Christmas 2008 so far...

I've been on Christmas Holiday since the afternoon of the 17th and I figure I should catch you up on the last couple weeks and then I will start to catch you up on the fall. On the 12th we had our school Christmas program which was a huge success. It started with the two music classes (Pre-school to Second and Third to Sixth) sharing some songs they had been learning. Then there was a live nativity with narration of the Christmas story of Jesus' birth. After that, several families shared different cultural traditions they have around this time of year.

One of our Colombian mothers and her children sang a song in Spanish about a mouse who ended up chewing a hole in Joseph's boxers. It's meant to be a silly song that is sung so fast that I don't really know if words were truly being said. Another interesting tradition was from Sweden where they celebrate St. Lucia day and go around with a crown of lights and candles and sing for their neighbors since it is so dark in Sweden during winter. I also learned that My cousin Kelsey's birthday is on this holiday.


Me with my little angels and sheep and Mary in the blue. You have no idea how hard it is to harness little girls after a show and actually get a good photo! :)

The Monday following was La's seventh birthday. It was a big deal because this is her first time ever being in a school minus a stint in a German Kindergarten. So, her mom brought two beautiful cakes, so the whole school could partake. I also got a video of the girls singing her 'Happy Birthday' in English, German, Spanish, and Arabic. Although, I can't show it to you because I can't upload videos to blogger for some reason. La was full of energy the whole day and we could tell she felt special!


All the girls singing to La. It's the first birthday that she's really had friends to celebrate with. She wore that hat all day.


The beautiful cake

On the 17th my roommates and I had our Christmas together since both of them are in the States for the holiday. I did some last minute shopping for stocking stuffers in the afternoon and then ran by Buklu to pick up three 'half chickens with fries and salad' for dinner. We also got to enjoy our recently purchased bottle of Apfelperlwein (Apple Pearl Wine) from Fünfschilling.

After dinner we opened our stockings and presents. I got a green stone pendant necklace, a 'diamond' ring, and "Rothenburger Weihnachtsraum" tea, as well as a jewelry box that sings a love song in German (thanks to our cooky friend Amy-Jo). We also had the joy of opening our 'crackers', which I always call poppers because they pop when you open them, that we purchased from the Anglican Church Bazaar. This is a British tradition and it was fun to see what sort of silly goodies were inside. I got a keychain flashlight and paper fan. There were also tissue paper crowns and jokes inside each one. The best joke of the lot was "How does a rabbit make beer?...It starts with a few hops." We all laughed because, of course, it would be the Anglicans who would include that one.


Our stuffed stockings hung on our empty wall. We had lots of candles, but no fire (for the most part ;)


Presents by our candle Christmas tree. It was cute.


The three of us enjoying our Christmas together complete with tissue paper crowns

As soon as the girls, well really Amy-Jo (she's allergic) vacated the premises, I went and got a Christmas tree at Fünfschilling (one of the best restaurants in the area that also has it's own farm). Actually I asked Diana to take me because we had to drive. This experience was familiar because the trees were pre-cut and placed out in a lot, but different in that a nice girl followed me around showing me the different trees I was eyeing to wait and see which one I would choose.

This was somewhat disconcerting for me because my whole life I have been left to peruse at my leisure deliberating about which tree I liked best and why it would be a good match for me and have had to fend for myself when it came time to drag the tree to the payment area, as well as figuring out how to attach it to the car and get it home.

The girl was very sweet and, once I made my decision, double checked that I had a tree stand that would fit properly before putting the tree through a contraption that bound it up in netting for easy transport. I should have taken a picture! I've never seen anything like it and was surprised at how simple and non-messy carrying a tree can be... although I didn't feel nearly as earthy or Oregonian.


My lovely little Christmas tree that is shorter than I am. I can't quite decide on a name for him, but he's been good company and has made the empty apartment cozier.


I took this picture because it made me think of a comment one of my friends made about how I eat my apples. I didn't realize I had a tendency for concentric circles until I was almost finished decorating the tree.


And, of course the Christmas decorations would not be complete without a Nativity. I've had this one since before I can remember and think I got it from my Gramma, but my mom would know for sure. I missed this last Christmas and made sure to tote it back with me for this year. Believe it or not, it's ceramic.

So, that's all for now, except to say that I hope you have a marvelous Christmas and take time to be silent before our Lord and revel in His love and mercy and grace for you! Blessings!!!

Snow Days

It has snowed twice so far this 'unofficial winter' (we've been discussing the seasons in my class and how there is an official start date for each. Last year we didn't get snow until Easter which was at the end of March. Each time it has snowed for at least a day non-stop and then stuck around for a few days. I can still see large amounts on the grass. I hope it snows more before Christmas! I've never had a white Christmas!! Although, from what I hear if I were living at home this year I would also be enjoying snow and the last time that really happened was seven years ago when there were huge wind storms and snow and ice everywhere in Oregon.

All this to say that my students and I definitely took some time out of our day to go tromp around in it. They might not admit it (they always complain on our way back to school that they are wet and cold. I told them that they couldn't complain about having fun!), but they enjoyed themselves immensely!

Here is the evidence...


La being silly. She busted up laughing after the picture was taken.


A showing me her gigantic snowball. I love how disheveled she looks.


Miss Harris and I taking a photo break.


S not realizing I was going to take her picture. I thinks it endearing how she looks like Mogely from the 'Jungle Book'.


Lu showing off her snowman. She worked on it the entire time we were outside and wouldn't let me take a picture until it was complete.


M and I doing such a great job of sharing the swing. It was covered in snow, but they would have been standing anyway.


Y being the disheveled, independent little bohemian that she is. She spent most of our time in the snow watching the ducks at the pond, so I'm lucky to have captured her actually in the snow.


B and C allowing me to interrupt their fun and conversation. Don't they look happy?!

Have I mentioned recently...

that I LOVE MY JOB!

I love my job. And it is for such a multitude of reasons.

Firstly, kids are just stinking hilarious...I get to overhear the most amazing and amusing things, such as when one of my second graders said "let's make the boys chase us" at recess and in the most serious tone to one of my other second graders, "another reason why I don't want to grow up is..." I also get glimpses of them when they don't realize anyone is watching. Today, one of my girls was absolutely fascinated with the ducks while we were out playing in the snow and it was so fun to watch her watch them. Another one of my first graders will just burst into dance now and then because she can't contain her energy and excitement.

Second, I work at the greatest school ever...No matter what a child is like, they are whole accepted at my school. I love that the kids feel like they can be themselves and I love even more that they are not criticized or judged for that. Everyone sees the differences and everyone knows the quirks, but all of us (parents, teachers, students) look at those differences and quirks and think 'that's just the way that person is.' I've actually heard those words come out of my student's mouths when someone has asked about another student and why they are the way they are. My heart was so touched by that response and am often overwhelmed and grateful for the fact that the students at my school have to learn to deal with other students that are incredibly different than them, whether it be a learning disability or language barrier or personality.

Lastly, I am often reminded in my job of how God relates to us. But today, I found myself remembering how God so often teaches me...through my students. I was struck while telling one of my students that she should listen to the request of her classmate and do that request for no other reason than her classmate had asked her to because earlier in the day I had had a bad attitude when one of my colleagues asked that I not open the window because she was cold even though I wanted some fresh air. Man, what a reminder that I need to follow my own advice and do as I would want my students to do. God is so good to bless me with these reminders and so gracious for allowing me the time to learn and screw up before getting it right.

Blessings!

St. Nicholas (Part 2)

I forgot to mention that on St. Nicholas day, you can see St. Nick walking about town and in department stores (or the equivalent here) handing out clementines and peanuts. It's quite crazy, but definitely gets one in the Christmas Spirit!

I also learned this weekend that in the town of Kandern just north of where I live the parents take the children's shoes to the center of town after the kids have gone to bed. They are then filled and placed in the windows of the local shops. When the children wake up on St. Nicholas day they have to search around town for their shoes.

The best addition to this particular St. Nicholas Day was that one of our neighbors (I think) put three napkins with clementines, peanuts, and chocolate Santas outside our apartment door. It was such a happy blessing to open the door and see that they had thought of us and wanted to include us in this tradition!

Now we have to figure out how to write a note in German to St. Nick to post to our door to say thank you...