Hivers, it's me again. Things became lighter and I felt motivated again after finishing my song. Allow me to share this February's productive week with you.
Moving Out
My housemates had originally intended for me to live in their apartment temporarily until I could find my own, so I made a choice to move out and find another. Fortunately, I got one, though it's more distant from my place of work, so I'll have to adjust my body clock as I get ready in the morning. My new apartment is in an amazing community inside a large golf club in Pawleys Island. You can jog through the neighborhood, but they said that be cautious as alligators may cross the little streets. In fact, they are afraid of people, so it is not that harmful at all. Every weekend, I look forward to getting up early to ride a bike and explore the area.
Hospitable Colombians
I forget to mention how lovely my new apartment is with its large living and dining area, lovely patio, and three bedrooms. This apartment is hosted by Ms. Vicky, who lived with her Mexican tenant Alfredo and her husband Alfonso. While all of them, especially Ms. Vicky and Alfredo, who are also teachers in the same district as me, speak Spanish, we talk in English. We connect with one another in a family-like setting. We share the incredible fact that most Spanish words are similar to Filipino terms, and we eat at the same time. To make an apartment feel more welcoming, I believe it is better to have a mother and father figure around. They prepare meals and share them with me, and I also return the favor. You know, the Filipino menu to let the foreigners try are Adobo, Menudo, Sinigang and many more.
Found a Gem
Is it just me, or does having a great haircut make you seem like a more appealing person? Haha. I've discovered a treasure that I would always choose to get a haircut from, especially for special occasions. Her name is Kandra, and she's very nice. Her stories about the place keep me entertained. When she trimmed my hair for the first time, I could feel the trust in her delicate hands and this is what I am looking for.
The Filipinos
At last, I got to know few Filipino teachers in the area, together with their families. We get together in Tara Hall, a former boys' home, every Saturday morning. It was recently renovated and turned into an apartment near the lake. Yes, there is a lake next to it, and with its huge, long trunks, spacious parking areas, and picnic table on the side, it has a feel closer to a vacation home. They speak and share stories of their own reminiscing life in the Philippines for the most entire time. You can ride a bike, play frisbee, or play basketball. For a while, it was a nice way to relax and relieve stress.
“It was an accident”
Throughout my whole teaching career, I have never had an accident in my own classroom. But I did here in the United States. A beach ball of typical size is one of my materials since I integrate music education with physical education. One of my playful students lost control of the group game during the exercise and tossed the ball with intensity. Then, there was a small light exposure on the left side of the chamber with debris falling down. Every now and then, I would tell them to toss the ball forward rather than upward. Of course, I addressed the incident with the concerned students and reported the incident to the admin; I took full responsibility for the incident, not anticipating that incidents would occur in the classroom. Although accidents do occur in classrooms, my administrator reassured me that everyone's safety is the highest priority and that things can be fixed.
Cobra Carnival 2024
The pride identity of the school is Cobra. Before everyone marched to a one-week break this February, the exploratory team and I gave them an exciting treat. We produced activities to give them the feeling that they are in a carnival. Although it was a very long day, I still had fun. It was events like this that I missed outside the four corners of the room. I feel like I was meant to be doing this.
Exploration
I head straight home to check out the vicinity of my new place after class. This kind of location is quite uncommon in the Philippines, which is why I am still in awe of it. I simply watch the turtles as they suddenly lift their heads on the pond while sitting on the grass area beside it. Every time I walk into our apartment, a chubby mother cat welcomes me, and I drive to the closest beach for a moment to enjoy the sound of the waves and the breeze.
These all took place in a span of one week. I am really appreciative that I never stop growing. I think I'm starting to learn not to long for the life I used to have. I hope this helps you all feel more motivated or inspired in some way. I'm hoping to tell you all about more new and fun experiences.
Spread love and not hate, hivers. ‘Till the next one y’all!
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All images and video clips are mine unless stated otherwise
