September 2008

A couple of Saturday mornings a month, some friends and I get together to play sand volleyball. It's always a lot of fun, and we're always covered in sand all over afterwards. Makes for a little bit of an awkward bus ride home. I really enjoyed watching the volleyball teams at the Olympics this year. They make it look so easy! We definitely don't play to that level, but we do have a good time.



































































The beginning of this month was the kick-off event for WyldLife. We had a scavenger hunt (like a Where's Waldo?) around Vivo city, a huge mall. Here are some pictures of some of the kids that were there. Many of these kids are my students, so that makes it even more fun. My group of girls was almost the same as my group from the kick-off event last year. Except this year, not only did we find everyone, we came in 2nd place!! The last picture is my whole group after we finished.

Flashback to June 2008

Cookout with the family on Sunday afternoon after Teena and Kevin's wedding. We posed 'normally' and then we did the infamous "Eva" pose. I'm sure she was laughing at us. (Oh, I'm hiding behind my mother)

On Monday, the family met up to hang out and swim. We had lots of snacks and a rigorous game

of water-baseball was played. I thought it was way too cold to swim :)

We celebrated Dad's birthday about a month early so that his brothers and other family who where in town for Teena's wedding would be there, too. We surprised him at Dave and Buster's because even though he is OLD now (50!), he still likes to play games.

Aug 2008

My good friend Breanne moved to Montreal, Canada with her job. Here are some pictures of her going away get together.

















Before school officially started with the kids, the staff had a team building challenge day at Sentosa (small island in Singapore). We aren't going away for a weekend like we normally do because this year is a week-long ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) conference in Hong Kong. Our team building on Sentosa was really fun because we got to do things at Sentosa that I've always wanted to do, but haven't yet. And the best part is that I got to do them for free! One of them is going to the top of the Merlion statue. Here are pictures from the top of that. We could look out of the mouth and also stand on its head.








An interesting fountain/path.




















This is the southernmost point in continental SE Asia.
















These show the construction of the new casino/hotel on the front of Sentosa. The mainland is in the distance. In the first picture, you can see Vivo City in the middle. It almost looks kinda flat in this picture. In the second picture you can see some of the skyline of the downtown area.




















The first week of school went pretty well. It was an adjustment getting to know the new students and my new students, the 6th graders. I had forgotten how needy they are when they start the year! I'm also teaching a section of 7th grade this year, which is nice for me because I already know all of my students except the 4 new ones in that class.


The first weekend, I went to Bintan, Indonesia for a retreat for WyldLife and YoungLife staff and volunteers. In case you don't know, YL is a Christian outreach program for high schoolers. WL, where I volunteer, is for middle schoolers. The scenery around where we stayed was beautiful. It was a great time to relax, play beach volleyball and discuss the upcoming year for YL and WL.

Back to school...

Our first official day of school was yesterday. We had a fellowship time in the staff lounge from 8:30-9:00 before devotions and some 'get-to-know-people' activities. I walked in and was really overwhelmed. I think I was still a little loopy from the jet-lag. I had been trying to mentally prepare myself to answer the "how was your summer?" question several times, but forgot about all the new people. I think there is about 18 new staff, so add that to the number of returning teachers (about 35-40 I think) ... The staff lounge was really crowded and loud and full of people I didn't know. That is one of the difficult things about teaching at a school in such a transient society. I know that I will eventually know them all as part of one community. My first year, I wasn't around for any of this stuff. And last year, I knew everyone because I had gone to PFO and met all the new staff over the summer. I sort of knew one new person (she is a close friend of one of my roommates at PFO who now teaches in Turkey - crazy, small world, huh?). Anyway, I said hello to a few people, but quickly emptied my mailbox and went up to my classroom for a few minutes. I felt like a huge sense of peace as I walked into my room. I was really glad to see the new things I requested were there (a new whiteboard that erases, a music stand/podium that holds the books without falling, and a cupboard with doors). The rest of the morning went well though and I was in a group with two of the new teachers, so we got to know each other a little. We got to spend some time after lunch working in our classrooms, too, so iI was glad for that. 

Oh, I almost forgot! I found out that I am teaching two blocks of 6th grade and one block of 7th grade. A block is a Spelling and Grammar class and a Literature and Composition class where I have the same students two periods in a row. This is what I requested, so I'm really excited about that. This means that I will be teaching half of the sixth graders I taught last year in seventh grade. I'm glad for that, but I'm more excited NOT to be teaching 8th grade Grammar again. All summer I had been telling myself that whatever classes I was given would be exactly what I was supposed to teach, and the students I was supposed to have in my classroom. I would have been happy either way because if I had gotten a section of 8th grade again, I would have taught some of the students I had my first year here when they were 6th graders. 

Well, I should go be productive - like finish unpacking... :/

I'd love to hear from you!

I'm back!

I arrived safely in Singapore around 1 AM my time (1 PM for most of you). My flights were pretty uneventful, except to say that I would much rather fly in a huge plane than a dinky little one. My 30 minute flight to Detroit was bumpy and a little scary. The bigger planes fly higher up and you don't feel every bump so much.
I ended up knowing someone on both of my long flights. From Detroit to Narita, Japan my friend from PFO (the training I went to last summer) was on this one. She teaches in Seoul, Korea. We had lunch while we were waiting on our flight. Then at Narita I ran into a collegue of mine. We chatted for awhile before we boarded our final plane.
I slept about 4 hours before I left for the airport with my parents on Tuesday. I waited for about an hour into my first long flight (about 12 hours from Detroit to Narita) to take an Advil PM right before our first meal. Then I slept almost the entire way...not straight through. I would wake up frequently to readjust or because a baby in front of me was screaming or because every time the guy behind me got up (which was frequently), he grabbed my seat making me feel like he was shaking it. I had a couple of hours in Narita to walk around and get some exercise. Then I slept again on the other plane! That makes the time go so much more quickly.
I made it through customs and got back into Singapore just fine. Although I forgot to show the guy my green card (that was in my passport) and he gave me a 90 day visitor stamp. When I asked him about it, he was kind of gruff and scolded me for not showing the green card to him. When he started going off in his native language; I can only assume he was complaining. Ooops.
All of my luggage arrived. My collegue and I were able to share a cab home since we live in the same general area. Getting my luggage upstairs was another story. I had to make several trips and empty my big one out a bit before I could lug it up the four flights of stairs. Plus I was kinda tired still.
Anyway, when I got home, I did not encounter any cockroaches who had made themselves at home while we were gone. So that was definitely good. I slept for about 4 and 1/2 hours. Now I'm up. I'm planning to go to the grocery store (since we don't have food) and then I'll work on cleaning and unpacking. I have to be at school tomorrow (and every day after this until the day before school starts), so I don't think I'll go in today.

This summer was my best trip home since I've been in Singapore. I really enjoyed spending time with my family and my friends. Time spent together is very precious. So it was very difficult for me to want to go back. I'm feeling much better now that I'm at home and am looking forward to starting school up again. The beginning of the year is always so much fun! Hopefully, I'll know tomorrow what I'm teaching this year. I'll keep you posted!

Contact Info...

Big news! I purchased a local number through Skype. When you call this number (440) 328-4854, it will ring to my computer. If I am not at my computer, it will forward to my hand phone (cell). It is a local number for you, so please call when you can! Remember that I am 12 hours ahead until Daylight Savings Time begins, and then I’ll be 13 hours ahead. Don’t worry though; even if you call in the middle of the night, I’ll be happy to get a phone call from you!! (440) 328-4854

If you decide to sign up for Skype, we can talk for free computer to computer if you have a microphone. If you have a webcam, we can video chat. My Skype name is “nicole.weitzel”.

This is my new blog address: please check it out periodically. I’d LOVE to hear what you think after you read it.

http://nicoletrusts.blogspot.com/

My Sister's Wedding

Everything went really well! My sister was, of course, stunningly beautiful. My mom, cousin, and I were much more nervous than she was - which is a good thing. She was just ready. The ceremony was nice and the reception was a blast. My speech went pretty well, too. Thanks to all of you who lent me your wisdom! Here are some pictures that my family took.

The bridal party: Michelle (sister of groom), Breanna (cousin of bride), me, my sister, Molli (sister of groom), and Marie (sister of groom)



Me, Teena, Mom and Dad






Me walking down the aisle


Kevin, his dad, and his groomsmen


Teena has started to walk down the aisle, and I'm trying not to cry!


The new Mr. and Mrs. in the van on the way to take pictures.


The cake!


My best friend, Kristin, and me


My cousin, Corry, and me


The first dance (sorry it's dark)

TeenaKevinWeddingCelebration>This is the link to see the best of the pictures we took (bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal and wedding).

If you would like to see more pictures from the photographer, this is the link. "Enter site" "Proofs" 6/21/08 "Teena and Kevin" Just add any email address, and the password is machovina.