I choose!

Today it hit! I am in a new country. Everything is different and not easy. I am not looking for easy, but I would love familiarity. I tried making cookies (my go to cookies that I made all the time in college for friends), but they turned out completely flat. I tried making pancakes (the usual Saturday morning pancakes I had with my college housemates) and they completely failed. I walked into a grocery and had no idea what anything meant. I sat in McDonalds for air conditioning and time out of my apartment and got completely overwhelmed with not knowing what everyone was talking about because I don’t speak Korean. There are many other “hardships” that I could explain to you that are leading me towards feeling completely homesick…

BUT

 I am choosing to look for good in everything. Even though the cookies were flat everyone ate them and loved them. Even though my pancakes completely failed I could have a good laugh, cry and remember good memories of my friends. Even though I could not read the labels in the store  I still found a few items I knew!  Even though I got completely overwhelmed in McDonalds it was a nice place to get a rest from the heat and a break from my apartment. So, I have decided that I am going  to choose to be grateful. The Lord has provided so much for me. He is all that I need.  Today was a good reminder of what God is calling me to do…. He is not calling me to take the easy way, but He is calling me to follow Him with all my heart and I choose to follow Him through the ups and downs and see the goodness through them both.

I choose to live out this verse in all things:

 

 

Love,

Daniella

First Day Jitters

Today was the day; my first day of school! I woke up with the first day jitters, but as soon as my little ones walked through the door my nerves went away and I just beamed with JOY all morning long.  We only had a half day today so really my first full day of school is tomorrow and I am hoping that I remember to take a picture so that I always remember this moment! J

My favorite moment of the day was when I read my students First Jitters by Julie Dannebery. If you haven’t read the story you should. It is a cute one. Anyways, it talks about being nervous on the first day of school and even how teachers are nervous too. I loved being able to talk with my students about how they felt before coming to school and telling them how I felt. It was fun to see their reaction when they realized that teachers feel the same way on the first day of school.

It is only day one of the school year and my teaching career, but I am already in love with my seven students. I just have a feeling that it is going to be an exciting year of growth, learning, and experiencing God in many new ways.

Love, Daniella

P.S. Here are some encouragements I received today:

O-FISH-ally in Second Grade

As you can probably tell I did not follow through on my promise of pictures! L I seriously do not know where all my time has gone. It has disappeared so quickly! I have been in Korea for exactly two weeks! The last two weeks have been filled with getting to know so many amazing people, co-workers and my way around the city (kind of). The weeks have also been filled with orientation and getting to know the culture of the school that I will be teaching at. It is going to be an awesome year. A lot of new and exciting ideas for the students and school as well as growing more in professional development as teachers. I am so thankful that I get to spend my first year of teaching at PICS. All of my co-workers have been so supportive and encouraging!

And now the moment that so many of you have been waiting for you…. drumroll…. pictures of my classroom.  Decorating and setting up my first classroom has been so incredible. I have been waiting for this day since I was in 1^st grade when I told my parents that I was going to be a teacher! Yes, I do admit my first reaction when I walked into my classroom was “I have no idea where to start… what was I thinking?!?!”, but I just drove right in. I wanted to create a classroom atmosphere of encouragement, life-long learning and a sense of JOY!  I LOVE the way my classroom turn out!

O-FISH-ally in Second Grade!!! (A little gift for my students at Open House)

Before picture of my classroom

Class Library

Font of the classroom room

Word Wall and Supplies



Back of the room



My desk!



I treated myself for surviving the first day!

So excited to go on an adventure of learning with my students this year and see how God works in each of our lives. “Oh, the places we’ll go!”

Love, Daniella

 

Love,

Daniella

Hello, Korea!

Hello!

Korea has welcomed me with warm humid weather and sweet sweet people! I have only been in Korea for less than 24 hours and I feel at “home”.  I have my wonderful parents to thank for this as they have shown over and over again great examples of transitioning into different cultures smoothly. Of course I miss my family and friends like crazy, but like I mentioned in my good-bye post “Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I’ll miss you, until we meet again!” Christmas will be a sweet time with family and friends! J

I woke up early this morning (thanks jetlag) so I decided to unpack and got it all done. Yay! Then I went on a walking tour with a lady I will be working with. It was so fun to see the grocery store that is near my home, learn about the market days, coffee shops, the shopping strip near the military base, where other teachers from the school live and more.  Not to mention getting to know a new friend!

One thing that I found out about the Korean culture is that nothing is open until after 10am except for 24-hours stores. So crazy! Korean people are night-owls! Oh, no! I’m definitely not, but at least I will have some quiet mornings!

I’m so excited for the next couple of weeks of meeting new friends, exploring my new “home”, setting up my classroom and preparing to teach my little ones!

I promise to post pictures soon as I want to go on a picture walk in the next couple of days!

Love, Daniella

good-byes

Today I’m saying good-bye to my family and these two posters sum up what I feel!  I will be in Korea within 16 hours- give & take time zones! J  I will post when I safely arrive!

Love, Daniella

"Whom Shall I Fear"

I just wanted to share with you what God has been teaching me through this whole transition process this summer. I have had a lot of thoughts like this “it would be so much easier if I was teaching close to home or I’m scared to be moving overseas by myself!”But our great God has reminded me over and over again that He is with me. He will never leave me or forsake me!  A song that has brought lots of comfort to me this summer and one that I sing over and over again is Chris Tomlin song “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies):

You hear me when I call

You are my morning song

Through darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light 

Whom shall I fear?

You crush the enemy underneath my feet

You are my sword and shield

Through troubles linger still 

Whom shall I fear? 

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a Friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side 

My strength is in your name

For you along can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory 

Whom shall I fear

Whom shall I fear 

And nothing formed against me shall stand

Your hold the whole world in your hands

I’m holding onto your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful

You are faithful 

The God of angel armies is always by my side. 

This song reminds that I’m not alone. I’m following the call that God has laid on my life for this season so I need to trust Him. God is so faithful! I fully believe that He is always by my side.

 Love, Daniella

Change

The summer is quickly coming to end. It has been a very fun, relaxing, and an adventurous summer in Montana with my dear family.  I’m so thankful for each moment of hiking, browsing stores, eating ice cream, road-trips, seating by the lake, eating huckleberry pancakes & muffins, and seeing my little sister drive on her own for the very first time.  I love my family dearly!

 

This summer was also filled with two-weeks in Southaven, Mississippi (near Memphis, TN) for orientation for my teaching job in South Korea. It was wonderful to meet other teachers who are doing the same thing as me, teaching around the world in International Schools.  We learned a ton about teaching TCK’s, transition, safety, and our personalities according to the DISC test. I’m so thankful and feel comforted that there are other teachers who are transitioning just like me all around the world.

A change for me this summer is that I’m no longer going to be teaching 3^rd grade, but I will be teaching 2^nd grade!!! I’m very excited to meet my little 2^nd graders in about two weeks!!! Eeekkk!

As I make this transition I feel a ray of emotions. I’m so excited to set-up my first classroom, meet my co-workers, learn a new culture, but I’m also very sad to be leaving my family & friends. This is not going to be easy, but God has not called us to “easy”. I know with all of my heart that teaching in an International school is something that God has laid on my heart so clearly. He has given me the passion to teach child who are going through the same thing that I grow-up with which I totally loved! I’m so thankful for clear guidance of God.  

Well, in 5 days I will be getting on the plane to South Korea to start my crazy, amazing adventure!  If you would like to pray I would appreciate prayer for a smooth and safe transition to Korea. Also, for my family as we say good-bye that they would be at peace!

Love, Daniella