Tick Tock

Time is ticking down until school starts. Everyday I yell at my watch and plead for it to slow the time down. However, progress is happening and slowly but surely my classroom is taking shape.

One popular question I have been getting is: What have I been eating? Have I starved to death yet? Don't worry! I have been eating and up to this point have not starved. The school feeds us lunch during the day and different families have been hosting the new teachers for dinner. Is my fridge empty? Most definitely.

Next I would like to introduce you to my roommate and next door neighbors:

Erin (new 3rd grade teacher & next door neighbor) and me

Rebecca (ESL teacher & roommate) and Sharon (MS English teacher & next door neighbor)

All of us at dinner

And my principal:

xoxoxo

Wrinkled

Culture Fact:

In Nicaragua dressing for work is a big deal. You wear your nicest clothes. You iron your clothes until there isn't a wrinkle to be found. If you don't have an ironing board, any board will do. For example, a cutting board will do you just fine. Then it gets exciting. You jump on a bus that takes you a half hour to work. You join the 70 other people who are riding a bus with a capacity for 40. Its hot and dirty. Then you get off the bus, fix your skirt and smooth out the wrinkles, and walk in to work looking great.

I unpacked some of my clothes earlier this week. Only about four of my shirts were in such a state that I could wear them in public. I finished unpacking today. My clothes are so wrinkly I would be embarrassed going to Walmart wearing them. So I borrowed my friend's iron and ironing board and dragged them over to my apartment and got to work. One hour later, I still have a lot of work to do. Did I mention the iron fell over and I burned a hole in the ironing board cover?

Apartment update:
I now have a refrigerator and stove!

My kitchen

My apartment!

xoxoxoxo

Arrived

God's faithfulness astounds me on a regular basis. It really shouldn't, considering it is in his nature to do so, and he has shown his faithfulness to me time and time again. However, this morning as I woke up in Nicaragua, I was again amazed at how good he is - It was seven years ago that he placed this dream in my heart and to see it happening is amazing.

So, here's the latest:

My apartment is nice but last night it had nothing in it except a bed. Today a kitchen table and some chairs were added. Hopefully a fridge and stove will be here soon.

My bedroom

The living room upstairs

Today I saw my fourth grade classroom for the first time! We had time to look through curriculum, all the supplies in our closet, etc. I am trying to figure out how I want to do the classroom layout and how I want to decorate. This morning we met the principals, director, and other people at the school. I am incredibly impressed with the vision of the school and everything that they do for the students, parents, and teachers.

My fabulous undecorated classroom

Lots of bulletin boards in the back of the room

The view from my desk

The soon-to-be revised classroom library

Much love,
Laura

One Week and Counting

I doesn't quite seem real yet that I am leaving in a week. To Nicaragua. For a long time.

I have been packing, re-packing, and packing some more. Who knew this would be such a complicated process?

Besides the oh-so-thrilling process of packing, I have been squeezing in time with friends and family before I take off and enjoying all my favorite summer activities: 4th of July, Shakespeare on the Green, swimming, etc.

Shakespeare on the Green

A good ol' American 4th of July

This week my friend Shannon and I went to the teacher supply store. This may not sound exciting to you, but to a first year teacher, it is quite a beautiful thing. I bought many new things for my classroom that I can't wait to put up on the walls and use! There are a lot of supplies that you can't get in Nicaragua, so I wanted to make sure I was prepared.

xoxoxo