Another Week in Paradise

As I was running today I was considering what I should write for my next blog. First quarter flew by! It ended last Friday and I finally managed to get my grades turned in today after lunch, so I just feel relieved that I can breathe again, at least for a couple hours until the work begins again! Perfect time to write a blog! Well, after dinner one of my fellow teachers was talking about the reflections some of his students had written in detention as to why they were late to class today. Well, I thought some of them were quite hilarious and effectively communicate how teenagers are teenagers no matter where you are. So I typed out 3 of the at least 200-word explanations of “Why were you late? And how will your tardiness improve?” Enjoy. (Small update after the reflections)

# 1

“Why was the Great ***** late?”

Throughout all my years in school, my most hated enemy is time. Funny this is, time is fast when you want it to go slow, and it goes slow when you want it to go fast. Now in Xavier High School, Micronesia, I have been late. Why? Because of the freakin’ time, that’s why! While I was walking out of the library from SSR to go to my next class, Geometry, I sort of got thirsty. Now, here’s the stupidest reason I was late: I went to get a sip when I saw it, girls lining up to drink. Filled with nervousness inside my heart, I tried waiting for them all to drink. I mean, ladies fine. These are the juniors, Argonauts, we’re talking about here. About 98.5% of the junior girls are HOT! You cant just go straight to them and say, “Hey, can I drink ‘cause I’m thirst?” Dude, that ‘s stupid! When all of them finished, I went straight and filled my cup with nice but freakin’ warm water. While I was drinking, half-way through, the bell rang. I spat out water, accidentally threw away the cup, and ran. Then I saw Mr. C’s face in the doorway, saying, “Okay, Okay. Out all of you, late people!”

The lesson I learned from being late is not to get distracted or shy by girls – even though they’re hot! I’m gonna come – no more trops to the cooler; I’ve had enough already. And sorry for lying about me getting my backpack inside the library, Mr. C. Please, just forgive me, don’t give me Saturday work! The End.
- Anonymous, Sophomore boy

#2

I am truly sorry. I was late to class because I was looking for my textbook. Textbooks are always missing in the study hall & I’m sorry for that. I last saw it on my desk, but when I went there, it was long gone. Don’t worry, I’ll find it. I tried to explain, but you didn’t listen to me. Wow, I like your red pen. COOL. Oh, plus the floor was slippery so I was very careful. But when the bell rang I was like, “Shoot man, Mah Homeboy, Mr. C. is going to (gonna) get mad.” Sorry. I’ll try not to be late for your class, Mr. C. I think we need more than five minutes-break to walk here (Okay that’s a lie). Yo, Mr. C., it’s really hard to keep in track of time when you don’t gotta watch. I bet this is my last detention. “I hope.” Finding a book in that messy study hall is hard work. VERY. So yeah, I just found a textbook & brought it to class. Phew! Talk about Xavier Borrowing. Sorry, but I brought it back to where I found it. That is one long paragraph.

I will try my very best to come early to class. I’ll write it on my forehead (Oh no, I wouldn’t see). But yeah, I’ll bring all my books & all that I need to class in the morning so I wouldn’t have to leave during the 5-minute break. I’ll try my best Mr. C. My very best. Is it already two-hundred words? People should just stop taking other people’s stuff from their desks (Look who’s talking). Okay Mr. C. Thank you for this opportunity to spend time & actually meet your wonderful red pen. XOXO

– Anonymous (gangstah), Sophomore girl

#3

October 20 2009. I was late to Trigonometry class. I was late that time because I had to go use the bathroom. There is not a single person in the world that would need that much time to urinate unless they have some kind of bladder sickness, and I do not have any kind of bladder disease so having gone to the benjo is not my explanation for my tardiness. I was later that day because I decided that I could hold back the liquid when the urge to relieve myself first presented itself, this was during the first minutes of the break (between classes). After a while it became clear to me that I could not hold in the liquid anymore and waiting till during class to ask would most definitely have presented other problems. The teacher would ask why I did not go during the break, I still might’ve gotten detention, and my situation would have been more desperate. I decided that it would just be less complicated if I had just gone during the break, so a quarter to the end of the break, I left to go use the benjo. I spent a good 20 seconds (apprx.) relieving myself and by the time I was returning to class, the bell rang. And that is why I was late. Next time, I will try to leave to go use the bathroom as soon as I get the urge. I will also try to control my bladder and no get the urge right during a school day.
- Anonymous, Junior boy

Well, I hope those brought some smiles to your faces even though you don’t know these students personally. As for me, this school year is going well so far. I just feel much busier than last year. I have a good grasp on teaching this year, but new things have been added to my plate. I have taken on the role of the College Counselor “Extraordinaire” and the Campus Minister. So, as well as teaching Biology and Chemistry, I teach juniors and seniors college counseling, arrange for all of the standardized testing, and moderate and plan the retreats, prayer days and community service projects for each year group (I mean grade, sorry I have picked up that jargon from the Australians). I am still really enjoying the students and my job, in general - just learning how to adjust to the new workload. So I apologize that skype calls may have become less frequent – I am still great with email, but the power shutting off before midnight every night makes skype difficult.

Other than that, a lot has happened in the last two months. My host family from Penia experienced a tragedy about a month ago. One of my host sisters (20 years old) passed away. The funeral was really sad to witness – very different from a funeral back home. Funerals here last about 3-5 days. I attended the first night. Since it was a Tuesday, I started to feel tired at about 10:30 or 11pm (I feel old) and I guess it was pretty obvious so everyone was telling me it was ok to sleep. However, nobody else slept. All night long, women literally wailed or sang their sadness away. Ironically, the death brought Nievic (my first Chuukese friend) back to Weno, along with her 5-month old daughter. It has been nice to catch up with Nievic during this time and play with the baby.

Around the end of August, I realized that my host family from Moch was actually on island. I had called my host brother, who stays here permanently, and told him I was going to stop by to drop off some packages. He said, “Ok, I will send your two friends to the road to get you.” I said, “Who?” And he said, “Terry Ann and Diane.” I was so surprised and excited to see them. It turns out that my host dad had been hospitalized so they had all come to visit. He is doing much better now. So they took me to Wechin, the small waterfall on island – certainly much colder water than the lagoon waters. And I can’t really go anymore in Micronesia without an army of followers so about 30 kids followed behind. I have pictures coming soon. Then for the first time in my life, I bathed outside in the river that flows from the waterfall. It’s freshwater so a lot of people bathe in it. A new experience for me – bathing with the moss-covered rocks. Hehe.

Then came the natural disasters of the Pacific! A lot of people contacted me to see if Weno had survived the earthquakes/tsunamis/typhoon. Luckily, our coral reef is strong. I didn’t even know about the tsunami until after the fact. The only effects that Weno felt was rain and rough waters, which unfortunately meant we had to cancel the first community service project of the year. Perfect introduction to my new position as the Campus Ministry moderator! We (the CM team) had worked pretty hard to put together the Junior CSP – a 3-day event on the island of Tol. The students were scheduled to build local huts and help with yard work. Well, in the Nesia events don’t get cancelled for too much heat or ice on roads, but yes rough waters! So after dragging all the students to the downtown dock, we were informed by the ship captain that the waters were too dangerous. As we headed back up to campus, some of the returning senior CM members turned to me and said, “Congrats on your first CSP planning!” They weren’t being jerks – just equally disappointed!

Last Friday was the Sophomore Prayer Day – similar to a single day retreat for the sophomores. The theme was “No Templar is an Island” (Their class name is the Templarz), and the day focused on the interconnectedness of the students within the class. I think it went pretty smoothly, including a trip down to the water for a quick swim. At the end of the day one of the CM members turned to me and said, “It went well. At least they cried.” It’s amazing to me that crying is how success is measured here, but if they cry, apparently we did something right!

Well, my goal today was to get to bed early, so I’m going to stop for now! I hope you got a glimpse into my last two months. I hope everyone is doing well. Still missing you all and thinking about you frequently. Send updates and keep in touch! Happy early Halloween. Kinisou chapur. Sipwap chu. Ai pwositi meinisin. Kinamwe ngeni chemi. Ai tong ngonuk. (Start practicing your Chuukese Mom and T – looking forward to your visits. So here are your translations. “Thank you. Talk soon. I miss you all. Peace to all. I love you.” )

-Steph