Monday, December 1, 2014
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.
Monday, October 13, 2014
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
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
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
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
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Why Taiwan?
Cur Non? (Why not...)
Why do I want to go to Taiwan and teach English for a year?
It's simple.
And it's complicated.
The simple answer is I feel God is calling me to go, and I have answered. Yes. Where God has called me to go I will go, and there I will stay. Your people, will be my people... Ruth 1:16 Jessica Paraphrased.
For those who want a more complicated answer, it was the accumulation, the pinnacle of many things. I can't point a finger at one moment in time and say "This is when I knew going to Taiwan is for me." It was rather, a moment here, a seed planted in my heart here, a conversation, a passion ignited, and a desire to go....somewhere in Asia. The door opened up through IBLP ministries. I've worked with IBLP before, when I went to Russia, and it was a lovely three week experience, for a place that I've always had a love for, someday I might want to go back but that door hasn't opened up and I don't know if it ever will.
To be honest I don't know exactly WHAT to expect when I go to Taiwan, I've talked to several people, all with very different experiences and I have no idea what will be mine. All I know that is God has an amazing adventure in store for me, and I am here for whatever comes my way. For He know's the plans He has for me, plans for good and not of evil to give me an expected end. This is a journey I am thrilled to be taking...there are a lot of hurdles to jump before I "arrive" but so far, God has been more than faithful to fulfill my needs. He has seeded dreams in my heart I find hard to whisper and things I know that only He can and will fulfill.
However, back to why and how.
Years ago, when people were talking about bucket lists, I realized I had nothing like that. Nothing momentous in my life that I wanted to accomplish...just live. It popped into mind that I wanted to have travel the whole globe around....
I started getting the itch...the kind that makes you want to travel the world and see things several years later. My family will tell you that is unusual for homebody me.
God laid some super amazing friends in my way, all crazy about Asia. They got me hooked.
Unexpectedly I found a passion awakening in my heart that I had never known towards a people that had never really interested me, and I had no idea what to do with all of these things that were accumulating in my heart then....my dad brought up Taiwan.
My heart leaped inside of me...and playfully considered it...and said Yes.
This is only the beginning of the story...there is a lot more to come as each day passes...I keep seeing how He has been preparing me for this. It's incredible, He really is a Master Author.
Thanks for Listening,
Jessica
Why do I want to go to Taiwan and teach English for a year?
It's simple.
And it's complicated.
The simple answer is I feel God is calling me to go, and I have answered. Yes. Where God has called me to go I will go, and there I will stay. Your people, will be my people... Ruth 1:16 Jessica Paraphrased.
For those who want a more complicated answer, it was the accumulation, the pinnacle of many things. I can't point a finger at one moment in time and say "This is when I knew going to Taiwan is for me." It was rather, a moment here, a seed planted in my heart here, a conversation, a passion ignited, and a desire to go....somewhere in Asia. The door opened up through IBLP ministries. I've worked with IBLP before, when I went to Russia, and it was a lovely three week experience, for a place that I've always had a love for, someday I might want to go back but that door hasn't opened up and I don't know if it ever will.
To be honest I don't know exactly WHAT to expect when I go to Taiwan, I've talked to several people, all with very different experiences and I have no idea what will be mine. All I know that is God has an amazing adventure in store for me, and I am here for whatever comes my way. For He know's the plans He has for me, plans for good and not of evil to give me an expected end. This is a journey I am thrilled to be taking...there are a lot of hurdles to jump before I "arrive" but so far, God has been more than faithful to fulfill my needs. He has seeded dreams in my heart I find hard to whisper and things I know that only He can and will fulfill.
However, back to why and how.
Years ago, when people were talking about bucket lists, I realized I had nothing like that. Nothing momentous in my life that I wanted to accomplish...just live. It popped into mind that I wanted to have travel the whole globe around....
I started getting the itch...the kind that makes you want to travel the world and see things several years later. My family will tell you that is unusual for homebody me.
God laid some super amazing friends in my way, all crazy about Asia. They got me hooked.
Unexpectedly I found a passion awakening in my heart that I had never known towards a people that had never really interested me, and I had no idea what to do with all of these things that were accumulating in my heart then....my dad brought up Taiwan.
My heart leaped inside of me...and playfully considered it...and said Yes.
This is only the beginning of the story...there is a lot more to come as each day passes...I keep seeing how He has been preparing me for this. It's incredible, He really is a Master Author.
Thanks for Listening,
Jessica
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