Sharks, parties, and teaching.

So I'm grading papers today and this is the story that I hear:

Natalie- I've been on a boat with a hotel on it. Actually, that's when I saw a great white shark.
Miguel- A SHARK!?
Natalie- Yeah. I actually got bit by a shark. It grabbed me right here (holds waist) and right here on my neck.
Miguel- I can't see it on your neck.
Natalie- I know, it's not really there anymore.
Miguel- What did you do?
Natalie- Well, my dad jumped in to save me. So did my grandpa. But my grandpa got ate by the shark.
Miguel- WHAT!
Natalie- Yeah But the shark didn't eat his eyeballs. So I had to jump back into the water and kill the shark. I took his eyeballs. I still have them.
Miguel- WOW!
...A few kids walk by..
Miguel- Natalie got bit by a shark!
One of the kids- Yeah. So have I.

HA. There's never a dull moment.. Whether it's good or bad, it's never dull. It's hard believing it's my last day in this first grade classroom tomorrow. They have some sort of party of surprise planned. I thought there might be something because I walked into the classroom while they must have been discussing it and the kids freaked and just stared at me. The following day one of the boys brought money and I said, Bryan, is that for me!? And he said, Yeah! It's for your party! A few of the kids freaked out on him and he said, I didn't tell her the surprise! haha! Then today I was telling Maya that I wasn't able to go on the field trip next week because I had to go back to Tennessee and she said, Oh but, teacher, why!? And another girl came up and whispered something to her and Maya said Oh! Teacher, I know nothing. Nothing. And just smiled and walked away! Oh I just love them (or at least a few of them :)

They do make me laugh. That's for sure.

They also make me crazy. Yesterday I got a phone call at about 7:55 saying that my mentor teacher was sick, she wasn't coming in, and she'd call back during Spanish to give me her lesson plans (they were with her). I about freaked out. I didn't want to do this thing all day again because of the last time. Well, during Spanish she didn't call til it was almost over and had already made a lay out of how I wanted the day to go. Luckily I had a teacher's aide in there with me, who I just love. She's from here but taught in the states for 10 years and she is just so very encouraging. So we mapped out the day (edited it a little when Vivian called) and went from there. I won't tell you exactly how the day was, but I'll just tell you that I had about lost my voice by the end of the day, came home, and took a hardcore two hour nap. I forced myself to get up at 6 because I didn't want to be up all night (I was up until 1am).

Today I got another phone call. I freaked out when I saw her name on my ringing phone. She had said she was on her way... She was a few hours late, so I had the morning covered today. I'd be confident to say that even though the short amount I was able to teach here equals out to what I would have done in the states. Phew.

Speaking of the states, I head back in six days. How crazy. Tomorrow is FRIDAY! WHOO! Not sure what's on the agenda yet. Saturday I believe we're going to the Bacardi Distillery.. that will be interesting to see how everything is done. Sunday Craig has to preach on the West side of the island so we'll go to church, hit up the beach, and see Cabo Rojo.. ? Maybe? Something like that. It's a lighthouse on the beach. Looks pretty cool from the pictures. Monday I will go to school (stop in my classroom at the end of the day and officially say bye) and during the day I want to observe the Kindergarten classroom and the Preschool classroom. I'm anxious to see how things are done. In the afternoon I will probably sit in on Lindsay's class as well. Tuesday I am taking the day to clean my room, pack, and lay out and bake at the pool. Wedesday I'll make sure everything is together, once it is, I'll be at the pool until I have to come back and leave. Lindsay is picking me up from the house at noon, I'll be at the airport by about 12:30, flight leaves about 2:45 I think, I'll land in Charlotte, have an hour and a two hour delay (I think) and then head to Knoxville and land at 9:30 where Chad (and maybe Erin if she can get someone to cover her shift) will pick me up. Thursday and Friday will consist of being in the Resource Center and knocking my portfolio out of the way once and for all. How exciting to be done with that (Yes, I know I'll have to update it as I teach). OH. And Thursday evening will also be spent in accompanied by Dave Barnes at the Bijou. I'm freaking excited. Doesn't matter how many times I see him, I'm just as excited everytime.

Hopefully I'll get one more post in before I go. If not, I will let you know when I'm safe and sound at home, or as my mom puts it, where there's not an ocean separating herself from me :) Speaking of my mom.. I get to see my family two weeks from tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Erin, for graduating. I'm soo stinkin excited to see them. I haven't seen any of them since December.