We landed in Saipan August 25.
Today is January 26.
Yesterday (January 25) marked 5 months of living in Saipan.
The school year ends June 17. We'll probably spend a few days enjoying this island without school pressures before we leave, which will probably be about the 25th.
If you do the math we're over the half way mark!
We have been here 5 months and we have about 5 months left.
We miss everyone soo much!
Dont miss a thing
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Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Happy...
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
One of the funny things we've encountered here in Saipan is how the student's view themselves.
We have had several discussions about their skin tone/ ethnicity. They think they're black. I have to keep reminding them that the term "black" when referring to people is synonymous with African American's. They are not, nor are any of their ancestors, from Africa. Saipan was settled by the Spanish, German and Japanese before the US gained control in WWII.
Don't get me wrong. These kids look like islanders. They have darker skin with dark, beautiful, hair and eyes. But they're not any darker than some of the Mexican-Americans that live in South Texas. These kids only think of features in terms of black and white. According to them, people have black hair or blond hair, nothing in between. There can be black eyes or blue eyes, again, there are no other possibilities. They are black and I am white. Me, with my olive skin, and fabulous tan that I am able to maintain year round, I am considered white by these kids. What do they know! I almost took offense to that!
Anyway, last week someone asked why we even bothered to take MLK day off. Before I had a chance to answer, another student said, "If it weren't for MLK you'd be sitting in the back of the class. We all would!" I just thought, "well, no, because you're not black!" Could the whole class have to sit in the back? If there were segregation on Saipan, there would be no one to sit "up front."
Oh, these crazy views. They suffer from small world mentality, but it adds some humor to my day.
One of the funny things we've encountered here in Saipan is how the student's view themselves.
We have had several discussions about their skin tone/ ethnicity. They think they're black. I have to keep reminding them that the term "black" when referring to people is synonymous with African American's. They are not, nor are any of their ancestors, from Africa. Saipan was settled by the Spanish, German and Japanese before the US gained control in WWII.
Don't get me wrong. These kids look like islanders. They have darker skin with dark, beautiful, hair and eyes. But they're not any darker than some of the Mexican-Americans that live in South Texas. These kids only think of features in terms of black and white. According to them, people have black hair or blond hair, nothing in between. There can be black eyes or blue eyes, again, there are no other possibilities. They are black and I am white. Me, with my olive skin, and fabulous tan that I am able to maintain year round, I am considered white by these kids. What do they know! I almost took offense to that!
Anyway, last week someone asked why we even bothered to take MLK day off. Before I had a chance to answer, another student said, "If it weren't for MLK you'd be sitting in the back of the class. We all would!" I just thought, "well, no, because you're not black!" Could the whole class have to sit in the back? If there were segregation on Saipan, there would be no one to sit "up front."
Oh, these crazy views. They suffer from small world mentality, but it adds some humor to my day.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Year in Review
The past year has brought many changes for us. It was without a doubt a year filled with adventures!
We brought in 2010 with the Franklin's and the Carroll's in New Braunfels. Brady stayed with us.
Took pictures of Emmerson Biggins in the freezing rain.
Went to OKC for my birthday. Ate some great Mexican food.
Josh took pictures in the bluebonnets.
Trevor flew to SA for spring break.
Squished all of us into my dad's put-put truck to go to Mustang Island.
Camped at the beach.
Almost got blown away at the beach. Took the Praxis II. Passed.
Josh took pictures on Padre Island. Officially submitted our applications to teach in Saipan.
Played Catan.
Went to Chicago for Mother's Day. Cub's game!
Moved out of our first apartment, into my parent's house. Celebrated National Doughnut day at Round Rock Doughnuts. When to a Round Rock Express game. Decorated for VBS. New Braunfels flooded.
Spent our first nights apart sponsoring at Teen Camp.
Grilled. We did lots of grilling.
House sat.
Went to Austin to celebrate the marriage of the Ladd's. Took the Praxis I. Passed. Drove to OKC, then on to Dodge City.
Went back to OKC. Ate some really great fried chicken.
Played Catan.
Went to Alaska. Froze.
Saw some animals, caught some fish. Stayed awake nearly all night because the sun was still up. Stayed on the River Walk. Visited with Kendall and Denise in New Braunfels. Sewed a skirt.
Packed (almost) all our things into a total of 5 suitcases and 2 carry-on bags. Waited in agony to find out when we'd actually leave. Played Catan. Finally signed our contracts with the Public School System.
Moved to Saipan. Flew on the longest flight of our lives. Stopped playing Catan regularly.
Lived in a hotel. Lived with friends. Finally found an apartment. Started our first "real jobs." Sold our cars.
Celebrated our first anniversary.
Made new friends.
Snorkeled.
Bought our first car together. Struggled with the prospect of giving up my Texas driver's license. Never got a CNMI driver's license. Not planning to get a CNMI driver's license. They look like someone made them in their garage. Became a senior class advisor.
Hiked.
Realized that here, the seasons change but the weather stays the same. Ate some turkey. Snorkeled.
Made some pasteles.
Made some tamales.
Celebrated the Christmas Season 10 different times in 10 very different ways.
Camped on an island for Christmas. Snorkeled.
Went to Guam. Visited family. Sucked in everything ounce of American Culture we could.
Only God knows what adventures lie waiting for us in 2011. There are somethings we really hope happen. We hope our families will be able to come to Saipan. We hope to do some more traveling in the eastern hemisphere. Most of all we are looking forward to coming home this summer.
We brought in 2010 with the Franklin's and the Carroll's in New Braunfels. Brady stayed with us.
Took pictures of Emmerson Biggins in the freezing rain.
Went to OKC for my birthday. Ate some great Mexican food.
Josh took pictures in the bluebonnets.
Trevor flew to SA for spring break.
Squished all of us into my dad's put-put truck to go to Mustang Island.
Camped at the beach.
Almost got blown away at the beach. Took the Praxis II. Passed.
Josh took pictures on Padre Island. Officially submitted our applications to teach in Saipan.
Played Catan.
Went to Chicago for Mother's Day. Cub's game!
Moved out of our first apartment, into my parent's house. Celebrated National Doughnut day at Round Rock Doughnuts. When to a Round Rock Express game. Decorated for VBS. New Braunfels flooded.
Spent our first nights apart sponsoring at Teen Camp.
Grilled. We did lots of grilling.
House sat.
Went to Austin to celebrate the marriage of the Ladd's. Took the Praxis I. Passed. Drove to OKC, then on to Dodge City.
Went back to OKC. Ate some really great fried chicken.
Played Catan.
Went to Alaska. Froze.
Saw some animals, caught some fish. Stayed awake nearly all night because the sun was still up. Stayed on the River Walk. Visited with Kendall and Denise in New Braunfels. Sewed a skirt.
Packed (almost) all our things into a total of 5 suitcases and 2 carry-on bags. Waited in agony to find out when we'd actually leave. Played Catan. Finally signed our contracts with the Public School System.
Moved to Saipan. Flew on the longest flight of our lives. Stopped playing Catan regularly.
Lived in a hotel. Lived with friends. Finally found an apartment. Started our first "real jobs." Sold our cars.
Celebrated our first anniversary. 
Made new friends.
Snorkeled.
Bought our first car together. Struggled with the prospect of giving up my Texas driver's license. Never got a CNMI driver's license. Not planning to get a CNMI driver's license. They look like someone made them in their garage. Became a senior class advisor.
Hiked.
Realized that here, the seasons change but the weather stays the same. Ate some turkey. Snorkeled.
Made some pasteles.
Made some tamales.
Celebrated the Christmas Season 10 different times in 10 very different ways.
Camped on an island for Christmas. Snorkeled.
Went to Guam. Visited family. Sucked in everything ounce of American Culture we could.
Only God knows what adventures lie waiting for us in 2011. There are somethings we really hope happen. We hope our families will be able to come to Saipan. We hope to do some more traveling in the eastern hemisphere. Most of all we are looking forward to coming home this summer.
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