Has it really been almost SIX months??

So almost six months ago, I arrived to Queretaro, Mexico. A year ago (on Saturday), I signed my contract to work at John F. Kennedy International School. It's funny to think about what I knew then and what I know know. It's also comforting to know that if I could do it all again, I would.

I've learned SO much in the past six months. I've learned what it feels like to be in a healthy, loving, give and take relationship. I've learned how funny 15 year olds can be, I also learned how poopy they can be! I've realized with every waking morning that patience is the most important quality to have as a teacher and as a human being and I'm becoming more focused on increasing the amount of patience I have. I've realized in the past couple weeks how much I missed laughing. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finally let myself go and decided to just have fun at my job, and gosh, do I love it. It makes it a lot easier to roll the little things off my shoulders and wake up every morning ready to go. When I was home over break, I came to the realization that me, Sarah, Mumma, the person of the people, didn't know anything about my students as people. That really upset me! I had put such a division between them and I that none of us were happy. It then became my goal to get to know my students on a more personal level before it was too late. And here's what comes of it: (One example of many and hopefully many more to come!)

When I was home, I bought this thing called a "Chat Pack". It includes about 200 cards with really random questions on it. I decided it would be a cool, fun, and easy way to get to know my students by just reading these random questions and having them answer them. One of the questions was, "If you could own anything that weighed 50 lbs (besides money), what would you want?" Some of my students said, "Gold" (they're smart ones!) After a few other ideas were thrown out, one of my boys said, "A girl!" I then proceeded to tell the poor boy that 50 lbs (they measure in kgs) is about the weight of a 5th grade girl. The class just cracked up. Poor Andrés turned all red and tried to laugh it off and then went off about, "Oh, well, no, I meant... one day I want to have kids and... well, um... maybe all of them combined could be..well, um...???" Aww, honey. Adorable, haha.

Things I love about my life here:

1. Manuel (and his incredible family)

2. My car (I learned how to drive stick!)

3. My new laptop-TV hookup so I can watch TV and work at the same time from my laptop

4. My friends

5. My coworkers

6. My students (most days)

7. Sunshine... every day!

Things I miss about life back home:

1. My mommy, daddy, and sister

2. Snow (but only when it brings about snow days)

3. My incredible support system known as my friends and cohort!

4. Students that NEED me to love them (My students are really fortunate that they have really incredibly supportive families, but I kind of miss being needed!)

I hope for this to become my "funny things my students and I say and do" place... and funny things most definitely happen every day! Another example:

Last Friday, I had a chat with some of my 8th grade girls. They told me that sometimes they feel like their teachers don't want to get to know them. They sometimes feel like teachers are only there for the money. Oh, sweetheart.... if only you knew. If only... you.... knew...