Los Estados

So I've been in Ada, Michigan for almost a week today. Let me tell you, it has been SO great. I haven't done a ton, but I have spent time with my parents and with my best friend. I have been to some of my favorite restaurants, I have had a Starbucks at least once a day, I ate a good steak, drank some good Oberon, saw the Nutcracker, watched some movies laying on a couch, drank some water out of a water fountain, walked on some carpet, went shopping in Chicago...all this in just a week! I'm real excited to see more friends and to celebrate Christmas with the family. But for now, check out some pics of the past 6 days in the United States of America :).

Here's my happy Mama and me at the airport...

and my happy Papa and I playing the guitar...

and Renee and I on the train to Chicago...life is good :).

Para los que estan leyendo esto de la RD, les extrano mucho. Feliz Noche Buena...nos veremos en 2 semanas!

Cristo nombre glorioso

El Programa Navideno

Lauro

Playing the "auto-harp"

Ya me voy

Wow...it's Christmas vacation! Crazy how time flies; crazy how in some ways I feel like I just got here, and in some ways like I've been here forever; crazy how in 2 days I'll be stepping off a plane in Grand Rapids, smelling familiar air, shivering, hugging, crying and laughing with familiar faces, familiar hearts. Please pray that I don't experience too much culture shock as I head back to the States, pray that my time is relaxing and refreshing, and that the time I share with the people I love is FULL.

Last weekend, Amanda, Shelly and I got to go to the beach one last time before I head to the freezing Mid-west (yes...I will be tanner than you). Thank goodness last weekend was relaxing because...

the past week has been nuts, from visiting families to attending Christmas parties; from doing report cards and parent-teacher conferences to staff observations and evaluations...I am seriously ready for a break! Last night we had our Christmas Program...my kids did such a great job singing their song (check out the video), they are so darn cute :), I'm going to miss them a ton!

Here's a picture of me at one of my students, Isabela's house for dinner. The mom is Brazilian and the dad is Mexican so we had some AMAZING food...probably the best meal I've had since I've been here :). The time was sweet, just sharing stories and time, it made my week!

Yesterday was our last day teaching the monks for a month...we celebrated Christmas with them, we sang (check out the video of Lauro), we gave gifts and we ate lots of sweets. I'll miss them so much, too! Here's a picture of us sporting our new Monastery T-shirts :).

So, some of you I'll be seeing soon...I think my cell phone still works in the States, so call if you want to get together. I'll update from Ada as soon as I can! Ya me voy y que bueno sera!

Cena de Navidad

My kids are speaking English (un chin)...my kids are learning (un chon)...and oh my goodness, my kids are loving! Christmas is coming quickly...rainy season is here in Jarabacoa, I'm ready for a vacation, I'm ready to see my family and friends in MI, but I know I'll miss my kids like crazy! How couldn't I when they say things in their brand-spanking new English like, "Me love you," and "Give me kiss," and instead of saying things like "Lots of kids are sick today" they say "Lots are sex today." Haha, they make me laugh more and more every day :).

Here's a picture of one of the ninth graders teaching my kids about alternative sources of electricity. Here in the DR, the amount of electricity we have during the day (and night) is very little. It's just part of life here..."se fue la luz" is said at least 5 times a day (the lights went out). Thankfully, as the lack of electricity is a frustrating reality in this developing country, I have an invertor at my house which means I always have lights...BUT when the "street lights" are off or when "se vaya la luz", then I don't have hot water, a functioning washing machine, refrigerator, etc. So, to make a long story short, this is something I've gotten used to here...but I will for sure appreciate having electricity at all hours of the day for three weeks in the States.

Last weekend we had our Christmas dinner for our Scholarship kids and their families. This was so refreshing for me to spend time with the families of my 8 kids that are sponsored...these families have SO little, they are so poor, but they make my life here so much more complete. My favorite part of the night was dancing Merengue with all 8 of them :). Here's a picture of Steffany, Alberlin and I. (Alberlin was my Dad's buddy...can you see why?!?)