Happy Birthday to Me

So today is my 22nd Birthday and while ignoring the snickering of the older folks, I'm soooo old. Ok, not really, but seriously each year is a little sadder. Initially getting older seems like a good idea, even cool, but thats really code for more responsibility (i.e. more bills) and an inability to get away with as much childish behavior because you become "old enough to know better."

But aside from me lamenting my own old age today has been pretty neat. My 9th graders took me out to lunch and I have to say I was touched. I mean its pretty neat to me that my 9th graders who see me sometimes 3 periods a day and have me for 3 different classes still would like to see me after school and take me out to lunch. That alone made my day. They told me about this a few days ago and I have to say once they told me of their plans that pretty much sold me on staying here no matter what happens

All my classes sang to me and all in all I had a pretty good day. All the packages sent to me dating all the way back to March 9th arrived yesterday so I guess the timing worked out alright as well.

There's only a few more weeks of school left and I'm starting to panic. I feel like I've just figured this whole teaching thing out and there's so much to teach the kids and I'm learning so much more about my students. I like them more and more everyday and I've really fallen in love with a lot of my students.
Today with my 9th graders we finished the movie Hotel Rwanda. I highly recommend that movie for anyone who hasn't seen it. It was fantastic for my kids to see though. While I'm not sure it speaks to them the same way in which it does to Americans (its definately an indictment on the lack of the West's concern for Africa) its still relevant. Also we've talked about the genocide going on in Darfur and things like that but today when we talked about it the kids realized it was a little more real. I was just glad to help them realize that stuff like that really happens in the world and its something to think about.

So highlights from my 21st year:

1. Turning 21 which has obvious benefits (lower car insurance is always a winner for any birthday)

2. Nixon my cat who I loved and still love even if I had to find another home for him.

3. Graduating College

4. Acceptance and invitation to Togo for the Peace Corps

5. Time with friends and family and Pedro

6. Finally going to a foreign country: Honduras

7. Becoming a teacher

8. Living by myself in my own apartment

I think that pretty much covers it. Nixon was definately the best part of my 21st year on Earth. I'm really sorry I had to give him away and I have to say that was one of the saddest moments in my life as was the day I castrated the poor guy ( but he did forgive me for that one). Also sorry to all my friends and family who rank lower than Nixon but lets face it Nixon was cuter than everyone (i'll try and post pics when I return home).

Graduating was pretty awesome though I do miss school still. The Peace Corps invitation rocked as well because it definately relieved part of the aimless feeling you get when you graduate with a liberal arts degree.

So thanks for everyone's Happy Birthdays! Thanks to my9th graders who I know have found my blog and are reading this (teachers really do want to be liked by their students) and all my other students who sang Happy Birthday to me. Thanks for my packages and all that as well.

I look forward to a good 22nd year as it already appears to be having a promising start. I wont be going home early and I think I should enjoy my last few weeks here in Honduras and I'm going to Togo in September! How cool is that? I'm also going to Taiwan this summer and I'm going to see one of my best friends get married (even if we are still to young to be doing such things). Its not such a bad way to begin new year.