I've been in the Dominican Republic for 7 weeks now, and it sometimes still feels like it's a dream. I haven't quite found "normalcy," and that I'm actually living here. Thursday, I start my Spanish class, and I'm so looking forward to starting, though I know that knowing Spanish isn't going to make "normalcy" immediate.
Monday, Kyla and I had to go to the bank (which is inside La Sirena) to get our ATM/Debit cards activated. We both had had trouble with doing it over the phone. Things that would seem simple (like activating a debit card), are just a bit more complicating here. But it's a lesson in patience, and what really is normalcy here. That evening, Darlene gave us a ride to the Women's Bible Study with teacher's from school-- We're going to be doing a Jonah study by Priscilla Shire. It was so nice to be able to get together with other ladies to fellowship, sing songs, and take a break from school.
With it being Sarah's birthday this week (as well as our friend Allison's), Kyla and I decided to have a birthday celebration for them at our apartment-- We went to La Sirena Wednesday to get things for the party, and while there, there was a downpour of rain. With so little rain lately, it does seem strange when it actually does rain! It was raining so much that we actually had to take a taxi home!
Thursday morning (Sarah's birthday), Darlene came over at 6 in the morning with a cupcake and a candle, and we surprised her with singing her Happy Birthday!

And it's always fun to celebrate birthdays.... 

We played a rousing game of Head's Up-- though I had heard of the game, this was my first time of actually playing it. It's a charades game on your cell phone, that videos the people acting out the phrase. Soooo much fun!!

On the school-front-- Though the hurricane day off on Friday was nice, it kind of put a damper on planning, and being prepared for this week. It still worked out okay though. ;-)  I started a regular schedule this week, doing some content/curriculum, and get-to-know-you activities with my kids. My roommate Kyla is teaching half-time Elementary music, half-time Elementary ESL, and we're going to be using the same Reading program. Kyla, the other ESL teacher (who will be going on maternity leave soon), and I went over the program, and I feel a lot better about using it. Kyla and I are going to practice with our roommate Sarah this weekend-- The benefit of having roommates as teachers! 

I had my schedule/routine somewhat down this week, and was starting to plan for next week. Friday afternoon, I met with my supervisor, and she had reworked my schedule (though it still needs some tweaking), which I will have to say, totally threw me. It gave me more time with my kids (and will be good in the long-run), but I feel bad, b/c I had just given the classroom teacher's my student's individual pull-out schedules! :-S  Needless to say, I will be working on my schedule, and trying to figure out what I'm going to be teaching this weekend!