Love is in the air...

First grade always seems a bit early to start 'loving' someone, but not here!
Yesterday as we were unpacking and getting ready for the day, one of my students found this love letter on the floor:

Dear Jeff,
How are you,
Do you love me,
but I love you so much,
You is my boy fried,
you are my best boy fried,
I love you,
Berdjna
this is for you Jeff

So after trying my best not to laugh outloud, I let one of my aides read it, who continued to say, "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!"

I would like to say that I am teaching my boys how to be good 'boy frieds'...and laughing at how funny my kids are!!!

Common Confusion...

Obviously, when learning any new language, you are prone to mistakes. Today, two of my kids got their words a little bit confused!!

During snack, I gave each of my kids Flintstones vitamins! Its always such a treat when they get these, because they think they are kinda like candy. So after talking about how they make us strong and we should always take our vitamins, I let them chew them up. They were so excited, and a few wanted to just suck on them to make them last longer. As I was walking by, Audra grabbed me and said, "Miss Ashley, everyday I think you should give us violins". Who knew that giving them vitamins would make them want to join an orchestra!

There has been some sinus issues affecting alot of our students lately. During Math, Tracy was rubbing her nose alot and then looked at me and said, "I just have burgers Miss Ashley. I just have burgers. " And I said, "Excuse me?" And she repeated..."I have burgers. Burgers in my nose". Who knew?

My fears...

So, over the past 2 and a half years, I have really gotten a chance to feel comfortable with the pigs, goats, and donkeys that roam the streets...and I always love dogs...but my fears of creepy crawly things and mice have intensified.

Tonight, I had just put the pizza in the oven and ran upstairs to plug my laptop back in after some surging. As I walked into my dark room, something scurried across the floor. Naturally, I freaked...thinking it was a mouse! If you don't know, I have become terribly afraid of mice and rats after one jumped out of my filing cabinet my first year here. Not a fun thing at all! Anyway...I began screaming...and not just small screams...I am talking full force scare my roommates screams. Kala came upstairs and we began to try and catch this lizard with a cup and a magazine. To no avail, he is still somewhere in my bedroom (or hopefully, out my balcony door).

So tonight...hopefully I will sleep without the fear of something creepy and slimy crawling on my face. Ewww.....

Why did it take me so long??

So after 2 and a half years, I decide to start writing in a blog. Luckily, I will not bore you with all of my exciting stories and amazing adventures that I have had (because if you ask me about it, sometimes I just freeze up and forget). So I will just update you on the happenings of my life, the excitement of Haiti, and my plans for the future.

In the past two weeks...we have been busy! Living in Haiti, my life has quite roughly adjusted to not having lots of things to do, places to go, pretty much not having a consuming schedule. But, we have been busy unloading the boat with all of our supplies and Christmas presents for the kids, unpacking our crates, report cards...and now things have started to settle down a bit.

Sorting Christmas presents for our students can be somewhat stressful, but this year was actually really easy! Pretty much, sponsors decide to send down gifts for their sponsor students...and then we add gifts to those who may not have a gift. One of my favorite things to see is opening up a present for a child, and it having a big bag of candy with a sweet note that talks about sharing with your friends. And the excitement on my students faces...what an amazing time...

My students...I wish that I could remember every funny moment...But thats impossible!! Two of my students, Tracy and Ted, have found out that I know the movie High School Musical. So sometimes, while they are working, I hear a "pssstt...Miss Ashley. Do you know this song?" And I will then be serenaded with one of the many songs from the movie. Ted also likes to tell me all about Hannah Montana (his favorite show...he has satellite) and Tracy asked me yesterday if I liked to watch BET. You can tell which of my children are a little bit blessed!!!

As most of you know, I have found a new favorite hobby...hiking and exploring around Port-de-Paix with my friends. Last Friday, Allison and I went for a walk and it turned out to be an adventure! We first went to visit her maid who just had a sweet little baby, and while we were there, the rain began to pour! We waited, and when it had stopped, we decided to start walking again, and for the next little bit we were rained on! We tried hard not to slip on the mud (which is usually inevitable when it comes me!) One of the most amazing things on our walk was the invitations that we received to come into houses and wait for the rain. In one area, every house seemed to invite us in...and not just because we were white! God's love shines through so many people...would we ever really feel comfortable inviting a stranger into our house to wait for the rain to end...and would we ever accept an invitation like that?