Rihanna

Dear Judith,

I'm frantically trying to blog while on my lunch break, but I have a feeling that this one won't be finished before I need to get back to work.

A few months ago, Belle left my class. She was a beautiful girl and not a day passes that I don't miss her. About a week after she left, Rihanna joined my class. She's Korean and has the same name as Belle (though I refer to them differently on here).

I quickly became attracted to her quick wit and easy laugh, though for the first few weeks, I had to guess what she was saying because she knew very little English.

She came to Outdoor School at Managaha with her mom, and had her first experience with the ocean. She loved it.

Rihanna is a great dancer. I don't know where she finds these dances but she's absolutely hilarious. I used to think that I could never love a kid who came halfway through the year as much as I loved the ones who had been there the whole time, but she proved me wrong.

I don't think about what my life will be like without her. I've spent literally hours laughing at her antics. She fits into my class, and into my life, perfectly, and this Rihanna would never get back together with Chris Brown is he beat her.

When she doesn't hear what you say, she cups her hand next to her year. When she giggles, she puts her hand in front of her mouth. When she is pretending to be scared, she shakes like a leaf. She loves to pretend that her fingers are a spider crawling all over me. From the second she walks in the door until the moment she leaves, my world shines a little brighter.

I can't imagine loving anything or anyone more than I love my kids.

My Song

Dear Judith,

It's been awhile since I've written, and even longer since I've heard from you. Hope everything is going well for you. I miss talking to you.

I've had a few songs written for or about me in my life. Some of them are less than flattering (The Jaimie Nickell Song, performed by Donnie Keele) and some are so sickeningly sweet that I can hardly tolerate to listen to them (Sam wrote such a song for me). However, my favorite one was written today, on a whim, by a three year old.

I put Jonathan on time out for the third time in three days for hanging on the branch of the tree by the window. I've started making him complete tasks before he can get off time out. Yesterday, it was to run three laps around the playground. Today, I asked him to sing me a song.

We've been practicing songs for our Mother's Day Tea Party next week. One of the songs is to the tune of "Are you sleeping?" and the singer proclaims their love for their mommy.

Jonathan, without missing a beat, began to sing my song.

I love Miss Jaimie, I love Miss Jaimie
Yes I do, Yes I do
Miss Jaimie loves me too, Miss Jaimie loves me too
Yes she does, Yes she does.

I can't imagine anything better.

With a hug and a kiss, Jonathan was off to play, and I was left to wonder how I'll ever survive without these kids.

I simply don't think I can.

Saipan Words and Phrases

Dear Judith,

Since coming to Saipan, my vocabulary has changed in many ways, most of them making me sound like English is my second language. Some of them are just island words or phrases. Rhonda and Nicole are helping compile a list of things that we now say that we never used to.

1. On/off the aircon/lights.
2. Zorries and slippers
3. I hate men.
4. How many points do I get if I run over that guy?
5. Seriously? (Power just went out)
6. Did anyone get any water today?
7. Cannot, did not, should not, etc. in place of can't, didn't, shouldn't
8. Hafa Adai!
9. Ahh, there's a cockroach. Can I borrow your shoe?
10. My kids
11. No hitting/biting
12. Isn't she cute? (referring to picture on my camera)
13. Wanna go to the beach?
14. Ugh, I don't want to tutor today.
15. Yes! I got a box today!
16. When's my lunch break?
17. Let's get dressed up and go to Garapan!
18. Ahh! I'm going 50 mph! So fast!
19. A white person! Wait, are they Russian?
20. It's so cold!!
21. Hit the dog!
22. I cannot see!
23. No, I will not marry you with your nasty betelnut stained teeth.
24. Yeah, I live here. I'm not a tourist. Stop welcoming me to Saipan.
25. Really? (In reference to being followed, whistled at, or honked at by local men)
26. I'm so done with you (Usually said to Kei)
27. Let's go to Steve's and watch a movie
28. It's Friday!!!
29. Why do all the Russian men wear speedos?
30. Stupid humidity!
31. You have to watch out for those chunamis!
32. Did you know So and so? They just got engaged/married
33. What time is it back home?
34. Can I follow?
35. Plenty

This year has definitely memorable. I can't say that I've enjoyed all of it, but I'm trying to take each day as it comes and love the people that I encounter. Love you Jude!