April Fools!!! (replay)

Ok, for the record there was no snow in Barbados.
It was my April Fools joke on you, my dear readers. The coldest we've ever gotten in Barbados in my life time and the generation before me is 17 degrees C (and that was super cold for us). :) (have I mentioned recently how much I love it here?!)

So April 1st was great! because I got my sister SOOOOO good. I'd wanted to play the "it snowed" on her (even though she would never have believed it - her living here), but I could not get through with the joke.... what happened was much better.

When I heard my sister having breakfast I got up and put on as many layers as I could: over my pajamas I pulled long jeans followed by a jeans skirt. Then I bundled up in a long sleeve shirt, a sweater, another sweater and a shirt over the sweater. On my head: a head-tie, a head warming band (you know that covers your ears with fleece) and a cap. Then, since I couldn't find the other one, I put on one Black heavy duty winter mitt.
And then - I couldn't make it out the bedroom because I was laughing so hard. I tried valiantly to regain my composure and barely made it into the living room before I collapsed on the couch in giggles. At this point I was laughing so hard I was actually crying. All I could say to N was - "I'm so cold!"
(please note - it was not cold at all - about 23 degrees at the time - and she was wearing a light shirt and shorts).
N looks concerned. And amidst my laughter I manage another "I'm soo cold!"
At this point I've given up on the joke working - because I'm laughing far too hard.

And then she says - "You're cold? let me see if you have a fever..."
And then - she comes over and feels what little neck there is exposed amidst my many layers.

"No, no fever. What's wrong?" N stands, watching me convulsing on the couch - tears in my eyes and running down my cheeks and she has this look of complete concern and bafflement.
She later admitted she was worried I was delirious and she was actually afraid to touch me in case she caught it.
I couldn't hold it out any longer - I point at her "ah-h- April ---Fo--o--ols!!"

LOL
Soon she was laughing just as hard as I was and for about 2 minutes we laughed, giggled, chocked and rolled. I got her soooo good.
That went better than I could ever have imagined - you should have seen the look of concern, and fear she gave me. She told me afterwards that the one black glove is what scared her the most - she really thought I was mad, or terribly sick.

Aye me.
Brilliant!

Did you get any laughs for April fools?
heart, tulip.

Snow in Barbados?!!!!!!

So last night we had snow.....
!!!!!????!!!!!!
I mean, yeah - it can get chilly sometimes at this time of year, but I've never (ever!!) heard of snow in Barbados.
Although it was only a light sprinkling, the island is pretty much shutdown.
Let me tell you - those mitts I brought from Toronto sure came in handy.
And to think I moved all the way from Canada only to find snow in the tropics?!!!
what the heck??!!!

very disconcerted, tulip

April - Fool for love!

Happy April fools!
I just reread the first line - I'm not calling you readers fools - what I meant was - Happy April Fools' day! haha!
Anyways this past week I feel I have revisited a former location (see previous blog entry here ) and I am unashamed to pick back up the banner. (The entry was written 2 years ago around now, must be something to do with the spring). Today, of all days, I will say it loud and say it proud -

I am a fool for love!
An April fool at that!

heart, Tulip.

Learning

I found teaching to be more of a learning experience than anything else I've ever done. I hope I did some teaching as well.
This term I taught 7/8 year olds. So much cuter than teenagers. Here are some thoughts after teaching them for 2 months:
Thoughts on teaching children -

1. Stickers are like money
2. Children are like regular people, but without the inhibitions that come with age. So if he's quarrelsome, if she's got a flare for drama, you get it in its purest form. - A friend made an excellent point that working with so many people is not easy: with adults you deal with different personalities; with children, you deal with different personalities in the same child (so true!!).
3. Positive attention can be just as effective as negative attention - actually more affective because it's not as stressful to the giver.
4. Dealing with the staff (esp heads of staff) can be more trying than dealing with the children.
5. Ditto #8 previous entry.

teacher Tulip

On to our story

So I'm realising how little I've blogged since I got here. And your suspicions are not unfounded - there has been a lot of beach going on.. but the main reason is my really slow internet connection (we have dial up at my house) - it's slow enough to make me cry sometimes.
anyways - onto our story.

Currently I'm teaching.
Last term I taught at a secondary school
- TEENAGERS - ARE - STRESS.
Here are some thoughts I wrote -


In just one week of teaching I have learned (developed) an immediate understanding/sympathy ->empathy->respect for all of my past teachers: the good, the bad and the badly dressed.

1. Finding decent, inoffensive, inexpensive (breathable, washable) clothes is a lot harder than you think
2. I am not neat by nature - have never been in my life - don't expect my hair to change after 24 years of that.
3. Students are SO critical. of everything.
4. if you give an inch, they'll take a mile and quarrel, argue, reason and cajole for two more.
5. marks are like money.
6. teachers have to be SUPER organised.
7. You are not my only class/task/responsibility: I did not correct your work yet!
8. 'Dem chilren would really mek yuh feel like yuh going mad' (bajan for - those kids make you question your sanity)

Tulip