Update

I have about 20 minutes until my last English class for the week and I need a break from grading papers, so I thought I would use this time to write a quick update on what has been going on here. 

Things are pretty crazy around here right now.  We recently had the land around our school leveled and it looks so much better, is much more functional, and is much safer for the kids.  It's very exciting to see progress being made.  We are ending our first trimester in the elementary school, so teachers are busy assessing and compling grades.  Since I'm the English teacher, I also have been trying to finish all of my assessments and grades.  We also have our preschool Christmas programs next week and our elementary Christmas program the following week.  We have lots of planning and practicing and decorating to do.  Because I am going home for two weeks for Christmas, I have also been busy trying to get everything ready for January for the preschool teachers. 

January and February will be very busy as well.  We are very excited that in those two months we will be having three groups come down to visit, two of which will be doing construction on the school.  My friend Katie will be coming down to visit as well.  January and February will be two very fun, productive, and exhausting months and I can't wait.  But in the mean time we have a lot of prep work to do.

I will be heading to Chicago to spend Christmas with my family in two weeks, and along with all of the work that I have to finish for the school, I also have to get everything ready for my trip and celebrate Christmas with my friends and family here.  I am a part of our school's 'angelitos' which is like a secret santa but with a much better name. (It means little angels).  We will be having our school Christmas party next Saturday night and next Sunday night Eddy's family is throwing me a "fiesta de Carolina" since I will not be here for Christmas or New Years and won't be able to attend the family parties.  I am very excited about this but also very nervous because my first big Dominican family party that I will be attending is also being thrown specifically for me.  I'm feeling the pressure :)

It's time for my class now, so I will leave it at that.  I will try to update again soon and post some pictures as well.
Blessings.