When I originally decided to write this, it was to show the everyday struggles that my students go through.The past three days, however have been unlike most days, with trips into town and special visitors. So in order to get the full understanding of the students lives I wanted to make sure to include a couple days.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
7:00 am: Wake Up and Shower
7:30 am: Walk over and grab some breakfast
8:00 am: Student Sponsored Mass (no assembly)
9:00 am: Chemistry Class, Section 1
10:00 am: Chemistry Class, Section 2
11:00 am-11:45: Lesson Planning
11:50 am: Lunch
1:20: Senior English for College (combined class with all of the seniors today!)
3:30 pm: Some of the Australians arrived for an immersion project
5:00 pm: Girls Depart....We depart with the girls because Caro's parents are here :) and they were taking us to dinner
6: 15 pm: 6 miles later (because of the road) we arrive at the lovely Saramen-Chuuk community apartment
7:00 pm: Delicious dinner at High Tide, special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Burns
9:30 pm: return to Saram
10:00 pm: plan to go to bed....but of course spent the whole night talking with the ladies :)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
5:45 am: Wake up and get ready to go...
6:00 am: get to the girls bus stop
6:30 am: get picked up from the girls bus stop
7:45 am: arrive back at Xavier campus
8:40 am: Morning Assembly
9:00 am: Chemistry, Section 1
10:00 am: Chemistry, Section 2
11:50 am : Lunch
12:30 pm: English, Section 1
1:20 pm: English, Section 2
3:30 pm: Track Practice
5:00 pm: Girls Leave
5:30 pm: Dinner with the Boys for our Australian guests
7:30 pm: First Study
8: 30 pm: Second Study
9:30 pm: Boys leave our offices if they don't have any questions, some shower
10:30 pm: By this time on most nights is when I head back to my apartment to go to bed.
11:00ish pm: Finally fall asleep (maybe)
Friday, October 1, 2010
7:15 am: wake up, shower, eat breakfast, maybe have time to prepare lessons or check email (if there is power or internet)
8: 40 am: Morning Assembly (today is Palau's Independence Day and Chuukese Constitution Day so there were lots of announcements)
9:00 am: Chemistry, Section 1
10:00 am: Chemistry Section 2
11:00am: English, Section 2
11:50 am: Lunch
12:30 pm: English, Section 1
1:30 pm: Begins my two free periods for the day, in which I am writing this!
3:30 pm: Coach Girls Fitness
4:15 pm: Coach Basketball
5:00 pm: Girls Leave
6:00 pm: Dinner
(no night study on Fridays :) so now begins our relaxation until Sunday, as for us, we will still probably be in bed by 9pm!)
I had a couple reasons for writing this. First, I want people to really understand the drastic differences between the girls and the boys at this school. The girls, I feel, have a much more tough and demanding schedule then the boys have. When we were dropped off on Wednesday, it still was going to take maybe a half an hour to a full hour to get the rest of the girls home. The girls already have to wake up super early to take a bus, that is not in good condition, to ride on rides that you cannot even call roads everyday. Some girls even ride in the back of flat bed tucks. And if it does rain that day, they have to find their own way of keeping dry. There is also a bus that has a consist pattern of not being able to make it up the "Xavier hill," one because of the roads and two because the bus's mechanical condition. The buses are over crowded, over heating, and really, the only true joy in being on that bus comes from the wonderful girls that ride inside. These girls do it day in and day out....everyday for four years! They do not complain, though they know its tough. I just give these girls so much credit!!
Then there are the boys, who wake up before I do, around 6am and go through the motions have 6 classes, hours of homework, fitness, and completely their work until about 10pm. I am just shocked by how hard these kids work! They really do so much, and sometimes do it without electricity, email, hot showers, and all the other luxuries that we are used to having.
Again, I am so impressed by what great students I have. They really have such a long day, but do it day in and day out without complaints! Even after talking to some of the Australian high school boys that came to visit were shocked by how hard these kids worked and how they got up everyday and do it. They really do just have to much drive and determination. They come prepared to my classes and may of them have straight A's. They really bring me so much joy and happiness and I am reminded constantly when I talk to them why I am here and why I signed up. They are wonderful and I am honored and humbled to have met these students.
Other then having a crazy, exciting week, things on the island are great! Thank you everyone for all the support you have been giving me, whether through letters, emails, packages, and especially for all of your thoughts and prayers! It really is wonderful to have a great support system from back home and beyond. Love you all!
Love from Micro!
Ems <3
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