Helllllllllo

Oh hey friends,

so while all of you are off doing amazing things in other countries, i am here, in wilmington, delaware. now before i go off about how there are no redeeming qualities about delaware, i really do love what i am doing. and i need to tell myself that everyday. and delaware has no sales-tax. so that's one for the redeeming qualities.

just to fill you in on what i've been up to, i'm at Serviam Girls Academy, and this is it's first year. we take girls out of the inner city schools and prepare them for the long term goal of college. it's a long day, starting at 7am and they leave at 6pm. i've been teaching 33 inner city girls religion and health. oh, and coaching volleyball, because getting cut from the volleyball team freshman year means i have all the experience and talent in the world. they, on the other hand, have been teaching me hand games, how to build a thicker skin, the words to just about every hip-hop song, patience, what strength really means, and of course, double dutch. it's impossible, but we're taking baby steps. my goal is to be double dutch master at the end of this year.

like any first year teacher will tell you, it's hard. but at the end of the day the rewards are endless. some of these girls have been through so much in their lives, and come to school everyday smiling and that gives me a whole new perspective on lives. but before i make them out to be angels, they aren't. now i know why i never went to an all-girls school. DRAMA. and total 'tude. even to people of authority, like teachers, especially teachers. but that's the demographic and how they are raised. but i love teaching them religion, it makes me so happy. and i'm also happy that i am no longer teaching them sex-ed. cause that would have been interesting and scarring on my part.

i really love the other teachers i work with. they are hilarious and are always there to help me out. my principal on the other hand is a different story. i don't know who takes up more of my patience, her or the girls.

i live in an old covent with 7 other teachers that teach at the boys' school down the street. the house is so big and creepy. there's a whole 3rd floor we don't use cause we're pretty sure its haunted, and religious art everywhere you turn. oh and there's an empty chapel. so naturally we are throwing an oktoberfest party this weekend and using the chapel for beerpong. yay Jesus. and yay beer.

hope you all are doing well and finally settling into your respective places, well, for some of you, when you get there. i miss you all and i have the girls keep all of you in their prayers.