Outdoor Adventures

This past week, I have been spending a lot of my free time exploring the island.  I am comfortable with the location of all of the major things and can navigate my way fairly well through the main roads of Yap – however, after almost 3 months on the island, I realized that there is so much island that I just have not taken the time to find, to explore, to adventure through.  So, a majority of my time outside of school was spent hiking through the natural treasures of Yap.  I ventured to one of the highest points on the island to get some gorgeous views of the sun setting – the sky went from a crystal blue, to a cotton candy blend of purple and pink, to a fiery orange, yellow, and red – my camera does not do justice to just how mesmerizing the skies can be here.  I may or may not have climbed a radio tower to capture some shots of the far side of the island (Sorry, Mom – I swear it was safe… well, kinda).  I also took the time to go out of my way to use the traditional stone paths for the more scenic routes around the island – absolutely breath taking and humbling to realize how long ago these paths were made and how much intricate time, effort, and skill was put into them to be made by hand.  To relax this weekend, I checked out some of the small trails behind our house that lead to various groves of betelnut, coconut, breadfruit, and banana trees.  During this hike today – I decided I wanted to create a little wall art for our back porch to leave the “Taro Patch Kids’” mark on our wonderful home.  Thank-you Trail to Adventure for honing my lashing skills – they came in handy – especially since I was tying them with some vine-like weeds.  Enjoy the pictures!

Sunset from the Radio Tower

About midway up to the Radio Tower

Reminds me of the Circle of Life from The Lion King

Stone Path

Stone Path

Taro. Patch. Kids.

My afternoon project

“Boys can see adventure in a dirty old duck puddle…”                                                                   

                                                                                     -Lord Baden Powell

Cold Showers

A large portion of my thinking recently has been devoted to how many comforts of life I have taken for granted.  I never truly appreciated being able to drive to the grocery store and choose from a variety of different products, brands, prices, colors, sizes, quantities, qualities, shapes, and so much more. I never fully appreciated the opportunity I had to receive such a wonderful childhood education that has opened so many possible doors for me – of course, I chose to force a hole in the wall and go in the complete opposite direction of all said doors – but still, the opportunity was there.  I never thought twice about being able to enjoy a long, hot shower. 

That brings me to today’s reflection – a reflection that came to me during my 87 second shower this morning.  For those of you who don’t know – I used to get my best contemplating done in the shower – with my Billy Joel or Disney playlist blasting – as I let the hot water take all of the tension out of my body.  Here at Nimar Wentworth – the cost of hot water is astronomical, and after doing some fiddling with our not-so-beautiful hot water heater – I discovered that #1. Most of the crucial parts of this machine are hanging precariously off of the tank and #2.  Anything that spends more than 4 seconds inside said tank will immediately smell like a mixture of rotten eggs, skunk, and sulfur.  So needless to say – we have adjusted to not having hot water in our humble abode.

Most mornings, I wake up and have to give myself a pump up motivational speech before forcing myself under the sheet of icy rain.  Recently, I realized just how ridiculous I was being – and that I should instead be focusing on how truly blessed I am to even have an indoor shower – with clean, running water.  I look at my morning showers as an opportunity that I should not take for granted.  I see that ice cold water as a cleansing, refreshing waterfall that serves to wake me up for a fantastic day on the island of Stone Money. 

With this new revelation – I have learned to love my cold showers.  I have learned to appreciate the little things.  I have discovered that attitude truly can change any situation.  A simple shift in pespective can make the most challenging trials, the most daunting tasks, the most terrifying encounters – the coldest showers – seem like gifts from God – opportunities, chances, blessings.

I am working on keeping my blog posts to a reasonable length.  I write like I talk – a lot.  This one is for you, Betty.  Short and sweet – just like my cold showers.

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” 

                                                   – Maya Angelou

One of the Family

WARNING: This blog post may turn out to be quite lengthy.  I have had an overwhelmingly wonderful revelation – and I feel the need to try to put it into words – particularly because this revelation has come from all of you.  At points, this post may delve into the deep emotional caverns of my mind and heart.  You have been warned.  Continue reading at your own risk.

Coming to Yap, over 9,000 miles away from home, I knew I was going to be challenged, I knew I was going to be changed, I knew I would cherish this experience.  I knew I would learn lessons that I could not learn anywhere else, lessons that I will never fully master the eloquentia perfecta needed to put them into words to share with others.  The most important lesson I have ever learned, I have ever felt, I have ever been able to fully embrace, came this weekend in a whirlwind of tears, smiles, laughter, conversations, hugs, drinks, friends, and family.  My wonderful mother told me that recently Hurricane Michael rampaged through the Atlantic Ocean – it seems my brother storm sent some powerful winds of emotion and revelation my way.

            I had a phenomenal week – in and out of school.  On Sunday night the TPK (again still looking for suggestions on our formal program name – Pat Vaccaro, you are always good at fun names… I’m looking to you on this one J) invited our four Jesuit padres over for dinner – it is so much fun to just sit back and relax and have fun with them – we all are becoming quite the tight family.  The Regional Superior of Micronesia, Fr. John H., floored all of us with his stories of when he survived a plane crash in the middle of the ocean because the pilot was actually a maintenance man because the pilot couldn’t make it, and then continued on to tell the story of how he was lost at sea for about a week because the captain of the ship admitted he was not very good at navigating.  That man never ceases to amaze me.  We had a faculty retreat day on Monday morning, which was such a warm reminder of why we are here and it was great to be able to share with my fellow teachers.  I adored leading morning reflections.  I felt ecstatic about the lessons I was teaching.  The juniors blew me away with their enthusiasm and determination during our second lab day.  My freshmen homeroom has begun to genuinely trust me and they have started to ask me the most complex, most impossible to answer questions about the nature of God and their personal relationships with Him – they are truly questioning their faith for the first time, and it is not only strengthening their connection with God, but it is improving their critical thinking skills as well.  I attended “Wine Night” at the Waterfront Inn overlooking the water and was able to meet a fascinating vegan couple from California on a World Tattoo Tour, and I was able to for the first time fully articulate to a lovely USDA vistor named Sheryl how my work with the students and families of YCHS is going to slowly improve the development of Yap.  I was inspired to find a way to fulfill my dreams – to change the world – to make this world a better place.

        

    Friday night ended up being an absolute blast.  The Taro Patch Kids decided it had been a long week and we deserved a night of care free fun.  We met up with a bunch of our ex-pat friends at the MNUW restaurant and enjoyed a night of singing, dancing, and drinking with our new Navy Seabee friends who are here working on various construction projects.  Our travels took us to the dive bar “O’Keefe’s and then up to the Yap Pacific Dive Resort.  Many of our local friends joined us as well and it was a fantastic reminder that no matter how serious things may get, and no matter how busy we may think we are – you always need to remember to just let go and have fun from time to time.  You need to laugh.  You need to dance your heart out.  You need to sing “Don’t Let Go” at the top of your lungs while making up a swing dance with Rosemary Burke and then flailing your arms wildly to the synthetic beat of the music.

            On Saturday – I was able to take a good chunk of time to just reflect upon my experience on Yap so far.  I cried, I mean really cried, for the first time earlier this week because I missed being close to the ones I love.  I miss being able to hold my girlfriend in my arms, I miss having sleepovers and deep late night pillow talk with my best friends, I miss taking quote walks through Scranton late at night, I miss being able to see the smiles and hear the laughter of the people who have made my life so special.

            When I finally reflected on why I was being hit so powerfully with these emotions of sadness – I realized that the fact that I am literally missing people to the point of tears is a testament to how much they truly mean to me.  I have been so blessed to have been able to meet so many incredible people in my short life.  I have been so blessed to have formed such powerful relationships.  I have been so blessed to be able to have so many different groups of people that I care so deeply for.  I am blessed to be crying because I miss you all so much.

            By the time Saturday morning rolled around – my mind raced every which way trying to comprehend, to understand, to decipher the mystery that is love.  It had occupied my thoughts so much that I taught an entire Freshman religion class with “GOD IS LOVE” written in huge red letters on the board – I opened the class by singing the chorus of “I Want to Know What Love Is.”  I could not get over how much I purely missed everyone back home, and how much I genuinely cared for them.  Then I realized that here on the island of Yap, I was developing this feeling for the people of the island as well.  My fellow volunteers, the Jesuit priests, my neighbors, the other ex-pats, my Yapese friends, my students…. Everyone. 

            During these reflections on love – I realized that Yap has allowed me to see what is truly important – what really matters in this life.  Without the pressures of money, or job interviews or promotions, or rent, or politics - without electronics, or instant gratification, or distractions – without the comforts of our modern world – I am discovering what matters… what truly, genuinely, completely matters – what we need to live… and I mean purely, fully LIVE. 

We need people.  We need family.  We need friendship.  We need relationships.  We need eachother.  We need to be able to cry.  We need to be able to laugh.  We need to care for one another – truly, genuinely care.  We need to remember that there is good in each and every person.  We need to remember that there is God in each and every person.  We need something to believe in.  We need someone to believe in.  We need someone to believe in us.  We need trust.  We need hope.  We need faith.  At the end of the day – we need love.

The revelation hit me like a tsunami roaring through the villages of Yap.  The flood gates opened.  The tears came again – but this time they were more powerful – they were more human – they were tears of love.   An overwhelming sense of support, care, compassion, trust, hope, faith, agape – unceasing love- swept over me.  I felt love to the very core of my being.  I could feel it – really feel it – from my tiny island of Stone Money in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  I felt it coming from 9,000 miles away.

The amount of support and genuine care from my friends, from my family has presented itself in so many forms.  I finally recognized just how meaningful all of these acts of love were – no matter how insignificant and trivial they may seem.  Firstly, I could not have even afforded to be here without the support of my family.  And on top of that – so many incredible people helped to fund my year of service, my adventure – I could not be here without you – thank-you endlessly for the financial support, but more importantly for the love, care, and belief.  I have received numerous packages from my family – and not just my mom and dad – from my aunts, uncles, and cousins – from my brothers and sisters – and so many more people have asked what they can do to help – and not just help me, but to help Yap – to help the students.  The mothers of highschool friends, of scouting friends, of Camp Minsi staffers (Mrs. Lariar – your message brought me to tears) have sent me messages asking what they can send – asking how they can share their love.  Cards and postcards have filled my PO Box and never fail to brighten my day.  My wonderful friends who are scattered across the globe doing unbelievable, incredible things to make this world a better place have written me the most heart-felt letters – an art form that sadly has nearly gone extinct in our modern world.  Teachers from high school are going above and beyond to get support for YCHS (Mrs. Stephanie Hartline – Your friendship, guidance, advice, gifts, and your being a “Result of God’s Friendship” in my life means more than you will ever know.  Miss Georjean Jones – I would be absolutely lost without the Chemistry materials you supplied.  Mr. Barry Parney – after all these years, you are still challenging me and have your razorsharp wit – your short message means more than you could imagine).  My girlfriend has been more supportive than I could have ever dreamed.  Somehow despite being halfway across the globe, with minimal communication – she is still making me fall more and more in love with her.  The e-mails, letters, and comments from my Scranton family have been rays of sunshine in an already brilliantly bright island.  And not just from my peers – from my mentors, my role models, the cafeteria workers, my maintenance girls (Bertha – I couldn’t stop telling people how ecstatic I was that you found me on facebook – and the short e-mails we share to catch eachother up on our lives make my day).  The Jesuits back in Scranton still continue to be a huge part of my life (Fr. Roach and Fr. Ron – you inspire me.. you challenge me.. you make me a better person).  The messages on facebook – the wall posts – the comments – the likes…. They have so much meaning now (Ellen, check out this personal shout out! – You have no idea how pumped I get everytime I see you have posted something on my wall)  Certain people who I was believing I would probably never see, never talk to until a reunion of some sort – and even then only if the stars were crossed – have been sending their support.  On Saturday morning, I was able to talk to so many people on facebook chat as I was waking up and they were preparing for bed – they motivated me, they inspired me, and again they offered whatever help they could give (Cathy – I am truly blessed to have you and your family in my life – you are a remarkable role model).  My relationships seem to be getting stronger – more genuine – more real.  I am realizing how much so many people have given to me - how much love is coming my way.  I am loved – and there is no greater emotion, no greater feeling, no greater power than the power of knowing, of feeling, of experiencing love.

I am going to end this loquacious post with a short story that occurred in the midst of the emotional Hurricane Michael going on inside my head and heart.  On Saturday afternoon – while I was in the whirlwind of my revelation of love – Rose and I were relaxing in the kitchen/dining room/ living room/ den (it’s just all one space) listening to and singing some songs from the “Perfect Pandora” playlist.  We heard at the door our heavenly neighbor, Mary, calling softly “Michael…. Michael…” as I belted out some Billy Joel ballad.  I went to the screen door to see her holding her great granddaughter, Summer- and she had her other hand behind her back.  When I opened the door, she revealed that in her hidden hand was a new, freshly woven basket which she slowly handed to me with an unforgettable smile.  Now… in Yapese culture… everyone has a basket.  There are many style of baskets, and depending on your age, village, gender, and social status – the baskets differ.  The basket is a very traditional part of Yap’s culture that I am confident will never die.  It is a symbol of peace, a sign of trust.  When an ex-pat carries a basket –the Yapese people take it as a sign that the island has accepted that person, and even more so that the person has embraced the island’s culture, the Yapese people, the way of life. 

I knew these baskets were not easy to make, so I asked Mary to please let me pay her to give the money to the person who took the time and energy to weave my basket.  She shook her head no and said in a soft voice and slightly broken English, “Family takes care of each other.  You are family.”

That is what it all comes down to.  We are all family.  Our blood relatives, our friends, our co-workers, our acquaintances, our enemies.  We are all family.  On Yap – no one goes hungry – the people of the island take care of eachother.  Family means everything.  “Family takes care of eachother.”  No one suffers alone.  No one celebrates alone.  They share everything – their food, their money, their homes, their successes, their failures, their emotions – it is all shared.  It is all family.

My basket

Modeling with my basket
 It's practical and fashionable

              "Family takes care of each other.  You are family." 

                                                                      -Mary

Heroes

     At YCHS, we open every day after homeroom with a morning assembly of all of the students and faculty.  We gather in the Junior classroom where the students sit on the floor and the 7 teachers sit in a row of chairs in the front.  Our Principal, Mickey, opens with a few announcements and congratulations for classes that have perfect attendance for that day (so far we have only had 1 absence in the entire school – I know… wow).  Then the floor is opened for any teacher announcements.  Following announcements is a short reflection and prayer by one of the teachers.  We change every week – and at our Faculty Retreat Day yesterday, it became my turn. 

     I had been contemplating for a while what attitude I wanted to take with my reflections – especially this first one knowing that I would be focusing on the 11^th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks.  I was watching a not so high quality version of The Dark Knight Rises (fantastic movie overall – paled in comparison to The Dark Knight -horrible adaptation from the comic books), when my mind began to wander to an idea.  I would like to send a huge thank you and personal shout out to one of my greatest heroes: my lifelong Scoutmaster, Mr. Mike Lerch.  The following is the reflection that I gave this morning, and it is dedicated to you Mr. Lerch.

-                    

      Today marks the 11^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.  I am not sure how much all of you know about these attacks, but today touches a special place in the hearts of all Americans.  Today could very easily be a day of sadness as we reflect on the horrible attacks.  But I think it may be an even better day to remember all of the heroes involved in this tragedy.  Now, the freshmen have already heard me talk about how my favorite superhero is Batman – and while yes, Batman is a great hero with many good qualities – I am talking about a different type of hero.  I started by thinking of all of the firefighters, policeman, and EMTs who risked and sacrificed their lives.  I began to think about all of the soldiers who have risked their lives, and many who have lost their lives, to ensure our freedom.  I began to think of the sacrifices all of these men and women have made – they sacrificed time with their families, they sacrificed their safety, they sacrificed everything – many of them gave their lives, to protect us.  Then I realized how many more heroes were lost that day – all of the mothers, the fathers, the sisters, the brothers, the friends, the loved ones who joined God in Heaven on that day.  These heroes who have touched our lives in so many indescribable ways.  These heroes who have shaped who we are – who  have done so much for us.  Today is a day to remember all of the heroes in our lives – those who are still with us, and those who have passed on to an eternal life with God.

-          Lord, thank-you for blessing us with all of the heroes in our lives.  Please bless those fallen heroes who you have called to be with you in Heaven and please bless those heroes who are still with us here on Earth.  Lord, please watch over us and bless us that we too may someday be like these heroes and be able to touch the lives of others the way that they have touched ours.  For this we pray to the Lord -  Lord here our prayer.

Don’t forget how blessed you are to have so many heroes in your life.  Take the time today to thank those heroes – whether they are with us here on Earth, or if they are in eternal bliss in Heaven – everyone needs a reminder sometimes that they are loved.

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” 

                                                                                                             –Joseph Campbell

Twingil Dinner Party

Last night, the TPK hosted a little dinner gathering at Nimar Wentworth for our absolutely wonderful neighbors.  We re-arranged our massive amounts of furniture (or maybe we just moved our kitchen table into a different room….), set-up a desk for the large spread of delicious dishes, and even set the mood with a little center piece on the table.  I whipped up the most American meal we have managed to concoct on the island: Homemade Veggie Burgers, French Fries, and Corn served with a fresh loaf of french bread - cooking has always been a bit of a hidden hobby for me ever since my first days in Scouting and getting to do so for a large group of people gets me unnecessarily excited (me… excited over small things… I know – so strange, it must be the water here). 

Our guests of honor arrived around 6:30 and each brought their own delicious Yapese dish to add to the meal.  We had a scrumptious chicken and vegetable dish that tasted like a pot-pie, but so much better.  They also brought something that resembled the texture of apple sauce, but was not as sweet – I can’t even pronounce the name yet, so I won’t even try to spell it.  And finally, they brought a traditional desert made from pounded taro roots and cocunut milk all rolled up into little balls covered with cocunut shavings – perfection.

We had great conversation about life in the village, and we even learned that our little “cauldesack” is called “Twingil” (no idea on spelling) – but it sounds like “Twin-heel”.  It consists of the 4-5 little houses in our cozy little cluster.  I learned some fun Yapese words, most of which I already forgot – but I am determined to learn much more.  Mary told me she talked to one of her friends about making my basket woven from leaves.  Baskets are a very traditional part of Yapese culture and you keep essentially EVERYTHING in them, and it is very disrespectful to touch someone else’s basket.  Carrying a basket is also an alternative to carrying around a palm leaf when wandering around villages other than your own to show that you are not carrying a weapon and mean no harm.  At night, you must carry a flashlight as a sign that you are not trying to cause trouble.  It is a fascinating culture, and this is only one of the many traditions and customs.

Overall, the food, company, and conversation was fantastic.  Our lovely friends – our Yapese family – insisted that we keep the leftovers, so we graciously took the Yapese dishes, and then we insisted that they take the American leftovers and a few lollipops for little Thafarad.  We already have made tentative plans to do it again with the rest of “Twingil” as well as inviting the Jesuits “padres” over.  When we said we will all have to squeeze in, Mary told us not to worry – we could always move the table and just sit together on the ground - just another example of how life is here on Yap – so simple… so pure… so happy.

My burger making station

Just a few of the dishes for the evening

Rosemary, Caitlin, Tracy, Martin, Jane, Thafarad, and Mary just before dinner

Mary helping Thafarad gets his first Veggie Burger

My man, Thafarad - the only one allowed to use my Camp Minsi mug.  When I showed him his picture on the camera after this he couldn't stop smiling.

"It is around the table that friends understand best the warmth of being together."   - Unknown

A Day in the Life

Here is a little play by play of what thrilling adventures my average day at school brings.  I feel like I could write a 4 volume series on what I have experienced so far (and to be honest, this post is going to be a long one, but definitely a good one for insight into my day to day life), but I have been so busy experiencing it that I can barely find the time to write about it.  No worries though, my loyal blog readers (at least I hope some people are reading this) – I have gone into “Super Michael Productive Mode” which has me already finishing out my lessons for the week before it even begins and I will be way ahead of the game from now on.  That is until my side projects of renovating the back porch, researching the current Chinese tourism development contraversy (more information to come) and coming up with ways to educate the people of Yap on the issue, and of course just basking in the beauty of this island – hop back to the top of my everchanging priorities list.  So – there should be some blog posts and letters coming your way!

6:00 AM – Alarm #1 rings its joyous tones.  Usually, the roosters have formed a nice little quartet just outside my window to so generously encourage me out of bed.

6:13 AM – If it was a late night, or if it happens to be pouring outside (the rain keeps the cock-a-doodle-doos to a dull roar), I let myself finish off my fantastically vivid dreams until Alarm #2 forces me into the reality that I am indeed waking up in the middle of a tropical rainforest and I really do need to get out of bed in order to educate the youth of Yap.

6:20 AM – By this point I am staring directly into the shower head with determination burning in my eyes as I will myself forward to endure those first painful seconds of icy rain before my body adjusts.  On a good day, I shave – mostly because the Junior girls actually point it out to me when I haven’t shaved (I know – who thought I could grow visible facial hair in just one day!)

6:30 AM – If I haven’t made my lunch yet, I throw together a PB & J sandwich, or maybe some tuna, or some delicious leftovers.  Rosemary and I share a doubledecker lunch box.  It is the greatest invention of all time, and saves us a lot of plastic baggies, which in turn saves the environment.

6:40 AM – I do a quick double check that I have everything I need and brush my teeth before heading out the door.  At this point, I decide if my button-up shirt and khaki shorts fit my mood for the day.  If they don’t – I trade it out for a nice polo (I have a total of 10 outfits for school- makes the decisions hard)

7:00 AM – I arrive at St. Mary’s Parish for the daily morning Mass.  I am accompanied by a couple Filipino women, a few Yapese women, and both Fr. Johns (one is saying the mass).  I won’t lie, I use this time to calm my mind for the day, to think over my lessons, to wonder how people back home are doing, to reflect on how I am doing, and sometimes I even get some great ideas for my religion class!  I also have the duty of escorting the dogs out of the church when they decide to wander in – I am hoping to move up to “reader” or “gift bearer” soon, but for now – “dog escorter” is fine by me.

7:35 AM -  The other volunteers – Caitlin, Rosemary, and Jane – arrive at the church and we pile in the priest’s car which is about as inappropriate for the terrain of the island as it is for a woman on Yap to show her thighs.  Fr. John Mulreany drives.  We have decided that our unofficial nickname is the “Taro Patch Kids,” at least until we come up with our official “Corps” name.

7:48 AM- We arrive at the gorgeous new campus of YCHS, and if we are on time, then we just beat the bus that carries a majority of the students.  If we are running late, we get stuck behind said bus.

7:52 AM – I head to the freshman building where I unlock the office and classroom.  I do a quick set-up of anything I need to do before opening up, and then I let the freshmen come swarming in to their desks.  The students are in charge of opening up all of the window covers (our windows are just wide-open to create better air flow).  I then chit chat with the freshmen as they prepare for the day.  This is such a great way to get in the mood for a fantastic day.

8:15 AM – I head over to the Junior Classroom with the freshmen for Morning Assembly.  This is a time for any announcements to the school, as well as a reflection or prayer led by one of the teachers.  We also offer up any intentions that anyone has for the day.  It is the perfect way to start the day focusing on why we are here.

8:30 AM – Everyone else heads off to their 1^st period classes and I head straight to the Junior Office to make any copies I need for the day as well as to go over my notes for my lessons for the day.  I ALWAYS need to spend about 10 minutes typing up Geometry Homework problems because our book is a review book and lacks many problems.  We also have a paper shortage (it is VERY expensive) – so I need to make tiny slips of problems that fit about 10 problem sets per page so I only need to print out 2 total.  It is quite the fun daily ritual.

9:15 AM - I relieve Rose from the Sophomore Class as I launch into my Geometry lesson.  We always begin with either a quiz or a problem of the day – this also allows me time to hand out their homework and quizzes from the day before.  I find it is a great way to keep track of whether or not they comprehended and absorbed the previous day’s lesson.  The Sophomores are a class with a lot of attitude and personality – but I am learning to play off of it to make the class fun.  The students were raised to hate math, and many lack basic math skills – so the range of abilities is shockingly wide, but I work individually with a few of the struggling students at the end of the day and it seems to be working out.

9:55 AM – I head out of the Sophomore room and relax for a bit before hopping right into grading Geometry homework and quizzes.  I do all of this sprawled out on the wrap-around veranda of the classroom.  It is so peaceful on our campus, and there is an absolutely breath-taking lake behind the buildings, unfortunately, it apparently dries up once we enter the Dry Season.  I usually review my other lessons for the day before working ahead on future days lesson plans.

10:45 AM – LUNCH TIME!  It may seem early, but by this point I am ready to eat whatever comes my way.  I quickly devour my lunch so that I can join the crowd of students that enjoy passing a volleyball around in a circle.  I hope to set-up a court, or at least a net, on campus soon.  The boys have an impressive amount of natural ability and could be phenomenal players with a little coaching. 

11:15 AM – One of my favorite times of the day – when I get to step in front of the Junior Class of 8 students and attempt to teach Chemistry.  I never realized how much I actually have picked up on the subject, and actually adore teaching this class.  I have already successfully pulled off our first lab day, and have many more to come!  I have also thrown fire balls at the class using some flash paper, and I really have them hooked on learning how many cool things there really are revolving around Chemistry.  I built in a system in this class called “Tangent Time” – it has a symbol and everything – that signifies when we can stop taking notes, and instead we go off into the deep recesses of my mind and I explain to the best of my ability how the world works.  When I don’t know the answer to something brought up in Tangent Time – I say what I know, then tell them we will come back to it next time – this has now led to me learning an obnoxious amount of information on the process of turning cement into concrete – which will be our next lab day near the new Senior Building Construction Site.

12:00 PM – I have the Juniors again for Silent Reading.  On lab days, we just have to quietly continue with our experiments.  On normal days, everyone gets out a book that we are reading for pleasure.  It is a great way for the students to work on their English skills, and a relaxing break in the day.  If they look exhausted, or are not feeling well, I tell them it is ok to put their head down and rest… I remember my high school days and I honestly have so much respect for the students for how hard they work.  The juniors are a small class, so I let them sprawl out wherever – inside and outside.  I have already almost finished my first book and am excited to keep reading!

12:45 PM – Recess break!  A quick 15 minutes of playing volleyball, socializing, and just in general getting out of the classroom.

1:00 PM – I call the freshmen in from recess to begin our Religion class.  I honestly do not know who thought it was a good idea to let me educate these children on the Catholic Faith – but I have been trying my best.  Sometimes I just like to talk about God, and faith, and questioning, and ALWAYS slip in some Ignatian Spirituality.  The students are very profound in their spirituality and I think I am learning just as much as they are.  The freshmen are quiet and shy, but I feel like I am very blessed to have them for homeroom as well as for religion.  I feel almost like a big brother guiding them.

1:45 PM – Final period of the day, and I try to take this as my relaxing time.  If I have religion reflections to grade, I read them – it is so heartwarming to hear what these students have to say about some very personal matters.  If I don’t have anything to grade – I sometimes just sit and look out at the lake, or take a walk around the campus (we have 22 acres total), or try to write letters to people, which always gets interrupted by something or other.  If I am too antsy, I do some manual labor around the campus – dig some drainage ditches, clean the bathrooms, anything to just stop using my mind for a bit.

2:30 PM – Recess break #2!  This is the official end of the school day, and on Fridays – the students head home at this time and we have a faculty meeting.  I need this break just as much as the students do at this point, and none of us seem to care how sweaty we get running around playing volleyball or frisbee.

2:45 PM – YCHS has a mandatory study hall period from 2:45 to 4:00 PM.  This has to do a lot with the schedule of the bus, but it also allows the students to work on their homework as well as ask teachers for individual help.  Many students don’t have home environments that they can do homework at easily, so it is a great opportunity for them.  As a math teacher – I find myself doing a lot of one on one or one on ten work with students who do not want to fall behind in their math courses.  We let the students spread out on the verandas and classrooms during this time to really separate it from the school day.  Soon this time will also be used for the after school clubs, activities, and sports.

4:00 PM -  Time to help the freshmen close up the building before I wave goodbye from the veranda and then lock up the building.  We squeeze 6 of us into the 5-person sedan for the short ride home, and the Taro Patch Kids get dropped off at our “stop” – which is designated by the speed bump that we can’t get over without scraping with all of us in the car.  We walk about a 1/3 of a mile to our humble home and get ready to do it all over again.

Grounded in the Catholic faith, Yap Catholic High School strives to educate students to achieve academic excellence, appreciate their culture, be good stewards of the environment, and live their faith in the service of God and others.

                                      -Yap Catholic High School Mission Statement