Of Time and Of Seasons

Not only is the title of this post the title of one of my favorite books, it is also something that has been weighing rather heavily on my mind in recent days. I'm working on a Bible study via email and a book with Sara, and it focuses on the story of Esther. The timing in that story is crazy, and it led me to think about time in my own life. If you had told me a year and a half ago that I would move across the country, be happily single, live with strangers, teach seventh grade, run a half marathon or so many other things that are going on in my life, I would have laughed at you. But here I am, and at this time, that is my story. It's also been jarring to see how places where the timing in my life matched up with my friends have changed. My time and others' had ceased to line up so well, and I find myself becoming closer with people who are at a similar time in their life. I also have been thinking of the idea of an "acceptable time" and realizing that God and I seem to have very different ideas about what this acceptable time is. I am, however, beginning to be ok with going with the flow and following God's lead on these types of things.

In other news, I successfully completed a half-marathon on Saturday, and right within my goal time of 2 and a half hours. I feel an enormous sense of accomplishment about this. Last year at this time I couldn't even run one mile without feeling winded, and this year I ran 13.1 miles, all while raising money and awareness of a cause I feel very strongly about. Life is very good.

My new roommates are utterly amazing, and I am looking forward to this summer. It's going to be amazing.

Home Sweet Home

It's been an interesting thing, being home for the first time in a while. My roommate Kristin came with me to NJ, and we did all sorts of fun things, but it has been a lot of driving and not a lot of seeing people. We visited Philly and DC and went down the shore, so I think it is safe to say that she had a very full New Jersey experience. There was a lot of eating, particularly fattening and bad for you treats like taylor ham and Dunkin' Donuts. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised at all to find out that there was also a significant amount of Wawa involved in the trip. I think I may have an unparallelled passion for Wawa.

Another thing that I find intriguing about the only being home for a week at a time every six months is the way that some things change and others seem the same. Some of the friends I've seen it's been like I never left. Conversation is natural, and we really enjoy catching up and reminiscing. Last night I hung out with some of the girls I went to high school with, and we had a complete blast. I haven't talked to these girls in years, and yet we were laughing and carrying on like it didn't matter. The whole night was just a lot of fun.

I'm having a little trouble with some of the changes in my absence, and realizing how hard it is to be mature when you don't agree with people who you thought you knew really well. I know this is something I have to work on; people are certainly going to grow and change while I'm growing and changing across the country, but I guess I just wasn't prepared for how big some of those changes would be. I didn't think this would ever happen, but I'm really excited to go back to the West Coast. I know my friends there really well, and they know the me I've become out there. I have a place there. I'm excited for summer classes and for the next year at school. I'm thrilled to live with new roommates and to stay in touch with the old ones. I guess this is a good thing. It only took a year, but I've definitely enjoyed the adjustment.

I'm a Survivor

Well, I officially made it through my first entire year as a seventh grade teacher. And I'm mostly in one piece, I promise. To be honest, the horror stories I heard about the first year of teaching made this year seem not so bad. Yes, I did have some thoroughly obnoxious and malicious students who completely lost it towards the end of the year, but in general my first class was an amazingly kind and talented group of kids. I am excited for them to be the big kids in school next year because I am positive that they will be an amazing set of leaders and examples.

So much is going on right now that it's hard to know what to write. On Tuesday I will drive out of Yakima with all my stuff packed and never live in my current house again. Moving a kitchen is no fun at all. We are leaving all of our stuff in the garage and families from the school will come and help us move while we are studying in Portland this summer. Then we'll come up to visit sometime in July and move all our furniture into the new house. I'm really glad for the new house, because I feel like it gives us all a fresh start. I'll have three brand new amazing roommates and a wonderful new house and a new class of students next year.

All that being said, it is a long, stressful weekend, and tomorrow promises to be another long stressful day as we finish packing up the house and our classrooms. And then, early early on Wednesday morning, I will be on the East Coast!!!!!!!

And, I got my racing singlet for the half marathon at the end of the month. I am really excited for this thing, but also a little nervous. If can support me, please try. Thanks!
http://www.active.com/donate/nfseattle2009/EAppert

Some highlights of the year

Here are some of the more quotable moments of the last year:

Andrew (to me): Which way do you run?
Josh: Forward mostly.

Me: We're making cards for Fr. Pope.
Kids: Why?
Me: He lost his brother.
Josh: Did they find him yet?

Me: Christian, how's the math coming?
Christian: Good. I'm on number....
Me: Yes?
Christian: (long pause, looks at hands) I was trying to make a 12, but then I realized I only have 10 fingers.

Drew: This room isn't big enough for my talent.

I was walking around my religion class, looking at the art projects, when I asked before thinking, "Why is everyone making babies?"

I'm sure there are more...

It's Been A While Part II

Currently Reading: Funerals are Fatal, Theology of the Body for Beginners

This has been a rough rough week, with a few shining moments. Yesterday I was hit in the face twice with projectiles that I had outlawed in my classroom. The second one hit my nose hard enough that I was tearing up and had a difficult time speaking for a bit. Needless to say, I was more than a tiny bit peeved about the situation. Then, two of my more obnoxious students told me they thought what I taught was stupid and useless, and that they saw no need for me at the school. At this point I gave up. We are strictly doing language in their class right now, because that's what they claim they want to learn, none of the fun enrichment stuff I had planned for the rest of the year. It's discouraging to spend the time thinking up fun interesting things to do and then have kids be full of attitude about it.

So today two of my sweet students came in with little ways of saying that they still care. One brought me a card where she told me that I was a wonderful teacher and gave me a coffee giftcard. A boy from the other homeroom brought me muffins. As I was feeling that there still was some merit in teaching seventh grade, I returned from the school mass to discover that some students had left garbage all over my chair. I'm feeling very defeated.

Joyful Joyful

Currently reading: Theology of the Body for Beginners, Theology of the Body for Teens, N or M?

Our advisor for Portland is in town this week for observations and to collect our work from this semester, so it's a bit of a busy week. I've had a lot of students absent this week for various reasons, which makes it harder for us to move forward as a class. The drama teacher asked me to be a character in the seventh grade drama production, so today during my prep period I'll be heading over to practice with them. They don't know that I'm coming and we both think it will be funny to see their reactions. For some reason, the drama teacher has decided that I can and should act, even though she has clearly never seen me do so. I think this could be very interesting.

The kids are still being difficult, and I have had to make some changes in discipline as a result. I don't like being the teacher who yells, so I've hated the last two weeks.

On two much brighter notes: I got a very quiet, very unofficial "ok" for the half marathon, so I am definitely going to be running it. Of course, this means that I have to get my butt in gear and step up the training, but it's still fantastic news. I'm not supposed to tell anyone about it right now, which I don't really understand, but since none of you are in my program, I don't think it can matter that much. So if you know anyone who can afford to sponsor me a few $, please point them in the direction of my donation page.

2nd bright note is that my brother John is getting married!

And on that note, I am off to school.

It's been a while

Currently Reading: Theology of the Body for Teens, Theology of the Body for Beginners. Crossing the Threshold of Hope

The last two weeks have been more or less insane. We've finished our high stakes testing and the kids are done being good in school. I have never had such a problem with disrespectful speech in my classroom as I have this week. Someone made a "your mom" joke, someone else told me that they didn't like me and couldn't wait to be done with seventh grade. This made me feel pretty wonderful about teaching.

On a more cheerful note, I was asked to help at this afternoon's track meet, and it was loads of fun. I spent the first hour and a bit raking gravel at the long jump pit, until they got someone more qualified to replace me: a seventh grade boy. Unfortunately, he displayed significantly more skill at sand raking than I did. My students did marvelously. One of my girls ran a six minute mile, and both my boys ran an incredibly fast 100m dash. My girls won the 800m medley by a landslide. I have a bit of a sunburn, but it was totally worth it, and the kids were so excited to see me there. They explained all the events and came over to chat with me at the pit where I was raking, and the gym teacher was there, so once I was replaced I watched a few of the races with him.

Also, I got to go to Autumn's wedding in Minnesota last weekend. It was amazing to see her and Jeremy and be there with them for their special day. Aut was beautiful and the whole thing was a lot of fun. It was a lot of traveling for one weekend, and I'm still waking up ridiculously early because of time zone issues, but I am so glad I went. I was the only one of our friends from high school who got there. I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures.

I miss home a lot since spring break. I'm having a slightly difficult time here, but excited to be back in a few months/