The Strange Thing About Teaching in LA

DUCK! COVER! HOLD!
This is what we must shout to the children
Water, Pick Axe, Shovel in every classroom...
Can't leave the school site even if it takes 72 hours....
All this is our disaster plan, in case of an earthquake....
It's so strange to discuss this in a staff meeting and watch a colleague demonstrate how we should hide under a chair and protect our head and eyes...
I don't think this is a drill we'll ever have to do in an Irish classroom!

Cleaning up the Classroom

Well it seems like I might be getting to start work at 7:30 every day now instead of 8! I only have to work 40 hrs though so there are some days that I'll be able to finish earlier.
They plan to have me teaching Grades 1-3 (ages 6-9). All this week we're getting our classrooms ready. My classroom (which is rather big) looked okay when I first walked into it. Since I started cleaning it, however, it's like a bomb hit it. And I need to have it ready for tomorrow evening for the parent teacher meeting! I need to check each of the materials to ensure that each piece is there, otherwise it has to be removed from the shelf. If anyone knows anything about Montessori materials, especially maths and reading for elementary level, they'll understand what a painstaking job this can be!
I'm enjoying organising my room though and making it my own.

Driving

Yay!! I passed my written driving test! I have a California permit-now I have to pass the road test which is a whole other story!

Mexico

So today I visited Mexico for the first time. It was a very short visit and I was just relieved at the end of it all that they allowed me back over the border!
We had a very interesting visit to a factory run by a Messianic Jew. It's late now so I'll hopefully give you all the details of my story another time along with photographs...

Sunday School!

On Sunday I was given the opportunity to observe a Sunday School class in Grace Community Church. I really enjoyed it. The structure of the class was quite similar to my own Sunday School class but with about 10 time the amount of children :) I really miss my little Sunday School. There's a lot to be said for a smaller class because I think it's easier to really get into the details of God's Word with them and really see their level of understanding. I'll be really glad to be involved with Sunday School work over here though if it works out.
In the mean time, I leave my boys and girl in the capable hands of John, Marcas, Sinead and Daniel!

Prayer Needed

Last week Andrew's room mate Addison got news that his brother had gone for an MRI because of constant headaches and had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He went for surgery today. The surgeon was only able to remove a quarter of the tumor because it had penetrated so deep into his brain. They hope to begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy asap. This tumor is very rare-the doctor has only come across 3 other cases. Addison would really appreciate prayer for his brother. His brother is just 17 years old. Mum and Dad met Addison when they were here.
Thanks

Comments

I know I probably read my own blog more than anyone else does, but if you do happen to look at it please leave me a comment just to say hi even. You can leave a comment with each post...including this one :D

The Car

Andrew and I got out and took some photos of my car at last! We took it to UCLA campus and Andrew made me do ridiculous poses with my car.


Here are some shots-the rest are on this google album.

Knott's Berry Farm

On Friday we took some of the children to Knott's Berry Farm. This is a theme park that started out as a Berry farm and then became a restaurant and slowly evolved into a theme park. It has a wild west ghost town there. I thought it was fun and I think it's supposed to be cheaper than Disney World. I've become very nervous on roller coasters though...

ALMS of Grace

Today we went to ALMS of Grace which is a ministry in Grace Church where a group visits a Nursing home near the church and we visit with the patients, sing songs and the gospel is preached. Andrew has been involved in this for a while and I have joined him in his fortnightly visits.
Today I spoke to one of the patients there about Salvation. I was glad of the opportunity to share the gospel with these people. It would be lovely to see them at this stage of their lives to understand the truth of the gospel and be converted.


Today we went to Grace Community Church, as always. We're really enjoying the sermons Will Varner is giving about Abraham.

IKEA

I had great fun today in IKEA. I got a new chest of drawers and a bookcase. I also bought some plants for my balcony and few other things. It was amazingly cheap though and everything is very good quality. It's so European there-they even make you pay for a plastic bag! :)
Anyway - its a great place to get furniture should you ever chose to visit the Dublin store :)

My First Week At Work

My first week at work was tiring. Working 8 to 5 each day with a half hour lunch break is a bit of a shock to the system. I'm working in Santa Monica Montessori School. It's a really nice school and the children are really sweet. I spent a good bit of time helping with filing for the new school year and also with reception work. I know now that I'd never want to be a secretary, but this has been a good way to get to know the school and its procedures...
I won't be able to post any photos of the children I'll be working with but I'll try to keep you updated on how I get on in my new job.

Birthday

For my birthday Andrew brought me on a death walk in Topanga National Park. It was a really nice walk for the most part.


It just got a bit uncomfortable when we were expecting to do a loop up and down a mountain but after about 2 hours the path was just going up and not down and the sun was getting hotter and the shade getting less frequent. Eventually we turned around and headed back the way we came. I was just very pleased to get back to my boiling hot, bright yellow car :D


After the death walk we made it back just in time to go to BJs for a birthday meal (we didn't even get to change! :) ) Mum and Dad were huge hits at the party -all the girls loved them and were trying to get them to do some strange poses for the camera.... Mum and Dad also discovered that all of my friends over here are asian...

First Post

This is where I hope to keep you updated on my 'goings on' in LA. Keep checking-I'll try to update at least once a week!