Happy New Year

Happy New Year

We celebrated the New Year 7 hours early than most. My family had travelled out for Christmas and were here to join in. About 20 people all gathered outside the boy’s dorm for the countdown and then fireworks. 7 hours later we were tucked up in bed while everyone in England finally realised it was time to do the same, only joking. It’s at times like New Year though that the whole time difference thing seems a little odd and it reminds me that we really are on the other side of the world.

The new year has started well so far. My family left on January 8th early early in the morning and we arrived back at the dorm late at night. We’d been away to the beach for a few days which was very nice indeed. Today a new resident into the dorm arrived, not a dorm girl but a young lady, Ruth, who will be working at the school to assist the students in their studies. She is moving into our guest room and will be with us from now until the end of the school year (May).Ruth is 18 and has just graduated and is taking some time out to be in Indonesia. Her home country is America and she is friends with another family here at the school. We’re looking forward to getting to know her and I’m sure she’ll be welcomed by all the girls.

In a couple of days the dorm girls will return to the dorm and we will be back in full operation. Janice, one of the Korean girls moved out of the dorm at Christmas to live with a Korean family in the community, but a new girl, Natasha will move into the dorm in 2 days time, so the numbers stay the same, 7 girls.

I’m teaching Graphic Design from now until the end of the school year and am just finishing rewriting the curriculum. I’m really looking forward to teaching graphic design as it’s a subject I have experience in and am passionate about. If the students put in the work (I’m sure they will) then it’ll be a lot of fun for everyone.

Emily is enjoying been mum or mom as the Americans say it. There are a lot of things that happen in the background to see that the dorm runs smoothly and Emily is fantastic at getting things done. It’s been great so far deepening the relationships we have with the girls and I know Emily is keen to keep getting to know them more. Emily is also doing homeschooling with Luke and Isaac to compliment the American curriculum. She’s enjoying it and the boys reading especially is improving a lot.

Luke and Isaac are doing well at school. Luke is achieving highly for his grade level which is excellent considering that most the children in his class are a year older than he is. Isaac is loving school; he does 5 mornings a week and is really settled now.

Well that’s the quick new year update, we’ll blog again soon. Paul