Today begins Half Term! This is the break in the middle of the term (hence the name) so the boarders can go home and so everyone can have a break. School got out at 12pm today and we don't have to go back until Tuesday!
And...I'm going to Cape Town! And...I'm SO incredibly excited!
More details to come when I get back!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Trip to the beach!
On Saturday morning Misty and I headed to Port Alfred (a coastal town about 45 mins away) with Misty's mentor teacher! Her sister owns a Bed & Breakfast there and generously gave us a discount on a great room. It was amazing! We were able to lay on the beach (without a sweatshirt) for the first time since I have been here. Although it wasn't super hot, it was definitely warm enough to lay in a bathing suit and it felt glorious!
Sunday we went horseback riding on the beach! I had never done this before and it was absolutely wonderful! We rode about 15 minutes outside of town to a horse farm to meet a group of 3 other people and 2 guides. We rode through the hills and then on to the beach. Although it was extrememly windy, it was absolutely lovely! I have always wanted to do this and never expected to have this opportunity in South Africa! This weekend was like a mini (much needed) vacation and it was awesome!
Sunday we went horseback riding on the beach! I had never done this before and it was absolutely wonderful! We rode about 15 minutes outside of town to a horse farm to meet a group of 3 other people and 2 guides. We rode through the hills and then on to the beach. Although it was extrememly windy, it was absolutely lovely! I have always wanted to do this and never expected to have this opportunity in South Africa! This weekend was like a mini (much needed) vacation and it was awesome!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Sports Day
Today was Sports Day at Prep! This was a lot like field day in the States but only with activities that related to athletics (track & field). Each student competes within their houses of Tigers, Griffin, and Lions and earns points depending on their placement. The competetion was extrememly close this year so it defintiely made it interesting when they got to the final relay race.
Speaking of which, I had to run in one as well. Towards the end of the day there was a 4 x 100 race betweeen the male teachers, dads, mom, Grade 7's, guy stooges, and girl stooges/teachers. The girl's team needed another member and somehow I got talked into it. Of course I did horribly in my jeans and bare feet but it was really fun! And we didn't come last!
I was able to help with high jump during the day and although I just recorded what heights the students succeeded at, it was fun! I enjoyed being able to see some of the top prep boys again too! All of the students seemed to really enjoy themselves for sure. I was even able to get a little sun on my cheeks; the weather was perfect! It is slowly but surely getting warmer here and I am loving every second of the sunshine!
Speaking of which, I had to run in one as well. Towards the end of the day there was a 4 x 100 race betweeen the male teachers, dads, mom, Grade 7's, guy stooges, and girl stooges/teachers. The girl's team needed another member and somehow I got talked into it. Of course I did horribly in my jeans and bare feet but it was really fun! And we didn't come last!
I was able to help with high jump during the day and although I just recorded what heights the students succeeded at, it was fun! I enjoyed being able to see some of the top prep boys again too! All of the students seemed to really enjoy themselves for sure. I was even able to get a little sun on my cheeks; the weather was perfect! It is slowly but surely getting warmer here and I am loving every second of the sunshine!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Grade 2 has girls!
I forgot how much I missed having girls in my class! Today was the first day for me in Grade 2 and it was wonderful! I am going to be working with Mrs. Fowlds in Grade 2 for the next 5 weeks...with girls! Since the kids are so young, they haven't split them up yet and I'm really glad. Although I absolutely loved being with the Grade 4 boys, I really enjoyed having some cuteness and sass today! All of the students as well as the staff were extremely nice and welcoming! Since I had at least met all of them it was a much smoother transition too.
Junior Prep is putting on their annual end of the year play and they are having rehersals every morning. I somehow got talked into helping the dancers but it has actually been really fun! They are so adorable trying so hard to get all of their moves right, especially the boys. It will definitely be interesting to see when they actually do their performance and luckily I will still be here to witness it!
Although I was sad to leave Grade 4, today was an excellent start to Grade 2 and I am looking forward to everything that is to come!
Junior Prep is putting on their annual end of the year play and they are having rehersals every morning. I somehow got talked into helping the dancers but it has actually been really fun! They are so adorable trying so hard to get all of their moves right, especially the boys. It will definitely be interesting to see when they actually do their performance and luckily I will still be here to witness it!
Although I was sad to leave Grade 4, today was an excellent start to Grade 2 and I am looking forward to everything that is to come!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Last Day in Grade 4
Today was my last official day in Grade 4! Although I will still be working at the same school, I am going down to the Junior School of St. Andrews Prep (Grades 1-3). It still has the same headmaster, etc but is in a building down the hill with different teachers, different students and is just a different atmosphere in general. I am sad to leave Mrs. Hobson, the boys, and all of the staff but it's not too bad because I know I am able to come back.
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Grade 4's in class
The boys made me a book of their drawings to bring back with me to the States and it was so incredibly sweet! They each painted something that would remind me of them. Some of them drew a self-portrait, others drew themselves playing sports or something about sports and I even had one boy draw an American flag. They each had a message on it as well. I got a section of the Irish blessing, lots of "Remember us forever" and my favorite was, "When you look at the moon, we will be together!" They gave this to me during Big Classroom along with a "125th Anniversary" coffee mug. Mrs. Hobson also got me a book about Grahamstown that all of the boys signed as well.
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To finish off our air transport unit, the boys made paper airplanes and we had a competetion to see whose could fly the furthest!
The last part of the day we went out to the field for a party! We had donuts and Coke followed by a game of "Open the Gates" that was kind of like "Sharks and Minnows." It was definitely a great last day!
Our class
(Horrible picture of me but the best one overall)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Camp Out and Sponsored Walk
This weekend was the annual Camp out and Sponsored Walk at Prep. If you haven’t noticed there is always something going on…but I like it that way! I guess with it being a boarding school they have to keep those boys busy doing something or they would just get into trouble!
Some of my Grade 4's at their tents!
Friday night started the camp out. This was a mandatory outing where all of the boys as well as the male teachers left after school to head out to a farm about 20 minutes outside of town. They pitched their tents and bonded over a camp fire! A few of the teachers and I went out for the braai (cookout) and to see what all they were getting into. The boys seemed to be having a wonderful time just being boys!
Me with some of the boys!
Saturday morning was the Sponsored Walk. This is a 15 kilometer (9.4 mile) walk from the camp site through fields all the way back to the school. This is done every year as a fundraiser where the students raise money for participating in the walk. Families, staff, and other people in the community participate in the walk as well so of course I did too!
The path of the Sponsored Walk
I actually really enjoyed participating in the walk! Although it was pretty long, it was very entertaining especially walking for over 2 hours with a group of boys. I heard some crazy stories and got asked some crazy questions as well, especially about life in America! After getting back to the school there was another braai and time to hang out with all of the boys and staff. It was a really nice weekend!
The last picture is espeically for my little brother! We walked passed this sign and I made my boys stop just so we could take a picture! It reminded me of you! Just for you baby brother...
Friday, October 1, 2010
Stretched but still the same
Every day before break, all of the boys in the entire school (all 126 of them) gather in the courtyard for "Big Classroom." This is a time where one of the teachers share a little word of encouragement/devotion type thing and all of staff give announcements, etc. It was totally random how it happened but, today I led it!
I happened to have enough of the "USA" Silly Bandz that I brought to share with the whole school so I thought that would be an excellent illustration. I talked about how God puts us in situations to stretch us like rubber bands and make us better people but we always keep our same shape. Of course I talked about my expereince in coming to a new country and how it has been really difficult at times, getting made fun of for the way I say "water" and stuff. But just because something is difficult, you mustn't just give up! God only allows us to go through things that we can handle with his help.
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 Love this!
Of course, all of the boys absolutely loved the Silly Bandz and they all fought over who got the peace sign as well as the dollar sign. It was so cute! It was a really good opportunity to tell everyone how much I appreciate all of their hospitality because I will be moving down to Grade 2 at Junior Prep next week. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and I was really glad that I was able to share with them!
I happened to have enough of the "USA" Silly Bandz that I brought to share with the whole school so I thought that would be an excellent illustration. I talked about how God puts us in situations to stretch us like rubber bands and make us better people but we always keep our same shape. Of course I talked about my expereince in coming to a new country and how it has been really difficult at times, getting made fun of for the way I say "water" and stuff. But just because something is difficult, you mustn't just give up! God only allows us to go through things that we can handle with his help.
"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 Love this!
Of course, all of the boys absolutely loved the Silly Bandz and they all fought over who got the peace sign as well as the dollar sign. It was so cute! It was a really good opportunity to tell everyone how much I appreciate all of their hospitality because I will be moving down to Grade 2 at Junior Prep next week. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and I was really glad that I was able to share with them!
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