THE BOOK IS CLOSING

I have been a bit sick the past few days, so I just go to sleep in the evenings, waking up in the morning to realize that I haven't written. Then, once you skip for a few days, it is hard to get back in the habit.

Since my last post, quite a bit has happened. The school has had Christmas parties, movies, and concerts. However, it is quite a different concert than anything I have ever been involved in. The little kids sang some Christmas carols, let by my boy Marcfrid, one of the students. He was quite possibly the cutest kid I have ever watched direct a choir, and actually did a very good job. I was quite impressed! The middle school wrote a play and did it. It was about thieves coming and stealing presents from a families house. Pretty weak if you ask me, but for writing it in the morning and presenting it in the afternoon, it was quite well. I just wish they wouldn't always procrastinate to the last second to do something that could be quite good. Also, five middle school boys decided to remake a "Boyz II Men" Christmas song and dance to it. Once again, I was quite impressed. This, however, is most likely because in the culture I came from, no one really dances, or shakes their hips like these kids do. So I am constantly finding myself impressed by what they can do. High schoolers read poems and elementary kids must have forgot it was Christmas. They didn't prepare anything, but did devour all the food that was brought for everyone.

Finals were also given in the past week, so many students were complaining. For my students, I have never been so happy with them. After giving a spelling final with all the words from the year, I was a little worried to grade it. On a normal test, I would have drained my entire pen with red marks so this is what I was prepared for. However, after two, very lengthy finals, I handed out one F and the rest were A's and B's. For once, my boys took their time, didn't talk, and focused on a test, trying to get the best possible grade.

Today was my last day at YLC, which was only a half day. Of course, there was no learning going on, being the day before a huge break. Knowing this, half the parents didn't even send their children to school. Therefore, it seemed quite empty. I played a few games with my boys, gave them some word searches to keep them busy, and tried to do an English lesson with them, but who am I kidding? They weren't having it. After a few good laughs and a movie, it was time to bid the boys I have grown to love goodbye. While I hate them in school, I love them to death, but I have come to figure this is how it works in the life of a teacher. You have to love your kids, and letting them go is very hard, but I know it isn't over. I will see them again!

After school was over, the teachers and staff had prepared a big "Christmas" party, however, when I entered, everyone was there yelling surprise with a big "Happy Birthday" sign hanging and birthday decorations everyone. A large white cake even added a nice touch of flavor that said, "Happy Birthday Mr. Isaac and Farewell." Dang I hate that word. Just hearing it makes me tear up a bit. Farewell seems like forever, like something you say to someone who has died. Gifts were given to everyone for Christmas, but I felt like they just kept coming to me. I received a plaque that is more like a trophy thanking me for my dedication to the school the past semester. It really was a nice and thoughtful gift that I will take with me. I also was given a few bottles of wine and a cologne set. Maybe I smell weird to Haitian people? I don't know!!

As I said goodbyes and parted, I think back to all the amazing memories that have grown in my mind. I take many memories and pictures back with me to help me continue to grow through my experience here in Miami and Little Haiti. I will be back! I know I will. To teach at Yvonne? I do not know. I can not rule that out, but I know that some day in my life, I will be living back in this community! There is no doubt in my mind.

I now stay here in Miami to reflect on my experience and wind down everything that has happened in the past four months. Where has all my time gone here? I never thought I would get to the day that I was writing about my last day at Yvonne Learning Center, yet, here it is. As I continue on through my journey I will take everything that I have experienced and use it to help guide my on my path through life. I have experienced something not many people have got to experience. I have done this and more. I have lived..and I have experienced first hand.....Little Haiti!

FINAL MONDAY

The last week of school. The first day of the last week at school. My last Monday at YLC. Bittersweet? Well, I would lean more to the "sweet" end of things. Being in Goshen with friends and family made me REALLY miss being there and going to school, however, my duty is here for another week, so I must make the best of it. As tempting as it was to skip my plane ride back, and just stay in Goshen, I had to be responsible. But is it a sin to be happy that a placement is about over? I do not feel like it is. Does it sound bad that I am ready to be done and back to a normal life and a more organized life? Sometimes I feel like this is unfair to the people here, yet, I have done my duty, served my time and learned a lot. Is there more that could be learned, quite possibly, but I am ready for a change, and the end is now in sight!

Last week always equals exam week. We must see what our student have learned in the semester to see our success as teachers, and their success as students. Today, I gave the spelling final that I wrote on the plane ride back. FIve whole pages of spelling words, for them to correct, and remember the definitions. It has been quite a few weeks since some of them have seen these words, so I let them review for about and hour then handed out the test. They worked very quietly surprisingly, however, after an hour and half, since it wasn't new anymore, they started talking. They have to constantly have new things, otherwise, they are not happy. I gave them a break over lunch, did a math lesson with them, then gave them the tests back to finish. Since it was a new thing again, they worked quietly for the remainder of the day on these tests. And wouldn't you know, these boys that had trouble reading first grade books were all doing spelling tests with the words: phenomenon, government, wharf, embargo, everything, sister-in-law, great-aunt, and believe. This was amazing. I have never been so happy to go through a test, especially a final, and NOT make red marks all over it. What a rewarding feeling.

Now, to continue on with the rest of the week, and giving a different final each day will be another test for all of us involved. Will they get burnt out on tests and not try on the last several? I hope not. I hope the A's, B's, and C's continue to be made. TODAY...was a good day! :)

FIELD TRIP DAY

Finally, a day at "work" where I was not really required to work. A day where I could relax and wear my street clothes and still not be yelled at. The day of my dreams finally came, but proved to be a nightmare. Well, sort of!

As school kids gathered at school, we once again had the Super Tuesday service, praising, singing and praying together. Knowing this was my last Super Tuesday service, I had a smile on the whole time, even though it was so hot in the back room with 93 kids screaming, singing and dancing. No air conditioner that I know of could work its magic enough to actually keep that place cooled off. One hour of this is about enough to soak a shirt with sweat, and make one smell quite funky for the remainder of the day, yet, no one really seems to care.

As people leave the room of worship, the bus has arrived for the first field trip of the year. Word buzzes around school and excitement fills the air. Everyone is pumped to get out of school for the day and go to a park to relax in the sunshine. The 84 degree sunshine and 97% humidity. Just thinking about it makes me sweat again. It was HOT! As the bus is filled we take head counts and make sure everyone that paid is on the bus. The rest are left behind until their parents can take them home for school. Personally, I would have taken that direction had I been given the option. A hot day at the park or thousands of rules, or a day at home with video games. Seems like a no brainer to me, but that is because I had a good home life. I don't know all these kids stories at home.

As we end the 30 minutes trek to the park, empty basketball courts and huge playground equipment awaits us to run and jump all over it. Immediately, the courts were filled with boys changing into basketball clothes, including Mr. Samir and myself. It was the battle of the year. Finally a good court with two great hoops. The real skills could be proven today. The game was rough and long, but through the sweat and many hits, everyone finished strong and came out alive. Scratches and bruises, but breathing.

Clothes were soaked, and children tired. Shade was quickly found as everyone rested, trying to let the sweat dry up which is nearly impossible in the Southern Florida humidity. After a bit a dare was made, and they aren't taken easy. One boy challenged everyone that he was the fastest. Immediately, another took him on. Of course they are both in my class, making me look like the bad teacher. Five short minutes after this dare, the boy who decided to take on the challenge ran his face into a metal pole because he could not stop, pushing his teeth through his bottom lip, leaving a HUGE hole from the outside, all the way to the inside, requiring about 10 stitches. After this moment, we may as well of gone home because no one was allowed to do anything, except breathe and stay in place. The risk of someone else getting injured was not going to happen.

Sandwiches and chips were prepared as we handed them out to everyone, ate, and returned to school. Everyone that is, except for my boy Oliver. He was at the hospital for the remainder of the school day, until he returned about 3 minutes before the release time. His lip was incredibly huge with black strings dancing all over it, as blood continued to make its way out around the stitches. Why oh why do these things always happen to me? I feel like I am getting paid back for all the frustrations that I caused my teachers growing up. Funny how life always seems to do this!

BACK IN MIAMI

As the plane took off over the Chicago lights to take me back to Miami, reflections of the weekend and life came to mind, as many memories of friends are families continued to pop up in my mind. Flying over a huge city like Chicago or Miami at night is such a beautiful sight. When a plane can leave a city like Chicago at night, filled with ice, fog and snow in the horizon, the lights glow like little halos. Within three shorts hours, you look out the window and see the lights that look similar, only no clouds and no fog, yet, a reflection of the moon in the ocean, highlighted by the bright neon lights of the downtown buildings, making them glow. Did I mention the temperature had raised about 60 degrees in this short trip? Our world is simply amazing!

While I road on the plane, I got out my computer and started writing out the final that I was to give my class on Monday. As I looked through all the spelling words that we had throughout the semester, little conversations came to mind that I had with my students over the past semester, explaining what each word meant. Looking at their writing has really made me appreciate the differences in people and in cultures. While we in Kansas hear about people in the hood or the ghetto, we imagine them having a different language. Not one that is different, but a different slang to our words in English. Words are put in different order in sentences here in Miami, and this is what I have learned that makes their language so different. Everyone not in this subculture believes that words are changed up, or pronounced differently, however this doesn’t seem to be so. I think back to coming in with what most people would call “proper English” and trying to teach them in this style. And to be honest, it hasn’t seemed to work. I was not reaching them when trying to define the spelling words. They weren’t understanding, and have never heard them used in the proper way. Listening to the other teachers, they even use it wrong. Why? Because we ARE no longer in Kansas Toto! I hade to come to the realization that while we change environments, from Harper to Miami, different things change. I was going to have to change, to make an effect on these kids, and learn to talk a bit like them. Then and only then were they going to learn. I had to learn a new sentence structure. Not one that is written down and understandable, but one you just have to know and adapt to. Once I started this, teaching these spelling words deemed to be much easier for me. I could relate these words’ definitions to each of these boys, helping them know how to use them. Its funny how your thoughts wonder like this, but I am glad they do!

WEDDING DAY #2

When something goes from extreme heat to extreme cold, or vice versa, it is not very healthy for it. The cells in a body or the molecules in an object are expanded with the heat, then go to compressed with the cold. This is what my body is continually feeling every single time I go outside. I am used to walking out and wiping a bead of sweat of my brow, however, these days I am wiping a ball of ice off instead.

Its wedding day in Goshen and the temperature is falling. We go to the church for pictures, where the heater is proving to work greatly, yet, we decided to take pictures outside where traces of snow are still proving its presence the day before. We have to stand outside and watch all the girls being pretty for pictures in their tiny dresses. I could not have withstood the temperatures for pictures. In my three-layered tux I was freezing, as I stood on the campus of Goshen College, waiting for my turn to get into the pictures.

Finally it was back to the warmth of the church for some final pictures and the ceremony of the wedding. It went very well and everything seemed to be perfect as it flowed like the waters of the beach. I was glad Landon didn’t choose to have an outdoor wedding!

It was then off to the reception, where a good time is to be had with many old college friends present, as well as good food. This is the perfect Mennonite picture: friends, family, food and fellowship. Of course all of your friends are your fourth and fifth cousins, but we never find out until we start dating them.

Overall the day was a very good one, and almost picture perfect, as the snow gently fell in the lights of main street Goshen. It almost felt as if we were celebrating inside of a snow globe, as the flakes glistened on the outside and we partied on the inside. Once again, the beauty of God was proved in a beautiful day, celebration and nature

TRAVEL

Yesterday, the majority of my time was spent traveling to my friend Landon Rupp's wedding in Goshen, IN. Home of the cold!

The morning started by getting up and getting ready, like the usual day. Megan was kind enough to get the car warmed up, which takes no time since it is 86 degrees when we wake up. She took me to the train station, which is close to our house, yet, took a good 20-30 minutes to get to. Once there, I sat and waited by myself on the lonely train that would take me to Ft. Lauderdale airport. At first, I was excited that the train was empty, but then, people started coming on. At each stop more and more people were loading onto it for a ride to work. After stopping at about 8 stations, we finally got to where I was getting off. Lugging around two huge suitcases was quite difficult when given about 15 seconds to get off the train before the door would slam shut on you.

After I got off the train, I sat on a shuttle and waited for a good 15 minutes for no one else to come. You would think that when no one else is even in sight, it is a good clue no one else is going to get on. So, I sat there with the shuttle driver, listening to her horrible music as we just sat. Finally we took off and she got me to the airport just in time to get checked in and catch my flight.

Once again I was in an airport, the best place to "people-watch" other than the beach, and I didn't even have time to sit and watch people. Every stage of my travel I was cutting it way too close for comfort.

The plane ride went as quick as three hours can (exactly three hours) as I sat by an old couple from Omaha, NE who had lived the majority of their lives in Wichita. It was fun to chat with people from the home state once again, since I haven't been able to lately. It was also fun to see white, English speaking people again. It is so weird to see people from my own culture, as I never do much in Miami, except the people I am living with, but even they don't have the same sub-culture of Kansas that these people on the plane and I do.

When the plane landed, I was greeted by two great friends who were in Chicago, and going to the wedding. However, since I am cutting everything close, it didn't give us much time to get to Goshen before the rehearsal started for the wedding. However, I made it just as the introductions were being finished and the pastor was praying. Perfect timing if you ask me. No embarrassing introductions! Wrong! Of course the pastor looks up and sees a huge person trying to sneak in and makes a big deal out of who it was. I had to introduce myself in front of EVERYONE. Something I LOVE doing, let me tell you. Even after this, the rehearsal went great and the diner went even better. It is good to be back with the people you love, and back to my real paradise. Even though I went through about 80 degrees of change in 3 short hours!

YOU'RE GUNNA MISS THIS

Did you know:

Miami has an elevation of 12 ft?

The average daily temperature is 76 degrees F?

Miami-Dade county has 1,955 square miles?

5.5 million people fill that space?

Miami has one of the largest snow skiing clubs in the United States?

Miami is home to 150+ ethnicities and 60 languages?

-and I believe that English is probably language number 60

The average amount of days with sunshine each year is 250?

-I think Goshen is like 3!

I only have 14 days left here?

Only 14 days left? Where has all the time gone to? It seems like just yesterday I was slowly edging towards the door at YLC extremely scared to be in the environment of the "ghetto" of Little Haiti. Now, just 4 quick months later, I am at my last four and half days left there, as they start talking to me about a replacement person. Letting me be a little bit on the board of hiring, asking me for opinions of people that would do good with the boys I am leaving behind.

Only about 14 days total left here on the shores of the Sunshine State until I return the devastation state of Indiana, but mainly just Goshen. I love the place, but it will be hard to go from the Sunshine Capital of the Nation to the cloudiest city in the nation. And coldest as well! What is this I hear about single digit temperatures and ice?! I am leaving 90 degree days to fly to Chicago in less than an hour and I only have a sweatshirt. If I make it back to Florida without frost bite, it is going to be a miracle!

Last night while eating supper with my room mates, we started talking a bit about coming back next semester and when everyone will finally be back and it made me already start to miss it here, even though I was still here. I didn't really think this would happen, but 4 months on being in a place, you start to have your routine and become attached. I started thinking about one of my favorite country songs by Trace Adkins that says in the chorus:

You're gunna miss this

You're gunna want this back

You're gunna wish these days

Hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know this now

But you're gunna miss this

It goes on to talk about a girl rushing through life. Once she gets to one stage she is continually looking ahead to what is next and rushing to get there, but someone is telling her to slow down and take it all in, because she is really going to miss these days. I think it is hitting home, while packing back to take to Chicago which will never return to Miami, that the leaving date is really coming, and soon this will no longer be home, but yet, like every other American, just a fantasy land of travel and vacation.

I am gunna miss this, and I will want it back (except for maybe teaching. I don't think I will want that one back) Maybe I will have it back though! Maybe I will return after graduating Goshen in April and head back south. I never know where the needle on my compass is pointing, because my destinations change everyday. It will be interesting to see what direction my life will take next. Who knows, maybe Anchorage, Alaska!