I'll Be Home for Christmas

These past few days at school and outside of school have been a bit hectic!  Tuesday, when I woke up my voice was still completely gone but Julissa was back at school thank goodness.  She has been super busy planning her daughter's quinceanera so when I saw her looking so tired, I couldn't help but feel bad.  I was able to get my voice back by the end of Tuesday but it started leaving again Wednesday after the students started getting super loud.  I was beginning to get frustrated with them because my throat was really starting to hurt and I wanted to be better by the time Friday rolled around.  Julissa insisted I rest my voice for the rest of the day.

Wednesday, after resting my voice the previous evening, my voice was back in full working order.  It couldn't really go that high but I could talk and teach which was enough for me.  That day went fast as well.  We practiced our songs in the morning, did a little bit of teaching but nothing new, and then the afternoon flew by! Julissa and I started cleaning the classroom a little bit because we knew what Thursday and Friday were going to look like.  That night, I actually packed my suitcase which is a big change from what I normally do! I tend to pack the night before I go on a trip frantically but since we had our Chirstmas program tonight at school, I did not think I'd have time.  My bag was all packed, I'd worked out, and thought I could relax for the night before I remembered that I promised my students I'd straighten my hair for their Christmas program.  The rest of the night, while the girls and I were watching Christmas movies, I straightened my hair.  I wondered what the reaction to it the next day would be.

This morning, after a quick run-through with the straightener and trying to pick out an outfit for school since it was a dress-down day, we were on our way to our last full day of the week! Larry and Lariana were going to be the tell-all of how the reactions at school would go.  Larry told me I looked much better  with my hair straight and Lariana said my hair looked pretty so I figured it was safe to go to school like this.  My students all looked at me shocked when I got to school and said all sorts of things to me.  Luckily all of them were nice.  Lots of the teachers complimented me as well which was nice because often times, I really don't talk to any of them.  Our school day today consisted of: rehearsing for the Christmas program, lunch, and the dance.  Talk about an easy but semi-hectic day.  The rehearsal took up our whole morning for the most part and then it was time to go to lunch.  After lunch, we cleaned and organized the students' desks a bit and watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid until it was time for the school dance.

Even though this is only the second one, I really enjoy the school dances because the students love them so much! They get to dance and show off their moves but also be outside and run around with their friends.  This school dance, we had a visit from Santa and when he walked out, the students went in a dead sprint for him.  I wish I would have video-taped it because it was so funny! They all received a stuff animal from Santa and then danced around for the rest of the afternoon until it was time to go.

This evening was the Christmas program we had been preparing for for a month now! My class did well as did everyone else's but it was so exhausting! The only place big enough for everyone was the church so I felt like that was starting off on the wrong foot for one. Second of all, my students had to sit in the back so they could not see and because of that, they wanted to talk the whole time.  It is such a struggle keeping them quiet during the day but then at night as well...it was tiring.  By the time the show was over at 8, half of the parents had left with their child already.  Many parents would get their child as soon as they had performed which meant they were making more noise than their already was.  It didn't surprise me but I was hoping they wouldn't do that tonight.   Amanda came with us to the program and I think it helped her understand better the frustrations that we sometimes come home with from school.  I am so glad it is over though.

Tomorrow, the students get out at 11 and then the staff has a Christmas party that afternoon! And after that...I fly HOME!! I have been singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" since Advent started and I'm so excited that it's finally here! Part of me cannot believe it is actually here and it might not hit til I'm on the plane but that doesn't matter.  I have so much to be thankful for and being able to come home is one of them.  Even though school can be frustrating, I am grateful to have been given the opportunity because it has helped me grow so much in these past 4 months and meet some fantastic people.  God has granted me strength and given me lots of other gifts that I would have never known I had if I did not come down here.  However, I am definitely ready to be back in Kansas for a few weeks! The change of pace will be relaxing but being able to see everyone that I love in the place that I love is what I'm truly looking forward to!

I fly out at 6:30 here and land in Atlanta at 8:20.  I will get back in Wichita around 10:30 tomorrow night so if you could say some prayers for safe flights for me as well as my other volunteer friends that are flying home tomorrow as well.  I cannot wait to see all of you and love you very much!