U.S. Review

I have recently returned to Argentina after almost a month in the US with my family. It was a great time of relaxation and time spent with family and friends. Many of you are aware that I currently have some of my photos displayed at C&C Coffee in Chambersburg. That may have been the highlight of my trip since it has been a dream of mine for awhile to one day display my photography in a gallery or shop somewhere. Along the topic of photography, for Christmas my parents helped me buy a new camera. I'm now a proud owner of a Canon Rebel T3i and absolutely loving it!


Right now I'm pretty excited because for the past few months 2 of my roommates and I have saved our money and found plane tickets on sale to go down south to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. I went down there 2 years ago with one of my roommates and have wanted to go back ever since. We've had quite the mess with the airline, but now our boarding passes are printed and we are praying that everything goes smoothly tomorrow morning when we go to check in for our 4:45am flight!

I will be sure to update you on the success of the trip as well as a link to photo galleries of the trip. I'm super excited to visit one of my favorite cities again and be able to recapture it after a year and a half of photography classes! Prayers for a smooth and safe trip would be greatly appreciated.




-kait

Mid Semester News

It has been 2 months since I have written, and for those of you who follow my updates and look forward to reading them, I'm sorry for the delay. Even now as I sit down to write I'm not really sure what to write about.

This school year I was asked to take on an additional class: yearbook! It has been an fun and exciting journey together with the students. I am already anxious for the finished product and we have only just begun. During the month of October we took the individual pictures of the student body for the yearbook and we rented a background and reflector and bought a light. The pictures are fantastic, if I do have to say so myself...my students operated the light, reflector, organized the kids getting their pictures taken and showed them where to stand. A friend of mine came to help us each week because up until that point I did not know how to use the background and equipment. It is exciting to put the work of the yearbook back into student hands after many years of it being organized by an outside person.

Many of you may remember that I had been praying for another boy for our 5th grade class, since we needed to grow and it was heavily weighted in girls. Well, about 6 weeks ago we got a new boy in our class. He has been an excellent addition to the class and has really meshed with the the students already. Unfortunately the other boy in our class had to leave unexpectedly, so we are back down to 5 students in 5th grade, so the prayers for more boys can continue!

In other exciting news, I found out that in January my photography will be hung at C&C Coffee in Chambersburg. I hope you are able to stop by the shop during the month to enjoy a cup of coffee and see my work. The prints that I hang will be for sale, so if anyone is interested in a particular one, let me know and I can get it made to hang and you can have it in February! (you can visit my photography blog http://kaitlinshadlephotography.wordpress.com or my facebook page for samples of my photos)


-Kait

Reflecting on the Beginning

This past week I began teaching my students about personal narrative essays (a short story about an event in your own life told with a purpose). I handed them a graphic organizer (teacher jargon...bear with me) to begin outlining their story, to make sure that each paragraph had a point. I wanted to give them an example of how the graphic organizer would work...I was thinking of telling them a story of how I had to wait 45 minutes for a bus or something short and silly like that. Instead they asked me to tell them how I got to Argentina.

So I began to tell them the story. It started in China (when I was student teaching) and they were hooked. When I got to the part when I was filling out the really long application for NICS while sitting at C&C Coffee and my page refreshed they groaned right a long with me. (I had been working on it for about 45 minutes to an hour). I told them I almost didn't fill it out again, "But Ms. Shadle, if you didn't fill it out again, you wouldn't be here now!"

"No," I answered, "but I had a friend who worked at that coffee shop who reminded me I had nothing else to do that day, what would it hurt to fill out the application again?"

"Ms. Shadle, tell your friend thank you for us." (Mitch B. - I don't know if you remember that day or not, but your encouragement has helped to touch many lives and they are very grateful.)

But in reality, my story did not begin in China, it began so many years earlier. This morning as I was listening to the podcast from King Street Church from Sept 2, my heart resonated with the hearts of the students sharing about their trip to Nicaragua. My story began on those first mission trips overseas, I fell in love with cross-cultural relations and knew I wanted it to be part of my future. Those seeds are what led to my studies at Eastern University which gave me the opportunities to go to Asia two different times and finally brought me to Buenos Aires. So to the students who feel a pull to international missions, don't squelch that desire. Keep it in mind as you go on to university (yes a university degree is necessary to go overseas, trained professionals are needed all over the world). Go on more trips as you have the opportunity. You never know where God will lead you next.

To those of you who have supported me all along the way, thank you and my students thank you. Maybe when I finish my personal narrative, I will share it with you all.

-Kait

Family Visit

We've been talking a lot recently in our house in Argentina about how living abroad changes a person. As if a person's 20's aren't enough of personal discovery and change - add living as an expat thousands of miles away from family and friends. A person changes, it is inevitable. A common fear or apprehension of those of us living overseas is that when we do return one day to our home countries, that we will no longer be understood. People may expect us to be the same people we were several years ago when we packed up and left home, which we are in essence the same people, just a bit different. Living abroad you adapt to a new normal and see new ways of doing things. The struggles and complications encountered add to you as a person and the experiences are beautiful as are the relationships built. For me, I wouldn't trade these years I've had in Argentina for anything in the world.

At the end of June my family was able to come and visit me in Argentina. They were able to see and experience just a little bit of what my life is like here. They took every mode of transportation with me: taxi, bus (city commuter bus, city tour bus, and long distance tour bus), train, subway, boat, ferry, rented car, and airplane. They walked everywhere with me (and even ran with heavy suitcases at one point). They visited my church, met many of my friends, visited my school, helped in our library and visited the children's home.

It was a wonderful experience and I feel so blessed to have had them visit me and see what my Argentine life is like. It was a special bonding time for our family that we will forever be able to say "hey remember that time in Argentina...". When I decided to take the job here at BAICA, my family said they wanted to come visit sometime - I wasn't sure if it would ever actually happen. Sometimes I still can't believe that they were here.

Mom and Dad - the vegetable man, and the man that runs the corner store  have asked about you, wondering if you were still here and how you liked Argentina. Thanks for such a special time.

-kait

Year End Wrap-Up

I am so excited, I am struggling to contain myself and the hours are passing so slowly! Ever since coming to Argentina, my family has wanted to plan a trip to come visit me. In a few hours they will be boarding a plane to come see me and my life here. Recently I've been reflecting over my life so far and have come to the realization that while I was born and raised in the United States, I've become and adult in Argentina. Everything I know about living on my own, making my own food, taking care of myself, having a career...I've learned in Argentina. Having my family here to see this part of my life will be good for all of us. Maybe we will understand each other even more. Brittny and Becky have already expressed excitement to meet my family in order to better understand me! Hahaha! They have no idea what they are in for! =)

On a different note, it feels good to finally have the school year wrapped up. Vacation was much needed for all of us. This was a good year. My students were wonderful, I will remember this year with many fond memories. If I could sum it all up with one word, it would be laughter. We laughed a lot together and really enjoyed the company of each other. I love my 5th graders (now almost 6th graders).

This past weekend was a difficult one. Saying goodbye to Lauren and Anna was certainly not easy. After learning to live with people for 2 years and becoming family to each other, its painful to say farewell. I can't wait to see what this next chapter looks like in their lives. I feel blessed to have had these two lovely ladies in my life for the time they were here. Loz and Anna, you've helped me discover more about myself and have listened to me talk things through. You've laughed with me, cried with me, supported me and listened to my screams and yells turn into uncontrollable laughter. I love you and am so grateful for you. And for the ones that are staying, I'm so glad you are still here. I wouldn't be able to remain here without you. Here's to more adventures together.

For now, 24 hours until my family arrives!



kait

Adventure Camp

During the first week of May I accompanied my students as well as the 6th and 7th graders from my school to an adventure camp in Tandil, Argentina. The camp was called Rancho de Popy. So that I don't need to repeat myself, this is what I wrote for our school website about the trip:

The decision to take the 5th-7th grade students to Rancho de Popy in Tandil was a great choice. We (students and teachers) all enjoyed our time there. The ranch was clean, professional and safe and the staff at the ranch was very organized and took good care of us. While at the ranch, we participated in various zip lines, a Tibetan bridge and other ropes courses. We were able to go fishing and canoeing and the students even cooked their own lunch over a fire one afternoon. There were evening and night games as well as a camp fire. A popular activity of the group was the opportunity to rappel off a 30 meter wall. Many of us (myself included) were nervous and scared to try the rappel, especially when we were standing on the edge about to go down. However, it was a lot of fun and got our adrenaline pumping. The fun outweighed the fear in the end. At the close of our trip we hiked up to the top of a high hill where we could see the entire valley below and Tandil off to the side. It was a beautiful view and a wonderful way to end the trip. While we were all exhausted and ready to come home, we are all even more ready to return next year for more adventure activities.

I observed students open up to other students and build friendships that they may otherwise have not built. Now that we've been back to school for a week, I noticed the friendships continuing. One of the biggest successes of the trip was one of my students. He didn't really want to go, but was strongly encouraged by his father. This student does not speak Spanish or English very well and would rather not speak as much as possible. He often times will withdraw from a group and observe instead of participate. On the trip he sat with several of the boys during meal times and communicated with gestures. This past week at school I've noticed more confidence in him and he is more willing to communicate (maybe not always verbally) with his classmates. If it was only for this student, then Rancho de Popy was a success!

My favorite activity was when we went rappelling. I was really scared and almost didn't go - but the second time down was much better and it felt good to have accomplished something that made me uncomfortable. I also enjoyed the various zip lines and taking just over 900 pictures!  (check out a small selection of them here) I was glad that the teachers were allowed to participate in the activities as well - I can't wait for next year. :)

5 more weeks of school - they will be a whirlwind and then my family will be here for 10 days. I'm not looking forward to the goodbyes that will be said in the near future, but my family's visit will be exciting!

Back to school work.
-kait

The Great Gatsby on Gray Days

Saturday morning I woke up to the pitter-patter of rain on the metal roof above me. I snuggled deeper into my warm blankets. I didn't have to go outside for a few hours and a content, sleepy smile spread across my face. Eventually I grabbed my blanket and went downstairs with my book and settled into the couch with a cup of coffee. Roommates joined me and we continued to refill our mugs with coffee and tea. We all were reading the Great Gatsby for our book club so we decided to play jazz music to set the mood. Such a perfect morning.

Life has been moving at a rapid pace the past few weeks. About a month and a half ago I mentioned to some of you that the school wanted to take a trip with the 5th-7th grade students to a camp about 5 hours away. After some of the drama students created settled down, plans were underway for the trip. I am excited to inform you that on Wednesday at 5:45am I will be heading out with 3 other teachers and 37 students for 3 days of outdoor activities and team building. I am very excited for this opportunity to connect with my students in a different setting. I'm also excited for the activities we will get to do together. It will be a tiring 3 days, but completely worth it! Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for the trip - this will be the first time some of our students will be this far away from their parents for an extended time. I will update again sometime after we return.

I've gotten to connect more with some of my fellow photographers in my class on our outings. I feel like I made a few new friends yesterday on one trip - and to think I almost didn't go because I wanted to sleep in! I'm so thankful that I've been connected with this group - when the time comes to return to the States, this is something I will miss a lot.

Until next time,
-kait