Eyes Wide Open

Oh man! Today, I am trying not to blink (it isn't working). I don't want to miss anything here--there is so much to see and experience!

I need to tell you all about my Ethnographic Study class. Until now, I don't think I've mentioned it. There hasn't been much to mention. But now there is.

I'm in an Ethnographic Study class.

That means that I will be going to a school here in Arequipa and observing throughout the week.

On Tuesday morning, I went to a meeting with Professor Zandstra and the director of the Education Department at San Pablo. He gave me information about where I would be placed for the semester. I'm at Colegio Claretiano, which is about a mile from my house. He also told me to come back to his office with Eena (one of my classmates) the the next day to go visit the school.

So, Wednesday morning, I went to his office and the three of us went to Colegio Claretiano to speak with the director and get to know the teachers that we would be observing.

Oh man! The director was very kind and excited to have us there. He wants us to actually teach some classes!!! So, for all of you who have made jokes about me teaching math in Spanish... yeah, that's going to happen! If I think about that too much, it's slightly terrifying! But, with God's strength, I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I am going to go to the school a couple times a week to observe high school math and English classes. Colegio Claretiano is an all boys school. The teachers that I will be working with were super welcoming!!

And this morning, I went to Colegio Claetiano to observe my first classes!! They are in a unit on statisticas, so I learned some Spanish statistics vocab. It was fun to be in a classroom again, and I think I'm going to learn a lot by watching this teacher. He clearly loves what he's doing.

Father, I praise You because You are so good! Thank You for all that You are doing here in Arequipa and in my life. Thank You for the opportunity to learn more about the culture through experiences at Colegio Claretiano. Guide me, God. Help me to embrace the dreams that You have for me--Your plan is infinitely better than mine, Jesus.