HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Welp today is Halloween, so I figured I'd share a few pics I took of the younger kids that came in costume to school on Friday. Also Friday ended up being a huge party day for the kids that ended up lasting almost all of the day so most of my time was spent chaperoning and then playing in the faculty ping-pong tournament (I went out my first round but watched most of it). Okay well enjoy the pics if the kids weren't so wild most of the time I'd want to take them home with me.

Hmmm... well what to tell...

Its been almost two weeks since my last post--and well quite a bit has happened-- I've made a few new friends thanks to one of my fellow teachers at the school. Which one of them gave me my first real salsa lesson. I'm actually not too terrible. Or at least thats what she told me to be nice... Then I went to a Karaoke Bar here in Cali and gave a pretty stirring rendition of Roxanne by The Police that my new friends were really impressed by, one of them kept asking me if I would sing it again.

I went to see my soccer team play again, once again another victory--maybe I really am the team's lucky charm. I may go to see them later this week if the invitation holds up and I'm not too busy.

I also had a chance to go to The Cumberland Presbyterian Church (the denomination I grew up going to) here in Cali, which was a really cool experience and felt a lot like being a kid, high ceilings and I had no idea what the preacher was talking about, though I did understand a few words here and there. Ha ha ha

Let's see the break I had went well. I had a normal weekend, followed by four days of meetings, 4 days off and then a four day school week.

Unfortunately this week is normal and it is the end of the first quarter which means after tomorrow almost all I will be doing is giving tests for the rest of the week. Two of which I need to write tonight. but one will be for first grade science which should be relatively easy, and so should the one I plan on making for third grade English. Though I did find out that this weekend is another three day weekend which I do not mind at all.

Also I received three packages last week a big thank you to the friends and family that sent them--I also found out that packages over a certain claimed amount/weight are subject to a tariff that I have no idea what it would require to pay in advance. So check with me if you want to send me anything things that are excessive can cost me excessively too. Though I will be home December 21st til January 7th and despite a few dates that are blacked out for specific friends and family let me know when you want to hang out and I'll try and make it happen.

If you want to give me a late birthday present or go out to grab a beer let me know I'll have no problem in meeting up and hanging out. Move quick dates are going fast (not really). Ok well here are some pictures for you all.

My new freinds from the University Univalle, Pic from the soccer game, a drawing a student did of me on the marker board in the third grade class room, a pic of the students during a student recognition program, and me and my beard in case you forgot what we look like.

Suprise!

You are all in LUCK! I had almost forgot that one of the men sitting in the box with us had a camera. And he just emailed the pictures to Roberto--who forwarded them to me. So check it out! Also the man standing next to me in the one picture is Roberto Valderrama- So you can all see who he is--being I've mentioned him a few times.

From the Weirdest to the Easiest Week Yet!

So sorry i haven't updated for awhile. I have had a few things going on from fighting some flu like bug to issues with international finance. I've been continually bombarded with stuff for the last week or so. But... this week is pretty great. Firstly the students are on Fall Break (more or less) which is ten days long as I understand it. And Teachers have in-service meetings Mon-Thursday but they are only from 8:00-1:30 So short days and a short week. So I'm sorta relishing this week for all its worth. Trying to go ahead and get things prepared for the next few weeks as well as taking some time to breathe and do a bit of relaxing as well.

Though I can say I finally say that I got to experience a real Soccer match last Sunday. Soccer fans here are so intense--its kind of amazing. I can honestly say that I have never had so much fun at a sporting event in my entire life as watching the Local rivalry match between America de Cali and Deportivo de Cali -- I found my self surrounded by fans of (Depotivo de) Cali Fans and quickly fell in their midst. Cali ended up winning the Game 6-4. I really think I could get into futbol if I get to go to a few more matches while I'm down here. Yes, I know its weird I am slowly becoming a sports fan--but Cali played with so much heart and an intense passion that it was hard not to get swept up in the game and to find myself shouting "GOL!" with thousands of Colombians in the Stadium.

I only wish I'd taken a camera so I could show you all pictures...

Yikes!

Just realized it's been 9 days since I posted anything here. Sorry about that folks. Things are progressing here I feel that I am starting to get a better grip on my classes--though its definitely a slow and steady wins the race type of scenario there are no quick fixes involved here.

Today has been interesting so far. I have had to break up two fights today. One in my advanced English class, and on in First grade--though i can't say which fight was more justified from my perspective. Honestly when I compare the two side by side I see more similarities than differences except that I sort of expected more of my Adv. kids. Also there was randomly a band here today to play for a small assembly for the 10th & 11th Grades--they also played during the student's break and during lunch. I was surprised by how good they were--I actually really enjoyed hearing them.

Oh and I feel I am finally caught up on sleep. Yesterday I took a nap around 6 or so and slept til almost 10--when i watched two episodes of Scrubs and then fell back asleep 'til 5 this morning--when I promptly rolled over made sure my alarm was set for 6 and went back to sleep. I figured I got around 10-11 hours of sleep. This morning I felt great. Expect a post Friday or sometime this weekend.

Today is weird...

I feel so out of it today and am just feeling really homesick. I miss having friends I can call or places I can hop in my car and drive to. I miss having a car. Mostly I miss being able to talk to people in English--I almost know enough Spanish to survive--but I don't know enough to have an actual conversation of any depth with anyone. I just don't know what I'm doing here and it almost feels like I've made a terrible mistake--I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and that I may never have another chance to do something like this--but the last couple days have just been sort of rough you know?

Pictures from break yesterday