Unbelievable, Act II

I did something yesterday that I said I would NEVER do.

I drove into the city. I am still not that great of a stick driver but I decided to be brave. No wrecks, sweating, yelling, or general fright was involved in the excursion. Unbelievable.

Unbelievable

Today I was struck by the reality that it is almost October. Where exactly did September go? I honestly cannot tell you where September went. Wow. I still cannot believe it...

What was that you asked? What is happening in my classes?

So glad you asked.

In English, we are learning how to research and write research papers. (side note - I now know why I teach English. I teach English to keep me humble because I have no idea what I'm doing! For example, I'm teaching appositives right now. Right now I could not tell you a succinct answer for what an appositive is. Yesterday a student asked me a question about an appositive phrase and I just started laughing because I had no idea. Thank goodness I laughed even though I wanted to cry.) Please pray that I will make it through the 8th grade writing process! This unit has a heavy heavy emphasis on grammar, which is a problem for Whittington, the hick. I'm just living for our next unit, The Pearl. I can DO literature!

English in 6th grade is predominantly easier because they THINK I'm smarter than them. (8th grade knows they are smarter than me.) We are currently reading Maniac Magee! The novel is really fun and easy but deals with pretty serious themes. For example, the idea and practice of segregation runs throughout the entire book. Pray for my patience as 6th grade makes the transition from elementary to middle school.

Study Skills, wow. Study Skills. What is there to say? I feel like it is a support group for students that are freaking out about Hungarian History (arguably the hardest class at ICSB). I know it's a stretch but in this class I teach students how to study and understand themselves - learning styles, Myers-Briggs, multiple intelligences, etc. Currently we are learning about test anxiety - what it is, how to deal with it, and how to do well in different types of tests (achievement, multiple choice, essay, etc.) This class is difficult, not because of the material, but because the students think I'm their best friend. Cute, but not great for a teacher (especially in light of classroom management).

Last week we had the much anticipated and discussed MIDDLE SCHOOL WELCOME BACK PARTY. The party was my first "event" as Student Council Guru. We had a great time! But...who could not have fun when you're playing in an enormous dodge ball game complete with rules made up by middle schoolers, "medics," and you finish off the action with homemade goodies from Middle School mothers?

My ninth grade Bible study has been unbelievable. God has been so gracious! The girls are so open and honest. Not to mention that we have a great time together. Yesterday we talked about our identity or our "names" in Christ. We discussed Simon's name change to Peter after he started his journey with Jesus. Continue to pray for openness!

ELL is still tons of fun. The students are currently motivated. If the class makes a C or better on every test in a week or a 9 week period, we get to take the class period off (of learning English and doing homework) and watch a movie and play games!

(ELL Students)

The horizon:

Next weekend is going to be unbelievable.

Oliver will be at the High School Retreat, which is student run and organized. This retreat is designed to unify the high school, present the gospel, and help student mature in their faith and walk with the Lord.

Pam will be at the Middle School Missions Trip with 7th and 8th graders. They will be doing manual labor, outreach, and a Vacation Bible School type program with the neighboring Gypsy community.

I, on the other hand, will be with 6th grade. During the day we take part in a service project in our little community, Diosd. However, that evening there will be a lock-in at the school UNTIL 8AM THE NEXT MORNING. Unbelievable. I will be pulling an "all-nighter" with 6th graders. Don't worry there will be a High School Musical Marathon (Thanks Bishops for supplying the sequel - High School Musical 2!) as well as a Game Cube tournament. No doubt about it...I will have unthinkable movies, pictures, and stories from the unpredictable 6th grade.

Sorry this entry is so long, I had a lot to tell!

Geography Aerobics

After a really long and hard day yesterday at school, God provided for me...through my crazy 6th graders. God's gift came in the form of...Geography Aerobics. Yes, Geography Aerobics. Why not learn geographic features through dancing? 6th grade calmly walked into my class today asking for 80's music so they could show me what they learned in Geography. You better believe I did not hesitate to take out my computer and crank "Mr. Roboto" by Styx. I thought I was going to die. Please see for yourself by clicking on the album below.

Geography Aerobics

You are NOT dreaming. 6th graders definitely do aerobic but significant movements to 80's music.

Your welcome, by the way, for this gift...

Wild Weekend

Below is an album of my wild weekend. We had school Monday through Thursday but we had Friday off because all of the faculty and staff went on a retreat about an hour and a half outside of Budapest at this unbelievable former estate. Currently it is a Bible College and Retreat Center for Calvary Chapels in Europe. The purpose of the retreat was to recharge, reconnect, and learn more about each other (ICSB staff). For example, we took the DISC test and had a lot of discussions and general fellowship time with each other.

Going back to Thursday night, I got to see my first ICSB soccer game. Oliver's team played a "friendly game" with the Diosd club team. They ended up tying, which is really good because the Diosd team is made up of MEN not high school boys like ICSB's team.

Crazy September

Pray for this week, my first "event" as Student Council (or StuCo) Sponsor is this week. Middle School is having a welcome back party. Yes, a welcome back party three and a half weeks into school. Can you tell it was planned by Middle Schoolers yet? I'll make sure I take several pictures so that you can experience it, just like I "get" to.

I know some of you with much crazier lives are laughing saying...this is not a wild weekend. However, in my defense I went from having NOTHING on the weekends to not even being home this weekend! I'm not complaining, I'm just saying it was wild...

ELL - English Language Learners

ELL Class - English Language Learners

Above is an album of my ELL students. The ELL program is often called ESL or English as a Second Language in the United States. Our school, as well as others in Europe, refer to the program as ELL because it is often the student's third or fourth language. I have ELL every day in the afternoon. At first, I'll be honest...I was not happy about this unexpected and unplanned class but I have since grown to love the students and look forward to class. They are so fun! Gil Beom, Weon Jin, and Ha Rim are all from South Korea. Qian Lin, Bai Jia, and Ji Li are from China. None of these students are missionary kids but most of them (I believe) are Christians.

Most days I help students with homework (especially compositions or writing) while other students work their way through an English language computer program called Rosetta Stone.

Favorite memories so far from ELL class:

1. Fridays - dubbed "Fun Days" by students because I am more likely to not make them do work so we can play their favorite games - Uno and Boggle.

2. Every day - Weon Jin constantly has questions about Math that I CANNOT answer. I feel so stupid when I cannot answer a math problem! The best part is (I'm glad I can laugh about it now) that every day, seriously every day, Weon Jin asks me how I graduated from college because I can't do 7th grade Math. Nothing like 7th grader questioning your intelligence...

On a more serious note, please pray for these ELL students as they continue to learn about God, English, and are welcomed into a English speaking community.

Sajnálni - Sorry

I'm sorry it has been so long since my last post! School has consumed me.

Listed below are a few updates on life here in Hungary:

-- Last night was High School Open House - a "special" time when parents meet the teachers. (Called PTO in Alabama) The interesting part of the night was that all the teachers had to bring a snack for parents. Oliver, Pamela, and I collaborated and brought a vegetable tray. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the McLemores were responsible for the healthiest dish there. Unbelievable, I think we made McLemore history.

-- Middle School Open House is next week - that should be interesting.

-- I drove some of the soccer players (Oliver's team) to practice yesterday because it "is so simple to get there and back." Yea right. After a 20 minute ride to the field on back roads I had no idea how to get back. Therefore I sat in my professional outfit for the Open House in my nasty car from 4 until 6. You think I'm finished but I'm not. While following Oliver back to school I went on a double round-about (two lanes going in a Circle) TWICE with a semi truck on my tail. Have I mentioned I'm a new "stick driver?" I screamed the entire time I was circling the enormous round-about. (Dad - think my bloodcurdling scream on the tube at the lake). I later found out another driver would not let Oliver merge over. Yea right.

-- By far the most surprising, I have changed eating habits! Don't get me wrong, I still love junk food but I can't get enough of fruit! This week's obsession is bananas. Recent obsessions include but are not limited to apples, pineapple, carrots, and a multivitamin fruit juice that I drink around a cartoon a day (2 liters I think).

That's all for now. I think I've made blog history - this may be my longest entry. Hope you enjoyed it...