Birthdays, Taylor Swift, Throwing Up and Looking Cute.

 Monday, January 23rd

Teaching was really rough on Monday. One of my preschoolers just had a melt down the entire time, and I could tell that all he needed was someone to hold him so he could sleep. Unfortunately, as a volunteer, I can't hold the kids. It just made the whole class pretty difficult a and it was hard to just watch him cry. The rest of the teaching day was pretty hard too. I was really happy when class ended and we got to go to the gym. The upstairs area of the gym is extremely hot, so working out up there is like hot yoga. Anyways, it was just a long day. When we got home, our lunch lady/housekeeper, Luce (who is my favorite person), had made us dinner. Later, we had another meeting with Mica, and he did this one in Spanish! It gave me HUGE perspective on how my students are seeing me as I'm teaching, and I think it will help me to be more patient and understanding with my kids. Honestly, it was a pretty typical Monday, and I was pretty glad when it was over. I have gained HUGE respect for teachers since starting with ILP...It is HARD! 

Tuesday, January 24th

The 24th was Allie's birthday!!! Allison and I woke up early and made a big breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and a yummy egg and veggie scramble. I don't know what is different about their pancake mix here, but it smells and tastes 100 times better than any pancake mix I have ever had in the US. I wish I could bottle the smell of the batter and use it as a perfume. It is seriously divine. As Allie came down, we played Taylor Swift's 22 and sang to Allie, we then went off to school! 

Teaching was better on Tuesday and was all in all pretty uneventful. Sergio brought out a cake after school, and we sang to and celebrated Allie. While we ate cake, we had a little meeting and then headed home. At home, I got in a great vocal workout and then later that night, I made no bake cookies and while I made them, Mica and Allison came, and I somehow wound up talking with them for the next 5 hours. We just told our stories and got to know each other better. Other roommates would come in and out, and honestly, it was just nice to get to know everyone better and really connect with them...the cookies were good too ;)

Wednesday, January 25th

Oh boy. Wednesday was really, really rough. To start, in preschool, the kids kept hurting themselves and each other and me. I had one kid run into the wall and get a gash in his head, kids climbing on the tables and making in collapse on other kids, I got bitten and scratched and had a tough morning. It was the closest I have been to crying at school. It was just really tough. We also had an extra early morning because we had our first Spanish class. One of the moms is teaching us, but she can only do mornings, so it was just really early and I think we were all a bit tired. Spanish class was fun though! Anyways...back to teaching. I forgot that I had a bunch of prep for my afternoon classes and so I was scrambling at the end of lunch. We had to change our class setups that day because of an event happening on Thursday. My class was moved several times, so that disrupted it too and just made it hard to teach. My two bright spots of the day were #1 Mariona. She is my teaching companion in Preschool, and I would not survive without her. #2 was telling my 4th grade girls that I am an American Actress. I showed them some clips of my performances and it was fun to watch their eyes light up. 

(Mariona is an actual saint)

(Helping prep for the event)

Sergio and Lulu were planning on staying at the school late to prep for the event on Thursday, but we managed to bribe Sergio into taking us home so we didn't have to walk. Later that night, Josh and Kayla bought another cake for Allie and it was the best one we have had so far. It was absolutely DIVINE. Much needed after the hard day. A couple of us went out onto the roof and we talked and talked. We shared our first impressions of each other and talked about our fears in coming here. We are all really grateful for each other and that none of our fear's pre-departure came to pass. We watched the sunset together, and it reminded me of a St. George sunset with the sun going down behind the mountains.

(In my happy place)

It was also the 1 year anniversary of when I shared my first poem, so in honor of it, I decided to begin posting my music! "Juliet" was the first poem I ever shared, so I figured I would put it here.

'Juliet'

Stardust falls

Like freckles 

On her cheek

There upon

The casket

Where she weeps

A knife

Clutched tightly 

In her hand

And crimson blood

Stains white floors red

From flower crowns

To masquerades

To broken dreams

And gold parades

She lies there

On her lovers breast

Now none

Will wake her

From her rest

In death she dreams

Of roses, stars

A long haired boy

Who leads her

To her doom

Upon a balcony 

One summer night

A name 

She whispers

To the skies

Witha kiss

Her fate was sealed

And in a breath

Her tapestry revealed

Stolen kisses

And secrets kept

A family feud

She could not accept

Her marriage bed

She filled with lies

But love

She claimed 

Was her true prize

So I ask her 

Where her love resides

Now that she's 

A ghostly bride

Tell me

Juliet

Did you know 

That you'd die

For your young lover

Romeo?

Did you know to love him

Would cost 

You lives

Was the fantasy 

Worth the price?

Was the love affair

Worth your life? 

- Ivie Noelle

One more happy thing happened on Wednesday....I found out that I am getting another niece!!! I am so thrilled! It made my entire night. #auntieof7

Thursday, January 26th

On Thursday, we were up so early to head over to the event at the school. WE got to the school at around 6:30 am and we helped to set up and get the food ready. Once a year, the school has a day when all the parents are invited to the school to read to their kids and get served doughnuts and hot cocoa. Sergio said that for many of the parents, it's their first time ever reading to their children. The school was set up very cozily. Lots of couches, chairs, big stuffed animals, pillows and blankets. We walked back to the kitchen, and there were about 10 huge boxes of doughnuts, and Lulu was in the back making a big pot of hot cocoa. We got to work immediately setting out doughnuts on trays and filling cups with cocoa. Pretty soon, parents and kids were coming in, and Lulu and Sergio had us serving with fervor. Lulu was in her element as hostess. We weren't getting hot cocoa out enough for Lulu's taste, and she would  say each time I brought a tray out to her "Ah! Gracias, Bonita. Mas, Mas!". Sergio made sure we all ate plenty of doughnuts and he kept us laughing. The doughnuts here are much breadier. I really liked them, but they weren't my favorite. It was really nice to see my kids with their parents, and the pride whenever a parent saw their kids converse with us in English. It was just a beautiful and wholesome experience. I am very glad that I got to be here for it. 

(I want to be Lulu when I grow up)

Classes started late due to the event, so it was a shorter teaching day. Before we started classes back up, I bought some candy from two of my students. They were amazed when the total came to 9 pesos and I gave them 10. They kept checking with me that I was sure it was ok. It was really cute. The candies were really good. I actually really liked the spicier ones.

(I'm proud of my students for being innovative saleswomen!)

Teaching was really, really good. We did a "fashion" day, and the kids seemed to love it. My pride presented itself during my last class, and I learned how string it can be. One of my students offered a very hot pepper to me, daring me to eat it. All my others students were violently shaking their heads no and one said "No teacher! It makes you cry!". My street cred was now on the line, so I of course had to take it. I knew this was my moment. Either I pass the test or I fail. As I inched the pepper to my mouth, I commanded my face to completely relax. I called on all my acting abilities and as I chewed the pepper and swallowed, I didn't move a muscle on my face. I felt all the eyes on me, searching for weakness. By this point, my mouth was burning, but I was in too deep. I willed tears not to rise, and I simply proceeded with my lesson. I waited a full 5 minutes before allowing myself a drink. I felt something shift with the group, and suddenly I felt like a super star. All the kids wanted my attention and wanted to teach me Spanish. Later, when I told Mica the story, he said that the peppers that grow at the school (which is the one I tried), even makes Sergio and Mario tear up. Somehow my pride managed to override my pain levels. 

(Matias drew me in Preschool.)

After school, I had a really sudden tummy ache come on. I assumed it was from the pepper, so I sat in the sun and blocked out the rest of the world. Back at home, I started to get chills and a fever, and overall, I felt horrid. My roommates were all really sweet and helped me out, and I assumed I had gotten food poisoning. I got my lesson plans to Mica, we hung out with Sergio and we had a meeting, but I could barely keep my head up during the meeting. I felt terrible. I spent the rest of the night in my bed in fetal position wishing for my moms essential oils and a warm bath. Mica and Kayla were sweet enough to make me tea though, so don't worry, mom, I was well taken care of! 

Friday, January 27th

Friday was terrible for me. Mica had also fallen sick during the night, so we both stayed home from school. I haven't been sick like this in a very, very long time. I forgot how terrible it is. I basically spent the whole day in bed watching shows, reading or sleeping. When they all got back from school, Kayla was also suddenly feeling sick, so she got into bed as well. It was a long hard day. Everything seemed to come in waves, then it would die down for a bit only to hit you again twice as hard. Ginger chews, tea and nausea medicine became my greatest companions. My only jpy pertained to the fact that Taylor Swift finally released the 'Lavander Haze' music video. I don't have any pictures of Friday, so I will instead bless you with Taylor Swift memes. You are welcome.

(Pretty sure I am in love with TS at this point...how can anyone else compete?)

Saturday, January 28th

I woke up on Saturday feeling 100% better! All symptoms gone, and I hadn't thrown up since Thursday night, so I deemed it safe to get on with my life. We had brunch at our student, Carlos' house, and it was really fun. Carlos' mom, Gloria, had us over for almost 5 hours, and she taught us loads of Spanish. She is an extremely good teacher, and she was fun to talk to. She told us about her family, her house, and made us laugh a lot. My energy was starting to really wane by the time we headed home, and once we were in the car, Josh seemed to suddenly get very pale and quite. At home, Josh fell victim to whatever is going around the house, and unfortunately, I had a relapse late that night. Mica had made a full recovery in a day, so that was the blueprint we thought the rest of us would follow, but I felt even worse than I had on Thursday. I couldn't fall asleep due to it all, so I was up into the wee hours of the morning just laying there reading. It was pretty rough for all of us sickies that night. 

(Carlos had an amazing lego collection)

(Allison in her element)

Sunday. January 29th

Sunday proved to be pretty bad as well. I would feel really great, but then the second I would eat some toast or drink water, a wave of nausea would overwhelm me for hours. I don't even know how many episodes of 'Once Upon a Time' I watched. I read two full books in the time I had been sick, and I was feeling pretty tired of my phone and my bed. Nothing really changed on Sunday. We all just stayed in bed and rested as much as we could.  I got to talk to my mom and sister a bit, and that really helped. Gosh, I wanted a hot bath so badly. My one consolation was that my curls were really amazing on Sunday. I didn't do anything to them...the curl gods just knew I needed SOMETHING good. By this point I was very tired of my bed, my phone, toast, and this thing called 'resting'. I missed the sun and my whole body hurt from lack of use. That's where I will end this post. Sorry, it'll take a few more days before your girlie got to feeling better. 

(At lease I looked cute.)

The thing I said over and over again during this period was, simply, 'I miss my mom'. No one takes care of you when sick in the same way a mom can...I will say that my healthy roommates have all been angelic towards us and they have all gone out of their way to make us comfortable and make sure we have what we need....it just doesn't beat having mom there though. 

Love, 

Your favorite sickie,

Ivie Noelle <3