Catching Up Quickly!

Well I guess I have come to the realization that blogging is just not my thing. I know that I am very behind in catching everyone up on what has been happening in Mexico, so I will try to make this as detailed as I can while keeping it to a reasonable length.
Where to begin.. Lets start with the rooming situation.. Near the middle of August, I received word that I would be getting a roomie. He was from New York, but had already been teaching a year in Mexico City. Things were extremely interesting from the start. We both were basically the complete opposite of each other. I liked things clean and picked up, and he liked to just live and enjoy the house! I liked to make sure the doors were locked and the lights were turned out at night, he liked living on the edge. Let’s just say I was learning a lot about living with someone else. At the end of September, he decided to leave a to return to Mexico City. So now once again, I am living alone and loving every minute of it! ( Word is a new international teacher is coming and so I will have a new roommate again.)

As for school. The best way to put it is I am learning a lot. School is extremely different here, and there are a lot of challenges that I face on a daily basis. My kids however are great and improving their English daily. We are getting ready for a huge Cultural Celebration at the school, where each class is given a country to research, and then a big presentation is given to the parents. My class was given Scotland, and we have loved learning about the music, food, and especially the Loch Ness Monster. Also at school, I am teaching English Support Classes after school to 12 students. The students range from 3rd to 5th grade. It’s exciting to see them grow over the last couple of weeks, and I look forward to seeing their progress over the next couple of months.

When I am not in school, I have been busy making lots of new friends and spending time with old friends as well. Over the last two months, I have gone and spent some time in Saltillo with Juan Antonio and Julianne. It has been wonderful to be with my close friends and family in Saltillo again. During the last trip to Saltillo, I took my friend Valeria, another international teacher here in Monterrey, and we had a blast. Also over the last month or so, I have begun attending a church here in Monterrey. It is a Church of God that I had visited once on a mission trip down here. Everyone is extremely welcoming and I have connected with several people my age. Just last weekend, a group of them took me downtown to visit the History Museum and lunch. It was a great trip and I am looking forward to many more!

Overall things are going really great. Well except for the fact that this past week I have had food poisoning, and no I didn’t eat tacos from a cart off the street. :D I saw a doctor, and was given some medicine and I am finally starting to feel better, and I am ready to get of out the house. Just to prove how well I am being taken care of here, two mothers sent me chicken noodle soup this week, along with visits from other teachers and staff. But anyway, I miss you all and look forward to the next time we can catch up.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

P.S. I will try to be better about this blogging thing in the future!!!

Training and More Training!

My life now here in Monterrey is filled with loads of training. Last week I spent time visiting other schools and attending training. It was an interesting experience. The training was done all in Spanish and then we were given headsets where we were able to hear a translator. I was able to met a few other international teachers and enjoyed getting to know several other teachers from here in Monterrey. Now for the next two weeks, I will be having training at my specific school
I will soon be setting up my class in prepartion for Parents Night and Open House next week. I recently found out that I will be teaching two seperate classes each with 27 students. It is going to be an interesting experience that is for sure. I am looking forward to working with the other 3rd grade teachers as well. Two of them teach solely in Spanish and then myself and other teacher, teach soley in English. Picutres of my class and school are soon to follow. I am just waiting for the internet to be set up in my house.
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I continue to adjust to the culture, climate, and living on my own!!

It's Getting HOT HOT HOT!

Well I have made it! I am finally all settled in. The weather is hot to say the least, and I don't know if I will ever get use to that. 106 degree weather is just not my thing. My house is very nice. It is in a gated community that has a guard there at all times. It's a two story house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. I even have a walk in closet. The only downside to the house at this point is the ac is only in my bedroom, so you basically sweat anywhere else you go, especially when you make dinner. I am suppose to have a roomate, however he hasn't arrived yet, and the school is getting a little worried at this point. But if he doesn't come I will just embrace living alone. It allows me to sing out loud a lot more.
There are two other new international teachers here as well, Ron and Devon. They have been dating for several years, and an engagment is soon to come. They live in another neighborhood about 12 or so minute walking. I have spent some time with them and have enjoyed their company. We begin training on Wednesday with all the other new teachers. It will be nice to be busy. I will continue to keep everyone updated on things, and watch for pictures soon.