I love winning bets...

If you love how ridiculous I can be sometimes, you must read this blog by my roommate and friend, Kristen. It describes the whole event perfectly except for what the bet was actually about. I will add that part here, and then you can read her blog and see the pictures.

I was sitting in Joel and Johan's house talking about the NBA with Joel and Cakito (surprise surprise, I would spend my afternoon doing that). We somehow got on the topic of Jason Kidd, who plays for the Mavericks. I started to say how he played for the Mavs when I was little before he went to the New Jersey Nets and then came back to Dallas. They told me I was wrong. Big mistake. We argued back and forth for 10 minutes and then decided to make a bet. I told them I went to the games and had his jersey, but they still would not believe me. They said we would have to swim in the river, like Kristen says, or they would have to endure water balloons. Now this is not just any river. It is filled with all kinds of nastiness, just use your imagination. Ew.
Anyways, a few minutes later Kristen and Johan showed up and decided to join the bet, Kristen trusting me and Johan with the boys. Now you can click on Kristen's link...please do. It's great.

Kristen's blog

Say What

Yes, that's right. I have students who can read. The students in my class come to our school in the morning and public school in the afternoon so from both places they are learning how to read. We have so much more to teach them about reading, especially the ones who are having alot of trouble in it, but it is such a blessing from the Lord to see the ones who can do it on their own. This past week I asked Bienvenido, our smartest student, to read in front of the class. I thought he might be too embarrassed, but he just got right up in front and started reading. After him, Escarlet went, and then, as you can see in the pictures, Luis Fernando read the next day with the help of Bienvenido. Of course all the boys wanted to, and so they grabbed a book and their chair and sat in front reading. Really, I almost started crying. It was one of those moments where you feel like all your efforts and the time you put in amounts to something, and you aren't standing up in front teaching, meanwhile your kids are looking at the trees outside. Well...I know that does happen for some, but let's just pretend for now it doesn't :).

Welcome to Small Town Life

If you ever wondered what I do on weekend nights, well let me give you a preview. Actually before I do that, let me tell you what my usual night consists of: sitting on Gloria's porch, chatting with my neighbors, playing dominoes, and sometimes having a glass of wine with them (only if it is the weekend because Christians can drink wine on the weekends). However, lately there have been basketball games at the Multiuso, the place in my small town where there is an "inside" basketball court. Last Saturday night, I got the girls together, us all attempting to dress Dominicana cool, and convinced them that the games are really exciting...bahaha. We ate at Balin, hence the picture with Johan and Balin cooking our delish sandwiches, and then went to the game. My hermanitos de Pancho Mateo were playing so that was fun for me to watch (the boys I play basketball with every Tuesday). Sadly, yes, that was it, my night O' fun, and it really was fun. I have learned to enjoy some of the small things in life living here. Enjoy some of the ridiculous pics.

Dido, my love.

I wrote a blog about Dido once. How great she is and how much Robin and I love going to visit her in Chichigua. It was Dido's birthday this past Wednesday so I made a funfetti cake for her and took it to Chichigua after school. She shared it with the whole village, no joke. She kept passing it out to others and only got a small piece for herself. That is something I have learned here: selflessness. Haitians and Dominicans love to share. Something us Americans are not very good at sometimes. Anyways, it was fun to be with her on her special day and take pictures of her while she asked me not to, like always. Our photo shoot, as seen below, goes a little something like this...Dido take a picture with me, no, yes, Dido look at the camera and smile, ok, picture taken, did you smile Dido (me making weird face).Sorry Lubi, Roni is no longer a child :)Me, looking a tad dorky in the princesa birthday hat, inviting people in.
On an even better note, Dido and her family became Christians during the Christmas holidays along with many other Chichiguans. Praise the Lord for His amazing grace!

Azucar

Dominicans love their sugar...A good healthy cup of coffee :)...do not worry, I did not drink this.

Last Day of School Pt 2

The boys coming into the classroom singing "Feliz Navidad." Also, Johavanny is speaking while letting Joel speak in "English." (fact: Joel does not know English)

Last Day of School

Friday, I had my brothers from Pancho Mateo come and entertain our first grade class for our classroom Christmas party. I told them they had to sing two Christmas songs so they came and sang “Feliz Navidad” about 10 times in a row :). Johan made a big introduction for them, and they came in the room dancing, clapping, and singing. Johvanny then had Joel translate in English for the students...Joel does not know English nor do the students speak it. Awesome. He was making up words, and of course the kids have no idea so I am pretty sure they bought it. I was cracking up. After this, Cakito talked about Christmas and why we celebrate it, emphasizing Jesus’ birth.

The students were singing along and listening to every word Cakito and the boys had to say. I think they were a bit speechless for awhile. They had no idea what was coming! To finish up things in the classroom, we turned on "Teach me how to Jerk," and Joel and Johvanny did a bit of break dancing. Once this was over, we all went outside to play a game of soccer in the mud…hilarious. Johvanny fell twice. Overall, I thought this was a great experience for the kids to see older boys they look up to, having fun in a good way, enjoying each other, and sharing about Christ. Hopefully I can do something like this again in the future, si Dios quiere :).