thrift stores, coupons
3. Change of seasons (and snow)
2. Small town New Holland, fun Lancaster city, and even the Amish
1. Family and friends

Christian Character Day & Fall Fest

Christian Character Day picture slideshow

Fall Festival picture slideshow

Germs!

Germs! VIDEO

Simulating how germs spread by covering our hands in Vaseline and
glitter, chalk dust, or powder paint and then shaking hands with 5 classmates!

Shaking hands.

Ewww, germs!

Meet Valeria!

Meet Valeria!

Valeria's birthday was actually in early October but I am just getting around to posting this...opps!

Valeria's favorite color is green. Her favorite food is corn. She takes ballet and gymnastics classes which she works very hard at, loves, and is very, very talented at! She has an older brother also at ECA. Valeria's classmates appreciate her because she is very kind, a good friend, good at gymnastics, and a fast runner!

Valeria reminds me a little bit of myself as a student: very timid and shy, but a hard worker. My prayer for Valeria is that she will continue to build confidence in herself and her abilities and boldness to speak up more often in class. Also, that she will use her God-given gifts and talents in dance and gymnastics for His glory!