Hello everyone,
Well, I don't even know where or when I last wrote. I'm guessing it was right when I returned from joy island. Did I tell you about that? If not, then good. If so, then you have to read it again. Bwa ha ha. J/k. Anyways, we took a trip to an island. This island is special, because you have to time it just right to get there, because the tide will go out and you won't be able to reach it. Evidentally last year the group tried to go to the island and they ended up pushing all evening and didn't arrive until the next day. We were more fortunate. We only had to push the boat a short ways. But it was still and adventure having all the SM's out pushing the boat through the shallow water. Our puppy, Match (which means stinky) came with us. He's getting so big now. He actually belongs to Arbee...but he's basically our dog, because he hangs out on our porch and enjoys to spread our trash all over. Anyways, back to joy island. I'm glad I ate dinner on the way to the island, because we were tired when we arrived. And it was dark. So I found some trees to set my hammock up on. The island smelled bad from rotton coconut milk...but it was still nice to just get out to camp. We always need a chance to slow down. "Island time" is somewhat of a myth...so far. I got into my hammock and was stuck like glue. Even though the other SM's were up and about I was so tired. Nelita and David Crawford were up building a rain shelter. Some of the other sm's were preparing dinner. Others were just talking. But I was enjoying just laying in my hammock in solitude. It was refreshing. When I was just comfortable enough to drift off to sleep Match came over to my hammock. He was pawing at me and started to bite my hammock until I let him up with me. He smelled so bad...wet, dirty dog that has probably been playing with rotton coconuts. But I enjoyed his company anyways. We snuggled a bit, until his puppiness got to him and he had to check out the action around the camp. So he stayed around long enough to make me smell like him. Then once I was drifting off to sleep again he was back. Wanting back in my hammock. And being the soft heart that I am I let him in. I don't know how long it was before I drifted to sleep. But fortunately some of the SM's heard from Mr. B that it would probably rain, so they set up a tarp. About 2:00 in the morning about 25 SM's were crammed underneath the tarp on a single cement slab. We tried to sleep, but we were crammed in like sardines. We ended up just laying wherever we could. It was a fun bonding experience though. In the morning I went snorkeling. I saw some squid which was exciting. And when I was in the boat I saw a lot of sting rays. But I didn't see one while snorkeling. I rode the waves a bit, but decided to go in when the current became strong and I became tired. So I went back, ate lunch...and yes, I slept more. As bonding as our experience was, you can't get a very good night's sleep piled on top of 3 other people. I went home on the early boat, because I felt so exhausted. I returned home and slept all afternoon, got up for about 2 hours, and then went back to sleep for the night. It was wonderful to catch up on so much sleep. The following week wasn't too stressful, so I was grateful about that.
Last Friday (not yesterday) we went on the elementary school picnic. I was with the 7th and 8th graders. But technically I was only in charge of the 8th graders since I'm their sponsor. We went to Nett Point, which is a dock that you can jump off of and swim. It's salt water. The students felt that it was highly necessary to throw all of the teachers off the dock into the water. So I didn't last that long dry. I was thrown in probably about 4 or 5 times. I would pull myself out of the water, think I was in the clear, turn around to see Chris, followed by 5 other 7th graders screaming, "Get Miss Abston." At about that time it's over for me. Fortunately I wore sunblock on that day, because everyone, even the locals burned. I didn't know the locals would burn. But this past week I had many students with pealing faces. And this was quite embarrasing for them because they're not accustomed to burning and such. I had one student ask me if she would stay white if all her brown skin pealed off. I ensured her that in a couple weeks she'd be back to normal. She was feeling so self conscious that the next day she didn't come to school. I think it's the age group. They are very worried about what others think of them. My 8th graders...the jewels they are, decided that since it wasn't a required school day, that they wouldn't come along. So I only had 10 come from the class of 25. Yet they still showed up in a truck, one chewing betal nut...arg. They weren't under school control, but I was upset that they showed up because they were all running around by themselves...who knows if they're parents know...or even care. But Mrs. Villiegas made sure to encourage me and told me to just worry about the ones that were with the school. Nothing big came from it, but I feel like Mr. B should make a rule that it's either required to be with the school, or not show up where the school is. Something to that effect.
Last Sabbath afternoon we went on a hike to Sohkez Mountain where we were able to see some old Japanese guns from WWII. Since this isn't the states, there aren't ropes or anything restricting you from looking at everything. So we took pictures on them and stuff. They are huge. Some are become overgrown and rusting. It was a nice little hike. Then we hiked to the top of Sohkez mountain where the tower is...not sure what the tower is for. Perhaps it's for telephone. We climbed up on top of the tower house onto the roof and looked at the beautiful view. We took pictures. It was a lot of fun. We could see in the distance that the rain was coming...and coming fast. So we decided that we should head back down. It's funny, cause here you actually see the rain sweeping towards you. That evening we all went to Mr. B's to celebrate Erin Ferguson's birthday. Then I went to bed. On Sunday morning Joey, Melissa, Erin Acosta, Tiffany, and I went to the Village (a restaurant) and had blueberry pancakes. It was good, but sometimes they will serve banana macadamian nut pancakes which are much better!
This last week was finals week. So I administered the tests to my students. 2 of my students...which just happened to be D students didn't even show up for the test because they were sick. So I gave one an incomplete and the other I just gave the D. Hopefully they will take school more seriously next quarter. I'm happy to say that most of my students have A's, B's, and C's. It makes me sad when they get lower...but in all reality it's because they're not doing their part. I'm available after school every day. They don't come to get help.
Mr. B will be teaching my geography class next quarter and I will take his English course. I didn't want him to do that even though I was having a hard time teaching geography. The reason is because he will have to give up his free period. And I will take it. It's not good for him. And I just feel guilty. But when Mr. B decided he is going to help he jumps in full force. He's already teaching full time as well as running the school. I suppose with 6th period I might either be his assistant, start working on the Christmas program (which I'm hoping to help with or even lead), or take Mrs. McGuire's American Literature class. Whatever happens I'll let you know. I tried to tell Mr. B I could just keep the class. But since he saw me a little distressed one day he feels the need to help. I feel bad. :( Oh well. He seems to think that it will be good for me to teach the English class because they will be able to hear me pronouce the words instead of him. These will be all the high school students who really really struggle with English. So it will essentially be ESL.
I've been conditioning my junior varsity team for playing. A lot of them don't show that they are committed. They want to just come to practice when we are playing in the gym. They will soon find out that the ones that play the games will be the committed ones...not necessarily the big ones, or the talented ones. One kid said, "Miss, you should let me play on the team." I told him no because we already had the team. Then he said, "But Miss, you're going to make SDA lose." I just looked at him and almost laughed. I told him that being a team was more important and that I wouldn't want someone on my team that had that kind of attitude. They don't understand being a team yet. They only understand winning. I have about 5 committed players...which is just enough for me. After we ran them hard up and down a steap hill for practice, Tiffany and I took some of them to get ice cream for a reward. They worked hard. It was nice to talk with some of them on another level outside school. We have also been ending practice with prayer and worship as a team. It's been great. I finally got a prayer request that the student had to be a little bit vulnerable to request. I was very excited and the whole team was very supportive. I'm excited about that. So please pray for CJ and his family. They are having a bit of trouble.
Well, today I think that the group is going to the waterfall with the big jump. I'm not sure I'm going to go. This is the same waterfall that I cut my foot walking too. It was fun, but I'm not much for jumping. Maybe I'll do it by the end of the year.
Well, I'm sure I forgot a million things to say, but I suppose that is better for your time. This has already reached the lengthy stage. Take care. I am praying for all of you. Thank you for your prayers. God bless.
Erin Abston
