Church Potluck, Meal Planning, Random Thoughts and A List

8-30-08 We had a very large potluck today--lots of rice! Yummy! I am so very glad that I like rice. The four of us girls have decided that we are going to switch over to a diet that is more like the Marshallese diet, but healthier. Basically, we will buy cheap foods, like rice and lentils (again, yum!) and spend the big bucks on the good stuff, like vegetables and fruits (which, from being all imported, are very expensive). So, for the most part, we're going to be switching over to mostly rice, lentils and such, throwing in a little tuna now and then. (Yes, I said tuna.) We figure that we'll cut down on food expenses if we do that.

Anyway, it was sort of weird, knowing that Southern started back up this week and I wasn't there. What's more weird is that one of the seniors wants to go to Southern next year--and I would no longer be his teacher, but his fellow student. That would throw him for a loop, I think. I really miss all of my friends, but it's a comforting thought that most of my "group" of friends are scattered across the globe for the next ten months. I mean, Kenny's in Chuuk; Lucas and Desi are in Tanzania and Kenya, respectively; Aaron's task-forcing in the States; and on and on. There's only a few of us left back at Southern, and I miss them, too!!! But I am making friends here (which is good, since I have to be with these people for the next ten months!). The two guys from Walla Walla (who are actually from Idaho and worked at Ida-Haven with people I knew from IA) are really funny. Jordan is teaching the high school sciences, along with some other classes, and Alan is teaching fourth grade. On Thursday this last week, I (along with the other girls) hurried to school and staff worship early, because it looked like torrential rain was coming. We got there, ditched our bags in the library, and went to talk with the people in the computer lab. When it was time for worship, we headed outside. It was torrentially raining--and Alan and Jordan were thoroughly soaked. They had run to the school, wearing their backpacks pregnancy-style, and futilely trying to use Alan's tiny umbrella to keep the rain off. It didn't work, needless to say. (If the pictures uploaded, there should be a picture of Alan and Jordan with the umbrella in the library. Alan's the tall one; Jordan's the one with curly blonde hair.) Everyone else had either been early with us, or had ducked under some roof's overhang to keep from getting soaked.

So, I was pondering things recently (along with one of the other teachers) and I have realized that, even in the short amount of time we've been here, I have learned many things. Here's the current list:

1. Electricity is a privilege, not a right.
2. Rain can come through a classroom's ceiling, even if there is a floor above that classroom.
3. Fresh vegetables and fruits are very tasty and very expensive.
4. Unfortunately, re-applying sunscreen does not always prevent a sunburn.
5. It is difficult to teach students who neither care about passing high school or going to college.
6. Teachers talk about their students to other teachers. (I should have figured, but whatever.)
7. Having enough supplies for an entire class and resources for the teacher would be great, but make do with what one has.
8. Rinses taken in the courtyard in the sunlight with cold "fresh" water from the rainwater catchment are more fun than showers inside with the same water.
9. Drinking water and "fresh" water are both necessities and luxuries.
10. Triple J (the local everything store) is not Burger King, but the food suffices when one is hungry.
11. A classroom runs more smoothly if the teacher comes into it with lots of preparation and confidence (even if the confidence is an act).
12. When it rains, it pours. Literally. But the rain is usually followed by incredible rainbows.
13. Being a teacher is a lot harder than it looks.
14. Even high schoolers like stories being read to them.
15. Events may be scheduled to start at 6:30 PM, but don't expect anything to happen until at least 7:00. However, still be early to whatever the event is.
16. Students are devious when it comes to trying to get out of assignments and wily when it comes to trying to get out of class early.
17. I miss Southern!!
18. Having the Internet and all it implies (e-mail, MySpace, Facebook, Skype) is wonderful, even if it is slow! Something's better than nothing.
19. People matter more than punctuality. (Although, punctuality's still important.)
20. Air conditioning is incredible--but if the power's off, a strong ocean breeze will do.
21. People can do without a lot better than they can do with.
22. Lots of water plus lots of rice and lentils plus lots of walking and swimming equals lost weight. (Not like I want to find it again.)
23. Rain makes people fidget--and the breeze from the storm can make the students frozen and me finally cooled off. :D
24. Rain can come through a closed window, if there's enough wind.
25. The ground underneath water shimmers in little diamonds of wavery light. Plus, breathing through scuba equipment is just cool.
26. Blowing water out of a snorkel is not as hard as it could be. However, I still want the snorkel that doesn't let water in.
27. Losing weight is both a good and a bad thing. Good, because it's good for me. Bad, because my clothes are already starting to not fit well. (Yay ambiguity! :) )
28. Mail (either letters, cards, or packages) is a great way to bring a smile to an SM's face.
29. It's easier for me to be joyful in general than it used to be for me.

Okay. That's the current list. I probably will have more, but that's all I can think of at the moment. Also, tomorrow (the 31st) is my 21st birthday. I'm excited. Megan's planning on making me a cake, and Ryan implied that there's more in the works than what I'm aware of. Maybe something will come of it, maybe not. Who knows? Anyway, I received two birthday cards last Wednesday--thank you Jim and Mrs. Schulz!--and before that, I got one from my grandpa. Thanks! I really appreciate you sending it all the way out here for me to get. So, it's official that snail mail only takes five to eight days most of the time. Ryan says that it will slow down around Christmas, if you're sending packages. So, if you send a package, send it a good while before the Christmas rush.

Oh--I wanted to tell my church family something. Every Sabbath I am reminded of you. Want to know why? Because during offering, they bring it back up to the front as we sing the Doxology--just like we do in Michigan City. So, I'm thinking about you all. Please let me know if the whole new schedule thing works out. :) More later.

~Ashlee