Thanksgiving week y'all

I feel like it's been weeks since I blogged because so many emotions has happened between last Saturday and now. I have literally gone through every emotion known to man.

Sunday, I got to talk to Renee' (my old roomie and one of my dearest friends because no matter the amount of time we go between talking, we jump right in). She has supported me more than I will ever begin to explain, and I am eternally thankful for her friendship. I kept her company through her 8 mile run. It was fun for us both and refreshing. She showed me our house of Christmas decor. It took forever and a day bc well..it's Renee'.

I asked her to pose, and this is what I got. Ears. Christmas tree. Yep. 

On Monday I had the privlidge to talk to a large group of Peruvian's about my university experience. I jumped at the chance to motivate some people. I spent half an hour on a stage talking about university and some wisdom I gained from it. Talking about my Savior; pursuing the passions of your heart.  It was such a surreal feeling to be able to impart wisdom I have learned through life. I want to empower this next generation to chase their passions.
I had a few dear friends who brought their classes to support me. It was such a surprise to my heart to look into the audience and know they intentionally wanted to see me and support me.
The Lord has truly blessed me with so many great friends. I am blown away by it.

I felt so official I'm not gonna lie.

Oscar, Aldo, Andrea--pretty stellar people.

I have a bank card! I gave my first round of mid-terms, and will give finals this week. It's a bit much, but it's the life of a teacher.

Friday was an emotional day. (Sorry everyone at work that I didn't say anything.)
Back story: I have spent two Christmas' away from my dad. So, that holiday doesn't really phase me that much to not be at home. I mean yeah I'll miss it but. I've done it before. And they celebrate it here.
Thanksgiving. I have NEVER not been with my dad. Even when I was at treatment in Memphis we met up and I got to see him and my family. Some years he came up to Jackson to be with me, some I went to NOLA or Magee, some I just went to his house. My life situation hasn't really given room for traditions and never has--but it's unique. I love that we plan for each year.
Til' this year. I realized I will not only be in Peru for Thanksgiving, but I will be giving finals.
And'--that hit me hard. Depression took reign of my heart and told me lies. I reached out to a few friends who are supporting me, and a dear friend here in AQP (shout-out Andrea!). They reassured me it'll be ok and Andrea even offered to hang with me. We are gonna go get Starbucks holiday drinks Thursday-as per my request. I love SB way too much.
It's also much more than not being with dad. It's not like my 2 Christmas' not with dad. I celebrated with people who I love. We did typical Christmas things. But Thanksgiving in Peru? They don't celebrate it at all. Finals are that day so my day will be: run, school, SB with Andrea (YAY!!), lunch club, multiple finals, grading finals, and sleep. So, just a different experience no one can relate to unless you've moved to a new country by your self where they don't celebrate American holidays. I love this place and am so thankful to be here. I am thankful to have friends who are doing small things to help this week be more meaningful for me. Definitely a memory for the books.

Since I teach at an American school they had this cute thing for students to learn about the holiday!

The bright sides to Friday was that my lunch club-ok we usually celebrate ice cream Friday. But there is a new cafe' in school, so we went there and had yummy dessert. There was  also a Thanksgiving photo booth we took pics with. It's hanging up in my room. It's freaking adorable.

Lourdes, Dalia, and Rox. Some of my 'lunch club'.

It might sound like it's been a bad week, but that is far from the truth. I might be sad to not be with my dad in America, but I still live everyday in awe that I am here. That I am so blessed to have someone who misses me so much and I the same. I am so blessed to be in another country that feels like home just like America- with amazing friends. I clearly have such a glorious, gracious God, who redeems me everyday and lets me be in communion with Him.

My first round of mid-terms.

My latest prayer from 'New Wine' by Hillsong:
Make me Your vessel,

Make me an offering.

Make me whatever You want me to be.

I came here with nothing,

But all You have given me.

Jesus, bring new wine out of me. 

Peruvian resident over here.

I love getting to finally blog about this.

I am a full-time, full-blown English teacher.

I am a resident of Peru. I have a Peruvian ID. WOW.

This is Ana Lu-she handled all the paperwork to get my foreign ID card.
She deserves much more than a shout-out. But. Thanks friend! 

I have 3 wonderful classes who I love dearly. When I am having an off day I know as soon as I step into the classroom that I will immediently be brought back into the present moment. My students give me so much life it's crazy. This is the feeling I have been looking for. To be able to go to sleep knowing you made a difference, knowing you will do it all over again the next day. To be able to sleep well because of how much work you are putting into the day. 

I have an intensive class at 715am (YIKES!). It's basically a class and a half. Then have 2 regular classes. Then fill the rest of the hours doing culture classes and remedial class reviews.

I thought I would like culture classes more because it is less work but oh how I was wrong. I love my regular classes. It might be more work but it is so much more fun seeing the same students every day.

We change classes (cycles) every month so next month I will get all new students. I'll be sad to let these go because these will always be my first students here, but am eager to see all the new faces and spirits I'll get to change and be changed by. 

My hair is so dark in the picture for some reason--everyone says it's the Peruvian me. LOL

I love my co-workers. They think I am hilarious because of how much I love going to my classes. I have a different personality than anything they have ever encountered and think it's hilarious. I'm just like....yo this is my life-glad I can entertain you with no effort on my part! hahaha (in Peru its jajaja) They help me learn all the tricks of the trade for school, and have shown nothing but kindness to me since day one.

The ladies below are some of my best friends at school. We have lunch together every day (plus two more--sorry guys!) and have a BLAST! The cafeteria HAS to get a kick out of us because we are easily the loudest people in there. I dubbed us 'lunch club' and it has caught on. Lunch club meets on the right side of the cafeteria every day at 1pm. If you ever come visit me, expect to join.

If you talk to me much you'll hear about 'the girls' at school--this is them.
This is right after I got my ID. They were so happy for me.
They love me well and I love them lots.

One of my classes is all high schoolers-all around 15 years old, and boy are they my favorite. They LOVE talking and participating. I have to ask them to be quiet all the time which is a rarity for around here and I am SO thankful for it. They love asking me questions about my life in America. 

I love imparting my wisdom I have gained into the future generation. We talk about values; core values. We made a list of things we personally valued and why. I tell them about Jesus--how He is our Savior who cares deeply for them and came to save us to have a relationship with the Lord our God. I teach them about the feminist movement- how females are just as empowered as men. I want to teach the girls to stand up for themselves and know they can do anything they put their minds to. We talk about having the wisdom to make right choices for their lives. We talk about the lessons, yes (don't worry Cultural!) but I am here to teach them so much more than English. I teach them love on a daily basis-I hope; showing up for your students is of utmost importance and I hope they gather that from being in my class.

Below are some pictures from 'ice cream Friday' that lunch club (and then some) celebrates. It's a weekly holiday y'all! (Ok maybe only for lunch club but still.)

There is a little shop across from school and we always get 2 flavors in 1 scoop for 1 sole and a half. 

The Lord and I have gained so much intimacy with me being full time now. I play music in all my classes, and specifically play Christian music about 80% of the time. I worship Him on the way to school, and all day at school we commune because I have Truth being put in my ear and my students' ears all class period. I love watching them hum along to the melody of the chorus. It assures me that even when they are learning English-I can teach them about something that is more important to learn about than anything else--Jesus!

So. Life is going. It isn't perfect. I still struggle don't get me wrong. New struggles have come up as I have begun working full time. But at the end of the day I love my home being in Arequipa and don't plan on it changing anytime soon.

To all my AQP folks-love you all!! <3 p="">

Lessons upon lessons.

It's been one week since I reached the summit of Chachani, and what an athletic week it has been! I realized about 4 days before the end of the month that if I put in 3 long runs, I could make 200mi/321km for the month of October. I decided in my heart I was going to do it--once an idea in born within me, it WILL come to fruition. So, off I set for a 13 mile run, then a 12 miler, then finally a 14er. I was pretty wiped after but, it was SO worth it. I reached it, and promptly took care of my body and took a few days off. Hello recovery.
However, that was a one and done of counting my miles for the month. I know because of my past abuse of exercising, I would fall into a hole of always running x to get x miles for the month, and well-that is just unhealthy for me. I am thankful for the ability my body has to put down 39 miles in 3 days, and thankful for my progress in recovery to see recovery as just as crucial.

At the end of the 3 days. WOO!

Something happened to me last week that isn't comical to the normal person-but to us fellow crazy folks, it's just dang entertaining. (Shout out to Candiss for telling her husband and her friends about my endeavors happening over here via medication mix ups--because this isn't the first.)

So I take this one specific class of medication. Ok cool. I go to get more, and fast forward-I asked for a completely different type accidentally!! OHNO! So, unbeknownst to me I took it and set off for bed, and quickly realized I felt off. I had no idea why. Let's just say all my red flags of 'hello dummy take your medicine' were going off. But in my head I was like uh hello I did! So thankfully I was sending my woes to a buddy (shout out Madison!!) and she informed me I bought the wrong freaking thing. The next day was a hazy mess, and it made me relive the month of hell going to treatment, and how freaking thankful I am for recovery and stability. So, I got ahold of the correct medication, and all was well the next day. 

So-what was learned? Don't ask for the wrong class of medication--it will cause a significant downfall real fast. But thankfully I picked right back up the next day :)

A day in the life of a developing country--I walk in a pharmacy and ask for whatever I need. 

Shout out to Amanda for sending me the special edition suicide prevention color street nails!!
I love sporting them and all my friends are in love with them!

I have been re-reading my girl Rachel Hollis' book 'Girl, Spot Apologizing'. And, it is such a helpful read for people trying to figure out their life goals. Multiple of mine have been achieved by living here, and such progress in recovery happening, so I realized it's time to find some new ones. She has a trademark pattern (10,10,1) where she walks you through: writing out a detailed dream of your life in 10 years, then make 10 goals from that, and finally focus all your time and energy on ONE. She is adamant to not change too much at one time. (It's why all New Year's Resolutioner's fail. Sorry y'all--just stop. Diets suck. Move your body to celebrate you-not to 'work off' x food group. Side note.)

The sun greets you at 5am. No. Lie. 

I still don't have my work visa. It's really disheartening to of been here so long, and still without my own classroom. I am doing some culture classes and conversation clubs, but I don't have my own students. As terrified as I am to have them, I am ready to take on the challenge. 

I am thankful for my lunch club ladies to encourage me, and remind me how loved I am. They mean the world to me, and I *think* they like me back. ;) 

So...that's the week. Nothing special. Just living it up over here. Feeling blessed every day by the Lord of how this time of life is. Such a redeeming experience I wouldn't trade for the world.