goodbyes and such

I'm trying to hide from all the other teachers. Some of us are parting ways to go serve in different places, and won't be back for the next school year. Maybe hiding is not the best thing to do, but with all these goodbyes, people are tearing up a lot. When girls cry in front of me, for some reason I just start laughing. I don't know how to handle the tears, and so it's my only response (it's nervous laughter), but probably not the best thing.

But really, it's not a goodbye. It's a "see you later". The later part is the tricky part though. It might be a day, a month, a year, a decade, or we may have to wait until Eternity to see each other again.

And so I won't be posting for a while as I leave tomorrow to go back to the states. So yes, I am saying "see you later," but we will meet again...

Paul, fellow teacher and dancer extraordinaire

el baile de paul

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Happy Birthday Jessie!!

So clearly, without question, you get the fuzz-in-argentina blog MVP for the week Jessie. Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you...it's hard for me to believe that you're 21. Legal and everything. Jessie! Hope you have an excellent day today birthday sister.

Terminamos el año

Today was the last day of the school year. It was a 1/2 day, and we ended with Wednesday chapel. The fact that we're an international school, there's a lot of turnover each year, and this year is no exception to that -- kids leaving, new ones coming in for next year. That's been kind of tough, but I'm thankful for at least some time that I was able to teach and know the kids who are leaving. And I do have pictures, which should help some. Who knows when we'll run into each other again?

There's a lot to reflect and look back upon this year -- it'll take some time for me to think through and process it all. I do know this though: I'm not sure if the kids I taught this year or I learned more. I felt like I have experienced and learned a ton that will be valuable and relevant to my future endeavours. For that I am grateful.

See you later Sunday

Today was see you later Sunday at church. There are teachers and families from the church who will be moving on to different places next year. Today was a day to celebrate them and fellowship together for one of the last times until the "next" time.

With all this change, it is sad, yes. It is also a joyful time. It is joyful to recognize that these brothers and sisters are pursuing a call the Lord has for them in a different place. While it may stink on a personal level to be losing a friend, I think that is superceded by the Lord's desire for them to be in the places where they are going, and not in Argentina. It still stinks though. I thank the Lord that he's given me an opportunity to know them at least for a year. I'll miss Mariah and Debi, as well as Meg and Rosa, and the other teachers who won't be at BAICA next year.

This is a picture of me, Sarah, Craig and Mariah after church today, in front of a tree with pretty Fall leaves. I am purposefully posting the picture in which Mariah has her eyes closed, I think it is more fitting, and Mariah will probably be slightly embarrassed, and will ask me to change the photo. But I won't. We'll miss all of you!

Phew.

We're still not done, but phew. Yesterday, Friday, 3/4 of my finals were given. 2 of them are graded, I have 1 more to give Monday, and then I'll grade that one and the 1 remaining from Friday.

Friday evening was graduation, and it was a nice ceremony. (the Seniors finished early with their work and finals) I've never been to a small school graduation. It was certainly different from my high school and college graduations. I liked it and I thought it was well done. Definitely more familiar and intimate. When each student was announced to receive their diploma, their families came up with them up front to pray for them. I really liked that.

My prayer for each one of the graduates is that the Lord continues to strengthen them through the Holy Spirit, and that they take forth into the world the Truth they have in their heart and have experienced thus far.

Congratulations Jonathan, Juan Pablo, Alex, José, Julie, Melisa, Ricky & Abby.

Finals

Finals have been consuming my time of late. Now as a teacher, that entails writing 4 different ones, taking each one, and then grading them after the students take them. Which is tomorrow.

Oh finals! What fun!

more Fall pictures

Thanks Lizzie's borrowed camera!

NPR on Argentina

2 stories from National Public Radio worth listening to and or reading:
Piece 1

Piece 2

I can't say I necessarily agree with the stories and how "rosy" they paint a picture of Argentina and its current state. Yes, the crisis here in 2001 was horrible. The crisis helped out the wealthy very much, and no, that's not a typo. Most of the wealthy had their assets held in foreign accounts, and thus escaped their net worth being reduced by 2/3 due to the peso devaluation. It severely punished the middle and lower classes. In my opinion, they're doing better, yes, but it is still hard and tight for middle class people and impossible for lower class people to make ends meet with the high inflation rate that is present here. By the way, I saw walking by that the all-you-can-eat place down the street just raised their price to $19. 7 times since I've been here they've raised the price.

I think it's interesting to think of however many Americans, driving around in their cars, tuned to NPR, would listen to this story and form an opinion on Argentina, most likely a "rosy" one. I think NPR is a news organization in which there is a lesser amount of bias involved compared to many of the other news sources out there, but it's still interesting to realize how much an effect our knowledge about other countries, people, and world affairs depends SO MUCH on HOW information is presented. It almost becomes more important than the WHAT itself.

I'm a fan of Jack & Virginia

see why:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20070601-9999-1n1mashin.html