The start of a Brand New Year!

As a teacher, I mark time by the school year, not the calendar year. And so, August 4, 2008 brought the start of a brand new year and a new season of my life. As the first two weeks have now finished, and most of the logistical kinks have been worked out (I had had one day of the week with 4 specials and another day with none) I can't believe how many moments I have stopped and just thought to myself "I love this." I mean, really realized I am in this place not necessarily physically, but in every way, this place that I was meant to be. These things inside me that I didn't know where there have come alive. I'm enjoying every breath in a way I haven't in a long time. Everything is new, and yet, familiar, like an old friend I've been missing for so long. I'm smart enough to know that I am still probably in what is called the "honeymoon phase" of culture shock/adjustment. But I can't help but feel that I am so much more the person I was created to be because of this environment.

I have a wonderful class of 15 students (14 right now because one has not arrived yet in Chennai.) It is so refreshing to not have the pressures of SOLs hanging over my neck and deciding how quickly I teach. I am able to take as much time on a topic or concept as the class needs. It is also refreshing to have a class that is mostly on or above grade level and therefore the majority do not need so much time on a concept. We are able to do more fun things and extension projects. We have even been able to spend some time doing team building challenges (build the tallest house out of cards, make the tallest tower out of 15 straws and 4 paperclips and some string, etc..) I feel like I've had more good days in the last two weeks than I did all of last school year as far as feeling like I accomplished what I wanted to and did my best at teaching the students. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to teach these kids and to teach in this school. Everyday I walk through the outdoor halls feeling the warm breeze from the gardens and courtyards and hear the palm tree leaves playing like percussion on the railings. I think to myself what a gift it is to be there in that moment.