Foot fingers

I am so loving my ESL classes. I look forward to teaching them just because of some of the fun things that they say.

Today, our warm up activity was to name all of the parts of our bady that we knew. When they had exhausted their memories (not a lot of things) then i started to introduce them to other ones. Head, shoulder, knees and...

Then it hit. I pointed to my feet and many of them yelled "FEET!". then i tried to see if they knew the word without me telling them so i described it to them. "No, they are like fingers but on your feet. foot fingers. One of my students enthusiasitcally yelled "TOES!" and the quiz continued.

I went ahead and pointed to many things until toes came up again. No one seemed to remember toes at first. then my student who is the most beginner of all of them yelled "Foot Fingers!". i laughed because i knew it was my fault. then another student said "No, toes. toes."

later, when we did one last review my beginner student showed his comprehension by saying "foot fingers, toes". He had a big smile. He knew it was funny.

Similarly, i was trying to teach my students bum, bottom, butt, booty or fanny. however, they did say "ass?" I had to tell them that, yes, it did mean the same thing but that that was the rude way. they had to laugh about it but some of my students couldnt get over the word and would use it any time i pointed to my bottom. "Ass! Ass!"

All i can say is that my class was full of laughs. i even managed to almost knock myself over because as i was singing the head and shoulders song i hit my buttox against a shelfing thing and almost lost it. they all laughed as well as myself and i turned bright red. It was funny.

So, moral of my story? Language learning can be embarrassing but so can language teaching.

An eventful walk home

I cant say that today was a wonderful day but for some reason it got better when i got stuck in the pouring rain. Let me explain.

I started off my day just wonderfully. I got to work in good time, was feeling good and even taught well. Then one of my managers came in to tell me that it looked like i wasnt going to get my Thursday off like i had requested. My cousin Grace is coming in to town and i was hoping to be able to greet her and be home when she arrived. But it doesnt appear that that will happen... but i may get half the day off which is better then nothing.

Then, i was all set to tutor and my student wasn't there. I have a huge issue with management and them not informing me of absences. oh well, i had an extra hour to myself. I did a bit of planning and started my way off home. I stopped to say hi to some UNICEF people. They wanted me to give them money. I told them that i just wanted to stop by and say HI! because they probably always get ignored. They thanked me so i was happy to be kind in a small way. Then i went to the pharmacy to buy my mom some bath stuff for her birthday. A small token on her actual birthday. Then i ran into one of my students and he talked with me a bit. I love my students. they make me laugh and smile.

After that i started my walk home. What should happen the moment i am on my way? Rain. not just any rain. It was the hardest rain in Ottawa yet this summer i think. It was actually hurting me when it hit me. Huge and hard drops. Within seconds i was soaked but for some reason i was so happy. The Lord works in funny ways. when it rains i cant stop thinking about God.


A few blocks later i ran in to some lady. She stopped me and asked me to go and talk to some guy. she wanted me to shake his had and say " Hi, my name is Katie. Christina told me to come and tell you to smile." Believe it or not, i did it. He had no idea who Christina was. I felt kind of stupid but i wasnt embarrassed because i was so happy.

After a few more blocks i was getting a little tired of getting pelted in the face and everywhere with heavy drops. I started to get a little crabby, though i was still in awe of God. Then, just as i was taking off my shoes because the wet leather was rubbing my feet and hurting me, someone pulled over to offer me a drive. Of course i thought of how stupid it was to get into the car with the man but i was so pleased with his kind gesture that i got in. I was almost home just the same. I asked him to let me off at the end of the street but he actually took me right home. I was soaking and i got his seat wet and he didnt mind. it was so kind of him.

I got inside and got dry right away. Being really sick with a cold already i didnt want to make it worse. Then i got my raincoat on and set out for my parents place. Now that i was ready for the rain, it stopped.

My day was wonderful. The rain is still falling and my hair is still wet but all the rest of me is dry and i am happily in my parents home updating my blog after pizza :)

P.S. the picture was taken on my phone. i wanted to send a funny picture to Dave but it never worked. You may all enjoy how funny i look. i was actually dripping wet. my eyes couldnt stay open because water kept pouring into them. Oh what i walk home.

Quick note

I just wanted to let you all know that i no longer have a computer so until that changes i will not be posting very often. Keep checking once in a while. i will be sure to let you know when i get a computer. Cant imagine it will be too long ( my roommate is going to buy one and i will mooch off of her).

Phew!

Please forgive me for my lack of regualrity on this blog. Life gets busy and you have to make sure you habve your priorities straight. This, i am afraid, is not my priority. At least not at the moment and i dont think i will ever have anything amazing enought to say to make this ever be priority.

Well, here is a bit of an update.

Today was my last day teaching my 13 year old students who challenged me every moment of the time i was with them. I must admit, i think i may miss a few of them just because they could make me laugh. Teenagers are good at that. But otherwise, i can say goodbye without any tears.

Today while i was evaluaing some presentations i was listening to one of my students from Brazil. Now i am usually very good at hiding my confusion when i have no idea what they are saying but this student got up in front of the class and read something from the internet and i couldnt understand a single thingt. I must say, i caught myself making confused faces and some of my other students caught me too. Then, while he was reading his work which hs had no comorehension of, he mispronounced the word 'sheet'. Right away i cracked up forgetting where i was and boy was that bad. My other students caught on except for him and we all laughed. I encouraged him that it was ok and that we had thought he had sworn. Eventually he understood and was able to laugh. Later, he decided to draw a picture on the board to make sure he understood. He did.

Anyway, enough about work. i have been consumed by marking and havent been free of it until tonight.

I've been doing very well spiritually the past little while. You know when things just click? that you really understand that you are not in control? or when you really see your sin and it makes you more awake to God? Ive had that and am having it. I feel so much closer to him. I think it really started while i was camping with a bunch of people from church. We were away on Sunday morning so i had a little devotion time on my own in Daves truck. I guess iw as there for a whil ebecause Dave had to come and get me to tell me that if i didnt come soon i would have no breakfast. But i read through all of first and second timothy. I underlined things that hit me as well as meditated on thing i learned while i was in Africa. We studied second Timothy there. It was very nice. Now i am reading the Psalms along with James. Its a really good book as well. However, i do want to find away to really study the word. I feel like at the moment i am reading it, getting it and praying about it then forgetting what i read a few hours later. In James or Romans it talks about that being something a foolish man does. I dont wish to be foolish. Does anyone have any good pointers for me?

Anyways, i have a project to work on. I am trying to make a blanket for Dave before he leaves me to school. It will be quite the challenge because it takes a while to knit a blanket. We'll see if i can do it. So long... for now.

Teenagers!

I have always wanted to teach. My initial dream was to teach young children. It was my dream for years and years until i started university. It wasnt until my third and final year that i realised that i would also enjoy teaching adults. So, i knew... adults or children.

Please note: NEVER did i concider (not even concider) teaching teenagers! They have attitude that i just cant handle and disrespect that i find i have no patience for.

I am currently teaching in a private language school We have students who range from 18 to 50. so i am quite happy... normally. Unfortunately for me and the other teachers along with me, our school accepts students from other countries for a summer course. One month with younger kids. Guess how old they are? If you guessed 13- 16 you guessed correctly. And not only that, they are spoiled rich kids. They whine and complain and are rude... Its so hard to handle it.

I went to class today just dreading it. I end up having a group of 13 students when the maximum amount is 12 and 6 of them are "the children" as our regular students call them. They dont listen and then the moment i am finished explaining something they ask questions that i have already answered. And sometimes the same question gets asked three times. It drives me and the other studetns crazy. Today i actually had to start being mean and i hate being that way. But i think it is the only way these kids will understand.

This month is challenging. Its almost over but its been so tireing. Loud, slow and rough. But i am seeing that the Lord is teaching me patience. I have always known i had trouble with Youth and so i have always tried to stay away from having to teach them. Now i have no choice. I get to teach one of the hardest groups in the school. But i am sure there is something i am to learn. I know that i should be teaching them joyfully and i should be enjoying it even if it is hard but i just find i am hardening and getting frustrated even before i got to class. I need to be more prayerful before my afternoon classes with "the children". They are, after all, just teenagers. Almost all of them are the same even though that really isnt an excuse.

So my goal? to teach contentedly without complaining for the last two weeks. Dave, you are the one i usually complain to so keep me accountable, please.

An eventful BBQ

Last Thursday evening was a night of excitiment for myself as well as many other people from my church. Dave invited all the bible study as well as the young adults to come out to his place in Russell and have a BBQ to close off our year of studies.

I managed to get a ride with Josh and Karin. I bused to their apartment but since it was my first time on that bus i definetly went right past their building. It was when i started to see some bigger houses that i realised that perhaps i had gone too far.

I walked back to the apartment and when i got there i chatted with Dave for a while u ntil i saw Elaine coming from getting groceries. SHe let me into the building and i ended up stay9ing with her for a while since Josh and Karin were botyh out.

We left (all 4 of us) to Daves shortly after 5. We didnt take the highway because it was rush hour so we got there a bit late but it didnt really matter. Nothing big had started yet. Dave was at the BBQ making burgers and sausages and Jo, Aidan and COlin were puttering about or chatting.

Dave had bought a pattio set which his father didnt drop off when it was suppose to be dropped off so we didnt actually use it much (just some of the chairs) but Dave had set up some lights on the clothes line and it looked very nice. His mother has a beautiful garden and they have a lot of grass to play on.

We ate and then some of us threw a frisbee and kicked a soccer ball. I also had a fun time playing with Caelah and Elijah. They play this game with me that they are dead and i must kiss them for them to wake up. So Cute!!!

It started to get dark so the lights went on and conversations continued. I went in for a little while so i missed what may have happened but i am guessing it was just more chatting and fellowship.

When i came back out it was time for the fire. Dave had joked that he would be lighting this fire where the wood was piled super high. None of us believed him and I dont think it was actually his intention. He made a little fire and we all sat down around it. Then people told him that they really thought he shoudl set the other one on fire... so he did. Let me tell you. Once that thing got burning it had flames 40 feet high. it was a hige fire. Now dont forget that he lives in the country but he also lives in a little neighbourhood. Behind his home he has a field but beside his house, not too far away, there is another house.

At one point during the fire we saw this Sunfire stop for a while and then go around the block a few times. people thought it was kind of annoying and they joked that they were going to call the fire department. Little did we know, but i think Dave had an idea, the cops showed up. He was a nice guy really but he came to tell us that they fire trucks were on the way and that the cheif would be the one who would decide if they had to put the fire out and fine Dave for the fire. At this point i started praying that there would be no fine and that they would just let the fire die. It was already at that point way lower.

After a fairly long conversation with the fire men, Dave and his father the police and fire department left. No fine and the fire was allowed to burn out. apparently there are ways the land that the fire was on was actually farm land so it was allowed to be burning but it was suppose to be burning with the supervision of the neighbour... needless to say everything worked out well.

Shortly after that excitment i went home. It was a nice evening. The mosquitoes were a drag but I survived (mainly because i got Dave to get me a hoodie. Im such a baby.