Adult ESL

I can tell that ESL (English as a Second Language) is going to keep me on my toes.  All last week, I only had three students (the same three students) turn up to class.  Considering I had ten on the register, that was a little surprising.

One student told me she wouldn't be at class today because she had a doctor's appointment.  So, I planned my lesson, expecting two students.  On the way to class, another student's husband called, telling me that his wife wouldn't be at ESL class due to a hospital appointment.  I got to my location thinking I would have one, perhaps zero, students.

By nine, I had four new students who had not been in class last week, one new student added to my register because the night class wasn't fitting her work schedule, and also my one returning student from last week.  My lesson plan went out the window.  I'm not sure what is going on with the three students I have yet to meet.  I suppose that tomorrow I might have eleven students!

I sent a text to my school advisor, telling her what happened.  Her response: "Welcome to adult ESL!  It's a good thing you are flexible!" :)

In other news, tomorrow (Wednesday) will be my first day at Job #3.  I'll be working a few afternoons and evenings a week at the welcome desk of a local gym.  I have a lot of hours my first week because of orientation, so I better get back to my homework now!  I will teach from 9-11 tomorrow morning, and then work at the gym from 5-9 p.m.

Grow Where You Are Planted!

I've always appreciated gardens, but it has only been in the last few years that I have had a interest in being a gardener.  I didn't really have the freedom to indulge this in the UK.  However, I have a lovely little patio now, and I want to take advantage of the space and the gorgeous spring.

After I finished teaching for today (which is an entire story also), Martha and I headed to Lowes to start Project Beautiful.

When reaching for a pot, Martha inadvertently dumped some very chilly rainwater on me.  We both started howling with laughter.  I don't think the other patrons knew what to make of us.

Neither of us have gardened much, but we are both from gardening families.  You might say the gardening urge has been dormant until now.  It is only recently starting to bloom.  We are budding horticulturalists.  (Haha...the plant puns have been "sprouting" all day!)  Just please don't call us "blooming idiots!"  

We made our difficult decisions (so many flowers!) and went home with our starter garden.  I had Martha take some pictures, because my Mother will be so amazed!  

I also purchased two large pots and some seeds.  Hopefully, I will be showing you some sprouts in a few weeks!  I've planted carrots in one and spring onions in the other.  

Moving Martha

This weekend was moving weekend!  For a change, I wasn't the one moving.  Martha, my roommate from junior year of college, moved from New England and into my apartment.  Friday, two other friends and I drove up to Massachusetts to help her move her belongings down to Pennsylvania.

Meet Martha:

We arrived at about midnight and promptly went to bed.  The next morning, Martha rented a U-Haul and we packed up!

By 1 p.m., we were ready to get on the road!  We drove to Charlestown and stopped to let Martha say goodbye to her favorite beach and to have a picnic lunch on the beach.

We left the pizza on the rocks when we went to take some pictures by the water's edge.  Imagine our surprise when we came back to empty boxes!  We lost our leftovers to a hungry seagull!

Refreshed by our break, we got back on the road and drove the rest of the way to Pennsylvania.  

We arrived at my apartment at about 11 p.m.  I figured out that the three of us who left Pennsylvania on Friday had travelled about 800 miles in a 29 hour period.  I don't recommend it!  Bed felt very, very good!

First week as an ESL Teacher

I am seated on my veranda, enjoying the remaining rays of sunshine from the day.  It has been gorgeous, not really warm, but gorgeous none the less.  I've got my afternoon cup of coffee, sunglasses on, and life seems good.

Yesterday (Monday) marked the official start of my ESL career.  I've been involved in ESL for a few years now, but this is the *OFFICIAL* beginning!  Monday was my first staff meeting before the start of classes.  I went to the main offices, trying to hide the fact that I was feeling woefully unprepared for my first class.  The other teachers all seem very nice.  Four of us are new this term.  It was at this meeting that I finally found out the essentials, such as how many students I have (and their names!) and the location I was to teach at Tuesday morning!  I think I'm starting to realize that not everyone in this field feels the need to be hyper-prepared.

After the meeting, I drove back across the Susquehanna to meet with my advisor.  I am blessed with the most incredible advisor I could ask for.  She exceeds advisor and becomes mentor in so many ways.  Dr. E offered to help me by looking over my lesson plans the weekend prior.  Since said lesson plans felt so slapdash to me, I asked if I could come by her office to talk it over in person.

We didn't get right to lesson plans but had some time to chat first.  I think we connect well because we are both TCKs (Third Culture Kids) and additionally, she has raised children overseas and says that I remind her of her daughter.  Given the stories she has told me, we do sound quite similar and I think Dr. E and my mother could start a support group for mothers of Type A TCKs!

Dr. E answered my many questions about my lesson plan and how I should spend the first day of class.   It certainly helped me to feel a little more at ease, but I had some residual butterflies.  It helped to know that I have the support of my family and numerous friends!

I got to my teaching location about 45 minutes early!  I teach a site in H-burg, and I wasn't entirely certain of the location.  One of the other teachers, the one with the key!, had said she would arrive at 8:15 or so if those of us who are new wanted to look at our classrooms and have extra time to set up.  I found the building easily and she showed me to my fairly bare classroom.  Picture chairs, a table, and a whiteboard!   Thankfully, I had my own dry erase markers in my teacher kit!

Classes were to start at 9.  By 8:55, I had two students in my classroom.  I was expecting ten.  I went ahead and started my personal introduction and by 9:10, a third student had arrived.  We had changed the start date of class, and I think more students will show up tomorrow after receiving a reminder call today!

Our unit this term is "Friends and Family."  It is the perfect unit to start off with a new Beginner class, because it is all about relationships!  I took pictures of my family and used those as my introduction of myself but also to introduce the vocabulary.  If you aren't familiar with ESL, it may surprise you to hear  what "Beginner" truly means!  My vocabulary list included "mother, father, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, brother in law..." You get the picture!  This is a very "beginner" class.

Goodness, I already love the three students though!  We took some time to talk about their families and their backgrounds.  I can't wait to get to know them more through the course.  Two of the ladies are quite good at conversational English and not very confident in their reading ability.  The other lady is a wonderful reader but is very hesitant to speak.

After class, I had to go over to our offices to get some more textbooks for my students.  Then, a good friend took me out for lunch to celebrate a wonderful first day of teaching!  After that, my teaching continued with a few hours of homeschooling a friend's children so she could take a break.  I don't mind a few hours here and there but it solidifies for me that I love teaching adults.  I'm not meant to be an elementary teacher!

It's time for homework and tomorrow's lesson plan!  Thanks to all of you who were praying for me today!

Life in Transition, yet again.

Life, always interesting, has gotten a bit hectic lately.  I am so thankful that I only registered for one class this term.  In addition to Linguistics, which has been a very challenging class, I'm going to be starting work soon.  Thank you very much to those of you who have been praying for me as I've made a variety of decisions about work!

I have just received my final clearance for my teaching job.  I will take my collection of forms and clearances into the main office on Tuesday and I start teaching a class of adults on April 23.  This job will only be eight hours a week.  To supplement those hours, I'm going to be working at a local retirement village, as a part time home health aide.  I have a six hour orientation on Monday for that position.

On May 1, I'll have a new roommate moving into my flat.  Martha and I roomed together in university, and nine years later, we are going to try this again!

As I sit at my kitchen table, covered in a pretty yellow and orange striped tablecloth, I feel so excited.  Spring is here, the sunshine is lovely, and I'm making a home here.  I've been so encouraged by the friends I've been reconnecting with and the opportunities before me.  I love being able to pop over to my sister's house and say hi for a few minutes.  I finally feel as though I'm making some connections at church as well.  Like the bits of green popping up everywhere, this is a time for me to grow.  

Morphing into My Mother...

I love my momma (and miss her!) and I find myself thinking that I am turning into her!  (By the way, I think that would be a great thing because she is pretty awesome.)  This morning, as I sat in my little breakfast nook, enjoying coffee and banana bread, I was thrilled to see a cardinal in the bush outside my window.  The other day, I saw a bird flitting about and thought, "Hmm...I should get a bird book and start finding out what some of these birds are named."  (Haha....Mom, you never thought you would hear those words!)

I am even attempting to grow a green thumb, among other things.  Mom has always had lovely flowers, both inside and outside our home.  I may bring beautiful flowers home, but they don't always stay that way!  I think I'm a compulsive over-waterer.  

I now am the proud owner of three African violets, one yellow primrose, and one peace lily.  I have googled "how to take care of African violets" and I hope I'll do the job well!  I am being especially careful to read the watering instructions!

My spring and summer goal is to get some potted plants for my patio (love that alliteration!) and hopefully some succulents for inside the house.  

I have always loved Zimbabwean gardens.  Aunt Liz, a member of our Zimbabwean "family," has always had gorgeous gardens.  If I could have a fraction of her skill, I'd be happy!  Here are some pictures from her lovely veranda.  

My own little veranda won't compare to this, unfortunately.  First, I don't have this much space and second, I don't live in the right latitude to make this possible year round! however, I will endeavor to make my little corner of M-burg beautiful and green.

English Language Moment!

In light of the busyness of the past weeks, I'm just going to take a second to share a little English trivia with you!

Bookkeeper is the only word in the English language that has three double letter spellings in a row!

The Great Egg Hunt

Our Easter was a little different this year.  My grandparents now have three great-grandchildren, with a fourth expected in July!  The next generation are now the focus of our annual egg hunt.  Emme (1) was more entertained by the fake grass in her egg bucket, so it was really the other two who found the eggs.  

Jer hid the eggs on the back porch, due to the rain.  It ended up working out well.  There were plenty of nooks and crannies to hold the eggs.  

Oh they were so excited!  Anna (who turns two this weekend) kept running around from corner to corner.  She was so sweet and she kept sharing the eggs she found with Kolton and Emme!  I love that little sweetie so much.  She's the best!

Sisterly Creativity!

My sister and I decided to release our inner artists this Easter.  For her Good Friday/Easter celebration with friends, we made this cake: 

We made a carrot cake, with yummy cream cheese icing.  Joy made two 9 inch round cakes and then frosted the cake.  We put 24 marshmallow peeps around the base of the cake.  

For the little garden, we used three chocolate wafers and ground a few other wafers to be the "dirt" in the center of the garden and on the icing.  Joy sliced a few green Mike and Ike candies and stuck them to the top of orange Mike and Ikes to make the "carrots" in the garden.  We put the other five bunnies on toothpicks on the top of the cake.  

I think it looks awesome!  And I can now verify that it TASTES amazing as well.  I actually didn't eat the peeps, but the cake itself was incredible.  

My Funny Valentine

I know it isn't February, but this little girl definitely has my heart every day of the year!

What a cutie!  In case you are wondering, she has socks on her hands as "gloves" and a bucket on her head!

Green Smoothie Goodness

I've gotten a few responses to my green smoothies.  My sister thinks I'm nuts.  My mom likes them.  Some friends also make them.  I think they are amazing!  I actually start to crave them if I go a long time without one.

The idea behind a green smoothie is to use green veggies as the base of your smoothie.  Fruit can be added to sweeten the taste.  I add a little bit of kefir as well.

I make all sorts and I don't really follow a recipe.  Whatever happens to be in the fridge is what goes into my smoothie.  Here is this morning's smoothie:

Don't the colors look pretty?  I started with some cucumber, then added three big strawberries. Next, I chopped up a banana and then added several handfuls of baby spinach leaves.  I poured a little raspberry kefir (or yogurt) on top, added a bit of water, and blended it together.

I know some people are put off by the green color, but it tastes delicious!  I actually love the brilliant green.  I prefer to use baby spinach, but I have some friends who use kale.  The baby spinach tastes a little sweeter to me.  If you haven't made one before, you should really get out your blender and try it!

Birthday Blessings

Monday didn't go quite as I planned, but it ended wonderfully.  Snow started falling at about two in the afternoon.  Val and I had planned to go to campus to hear a guest lecturer, but I was exhausted.  Val told me I should lie down and take it easy.  When I woke from a nap, it was 7 p.m. and the snow was still falling.  Rather than venture out, we stayed in and made a vegetarian version of my mother's chicken gravy (so...gravy and peas and carrots) and baking powder biscuits.  It was a perfect warming meal for a beautiful evening.  

It felt like a wonderful lead-in to my twenty ninth birthday.

My parents and I were able to skype at 8, which was a great way to start my day.  The rest of my day was fairly un-birthdayish, as I worked on lesson preparations and paperwork for my new job.  The snow started melting and had dissipated by the time I left for an afternoon at Barnes and Noble with Val.  She spoiled me with a birthday latte and treat at the cafe.  

I left Val at 5:30 to meet my sister for a surprise birthday outing.  Val was going to a lecture on campus and was then going back to her parents' home.  I got home and had a surprise waiting at my front door!

My parents arranged for a beautiful potted gerbana daisy to be delivered today. I can't wait for spring!  I'm looking forward to creating a container garden on my little balcony and this little plant can be my first!  Thanks, Mom and Dad!

My sister arrived and gave me a wonderful spa treat basket, and included the hugest mug I have ever seen!  :) I'm drinking my Twinings of London Orange Cinnamon and Spice tea out of it right now.  

Joy and I then headed off to a "undisclosed" location for dinner.  She took me to the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant.  We were there a few minutes before Val walked in the door!  Sneaky girls!  Then another good friend, Marleen, joined us as well!  My sweet sister planned a wonderful girls dinner out.  Several girls couldn't make it but we four had a great dinner.  We shared a cheese fondue, followed by a chocolate fondue for dessert. 

It has been a special day.  I'm so thankful for the amazing people in my life and especially in my family!

Weekend Pictures

What a wonderful weekend! (How's that alliteration?)  Cee got a crash course in American history, between watching Lincoln and then a trip to Gettysburg on the way to the airport!  I don't think she minded.  It was so nice to be together again.  We all noticed that it didn't seem as though much time had passed.  Val and I decided it must because we had a breadth of experiences to solidify our friendship.  After all, we worked together, worshiped together, holidayed together, traveled together, studied together... for short periods of time, we've even lived together!  That is a lot of togetherness!

Our time together was characterized by an easy camaraderie and lots of giggles.  I'm very thankful for these dear friends!

The Weekend Reunion

This weekend has been a treat!  Two of my friends from London came from their current locations to visit!  Val and I have gotten together a number of times, but we have not seen Carmen since July 2011.

After a trip to DC to collect Cee from the airport, we made our way to my house.  Friday felt like a Saturday.  We lazed around (recovering from our late return to mine) and then ventured out to Barnes and Noble Booksellers.  After coffee and a yummy treat from the cafe, we wandered around the store for a bit.  We have a very relaxed relationship, a result of the amount of time we have spent together in the five years that I have known these girls.  We each went our own way in the store, not needing to always be together but inevitably ending up in the same departments.  Our final convergence happened in the International Travel department!

After leaving B&N and visiting two other stores, we drove across the river of an Egyptian restaurant on Paxton Street.  Sadly, we were the only patrons.  Our meal was wonderful though!  We got dessert from SweetFrog and then we went to a quaint little theatre to see Lincoln for $4.00.  Ticket prices have gone up since I was last there!  

Lincoln was very well done.  It seemed quite fitting that Cee (a Canadian) saw it in Pennsylvania, sandwiched between two of her favorite Americans.  Perhaps on our way to take Cee back to the airport today, we can stop in Gettysburg.

Yesterday was just a lazy day.  I had previously promised to pick up friends of mine at the airport, so I went to the airport once more on Saturday, but thankfully this was just to our local airport.  When I returned, my house had gained another Londoner!  Eli joined us for the rest of the day.  Our big adventure was just to leave the house to get groceries for dinner.

In the meantime, I had to decide if I would take the second course I mentioned in an earlier post.  Encouraged by wise council, I've decided just to take the one class for my next 8 week term.  The syllabus for the one course looks very daunting and it is Linguistics, which could be quite challenging.  I did well in my first course, and I want to continue to do well in this program.  

Well, I must be off to start our day!  My visitors are still sleeping but I need to get some coffee and maybe the smell of breakfast will wake them up....

Hospital Visits

A week ago, my aunt and uncle had a motorcycle accident.  A car pulled out in front of them, making a  U-turn without seeing them.  They went over the front of the car.  We are very thankful that they are both alive!

They were airlifted to a trauma hospital about an hour and half away.  This week has been full of prayers, waiting, and questions.  My uncle is feeling better now, despite bruises and soreness.  My aunt needed to have a surgery to repair her pelvis, the right side of which was shattered in the crash.  She spent the days after the surgery in the Trauma ICU, but she has finally (praise God!) been moved to a less intensive Intensive Care Unit, if that makes sense!  Yesterday, she was able to talk with family! 

She will need a lot of healing in the next months, but we are seeing progress.  

I've felt a confident peace over this last week that can only come from God.  I know I'm an optimist, but this is more than just optimism.  God has been a refuge for us in the last week, just as we are promised.  

The Call

So much has happened in the last few days!  I barely know where to begin, so for now, I’ll just write the really good news.  

Monday morning, I got a call from C.C. and I was offered the job!  I will begin teaching English in April.  I don’t know the proficiency level, but I was told in the interview that the available classes are beginner, intermediate, and low literacy.  The teachers who are already there are given preference.  

This job is only 8 hours a week, so I will be continuing to look for part time work elsewhere to fill in the gaps.  Additionally, I’m considering doing two classes for my M.Ed in the coming eight week term.  It would be a lot of work, but I think it would also be a good idea.  I have to decide in the next day or two.  I’m scheduled to take Linguistics.  My second class would be Advanced Instructional Design. 

I can scarcely believe it, but I’m finished my first class.  I submitted my final paper on Monday!  It has been a wonderful start to my program.  

Another Airplane...

One of my best friends is boarding a plane right about now.  Leslie has been in the USA for seven years for school and work.  

C.S. Lewis wrote this about friendship: "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival."

I came across a Swedish proverb about friendship recently: "Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief." That is certainly true of Leslie's friendship to me.  

Well, I'm not doing a very good job of writing an meaningful send off post for Leslie!  Leslie just sent me a text from the airplane saying, "Just say I'm a little bit loco."  Well, I guess that says it all :)

Interview

Well, the interview went well, I think.

The job would only be 8 hours a week, which means I will still need a second job if I'm offered this one.  I would be teaching six hours a week and the other two hours are for preparation and classwork.  I would most likely be teaching a beginning level class, which is a challenge, but I think it could be very fun :)

Sarah, who interviewed me, said she has three other interviews scheduled.  She will let me know on Monday.  We shall see what happens!

Interview Day

In about three hours, I'll be going into my first interview for a teaching position.  This feels like a new world!  It has only been about a year since I started to think about teaching English as a profession.

I'm actually not too nervous.  I have a lot of energy though!  I started my morning with a wonderful spinach/grape/blackberry smoothie! :) I love my green smoothies.  (I balance the health benefits with a big cup of coffee and a generous dollop of creamer.)

My advisor wrote a wonderful reference letter for me to take to the interview.  Her words seem so generous.  I hope I can be the kind of teacher she sees in me.

I am so blessed.  I truly am.  I have friends in multiple countries praying for this interview.  I have a family that has helped me in so many ways through the last year, when I've been figuring my next steps.  Even after six months of joblessness, I have never gotten to the point where I've wondered what I will eat or where I will sleep.  My family has always supported me.  My friends cheer me on and advise me.

I'm continually amazed by the way God has guided my steps.  My first class in my M.Ed is almost finished.  My final project and paper are due on the 11th.  I've decided to make my final project useful.  I'm going to be writing a development plan for a TEFL course for the church my parents are working with in Mozambique.  I don't know if it is something they can implement or not, but I know the church really wants to have English classes.  Who knows? Perhaps I'll be able to take some vacation time and go to help set up a regular program in Beira.  Whatever happens, I'm so excited that my advisor is not only approves of this idea for my project but is encouraging it wholeheartedly.

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:9

It's a....

Tonight was so special!  I went to my sister's house, to have dinner and to be part of the discovery of Baby 2's gender!  J&J decided to find out with Anna, who has been insisting that it's "bruver".  

The technician put the sonogram in a sealed envelope.  J brought home pink and blue balloons and a big cardboard box.  I got the honor of being the first to know the gender!  I took both sets of balloons into the other room and opened the envelope.  (In the process, I completely tangled up the two sets of balloons.)  Next, I was instructed to put the appropriate set of balloons in the box and tape it closed.  J, J, and Anna could then open the box together and have the balloons float up into the air!

I'm so excited to have a nephew!

Job Interview!

At precisely 2:30 today, I got a call from an unknown number.  It was one of the two ESL jobs I applied for, calling for an interview!  I applied for this job in January.  Given their silence, despite my follow-up call to inquire, I had assumed that they were not interested in my resume.  

I have an interview Thursday at 2 p.m.!  I would really appreciate your prayers.  You can be certain I will let you know how it goes.  

This job would be ideal.  It is part time, which would benefit my studies.  Even at part time, it should be sufficient income for my needs.  It is a job teaching English to adult immigrants to the USA.  Adults are my preference to teach.  It would be wonderful to be able to learn in the classroom while I study.  

I found a new quote yesterday.  It feels very appropriate to this season of my life.  

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr

Anna Moment

I watched Anna yesterday for a few hours.  As always, she gravitated towards my "hello" (telephone) for entertainment.  I started flipping through my pictures.  I showed her this picture of my mom holding her:

I said, "Anna, who's this?"

Anna: "Gan." [Gran]

Me: "Who's Gran holding?"

Anna: "Anna!"

Me: "Does Gran love Anna?"

Anna: "YES!"   

She bent over and laid her head on my phone.  

Anna: "Me hugging Gan."  

She's amazing.

Puppy-sitting

Today I'm puppy-sitting a sick little Jack Russell. 

Poor Patches hasn't been herself for two days now.  The little dear is waaaaay too subdued.  Can dogs get the flu?  Something isn't right, that's for sure.  She's barely eaten, and this pup normally thinks she can eat all day.  

I love this little puppy.  She was a gift to my sister and I in 1997.  She's technically my sister's dog, but I love her too!  It is awfully nice to have her curled up next to me as I do my homework.

She's a goof, and she's our goof!