My Little Minions

The very thing I love about my children is also the one thing I hate....they are all little MEs.  It never fails, even with a language barrier, I have managed to transform these sweet innocent children into sarcastic, smart-mouthed goofballs.  I turned them into myself.  For example, I had a young man that was so excited because he got a new shanta (book bag).  A little girl lines up behind him, examines the bag really closely, looks up at me and says, "Shanta Bennat (I can't spell any of these Arabic words).  But anyway, loosely translated she was asking me if it was a book bag for a girl.  I kept telling her that it was his book bag and she refused to accept the answer.  She just kept looking at the flowery book bag and then back at me swearing it was a girl's bag.  Then there are those students that love to tell me good job as if I am four-years-old, or the ones that force you to say good morning or goodbye to them, or the ones that look at me like a dummy when I mix up the Sheiks or simply don't understand another child (they know a few English words and swear they can help me out), and finally the girls that keep giving me these cheek kisses every time they come back from specials or when they think I am about to get mad.  LOL.  This is why I can't leave education.  I always fall in love with my students.  I love creating little mini-mes.  Who would think that it even happens across the world?

I am going to miss them for the next three weeks that they are out of school.  But that won't stop me from enjoying America.  I cant wait to get home.  I might sound a bit crazy, but I miss Target, Wal-Mart (I didn't even like Wal-Mart when I was in the states), TJ Maxx, Chipotle, real pizza, street addresses, preservatives and sugar in juices, and so much more.  LOL.  I have 10 strong days to enjoy the states.  I am coming home with an empty suitcase because I want some more of my clothes and shoes, and I want to pick up some things from the store that I can't find here.  Not ready for this 14 hour flight, but so ready to see my mommy and some of my family and friends.

This is probably my last post until after the holiday.  Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you say at this time of year.

I will leave you all with a few highlights from the past week:

I might joke and play a lot but one thing I do is my job.  Who just started learning English for the first time, doesn't ever hear or see it at home, but can already write his name in English and Arabic?  My child can.  Don't play.  I came here to work. 

This is not a highlight from my week, but I am in love with this haircut.   In 2015 I think I might be more girly and try to maintain my hair and makeup.  That last sentence is probably a lie, but this is a nice cut.

Somebody somewhere in this world thought it was a brilliant idea to let kids write in shaving cream.  "Fine motor skills" they said.  "Learning through play" they said.  Man, my kids wrote their numbers (not evident in any picture captured) but we were all sticky nasty messes when we finished.  It was kinda fun though.  

Last Thursday our school district encouraged teachers to wear red for "Ibby," the teacher murdered on Reem Island.  Red was her favorite color.  The Arabic teachers did not understand at first why we would wear red because they consider red a happy color, not one for mourning.  But, when we explained that red was chosen because it was her favorite color, they participated as well by wearing red shaylas (head coverings) or red in their abayas.  I love the way we came together on this.  

Out here in the desert, they like to have random get togethers.  I am sooooo thankful for my desert family.  I wouldn't have made it out here in this desert without them.  This picture is a "just because" get together since we are all about to go different ways for the break.  We also ate breakfasts/brunch and dinner together everyday this weekend as everyone was trying to clean out their refrigerators before leaving for two weeks.  LOL.  I fought it and I hated it and I even questioned God about it, but I was placed out in this desert for a reason.

I sucked at Christmas this year.  Although it is the same time every year, I feel like it snuck up on me this year.  I did no shopping whatsoever.  SMH.  I will do better with souvenirs and such when I go to the states for the summer.