Creative Writing

Kids have such creative minds. Today, my students completed part 1 of their standardized writing exam which called for them to write a mystery story. I looked over the detailed grading rubric while they tested, and took up the stack of stories when the time was up. I was pleasantly surprised with the detailed writing, mysterious moods and interesting plots! I actually ENJOYED GRADING! For all you teachers, you know that's a rare occurrence. It took three hours because I wrote comments on each one.

After school, I walked to town on my own to get my currency exchanged to rupees (I do this every couple of weeks). After going to the grocery store, it was jazzercise time! I feel a lot better today physically, and jazz was so fun. It's one of those things that keep me in good spirits here. Well, that and the kids.

Esther and Justin invited me over to have baked potatoes and egg omelets for dinner. It was so good! Those are things I haven't eaten in over 2 months! I am so blessed. Thanks be to God!

My time in the campus hospital

Hey everybody, I haven't written in awhile because I've been sick. On Monday and Tuesday, I taught while I felt nauseous, leaving the room every once in a while to get sick in the bathroom. I became extremely dehydrated, because my body wasn't holding in anything I was eating. All I was eating was broth, fruit and toast. On Tuesday afternoon, I threw up and realized the illness I had was a bad stomach virus. Because I couldn't stand with out blacking out, a nurse helped me walk from my dorm room to the campus hospital. I was in there 3 days, spending the night, and taking in fluids through an IV. The IV needle was scary for me, and it was in me for 2 full days. I prayed a lot, and tried not to think about it.

I slept at night, getting sick to my stomach every couple hours. I cried a lot. Humility (or humiliation?) covered me, as I had to ring a bell for the nurse to come, every time I needed to go to the bathroom. There were spiders and other bugs around my room, but I was too weak to take care of them. I didn't even have the strength to throw my kleenex and empty juice boxes in the trash, so I had to leave it all on my bedside table which really bothered me because I hate being messy.

I was extremely blessed in the hospital. My supervising teacher, Andrew, came by to give me DVD's, a television set, and a few comforts from my dorm room. I was able to lay in bed and watch British DVD's (which I love!). I watched the first and second season of the British TV show called "Outnumbered," a cute comedy about a family of 3 kids, most of which is improvised. Visitors came to pray for me and encourage me. My students came during their lunch break on Wednesday to give me 20 "Get well soon" cards. That made my day! I set them up on the bed table, reading their kind words over and over. One of my students, Lauren, came to visit me every lunch time to talk with me and cheer me up. One of the doctors, Revathi, checked on me every day and prayed for me continually. Her sympathy and care were so encouraging. She even gave me a sandwich-toaster so I could make my own sandwiches instead of eating in the cafeteria. After the third day, I started eating toast and bananas, and getting up by myself. My strength was regaining. I was "released" from the hospital on Friday afternoon and went back to my dorm. I watched "Where The Heart Is." I relaxed, and read some of my current novel, "Echo in the Darkness" by Francine Rivers. I've lost 11 pounds in the past month from being sick and not eating.

Saturday, I hiked up with Amy and Esther to a spot above the school in the beautiful Ooty mountains. It was good to finally be outdoors. I read my novel while they painted the scene. They're talented artists!

I decided I'm not going to eat in the cafeteria or in the restaurants here a couple of weeks ago at the suggestion of one of the nurses. I've been making my own food with groceries in my dorm room. I haven't had vegetables or meat for 3 weeks. My body is exhausted and my emotions are worn out. I woke up Sunday morning and got sick to my stomach again. Honestly, I'm beginning to feel my hope waning. The days I've been sick here outnumber the days I've been well by far. I'm planning on starting back up with my teaching tomorrow morning, and I hope I have the strength to do so.

Jazzercise!

Since my second bought of being sick to my stomach from the spicy food, I've decided to cook my own food more often. So I went to the store and stocked up on fruit, pasta, sauce, cereal, crackers and things like that. I have a stove top in my dorm room, and here is a picture of my cooking my pasta and marinara for lunch yesterday! Yummy :-) Tonight, The Ketchum family has invited me over for Mexican food!

Teaching has been quite a rollercoaster of emotions lately. It's so very different being a student teacher here than it was in America. It's a real challenge. My students are amazing, though. They're learning so much, and I'm very happy with the argumentative essays they wrote this week.

I've been going to jazzercise in town with a bunch of girlfriends. It's so much fun for me to exercise and dance...It's good for my soul. If you know me, or you love dancing, you know what I mean. I was also invited to the girls dorm's impromptu "dance party," so I danced with my own students! They're so cute, and so much fun to be with.

I leave three weeks from today. I'm looking forward to coming home, at this point.