All Too Real.

When I first decided to write a blog, I thought I was writing it so that I could keep my friends and family up to date. I thought the point was so I could tell everyone everything and then I wouldn't have to repeat myself with every conversation I had. Sure, sometimes that is why I write a blog post, but sometimes I write it as a type of therapy, a way to release thoughts and feelings. This is one of those posts.

Living in another country (at least for me) can really cause you to feel as if you are in your own separate world. It is so easy to get caught up in my work and my life here and not communicate back home. I am terrible (100% terrible) at Skyping and Facetiming people back home. I am okay at returning text messages, but definitely not great. It is unfortunate that (usually) it takes tragedy for this to become a realization. It takes something bad, for me to be brought back into the world back home, to snap back to reality.

Late last night (Saturday) I found out that one of my old cross country teammates died in a car accident. I ran with her for a couple of years. She was so fun. She always had a smile on her face. She was so easy to talk to, crack jokes with, and laugh with. She had trouble staying healthy as well, so we would spend some time together cross training. If you believe in prayer and you are reading this, please send some prayers her way and to her family and friends. I don't really know what else to say here. It's unbelievably sad, tragic, and it doesn't make sense, and my thoughts are with her, her friends, and her family.

Kaila and I at one of the cross country meets. This is when I wasn't on the team, just came to run unattached. i came from student teaching where we were reading "Flat Stanley" and I took him with me to various places. Kaila was so funny with Flat Stanley and needed a picture with him.

Sandbox Updates

Work is exhausting. To be honest, I work all the time. I stayed up until 1am on a Thursday (which is the equivalent to an American Friday) working. I am sorry if I haven't stayed in touch. I know it is a lame excuse, but work is a whirlwind right now. This is the busiest time of the school year (or at least one of them) and my online class is on high speed right now. It will calm down (hopefully). I am really looking forward to Christmas break. I am going to Vietnam (solo for like 4/5 days) and then meeting Jessie and Ashley in Thailand! If you are an avid reader of this blog, you know Jessie. Ashley is one of Jessie's friends from high school that I have met quite a bit and whether she likes it or not, is one of my friends now too.

I also began tutoring one of my students from last year. I only wanted to tutor this year if I was tutoring one of them, so wish came true :) I love her so much. If I ever need a self-esteem boost she is the kid to go to. Her quotes include: "I know! Ever since you left, the school got stupid!" "I am in class and all of a sudden I just start thinking about you!" "I had a dream last night about you." "I told my new teacher all of the things you used to do." 

Despite the hours upon hours of work, Taylor and I decided to be somewhat social one night. Allison invited us to a halloween party by one of the new teachers at our old school. Taylor was Britney Spears (denim Britney, google it), Allison was a Snapchat filter, and I was a Basic White Girl. I wore leggings, "UGG boots," a scarf, a messy bun, and carried a Starbucks cup that said "Pumpkin spiced latte" - I think we did a good job with our costumes for deciding on going the afternoon of the party.

Also, Kuwait weather has been CRAZY!!! We have had so much rain and thunderstorms. One Wednesday it was storming (pouring), so we were convinced we weren't going to have school (Kuwait doesn't have proper drainage, so it floods easily). So Taylor came over and we were waiting for the school group sms to notify us that it was cancelled (or at least delayed), we were so convinced it would be.  Then at 6:45 we finally realized that we should get ready (we have to clock in at 7:00). We clocked in for school at 7:04, and I think that may be one of my biggest accomplishments.  At school that day I had 6 students. The ministry ended up canceling school for all of Kuwait (but not our school!). The school sent out a message that the school is open, but parents could pick up their kids. Needless to say, my students trickled out of school throughout the day. Then on Thursday (the next day) school was cancelled because it was still storming. I love Kuwait snow days :)

 I gave my students the reward to bring in their iPad. This is every boy in the class. They all dragged their chairs over so they could all sit together. Melted my heart.

The girl I tutor. Absolutely love her and her craziness.

 It's the end of the day at dismissal and I am looking around to try and find Nasser and found him eating a snack under the table. Kids are nuts.

 This was the rain day where I only had 6 kids. She was the only girl. So when the boys played football (soccer), we took pictures.

We wanted to play too.

 Exhausted from our busy day playing.

 Halloween

 This was such a fun experiment!

 Pretty sure I am not supposed to let them do flips, but I like watching.

 I don't know. It's mismatch day and the kid brought a mask.

 Mismatch day. Taylor and i collapsed with laughter when we saw Abdullah walk in the school with that get up. He even had a dance, but wouldn't let me video it :(

 Mismatch day!

The video Taylor sent me when I was out one day.

Much Love,

Leah