Hanging out in Chihuahua

Tonight I was able to get out and enjoy the city of Chihuahua with a couple of friends.

These are the "Dancing Fountains." They jump and change color to the beat of the music. Tonight the music was a variety from Ranchero to Superman to the Nutcracker Suite. We stopped by "Coldy's" and had some ice cream. It's even better than Coldstone, I'm serious, and MUCH cheaper. This enourmous cone (which I was unable to finish) was barely over a dollar.

There is always this random guy outside of Coldy's that has this puppet mouse. We couldn't stop laughing at all the crazy voices and antics he was making with the mouse.

We (my roommate, her boyfriend and some friends from NTM's Bible Institute) had dinner at this little whole-in-the-wall restaurant. If I feel sick tomorrow, I'll know why.

Do I look like an American?

This weekend I went to Cuahtemoch to spend a few days with my family. I was able to share what I'm doing at their church there, which is also one of my supporting churches. After the service, one of the little girls in the picture came up to me and said in spanish, "Did you know that there are Americans here?" I told her, "Actually, I'm an American, too." She looked at me in unbelief and then said, "Well you don't look like an American!" How cute...

Moving

Olivia needed some help moving today so I got to hang out with a couple of my students and help her pack up her pictures, etc. and move them into her new house.

Graduation

Tonight was Colegio Binimea's graduation ceremony. It's sort of hard to see in this picture, but here the high school choir is singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" by John Rutter (thank you, Chorale and Mr. Ed)

Me and Shelbi, one of my girls

Cleanup Day

We always hold a clean-up day at the end of the school year. This was my crew that helped me clean up the music room. They worked so hard and we got so much done!

Banquet

Every year Binimea holds a banquet to honor the graduating seniors and 8th graders. This year Emily and I were asked to sing. Since we both love singing, we enjoyed practicing and performing an arrangement of "Take my Life and Let it Be."

Me and Kelsey, one of my voice students

Me and my Jr. High girls

This is Yoshi, one of my best Mexican girlfriends here.

Teacher's Party

Every year at the end of the school year the teacher's all get together and go out to eat somewhere. We went to a great Mexican restaurant for dinner and then got ice cream at this AMAZING ice cream shop called "Coldy's." It's even better ice cream than Coldstone.

My Jr. Highers

Me and my Jr. High girls in the music room. the jr. high boys

Mexican Friends

Hanging out with a bunch of Mexican friends at Chih'ua's, a favorite restaurant of ours.

Rafa and the "gueras" at his Bible school graduation

5th and 6th Camping Trip

In a moment of insanity, I offered to help chaperone two camping trips this spring. I had a really good time at both, though, and was able to bond with the kids more than I usually get to in a classroom setting.

Here I am with my 5th and 6th grade class.

Austin and Eli in front of the campfire.

Pretty Melissa

Jr. High Camping Trip

I slept in the Jr. High girls' tent on the camping trip. I'm glad I brought earplugs because the other chaperone didn't get much sleep. :) I enjoyed playing tag football with the kids.
On our second day there, we got rained out during dinner.

Trip to the Village 1

One morning the UIM pilots offered me a free ride into the village where my parents work. I was able to drop in and surprise them for a few hours before flying back to Chihuahua to be in class by noon. Talk about time warp!

This is a view of the Chihuahua mountains at 6:00 am from the air strip at the edge of town.

Chihuaha from the air.
I enjoyed listening to the pilots' conversations as I flew to the village. It was very entertaining....

The moutains where my parents live and work.

A view of my parent's house and the wellness center from the air.

Trip to the Village 2

Standing in front of the airplane that flew me in.

These are the two pilots that flew me into the village. They are sitting in my parent's front room drinking coffe and chatting with my dad (middle) about a new airstrip possibility.

Their million-dollar view.
Mom and Jessica making chorizo and eggs on their wood stove.
Standing in front of their house.

Me and my dad in the clinic.

Drama Cleanup

After being at a cast party until 4:00am, we all had to get up the next morning at 9 and clean up after the production. Some of the boys got into the costumes....

Drama 07: The Matchmaker

Act I: Vandergelder'sAct II: Mrs. Malloy's
Act III: The Restaurant
The Cast
Me and Joanna were in charge of set and stage, and here we are on the set of Act IV: Mrs. Van Huysen's

More Painting For Drama

We got all the students involved in painting scenery and set for the drama. These are a few of my high schoolers putting the finishing touches on some panels. My 5th and 6th graders even helped with some of the simpler stuff.
Joanna, a co-worker and I spent about 8 hours one night painting together. We listened to Adventures in Odessy while we painted, which I used to listen to as a kid.

Day trip to El Paso

Sarah is a friend here who runs a home for teenage orphan girls. She asked me and Emily to accompany her on a day trip to El Paso to pick up her parents. They were super kind and took us out to PF Chang's!

Chihuahua doesn't have a Starbucks yet, so it was a huge treat to be able to get some before driving back down to Chihuahua.