New Year’s Blog: Reflections and Resolutions

Over this year, I’ve learned a lot, and I think I’ve grown a lot as a person.  I’ve learned how important positivity is with people.  All people.  Being home, I think I was more able to apply some of the positivity and patience I apply in the classroom with my family.  That’s a really good sign, for me, because it means that I may be more capable of applying it to the more professional interactions in my life.  I’ve struggled with that forever, but maybe that’s changing. 

I made some really amazing friends.  I think I forget about that because they were often really far away from me, but the other volunteers in my group are amazing individuals, and I’ve loved getting to know them and travel with them and be a part of this crazy adventure with them.  I’m really sad that they won’t be there, but as the Girl Scout song goes, “Make new friends, but keep the old…” I’m resolving here and now to be excited about the new volunteers and not compare anything to last year: not try to find “This Year’s Abby” or “Jenn 2014” or “Jamie2.0” or “KSaddRemixed.” And instead just be excited for Namibz2014. 

I’m also going to resolve to chill out a bit, and not be high strung.  Listen, smile, and breathe more, and stress-cry less.  2014 has a lot of potential. I’m going to be stronger-willed without being antagonistic, more goal-directed, with understanding, positive, and patient.  Let’s do this!

Holiday!

I’ve been away from blogging! Sorry!! A quick update on my actual life before reflecting and resolving: I was in Windhoek for three weeks working with our field director to plan the upcoming orientation for the incoming volunteers.  It was amazing, and I feel like I was doing something I’m good at, which has left me so incredibly excited for the orientation which starts tomorrow!

Being home was incredible.  I was welcomed in the Rochester airport by my wonderful family, including my brother and his fiancé who came to visit from Chicago. My parents threw a huge house warming party for their new home. We fit right in there! I substitute taught a few days, and got all my doctor appointments out of the way.

Substitute teaching reminded me of some things.  I forgot how incredible patience is for kids.  I was subbing for an elementary music teacher, so I had a rotation of all of the grades K-5.  First off, K-2^nd grade: A-dor-able.  3^rd and 4^th grade were excited and enthusiastic and we sang holiday songs.  But 5^th grade.  They were off the walls bonkers crazy. So many classified kids/kids with IEPs and just general sub-at-a-holiday-hyperness.  I couldn’t even get TO attendance. I was NOT about to just put a movie in for these kids.  So instead, I turned off the lights and we did some breathing.  Then I had them play that team building game where as a group, people count to a given number (10, in this case), without repeating or simultaneous counting. If two people say the same number at the same time, the whole group has to start over again.  It was working! Quite well, if I do say so myself.  And in that game, a remarkable thing happened.  One of the kids was clearly on the autism spectrum, and he REALLY didn’t want the class playing this game.  So first, I pulled him aside (because the class was pretty much running itself by this point), and asked what I could do to make the game more manageable for him.  But he lost it, and ran into the middle of the circle to stop the rest of the class.  The rest of the class was wonderful.  The kids acknowledged that he was having a problem, but didn’t let it really interfere.  There was a lot of, “It’s ok. Just sit out for a bit, but the teacher asked us to do this, and that’s what we need to do” and “Everything is safe and fine. Just take a minute for yourself” and the like.  It was one of those shining moments for inclusion where everyone is helping everyone else learn something about people.  I liked that.

I also got a few good swims in at the WAC while I was home!

Christmas was great. Lots of laughing and family time, and the Legends still got together for a gift exchange which has been happening for a long, long time.  While we were missing a few, everyone managed to at least Skype in for a bit and contribute.  Pretty cool that we can still manage to organize a get together of 15 friends from high school.  And I got to see HANNAH!!!  And Sara and Ben got engaged and I saw them.  (ok this is spiraling)  All in all, the trip home was super necessary and an absolute joy.

Thankfulness

I know this is a bit late, but I wanted to give thanks for so many things in my life.  First, the people.

My parents are unbelievable.  They support me, emotionally and… well… financially, and they don’t make me feel ashamed of needing them on both counts.  In fact, I’m proud that my parents stand behind me, because I know that what I am doing is good if folks like them believe in it.  I love you both so much.

My brothers are such rockstars.  I am so lucky to have such a diverse trio of bros backing me up, and who let me back them up whenever I am able.   

My grandparents, though I only have one left living, have been inspirational and a guiding presence in my life.  Growing up is really cool, because you realize the impact amazing people have had on your whole life.  I’m excited to tell my kids someday about what awesome grandparents I have, but for now, I’ll settle for telling everyone else (friends, strangers, whoever will listen) about how cool you are.

Friends and family world-wide are lovers, haters, ballers, shot callers, and ah-wey, mann, ‘ya keep me going.  This year has been so hard to stay in touch, and I am so thankful for all of the extra effort people have been willing to put into talking to me—waking up early to Skype, Facebook, staying up late to Skype, flying across the world—thank you!

My learners.   I am the luckiest teacher in the world to have such an amazing group of 240 learners.  I know that I talk about how much I love you all the time, and it’s always true.  You are brilliant, and I am so proud to hear about all of your end-of-year results! I am overflowing with pride in you (but I’m also not at all surprised)!  Love you all to bits and pieces, now go to bed!

 

I am also incredibly thankful to the powers that be for all I have learned this year. A brief list of lessons I am thankful to have learned:

1.       My brain operates very quickly, with very little direction, and zero filters whatsoever.  While this gets me into trouble often, I actually really like this about myself.  Mostly, I like it because it seems like Grandma Nana was the same way.

2.       A positive attitude can almost always improve a situation. Listen, smile, and breathe.

3.       Meditation, yoga and kickboxing are amazing.

4.       I have the ass of a black chick!

5.       Music is a great way to bring people together.  Thugs, Gs, girls from the village, boys from the town, everyone can rock out to M’Bop.

6.       Accountability is a really important facet of running a school, and somehow, you have to create a community where people… want (maybe that’s not the right word… are proud?) to take responsibility for their actions.  Ownership of activities, places and tasks is a huge part of developing this pride and love of the job. I’m sure this is my western view on the school I am working in, but I feel like it’s a really important lesson to remember for when I go back state side.  Now I just have to learn how to function in the system which is here, while I’m here, because I’m clearly not going to change it by myself.

7.       I know that I am by no means a full-fledged adult yet, but growing up is really fun!

I am so thankful to have another year of growth, teaching and learning in this beautiful country with so many wonderful people.