The First of the Lasts

I couldn't believe that this week I started writing lesson plans for May...MAY. Holy cow! It feels like I got to Palau just yesterday.

This week, I went out with a friend of mine who used to be a missionary here in Palau. She's been committed and faithful enough to save up money and come back to the island every few years to visit. I couldn't help but be a little distracted during dinner and think I'm going to have to leave one day, and when I come back, I'll just be a visitor. 

I never thought the day would come when I could count on one hand how many weekends I had left here. If my emotions were translated to emojis, the app would breakdown because I'm literally all over the place. I'm sad, torn, happy, anxious, all of the above. I've grown in ways this year that maybe I would not have, had I not come to Palau. It's the kids, the view as you are driving (and diving!), the simplicity of life, the love of the people, it's everything. I'm attached to say the least.

However, I know there are family and friends who love me back at home, some who have even been missionaries before, and can help me as I re-enter and adjust back to the "real world."

So now it begins, the first of the lasts, because you never really know if you will get to do that one thing, just one more time. 

I studied abroad in Italy for a summer while I was in college and I fell in love with it. I remember the last night so clearly. Me and my friends went to town to enjoy it one last time. We rode the carousel, took the last "touristy" pictures we wanted and soaked it all in. That's the best we could do.

I still dream of Italy and ache to go back someday. I can only imagine how much more I'll miss Palau...

my tanner more Italian days...

10 Things You Didn't Know About Palau

When I started telling people that I was going to be a missionary in Palau, I got asked a lot of questions. "Where in the world is that?" "What is it like there?" I actually didn't know the answers to a lot of the questions myself until I got here. So I thought I would share what I've learned over the past 9 months with you.

Of course there is no way you could ever fit everything there is to know about Palau into 10 simple facts and I am by no means an expert on Palauan life or culture, this is just me sharing a little bit of what I love about Palau with you. Hope you enjoy!

TEN THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PALAU

NUMBER ONE
Palau is an island group tucked into the western Pacific Ocean and is part of Micronesia. 

NUMBER TWO
Palau is beautifully and geographically diverse. Never will you ever find coral reefs, limestone islands, white beaches, and luscious hills all in one place. I love it. 

NUMBER THREE
There is such a thing as "island time." People and fellowship are more important than starting exactly on time. 

NUMBER FOUR
Storyboards are beautiful carvings of Palauan stories and legends on pieces of mahogany wood. They are all unique and incredibly gorgeous. 

NUMBER FIVE
The Rock Islands are by far one of the most beautiful water spots in the world. (I'm entirely bias) When you Google "Palau" these are the images you see. The Rock Islands are famous for diving and other tourist spots, including the famous Jellyfish Lake. 

NUMBER SIX
Jellyfish Lake! This is just one of the 57 marine lakes in Palau. The jellies don't have a sting, at least not one that is usually felt. In all the times we've gone (like 4) nobody has ever been stung. (fingers crossed!) 

NUMBER SEVEN
Palauans eat lots of rice, taro, and fish. I have come to love this simple meal so much! (P.S. Palau has the BEST fish I have ever eaten)

NUMBER EIGHT
Palauans raise their eyebrows to say "yes." It's actually really catchy and I do it all the time. 

NUMBER NINE
The internet is slow. I will never complain about slow internet again. But the lack of internet and limited cell phone usage in Palau is a wonderful thing. People actually just drive by your house to see if you are there to hang out! (imagine that!) 

NUMBER TEN
This place is like none other and my heart strings will forever be tied to this island. 

So there you have it. Ten short, random little facts about this place I've called home over the last 10 months. 

Thank you for sticking with me through the slow internet (I warned you) as it has taken me several tries just to get this post up. Keep on reading! 

Rachel 

Frump Girl

This year I've had an ongoing joke with my husband that my nickname is "frump girl." Never have I ever worn so many long skirts and had my hair in a bun 6 days of the week. Not to say if you do this that you are indeed Frump Girl, heavens no. It's just a step out of the box for me. (I'm a Florida girl and LOVE my shorts) But I have no problem wearing long skirts in town, and wearing my hair up is actually preferable since it's always a million degrees in Palau.

But today something RADICAL happened to me.

I walked into the bathroom this morning and stared at the girl in the mirror. Same skirts, same polos, same hair in a bun for 6 days of the week. And what in the world am I going to do with this bare face? Are those new wrinkles? Don't get me started. So I thought I'd spruce myself up and wear my most favorite eyeliner in the world. I put it on...smiled in the mirror...changed my hair...walked out of the bathroom...walked back in...and then took it off. I wasn't convinced. I wasn't feeling it.

It's been such a rare occasion that I wear makeup here in Palau that for once in my life, I preferred NOT to wear eyeliner. (younger me gasps) I actually liked how I looked without it. This is huge for me considering that at one point in highschool I wouldn't be caught dead without it. But as I've gotten older I've gradually embraced a more 'natural' face, and here in Palau I'm learning to love it even more.

I won't ever deny my love for eyeliner and makeup and all things glitter and girly. And I know I'll be back for it soon. But today I'm glad that I can also choose not to have those things, and still feel just as beautiful. I hope you do too.

Maybe frump isn't so frumpy...
xo,
Rachel

The Last 8 Weeks

Happy April friends!
I took a look at my calendar at after getting back from Spring Break last week and holy cow! There are only 8 weeks left until this school year is over!

This year is my 3rd year teaching and my 2nd year with my own classroom. Last year I was sad to leave my students and school because they were my first class. They were adorable little 1st graders, how could I not love them? They hung on every word I said, showered me with hugs, and made me laugh all day long. I was scared that my new "big" 4th graders wouldn't like me-- that I wouldn't enjoy my new school. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I can't pinpoint exactly when it happened, but before I knew it my new and "big" 4th graders became mine. They became my "kids." When you're a teacher (I'm sure many teachers feel the same way I do) that's what happens. It is no longer "my students" it's "my kids." I got myself into trouble one time talking with someone and said "my kids"and she said "Oh! How many do you have?" Uh...Yikes! "No! I said, I don't have children, I meant my students." (Gotta be careful with that one before people get excited. ha!)

Now I have just 8 weeks left with "my kids" and I'm already starting to get all emotional about it! This year has flown by and I wouldn't trade my "big" 4th graders for the world. So here are just a few little snippets, projects, and smiles from this year so far.

Stomach Acid! Fun! I threw some croutons, cereal, chips, and lemon juice into a ziplock bag. Let the kids shake it around for a few minutes and you've got a stomach acid experiment!  

The kids had to find common household objects that would normally get thrown away and find a creative way to reuse it!

Sorting past, present, and future tense verbs.

Hold it Up! I read sentences and the kids had to determine whether it was past, present, or future tense by holding up their cards. (We spent a lot of time on this topic!) 

Making volcanoes! Because 4th grade isn't complete until you do them. 

A little bit of fraction action. We learned how to make unit fraction parts (3rds, 4ths, 5th, etc.) then they got to make a picture with their cut outs! 

I love this goofy, smart, loving, and energetic bunch. God knows how much I needed them this year.