winter is coming.

Even though it sure doesn’t feel like it. It is strange to come to the realization that we are rounding the third lap of Advent and Christmas is nearly here. 

So yes, winter is coming.

And I’m not referring to a literal winter, because there is no variation in the temperature here. So of course by winter I mean “finals week”.

This week, the students will take their midterm exams. I’ve heard it called “hell week” and the exams are cumulative, which makes me the devil. What you never realize as a high school student is that as you review and study for six exams, your teacher is writing three cumulative exams and grading 30 tests and 40 papers just to finish getting your second quarter report card grade ready, before she then has to grade 60 (writing intensive) exams over the course of five days.

I’m not sure who has the more hellish experience, but this week will be followed by two full weeks off to recharge and just drink it all in. I’m so excited.

Last weekend, we had another clearing day at school, though it was only like 30% clearing back the jungle and pulling weeds, 30% decorating the campus for Christmas, and 40% me and Nick challenging each other to dance offs while we played Christmas pop hits and pretended not to notice while students filmed us.

the freshmen decided to do a little bit of "local decorating" on their classroom.

A few of the seniors and Devi and I put together the Christmas tree and they took control over ornament placement. It took far less time than the annual decorating of the Ackels family Christmas tree, where it’s always “who’s turn is it to put the star on top” and “the Cowboys ornaments have to be front and center” and “oh, I think you broke something” and “where are the icicles and the little stars” and “ugh Madeleine’s crying AGAIN” and “I didn’t do anything! (Jeff)”. But anyway, it really is lovely, walking into school each morning to see a well-lit, well-decorated Christmas tree immediately preceded by a nativity and surrounded by lights. I dig it.

Speaking of digging things. 

I got new digs.

Translation: I moved.

deuces, mcs apt 103.

This weekend, Sarah and I moved out of the apartment we had grown to love so much and into a house just down the road from the house that shelters the other 3/5 of our volunteer crew. We were sad to leave the neighbors that wished us well on our way to school each day and greeted us with big smiles and waves as we came home, but settling into our new place has been so exciting.

I was nervous that moving would be a pretty negative thing. I figured that it would just be another huge adjustment that I wasn’t ready for, but it has proven to be quite the opposite. I love this new place. Lots of things are different (for starters, we have a cat - Ming (not sure about the spelling)), but it’s all so great. 

I celebrated the move by eating a bag of peanut butter m&m’s that I bought in the Honolulu airport on my way out here, exactly 4 months ago. I threw them in the freezer the night we moved into the apartment and forgot about them until we moved out.

I spent all day Sunday arranging my room instead of grading essays about The Catcher in the Rye, and I must say it looks pretty damn good. I have only ever had my own room three times in my life: senior year of college, the apartment I just lived in, and the house I live in now. Each of these times, my room has been slightly different, but two major things remain the same: 1) a wall completely splattered with pictures of my favorite people and places and 2) a moss and amber candle from urban outfitters. IT’S THE BEST CANDLE SCENT THERE IS, I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS. It smells like the way I used to feel when I would lay on my bed and read by light of the string of lights that framed my ceiling in 301 while some vinyl record played in the living room on the other side of my wall covered in maps of Ireland and posters of my favorite bands. Ugh. The coziest. When I’m feeling uncomfortable here, I just smell that candle and put myself right back on that bed in my first-ever room to myself.

weirdly obsessed with keeping my laptop on that shelf. I don't know. it just feels right.

Anyway, I’m loving this new house. In moving to a new spot, I was hopeful that we’d possibly escape the chronic ant problem that we faced at the apartment (though I was also secretly hoping not to lose the ants entirely, because dead ants have been the subject of a weirdly large portion of my tweets since arriving on Yap and I think it’s really boosting my street cred). 

So, bittersweet news:

The ants are very much present up here. So far, I have seen far less ants than I was used to seeing in one day, but the ants here are a whole new breed. They’re bigger, faster, and stronger, too (“he’s the first member of the DK crew, HUH!”). They move at unfathomable speeds but they stay in their space. I’m thinking they probably won’t try to eat my clothes like the others did. Cross your fingers.

Last week there was a power outage. It was scheduled, only to last a couple of hours. Well. It lasted for over 8 hours. That’s right. EIGHT. And I had to grade 20 rough drafts of an essay all in one night (because I’m SO NICE). When the sun went down and the candles weren’t cutting it, I remembered I had something worth more than gold hiding in my closet. 

A headlamp. 

ptl for headlamps + generous strangers.

Prettyyyyyy sure this headlamp was lent to me by a stranger in Utah. And then I accidentally put it in my purse and it ended up in Yap. I’m also pretty sure she told me it cost one dollar. So I didn’t expect it to work.

But boy, did it work.

I graded the essays by light of a weak, cheap headlamp. Just like the pioneers used to do.

Last Friday, we had a Lessons and Carols program at school and it was AMAZING.

It was held outside, under the giant tree in the center of campus. There was a great turnout - lots of parents and families, but also lots of people from the community. It was so nice to see people come together to listen to our students sing songs that remind us all of the importance of preparing ourselves and our hearts for the coming of our Savior. It was a zesty evening.

lessons and carols.

But before the night got started, we spent a few hours after school on campus just hanging out with some of the students.

One of the freshmen girls brought a bunch of leaves and flowers to make nuunuws. Another student gave me a quick tutorial and taught me how to properly weave the flowers into the leaves and make the floral headpiece I have quickly come to obsess over. 

Y’all. I freaking love nuunuws. They’re my favorite. I wish I could make one for all of you but they’d just die in the mail + I’m pretty sure you can’t mail plants and stuff out of the country.

meet Agnes, local beast and professional nuunuw maker. this is definitely my favorite nuunuw so far.

We ran out of leaves quickly, so I couldn’t make mine long enough. So the first (and only) nuunuw I made was actually just a bracelet, but it’s still pretty sweet.

check out the bracelet!

Fast forward to Lessons and Carols. 

Obviously I cried, because these kids have some serious pipes (“oh my gosh, nice pipes Tomika”). As I sat and listened, I couldn’t help but think about how much I love being here.

Over the past 4 months, I have been pretty unsatisfied with my decision to come here. I felt confused and unsure and uncomfortable and lonely and so many other things I didn’t want to feel. I didn’t know how to overcome any of that. But sometimes you just wake up with a new attitude and things just start to get better.

I realized just this weekend how much I love Yap - her people, her opportunities, her natural beauty. I love being a part of this island. I love knowing this place. I love my job and my room and all of the exposure I’ve had to new people and ways of thinking and FOOD. 

I turned around to look at the sun setting behind me just after I started weeping over my students’ voices. It made me feel so secure in my decision to come here, to remain here, to push myself to be present here. It’s all still a work in progress (and it will be until the very last hour), but I’m so confident in this now.

that. sky.

Funny how the sky can make you feel such strong things.

Well, peeps. Two more weeks until Christmas. I can’t believe it. I hope you’re staying bundled and you’re thinking of me every time you wear a sweater because man, I love sweaters more than I love Coldplay.

That’s absolutely not true. But I was thinking this week that if people don’t like Coldplay it’s because they’ve never listened to “Swallowed in the Sea”. So if you haven’t heard it, go change your life and get back to me. 

happy gaudete sunday, friends!