I returned last night from my month of living out of my suitcase. I am glad to be back in my bed and near a washing machine. Yesterday was the last day of Pre-Field Orientation (PFO) in Southaven, Mississippi for Network of International Christian Schools (NICS). It was two weeks full of sessions on cultural differences and values, teaching methods and strategies, TCK's (Third Culture Kids), conflict, personality assessments, small group Bible studies, moral purity, etc etc. We ate such good food and sat all day in freezing rooms, while the temperature outside was 101 degrees. PFO was an amazing experience. There were people there from all over North America going to teach in schools all over the world. NICS/Oasis has schools in Kenya, Ghana, Turkey, Suriname, Korea, China, Brazil, Venezuela, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, Germany, Singapore and Japan. NICS is a great organization, trying to reach children through international schools so these children can impact the world for Christ.
I learned a lot about myself and my personality. We had taken some tests before PFO and we were given our results there. We met in our school groups to discuss our personality types and what strengths and challenges we have to contribute. I thought that was very beneficial since we will be seeing the same people day in and day out. Through the course of those 2 weeks I met someone who had my same letters for Myer's Briggs, but to a greater extent than myself--it was eye opening! It made me laugh at the girl I was and thankful for the woman that God is making me. God is good.
During my time there I was able to meet the other new teachers for my school and bond with them. One night the school paid for us to go out to dinner. We went to PF Changs. It was good. While there we shared alittle about our family backgrounds and then had a time of prayer for the school year. We all have some concerns about finances and our visas. We are on the waiting process for our work visas. The school is prepared to start the school year without us there, but I really want to be there for the first day. If you could please pray for that, thanks. Our staff is interesting, but in a good way....well mostly. Travis, is our only single man teacher and he has not given me a great impression of his work ethics. He showed up whenever he felt like it. He skipped sessions so he could swim, play basketball or tennis and go to the gym. What a winner. He is fun to make fun of though.
Us at the restaurant
We got to spend some time down in Memphis. It was fun. One night myself and some other ladies went on a carriage ride through downtown and we did some karaoke. On a Sunday we went to Neely's and ate good BBQ. We also went to the National Civil Rights Museum, that was awesome.
Being at PFO was like week of welcome at Prairie. I was so amp'ed to meet everyone and in awe of the fact that God has called us all to various locations, but that we were together for those 2 weeks. I made some great friends, some Canadians too! On Canada Day we made our own fireworks show. It was fun!
I am getting excited to be going to Brazil, but would like to know when that is. June as a great month!
I took too many pictures to post all of them...but these are some highlights (everything else is on fb)
The freshies...Lauren will teach PE and Health, Maggie will teach 2nd grade, me- 5th, Travis will teach History, and Stephanie will teach math and science.
Stephanie and I at the minor league baseball game
The ladies after the game at a waffle house
Our carriage ride
My new Brazilian couple---he barely speaks English
Us at Neely's ...note the nearly empty plate...yum
Civil Rights Museum...where Martin Luther King was assassinated
Graceland!
Us going nuts in a fireworks store...the Canadian is 2nd from the left
Brasilia International School staff! We are missing 2 current teachers and our administrators
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