DONE

So I'm sitting here in my room, packing up my life and realizing that this first year is over. What happened? It feels like just yesterday that I was getting ready to come and telling everyone that I was going to teach in El Salvador. Then people responding in two ways...."That will be such a great experience" or "What? Why would you want to go there?" I was going to a world, a life, and people that I didn't know and had no idea what to expect. I arrived here 11 months ago, 11 months! with eyes wide open, ready to take on anything that came my way. As I was taking things off the walls of my classroom the other day and cleaning everything up, I was thinking....did i really just complete my first year teaching? I felt like I was just putting things up on the walls and wondering what my students would be like. Time goes by SO fast!

This year has definitely been one that I will never forget and I have created my own life here and found where I fit. My friends, my support system, my house, my routines....it's been an adjustment but a life that I have grown to love! I will go home for a bit but then will be back again the end of July. Next year is going to be so great. I will have already taught everything once and I feel like I learned soooo much this year both from making mistakes and things that went well. I loved my class but I'm sure that I will love my next class just as much. We are getting a lot of new technology next year too so it's going to be a whole different experience. We are all getting new computers, projectors in our classrooms, and a document camera. Which from what we had this year, is a HUGE improvement. I had an ancient computer this year and just an overhead.

Everyone has been asking...do you think you will stay longer? How was it? Will you be there more than just next year? What are you going to do? And my answer is always...I have no idea. I could see myself staying a third year, I could see myself leaving after my contract ends next year. I really have NO idea! Life here is great....sometimes I feel like it's a dream. I didn't have a car all of this year but I'm thinking I might buy one when I get back in the fall. I'm coming back early to do welcoming committee next year and welcome all of the new teachers, I am excited! It will be fun to be on the other side of things.

I get home tomorrow and then am leaving for Colorado on Sunday. I will be there for a week and then I will be home to see everyone and all of you that I have missed so much! Thank you for all of your support this year, positive thoughts and words of encouragement to get through all of the hard times. It has been an amazing year and I can't wait for the next :) 24 hours from now I will be in the US...just in Houston but in the US!!!

First year teaching....check

Graduation.

I can not believe it is over. It takes me a long time to realize things and it is hitting me more and more every day that this school year is done. I have not cried yet though. People say that you never forget your first class from your first year teaching and that is so true. I throw every part of myself into teaching and relationships so I got really attached to these kids. I know that I will have a whole different bunch next year that I will love but these kids were extra special to me.


WIth some of my girls at graduation :)

I still have to work on Monday and Tuesday but then I am done and coming home Thursday! We had graduation yesterday morning and that was hard but I didn't cry or get too upset there because I knew I would see the kids again at the party last night. Leaving the party, I didn't cry but I was hit with a huge feeling of emotion and sadness. The party was organized by the moms and was just a party for the kids. As everything is here, it was over the top. It was like a wedding reception haha. At the beginning, there was a slideshow of pictures of the kids all the way from kinder up until now. Then it was a big dance party so I was up dancing with all of the kids. When I was leaving, I was saying goodbyes and a few of the girls and a couple boys started crying. It's crazy how much of an impact you have in the lives of kids. For me, it was such a great year. It was definitely challenging at times and tested my patience but overall, for a first year, it was great.

This weekend, I am just relaxing mostly. A big group of teachers are going down to the beach club one last time before one of the families leaves to go back to the states. Tomorrow a set of parents from the school (who have taken a lot of us in as part of their family) are having a goodbye party for all of us at their farm out near the volcanoes with pool and all. Then I work Monday and Tuesday, pack up Wednesday and head out early Thursday morning. I can not believe it. I am feeling very excited and very ready to come home! I can't wait to see all of you.

First Decamaron trip

A lovely place :)


So we had the long 4 day weekend this weekend and I spent it relaxing mostly. For 5th grade, we had to enter our grades before the long weekend which was nice because I have had nothing to do this weekend while everyone else is stressing out to get everything submitted. Today I'm going to clean my room and maybe rearrange it haha.

Sunday night I went to a different all inclusive resort with a group of friends...7 of us total. It was a REALLY nice place. It was all inclusive so all drinks and food and everything were included. By food I mean constant meals ALL the time....I think I gained 10 pounds. You have breakfast which is an all you can eat buffet and then there is a "snack" again before lunch but the snacks are like meals all over again. Then it's lunch again. Thank goodness we were only there 2 days because I consumed enough for a whole week.


One of the many pools at Decamaron.

First injury from soccer

Strange how it's just bruised around the outside? Who knows?

So I have been playing soccer on Fridays with a bunch of men at the school. I am always the only girl that plays but it's a mix of coaches, janitors, people that work in the cafeteria, maintenance people...really whoever wants to come out and play. Well some of the guys kick it REALLY hard, as you can see in the evidence on my leg. I was defending one of the guys and we was winding up to take a big shot and I didn't want to get hit in the face so I turned my body but my leg got in the way. This picture was taken 3 days after I got hit. Today is day 4 and it's getting better but still a pretty nice battle wound. I think it's the worst ball mark I have ever had haha it really doesn't hurt that bad but it makes me look pretty tough haha.

The days are flying by and I'm at NINE days until I'm home and only 2 days of school left. I'm feeling like school is pretty much done because tomorrow is really the only day that I have to manage because on Thursday we are just watching a movie in the morning and then playing games in the field all afternoon that the PE teachers organized. I am having very mixed feelings about the school year ending and about coming home. I am very excited for summer but am going to miss my class and these kids SO much. Also, coming home is such a transition and throws the emotions all off but I am VERY VERY excited to see everyone that I have been missing so much! I will be home 5 weeks.....until July 20th.