Patrick and me snorkeling in the Grotto. Saipan, May 2011.
Good friends of mine. Hidden Cove, Saipan. May 2011
Hidden Cove, Saipan. May 2011
A spectacular little snowy pond at Fushimi-Inari-Taisha
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha, a shrine dedicated to the gods of sake and rice. Hundreds of these vermillion shrine gates line a pleasant walkway.
Beautiful, manicured Bamboo Forest in Kyoto
Cute statues outside the Imperial Palace
Cycling around the Imperial Palace
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Everything pickled...Nishiki market
Cute statues off to the side of a Shinto Shrine
Pontocho, Kyoto
Honen-in gate
Oku-no-in; I thoroughly enjoyed the cool, crisp air as we hiked up behind Kotoku-in (Kyoto)
One of the subtemples at Nanzen-Ji
Outside the gate of one of the many subtemples at Daitoku-Ji
Super bike-friendly Osaka
Patrick enjoying our first Okonamiyaki....pure deliciousness!
Jellyfish at the Osaka Aquarium
Whale sharks at the Osaka Aquarium
Sake for her, beer for him....our first night in Osaka at a 'tuna only' restaurant.
Bamboo forest
Patrick and I became quite accustomed to always being warm, swimming in the ocean regularly, and indulging in tropical fruits. Being so far away from friends and family, however, was quite a challenge. I had moments when I felt right at home, and then moments when I felt like I was 5000 miles from home.
JUNE 7 2011 June 7, June 7, June 7....break out the graduation caps and close those textbooks. Another year steadily draws to a close. There will be approximately 50 graduates from TJSHS this year. Many students have their sights set on moving to the mainland for college, some of whom have never left the Mariana Islands. I am excited for the eye opening experiences that are almost upon them. Graduation makes me feel reminiscent of my youth, and my childlike excitement for the future.
In a way, I almost feel like I am graduating. The last two years have been exhilarating, stressful, enjoyable, enlightening, infuriating, relaxing, and....a pretty epic experience. At times tumultuous, I know I will walk away from this experience feeling like my life has been enriched and my world view expanded. I feel like a mess of exposed nerve endings as I approach my final week. Sentimentality is, of course, kicking in. For me, this means tears waiting in the wings, that overwhelming urge to make time stand still and defend myself against change, (even though I desperately want the change to happen. It is a strange paradox).
This summer, Patrick and I are heading to the West Coast, and then the East Coast...and finally, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM! I truly feel we must have paid some karmic debt and now we are about to receive the most blessed gift. We are heading to Brussels to work at an international school as teachers. We will soon be trading in our snorkel gear for wool clothing, an umbrella and a decent pair of rain boots....but first, a proper goodbye. Some snorkeling, a boat dive, fires on the beach, spectacular star gazing on the roof, papayas off the tree for breakfast, and one last stay at a tropical resort.
MARCH 6, 2011 Do you see the scary beast in this photo? This is the single most deadliest fish swimming around in the beautiful Pacific: the Stonefish. This fish has spikes that can be used as armor, and an unlucky soul that steps on it can be paralyzed and quite possibly die from the poison emitted from it's spikes. Some say this fish is more dangerous than a shark! We had the pleasure of finding one of them while swimming a couple of weeks ago. It had buried itself in the sand in about 2 feet of water close to the shore, and our friend discovered the stonefish by brushing his foot against it accidentally. His foot was not punctured, thankfully. Needless to say, I am a little more intimidated by, and in awe of, the plentitude of creatures found in the ocean.
The school year is moving swiftly along. My most recent turn of events is the approval of my Community Art Class. The Humanities Council finally approved my grant! I am hoping to start in a few weeks. I also volunteered myself to spearhead the Drama Club. I am looking for an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that will interest the high school students. 3 1/2 months left of school, time has been going by so fast. I have also been busy working on my own artwork, my goal is to submit the painting I am working on for a contest with a deadline in early May.
JANUARY 10, 2011 After a wonderful vacation in a wintery Japan, I am back at school for the final 5 and 1/2 months on the island of Tinian. My experiences in Osaka and Kyoto were certainly memorable. Being intellectually stimulated by touring great cities, indulging in delicious, fresh and healthy food, walking for miles in wintery streets in search of temples, shrines and museums, soaking in traditional hot baths, snuggling in down comforters, searching for a bargain Kimono, feeling anonymous, sipping on tea and draft beer in chic establishments.....it all made me a little homesick for the city life. While on vacation I started to have amazingly vivid dreams again, it was wonderful. I have been noticing for several months the lack of dreams I awake with, and, after being on vacation in a stimulating environment, I have realized why. Tinian is wonderful, but sometimes I need a little bit more to ponder than the sea..... I am truly content at the beginning of 2011. In so many ways I feel that I am choosing my path, and I also feel more patient journeying down that path. This year will bring great change....I am not sure where I am going after the next 5 months are through, and I am completely okay with that. This year may bring more travel and teaching abroad, it may also bring contented times in my favorite city: Portland. For the most part, I feel open, calm and assured that everything will fall into place, and I am also quite certain that it will be pointless to fret over the details....
NOVEMBER 28, 2010 Patrick and I decided to host Thanksgiving this year. We had six people over for dinner, and with a little help we had a fabulous spread of food! Bringing people together with the objective of preparing and eating a wonderful meal is most definitely one of my favorite ways to spend time. Our friends that attended Thanksgiving dinner consist of teachers, a counselor and a biologist researching the local bird habitat. We had all the trimmings, (except turkey which was substituted with chicken), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, biscuits, green beans, squash, apple pie, chocolate pie and chocolate cake. This picture features the apple pie - this glorious, delightful pie took me 3 and 1/2 hours to make, but the taste was worth every second! We had a late dinner that began around 8pm and ended around midnight. We tried to beat the heat by starting late, but it was still unbelievably warm in our house after using the oven. Nevertheless, everyone left remarkably full and happy. After much deliberation, Patrick and I decided to hang out on Tinian for the long Thanksgiving weekend, (I don't want to spend one unnecessary penny while our trip to Japan looms on the horizon). We have been having a great weekend swimming, hiking, biking, watching the sunset, reading and, of course, eating leftovers, (I posted some new pictures in the photo tab). Life here on Tinian is quiet, quiet, quiet.....
Tinian Thanksgiving Dinner Party 2010
OCTOBER 17, 2010
I want to take a moment to describe all the small things here in Tinian that I appreciate, admire and muse over on a daily basis. This picture is of a Kingfisher, the loudest bird I have ever heard in it's natural environment. The Collared Kingfisher is all over the Mariana Islands, and you can hear it's distinct call from very far away - it is nothing short of completely amazing. I often see Kingfishers with geckos and other small lizards in their mouths. They sit high on electrical wires and converse with each other. Another small and amazing thing that I see a lot of lately is the butterfly. I have been walking home after school, for exercise and stress release purposes, and, without fail, I see dozens of black butterflies with blue, white or brown shiny spots frolicking around in the air together. Dragonflies are also out and about lately. Beautiful, magnificent, red dragonflies. Frogs. Big, loud, fat frogs are out at night. Sometimes it seems like they are everywhere. I love it. Green geckos are often spotted on our house, I think because they blend in with our green house. There are also little brown lizards that we find inside the house, they actually chirp. Unfortunately, these little lizards are Lulu's favorite plaything and treat. We have orchids growing in our front yard, in our front yard! Never in a million years would I have thought in 2010 I will live in a place where I have orchids thriving in my front yard. Beautiful yellow and red, light pink and white orchids. I am currently using the orchids as subject matter for my artwork. I love how ALIVE everything feels here; the amazing speed of growth that is visible in every plant, the small, wonderful creatures that are everywhere, and (OF COURSE) the amazing ecosystems thriving right on the beach, and off the shore in the coral reef.
September 27, 2010 Here we are, four weeks in. The school year is off to a good start, for the most part. I have had brief periods of longing for what lingers on the horizon...that constant need for movement and change. (What is next in this life? Can we keep the momentum going, please?) I guess I am still somewhat coming down from the influx of stimulation this past summer. Here I sit, the only noises are the birds, the lizards and the whirring of the fan at my side. Here I am, in the quiet, in the heat, experiencing life on a teeny, tiny island...where not much of anything is really going on at any given moment. We spend our free time existing and expanding in this quiet landscape. I have been reading, swimming, drawing, meditating, exercising and cooking.
Patrick and I have been putting serious effort into expanding our limited collection of dishes that we can find all (or most of) the ingredients for. Last night I made a delicious Moroccan Chickpea Stew with Chicken, and Patrick made hummus with the remainder of the chickpeas, which was also delicious, (thank you, Jessica, for the Tahini!). Last weekend Patrick made Coconut Curry, and I made a flourless chocolate torte for dessert....I have to say we have been eating pretty well considering where we are. A friend's birthday was a couple of weeks ago, so I made a peanut butter tofu chocolate cheesecake. At least once a week we roll vegetable sushi, create a squash or pumpkin entrée, and we indulge in a seriously tasty breakfast almost daily. As of lately, our favorite is Bob's Red Mill (available in Saipan) rice cereal pancakes with fruit. Patrick and I consider ourselves the most creative chefs on this island!! Coming from the land of the most beautiful, local and organic produce, amazing assortments of fine cheeses, fresh herbs, quality olives, free-range eggs and grass-fed meats, (PORTLAND!), has made me quite opinionated and judgmental when it comes to the state of the grocery store here on Tinian. However, we are certainly doing more than 'roughing it.' We have been doing a fantastic job, in the humble opinion of my taste buds.
September 11, 2010 We are back in the CNM, back in the CNM, back in the CNMI! (...The Beatles, Back in the USSR?) After visiting Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York and the Philippines it is time for work again. I have been officially back to the grindstone for two weeks now. I have had a little bit of a rough start; one teacher aide transferring and one resigning, and I am not teaching art this semester. Not enough students have room in their schedules for an elective...and I do not have access to an extra classroom to hold the art class. I am trying to keep a positive attitude and keep my head in the game, so to speak. I am working on getting a community art class going with the help of a grant from the Humanities Council, the class will be open to students and adults in the community.
I am feeling so much more prepared than I did at the beginning of last year. I feel like my breadth of Special Education knowledge has grown tremendously in comparison to when I was fresh out of grad school. Patrick and I attended the T.E.A.C.C.H. Autism Training over the summer, and I feel that I gained necessary skills to truly impact the lives of my students with Autism. Also, returning to the same school feels so much less stressful. I am working with students I already know and I feel like I can make changes happen this year.
It was definitely difficult to come back to Tinian....back to very little stimulation or distraction, back to sweltering humidity, back to missing friends and family. Time moves fast, though....and I am ready for this challenge. I am strong, and my happiness typically prevails. I need to keep in mind the importance of this experience, it is an exercise in patience, adversity, and will.
Patrick contemplating going back to work on Monday...vacation over. Taal, Luzon Island, Philippines.
Sipping the local brew in Taal. Luzon Island, Philippines
Taal Lake and volcano. Luzon Island, Philippines
Vegetable market. Romblon Island, Philippines.
Waterfall hopping...one of seven pools. Sibuyan Island, Philippines
Water buffalo on the trail. Sibuyan Island
Jungle trek. Sibuyan Island, Philippines
Patrick taking a dip after our hike on Sibuyan Island, Philippines
Amazing sunset, view from Sibuyan Island, Philippines
Laughing in Portland with Megan, Chiara and Stacey...I already miss you guys.
Crater Lake, OR
Chiara, Crater Lake and me
Another sunset
June 19, 2010
I made it. My first year teaching is over. I feel relieved, and overwhelmingly excited that I have two and a half months off from work!!! I really can't remember being this excited about summer vacation when I was a student! Patrick and I are in Saipan awaiting his parents' arrival later this evening. We will be touring Saipan with guests once again, always a pleasure to show others the wonders of these islands. We will be in Saipan for 5 days and then we are going to Rota, the southernmost island of the 13 Mariana Islands. And then, of course, to Tinian. From Tinian Patrick and I are flying to the Great Northwest!! We will be spending three weeks riding bikes, sipping coffee, chatting with friends while indulging in delicious food and microbrews, enjoying live music and the Farmers' Market. After Portland we are off to Pittsburgh to attend the T.E.A.C.C.H. Autism Training, which is the entire reason we are able to travel to the states in the first place! I wrote a proposal for Patrick and I to attend this training due to the high percentage of Autistic students on Tinian, and it was well received by the Special Education Director and the Commissioner of Education. AFter Pittsburgh I will be flying to Syracuse for a week to visit my family and friends on the East coast. And from Syracuse I fly back to Saipan. Finally, in August Patrick and I are traveling to the Philippines for three weeks.
I feel very grateful to have time off, and I also feel that it is unbelievably necessary for a break. My first year is over! I did it! I will learn and grow from this experience, and I will come back next year refreshed and ready for a new challenge! I feel content about returning to Tinian in the fall to complete another year of teaching. I will be teaching a Drawing and Painting class for high school students. My principal and I had a lovely conversation about the possibility of me teaching AP Art during the second semester. Tinian Jr./Sr. High has never offered AP classes, but it is something our principal is pushing for. We'll see what happens. I am just grateful to be teaching art for one period of the day. It is really exactly what I said I wanted in a teaching position, a balance between Special Ed and art. Onward and upward.
June 11, 2010 5 more days! Graduation ceremonies have been held, final exams are complete, paperwork is done, final grades are in....the school year is really ending.
Last weekend was certainly memorable. On Saturday, Patrick and I went on a boat dive with a scuba instructor and two Korean tourists, while the boat drivers were a local Chamorro man and his son. It was a really wonderful experience. The water was perfect, the fish were out in all their splendor, and we saw beautiful coral flowers popping in and out of the reef with any slight movement in the water. The instructor has become a friend of ours, and that evening he invited us to a Korean BBQ. We had a great time and the food was absolutely delicious. The instructor's wife is so friendly and down to earth, she offered to teach me the Korean language during next school year. I have been thinking about teaching English in South Korea after next school year, and one-to-one language lessons would certainly help me prepare.
Patrick and I hiked down to our favorite secluded beach on Sunday to swim, read, picnic and relax. When sitting on this beach it is easy to imagine that we are the only people on the entire island. It was a perfectly peaceful Sunday.
This weekend marks the beginning of the World Cup, and because of the time difference the games end up being on at midnight, 4:30am and other crazy times. Thankfully they are being shown on a big screen in the casino/resort that is open 24 hours.
June 3, 2010 Time keeps moving...and with it so does any sense of a break from extreme heat. The land is gasping for water, while the sun blazes down starting wild fires with any fragment of discarded metal or glass. Needless to say we have been very hot....so hot that we rather starve sometimes than use the stove or oven, so hot that swimming has become something we must do, not just something we want to do, so hot that we are hibernating when we are not in the water, so hot that I got a sunburn in less that an hour this past weekend.
Eleven more days of school! I don't even remember being this excited for the end of the school year when I was a high school student! First year of teaching: memorable, challenging, discouraging (and encouraging at the same time), overwhelming, eye-opening, an incredible learning experience, successful, heart-wrenching, and motivating. I feel like I may not be able to assess precisely how much I have gained from teaching here for many years to come, without having any other experiences (besides student teaching) to compare it to. I feel that each year will serve as another opportunity to work on, improve and fine tune my chosen craft- always, hopefully, onward and upward.
I am overdue for some friend and family love. Patrick and I support each other here, but I feel I can relate to that saying "it takes a village...," I feel that it also takes a community of friends and family to guide an individual (me) through life.
Patrick and his new best friend at the San Jose Fiesta
Taga Dancers at the San Jose Fiesta
Taga Beach, Tinian
Bonzai Cliff, Saipan
May 23, 2010 Patrick and I spent the weekend in Saipan. We splurged a little on a two-night stay at The Mariana Resort and Spa...this resort has a great deal for locals. I guess we enjoyed being on vacation with Jessica and Ian so much that we decided to do it again! The "Taste of the Marianas" was happening this weekend, all the resorts and restaurants have a festival and sell delicious food from decorative stands, and, of course, music, traditional dance, and games for kids. Our friends Mark and Patty took us out to Managaha (tiny island within Saipan's coral reef) on their boat to watch the sunset. It was fantastic! We snorkeled and saw a magnificent EAGLE RAY up close, we watched crabs come out of their holes at sunset and scurry around, we shared a bottle of wine and discussed summer plans while trying to avoid talking about Special Ed. Patrick and I thoroughly enjoy visiting/vacationing in Saipan...and we are recognizing our enjoyment as just another benefit of living on Tinian. When we lived on Saipan it certainly didn't feel like we were on vacation all the time, despite what some of you may be thinking! I guess the same goes for anywhere you live, really. Experiencing the day-to-day, mundane reality of living somewhere vs. the new, exciting, different feeling of visiting a place. One more month and I will be visiting my old stomping grounds...and I am certainly expecting an exciting and enjoyable experience!! The end of the school year is in sight, I can just make it out - that bright light of ultimate relaxation.
May 11, 2010 The importance of watching the sun set again and again and again.... After perusing the back room of the library looking for the perfect short story for my Saturday Reading Program last week, I settled on The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. I am sure most people are familiar with this story, I have heard about, seen it around time and time again and never picked it up and actually read it. Just another case of how we do not find books, rather books find us at exactly the moment we are intended to read them.
What we've got here is the beach...sand, water, fish, endless sky and perfect, perfect sunsets. I have probably made the conscious effort of watching the sun set here more times than ever before in my life....I love it. The Little Prince discusses how his planet is so small, he can watch the sun set over 40 times per day by walking around his planet. Hesays that watching the sun set is the thing to do when you feel sad. Enjoying the simple things in life...what else is there? Luckily, it is easy to enjoy the simple things here....because there isn't anything except the simple things!
As John Steinbeck wrote in Cannery Row, "it is the hour of the pearl - the interval between day and night when time stops and examines itself."
May 3, 2010 This part weekend was the San Jose Fiesta, the most celebrated yearly festival in Tinian honoring the Patron Saint of San Jose. Elaborately decorated booths lined the perimeter selling food and drinks, and dance and musical performances were the nightly entertainment. Everyone on island was present, it seemed and the atmosphere was very lively and happy. Patrick performed solo on Friday, and then with a band (including the principal of my school) on Saturday. We spent our evenings at the Fiesta and our days swimming in a secluded lagoon on Saturday, and then deep water snorkeling in Turtle Cove on Sunday. Life is good. This morning is quiet at school, everyone seems to be coming down from their fun.
Patrick and I are anxiously awaiting our summer vacation, two and a half months off! Portland - Pennsylvania - Japan....morning conversations over coffee are usually focused around the impending break from the daily grind. I am looking forward to spending time reflecting and planning for next school year, now that I know exactly what to expect I will be able to plan better. I genuinely feel connected to teaching because it is cyclical, teach-reflect and relax-plan-teach.
April 3, 2010 Easter weekend. We have four days off from school to relax! The rain has been incredible the last few days, extremely abnormal for this time of year because we are in the dry season. It is great for the plants and crops, though. Everything is still pretty green, which is nice. This picture is of a banana heart growing out of a tree in our yard. We have three big branches growing bananas right now. In a few weeks we should have about 100 ripe bananas!! The freezer is already full....banana bread, banana cake, banana crepes, banana chips. Patrick and I bring in bags of bananas to school to give away whenever we have too many that are ripe at the same time.
I feel relaxed and peaceful on this second day of vacation. I am getting better about shutting down the part of my brain devoted to school when I am not there. I am finding it easier to just relax....in conversations with Patrick and teacher friends here it is difficult to NOT talk about school, but I am getting better about keeping myself in check. I assume everyone struggles with this early in their careers, learning to balance your dedication to a job and your need for a life. Today I am going for a bike ride to explore a new beach spot.
After an absolutely crazy week, I have a wonderful weekend awaiting me. Patrick and I are going diving on Sunday with a friend of ours. This picture is from a dive a few weeks ago.
March 19, 2010 Teaching here is tough....really tough. This week included making a few phone calls to the Department of Youth Services, the police and counseling several students on my caseload about heavy, heavy life issues. It is so hard to even get a chance to reflect on my life and my experiences when every second I feel a pressing need to accomplish 101 tasks. I am learning so much, about teaching, about teenagers, about school politics and about how I perform under extreme pressure. All of these things, and learning about how to work in the framework of a foreign culture. This experience is so valuable and I feel myself changing. When I look at my life...I should say when I look at the people I have in my life I am soooo grateful and appreciative. I wouldn't be able to handle half this amount without all the love I have received up until this point in my life. I am so grateful for my parents and my sisters, my heart overflows and feels so full. My friends...I miss you all so much, but I still feel the love even from 5000+ miles away, THANK YOU for keeping in touch. I am so lucky....I love my life and all of you.
March 1, 2010
Today marks the beginning of my seventh month here in the Marianas. Overall my experience here has been extremely positive and life-altering. However, this has been a challenging couple of weeks. I am wondering if January and February will always be my most difficult months of teaching. We have been in that middle point in the school year, the no-end-in-sight discomfort. If I don't enjoy every minute of teaching does that really mean that I chose the wrong occupation? I hope not...It seems that the malaise radiating from so many high school students has been wearing off on me lately. I have been trying my best to focus on the positives...and there are many. Almost daily I see a glimpse of how I can make things better. Number 1: Never, NEVER stop learning. I must continue to learn how to be a better teacher, fine tune my craft. Number 2: Have an awesome life after school hours. Number 3: Incorporate my passion (ART) whenever possible.
February 15, 2010 This past weekend was great, it was the annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival. Tinian claims that it is home to the hottest pepper on the planet. I cannot really attest to the claim because I am the biggest wimp on the planet when it comes to spicy things. The festival was a wonderful cultural experience; pepper eating contests, dance performances, singing and a lot of food and sunshine of course.
Life here continues to be quiet and enjoyable. I have been reading, relaxing, swimming and working. The weather has been extremely pleasing, very breezy and NOT humid. It is lovely. The balmy humidity will start up again soon, folks say that May and June are probably the hottest. It is interesting to be in tune with such subtle changes, as opposed to the yearly catastrophic weather changes in the NE and NW United States.
Patrick and I have been working on starting a garden. Some seeds are sprouting quickly and the soil seems vital and rich. From our fruit trees we have bananas and sour sop right now. Sour sop is this enormous other-worldly looking green fruit that is white inside with huge seeds. Sour sop tastes sweet and sour and is extremely pungent upon splitting it open. It is renowned for it's health benefits and cancer curing abilities.
February 2, 2010 Second semester! I am working to implement changes at the Jr./Sr. High and so far so good. I have a great team to work with and I feel that my suggestions are respected and taken seriously. I am working hard and really drawing on my experience at PSU....it seems that grad school was a worth while endeavor. I am working with kids with so many different disabilities, this is truly a learning experience for me. It is simultaneously an empowering experience and an intimidating experience...it is just me here at the Jr./Sr. High...no mentor, no other special ed teachers. I am hoping I will become a more resourceful, well versed special educator after this experience is over.
Patrick and I have been having an excellent time on Tinian. We have been riding our scooter, snorkeling, star gazing, cycling, and swimming. Life is simple and extremely quiet here. Plenty of time in focus on myself, keep up on my reading and yoga. The job feels chaotic at times, but my free time is so peaceful that I feel balanced. I am looking forward to visitors! Jessica and Ian have planned a trip for April, Patrick's parents are coming in June and Laurieanne is on her way in September! This place will be the perfect island getaway! Friends from Saipan are also steadily visiting us. I feel that a small circle of support is developing for me on these two islands.
We have survived our first week in TInian. The first week at a new school was intense, but great. I am working at the Jr/Sr. High School and providing Special Education services to students in grades 7 through 12. The staff at school are really great, everyone is pretty mellow and relaxed here. I am working with 32 students with the whole spectrum of disabilities. I feel that my experience here will be rewarding and beneficial to my development as a teacher. I have to be very self reliant here. January 10, 2010 Christmas break was very enjoyable and relaxing. Fiji was so incredible. We stayed at a traditional Fijian Village called Namatakula with two incredible hosts! We got to meet the villagers, partake in a traditional feast and two Kava ceremonies. Kava is made from a root and is pulverized into a powder and mixed with water. It tastes a little like licorice and promptly makes your mouth very numb. After a few coconut shells full, I felt extremely relaxed and peaceful. The Fijian people say it clears your mind, and they are correct! They call it "Fiji Time." Our time with the villagers was incredible and I believe that we experienced the real Fiji while in Namatakula.
December 23, 2009
The last day at Kagman HIgh....I feel sad about leaving today. It is funny when that happens, always when I am just about to leave somewhere I am somewhat sad. The SPED staff have been so amazing, they have really made me feel welcomed, important and appreciated. They bought my lunch at our holiday party yesterday and printed me a certificate of appreciation with their signatures and photos. Also, a whale piggy bank to save money in for visits to Saipan. It definitely made me feel special. A few of my students told me they were sad to see me go. Most of the students are so used to teachers coming and going, I am one of three teachers that have already left this school year. The turn over rate is really high, it is sad. Many people teach to earn a living here and are not highly qualified. Teaching is not their chosen profession, just an income. However, the school in Tinian is SOOOOO in need of Special Education teachers and we are being welcomed with very open arms. There are 52 kids that qualify for services, and there hasn't been a full-time Sped teacher since the middle of last school year.
This photo is of the cutest house I will probably ever live in. We are so excited to have grass and trees again! We live in a concrete jungle of apartments on Saipan. Badminton, volleyball, firepit.....fun times!! We move into this cute little house on Tinian on January 2, right after our trip to Fiji.
Our little cabin by the sea in Namatakula Village, Fiji
Namatakula Village, Fiji. Our homestay hosts
Our two month old little kitten that nibbled at our toes all last night
Patrick and our rented scooter at Suicide Cliff, Tinian Island
Patick sitting on the coast of Tinian...Saipan in the background
December 7, 2009 Scuba diving...how amazing. How can I even come close to describing the experience that is scuba diving? There is a lot that is lacking when spending time on Saipan, and up until now I thought I had a pretty complete picture of the island. Today I feel like I was proved wrong! The hidden life on the reefs surrounding this island hold infinite wonder. I feel so grateful for this experience. I have to admit, the fear of diving almost got the best of me, and I am so pleased that I finally saw beyond the fear. Having an excellent teacher definitely was a crucial part of getting past the fear of breathing from a tank of oxygen, getting eaten by a shark, bitten by an eel, stung by a jellyfish or lionfish, and sucked into the Mariana's Trench by a ridiculously strong current! I am not really one to "live on the edge" but I feel that I peered over the edge today! November 27, 2009 Thanksgiving was great, a few friends, a few beers and some great food! The weather was super stormy yesterday which made the day feel a little more normal. I was still cooking in shorts and a tank top, though. Tropical holiday season...it feels a little strange!
Today we took the first little step toward getting scuba certified. Saipan is well known in the scuba diving circuit, so I am pretty excited to have this fabulous opportunity. We completed a portion of the written work, but we could not get in the water because of crap weather. There is yet another typhoon circling near the island. The storm system doesn't appear to be headed for us, just traveling 3/4 of the way around the islands and headed northeast to Iwo Jima.
The first quarter of the school year is over. It is now the thirteenth week of school. Days have been drifting by at school. December will be my last month at Kagman High, and then off to Tinian. I am not really sad to be leaving, I don't feel like I have been there long enough to really have emotions about the situation. I just keep thinking that Tinian needs Special Education teachers, they do not have ANY, and I am teaching in a school where I am one of three.
November 1, 2009 Time is moving swiftly past on this beautiful tropical little island.
A pretty major change may be coming to pass very soon. Last weekend Patrick and I went to check out our neighboring island to the South; Tinian. The island is 39 square miles, in comparison to Saipan's 48 square miles, and there are presently a little over 3000 inhabitants, compared to Saipan's 60,000+ inhabitants. The island has a completely different feel. We rented a scooter and safely toured the entire island barely seeing cars on the road. Saipan now feels like a major city! There are two Special Educator positions that desperately need to be filled on Tinian....and we are thinking about transferring. The change will probably occur after Christmas according to the Director of the Special Education Department. I am all for it! I love Saipan, but Tinian would be more of the remote tropical island experience I was expecting.
Another spectacular change is we have acquired a new friend!! She fits right in the palm of my hand and is covered with fur!! Our neighbors gave up a little kitten to take care of. She is two months old, adorable and presently without a name! She nibbled our toes all night, but I love her....I always appreciate furry, purring companions!
October 18, 2009 Yesterday Patrick and I hiked down to Bird Island. We saw a black tipped shark that was about 2 1/2 feet in length. We had the whole beach to ourselves the entire time we were there. The distance from the shore to the island is only about 100 yards, so we snorkeled over there and gazed at florescent fish while dodging the coral.
Last night we sat out at Wing Beach with some friends, star gazing and drinking some beer. Although the island is quite populated, the surface area does not emit enough light pollution to hinder our ability to see a fantastic spread of stars, the Milky Way included!
I am totally loving life at this moment!
Enjoying some food on an incredibly peaceful little island, Managaha Island.
Managaha Island from a distance. (View from Saipan)
The Grotto. Amazing spot to swim and see brightly colored fish
Bird Island from lookout
October 16, 2009 There are always new experiences transpiring, but I must prioritize...live first, write later. This evening Patrick and I went out to dinner with some friends of ours. The restaurant is owned by a local woman, it is lovely little place with plants all around, and the food was quite tasty as well. The conversation with one of the staff turned toward the supernatural and she began talking about cultural beliefs held by the local Chamorros. The beliefs stem from Earth God and Goddess roots. The woman talked of the power of the forest and the power of the ocean....She spoke of the respect we must have for the land in order to be healthy and happy. The conversation reached me in a very deep way. I am constantly amazed at the rapid growth of plants and flowers here, and of the sounds the waves make on windy days. Even swimming in the protected reef waters I feel the slight current tugging my body out to sea. Everything here is so ALIVE! The woman spoke of the Banyan trees....one look at these trees and I recognized the unique, special quality they possessed. Banyan trees move...very, very slowly over time. Needless to say, even going out to dinner is a unique experience here!
School is going well, today anyway. Some days are so wonderful, I feel like I am making a difference in students' lives and I am a truly inspiring teacher. Other days I do not feel as positive....I feel like I am giving in to power struggles, and the day feels longer than the first half of 2009. We must struggle sometimes, I suppose, otherwise how would we recognize growth?
Today I found out that I will be teaching art next semester!! How wonderful does that sound? I will be teaching art for special ed students. I will also be teaching English to special ed students. I feel that I am truly drawing from my student teaching experience and utilizing my strengths.
Everyday brings new adventures and new challenges. Today Patrick and I had the pleasure of going out to a tiny island called Managaha. Friends of ours borrowed a friend's boat and took us out to the island to explore and snorkel. Managaha is approximately a mile off the coast of Saipan, and we walked around the entire island, at a leisurely pace, in about ten minutes....it is very small. My favorite creature I have seen so far is a bright blue starfish, they are so incredible! The fish are amazing as well, I love the brightly colored parrot fish (they are quite delicious as well)!
September 26, 2009 Teaching has been an intense experience...or should I say being a Special Ed teacher is an intense experience! I have held five IEP meetings and we have only had twelve days of instruction. Luckily for me the IEP deadlines are starting to slow down...four for October, two for November and one for December. My study skills class is going well, I genuinely enjoy my students. They are incredibly respectful and are in need of my help. I feel like I am helping out and being a positive influence. Sometimes they have the funniest misconceptions about the states. They were shocked to hear that coconut trees do not grow in Oregon and that there is a park in Portland that is the size of Saipan. And how do I describe what snow is like?
Last weekend Patrick and I went to this fancy day spa in a hotel. It is very interesting and strange to be in the center of a tourist destination. All the hotels have great deals for locals, which we are now according to our licenses. We spent the day at the spa soaking in pools overlooking the ocean, sitting in the saunas and lounging by the pool for $15. It is great fun to pretend we are on some luxurious vacation on a Pacific island that we could never afford.
September 6, 2009 This past work week was professional development and setting up classrooms. I met with all of my fellow teachers at Kagman High and everyone is extremely nice! I will be teaching one section of Study Skills/Learning Strategies to sophomores, juniors and seniors, and a combined Language Arts/Study Skills class to incoming freshmen. The most vital part of my position as a Special Education teacher is implementing my students' IEPs, checking in on general education teachers and ensuring that they are accommodating, and keeping IEPs in compliance with the laws governing Special Education. I put a link to the school's website.
This weekend has been exciting so far. Yesterday we had the opportunity to surf. The surfing here is not excellent, I have heard, however, it is a great place to learn. There are not always waves. This time of year, typhoon season, is the best time because waves come in from storms happening in the middle of the ocean. We were also given the opportunity to socialize with some really cool people, while trying to catch waves or drinking beer and sitting on the beach. I could definitely get used to days like yesterday!
My first week of living on the beautiful island of Saipan is drawing to a close. My experience here has been incredible so far. Everything is so new and I feel so awake and alive. Patrick and I moved into our new home this past week, shopped around for all necessary amenities and still managed to see a few amazing sunsets, see some tourist attractions and swim in the amazingly warm ocean water.
August 23, 2009 Today was an incredible day. Our new neighbor is an extremely nice and welcoming pilot and scuba diver from the US. He took us to The Grotto today, a famous scuba and snorkeling spot. The Grotto was formed when a huge piece of limestone basically came loose from the island and went out into the ocean. The result is the most amazing swimming spot I have ever encountered in my life. Surges of ocean water flow inside the cave creating an enormous whirlpool. Patrick and I brought our swimming goggles along, (soon we will be buying snorkel gear), and swam around looking at fish and eel. After swimming for the better part of the afternoon we took a drive over to Bird Island. The Kingfisher is this incredible white, blue and black bird that is extremely vocal and swift. The sight from the viewpoint was breathtaking. Patrick and I plan to hike down to the beach and swim to the small island. (Check photo link for pictures of The Grotto and Bird Island)
Now, after a full day of swimming and sunning my body feels tired but my mind is very alert. Patrick crashed pretty early and I am awake and pensive. In the quiet of this evening I certainly feel the distance I have placed between my family, my friends and myself. I am really excited and happy to be here, and I know that so many wonderful experiences will transpire here, but I can't help but feel a little bit lonely. I feel like picking up the phone and chatting....but I can't, so this lively computer screen will have to do for now.
August 18, 2009 We made it. Patrick and I are on the beautiful island of Saipan. Incredible, amazing, breathtaking sunsets! Unreal colors like I have never seen before. We went for a swim and watched the sunset today, the water is so warm! Technically the water we were swimming in is the Philippine Sea, so the water is very calm.
We met with our principals yesterday and today. The VP at Kagman High School where I will be working was gracious enough to drive us around to look at available apartments yesterday. The other Special Education teacher I will be working with stopped by our hotel last night to meet me. Needless to say, everyone has been incredibly welcoming.
Everything is going well so far. The humidity and heat are intense, but not as uncomfortable as I feared. I went for a walk at noon today, the blazing sun was incredible, but once I sought out some shade I was comfortable again.
Hiking down to Forbidden Island
Patrick swimming in a tide pool by Forbidden Island