Journey to the Colder Side of the Earth: February Update

Hello again dear readers,

Well its has now been about a month since our last update, and it is about time to recap our exciting lives at IA:-) The time since our return from Moscow has been mostly filled with routine things at school. The new semester is progressing well and we continue to enjoy our classes and students. It has been unseasonably warm for the past few weeks, although it is finally starting to get colder. Mostly we have had lots of freezing and melting. Evidently the winter wants to see how many St. Petersburg residents can fall on the ice and hurt themselves. Amanda and I have both fallen on the ice, although thankfully no injuries resulted.

We've had a few minor adventures over the past weeks, like two weeks ago when the power went off 20 minutes before the start of school. We were all gathered together for a meeting as teachers when the building went completely dark. A quick look outside revealed that it was not just our building, but all of the buildings in the surrounding area. This wouldn't be a problem if it were April and we were approaching the white nights, but it is still dark till around 10 in the morning. Also, by that time most of the students were already at school and we were hearing from others that traffic was terrible due to the fact that above ground electrical public transport (trams and trolleybuses) were stopped in the middle of the roads, blocking traffic. We couldn't just send the students home, so we had to make do with the candles we could find in the building and the light from cellphones, a few flashlights, and some handheld tablets that some staff and students had. It was certainly a strange start to the day! The power finally came on after about two hours (and just 15 minutes before the time when our headmaster had decided would be right to begin dismissing students), allowing us to finish the day normally. Needless to say, it was strange to be sitting in classrooms lit only by the glow of a few small candles and cellphone screens with our students:-)

Our students have been busy with work for our classes, taking tests, writing papers, and generally being exposed to stimulating lessons and mind-forming learning (at least that's what I tell myself). They have also had some chances to do some fun creative things as well. For example, my 6th grade students (none of whom are American) recently learned about the American Civil War since there is a chapter on it in the world history text we are using. After learning about the war, I had them make their own political cartoons making some point about the war. Below, you can see some photos of the finished products. I also had my 9th grade world geography class make travel posters for the countries in the last unit we did (South Asia), and had my 7/8 Medieval History class draw designs of the manorial system that characterized life in the European Middle Ages. It has been fun to see the fruits of their creativity:-)

The drama class is continuing to make progress as they prepare for their performance in two months. Practices have been going well and there is a growing sense of anticipation. 10 small figurines of Indians are a part of the plot of the play, And Then There Were None, so Amanda ordered small wooden figures and had the students design and paint them for use during the play. They turned out great and you can see pictures of them below! Also, we are continuing to take part in the Fridays at 5 youth group that we have helped with over the past three years. Today was our most recent meeting and it was another time of food, games, fellowship, and worship and hearing from God's word.

Thank you for all of your prayers. As always, we feel blessed to be doing what we do here in St. Petersburg. Here are some recent photos that accompany the last month or so. Enjoy!

A picture from inside one of the classrooms during our blackout (this was taken by another teacher at the school). This is how it looked all around our building, and throughout most of the island.

This has nothing to do with school, but everything to do with being awesome. That's right, it's Angry Birds coffee! Amanda assures me that its very good coffee. I just like that it has Angry Birds on it:-)

The windows on my room have felt inadequate for some time as they face towards Amanda's room which is always covered with colorful and creative class projects. I am doing my best to rectify this situation. One window now has the middle school drawings of the manorial system.

This drawing is my favorite. It was made by one of our Japanese students.

More interpretations of the manor system.

9th grade travel posters!

India!

Take a trip to the Maldives (before rising sea levels due to global warming make it impossible!)

Or visit Nepal!

Tiny wooden people for the play. They are supposed to resemble the characters in the play.

They are only about 3 inches high.

For now play practice takes place in the common area on the third floor, with tables and chairs standing in for props and furniture.

Part of the nature of a murder mystery is that the cast begins to thin out over the course of the play:-)

Some youth group fun. The students had to link hands with each other in a giant tangle and then try to sort themselves out into a circle without letting go of anyone. Much chaos ensued.