In the past few weeks as I have immersed myself in my soon-to-be profession, I have truly grown those eyes in the back of my head. I know which voice is calling out my name when I am working at my desk. I see which student is spacing out as opposed to eagerly engaged in my lesson. I see the first grade girls passing notes. I see the boys hiding their toy cars in their desks.
I multitask like none other... helping one student with a math even-number timeline, while explaining exclamation points to another, while telling one to sit down, while thinking of which lesson is coming next, while pleading one to stop eating crayons.
I can guess which students will need to use the bathroom after Spanish versus those that need to go during math versus those that seem to need to go every five minutes!
I know which students will ask me a million times when lunch is, and I know the precious students that will begin asking "when time to go home?" even when we have only been in the classroom for 1 hour!
Yet even in all of these crazy moments... I can't help but to be thankful and overjoyed with my privilege to be here with them.
It is them running up to me during their after-school soccer practice to give me a quick hug or to tell me they are beating the other team 2-0!
It is the drying of sad tears when a student has to take the bus instead of being picked up by her mom.
It is the joy in hearing one say to another, "It is okay, you're never alone, Jesus is with you!"
It is the delight of them learning those big, English words or those tricky addition problems.
It is the cringing at ALL of those loose teeth hanging out of their mouths!
It is the reoccurring event of cutting dozens of students' lunch during my lunch duty.
It is my sweet boy always asking me, "You can tie my shoe?"
It is the quick thank-yous when I pass out a paper.
It is the relief that comes with finally challenging my advanced student.
It is reading their sentence saying "I lik mrs copeland techng me at skl." (translation = I like Miss Copeland teaching me at school.")
It is the constant translation of their misspelled words and messy handwriting.
It is every moment they smile and I have no doubts of where I am supposed to be.
Teaching is such a joy.
I already know how hard the goodbyes are going to be. When my students ask me why I'm leaving or why I can't stay all year, I wish I didn't have to say goodbye in just four short weeks.
As this is my second week of full-time teaching (with two more to go), I am incredibly busy, filling my afternoons and evenings with endless lesson planning.
This four-day week definitely is a blessing. I am looking forward to refueling this weekend and getting my energy up to finish the next four weeks well!
As for my weekend adventures...
Last Saturday, I went with some friends to Teleferico. Teleferico is a gondola (cable-car) ride beginning at 9,678 feet and going up to 13,297 feet! From the top of Pinchincha volcano, you get a beautiful, breath-taking view of the city.
Once at the top, we continued to climb leading us to meet three Germans (traveling in Ecuador/Galapagos Islands for 3 weeks). A bit later, we met a wonderful family of 4 who had just months ago sold everything they owned, packed 1 suitcase plus a carry-on, bought round-the-world tickets and are traveling/teaching their kids for 1 year!
Following our decent back down to oxygen, we took a cab over to La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). This is where the equator is (only about 30 minutes from where I am living)! We learned about indigenous people in Ecuador, saw tons of beautiful artifacts, and got to stand on the equator!
* while draining water on equator, the water went straight down
while draining water in the Northern hemisphere, the water went counter-clockwise
while draining water in the Southern hemisphere, the water went clockwise
* an egg can balance on a nail (I didn't have enough patience to accomplish this)
* you loose your balance while walking on equator with eyes closed (such a weird feeling)
Blessings!
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