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).

Kini...Kasalelie!

Whoops, almost said Kinisou! I am currently in Pohnpei, the capitol island-state of the FSM working with the High Achievement Program, a Xavier-Pohnpei Catholic School summer program for students going into eighth grade. As you may or may not know, each island state has a unique language. My time here has been fantastic so far, living in a new summer community with Jessica (from Chk-Saramen) and Samantha (from PNI). We head back on August 1st for Chuuk, just in time to make sure we're ready for the NJV's!

What's happened since the last post? A lot!
I guess start with end of the year activities at Xavier.

My final exam experience went much smoother than last year, partially because we didn't have the difficulties of the database crash and also because I finally figured out how to make easy-to-grade exams (but, of course, they still required some knowing!). I received some personal affirmation in seeing how much many of the students learned and what they took out of their year and courses.

After finals, we had a big senior dinner with the staff which was fun. I cooked pizza for the first time in about a year and it was great. Steph even taught me how to make the dough a bit better and how to form it without a rolling pin!

Graduation, which is put on my the Junior class was also fun, exciting, and as all things seem to be, hectic. President Mori came as the commencement speaker and gave a nice speech. I was very impressed that both he and Fr. Rich talked about freedom so much (what does it mean to be free? what does it mean to be responsible people?), a topic I discussed with the graduates in religion class (ooo, so it's not just some weird thing Mr. T talked about!). After the graduation, we had some downtime until the big dinner, which included a bit of local food and music. The students sang some of their own songs on the CD that they just put out (XP 4, or Xavie Productions 4...don't worry, I bought a copy for you all to listen to when I get back home). You could tell it was a better sweet experience for the graduating seniors, but the atmosphere was overall a joyful one of celebration.

After graduation, was relaxing for a bit. Finished up grading, cleaning up the office (oh boy, was it messy!) and hanging out with everyone as well as the slow good-byes to those who were leaving for home.

Eventually, the JV office rolled around for the annual Re-O/Dis-O retreat which was held on Pisar. It was a great experience, both in terms of location (Pisar: the most awesome place on the planet), the company, and the reflection. One memorable moment: the sand sort of just dropped and one point, and we realized it was really fun to just run into the water and fall in. This entertained us for HOURS. :)

A few days after Pisar, Jess and I left for Pohnpei. We found ourselves in awe at the contraptions in the airline magazine and, when we landed, a bit taken aback by the speed of cars on Pohnpei thanks to paved roads (seriously? The cars can go over 25 mph? That is FAST!!). While here, I've gotten to spend some time at MicSem (which is actually where I'm typing now), as well as see some of the sights (Nan Madol, via a HAP field trip; some waterfalls, etc). It's relaxing. Perhaps one great thing here is I get to cook. Although I've discovered I'm not horribly inventive, eating something not that I usually eat at Xavier has been nice (at Xavier, the food is prepared for us and we have a regular schedule, it's wonderful, but breaking out of the cycle is nice too). I've even learned how to make Teriyake burgers!

Again, in August the NJVs are coming out. The biggest event is, if it works out, a trip to the outer islands for an ordination on Etal. We'll be taking a big boat. More on that after it happens!

This year has been great. And not necessarily in a "fun, happy" great way. This year has been incredibly difficult, with huge highs and very low lows. But in each, God has been present and helping me grow in each thing. As the next year makes its course, I'm sure this will only continue and perhaps even be amplified as I continue to get to know my students and community more.

A shout out to Erin and Dave; Tommy and Jackie; Andy and Holly; and Brian and Amanda on their new married life together. I’m praying and thinking of each for each of you!
Peace!

Simple Teaching?

Far be it from me to do a post two days in a row (has it been two days? I really don't remember). But today during 4th period I was hit with a sudden realization, which is the purpose of this inspired blog post (as I was typing this, I had a sudden loss of sanity due to a request from a student, so if this seems disjointed and funnily worded, that's why...I'm just finding many things funny at the moment).

Here at Xavier, it becomes very easy to ponder if one is "living simply" as a JV. We get our $60 a month, but we also have our laundry done for us by a worker and all of our meals are prepared for us every day. We have internet access and a number of movies and other things at our disposal to spend time with each other as a faculty and unwind from our 12-14 hour a day schedule of work.

However, today I think I got a glimpse of what "simple living" really means, particularly from a teaching perspective. You see, currently our generator only covers half of the school due to the engine getting weaker, and we chose that half to be the main building where the administrators work and we teachers do our lesson planning and printing. Unfortunately, it does not include 7 of our 8 classrooms, nor does it include our computer lab. So for four hours of the school day as well as past 8 pm, only part of our campus has power. As I was teaching fourth period in a classroom dimly lit and incredibly warm due to lack of lights and ceiling fans, I was realizing that at Xavier we are somewhat forced to live and teach simply. Not only that, but I realized today that I never teach in the same classroom twice in one day, meaning that I must always be re-writing my notes...unfortunately no overhead projector and even if we did it wouldn't work without power, and where exactly would I get the transparency sheets? I *could* do some powerpoint with a laptop, but having 17+ students trying to look at a 17" monitor is not always easy (difficult to actually see the notes).

Today, I had a paper due for the Juniors. To say the least, it was a comical and frustrating experience as they had very little class time to actually type their final drafts due to 1) the power and 2) the lab being already in use by other teachers who signed up before me. I blame the power for most of this frustration but at the same time can't help but laugh at this whole situation and think to myself: I wonder what teachers back home would do in these situations? Would they not know what to do? Would they be just as crazy as me right now? Or would they be calm and composed and able to easily handle these situations? I don't know (if any teachers want to answer in the comment box, that would be dandy). Perhaps this is cultural, but I'm amazed that students share their USBs so much. This causes issues throughout a paper writing process of needing to find the person with the USB that has a paper or research on it as well as a plethora of other complications. I can't help but laugh at it all right now.

If that sounds like a rant, very sorry...just trying to explain what simple living may mean up here at Xavier.

One last thing: I am realizing how much something which has become so obvious and simple to me must have been taught to me at some point in time...Apparently I completely forgot to tell the Juniors that a Works Cited page should be done alphabetically. Good to know that i still have things to teach them for this next paper! I understand that first year teaching is a time of learning what to do; but there is a type of desolation that comes with knowing that the mistakes come at the expense of those I am teaching right now!

Ok, another thing: this Thursday afternoon and Friday is Track and Field Day. Looking forward to seeing how our students do and how the other high schools do. Rather than have track and field meets against one school, we have them all at once!
Next week I'm going to be on the Junior's Emmaus Retreat. Stoked! It's basically like a Kairos retreat. Please pray for our students especially next Thursday through Sunday.

Ok, I think that's all.

Some poems

No, not by me, but the students! (Happy Easter, by the way!)
These poems are from last quarter as extra credit assignments for English Skills. They had to incorporate vocabulary into a story or poem. Most chose poem. Here are a few...

The world is corrupted
rancor filled the hearts of the people
guns are fired, bloods are everywhere
who would accede to a world like this?
What about the leaders?
Are they such cheaters?
The people don't listen
not even the demagogue can be recognized
kids vituperate adults
thinking it's a saccharine thing to do
but I bet you
if you pore over the law book
you will be amazed
at the highlighted phrase
that says "to abuse verbally
is not of paramount importance."
Some used calumny to make a distance
between groups of people.
What's wrong with the world??
Why are people using malediction
to make someone cold
is it to cause corruption?
The government can't husband well
making the society dwell
many are hated
because of their hubris created
no lithe movements are seen
everybody is frightened
no one has great aplomb
that they could make a change
nefarious deeds can't be change
the good image of the world is being sullied.

----
"For my Love Has Gone with the Plane"
My heart beats with abandon
Actuate pain when you're gone
your love forgo me and expunge me
my eyes are razed and my heart can't see
For my love has with the plane.

I know I'm tawdry in your eyes
But you forego me and go with other guys
It is a total gauche to my heart
Oh my tortuous heart has torn apart
For my love has gone with the plane

What should I do to stymie you girl?
Rapacious words or a beautiful pearl.
Your love is untoward for me
Oh why am I in pain for thee?
For my love has gone with the plane.

It is an onus to jump off the zenith of Fonachaw
My pain piles up to a palimpsest now
For my love has gone with the plane.
---------------------
The elephant danced with abandon.
He was at the zenith of his dancing career.
His rapacious love for peanuts
stymied the blood pressure of his heart.
He danced with gauche,
showing his palimpsets fats
which razed the audience down to their feet
His clothes were tawdry!
Making him untoward.
The judges fore[went] his silly dances
and decided to forgo him.
The onus of owning this elephant
has actuated his owner
to expunge him, for his dance could not meet the
standards of the tortuous dancers.
-----------

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did :)

Dry Season and Other Things

Over the past few months, I've heard a lot from people back in CA about the rain that they're having. It seems that wherever I go though, drought follows. We're in the midst of the dry season, which is especially harsh this year due to El Nino. The only fresh water here comes from rain water, so as you can guess, lack of rain means lack of potable water. Right now, our million gallon tank (which we got filled to over 600,000 in November) is under 400,000. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, this tank is shared with the village (it was a gift from Chuuk govt to Sapuk, which we have been invited to also share in), plus about 90 boys, cooking, cleaning, and showering. Our goal is 30,000 a week, or less. This isn't meant to sound depressing, just factual due to the current weather patterns so that you all back home may join me in the realization that what is going on in the States (even with weather!) can effect the lives of people living on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific.

This Lent, I'm trying to eat more fish. I've been remotely succeeding in this.
My tongue has decided that my favorite local foods are: unripe mangos, Chuukese apples, and tapioca with coconut milk (although I can never eat much of it, but it tastes so good!).

And now, some pictures from Cultural Day:

Yapese Stick Dance

Pohnpeian Stick Dance

Pohnpeian Sakau

Palauan girls starting their dance

Cultural Day

Wow! It's been a crazy few weeks and the weeks are promising to get crazier.
At the beginning of the month, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week, which started off with a big Mass in Nepukos followed by games which the JVs planned and organized. Note for the future: Do not start with water games! Slipping ensued like crazy...

We received two of our three new Australian volunteers last week, Tom and Tom (Tom and Randy), who both seem pretty awesome. Lucky for them, they arrived just in time for Cultural Day, which was on Friday.

Pictures and videos to be posted eventually (hopefully be June), suffice it to say that it was a thoroughly entertaining day in which we got to see our students doing things they really enjoy doing while wearing traditional clothes. Used up pretty much my whole stipend purchasing a few things I wouldn't be able to get elsewhere, like a Marshalese necklace, and a few other things for people (sorry don't want to ruin the surprise for the person/people). I also got to try drinking some sakau (a muddy drink made only in Pohnpei) on Friday night with the Pohnpeian uppers, which was pretty cool, although I didn't stay very long due.

Saturday we took the boys down to Blue Lagoon to perform for some tourists. It was sad to see that a few of the tourists were completely uninterested as they watched and were too involved in their own conversations to watch something they may never see again, as well as because they probably didn't realize the amount of work and effort the boys took into practicing their dances. But overall, a good night and a nice chance to get off campus...the stars were amazing.

It seems like there's about a 90% possibility I'll be placed in Pohnpei in the summer, most likely helping with the HAP program.

Shout out to the men of the St. Claude de la Calumbiere house, who are celebrating their feast day today (Monday). My prayers and thoughts are with you all.

Micronesian Seminar Website

I can't believe I haven't shared this website with you all yet, but now is better than never.

www.micsem.org

A link to the site has also been posted on the side of my blog with the Chuuk info and JVC website.

You may be wondering what the MicSem is. Well, here's the scoop in short: Micronesian Seminar is an organization centered in Kolonia, Pohnpei. It contains information on many things Micronesian and is run by Fr. Francis Hezel, SJ, who has been living in the FSM for roughly 40 years now. The website includes things like photos, documents, videos, and forums for people to discuss and share their thoughts on various issues in the FSM.

Happy Sunday!

Spirituality

This past weekend, we had our Winter Retreat on Psiwi. It was great. Our last activity was to write a poem on spirituality (one of the four pillars of JVC). I thought it would be cool to share it with you all, in the spirit (no pun intended) of my last post.

Spirituality...
The need for a person to
enter into the self and
discover relationship to the
Creator is at its root.
In no other way can we act,
outside of it. We all
have one or maybe two
on which we base our lives.
Not just how we do, but
how we be.
There are few rules
but many guidelines formed,
shaping decisions made and
thoughts thought. All so
that one becomes self and
may understand the One.

Happy 2010!

Happy REAL New Year! The holidays were absolutely fantastic and relaxing. It involved relaxing on campus, visiting Saramen more frequently, and spending New Years Eve with my host family (which included embarrassing myself playing volleyball). New Years is celebrated from New Years Eve through Jan 2/3 (people are still saying Happy New Year!), by banging pots and pans to drive out evil spirits. Meg and Steph had family members visit, and Sam (indy volunteer) had one of his friends over as well. School’s started up and it’s looking good so far. It’s started off well so far, and I hope to update a bit more than I have in the past.

Last month we all enjoyed Xavier Day. It was filled with some awesome games, some dancing at the end of the night, and the eating of our pig, Isabella (we fed her leftover or half-eaten foods that we can’t use as left-overs, we now have another pig we’re getting ready for graduation). I got to take part in a few events, the most memorable being the “dizzy race” and an eating contest (I ate a bowl of whipped cream with an alum). This semester, we have cultural day to look forward to (it only happens every other year), and the students are already preparing dances and finishing up their huts for it. We also have track and field day, Catholic schools week, and probably some other things I’m not aware of.




Following: a reflection (optional reading!):


Although the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord just happened, marking the end of the Christmas Season, I figured this would still be a worthwhile reflection, something I’ve been thinking about for some time. NB: for the sake of this focusing on Jesus (a historical man who Christians believe to also be God), I’ll be primarily using the masculine pronoun in reference to God.

This reflection is based on the song “One of Us” by Joan Osborne…Not the most Christmas-y, but it drives a good point home.

The lyrics (I think, didn’t try to copy and paste):

"If God had a name, what would it be and would you call it to his face if you were faced with him in all his glory, what would you ask if you had just one question. And yeah, yeah, God is great, yeah, yeah, God is good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, what if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home? If God had a face, what would it look like and would you want to see, if seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints and all the prophets? [Chorus] Back up to heaven all alone, nobody calling on the phone, except for the pope, maybe, in Rome."

This song offers a few thoughts for reflection. What was the point of the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh in the person of Jesus? It was to become one of us. God humbled Himself in order to allow us to know how much He cares for us, all of us. Jesus experienced life as a refugee in Egypt, as a learner, as a young boy (or man) who experienced the death of his earthly father, a teacher, healer, prisoner, and convicted criminal (and others…). God showed His love for us by becoming human and living a human life, showing us that all aspects of humanity are able to be holy, that God desires to be part of our daily lives – not just on Sundays or when we really need our Creator.

Another thought that this song reminds me of is the parable of the last judgment in Matthew 25. For those unfamiliar, this is the parable when Jesus declares that what we do for the least of others (the poor, homeless, hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned, etc), we do to Him. Do I see Jesus in the people around me, even those I don’t know, or perhaps wouldn’t want to associate myself with? Do I see Jesus in those I live with or those I regularly serve? Do I see Jesus in my students and those in my local community? Do I serve all those with love regardless of how I feel about them personally?
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Well, happy liturgical new year at least! Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical cycle (year C for any of those who care to know). We celebrated last night at 8 pm with pizza, soda, and a brief prayer with all the boys. The weekend we celebrate Xavier Day, a day after the actual feast and into the weekend. I'm sure that'll be all brought up in a later post (since it hasn't happened yet). There will probably be two more posts this month (one catch up, another a reflection I've been praying and working on).

Finals are in two weeks, crazy! I've had time to write one exam, hopefully it's a "good" one. One of the coconut trees fell yesterday in Peniasena (sp?) and is currently being held up by electrical poles. SO, we're on generator power until that gets fixed. Unfortunately, the tree is hanging over a road, and we're pretty sure the busses won't be able to get through (nor are we sure about the safety if they could!). So, up in the air if we'll have classes tomorrow.

I hope everyone back home has had a good Thanksgiving weekend and a not too stressful black Friday for those who ventured out.

Yeah, Definitely Need To Update

View on Pisar
Sunset on Param
Sunset on Pisar

Boys on Param

So, as has been mentioned in a few e-mails, I'm very behind on updating my blog. Part of this is because the past two weekends and this weekend I am off-island on other islands. Two weeks ago was our JV retreat on Pisar, this weekend we are having a staff retreat/outing there as well. Last weekend we were on Param for the Junior CSP (Christian/Community Service Project, we're not exactly sure which is the correct C).
Teaching has been getting better and busy. I also now have a host family, they're awesome and very involved in the Sapuk community. My brother is thinking of having me help him next year with some youth group stuff...we'll see! Lately our electricity has been on a 4 hour cycle, which can get frustrating if you forget to save a document on the computer (just an FYI if it takes me a while to get back to you). However, it's easy to get used to. I've also finally gotten ok with showering in the dark in the morning (our power doesn't turn on till 8 am-ish).
Other news: Boils are gone, I have 20 envelopes which means I will be writing letters again soon (sorry for those I owe letters to!).
Above are the pictures taken from Param and Pisar. I'll post more on Facebook sometime in the near future, hopefully. Some may already be posted thanks to Robin (Australian volunteer).

Joys

It's been a while, so I guess I'll start with some bad news: boils, everywhere. Ok, slight exagerration, but a have 2 boils plus a carbunkle (that's the technical term for having more than one boil in one spot). Also an annoying infection on the finger which makes it hard (annoying) to type at length. I thought I had known discomfort before, now I laugh. No, this isn't complaining, just letting you know why I may come back with a bunch of random scars on my body :)

Fun news!
I went to Tol again two weekends ago to get some info for a Christian Service Project the juniors were supposed to go on. It was pretty awesome and provided a lot of great things to reflect and pray on. I learned some Chuukese (very very little amount...ekis Chuuk). Unfortunately, we had to cancel the CSP due to the boat captain not wanting to go out when the weather was bad (it got better when we got back up to XHS, after all the girls had gone back to their sponsors). Don't worry, one WILL happen, and we will still get to go!

I'm currently talking like a Russian (with a very bad accent) in Literature. You may be asking yourself "Why?" Here's the answer: We're reading Animal Farm! By far one of my favorite books ever. I really should get to reading 1984 sometime...
The seniors have been given a case study project, I gave for case studies, they pick one and apply methods they've learned about so far in class. Hopefully it will turn out well. In English Skills, we're writing an Essay and prepping for the PSAT. They are really worried for some reason, so we're working on vocabulary skills (plenty vocabs, as we would say here) as well for the moment, I spent a good part of today writing prefixes and their meaning, I think I'm going to have them write songs in order to memorize them.

We have some Australian high school students visiting this week, should be interesting. They are staying at one of the nicest hotels here to sleep at, but spending most of their time with us and at Sapuk Elementary. 5 of the boys will be staying overnight tomorrow in the dorm. Hopefully this brief immersion experience will be helpful for them in some way.

Question: What is your image of God? What do you think it means about you and your relationship with God? Your vocation? (No, you don't have to share)

Heads Up

In case you were worried, no, none of the natural disasters taking place are anywhere near me. Thankfully, the Pacific Ocean is very large and, if a tsunami or something were to come in our direction, the water gets really shallow in random places within the lagoon, plus I'm on one of the highest points of this island. So please, if you were worrying, don't. :)

A better blog post to come. The power is probably going to turn off in a few minutes (it has been turning off at this time for the past couple of days).

It's been (over) one week!

...since our first day of school. Wow. So much to say, but so much beyond words! In just this one week I've experienced many ups and downs, joys, frustrations, sorrows, etc. that come with teaching. It's quite the roller coaster. One thing I realized this morning is that I need to be more firm and sure of myself in my morality class. Not that I am not right now, but I have been unsure how to handle the "touchy" topics we will be discussing in the class -- i.e. drinking and sex. I think being up front may be the best way to go The other day we did an activity and the class seemed a bit divided on those and more than a few issues. Hopefully it will make for good discussion and good reflection (my hope is that the class not only teaches them about moral theology but also how to think critically and prepare them for college, they are seniors in high school afterall!).
In other news, in case I haven't shared this already on here, I' ve been named "one" of the moderators for Campus Ministry. Currently, we are still awaiting the other Jesuit scholastic to arrive to teach and also help with CM, but his work papers haven't been pushed through yet. Right now, Steph is helping me out with it for the time being (helping meaning meaning completely guiding me). So far we're just trying to figure out who the student leaders are! Most of my job as CM moderator will be planning the service projects for the Fresh, Sophs, and Juniors, as well as planning out the Junior retreat and the Fresh and Soph days of prayer. It should be great and keep me busy enough, although I'm also thinking and praying about whether or not to suggest to our future "team" the idea of adding Bible study to the mix (currently one of the Austrailian volunteers, Robin, is doing this on his own. So making it part of CM would help to "institutionalize" it in the XHS community).

With sad news, I regret to say that I will bot be able to Skype as often due to a broken head set. I'll try to borrow others' when I can. Sorry for the bit of sad news.

Thank you to those who have sent actual letters. It's always wonderful to receive something in the mail! A lot of people have been getting packages, but I feel like letters are just as awesome because then I get to write back, sweet! If you would ever like to send a letter, but don't have my address, feel free to e-mail me.