December Updates

Yokwe!

I have quite a few things to write about, because it has been forever since I’ve been able to blog about anything. Almost every Sunday for the past three weeks we’ve been packed and ready to come to the resort to use the internet, but almost every week we have SMs who come back saying “it’s not working!” so we decided not to come so we don’t have to sit there waiting for the internet to decide to work.

Well, let’s start with Thanksgiving. It was a good one! We only got that Friday off (the actual Thanksgiving day in the states). People here don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, even though it is a US owned country. All of the other SMs had their own big shebang happening, but Jaimie, Travis, and I kinda just wanted to have a smaller, more homely Thanksgiving dinner together. So we made a FEAST of gluten (thanks to Jaimie’s mom sending her some lovely gluten ingredients), mashed potatoes, stuffing, couscous, peach pie, ice cream, martinellis, and corn! It was beyond delicious. We even went around the table and said what we were thankful for, even though most of us said the same thing: friends, family, and EACH OTHER.

Aw, una familia = so adorable.

Next, this last week we had our class picnic. We were planning on 5-8th grades going on a group picnic to an outer island, named Enemanit; the same one that the whole church went on in the very beginning of the year. Anyways. It didn’t work out. Some of my kids are 9 years old, and their parents were not very thrilled with the idea (who could really blame them?) so we decided to go to a pretty well-known spot here by the airport. David decided to still try doing the Enemanit thing with just his kids, so 5th-7th graders headed out to the airport last Thursday around 8AM. (Well, it was supposed to start around then, but no one really showed up until 9, because of island time and all) So it started out okay. We got there, swam with our kids, had some fun, found some puppies to play with --->

and everything was good. And then it started raining. And it didn’t STOP raining. There we were (the kids were still in the water) but Travis and I were freezing! We were standing there with no shelter, in our soaking wet clothes (which of course we didn’t bring any extras to change into) with the wind making it even colder. Yes, people, I was COLD in Majuro. GASP! Seriously. I was shivering. And I came back super wrinkly, like an old lady. Goodness gracious.

We decorated our room Christmasy on Friday. We had it off, since it was “gospel day” (I don’t really understand what the significance of that really is) but anyways. WE found a box of decorations in one of the classrooms. It is probably the tackiest decorations I’ve ever seen, but it at least gets us in the mood, and makes it feel like Christmas is actually right around the corner (which it is, weird!) I wrapped Christmas presents and listened to the 4 Christmas songs I had on my laptop. I’m going to need to work on finding some more Christmas music to get me in the mood.

Our apartment-mates and the boys next door have adopted a puppy. (Shhhh don’t tell, its against the rules) Here, there are so many stinking dogs that make more and more baby dogs, so people dump them off if they don’t want them. At our picnic on Thursday, we found five that were dumped off by a garbage can because people didn’t want them anymore. The 6th grade teacher, Trevor, wanted to keep one, so he did. They have named her Isabel. She is super adorable, and has quickly made her way into all of the SMs hearts. In fact, as I speak, Trevor is outside (the resort) with Isabel right now. She follows you around and sits and stares at you. It’s the cutest thing ever. We don’t allow her into our rooms, she still has some issues with ticks and fleas. They seem to be doing a good job at taking care of her, although she had an accident this morning (oops!) But she is slowly learning and I know that she will be loved just as much (if not more) than all the other dogs here.

Meet Isabel. :)

Oh, and Friday night Jaimie and I were really bored and did a funny crazy photo shoot. She did my makeup and we dressed up and took pictures haha. Here are some of the winners. ;)

Well, that about wraps it up. I honestly can’t think of too many new things here. We have just two weeks (12 days) until Christmas break. Jaimie and I don’t really have any big plans. We’re going to stay here in the resort for Christmas eve and Christmas night. It will be nice to at least stay in some AC. We’re of course pretty bummed to be so far away from home on Christmas, but at least we have each other. I’m sure we can make it fun. Travis is going to Hawaii to be with his girlfriend. We’re going to get creative to entertain ourselves for two weeks straight. For real. Haha. Majuro doesn’t have many things to do. Perhaps we’ll have to try out the bowling alley or something… Anyhow. I’m planning on mailing my Christmas presents out this week, and hopefully they will get to you all soon and on time for Christmas! I miss you all. Love you!

-Carrie