Friday, November 28, 2014

Teacher, teacher...



Teacher, teacher take my hand,
Welcome to my beautiful land.
I will try to learn your English,
But to me it sounds like gibberish.
I want to talk to you, and know.
From where does all the love flow?
I will try, and will you, to know me as I you?
There are so few that come, cross the ocean blue
To tell me of a Saviors love that I feel,
It’s in your smile and in your eyes, it is real.
Student, dear student, take my hand.
I am falling in love with your beautiful land.
I am trying but I know so little of your language
Together, somehow we manage,
But little student it is my prayer.
That you will put your soul in the greatest Teacher’s care.
That you will take His hand...
That someday, we will meet in a His heavenly land.


Saturday, October 4, 2014

That Silent and Invisible H

a.k.a. Teaching Bloopers.

It's true, I was teaching some children the other day, and I completely, and totally missed putting H on the board. It wasn't until we reciting it together backwards that I realized my deadly and grave ERROR!!!!!!

The H had gone missing. In fact I had failed to put it write it down all together. It's rather terrifying realization.

I "spelled" the alphabet without the H! It was rather a horrifying realization.

Especially with the co-teacher standing in the back of the room leaning against her desk and her arms crossed staring at me. I felt rather like shriveling up and disappearing. An earthquake would have been a welcome distraction, especially if it would have opened the floor and let me hide somewhere. However since no earthquake appeared wearing a cape and shouting something heroic, I faced the class laughed it off, wrote H on the board, and sang the song.

It wasn't exactly the first impression I wanted to make on my first day at that school, however, such a mistake hasn't haunted me since...or rather yet. I am sure there will be more to come.

Each and every day I spend teaching, I am grateful for the opportunity to teach, even if I make silly mistakes like forgetting H's.

However, I must imagine what would happen if it continued...I'd just have a whole class walking around and talking just like Eliza Doolittle. In 'artford, 'ereford, an' 'ampture 'urricane's 'ardly, ever...'appen.

Now teaching H's and double checking her Alphabet.

Jessica

Q&A

Now that I am settled here in Taiwan...do you have any burning questions for me?

Ask, and I shall answer, vlog style!

Jessica

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Settling in....

Dearest Readers,

Well, I am settled happily here in Taiwan, even though I am battling a cold, well more like whooping cough, which is also known as the cough of 100 days. Pretty much once you get it, there really isn't anything you can do about it, just cough through it. So, that is what I am going to do.

However, enough about myself, I want to tell you about TAIWAN.

I've been here for almost a month, and things are starting to find a routine. I know my schools, I know my kids...gah!!!! I have some of the sweetest kids ever, I want to adopt them...well I would like to but that's not going to happen obviously. Though, I will tell you, there is a little guy on Friday that has totally stolen my heart, he's in first grade. OH HE IS SOOO CUTE!!!!

My routine is pretty regular every week:
Monday:
I teach at a Junior High...the kids there are a lot of fun, Then I teach across the road at a elementary school, which is a little harder to teach at, because the teacher there isn't quiet as helpful as the others, but overall, it's fun, and the kids are cute. I teach 7 classes that day so my voice is pretty gone by the end of the day.

Tuesday:
I teach 6 classes and oh, I am in love with my kids. The girls in the 5th grade are super awesome, There are an adorable pair of twins and their friend, who really make my day bright and sweet, teaching the 5th grade is always a highlight, but then again so are my ...I keep forgetting what grade they are, either 2nd or 3rd but they are sweet and so lovable. Than again all of the kids are, but you know what I mean, there are those special places in your heart.

Wednesday.
It's MY DAY OFF!!!!!! We tend to do team activities this day...fun stuff like... visiting Sun Moon Lake or just seeing places around here in Taiwan.

Thursday:
 I teach four classes to 5th and 6th grades...they are rowdy and loud but a pile of fun, and hard to keep in line.

Friday:
This is my favorite school. This is where my first graders are that I adore and melt for, I seriously want to bring these kids home. My driver is always awesome from this school, and she takes me to special places sometimes. I really enjoy her.  All of the kids here are pretty priceless, and are completely fascinated by my blonde hair, they also wanted their school guard to ask me out. :P No thank you.

Saturday:
We teach some kids at an orphanage for 2 hours, there are youth group meetings and other things going on at the church we attend on Sundays. So this day is usually spent doing all kinds of stuff from lesson planning to laundry.

Sunday:
Church and some R&R.

So that is what I am doing here on a pretty weekly basis here in Taiwan, if you have any questions let me know!

On His Journey,
Jessica