New Beginnings

     I would like to inform everyone that my tooth extraction went well. I actually felt no pain and at one point I even began to think that everyone who frightened me with their stories were exaggerating or couldn't handle pain very well. I felt like this for about two hours before the anesthesia began to wear off. When that pain started kicking in, I was walking back and forth in my room waiting for the pain killers to kick in because I couldn't figure out if I wanted to cry or lay in bed for the pain to go away. But that was the most pain I felt. I don't do well with pain so as soon I started to feel the slightest pain I took a pain killer. I mean I bought pain killers just incase so why "take the pain" if I really don't have to? My cheek was swollen for a few days but nothing major; it was a successful extraction!

     So, because of my extraction I missed the first week of school and started working the second week on Tuesday (Monday was MLK). My new schedule goes like this: 8:10 a.m.-10:55 a.m. I tutor a student named Robin in Ms. Morales' 4th grade Bilingual class in English, Math and Science. At 10:55 a.m. I supervise the playground for First, Second, and Third grade students till 11:45 a.m. I take my lunch with Ashley  at 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The last two periods I have open for substitutions if necessary but if I am not substituting then I go back and help Robin with Religion and Spanish. Needless to say, I am busy, busy, busy and I love it!

      Why Robin you ask? Well in S Mary Ruth's words "Robin (and her sister) is a special case." Robin and her family came from Holland last summer. Robin's first language is Dutch and was learning some English in Holland. Her family moved here on business related terms. From what I know, her parents were not planning on staying for more than a year but that might change because they liked Puerto Rico. Robin had a difficult time last semester because she didn't understand English very well and two of her classes were entirely in Spanish (Religion and Spanish) and her teachers didn't know enough English to translate everything for her. So this semester I am working side by side with Robin till the beginning of April. Personally, I think her English is great for the most part, Spanish well, let me ask this: Can you learn a new language when it's taught in that language? If you are like most people I would say no. So Spanish is a bit difficult for her. I've sat next to her for a few classes and I even don't know what she is learning in Spanish so I'm learning too, then teaching her. These past two weeks have been so fulfilling I cannot explain the joy I feel. I told her from the beginning that I am here to help her with her work so eventually she does all the work on her own. In the beginning of April I will start substituting full-time for an Art teacher that is going on maternity leave. So far, Robin has had an oral presentation for English and a pop-quiz on multiplication and got a 90%. I am so proud of her and am looking forward to see her improve. 

Let the Good Times begin! Or shall I say Continue?

S Annie T. baking cookies.

     This year was off to a great start. Thanks to my boyfriend Sean of almost 4 years, I was able to receive this New Year in his hometown of Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas with his family and him. It was so great to spend lots of time with his family and sight seeing around the island. Nassau may be 7 mi. X 21 mi. but driving around it sure makes it seem a lot bigger. On my last day there, we were able to make a quick stop by St. Martin's Monastery where the Benedictine Sisters live. I was received by a nice big warm hug and was given a tour of the monastery by S Mary Benedict. I told the Sisters I came across, that I was one of the three volunteers from the BWSC program and they seemed so excited and happy to have me stop by. I gave them all greetings and blessings on behalf of the Sisters from Puerto Rico (the Sisters in PR asked me to if I stopped by) and I brought greeting and blessings back. I had a wonderful time in Nassau but like every break one enjoys, it always feels too short.

Los Tres Reyes

     I returned on the 5th and on the 6th I was on the road again with S Carmen, S Mary Ruth, Yvonne, Caesar and Ashley on our way to Juana Diaz to celebrate El Dia De Los Reyes (Three Kings Day). We arrived at Juana Diaz to catch a glimpse of the last of the parade just as two of the three kings were passing by. Following the Kings were two separate groups that came in singing and dancing. This reminded me a bit of Junkanoo in the Bahamas where you have different groups rushing with costumes, playing music, dancing, and marching. Not to say that Junkanoo and this celebration are alike because they are extremely different and they cannot be compared but just the pattern was similar: costumes, dancing, singing, and a band. The parade ended in front of the Plaza in Juana Diaz. We had a two hour out door mass to complete the festival. We stayed around for a few hours after mass to eat and check out the tents that were selling things like natural soaps, candles, candy, hand made crafts, and anything having to do with Los Tres Reyes (the Three Kings). After the celebration we headed over to the Holiday Inn in Ponce and stayed the night there. It was really nice not to have anything planned for the evening since I (and I'm sure everyone else too) was drained from being out in the sun all day! The next day S Mary Ruth and Yvonne took Ashley and I for a small tour around the Plaza in Ponce. We were back in the monastery by 5p.m. that day that I was finally able to unpack from the Bahamas and this trip. It was a really really good Christmas break!

S Carmen and I during our trip to Juana Diaz.

     Spring semester started today at Colgio San Benito, but I won't be starting till Monday. Given that tomorrow I will be visiting the dentist to get my wisdom tooth removed, I was going to miss tomorrow and Friday (everyone I've talked to has told me that I will NOT be able to do anything the day after) so S Mary Ruth told me to stay home today.

     Last semester I spent most of my time at school assisting any teacher that needed my help in the Bilingual Computer lab. Everyday in the morning I helped Ashley with one of her three Kindergarten class as well. Ashley and I had a deep conversation about her confidence in the classroom and we agreed that it would be a good idea if Ashley began this semester by herself. She is so confident (at least from my point) that I feel Ashley is so ready to continue teaching on her own. As for me, I will begin to do something different too. S Mary Ruth is currently working on a new schedule for me to begin work on Monday once this whole tooth thing is taken cared of. As of right now, I am not sure what I will be doing though I might be a teacher's assistant for a 4th grade bilingual class and a teacher's assistant for an art teacher who teaches 7th-9th grade. I will be more certain of my new schedule once Mary Ruth comes home. But I am excited!

Church in Ponce, PR.

     Thinking about starting a new semester is a bit awkward. It is awkward because it means I have to acknowledge that one semester is done, one is beginning and I am at the half way mark. I can't even begin to explain all of the mixed feelings that are bottled up inside. I'm sure I will write about all my feelings later down the road and for now I just want to enjoy today and not worry that I have um, oh lets see, about 18 weeks left! I can freak myself out sometimes. I just have this thing for dates and counting down that I can sometimes upset those close to me (e.g. When I tell Ashley how much time we have left) if they aren't as excited as I am.  So, all in all I am well rested and ready to start this new second semester and see what's coming my way.