Ready...Set....Almost Go!

Paul and I are transitioning into our new life in Brazil! It is a strange thing to wake up every morning and realize that everyone still speaks a different language than you. It is very frustrating at times and completely changes your perspective. It is sad how a language barrier can completely stop you from knowing someone. So many of the Brazilian teachers here seem like such amazing women, I would love to be able to have a conversation with them, but I can't!!! On the other hand, right now I am teaching children who will eventually be able to bridge that large gap and that is something worthy of working towards.

I am really liking it at this school and have been very busy this week, mostly because I am having to learn so much: the class schedule, how the school operates, about 75 or more Brazilian kids' names (my favorites so far are Adrielly, Simielly, Thiago, and Thierry-pronounced Tee-eh-he), how to keep the attention of five 3 year olds, and how to lesson plan! I am so thankful to be training under my great Teacher Lindsey. She has given me a wonderful example of being a teacher to young children. It is a busy job and takes lots of patience, creativity, preparation, and last minute decisions! I love the kids. Even in just four days the kids are warming up to me and getting to know me better as we spend more time together in class. I am really looking forward to being with them for the next four months (hard to fathom) and seeing all their learning and development.

I have been observing and just helping in the classes this week and today got to teach my first two lessons! They went pretty well. It is still hard to figure out where the kids are at: whether or not they understand you and whether or not they will be able to do what you have planned for class! I was teaching about the letter T today to one class and the numbers 10-30 to another class. At first I was a bit disappointed because I hoped I would be able to teach more important things, but as the week went on and I got used to what it is like to be in a preschool class I realized how important it is to teach the basics like that. Now I am finding it quite fun! Next week I will start full time and will have three classes in the mornings. First is the preschoolers/Kindergartners, then the three year olds, then Level II English with 1st & 2nd graders. I have them each for 50 minutes. The three years olds are so cute! Today we played dress up and learned the names of clothing like 'shirt', 'shoes', 'pants', etc. Then we put on music and danced around. One of the kids is definitely going to be a performing artist; he was pulling some Elvis moves and strumming his guitar the whole time. Haha, it is going to be a fun semester!

I also will teach a Bible Workshop in the afternoons to the 1st-4th graders. Not sure how that is going to go, I fear it will be very difficult getting the message across to students who don't know very much English. But perhaps if I can stick to the simple things like God loves you, then perhaps it is possible.

One other thing: my name! It is practically impossible for Brazilians to say! First off they pronounce R's like an H and secondly "th" doesn't exist in their language. So my name turns into things like hoof, hooty, and hooch. But the other American teachers here are adamant that everyone say my name the American way so that they can practice their English. Every class that I am introduced to has to practice how to say their R's and th's.

It is hard to think that we will be here for so long, but on the other hand very exciting to see all that will unfold in that time. Please pray for us that we might show God's love to the children, parents, teachers, and co-workers here. There is so much ministry going on here and we are only a small part of it, but God is doing great things.