Frozen

Their are moments in life I wish I could freeze.  Not forever, just for a few minutes so I could enjoy them a little bit longer.  Time seems to move on so fast and their are things I just want to sit and enjoy a little longer.  Sitting on the desk in the sophomore room surrounded by my girls sharing their problems with me and confiding in me.  My seniors singing as loud as they can in the morning hoping to earn another star on the board.  Being joined by several of my students during my morning supervision; they came up and sat next to me, usually they just go sit with their friends.  Watching the sun set through the coconut trees from the almost broken deck outside our apartment; and leading the small congregation in worship for vespers barefoot with a guitar that refuses to stay tuned in the humidity. Life, however, doesn't slow down or stop it seems as if it actually speeds up.  Despite the business of this week it had many blessings.  The two students in my class who had the betel nut I found ended up being asked to withdraw, but they didn't give up! I was really worried that when they were asked to leave they would just give up on graduating, something I would just hate for them to do.  But instead they worked hard to turn everything in to me and transfer their grades to Yap High so they can still graduate.  Just when I was getting really stressed about graduation planning and the end of the school year my students would come in with something funny to tell me or do something to make me laugh. For example, they decided they wanted to play freeze tag for PE.  I'm still really concerned for some of my seniors making it to graduation, but I just think they might make it.  The ones who were ignoring their make up work are finally taking an interest in it, finding that last bit of motivation they need.
   It can be really easy to think these kids are just like American kids.  Especially when they are talking about their favorite Glee character and singing popular songs from the radio; but their lives are very different.  I am reminded of this at random times.  Like when I found out that one of my students is pretty much married.  In Yapese culture marriage is a bit different then in the states, not quite as official.  If a women is living with a man for a long time, a year or two, they are pretty much married in everyone's eyes.  The only thing that could make it more official is if the father gives the groom the daughters marriage shells, then it is 100% official.  The women don't have much of a say in it either.  I mean some do, but if the father decides to give her shells to a man she has to go along with it.  Anyways, it turns out one of the girls I have the hardest time with has been living with her boyfriend for several years and she is only 16.  Her parents don't seem to be in the picture anymore because her aunt usually comes to parent teacher conferences.  I'm reminded even more of the difference in life for the kids here as I drive through some of the villages.  Their houses are small and made of storage containers.  Many of the students, especially girls, aren't allowed to leave home much.  I'm surprised to find out the kids are dreading summer, they hate breaks.  Students who hate breaks?! Who has ever heard of such a thing? It isn't that they love school, they just hate being home.  They don't get to go hang out with friends they work most of the time; babysitting, fishing, cooking, cleaning.  They have very little freedom.  Hearing them describe the village life to me and their family life and traditions gives me a new perspective on my own life; on life in the States.  I hope I don't lose this perspective when I get back because I have so much to be thankful for, so many blessing I tend to pass by without noticing.