Wednesday, January 29, 2014

living my dream: semester 1


I wish I could share all of my experiences and adventures from first semester, but here are some highlights and pictures. :)


My classroom before and after! The pre-kinder class last year had enough students to need two kindergarten classes this year. This is the first year that any grade has had two teachers. They added on my classroom to the end of the current kinder classroom, hence the brick wall. :) I was nervous when I arrived in July and there was no electric or carpet yet, but it all came together and I'm glad I was able to start from scratch in a new room! 





Never thought I'd have a palm tree right outside my classroom window. :)

In July, before school began, we did a staff team building ropes course. Being able to come together to complete various activities as a staff and support each other as we each completed a ropes course individually, unified us as a staff and helped us focus on our mission and vision for the upcoming year. I feel privileged to work at a school that has such an incredible mission with Christ at its center.



View of Highlands from further up the mountain.

View from my classroom. Sometimes I have to remind myself during the day to take a second to look out the window and just enjoy God's creation!

We went on a bus tour of the city during orientation in July. Can't believe this incredible city is now my home!




Mt. Illimani, only snow-capped mountain in La Paz!



Edificio Sebastian Figueroa…our pink apartment building. :) 

Amazing view of the sunset from our apartment.



One of our many adventures…went to school to work the day before the first day of school and could not get a taxi to take us home. It was a blast lugging our things down the mountain. Never a dull moment. :) Every day is a lesson in flexibility and patience!

Last year my birthday fell on the 2nd day of school and this year it was on the 1st day of school. Felt obligated to wear the birthday hat and button since my kiddos wear them on their birthdays. :) 

Birthday dinner at Highlands! Best Tex-Mex place around and they even played an entire Rascal Flatts CD while we were there. Little piece of home…it's the little things. :)


So fun celebrating with this amazing group of people!

One of the MANY afternoons spent completing the process for getting our carnets.

Finally received my carnet after hours of paperwork and getting fingerprinted! The looks of utter confusion as they tried to figure out how to approach fingerprinting my right hand became quite amusing. :)

Love trips to the market!

Fresh, organic produce. Delicious!

I've had some interesting taste treats. Never thought I'd have crocodile…basically tasted like extremely chewy chicken!

Anticuchos (cow heart) off the street. It was actually delicious and we didn't get sick…always a bonus. :)


First fĂștbol game in Bolivia…so fun!




Transportation strikes are common in Bolivia. The taxi and mini bus drivers strike against the government, but they are usually non-violent. We've had two strike days (our version of snow days) so far this school year. We were obviously pretty excited for the day off. :)
 

Pedestrian day…no vehicles!

Within my first few weeks in La Paz, I got a strong stomach bacteria. I was nervous when I went to the doctor for the first time, but I quickly became a pro after many visits. Hopefully no more doctor visits for a while!

My wonderful mentor buddy! Every staff member is paired with a mentor partner. We meet before school every Thursday and Friday to check in with each other and just do life together! 

A group of us from church hiked up to the Muela del Diablo (Devil's Tooth). We survived the altitude, even though it was hard to catch my breath at times, and the view was well worth it. :)






In mid-October, a couple of friends and I traveled to Coroico (a small town in the Amazon Basin) to celebrate the end of semester one and parent/teacher conferences. The weekend we were there, the town was celebrating its anniversary.


So wonderful to get away from the dryness of La Paz for a couple of days and be in the lush, green jungle. :)


Rach and I decided to live on the wild side and zipline between two mountains!



Good thing I'm not afraid of heights…the valley between the mountains was very steep and the view was breathtaking! At one point, there was an eagle soaring about 20 feet beneath me…incredible!

The zipline ended near a wildlife refuge. We were able to get up close and personal with the monkeys and birds!

Roommates at our "fall" party. Funshine Bear, Nancy Drew, and Hopeful Heart Bear. ;) 

I love every moment of our craziness. :)

Pajama Day during team week festivities.

Superhero day! We had quite the variety: Batmen, Wonder Women, Thor, Superman, Superwoman, Robin Hood, Batgirl, and Lava Girl. :)

Team Day festivities! The whole school packed into the cafeteria. There are four teams and each team has students from Kinder to 12th. 

With two of my boys…green team was victorious!

Over Thanksgiving break, a few of us went to Lake Titicaca (highest navigable lake in the world)! It was incredible and by far my favorite place that I've visited in Bolivia so far.

Our hotel!

Most breathtaking sunset I've ever witnessed…God's beauty never ceases to amaze me!

We hiked from one end of the Isla del Sol (Island of Sun) to the other!



We made it to the ruins!

Finally got a picture with llamas!


Never a dull moment…sometimes sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs, and on this day even a horse wander onto school grounds!

Jill and I have the privilege of leading the 11th grade girls' discipleship group! So fun meeting with these girls weekly!

So blessed with this girl's friendship!

Tuesday night Bible study Christmas party at our apartment! So thankful for these people and community.

I think it's safe to say that our apartment was the most decked out for Christmas…so fun. :)

Christmas program! The kids' costumes were fantastic and so creative.


Mary and baby Jesus…precious! The kiddos did such a great job and were too cute.


Highlands kindergarten team. :)

Traditional Cholita outfit!

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