I know, I know. I haven’t blogged in a really long time. I’m
sorry. It has been an interesting year, and I can never seem to figure out how
to put what I want to say into words on a computer. December is just a few
short days away. Where has 2017 gone? Every year seems to go faster.
This semester I have been teaching 7th grade and
one class of 8th grade. I have had to get very creative in what we
do in class because the new room they built for me is very small. It is hard to
fit everyone in, and I don’t have much in the way of instruments. However, we
have done several units which I think were interesting for the girls and not
what they expected. To start off the year I have been trying to show the girls
why their music class is relevant to them. In this culture music is sometimes
considered haram and often not considered a subject that students should study.
My 7th grade students have done units on music in
film and musical theater. They are currently working on creating a play based
off of a children’s book. Two of my classes chose Little Red Riding Hood, and
two of my classes chose Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They are producing the
entire thing. They wrote the script based off the book, they are creating the
sets and bringing in the props, and they are acting it out. They seem to be
having a lot of fun with it.
My 8th grade students did a unit of the science
of music and how sound is produced. That culminated in a homemade instrument
project. I think this project might be my favorite music project I have ever
done. It is fun to see the students’ creativity when creating instruments.
Right now this class is doing a bucket drumming unit. Some of the girls seem to
really love it. We are working on doing a drumming routine to Havana (which for
those of you who haven’t heard of it is one of this summer’s big hits). I had
not heard this song until the start of this unit and now I have it memorized,
it is rather catchy.
I have been enjoying teacher vs. student volleyball again
this year. Laura’s JV and Varsity volleyball teams have improved a great deal
this year and it has been fun to watch them play. Sports in Kuwait is very
different than in the states. When I was in school you would find a good
portion of the student body and half of the town at games. In Kuwait, it is
very rare for spectators to come to games. Often it would be the JV/V girls,
myself, and sometimes one other teacher there supporting the team. That has
taken some getting used to. This summer I took a coaching class with my friend
Lindsey to obtain my coaching authorization. I am about to put that class to
use as I have JV basketball tryouts on Tuesday. I have had the opportunity to
get to know some of the girls I will have on the JV team thanks to teacher vs.
student volleyball and helping Laura out with her teams once in a while. I will
also be the U14 (7th and 8th grade) volleyball coach
later on this school year.
I am very excited for May to get here. I will be taking a
trip to Birmingham, U.K. to go to a Supernatural convention. Yes, Supernatural,
as in the TV show. Last year I went to Comic Con in Dubai, this year I decided
I am going to go meet some of my favorite actors and meet people I have become
friends with online. The Supernatural Family (the fandom) is rather unique, and
I am excited to get more into it. I have been talking to people who are also
going to this event and we all cannot wait until it gets here. Only 156 more
days (as of today Nov. 29) until the start of the convention! (Not that I’m
counting or anything ;)).
Last year at this time I was busy preparing for my trip home
to surprise everyone. Thanks again for your help with that surprise Jeni! This
year, I will not be making a trip home for Christmas. I am trying to save money
for the Supernatural convention and I will be cat sitting for a couple friends
who are going home for the break. Thanksgiving day it hit me that this is the
first Christmas I will have on my own. For 22 years I was with my parents for
Christmas. In 2014 I was in Guyana with my Guyana family of Dan, Claire, the
Roberts, Claire’s family, and all my Guyanese friends. The year I was student
teaching I left for Guyana after the holidays so I was with my family. Last
year I made the trip home. This year, I will be in Kuwait in a mostly empty
apartment building with Nala. It’s weird to think about. Twenty-Six years in
the making and I am having my first Christmas by myself. I will most certainly
FaceTime with my family, as long as they are not in the church basement. I
tried to FaceTime with them on Thanksgiving, but Mom did not have very good
service so the connection was really bad. We will have to actually plan to talk
this time.
Nala is doing well. She is as feisty as ever. I’m pretty
sure she has more followers on Social Media then I do. How does that even
happen? A friend talked to me last night and told me that Nala is her favorite
Snap Cat. Nala seems awfully proud of that. She does get jealous though when I
go spend time with Tucker (Nicole’s fur baby). He is the polar opposite of Nala
and it is fun to spend some time with such a chill cat. I will be taking care
of Tucker over the break, so if you follow any of my social media don’t worry
if you think Nala has changed. She hasn’t she is still the ginger spit fire she
has always been. The grey and white cat is Tucker who is just as photogenic as
Nala is.
