1/2 way through Day 1

Oh. my. goodness. I'm on lunch break. Can I stay in my cube??? 2 classes down, 4 to go. 5th grade, first class. Teaching 8 high schoolers at Institute did not prepare me for 35 kids who don't understand the language I'm speaking. Chaos. Utter chaos. How do you manage 35 kids? There aren't even that many desks in the room! We were overflowing with children. It wasn't a total wreck........ but definitely not orderly.

4th grade was better. They comply. Still chaotic.

I have kindergarten after lunch. Then 1st grade. Then 2nd. Then 3rd.

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

Thanks for your support. I'll write more tonight.

IDEA Academy

Front of school... I think that's a high school building 

The Titan Boulevard- where students walk. The "IDEA 55" are hanging above- 

55 ideas to live by

courtyard- Primary building is in the background

Tim and Edwin enjoying the toys in my cube

SO this is a glimpse of my school!! It's a conglomeration of actual buildings and "temporary" buildings (trailers essentially). Not a bad place to work all in all!

Pics to go along with news below

View of South Padre Island from the bridge going over

The wonderful Timmer putting together my bed

Impromptu dinner table!

Tim and I in the living room 

Beautiful flowers I got from Edwin :) 

Big month

Lots to report on!!!! BIG news of the past few weeks: (not listed in order of importance)

1. I have a job. 

2. I have an apartment.

3. I went home to see the adorable Brady Barnes!

4. Tim came to Texas this past weekend!

What a couple of weeks it has been!!!! Expanded version of the above events: 

1. I will be teaching Spanish Language Arts to K-5 graders at IDEA Academy in Donna, TX. IDEA Public Schools is a charter school system serving primarily low-income Hispanic/Latino students. Their mission is to put every student into college, and for the past four years 100% of high school graduates have enrolled in a 4 year college or University. The High School was ranked the 19th best high school in the nation according to US News and World Report. Fancy, fancy!! TFA places corps members there because over 80% of students qualify for free/reduced price lunch (are low-income). 

2. I feel way over my head and intimidated by my new job. School started this week, but I will start teaching on Monday. I have been observing this week, which has been great. However.... being around primarily native Spanish-speaking co-workers makes it a wee-bit intimidating to come in as the new, non-Hispanic Spanish teacher. Lord have mercy.

3. I have an apartment!!! I am living in McAllen, TX which is about a 17 minute commute. 2 bed, 2 bath, gated apartment complex. I like it a lot! I'm living with Lydie, who is from Philadelphia and is teaching 5th grade math at an elementary school in Donna. 

4. I flew home to see Brady!!!!! The trip was totally worth it to see Little B and his parents! (not to mention getting to see the rest of the fam as well). What a precious baby he is. Can't wait to see him again!!! I got the sweetest birthday card from Brady..... he's developing quite the signature :) 

5. Tim graciously drove down to Texas to bring me furniture. What a guy!!!!!!!!! He left on Thursday, got here Friday night (my bday) and left Monday morning. A whirlwind trip, and it was super fun to have him in the Valley!!! We had a great weekend--- besides unpacking and setting up my apartment, we went to South Padre Island, a TFA event at a restaurant alongside the Rio Grande Valley, and ate at Taco Palenque! Thanks for coming down Tim!!!!!!

6. I'm 23. Old. Yet I feel too young to be in charge of 35 youngsters at a time. Did I mention I have a cubicle?? (I'm a floating teacher, so no classroom for me) We'll see what the next week brings.....

Sanity in South Texas

I am alive in South Texas. Homeless and unemployed, but alive. For those of you unfamiliar with my plight, Teach For America hasn't found me a job yet. The school year starts 2 weeks from today. You do the math. The infamous Ida (woman finding us all jobs) is supposed to call me today, and may ask me to become re-certified to teach another subject. I imagine y'all haven't forgotten the drama with my last test and whether or not I thought I would pass it. Here we go again!!! (Side note. I like to use y'all in my written language but I have to admit I haven't worked it into my daily vocab...) The latest is that I may become a middle school teacher, or specialize in ESL. Your guess is as good as mine as to what I will be doing when the first day of school rolls around!

So, you might ask- being an unemployed person in South Texas, what do you do? Well, my friends, there are 2 things that have filled my days recently. 

1. South Padre Island. I went there yesterday- and I have to say "living" this close to the ocean is a perk. If I don't get a teaching job, I think I'll just waitress on the Island....

2. Taco Palenque. If you come to visit, I will take you here! They supposedly have the best fajitas in the valley. They are delicious indeed. PLUS they have a salsa bar and unlimited freshly made chips. The tortillas are homemade (at least I think so) and splendid. Added bonus: they play very loud Spanish music that can't help but make you joyful. 

So.... life isn't so bad :) I'm enjoying my fellow TFA-ers (especially my fellow unemployed friends) and getting used to the heat. I'm also anxiously awaiting the arrival of Little B! Adios for now!

Competitive Spirits?

No one in our family is competitive, right? OH WAIT, what?! I had no idea what I was walking into this weekend. Or did I? All in good fun. There was a previous running tally of Clue between Adam, Andrea and Tim (I'd like to note that I am officially on the board with a win). I believe Adam had been trailing far behind Tim and Andrea, but possibly made up lost ground this weekend with 2/4 wins... then you have the typical 500 division between the "Mavericks" (Tim and Andrea) and the... "winners" (Adam and Chelsea). I was also introduced to the game Bohnanza, which I love!!! It is so much fun!! 

Good times on Whispering Way. 

Sibs weekend!

Tim and I went to Madison this weekend to visit the A-team. We had a fabulous time waterskiing, playing games, laughing, and eating delicious food (thanks guys!). Can't wait to meet Little B in the coming days (hopefully) or weeks!