I.Love.Brazil.

A week ago, we were leaving Newark for Brazil.  It has been an incredible week.

I'm so thankful for the group.  Jan (my academic advisor and the faculty member leading the trip) and her husband Rod are doing a great job as leaders.  The students are a wonderful bunch.  They have really committed themselves to a challenging first week and have bonded well.  We are also blessed with some fantastic Brazilian contacts (through Jan) on the ground who have been the driving force behind the trip.

We spent Tuesday at a prestigious high school, participating in two chapels and spending every break with students of various ages.  Kids in Brazil either go to school in the morning or the afternoon, so we had two different groups of students that we interacted with.  Once they got over their shyness, an incredible mass of Brazilians huddled around each of us, hoping to talk to the "norte americanos".  Normally, one or two of the kids in the group spoke English pretty well and would translate for their friends.  Before too long, we realized that EVERYONE in Brazil knows at least one word in English: selfie!  Almost every student wanted to take a self portrait with us! :) Then of course, we also needed group pictures and on it went...This was repeated at the next two schools on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday morning.

Tuesday afternoon was spent at an orphanage.  One of the teachers, who has been planning our trip, is currently teaching a "community service" class.  He takes students from this upper class high school on a weekly basis to this orphanage to serve the kids there.  It is really cool to see the way these high school students jump right into help.  I think their teacher is a great role model for them.  The picture below is of Joyce and me after an afternoon of face-painting.  Joyce is a high school student who speaks English very well and has a very sweet personality.  I've enjoyed getting to know her.

We all have been getting mass requests to be friends on facebook with the students!  I have added over 100 new friends on facebook since getting to Brazil!  At this point, I think it is easier to add everyone.

Starting on Wednesday, we became the teachers.  We decided on pairs before leaving the USA and were supposed to prepare two lessons that we could teach that were adaptable to a variety of ages and levels. This is quite a challenge for the MC students, none of whom are English education majors.  (Thanks to this trip, a number of them have talked about declaring a TESOL minor though!)  Due to Jan's busy schedule, I worked with the students to help them refine their lessons.  Everyone was a little anxious on Wednesday morning.

All went well!  We got used to the siren of a bell (seriously, their bell at the end of class sounds like an air raid warning) and the fact that everyone would mob us at the breaks between classes.  Each pair taught at least one lesson in the morning and one in the afternoon, in addition to assisting in two other classes and doing a large group lesson with Jan.  My partner Sara and I taught a lesson on body parts, using Simon (Sara!) Says, the song Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, and the song Father Abraham.  We had a great time.

Friday, we returned to the same high school, this time to teach English rather than do the chapel.  It was so much fun to see some of the same kids again.  However, by this point, I had hardly any voice left!

Friday afternoon, we rushed home, packed frantically, and left for a camp outside of the city.  Jan's father built the camp and it has continued to be used for church camps.  This weekend was for youth, which in Brazil seems to mean anyone 15 and older who is still single.  I'll have to write more about the camp later!  :)

Londrina

Hello from Brazil!

I arrived with my traveling companions in Sao Paulo at 9 a.m. this morning.  We had a brief layover and then took our connecting flight to Londrina.  We got here at about 3 p.m. and settled into our rooms.  We are staying at a school, a seminary actually.  The 8 girls and I are staying in a lovely apartment, the three guys are in another apartment, and our faculty couple have a little cottage, all in the compound of the seminary.

Weather has surprised us!  Although we knew we were arriving during winter in the Southern Hemisphere, we anticipated warmer days.  At the moment, I'm wearing a shirt, a sweater, and a sweatshirt on top! Apparently, a cold front moved in two days ago.  Housing is chilly to say the least.  We are making do, having found some extra blankets and thankfully, the water heater was fixed!  I had decided to forgo showers as long as possible if we only had cold water!  We also were told that the weather is to be cold tomorrow morning, maybe even in the forties, but that it should warm up.  I hope so!

This group of college kids are a great bunch.  I feel every bit of 30 around them, but they are a goodnatured, friendly group.  They have accepted my somewhat nebulous position on the team as a member, but also a semi-leader.

Today has been a long day, but a good one.  I am ready for bed, but I'm also taking another graduate class and I have homework to do before I go to sleep.  We have an early day tomorrow.  We will be spending the morning at a school, participating at chapel for two groups of 400 students, and then we will be going to an orphanage in the afternoon.

I have a feeling the next 16 days  will fly by....

My grandmother's hands holding her great-grandson as he sleeps.  

I have a really sweet young Moroccan woman in my ESL class.  Her language skills are pretty low to be in my class, but she tries very hard.  I can see the struggle on her face as she searches for the words to express herself.  She knows I'm studying Arabic (when I have the time), and she often tries to say something in Arabic to see if I can help her find the words in English.  More often than not, I'm not certain of what she is saying.  On the odd occasion, I've been able to parse together meaning with her.  Yesterday, we had one such conversation.  After little success, she finally looked at me and said, "Teacher, I wish you could learn Arabic faster!"  She is a gem!

Easter Weekend in Pictures

Tia time

Cute little toes 

A on her swing

My Easter morning walk

The Saturday Afternoon View

The pace of my life is slowing somewhat.  This week was not a good example of that, but I still enjoyed having a bit more time to get some things done!  Today, I'm starting a new weekly habit.  Although I read a lot, I find it challenging to maintain my academic reading.  To improve this, I'm planning to spend one afternoon a week at the library, either doing research to for my upcoming thesis or just to ensure that I am developing good academic habits! 

Portland

I registered (well...sort of!  Keep reading.) for three conferences between the 16th and 29th of March.  The first was last week, and the last two are both on the West Coast.  I flew to Portland via Chicago yesterday, arriving at 11:30 p.m. (Pacific...2:30 a.m. Eastern!).  Fortunately, the airport shuttle driver Ryan was prompt, and my conference buddy and I were soon checked in, unpacked, and asleep.

I awoke at 6 a.m. to my cell phone ringing.  A student was calling to tell me that she couldn't come to class today.  I took that to mean that she hadn't remembered that I wasn't teaching class today!  Not long after that, we managed to make our way to the lobby, meet some other conference go-ers, find our way to the Max (Portland's trolley system), and arrive at the conference site!

Once we arrived, I had a little shock.  Apparently, I either forgot to register for this conference, or my registration got lost!  There is a little bit of humor in this, considering I was co-presenting a session at this conference with my advisor!  My name was printed in the conference program, but I was not registered to attend!  Haha.  I'm inclined to think that the error was on my end.  It is very plausible that when planning for this trip, last November, I thought I would register later and just never got around to it!  Either way, the same day registration rate was only $5 more.  My account can handle that difference.

The day was packed with good sessions, but by the end of it, my introverted self needed some silence.  As much as I have enjoyed the last week, it hasn't allowed ample time for solitude.  My roommate had plans for dinner and I made plans of my own.  I found a Starbucks, got myself a latte, walked in the drizzly rain for a little bit, and then went back to a quiet hotel room.

It was great! :)  Portland is already blooming and it's a delightful temperature, which has come to mean "not freezing."

Tomorrow is the start of the last of my three conferences.  This has a whopping 6500+ attendees.  The program book is quite literally a book.  Speaking of the book, I need to decide on my sessions for tomorrow!  Just to be clear, I am definitely registered for this one!

Lunch

At long last, I was able to reconnect with a student from a few semesters past.  She hasn't been able to come to class, but we have been keeping in touch via text.  In light of my new found freedom (haha!), I arranged to have lunch at her house.  When I arrived, she had made a proper feast for us!  She said she was celebrating that we could finally get together.

After a leisurely lunch, we had our tea. :) I've missed those little tea cups heaped full of sugar.

My Second Surprise Party :)

My students felt badly that they all hadn't been prepared to celebrate my birthday last week.  When I returned on Thursday to our class, they were ready to party once more!  I don't understand why everyone doesn't want my job! :)

Steel City

Sunday through Wednesday, I was in Steel City for an adult education conference, hoping to glean a wealth of information on teaching English to adults.  While the conference was somewhat anticlimactic, I still enjoyed getting to see a new city.  

This was my favorite house, dubbed La Petit Maison Verde. 

This is the very last picture of me as a 29 year old!

The conference may not have been all that I hoped for, but it was still a good experience and a fun trip.  Now, I have high hopes for my two conferences next week, which will take me out to the West Coast!

Birthday Surprise

My "sister", my one student and friend who is my age, decided to surprise me on my last day of class before leaving for a conference.  She knew I would be away on my birthday.  CL stopped at a store on her way to class to get a cake.

She also gave me a pair of handmade slippers!  Her aunt (who is still in China) made them.  I think they are awesome!!

The best moment of all was my students singing Happy Birthday to me.  It isn't a matter of language, because their language is advanced far above the level of Happy Birthday.  I might not be able to articulate it. I felt such love and kinship and I felt so blessed to be loved and cherished by these dear people.

After a very busy year, I am going to know what it is like to only have two jobs to juggle.  In January, I started to realize that my job requirements kept increasing.  My priorities need to be my teaching and my graduate program.  My students have started asking to meet outside of class, and I wanted to be able to meet up for coffee or for a meal with them.  I kept not having time to do so.  I missed writing, in my journal, on this blog, writing just for the love of writing.  I wanted to be able to sit through church without being poised to dash out if my phone rang because I was on call.  For that matter, I wanted to only be responsible for one phone number!

I had to have a few solid days/weeks of thinking, praying, and journaling (which is part of how I think!) to balance what I wanted to do with what I needed to do.  I wanted more time, that was undeniable.  But the challenge was to decide if I could manage it.

As it often does, it comes down to my own faith.  Will I look at the lilies of the field?  I have Matthew 6:28-34 on a little post card on my mirror because I need that reminder.

The final decision was to turn in my notice at ML and to keep my job at the gym and of course, my teaching job.  Today is my last day at ML, and I'm rather excited to turn in my badge.  It has been bittersweet at times.  Although this job has been demanding and incredibly far out of my comfort zone, it has been a blessing to me financially and relationally. The response to the news of my departure has been touching.  I've gotten sweet emails, thoughtful presents, and kind cards from the people that I've worked with for the last ten months.

It is undeniable that this was a good decision at the right time.  The journaling and thinking and praying always pays off!  I feel peace.  I feel anticipation.  I feel the thrill of a new challenge ahead of me.

My "spare" time will quickly be accounted for in the next few months.  I'm reaching the point where I need to make concrete plans for my thesis, which I will be writing in the autumn.  As part of my thesis work, I'm committing myself to language study.  Ideally, this needs to begin now for me to have any semblance of usable language by the autumn.  I also have been itching to begin the research aspect of my thesis.  And then, there is my current class, which promises to be one of my most challenge grad courses yet.  "Advanced Instructional Design and Assessment."  Yep, that doesn't sound easy.

There is also some travel in the works!  I'm in the process of sorting visas and plane tickets for countries 35 and 36, and there may be a few more border crossings in the not too distant future.  But for right now, it is time that I get ready to head into ML for my last day.

For everything there is a season, and time for every matter under heaven.  

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Proud Teacher Moment

My students amaze and impress me on a daily basis.  They are so patient with me as their teacher and they are so curious about English.  This may not always translate into fabulous English, but I'm very pleased to note visible improvements for all of my language learners.  

The student closest to my age, CL, is a gem.  She calls me her sister, which means so much to me.  She was asked to speak at my organization's Lenten Luncheon, which was focusing on the ESL program for the first time in recent years.  She was to speak for about 5 minutes, in front of approximately 80 people.  Those details alone can intimidate many people, but remember, she was also speaking in her second language, a language she knew nothing of four years ago!  She wrote her speech entirely on her own.  

We left from our ESL class to go to the luncheon.  I drove, and two other students came along to support CL. I had to laugh when I realized that I was the only non-Mandarin speaker in my car.  Although I didn't understand a word of the chatter, every now and then, English would slip into the conversation and I could get a sense of the conversation.  Then, someone would stop to translate for me so that I would feel included.  

CL was very nervous and said she couldn't eat anything for lunch until after she spoke.  Fortunately, she didn't need to wait very long.  She gave her speech and I was so proud!

She was amazing.  She made people laugh, which I told her is such a compliment when giving a speech in the USA.  She had altered her speech a bit from when she had rehearsed in front of our classroom, and her words of appreciation really humbled me.  

I have no idea if the fundraising was a success, but I certainly know that CL's speech was!  

little man

I just learned how to say, "I love my nephew" in Portuguese!  Eu amo meu sobrinho!  And he is an adorable little man, isn't he?  

Breaking the Silence!

It has been too long since I've posted anything at all!  Even though I'm currently writing a mini-paper due in two hours, I had to break the silence!

Although life has been busy, I continue to love my teaching job.  I had to share a delightful picture of my dear, dear students.  They are such joys.

As you can see, I have ten regular students now.  They represent seven countries and six different first languages.  I leave our class each day thinking that I have the best job in the world.

I really don't appreciate the assessment test my students take each term.  It is purely a reading test.  The students will read charts, graphs, or small texts, and answer multiple choice questions about the information.  It really isn't fair that my students are only tested on reading, but the past two terms, I've really made a concerted effort with my students to practice all four skills of language (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).  Rather than dismissing the test as the necessary evil, I did my best to teach them that they do have to take the test, but it doesn't test everything, and still provide them for opportunities to see their growth through other assessments as well.

When my class got their results, I had two students improve two full levels, one student improve one level, and one student was within one point of a full level gain as well! The three who stayed the same in their testing scores are my three learners who have been in the USA for 20-30 years (and one had just come back from 5 weeks in Korea).  These students would be considered fossilized learners, and it is very challenging to change patterns that have been set for such a long time.

I know these tests don't show everything but still, it was so encouraging for the students!  My administrator was impressed by the fact that all seven students on my roster were present to take the test, not to mention the results.

The best outcome was that even Hsiao Lien, who stayed the same on her test score, has improved in her spoken language.  We have been working on pronunciation and verbs a lot!  She often uses the simple present when she should be using the past, and I recently found out that Mandarin doesn't have verb tenses! Now it makes sense why she doesn't remember to use a different tense! However, if I ask her, she can produce the correct tense.  I'm so proud of each of my students.  They try so hard!  And they are doing well! There is still a lot of room for improvement, but so much of that is simply because they need more opportunities to use English in conversations with fluent English speakers.

But for now, teacher and students alike are ready for a relaxing Christmas break!

Adorable A

This adorable little girl makes us all smile and laugh on so many occasions.  Here she is trying to wear her Tia's hat!  Earlier today she was saying, "I look like a pirate!"  She's a goof.  I have been loving being so close to my sister and her kiddos.  The only downfall I have found is that with the proximity, my car doesn't have time to get warm on the cold drive home at night!

Tales from the Classroom

I certainly enjoy teaching English.  I have wonderful students, and I'm learning a lot about teaching and the English language through the process of teaching it!

However, one thing I need to learn well is how to explain the concept of vegetarianism.  I have had multiple conversations with my students about this but it doesn't translate well into some cultures.  My Asian students understand it easily.  My Middle Eastern students…not so much.

My Egyptian students made me molokheyya,  a traditional Egyptian soup made from a green vegetable.  This is typically served with chicken.  Since I have been to Egypt, my students asked me if I had had that and I said yes.  They offered to make it for me but I told them that I don't eat chicken.  The husband looked at me with concern and asked, "You only eat it over rice?  It's better with chicken."

The next day, they brought me a container of rice and of molokheyya.  Ezzat, the husband, grinned proudly at me and said, "Since you don't eat chicken, we made it with duck."

The same couple brought me Egyptian macaroni béchamel.  Macaroni with hamburger.  I thanked them but said, "I don't eat meat."  Ezzat said reassuringly, "But it is small pieces."

He's home!

Little man is home now and he's doing well! His cough is slowly loosening up and he is able to go without oxygen now!

In the midst of the noise, the busy pace, the crazy schedule, the long to do list, there is a tug to stop and be still and smile.  To just breathe the fall air.  To let go of the stress.  To lower the expectations I put on myself.

My poor little nephew has been in hospital for a week now with a viral respiratory infection.  My sister and brother-in-law are being super parents, making sure that James is never alone, and also trying to make sure that Anna's little world doesn't go pear shaped as well.

Somehow, in this week, I have managed to have almost everything need to be done.  A friend is visiting from Tanzania on Wednesday.  A project is due in my current grad class on Saturday.  I agreed a month ago to do a workshop at a conference and it's this Friday.  I am going to a TESOL conference in Philly on Saturday.  Every Thursday, I co-lead a chapel for undergraduates at my university.

I am so thankful that I dropped a course from my schedule for this term.  I couldn't be doing two right now.

I've been reading a wonderful little book called "Jesus Calling" for my devotions.  Today's entry begins with these words: "Walk peacefully with Me through this day.  You are wondering how you will cope with what is expected of you.  You must traverse this day like any other: one step at a time.  Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this and that, keep your mind on my presence and on taking the next step.  The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from me."

Wonderful words.  One step at a time, one day at a time.  In the grand scheme, the most important part of all of this is my family.  I love being able to pick my niece up from "school" and play with her in the evenings.  I love putting her to bed and hearing her sleepy voice whisper, "I love you SO much, Tia."

Last night, I spent the night at my sister's house.  Her husband was at the hospital for the night, so we snuggled like little girls in her bed, with Anna settled between us to unwind for the evening.  Being there for my sister is one of the most important things on my "list."  It tops everything else.

A Sunday Ride

By Sunday, I was aching to be out in the gorgeous weather.  Martha and I put schoolwork aside and put our bikes on the bike rack and headed to the breeches.  We took a nice hour bike ride, enjoying the gorgeous fall day.