Summer is coming, Summer is here!

We are wrapping up the school year in Kuwait now, as Chris has already finished for the summer holiday and I am well on my way to it. I have just one more week of administrative days to finish report cards, schedule class timetables, and prepare my classroom for the dusty summer.

Countdown:

Chris leaves in 3 days

School ends in 6 days

I leave in 14 days

We're excited to get some time resting and relaxing in the States this year, with no major excursions planned! Knowing my husband and is sense of adventure, we'll see if that stays the same...

While we always look forward to the summer, it can also a difficult time of transition. Yes, there is peace and rest and our families to look forward to (and no students!), but we know that things won't be quite the same as we left them in the States last summer, and they won't be quite the same here when we get back in the fall.

The more we stay in Kuwait, the more our lives become enriched by people living and passing through here. It's an amazing thing to get to know and love people from all over the world, but it's a sad thing to see them go, too. So, what should we do? Become calloused and never make meaningful relationships again? Of course not. It hurts because its good, which is something I read over at the The Culture Blend this week. If you are a "stayer" or you know one, pass it along.

It's a strange season of anticipation and dread, of excitement and detesting,of joy and sorrow - all in one. But it's good. So good, in fact, that we are in our 6th cycle of it and coming back for more.

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

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)

from Kuwait to the States 2012

Here's what happened...

Chris had been planning to teach summer classes this year for a number reasons, one of which being that he just likes to work. We had been talking about the possibility of staying in Kuwait for an extended time this summer since about March, so I also found summer employment, teaching EFL at the British Council in Kuwait. My regular school year finished with students on May 31st, and teachers were required to be at the school until June 12, packing up our rooms and getting ready for Grades 1-3 to move to the new extension building that should be finished by the end of summer. I should have had plenty of time to rest between June 12th and June 20th, the date I was supposed to start at BCK. Obviously, that did not happen.

After asking many times about teaching summer classes, Chris kept coming away with little information, though he was assured he'd be teaching. He wasn't aware or informed that the enrollment for summer classes at his university began at midnight of the first day of summer classes. That morning, Chris went in and only three students had enrolled in his section, upped to six or seven by mid-day. (Generally, summer classes are pretty light, anyway.) When he talked to his supervisor about it, she said that the students could be placed into other sections or she could have someone else teach his course, because there was a long waiting list to teach. (Summer classes compensate very well.)

French colors on International Day/Last Day

When Chris mentioned this to me on that Sunday morning, I sort of jumped to reason with him about leaving. I was looking forward to unhurried time with friends and teaching in Kuwait until the end of July, but now the chance to spend extra time in Massachusetts and/or PA was presented. After a few hours of going back and forth on the phone about it (I was at school packing, Chris at his school), considering some recent events at home, and Chris calling in the opinions of some of his friends, he decided to pass off his class and head for the States. The following day. One. Day. Later. And, he wanted me to be ready to leave with him.

cat nap in D.C.

That presented a hitch, because I didn't have my ticket info. from the school's travel agent yet, which meant I couldn't change my ticket until I got it, which generally would have resulted in failure because nothing in Kuwait is done quickly or efficiently. But, we had favor. I asked the director on Monday, June 11th if I could have my ticket information and leave that evening, because I had already packed and secured everything in my room, all of my accounts, etc. She said yes! So, I then spent the next four hours on the phone with the agent, United Airlines, and everyone in between trying to iron out my flight details. I was also trying to ready our flat for the summer dust by covering furniture, cleaning out the fridge, taping some of the windows, etc. 

My ticket was booked with an agent, but I changed it online (WARNING: never do this), so I talked to the whole staff. Even at the airport, Chris and I were at the check-in counter for at least two hours, dealing with the fact that my change of ticket and fare expenses had been paid. My newly printed itinerary had been confirmed, which I had a receipt and print-out from, but it was not reflected in their computer system. Finally, and by the grace of God, the guy said, "I don't have time to do this anymore. Here's your boarding pass. You'll have to get your onward ticket in Washington [D.C.] and take care of any fees there." From that point, we had fifteen minutes to go through security and get to the gate before they closed it. Thankfully, the Kuwait airport is relatively small, they are not too strict in security measures for Americans, and it was uncrowded because it was 12:30a.m.

ready to ship from BOS

In the 12 or 13 hours it took us to cross the Atlantic, one of our three attempts to pay the extra $$$ must have gone through, because the lovely attendant at the United counter in D.C. simply printed and presented my onward boarding pass to me. Sleep deprived and ready to be in Boston, Chris stated, "I love America," thanked her, and we waltzed over to customs. After checking our accounts later, we were in fact only charged once for the change of ticket. It was just another (harrowing) opportunity to trust God and learn a few things about the airline industry in the process.

We arrived in Boston somewhere around 10a.m., Chris like a zombie, and myself as fresh as a daisy. I really like sleeping on airplanes...don't be jealous. 

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

"Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Psalm 8:3-4, 9 (ESV)

Getting Ready

Our summer here in the USA is winding down, and we're left with a few days of busyness before we head to the great State of Kuwait. There's a checklist full of things to do, including a lot of last-minute quality time with our friends and family. I'm actually very excited to get back to Kuwait and begin a routine that includes more than waking up at 9a.m. everyday, drinking two cups of coffee, and packing and unpacking a suitcase. At least, that's what it seems like I do everyday, besides driving to one place or another. Chris and I are both looking forward to the new school year and the traveling adventures that we may have, as well as spending some time with a friend of ours who is going to teach in Kuwait for the first time. We've been brushing up on our Arabic, too, which I hope to put to good use this year!

There are so many things that we'd love to do before we leave this weekend, but unfortunately, we aren't robots who can operate on little to no sleep at night. Well, I'm not, but I can't speak for Chris. In a time when I am getting little sleep and I'm found with mixed emotions, I'm reminded of this scripture, which was also shared at our church on Sunday:

Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ESV

We are so thankful for this season of rest that we've had, and pray for God's peace as we deal with the joys and sorrows of transitioning into the next.

Florida 2011 Photos

We have two sites that have photos from all of our travels, simply because there are a lot of them. If you haven't yet, be sure to see them both. We still need to update them with pictures from our trips to Syria and Greece in the Spring, but that probably won't happen until we get back to Kuwait.

2008-Spring 2010
Summer 2010-2011

In the meantime, here are some photos from the Shankle family vacation to New Smyrna Beach this summer. Florida '11

Tew family photos

Taking portrait shots of people is always interesting, especially if they include little kids. That is a slight understatement when it comes to my 3 yr old nephew and 18mth old niece. My sister asked me to take some pictures of her family while we were on vacation in Florida, and here are just a few that I thought reflected the dynamic of the family well...

I did get some good ones, which I will post with the rest of them as soon as I'm done editing.

Florida '11

We're headed back to our home base after a week of awesome vacation in Florida. Pictures and updates will follow the 16 hours of driving if I make it.

Moore State Park

Another afternoon hike and picnic in Central Mass