A word of affirmation

Teaching Church History this semester has been a very difficult class. It only met twice a week. That's 2 days a week for a semester to cover almost 2,000 years of theological development and their causes. Not easy for me, and most certainly not easy for the 17 students who had to try and understand and take in all the information I was bombarding them with (with no textbook on top of it!). At the end of the exam I gave them, I gave them options for essays. One of the options was to explain two things they learned in Church History, ANYTHING, about ANY topic they learned. This one really hit home, serving as an affirmation as I prepare to leave Xavier and begin studying for a Masters in Religious Ed at BC...

"I also learned that Mr. Tedone loves theology so much. He is a different person when he teaches college counseling than when he is teaching church history. When he teaches college counseling, he is very strict and serious. He doesn't usually joke around but wants to get on with the lesson.
"When he is in Church History he is not boring but is very lively. He teaches with an enthusiasm that I don't see in college counseling. He is very cool and funny in church history. He is serious too about class but he just shows more enthusiasm when teaching church history. All together he's a great teacher!!"

Now, I didn't force the sycophancy, so I'm going to take that affirmation and cling to it; remembering that even if I wasn't great in everything (like teaching SAT prep in college counseling) there is at least one thing I was good at, enjoyed, and was able to share with students during my time here.

Some more thoughts to come within the next two weeks.

Update and Retreat Reflection

Update:
First, I am sorry for not updating. As always, time here has flown and how I've spent my time has not included a desire to blog. In fact, right now it's my inert procrastinating tendencies which help me find time to update (grades are due on Monday, the pile is increasing slowly but surely).

Life at Xavier and in Chuuk has been a jumble of ups and downs to the extreme in the past two or three months. To focus on the highs...I have been really enjoying teaching a Church History elective. Although it only meets twice a week, it has been both fun and challenging to teach some concepts (like how the Cappadocian Fathers came up with their Trinitarian Formula) which has left me feeling quite fulfilled. The Juniors I teach seem to be enjoying it, or at least enjoy my teaching of the material (a few comments about how I'm "more excited" than when I taught them Literature last year). I'm spending a lot more time in the office, rather than resource room, which has also allowed me a chance to get the students more, which is fun.
On a negative note: I never want to be a college counselor again, or perhaps its just because I'm also teaching 3 courses while being asked to fill out recommendations for different schools and summer programs. I want to, but the process is very taxing of energy and time. Frequently, it has been a struggle to discern if I should write one students recommendation, who I want to!, because of the timing.
Trying to remain present with such little time (a week or so more than 3 months!) has been easier for me than I initially expected, I think this is because there is still so much to do with teaching. For those I haven't told yet though, I am indeed planning on moving to Boston to begin the MEd program at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College. I'm very excited for the opportunity lying ahead and seeing where my time in Boston will lead me next in terms of job and location.

Finally, last weekend the JVs were on retreat with our ICC, Fr. Marc. I'd like to share a short little prayer I wrote during that time, which I hope may also be something you (the reader) may pray with (I'm leaving an introduction out...). It may help to visualize the heart as a local hut (like the one on the bottom of this post):

Education.
This is what I feel called to.
My mind enjoys, but my heart needs more than knowledge.
My heart yearns to live, to sing, to dance
with Your joy and love.

Come, Lord Jesus, and enter under my roof.
I bend low, finding You are already here.
The bramble and branch are sharp, they scratch.
But you yourself have many wounds as well,
just so you could greet me within myself!

It is quiet.
You speak softly.
I long to hear the refreshing words you speak,
gentle calm, cooling as a breeze on a hot day.

Humility.
Peace.
Stay, remain with me.
Stay a while longer, so that peace may reign
over anger, fear, and doubt.

New Addition...

To this blog that is...at the very top of the page I have included a little box which should hopefully let you know the current day and time in Chuuk. Just in case you forget. A new post by Friday covering Thanksgiving holiday.

Also: Happy New Year! New Liturgical Year (Cycle A, I think) has begun!

Throw away your television…

Is the song I currently have in my head, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Why?” you may be wondering. Quite simply because we’re reading what may be one of my favorite books again in Sophomore Literature: Animal Farm. I’m asking students to pick a song they think is/can be used as propaganda and explain why. Yes, I would let “Throw Away Your Television” count.

In short: I am really enjoying being a second year teacher and JV, although I have discovered that I am still probably just as busy as ever now that College Counseling has passed on to my responsibility and certain JV activities (ie, Language Training) are very hard to coordinate. In regards to College Counseling: it is amazing what plans some of our students have as their goals and it is humbling to be a part of their process (as well as more than a little stressful, for students and teacher alike, thanks to things like the SAT and TOEFL).

One thing I have been thinking and praying about lately is what it means to be a teacher and seeing the face of Christ in my students. Students expect and want the best, they are demanding of time and energy. But why shouldn’t they? This is what God expects of us, and if I see Christ in the faces in the classroom, in offices, around campus, then I will be energized for work: to come up with ideas and work within and outside the class that will help each person become who he or she is with an understanding of both the world around them and the life within them. Yes, this may mean giving up some of those things that I find comfort – I would love to sit and watch a DVD, but why do that alone when I can be in my office with the door open for students who may want to stop by just to know there is someone there? The anticipation of grading can be dreadful, but students want feedback.

Even if the work of a day seems fruitless, simply being present for students whose lives are being filled with almost constant change – changes in culture thanks to Westernization, changes in themselves thanks to adolescence, changes in school policies, faculty, family, whatever it is – is an opportunity to remember that Jesus wants company. This begs the questions: How can I be more present to students? How can I be most loving? How can I make sure my lessons are student-focused and Christ-centered? How will I continue to do this and keep it up, when it's a Tuesday night and the week seems like it will never end? No answer other than to say: I'm sure the grace of God will keep me moving when it seems like I can't go, and I am glad that there is community for support and sharing.

Kinamwe. Peace.

Lots of Events!

When new JVs arrive, second years are asked to put on a "phase-II" orientation in which we offer opportunity to give a more in-depth orientation regarding specific site placements. For Chuuk, this includes myself and the Saramen second years. All of the FSM JVs arrived only 3 weeks or so ago, and time has flown! Here's a little bit of info on things we've done:
1) Gone over some Micronesian Counselors from MicSem and talked about them and culture.
2) Went to an ordination Mass on island. It was originally supposed to be on a Mortlockese island, but was moved to Weno. Coolest moment was seeing the ordinand being processed in by his family after the homily and then afterwards listening to some good singing from youth groups (Tonoas did great).
3) 50th anniversary of Sr. Faustina's vows. It was a bit hectic getting there, but it was a splendid event. The Mass lasted two hours, after starting a few hours late (typical), and was filled with beautiful singing and an unexpectedly large amount of local food.
4) The 16th was the 1 year anniversary of my host father's death (I had never actually met him). It was difficult to tell if it was a particularly sad event or just a simple time to remember him. I know it was difficult for at least a few members of my family. After the lunch offered, I got to spend the night with my family (two nights actually). It was nice (for me at least) to learn a little more Chuukese and spend time with everyone and a few new family members who came in for the anniversary.

In other news, the school week starts in just over a week on the 31st!

A thought

As I stood in the back of the school bus, praying that the light right wouldn't hold us up on an awesome day and that the bus wouldn't get in an accident (because 5 of us were standing and there were no cushions on the seats should there be an accident, which I don't think there's ever been a history of here), I've realized how fast time has gone and how adjusted I'm becoming to life in the FSM. Seeing people walking around with machetes no longer frightens me, I'm less afraid of angry dogs knowing that all I have to do is pretend to pick up a rock to send them running, and the food tastes so much better (I like sashimi now, this is a big deal). Classes will (hopefully) be easier this second time around and there are some new things happening and new people arriving at Xavier which will add to excitement and renewal of the sense of adventure. It has been nice having some faster internet here in PNI and cooking for myself, but Chuuk has become a home for me and I'm looking forward to being back home and going back to the routine of random and scheduled power outages, regular meals, and the Nesor/Nepwong annim's in the early morning and evenings with M&R.

Again, if you have e-mail, I'd love to attempt to stay in contact with people and hear about what's going on in ya'lls lives (engagements, babies, new schools, whatever). I've discovered that I'm not so great with writing letters, but much better at responding and sending e-mails.

Peace!
Mike

Forgot one other couple!

Congrats also to my cousin Cara and her husband Caleb (I hope I spelled that correctly), who were married last weekend!

New post possibly on Sunday (your Saturday) before heading back to Chuuk).