New Orleans [6]
It has been awhile since I last updated...my b! Since last time, Raissa and I experienced the 4th of July here in New Orleans which was quite an adventure, I have become a certified lifeguard, my kids have driven me absolutely crazy, and I have been feeling at home. So for the fourth of July, there were TONS of people here; so much more than I expected -- it felt like Times Square or something! We weren't really sure what to do so we got dressed up and went out to the French Quarter on Bourbon Street, laughing at many intoxicated people making fools of themselves. We were going to go to a club because we wanted to dance but every place was jam packed. So what did we do? WE DANCED ON THE STREET. Haha there was a club that was playing music outside and so Raissa and I jumped in with a small group of other people and before we knew it, there was a big group of people dancing to songs like the electric slide, the cha cha slide, stanky leg, and more ghetto fabulous songs :) Haha. It was quite fun!
Onto the whole lifeguarding ordeal: I started taking classes based on a recommendation from my Coach, and the classes were free so was I was like "WHY NOT baby?!" So, it's pretty crazy but I became a lifeguard in less than a week (haha I think I'm supposed to keep that on the DL?). Apparently I am a very strong swimmer and everyone was really impressed with my treading skills and everyone was saying I have legs of steel or something? Haha I'll take it ;) But yeah so I finally know how to swim the right way -- swimming is such a great workout and it's really fun! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to do something like this. I forgot how much of a fish I am =)
So the kids here are crazy. That's old news. But lately we have been having a LOT of disciplinary problems, especially with the boys. There have been a few days when I just wanted to cry or hit someone! Some days I literally have no control over my class so sometimes I have to bring the whole class down to Coach Parker -- he seems to be the only person that intimidates them! It's so hard to manage that balance of playing with the kids and joking around with them but then maintaining authority in the classroom. That is what I'm struggling with -- I think that kids don't always take me seriously in class because I like to play around with them during lunch and free time. I care for these kids like they are my own, and it's going to be really hard to leave them. I have been thinking about coming back next summer, although I'm not sure how that would work out. I am excited, anxious, and scared to see these kids grow up into the people they are going to become. I am nervous for some of them because of the lack of good influences they have in their life. But all I can do is be for them right now and pray that God will take care of them when I leave...
Time flies by so quickly -- I only have 2 weeks left here! Although I am excited to go home and see all of my family and everyone, I am going to miss it here. I have found a temporary home here, and that makes me very happy. Lately I have been trying to re-focus my spiritual life and come back to God every day. I am trying to be more focused in my prayer and devotion time, because I know that is important. Some days I find myself so far away from God, but I just have to keep on coming back to Him, no matter how lazy or tired I feel. Right now I am asking God to reveal Himself to me in every way and I know that He will.
4TH OF JULY Pics
Raissa and I doing it up gangsta style before we go out
Raissa working it!
Me before going out :)
me striking my ghetto sideways pose!
raissa and i out by the river (always on her phone haha)
Last Thursday, we went on a field trip with the kids to the IMAX theater but before we took the ferry across the Mississippi River :)
the silly older girls
Raven and girls
everyone waiting for the ferry
Kimberly & her girls
big group waiting for the ferry!
me with some people!
Raven was pretty excited for the ferry, I guess!
haha random candid of me?
Raven, me and some of the little boys!
Raven and her sweet, little boys who all have crushes on her ;)
Coach Parker doin' his thang on the ferry
Ferry time :) Joseph is clearly giving attitude in this picture and Raven makes me laugh!
ANTM?
Raven is a superstahhh.
Kim and her babes looking out into the sweet abyss :)
my girl Sade looking off into the distance
Sade's signature pose haha GANGSTAAAA
idk what everyone was looking at?
CHILLEN WITH STAFF
kim and t.c. getting snowballs, which we call "snowcones" in the new england, hah!
kimberly and kiera walking to the lake
view of Lake Pontchartrain (it's pronounced "punch-a-train" haha)
me and kim just relaxing!
some of the crew
the boys on a hill :)
Thanks for everyone who is reading, praying or thinking of me :) Love you all♥
Onto the whole lifeguarding ordeal: I started taking classes based on a recommendation from my Coach, and the classes were free so was I was like "WHY NOT baby?!" So, it's pretty crazy but I became a lifeguard in less than a week (haha I think I'm supposed to keep that on the DL?). Apparently I am a very strong swimmer and everyone was really impressed with my treading skills and everyone was saying I have legs of steel or something? Haha I'll take it ;) But yeah so I finally know how to swim the right way -- swimming is such a great workout and it's really fun! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to do something like this. I forgot how much of a fish I am =)
So the kids here are crazy. That's old news. But lately we have been having a LOT of disciplinary problems, especially with the boys. There have been a few days when I just wanted to cry or hit someone! Some days I literally have no control over my class so sometimes I have to bring the whole class down to Coach Parker -- he seems to be the only person that intimidates them! It's so hard to manage that balance of playing with the kids and joking around with them but then maintaining authority in the classroom. That is what I'm struggling with -- I think that kids don't always take me seriously in class because I like to play around with them during lunch and free time. I care for these kids like they are my own, and it's going to be really hard to leave them. I have been thinking about coming back next summer, although I'm not sure how that would work out. I am excited, anxious, and scared to see these kids grow up into the people they are going to become. I am nervous for some of them because of the lack of good influences they have in their life. But all I can do is be for them right now and pray that God will take care of them when I leave...
Time flies by so quickly -- I only have 2 weeks left here! Although I am excited to go home and see all of my family and everyone, I am going to miss it here. I have found a temporary home here, and that makes me very happy. Lately I have been trying to re-focus my spiritual life and come back to God every day. I am trying to be more focused in my prayer and devotion time, because I know that is important. Some days I find myself so far away from God, but I just have to keep on coming back to Him, no matter how lazy or tired I feel. Right now I am asking God to reveal Himself to me in every way and I know that He will.
4TH OF JULY Pics
Raissa and I doing it up gangsta style before we go out
Raissa working it!
Me before going out :)
me striking my ghetto sideways pose!
raissa and i out by the river (always on her phone haha)
Last Thursday, we went on a field trip with the kids to the IMAX theater but before we took the ferry across the Mississippi River :)
the silly older girls
Raven and girls
everyone waiting for the ferry
Kimberly & her girls
big group waiting for the ferry!
me with some people!
Raven was pretty excited for the ferry, I guess!
haha random candid of me?
Raven, me and some of the little boys!
Raven and her sweet, little boys who all have crushes on her ;)
Coach Parker doin' his thang on the ferry
Ferry time :) Joseph is clearly giving attitude in this picture and Raven makes me laugh!
ANTM?
Raven is a superstahhh.
Kim and her babes looking out into the sweet abyss :)
my girl Sade looking off into the distance
Sade's signature pose haha GANGSTAAAA
idk what everyone was looking at?
CHILLEN WITH STAFF
kim and t.c. getting snowballs, which we call "snowcones" in the new england, hah!
kimberly and kiera walking to the lake
view of Lake Pontchartrain (it's pronounced "punch-a-train" haha)
me and kim just relaxing!
some of the crew
the boys on a hill :)
Thanks for everyone who is reading, praying or thinking of me :) Love you all♥