New Beginning :D

After telling Sister Sandra that I needed more resources for high school, she decided to offer me a different position! She realized (with my help) that I never wanted to teach the high school. Since I was originally hired to teach 5th grade, I'm happy to report that I'm now coteaching with a young, Teach for America teacher and also serving as a coach. I'm using my experience with small groups, differentiation, and special education to help teachers instruct their students using best practices.

Community life is still going pretty well. We've started watching documentaries together a few nights a week. I really like it because we're all learning about new things and can discuss our responses to it, too. Our dinner situation is quite hilarious. We currently eat a lot of rice, beans, spaghetti, and vegetables. Basically, we rearrange those ingredients every night to make something new. It is good and pretty healthy. The funny part is that most of us have large sweet teeth/tooth/s (I don't know). Sophie and I made a yummy vegan cake and Scott's made delicious peanut butter cookies. We're quite lucky!

One Week Down...

So, I've been in Nashville for just over a week, but it seems like I've lived here for a really long time. Between seeing the community of East Nashville, taking walks, talking for hours on our front porch, eating and cooking as a community, and working, I have fallen into a laid-back, yet busy life. Every week we have a community night and then later in the week a spirituality night. We plan the spirituality night (last week was awesome and included art, prayer, yoga, music, a St. Ignatius Spiritual Exercise), the community time is orchestrated by former JVs. We have 3 former JVs who are our support people. They counsel us and are our go-to people here in Nashville. We went to the Family Wash Thursday night to see Paul Burch & WPA Ballclub. Chris Scruggs was their guest artist on guitar which was a special treat. Ed, one of our support people, bought the drinks and even my molten chocolate cake. Yum! Nashville has a lot of free or cheap entertainment options, especially during the summer. Sophie's famous quote is, "I'll do anything that is free." I really thought that the city would intimidate me, but in reality it is easy to get around. I'm saying that though because a few of the JVs in my house have Iphones. We just look up directions and go where we want. So, maybe that previous statement is mute. We'll have to see when friends come to visit.

So school, well, hm, what to say? School is really rough. It is hard to say that. I love the 4 tenets of JVC and want to love my job, but I just can't right now. I've come into a really rough place where the students don't respect themselves or others (especially their teachers and even more so their White teachers). It kills me that I have to fight extra hard for their respect. Yesterday, my entire afternoon was filled with diffusing arguments, breaking up fights, trying to explain dialect differences between Black English and Standard English, and talking to staff, security, and parents. To say the least, it was emotionally tiring.

On Thursday, when I had the class ask me questions so they could get to know me, one girl asked, "Why would you put up with us?" It was such a shocking question that it took me a minute to respond. I eventually explained, "I believe you are all young, bright, talented, funny, caring, and respectful young adults. I have faith that you will learn to show those things to me, other staff members, and your classmates." Probably the best part of my jobs is being able to use Jesus as an example when counseling or asking them to dig deep within to find the root of their disrespect. Yesterday, I felt God on my heart, so I piggy-backed the other teacher after she had a discussion with the whole class. It was freaking amazing. I didn't think a single thought. All I did was let the Holy Spirit speak through me. And do you know what? Some of them got it. They apologized and improved their behavior for the rest of that period. I guess I'll consider that my one victory for the week.

I've decided that finding joy in the very very very little things at work is going to have to pull me through until things change around. I have faith that it will get better but fear it might take longer than I can handle.

First Day of School

After a week of orientation and 5 days of in-city orientation and cleaning (eww...our house needed some major help), I'm starting school today. Most of my community members are riding the bus, but since I work in a pretty rough neighborhood and it is hard to access by public transportation, I'm getting picked up. In a few days, I'll have a loaner car from Project Reflect that I'll be able to take to and from school. Internet at home is very weak and goes in and out a lot so I'm hesitant to write anything long. We wouldn't want my great insight to be whisked away by the great internet-god, would we? Off to start teaching 9th graders!

Here and Ready to Begin

I am living with 6 other Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) in Nashville in a pretty quiet neighborhood. We have some great neighbors who keep an eye open for us. Yesterday, we went to the Tomato Festival. Apparently, East Nashville is a very trendy/hippie area where a lot of artists live. The festival was filled with original art, eco-friendly small businesses, and one of a kind jewelry, clothes, etc. It was the first time I felt the affects of living simply. 2 weeks ago, I would have purchased a handful of things and not thought twice. Instead, we all spent about $3 of cool drinks/treats and ate all of the free samples, collected coupons, and enjoyed the live, free Nashville (blues, mostly) music. With the music playing, I definitely realized I wasn't in Peoria. I looked around, hoping I'd run into one of my dance friends who would want to bust a move with me. Luckily, one of my community members likes dancing, too. We did a little, but the temperature was over 90 and no one else was dancing, so our moves ended rather quickly.

Our house was not in the best condition. Structurally, it is not too bad. The cleanliness, however, is another story. I've spent hours cleaning the house and it is far from acceptable. Last night was tough because I wanted to relax with my new community members, but I was so overwhelmed by the dirty walls and disorganization that I cleaned instead! Seriously, cleaning our house at 10:30 pm on a Saturday night is not fun. I can't wait to get it all done!

Heading into the Unknown

Unfortunately, I don't have very much time to reflect on my last week in Peoria. Stated simply, I was busy! I filled every minute with friends, family, and last minute moving preparations. I'm off to salsa dancing and then a camping/hiking trip with Danielle Wood! She'll drop me off in IN where I'll begin my week-long training! Here I go!

One Week to my Dream

I can't believe how quickly July has passed. It seems as though I just returned from Ireland and started working in Princeville. Speaking of Princeville, I'm in love. Let me explain, I'm not in love with the little-bitty town or the long drive, but rather their Summer Migrant Program. I feel so blessed that my first official teaching position was with migrants. My passion for working with Latinos has been reinforced ten fold.

It also helped me better understand the impact that moving has on a person's life. I have lived in the same house my entire life! My "big move" was moving upstairs after Sara got her own place. My students move from Texas (December-May) to Princeville (June-November) every single year. Their lives are split in half. Once they become accustomed to school here, they move to Texas (Del Rio or Eagle Pass) and have to readjust to the curriculum and teachers. Working with them has put my move into perspective. Moving to Nashville is nothing compared to what migrants endure every year. I get to be stationary for a year, build a community, make friends, etc. With my migrant students as my role models, I am more confident that leaving Peoria won't be too hard.

I haven't heard anything more about my job lately but on Monday my students are beginning their Basics Boot-Camp under the leadership of Sister Sandra. I wish I could be with them from the start, but I'm confident my transition into teaching them will be well-supported by Sister Sandra and the other staff members. Getting my head wrapped around the curriculum will be the most difficult. It seems as though I'll be responsible for teaching World History, English/Grammar, Biology, and Alegbra I. My girls also have monthly field trips that occur on Saturdays. I really hope that I'll be able to go, too. I have so many logistical questions that I'd like answered, but am unwilling to bother Sister Sandra with things that can wait, but I'd rather know now. Oh well, JVC will definitely increase my patience and comfort with the unknown.

My final week in Peoria will be spent doing my favorite things: working with Joe, working with my migrant students, seeing friends/family, dancing, and seeing my Penguin Project buddies at the Troupe's rehearsal. The day before I go, I'll also be taking one last roadtrip with Danielle Wood. All I know is-

Destination: MO
Activity: Hiking

I'm confident we'll have a great time! Off to start my last few days in central Illinois!

ALMOST THERE (but not quite ready)

I've been having some really mixed emotions lately. I love love love working in Princeville with the migrant children. They are lively, hardworking, fun, open to new activities, and challenging in many different ways. I wish I could teach these children, these 7 kids, for the rest of my life. This is my dream job.

In contrast, I'm moving to Nashville where my students will be high school age (not really my cup of tea) and not speak Spanish. I'm a Hispanic-lover, I know. I know that I'll be able to learn about an entire subgroup of the US by working in Nashville. I find that exciting and know it'll be ridiculously challenging. I have to relearn freshman algebra, english, biology, and world history. I might be learning as much as my students.

Am I scared about moving to a big city and not have a car? a little
Am I anxious to meet my housemates and students? absolutely
Am I afraid of the challenge of living simply? not at all
Will I miss salsa dancing and Forest Park Nature Center? more than you can imagine
Will I miss Peoria/friends/family? of course
Am I ready to grow and learn in my understanding of people, service, God? YES!

15 days and counting