gym bag, finger plays, and a cup of jo

So, school was almost canceled on account of a gym bag. Yes, a high school basketball player's gym bag. Of course, we didn't know that at the time. Or, should I say, the bomb squad didn't know that at the time. I arrived at school today to find all the faculty waiting on the sidewalk. Apparently there was a "suspicious parcel" located in the back parking lot. The high school was evacuated by the MPs (military police, for those of you without military exposure). It was our quick thinking secretary who decided that since the high school and elementary school are connected it would probably be wise to evac. the elementary school as well. Smart lady. So we waited outside with visions of snacks and coffee (from the shoppette area) dancing in our heads. They decided to send us to the gym, but most of us detoured to the cafeteria (naturally). We had just enough time to purchase coffee (but not drink it-bummer) before they called us over to where the students had been brought to. We were just getting settled with plans for hours of "hang man" and finger plays when they said we could go back into the building.

As it turned out, some high schooler has left his bag in the back parking lot after the game the night before. I'm not sure what made it a "suspicious parcel," but it was obvious that they weren't joking when they brought out the dogs. So, what could have been an all-day ordeal, only put us a half hour behind our teaching schedule. Yeah! I'm glad that no one was hurt and it turned out to be nothing, but I still think they could have let us enjoy our morning cup of jo....=)

Saved by the Lunch Wagon

So, I had a little adventure the other day that involved being stranded across town and a murderer on the lose...duh duh duuuum. Last sunday, I went to the other part of base to workout and was catching the last shuttle back home. So, as I was walking to the stop (ten minutes early) the shuttle drove right past me. Blah. I was really mad. No cell phone. No one to call if I could and I was sweaty. Blah. Luckily, I remembered one of the MPs saying that they can give a courtesy ride if we get really stuck. So, I headed to the gate to see if anyone was headed in my direction. They said, no. Blah. But was I deterred? No! This is a woman who has stared down eight whining preschoolers without showing fear, and lept over racing arachnids in a single bound! So, what did I do?...I begged. Just kidding=)I said that I had heard that they could make a courtesy run if necessary. They took me into their boss who made a call, but no one knew how long it would take. I settled in with my new book (Ivanhoe, which so far, is really good) adn expected to wait for hours, when I heard him making another call. Apparently, someone had committed murder (which I do not mean to take lightly) nearby and they didn't want me waiting around. He called a private to pick me up in the truck that usually delivers the lunches. So, as it turned out, I made it home before the shuttle would have gotten me there. Saved by the lunch wagon!

General Remarks

So, I just realized that almost all of my pictures are of buildings. Hehe. Maybe I will start including some pictures of my new friends.=) I have gladly found a bible study that is amazing. Lots of great people are genuinely in love with Jesus. I am so glad for it. My roomates are pretty fun, too. We were just talking about how there could not have been four more different people put into an apartment together, but somehow it is working out great. Not to say there hasn't already been some conflict, but we all seem to be able to walk through it. We challenge each other and have a lot of fun also.

A general update on me and life....not a whole lot going on. I am taking on more of a teaching load. Dan (my cooperating teacher) has been great. He is always giving me little "pop quizs" on how I would handle tough situations in the classroom. He is also a very talented and creative teacher, so I have been very challenged in my teaching. Not easy, but really good for me.

So, I think that I decided to go to Scotland later. I have been asking around and apparently there are so many things to do that I want to have more than just a weekend to see it. I have half a week after I'm done in the classroom and I think I may go then. So, that's pretty much all that's going on in my life right now. Much love to you all.

More pics...

Here are some more.

Castle in Heidelburg

Here are a few pics of the castle in Heidelburg.

Heidelburg

A couple of weekends ago I went downtown and saw the town. It was nice to get all the touristy things out of the way so now I can go downtown and see it like a local. So, here it is, just a little bit of my new home away from home.

Teaching is Exhausting

So I had my first day of really teaching today. I am exhausted. I spent most of the day teaching and then planning and then the gym and then walking to the store....but, then this really nice lady named Crystal gave me a ride so I didn't have to wait for the bus. I was happy. She even had one of those "Smart Cars" that are as long a regualar car is wide. It was fun.

Teaching was good. My throat was sore by the end of the day and the class was a mess, but miraculously, the kids learned and left the class laughing and smiling. God is good. I'm going to go continue to prepare for more teaching tomorrow... oh, I'm thinking about going to Scottland the weekend after this one. Does anyone have any suggestions of places to go or not go?

watch your step

According to local legend, if you accidentally step into this waterway running down the sides of the streets, you have to marry a man from Freiburg. I'm not sure where it came from, but I managed to make it onto the train coming home with dry ankles.=)

A Cathedral of Which I Don't Remember the Name

During my time, I came upon this cathedral in one of the platzes (like a square). I went inside and was surprised by a sudden desire to bow on my knees in reverence before God. I don't know if it was the hundreds of years that hung in the air or the Spirit moving on me. But, I spent some time in prayer there and felt so close to Him.

There was a figure of a Crusader cut out of the wall. You just don't see that kind of thing first-hand in the States. Regardless of the good or bad that happened during those crusades, it is a part of my Christian lineage. A connection to the past. Apparently, someone else felt a deep enough appreciation to leave a momento of thanks.

Black Forest Hostel

We stayed one night at this hostel in Freiburg. The girls went to bed early, but I went downstairs to write in my journal and meet interesting people. I came across some live music instead. It was great! A violin and mandolin. It was Spanish and something else. I don't know how to describe it but after a long, it was so nice to recline with my shoes off and clap along with ten other people to some up-beat music.

Pictures of Rome and London

The first two are in London and the rest are the Vatican and Rome.

Orvieto

Here are some pictures from Orvieto with the Tellinis.

The Apia pics

Here are some pictures of the Apia. People's gardens, pretty doorways and the infamous black cat that caused so much trouble.