An...expat's tale?

There and back again seems to be the theme of our lives for this season. A few weeks ago, we returned to Kuwait for our sixth school year after a pleasant and refreshing summer in the USA. Our hearts were nourished by time spent with family and friends in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, as well as a trip to Iceland, but we were excited to come back to all of our friends in Kuwait, too.

The beginning of summer here contains a great diaspora; many expatriate workers travel back to their homes far and wide during the blistering hot months of July and August, and like us, they return to pick up their "Kuwait" lives right where they left them. Sadly, some workers do not have the summer months off and must complete back-breaking work in the long hours of the sun. My heart goes out to these workers who do not get to escape the heat.

I am truly thankful that we are able to enjoy a long vacation in the pleasant and varying climates of New England each year. We did some hiking, boating and whale watching, went to baseball games, celebrated birthdays, and just spent a lot of quality time with quality people.

We went through a lot of temperature changes this summer - from hot and dry 120' to humid and breezy 90' to an "icy cold" 50' in Iceland, to do all of that in reverse again!

 

I didn't get pictures of all of our wonderful family and friends we spent time with this summer, but rest assured, those memories are etched in our minds.

 

What an amazing summer it's been! We are looking forward to all of the fun things that this school year and next summer will hold.

 

 "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." 

Proverbs 11:25

Iceland 2013

Here is a link to our Iceland pictures! We had a great time visiting with friends and checking out this amazing country's terrain. We spent most of our time in the capital (Reykjavik) and the area between the southwest and south-central part of the island, but we got a great taste of what the whole of Iceland is like. Take a look!

It's a season.

We have had an intense beginning to the summer holiday season. With lots of traveling back and forth, and a whirlwind road trip with my sister & her kids, today is the first quiet day in central Massachusetts for Chris and I. He arrived Monday night, the Tews and I drove up Tuesday morning, we hit Boston on Wednesday, went to Old Sturbridge Village on Thursday, the Tews left and we visited some friends here Friday, and...well, today is Saturday. So far, I haven't done anything yet but manage to drink some coffee and get dressed. I'd like to keep it that way a few days in a row.

Living through our hectic summertime visits once again, I've been noticing how much everything has changed. Change is not a bad thing; it's a part of life, but it can be shocking because we don't see the changes gradually. We've been living overseas for five years now, with ten-month gaps in between visits to the U.S., so there is a lot that we miss or don't see happening along the way. People change. Places change. Perspectives change. We change. We often don't notice just how much we have changed until we come back to the same places and realize that they have changed, too.

Well, in the midst of all of the changes, there are a few things that are ever-true: Chris will always wear shorts, I will always read books in the sun, and the Lord is always faithful.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:   

a time to be born, and a time to die; 

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew; 

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate; 

a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV)

countdown begins

Well, I guess it's already started, but I'm counting down as I buzz about our flat packing and organizing.
You know you're a Kuwait expat when you tape your windows in June so the dust doesn't get in over the summer, even though it still does somehow. Yes, somehow. I leave in about 2.5 hours for the States with some friends that live in the same building, so I had better pack a suitcase now.

 1 day 'til Boston
5 days 'til Pittsburgh
15 days 'til Chris

2012-2013 is finished!

We have finished the 2012-2013 school year with lots of fun and festivities, as well as a few sad goodbyes.

On Sunday, I took my darling husband to the airport for his next adventure in Jordan. From what I can tell, he's mostly enjoyed running in fresh, dust-free air and hanging out with our friend Brad, who he's staying with while there. He finalized his Arabic lessons schedule yesterday, and he was supposed to start at 8am this morning. I hope to get another update this afternoon.

In the meantime, I have finished my school year. We threw a surprise baby shower for two of my colleagues that are expected to deliver during the summer. The ladies were totally shocked and appreciative, and the whole elementary staff came to enjoy it. Team "Grade 1" is the best.

 

As with tradition, yesterday was our final staff day and the school-wide breakfast. We get to school around 8am and eat an amazing catered breakfast provided by the school director. Afterward, awards are passed out to honor those with 5 & 10 years of service, as well as those leaving the school. It's always a fun day (mostly because we finish at 10:30...), but it's hard to say those last goodbyes to people leaving. This year, my elementary principal is retiring, a lady who I respect and care for dearly. Next year will be very different without her, but as always, I know that the elementary team will carry on and do what we do best.

 

In other news, I'll be in the States next Tuesday! I'm ready to get out of the dust, but it's hard to leave here every year. Our friends and colleagues have become like family to us, but we miss our friends and family in the States still. Oh, the complexities of living and working overseas!

6 days 'til Boston
10 days 'til Pittsburgh
20 days 'til Chris

another year gone by

Here we are in June. JUNE! - that blessed time of year when teachers and students everywhere rejoice that the academic year has come to an end and two months of separation prepare us for the following year. I have three work days left. Can you tell I'm excited? Somewhere between when I last posted and this post, I dropped scalding hot tea on my leg. After about three weeks, it's healed well enough that I will risk exposing it to the sun, so I'm really ready to hit the pool.

The tail end of May was a whirlwind, as I mentioned getting ready for our International Day Show at school. It turned out to be pretty amazing, and of course, my students had the best performance. Chris was even able to come, so I was glad to have him there, too.

my little Frenchies

all of Grade 1

caught giving "teacher eyes" during the National Anthem

I closed out the hectic week of rehearsals and performances by celebrating my 29th birthday for the first time on May 31st. If ever there was a weekend full of fun and laughter, that was it! I'm so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and "family" over here, as well as around the world. We had a few great meals prepared for us, and I received a number of sweet notes and presents from family, students, colleagues, and friends. Thank you again! I think the most exciting present was the guitar Chris gave me. I'll be sad to leave it this summer...

This past Wednesday, we had our annual end-of-year breakfast for my school's elementary staff, which is always a lot of fun. After we go to work, we usually leave around 9:30 for breakfast, and then we have the rest of the day off. Pictured here are about half of the amazing ladies that I work with in the AAG elementary school.

 

Pictured below is my amazing teaching assistant, Gehan, and our awesome ES secretary, Shaima'a. Without these two ladies, I would probably go gray a lot sooner.

 

Chris is preparing to leave for Jordan and his summer Arabic study tomorrow. As far as I can tell, here is a tentative schedule of what our summer will look like. It's always an adventure!

- June 9: Chris leaves for Jordan
- June 18: Stephanie leaves for Boston
- June 22: Stephanie leaves for Pittsburgh
- June 29: Chris returns to Kuwait
- July 1: Chris leaves for Boston
- July (2?): Stephanie returns to Boston
- July 8-16: Chris & Stephanie travel to Iceland
- July (28?): Chris & Stephanie go to Pittsburgh
- August (18?): Chris & Stephanie return to Boston
- August 20: Chris and Stephanie return to Kuwait

"The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

the show must go on

In my elementary school, we are currently rehearsing for an International Day show of epic proportions. Each class in grades 1-4 has been focusing on one country of study in Social Studies from mid-April, which will culminate with a dance show performed by students for parents on May 28th. Well, at least that's what it was a few weeks ago.

As of the last few weeks, the show seems to be getting more press and interest, so we may not only have parents on May 28th, but we might also have newspaper photographers, dignitaries or representatives from embassies, officials from the Ministry of Education, President Obama...just kidding about that last one. The event is growing larger and larger though, and I hope that my little kiddos are up for it! We are not supposed to tell them about the growing number of people that will be attending, but I don't know if it's worse for them to be surprised.

My (1A's) class song is "Be Our Guest" from the Disney movie Beauty & The Beast. I chose it because it's lively and the kids are familiar with the words and tune. I've been fretting a bit about whether or not we'll be ready to perform in this extravaganza in (EEK!) less than two weeks, but I've realized that no one will actually care how synced all of their steps are. They're cute kids in matching dresses, singing something that has to do with France, and everyone will love them anyway. It will be nice if they aren't paralyzed with stage fright.

There have been a lot of pieces to this puzzle, including actually teaching them about France, having a tailor to individually measure each student and make their dresses, buying accessories (including matching shoes), choosing a hairstyle/song/dance steps, and sending home lots of those "Please send 10kd for this or that" notes. Our secretary is a saint and the one ultimately organizing the show and serving as the liaison to the school's directors.

 Posted throughout are a few pictures from rehearsal the other day. We're practicing on the ES playground, but we also practice on the stage in our auditorium, which is where the show will be held.

More updates on my sanity and our sure success will follow!
(p.s. If I'm not in the States by my anticipated date of June 18th, someone should come looking...)

more for music lovers

My taste in music is all over the map these days. With time off this week for my school's Spring Break, I've been listening almost 24/7 because I don't get to as much as I'd like. Here are some recommendations I'd like to make, so take 'em or leave 'em. I should mention that none of these artists are particularly "new," but I've just been finding out about the. We don't get to catch on to everything as quickly here!

John Mark McMillan
Probably occurring most in my playlist this week is this singer/songwriter out of Charlotte. He's got a folksy rock sort of style and sings a lot about God's character and real life. You might have heard the song "How He Loves," originally written by JMM but covered by bands like David Crowder and others. His voice is not pretty, but real.

Citizens
Chris has actually been listening to this group, which is surprising because he does not often voluntarily listen to music. A self-proclaimed "high energy indie-rock band" from Mars Hill Church in Seattle, this group does some new stuff with old hymns. I like their song "In Tenderness."

Alabama Shakes
This band kind of has their crazy own little southern rock/soul thing going on. They were nominated for Best New Artist of 2013 at the Grammy Awards. I like their song, "I Ain't the Same" and a few others, too.

I'm also listening to some Mumford & Sons, but they have been on the scene for awhile.

April already?!

As happens with most years, this one has accelerated after our school's winter break. I can't believe that the last time I posted anything was in JANUARY! At any rate, here are some random goings-on in our lives and a few snapshots to let you know we're still alive. We've a had a roller-coaster February, March, and April, but we love where we are and what we do.

Jordan
During the National Day weekend in Kuwait, we traveled to Jordan to visit our friends who previously taught in Kuwait. We did some sand-boarding, desert camping, doing the "Harlem Shake" (check us out!), eating lots of good food, and snorkeling in a matter of four days. It was an awesome time of catching up, and we hope to do something like that again.

 

National Day
Before our trip, I had the customary National Day extravaganza celebration at school, complete with a bazaar, food, dancing, and traditional outfits. My students are so adorable in their little dara'as.

Bowling Tournament
The Young Adults from church had a bowling tournament on three Fridays during March, and since Chris and I lead one of the life groups, we got to go have fun with them. These guys and gals take bowling seriously...fun!

 

Sri Lanka/End of March
At the end of March, Chris and his friend Kyle went to Singapore to an English conference, where Chris presented his foundation English program's methods for assessing grammar. GUST (the university where he teaches) sent him there with a nice stipend, which was great for us. On the way back, Chris and I met in Sri Lanka and Kyle carried on back to Kuwait. We spent 4 or 5 days there, mostly relaxing and spending unhurried time together. We also ate a ton of amazing seafood and swam/snorkeled each day at a beach we found the last time we were there, and we visited a turtle hatchery.

Easter/Early April
Easter for us was fairly low-key this year. Chris worked on Easter Sunday, but we had a big dinner hosted by some friends in our life group on Monday night. We sang some songs, took communion together, and enjoyed a great time of conversation. Also in April, Chris' flute quartet gave a recital in the auditorium of his university, and lots of our friends and his students came to support him. Thanks, guys! I will try to get some better pictures of that up later.

  
End of April
Finally, here we are at the end of April, when we celebrate Earth Day. My class made Trash Monsters out of reused tissue boxes and paper on Thursday, since we are on our Spring Break at school. We have one full month to prepare for the International Day show, when my students will be performing "Be Our Guest." My class is studying France this year, so we are doing a little throwback to Belle and Beauty and the Beast. It's every 1st graders dream, really. I also went to a women's retreat yesterday, held for ladies from all of the Lighthouse Church's services. There were 350+ women there, and it was seven hours of amazing worship and teaching. It proved to be a much needed respite and a great way to start off my week-long holiday.

 

 

Well, there you have it. That's the last few months in a nutshell. I'm sure I'm omitting something in there...until next time.