City Girl Adventure

Most of my life I have been dubbed a city girl. Never went on long hikes; just nice strolls, never roughed it in the woods; camped at a campsite in a camper, and never got extremely dirty and covered in mud; just a tiny speck here or there. Well today that all changed for this city girl. Today, they told us we could go to a water fall. They said it was about an hour hike in through the jungle. I was like okay, I can do that. Well little to my acknowledgement, we would be going bush whacking through the jungle. Okay technically it wasn't bush whacking because there was no knifes or machetes involved, but we were walking through grass that was the same height as me. Those of us who wore shorts, are covered with scratches all over are legs and because it rain a lot in Palau the ground was all muddy. So we were scratched and covered in mud. But it wasn't all bad. We got to the waterfall and it was so pretty. We climbed up it and swam in the water. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. Then we hiked back through the tall grass. It is an experience I will never forget. I will have picture up at some point for those who don't believe I did a none machete version of bush whacking. I will say it was an awesome experience. I proved to myself, that I could do something that I never thought I would be able to do. So, many cool experiences here in Palau. I have 4 months to go and a lot more to experience!!!

She Who is Called to Teach

With it being my birthday, one of my students, Alian, gave me a birthday card and this is the poem that was inside:

She Who is Called to Teach

The epiphany of her life

came in a breathtaking flash of enlightenment.

The challenge that would be her life's work

Became perfectly clear!

She would spend her days

Teaching, nurturing, and disciplining

The young minds of future generations.

This is where her fulfillment lies.

She labors to expand their innocent worlds...

To open their minds to new possiblities.

She lives for the moments when, with wondering awe,

Her students looks into her eyes

And understanding envelops them.

Concepts, once strange and distant,

Now register at the deepest level.

In that moment, their perceptions change forever.

They realize the world is

So much bigger than they are,

And they thirst for more!

- Suzy Toronto

To anyone who has ever taught before this poem is for you. After teaching for 6 months, I already understand and agree with this 100%. I love my students! They are the best kids!