Sr. Thomas and I have been working on getting our visas so that we
can attend World Youth Day in Brazil. I was already looking forward to it,
particularly to the part where I will get to meet our sisters in Brazil. When I
learned that our new pope is from Argentina, I was even more excited about it.
It should be neat to get to "meet" him, and World Youth Day is always
an adventure. So Thomas and I took a day off of school to go to Boston to get
our visas. We gathered our paperwork, got money orders for the fee, and drove
into the city. We found our way just fine and had few obstacles. It turned out,
too, that the visas are free for those who are attending WYD. We left our
paperwork and passports with the consulate and went to redeposit the money for
the visas. We'll be picking them up on April 8th, which is funny, because we
thought it took 3 months to process the visas. And here it only takes 2 weeks!
Well, it never hurts to get things done early; so long as we don't lose the
visas! I had never been to a consulate before, and was surprised at how much it
was like a DMV. You know, get a number, wait, give them your papers... Add that
to my list of firsts!
It turns out, then, that I have three Mondays in a row off of school. I practically never need a substitute for my class, and here I need one three weeks in a row! Week one and three are for the visa, which we need to apply for and pick up personally, or there will be a fee. Week two is this weekend; I am in New Jersey for Easter and can't get back for Monday. Soon after those Mondays off, too, we'll start our testing week.
I'm not just in NJ for Easter, though: my cousin and his wife had their child baptised. The whole family went to my grandmother's United Methodist Church to celebrate. It was a part of their Easter service. It was another first for me, attending a Protestant denomination Sunday service. I came straight from the Catholic Mass at my mom's parish, so I was in full habit (veil, scapular, crucifix). I got a lot of attention! It was like a Catholic Mass watered down. There was reading from the Bible but it was more collaquial, there was ritual but it was simpler, and no communion. Apparently they only do it once a month, so it was all Liturgy of the Word, such as it was. There was a homily, but the pastor told a lot of stories and kept it pretty light. It seemed like a nice worship community, and the pastor was a fatherly, warm man. It was similar and yet different than what I'm used to.
Then we went to my grandma's senior living apartment complex, where she had rented the community room. It was an informal potluck gathering that was relaxed and fun. My sister brought her new boyfriend, Ed, and I got to talk to him. He seems like a low-key, yet friendly and kind man. It was a nice family gathering, and of course it was neat to see my little second cousin. He's about a year and a half old now and is a lot of fun.
There were other perks to my coming back to NJ, apart from a Monday off! I got to see my good friends and their baby, 9 month old Danny. He really has gotten bigger and more alert and its a joy to watch him grow up. I was grateful that we got to spend time together in the limited time that I was in town. It felt strange to drive out to the mall on Holy Saturday-- and it was even stranger to see how crowded it was there!-- but I was glad that I did it. I also was able to find a new home for all my former belongings that I weeded out of my closet. I'm returning to New Hampshire alot lighter than I came! Next my mom and grandma are coming to see me in NH in the last week of April, and I hope to send them home with more things!
On the school front, we're getting ready for the curriculum fair. They work on a book about their planet at school and on the model of same planet at home. I'm trying to get in the math that we didn't do yet before Terra Nova testing week; I have two weeks to cover geometry. I'm going to get into the Easter season on Tuesday. I like to "do" the liturgical seasons well. I won't be teaching religion at my next school, I don't think, and think I'll really miss it.
It turns out, then, that I have three Mondays in a row off of school. I practically never need a substitute for my class, and here I need one three weeks in a row! Week one and three are for the visa, which we need to apply for and pick up personally, or there will be a fee. Week two is this weekend; I am in New Jersey for Easter and can't get back for Monday. Soon after those Mondays off, too, we'll start our testing week.
I'm not just in NJ for Easter, though: my cousin and his wife had their child baptised. The whole family went to my grandmother's United Methodist Church to celebrate. It was a part of their Easter service. It was another first for me, attending a Protestant denomination Sunday service. I came straight from the Catholic Mass at my mom's parish, so I was in full habit (veil, scapular, crucifix). I got a lot of attention! It was like a Catholic Mass watered down. There was reading from the Bible but it was more collaquial, there was ritual but it was simpler, and no communion. Apparently they only do it once a month, so it was all Liturgy of the Word, such as it was. There was a homily, but the pastor told a lot of stories and kept it pretty light. It seemed like a nice worship community, and the pastor was a fatherly, warm man. It was similar and yet different than what I'm used to.
Then we went to my grandma's senior living apartment complex, where she had rented the community room. It was an informal potluck gathering that was relaxed and fun. My sister brought her new boyfriend, Ed, and I got to talk to him. He seems like a low-key, yet friendly and kind man. It was a nice family gathering, and of course it was neat to see my little second cousin. He's about a year and a half old now and is a lot of fun.
There were other perks to my coming back to NJ, apart from a Monday off! I got to see my good friends and their baby, 9 month old Danny. He really has gotten bigger and more alert and its a joy to watch him grow up. I was grateful that we got to spend time together in the limited time that I was in town. It felt strange to drive out to the mall on Holy Saturday-- and it was even stranger to see how crowded it was there!-- but I was glad that I did it. I also was able to find a new home for all my former belongings that I weeded out of my closet. I'm returning to New Hampshire alot lighter than I came! Next my mom and grandma are coming to see me in NH in the last week of April, and I hope to send them home with more things!
On the school front, we're getting ready for the curriculum fair. They work on a book about their planet at school and on the model of same planet at home. I'm trying to get in the math that we didn't do yet before Terra Nova testing week; I have two weeks to cover geometry. I'm going to get into the Easter season on Tuesday. I like to "do" the liturgical seasons well. I won't be teaching religion at my next school, I don't think, and think I'll really miss it.
Your posts are always interesting, informative, and thought provoking. As to missing teaching religion at your next assignment, keep your eyes open for opportunities such as teaching "CCD" or getting involved with RCIA or with adults preparing for Confirmation. I am sure God will open those opportunities for you.
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