Recap :)

August through January has been a blur of milestones, because of travel and life changes. I will attempt to recap, but I'm already looking forward to another good year of more changes!

August involved a flurry of a new roommate in the apartment (my mother), new ESL classes, a new baby in the family (my cousin had a sweet little girl) and beginning to work on developing a proposal for my thesis project (a requirement for graduation). I blissfully reduced my employers to one!

September proved more memorable.  I clarified my thesis topic, deciding that I wanted to create an English program for teenagers that would teach peace and conflict resolution through English lessons. Another cousin (Havenbird!) got married in a beautiful ceremony on the family farm and a day later, I left for the Middle East to begin work on my thesis in an appropriate context.

October was spent in a little town called Beit Sahour, which is adjacent to Bethlehem, in the West Bank. I helped to run a coffeeshop, learned how to make a killer Caramel Latte, baked sweets for the coffeeshop and hungry friends, taught a lovely group of guys to play Dutch Blitz, enjoyed falafel for dinner on a regular basis, went to weddings, and danced and laughed until the days blurred together. The intersection of identity and language became a little clearer and a lot more complex through conversations with Palestinian youth. 

In the midst of it all, I interviewed (Skype) for jobs in China, Taiwan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, and viewed countless other job offers. Completion of my project meant that graduation would become a reality in December, and my plans included a job in a nice warm climate. None of the jobs seemed quite right. The job in Taiwan was at a language institute and would include teaching a lot of young learners. The job in China was with a new program and they wanted me to assume the head teacher position, which would include massive amounts of program planning as well as teaching. The job in Turkey was unpredictable hours. The job in Saudi came with a number of perks meant to counteract the restrictions of the culture, but I was still unsure. 

In the quiet of a Bethlehem afternoon, I read a staff email from my teaching job in the USA, announcing a new position that would opened in November. This position offered more hours and would involve teaching an intensive English class for newly arrived refugees. After an email conversation that lasted about a week, I surprised myself and submitted my updated resume and letter of interest to my supervisor. 

Around the same time, my 3 1/2 year old niece announced during a 1 a.m. Skype call (1 a.m. for me!) that "Mommy and I are getting a new baby!" I squealed at a volume that rivaled the squeal of my apartment-mate in Beit Sahour when she found out earlier that evening that we had a mouse. (The mouse became known as LeRoy and he was relocated successfully to the garden after several weeks.) Th news that there would be another baby in the family filled me with excitement and added to my growing sense that maybe I shouldn't take a job overseas just yet. 

I left Palestine at the beginning of November. I'm not sure if I left part of my heart there or if I brought part of Palestine home in my heart, but regardless, the six weeks I spent there had an incredible impact on me. I flew via Frankfurt, Germany, and arrived later the same day in Rome. A friend had spent a month in Italy studying Italian and we had planned to spend the last few days of her time in Rome together. I arrived around midnight at a gorgeous apartment, a few hundred feet from the Spanish Steps. 

The next few days were spent revisiting Rome. I enjoyed a coffee at a coffeeshop founded in 1760 with a long history of famous patrons. I wandered with camera in hand to some of my favorite sites. Meredith and I window shopped and savored gelato and delicious meals at some of her favorite spots.  We talked as I struggled to begin to make sense of my last two months, trying to understand freedom, injustice, reconciliation, and peace. Our trip culminated in a fantastic morning vespa tour of the "hidden" history of Rome. Valerio and Ipazzio were excellent tour guides. 

On November 9th, I left Rome to fly back to D.C., flying again through Frankfurt. I sat an airport coffee bar, struck by the irony that as I left one place divided by a massive wall, I was watching news stories on the 25th anniversary of the collapse of another wall. Berlin's wall may be history, but the wall cutting through Palestine still stands. 

I arrived in the USA later that day, a Sunday, and my new position officially started on Monday. I burrowed under my blankets to keep warm as I tried to plan a multi-level ESL class for refugees who had been in the USA less than a month and simultaneously finish my project. Cold, gray November days blurred together as my eyes became strained from endless hours of looking at a computer screen and reading about teaching strategies.

December 8th was the first day of my new class. December 13th was the deadline for my capstone project and the deadline for proposal submissions for an ESL conference. December 21st was the due date for my comprehensive exam. In any spare minute, I searched for possible apartments to rent (My parents are now both back in the USA and living in their apartment, which I had been renting in their absence.) December was a month were every minute counted and if I wasn't editing my thesis or writing a lesson plan, I was thinking about what I still needed to do. 

Miraculously, I survived. My supervisor accepted my thesis, my comprehensive exam completed on time, my classes stopped being quite as overwhelming to plan, and the committee for the ESL conference accepted my proposal without revisions.

My diploma arrived in the mail in January. It's official! I will walk in our graduation ceremony in May but it was celebration enough to finally see that piece of paper announcing that I am FINISHED! And now, one week remains in January! Although it still seems surreal that I don't have to do homework, I already find myself thinking about other ways to continue academically. My advisor and her husband were traveling in January and offered me the chance to house-sit for them, since I have yet to find an apartment that fits my budget. As I look around, their tables are decorated with my Arabic flashcards, International Phonetic Alphabet flashcards, printouts relating to teaching pronunciation and developing literacy, and a stack of library books. 

As I think about what I've just written, I'm amazed. I am blessed. In 2014, I visited Tanzania, Brazil, Palestine, and Italy. I turned 30. I graduated with a M.Ed TESOL. I started a new job. I learned more about my strengths and grew in some of my weak areas. I stopped caring about some things and became more passionate about others. I've been encouraged and supported by friends and family around the globe (literally!). It has been an incredible year. 2015 holds a lot of promise as well!   

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! 

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!

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

Teaching English

Life happens quickly in the USA.  I haven't had much time for writing, and I miss it.  I hope to do better at blogging in the coming weeks.

I'm now in week three of my first class in my M.Ed program.  So far...LOVING it.  I even found a local ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching job.  I've applied for it, and we shall see what the employer thinks of my resume.  The job would stretch me but it would also be fantastic experience.  My advisor for my M.Ed has even offered to help me if I need ideas for lessons.  

This week, we were tasked with creating a graphic to show the diversity of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Contexts.  It doesn't take much research to see that English is in demand, in a plethora of nations and situations.  

I had the advantage on this assignment.  I still appreciated seeing the other examples, but it was really special to reflect on the number of ways I've been involved in TESOL.  

Six years ago, I was in China.  I remember being stunned by the number of people who just walked up to me and wanted to speak in English.  High school students, university students, business professionals, sales associates, even national teachers of English wanted to speak with a native English speaker.  It was humbling and a little overwhelming to consider that they wanted to speak to me, a 22 year old Zimbabwean/American girl who didn't even know what she wanted to do with her life.  

And now, six years later, I feel so blessed to have had those experiences. As I flip through pictures, I have only good memories.  I don't remember all of the names, but their faces and their desire to learn are forever stored in my mind.  

It is their passion to learn that has been my motivation to do this M.ED.  English language learners who have that much passion for their studies deserve to have a well qualified teacher.  

Farewell to the tropics

Today is my last full day in Mozambique.  I'm surprised by how sad I feel to say goodbye.  The church had a special place in the service to say goodbye to me.  I was given several really thoughtful gifts and during the process, I started crying.  I think that was actually a source of great entertainment for the church, although not in a malicious manner.

The community pool for my parent's little complex has been a source of much joy for me.  In the last few weeks, the pool's temperatures have soared to perfection.  It may not be an ideal pool by American standards (considering the water is very chlorinated and usually has a variety of palm fronds, ants, and occasionally a roach floating in its depths.  But I'll miss it.  I'll miss the little Bronze Mannikins who line up side by side on a branch of the almond tree to catch the last rays of the day.  I'll miss the pink blossoms of the frangipani.  I'll miss the bliss of warm water on a hot day.

 

My parent's house has been home for four months.  I keep snapping "just one more picture," wanting to capture people, places and memories in megapixels for preservation.  I have mementos taped into my journal to accompany my written notes and souvenirs packed into my suitcases.  But the best parts will still be here in Mozambique, waiting until I come back, whenever ever that may be.  In the meantime, I'm so thankful that I will be able to picture my folks at home and at work.  Mozambique and her people will have a special place in my heart.  

 

The next step of my journey will begin tomorrow.  I have a sneaking feeling that the East Coast of the USA will offer weather a teensy bit colder than I like.  Although goodbyes are making me sad today, with every goodbye there is another hello.  The hello at the end of this journey will be my US family :)  See you the other side of the Pond!

It has been odd to read about and see pictures of the effects of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast and yet continue to enjoy the summer heat in Moz.  Our thoughts and prayers have been with and will continue to be with those of you on the East Coast. 

I am gearing up for another transition.  I have less than two weeks remaining here and I'm afraid the return to PA's winter might be a real shock to my body!  My four months in Moz have passed quickly and I have loved my time here.  My memories of Mozambique will be softly colored by sunlight and smell of the ocean. 

This lovely fellow is a Mangrove Kingfisher.  I love his colors!  The other day, he was flitting around the trees in our garden while I enjoyed the breeze and spent my quiet start to the day. 

 

And of course, I'll miss my little gecko friends.  We have spotted a new little one inside the house, but this fellow below is on our walkway between the carpark and the veranda.  

 

I recently came across a comment by Richard Fuller, who was an engineer and architect in the USA.  He said, "There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes.”  I rather liked that observation. 

Ferry across the Shire

Our journey of the past week required a river crossing.  The Shire River isn't very wide at the particular point we crossed, but it would be during the rainy season.  The surrounding area is gorgeous, as you can see from these pictures.

This picture above explains my comment in an earlier post about the Beira Hillbillies.  We packed every possible space, both in the car and tied to the roof rack!  We sat three people in the front, three in the second row, and two in the back along with luggage for all of us for five days, tents, sleeping bags, two 50kg bags of rice, teaching supplies, and an accordion. (On the way back, we didn't have the two bags of rice, but we gained two huge stalks of bananas and four (live) chickens.)

My parents!

The ferry can accommodate four vehicles at a time, with some careful parking.  The men use a hand-crank to move the ferry along the cables.  The river isn't wide, but the time to cross the river depends on the number of cars and the weight of the cargo. The ferry costs 80 meticais per vehicle (roughly $3).  

For smaller items and groups, a canoe presents a faster option.  Crossing the river in a dugout takes about five minutes.  As muzungus, we paid about $1 per person, but I doubt everyone else pays that rate! :)

I recently read a book about David Livingstone and suggested it to Mom.  She was reading it on this trip.  She brought a passage to my attention that mentioned Livingstone's crossing the "crocodile infested Shire River."  Our crossing didn't involve either crocodiles or hippos due to the activity in the area, but they still swim in the Shire.  On our return trip, I was offered a change to ride in one of the dugouts.  Of course I said yes!  

My Livingstone Moment

I felt the thrill of history in my brief canoe trip.  Livingstone probably had a few rides in the same kind of canoe in his day, on the very same river. 

Livingstone said, "“If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.” He also once stated, "I will go anywhere, provided it be forward."  I think I would have liked him.

Rainy Days of September

I have been in Moz seven weeks and yet this week has held all of the rain!  The rain was minimal until today, mostly just sprinkles lasting five minutes or less.  Today was an indoor day.  I stepped out onto the porch for a while to enjoy the sound of the rain on the tin roof.  Eventually, I got my camera and a brolly to try to get some rainy day snaps, but the strong wind made that quite a challenge.  

This bedraggled looking kitty doesn't belong to us but frequently takes residence on our veranda furniture.  He/she is very skittish and dashes off, even into the rain, whenever we repossess the veranda.  

The past week has been busier than most for my parents.  We have a couple visiting from the USA and my parents have been busy working with them on different projects.  I've declared it the perfect time to take life even easier, partly because it means fewer bodies fitting into the Prado.  Instead, I've taken up some of the house cleaning duties, read a number of books, editing and sorted some of my thousands of photographs, played Scrabble, and spent about an hour a day in the pool.  Sadly, my pool time was compromised today due to the inclement weather. I've also been doing a fair bit of research online for some future options.  No decisions have been made yet, but several serious options are emerging from my many daydreams.  

Lovers Leap in Tennessee

When I returned to the USA, I started to get the idea from a lot of directions that people were concerned about me because I don't have a plan.  If you know me, I like plans.  But at this point, I don't have one.  Actually, if you know me really well, you know I normally have about twenty plans and I just have to pick one!  And  yes, I do have a lot of different plans right now, but I don't know which one to follow yet.  I can't explain it.  I just have a strong sense that I need to wait.  Slow down.  And just take the one little baby step in front of me.

I have probably mentioned this before, but I have often been recalling a line Robert Redford speaks in the film version of Out of Africa.  He says, "God made the world round so we couldn't see too far down the road."  (Actually, that may not be exact, because it has been ages since I watched the film and I have a tendency to switch words around!  Also, I love the story, but have never actually finished the book, so I'm not sure if it is a line from the book originally.)  Back to the quote.  I just love that reminder.  It tugs at my adventurous side when my detail loving side gets anxious.

A few months ago, I started to get a very strong mental picture of my waiting.  I had a friend who frustrated me when she said I seemed "lost."  To me, lost is not at all the right word but I didn't know how to explain what I felt.  I mulled it over for a while, and this is what I've come to see.

I feel like I know exactly where I am.  I feel confident that I am where I should be.  But I do know that this is a temporary situation.  Whether I stay or go, something more permanent has to happen.  This picture in my mind is so clear.  Near Chattanooga, Tennessee, there is a place called Rock City at Lookout Mountain.  At one spot, the caretakers have placed a marker, pointing out that from this vantage point,  you can see landmarks in seven states.

I feel like I'm standing at that marker.  I don't feel lost at all.  I know where I am and it is the right place for me today.  There are so many directions I can see, and the view is amazing.   It is as though God is holding me here.  It is not a punishment or a lack of hearing His voice, but rather a chance to take in the beauty.

There is a waterfall there, 140 feet tall.  It was created when Rock City became a tourist spot.  I have a love of waterfalls, and for some reason, I've always loved this picture, which either Dad or I took in 2003 when our family visited Rock City.

The High Falls of the Lookout Mountain

The High Falls of the Lookout Mountain

Rock City has a legend of a Native American man who fell in love with a woman from another tribe.  When their love was discovered, he was executed by being thrown from the cliffs.  She was forced to watch, but escaped her guardians and jumped over the cliffs herself.  You can read the story for yourself, found on a old Tennessee postcard.  The lookout point is also called Lovers Leap because of this legend.  It is a very tragic story for such a lovely spot.

In my waiting, I have come to a point of having one step more certain.  I have finally bought a plane ticket, which helps to settle my plans for the coming months.  Mid July, I'll be making a ridiculously long 40 hour journey to Mozambique.  My parents are using their connections to find several opportunities for me to keep busy.  The really exciting part is that I will be staying in Mozambique for four months, returning to the USA about a week before Thanksgiving!  

The month until I leave will be pretty busy.  This Friday, I'm driving out to Lake Huron, for a week of retreat and prayer.  I will be taking my camera, but sadly, you'll have to wait to see pictures.  I'm not supposed to be using a computer or phone during the week I'm there!  After that week, I will be back in Pennsylvania, but then going to Massachusetts and perhaps Maine the following week.  Before I know it, it will be July and I'll pack and go to the airport.  Of course, I'll be keeping you posted on my travels!