Our schedule here at the CCMT has changed in the last couple weeks. Each day is full full full...I'm finding it pretty demanding, and a little challenging to fit in all the language learning I can (especially cuz I get so tired!).
From 8-10am I am in classes with the students, then from 10-12p I am studying on my own Spanish. Then from 12-12:30p or 1pm I have Spanish tutoring. Then lunch and any chores I might have (dishes, cleaning, cooking, etc.). Then Siesta (oh blessed Siesta...my favorite time of day). From 3-7pm the 9 of us students have been doing physical labor around the campus. After a shower and some rest, I sometimes have another tutoring time...but usually its a time to prepare for dinner and relax. Curfew is at 11pm.
This schedule is only for Tuesday - Friday, Saturday and Sunday are another story .... we haven't had our full weekend schedule yet, but in the next weeks we will be doing evangelistic activities on Saturday afternoons and visiting various churches on Sundays.
Apparently in this time, as the students have been getting to know me, I've been breaking their stereo types of women from the United States. First, I eat everything that is given to me...without complaint. Second, I work hard. The boys made some comments of surprise when I would clean (frustrating me)....but after a week of hard work their comments changed :).
So, what exactly have I been doing? Well, lets start with today...I helped mow some of the lawn here and helped make cement, carrying buckets of sand to the mixers. Yesterday I sanded and painted doors. Last week I spent four hours mowing a field, another day painting doors, another day clearing out the bases of some of the trees and weeding flower beds. All of this has also increased my small appetite...yes, to many of your amazement I am eating a lot more than I used to...I can finish an entire plate of food...and sometimes more :p.
So I guess I'm proving to the students here, and to myself that I'm not a princess and that I can handle quite a bit :). Now, of course I haven't cooked yet for the group...that is my next challenge - and one I'm not really looking forward to ... all of this is new and if I can mow an entire field...then I can for sure cook a meal for 8 hungry students (6 of which are hungry boys).
Well...I'm off to have some maté...the evenings are so nice these days! Fall is in the air :)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Someday I'll look back and laugh...maybe today is that day
Each day has its own challenges, like having cold showers, or mosquitoes that are the size of flies eating you alive, or realizing that you need to learn the days of the week better because you've almost missed your laundry day twice.
Its the joys of being in a new place, as well as knowing you can't understand a lot of things. Someday I'll laugh about those little encounters...maybe today...it is kinda humorous. Its so great, because every day that I cry (which is just about every day) the Lord provides something that totally blesses me beyond words.
Monday my wonderful friend Sabrina surprised me with a two day visit. I was feeling so lonely, cuz my roommates can't really talk with me, so we often just pass each other in the room...and meals can often be quiet for me too (I'm really becoming a very thoughtful person with all that time to think and process :p haha).
Tuesday and Wednesday we talked about culture shock in the classes. Boy could I identify!! We did this stress test, and I found that I'm at the highest stress level...and should be careful cuz I could get sick. hmmm...
Thursday the laundry machine was down, but I didn't think it was a problem...cuz I thought my day was on Friday. Overall a fairly good day I think - besides not being able to take a shower cuz it was cold.
Friday, had a really cold shower in the morning because someone forgot to light the gas lighter again...and I really need to take a shower. I realized my laundry day was the day before - I cried. Took a deep breath and tried to put things in perspective. Then, I was invited for an outing on the town on Saturday - things were looking up :). This was also a work day...cleaning the facility and having fun together.
Saturday...went downtown!! It was fun, until...sigh yep...I started cramping really bad. Later I was told that the juice I'd had in the morning wasn't good. Aparently some of the ice from the freezer that was being defrosted ended up in the juice. Making me and another guy sick. I was sick for several hours.
Sunday ..praise the Lord I'm well!! No need for antibiotics or anything ... I feel rested and I think that I can face the new week.
God is SO good!! Each challenge has been frustrating and painful, but I know that I am making it through...and I don't want to complain, because I know overall my days are really good. God is teaching me so much about himself. He cares about me and I know that through all of this I'm getting stronger. I am "catching" the language...and soon I hope I can start forming sentences. I just need to be more brave in speaking :).
Someday I'll laugh about these struggles ... maybe today...maybe tomorrow...but someday I will definitely laugh.
Its the joys of being in a new place, as well as knowing you can't understand a lot of things. Someday I'll laugh about those little encounters...maybe today...it is kinda humorous. Its so great, because every day that I cry (which is just about every day) the Lord provides something that totally blesses me beyond words.
Monday my wonderful friend Sabrina surprised me with a two day visit. I was feeling so lonely, cuz my roommates can't really talk with me, so we often just pass each other in the room...and meals can often be quiet for me too (I'm really becoming a very thoughtful person with all that time to think and process :p haha).
Tuesday and Wednesday we talked about culture shock in the classes. Boy could I identify!! We did this stress test, and I found that I'm at the highest stress level...and should be careful cuz I could get sick. hmmm...
Thursday the laundry machine was down, but I didn't think it was a problem...cuz I thought my day was on Friday. Overall a fairly good day I think - besides not being able to take a shower cuz it was cold.
Friday, had a really cold shower in the morning because someone forgot to light the gas lighter again...and I really need to take a shower. I realized my laundry day was the day before - I cried. Took a deep breath and tried to put things in perspective. Then, I was invited for an outing on the town on Saturday - things were looking up :). This was also a work day...cleaning the facility and having fun together.
Saturday...went downtown!! It was fun, until...sigh yep...I started cramping really bad. Later I was told that the juice I'd had in the morning wasn't good. Aparently some of the ice from the freezer that was being defrosted ended up in the juice. Making me and another guy sick. I was sick for several hours.
Sunday ..praise the Lord I'm well!! No need for antibiotics or anything ... I feel rested and I think that I can face the new week.
God is SO good!! Each challenge has been frustrating and painful, but I know that I am making it through...and I don't want to complain, because I know overall my days are really good. God is teaching me so much about himself. He cares about me and I know that through all of this I'm getting stronger. I am "catching" the language...and soon I hope I can start forming sentences. I just need to be more brave in speaking :).
Someday I'll laugh about these struggles ... maybe today...maybe tomorrow...but someday I will definitely laugh.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
just some thoughts
Two days ago it rained buckets...almost literally. We had a crazy thunder and lightning storm that was not expected at all...it rained for three hours. During the storm we tried to measure the water, in 15 minutes our bucket was full! crazy! The roads were turned into rivers and there was rivers flowing through the property. The next day the sun came out nice and clear, almost as though the storm hadn't been there at all (which was good because my mom was to leave that afternoon...and to have another delay would've been pretty discouraging).
Now I'm here on my own trying to get into the swing of things. I've moved into a room with two other young women. Neither of them speak much English so I'm hoping that this will encourage me to speak Spanish more. The other students are also quite helpful in asking me what I know...and are pretty nice about the fact that I can only stare at them most of the time :p.
I am considered a student here, so whatever the students do I'm supposed to do. Today I sat in on an Anthropology class...lets just say my head hurt like crazy afterwards as my brain tried desperately to understand what was being said. Overall it was a good experience. I'm attempting to set goals and now have a "bench mark" to work with and am hoping to begin making great progress. The students already say that I'm learning quickly (most of that is because I only really have one thing to focus on - language learning - so its a little easier). I still struggle with loneliness as I can't enjoy the jokes or the laughter as much during meals or cleaning, etc. But that just motivates me to learn fast :).
Its been really warm the last couple days, but fall is in the air. (sigh) I'm really not looking forward to winter...but I am looking forward to the adventures that I will be having in the next few months. (Praying that the Lord will show favor on my desires to go and visit friends around Argentina).
well...nos vemos (see you later)...not sure when I'll get on again....hopefully next time I can upload pictures, the internet connection is too slow right now :(
Now I'm here on my own trying to get into the swing of things. I've moved into a room with two other young women. Neither of them speak much English so I'm hoping that this will encourage me to speak Spanish more. The other students are also quite helpful in asking me what I know...and are pretty nice about the fact that I can only stare at them most of the time :p.
I am considered a student here, so whatever the students do I'm supposed to do. Today I sat in on an Anthropology class...lets just say my head hurt like crazy afterwards as my brain tried desperately to understand what was being said. Overall it was a good experience. I'm attempting to set goals and now have a "bench mark" to work with and am hoping to begin making great progress. The students already say that I'm learning quickly (most of that is because I only really have one thing to focus on - language learning - so its a little easier). I still struggle with loneliness as I can't enjoy the jokes or the laughter as much during meals or cleaning, etc. But that just motivates me to learn fast :).
Its been really warm the last couple days, but fall is in the air. (sigh) I'm really not looking forward to winter...but I am looking forward to the adventures that I will be having in the next few months. (Praying that the Lord will show favor on my desires to go and visit friends around Argentina).
well...nos vemos (see you later)...not sure when I'll get on again....hopefully next time I can upload pictures, the internet connection is too slow right now :(
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