So Close

               I'm so close to boarding a plane and heading back home. I'm so close to saying the last of my goodbyes here in Fiji. These realizations are truly bittersweet, but I'm not QUITE ready to write a "see you later" post, so instead, please enjoy my random compilation of recent "So Close" stories!

• While co-teaching in Class 1 today, I told the students that I lived near Washington D.C. The teacher asked if they knew who lived there (they didn't). Then, she asked if they had heard of Barack Obama before (they said they did). When she asked if he had "fair skin like Ms. Meghan or brown skin like me," they chorused, "FAIR SKIN!" ... So close!
• In the same class, the teacher asked students what they saw last week that is big, red, and has a ladder. The answers that were given? "Australia!" "Dog!" The poor teacher then apologetically explained to me that English is their second language. Although I completely understand this, I couldn't help but smile because they were so close.
• It's been cold here recently, and by cold, I mean like 70 degrees. Because of this, I've seen many people in sweaters, fleece, scarves, and hats. Carly asked a local when it will get warmer. He said, "Maybe tomorrow?" I asked another. She said, "Maybe September?" Clearly, they don't know, but I can tell that warmer weather in Fiji is so close.
• The students that I tutor at FENC, the FENC staff, the Ministry of Education employees, and Dee (one of the teachers that I co-taught with this morning) are all partners that I truly feel like I've become so close with in a short amount of time. I know that I will continue to have relationships with these people through technology and, hopefully, can see them again at some point in the future, but that doesn't change the fact that I'll be incredibly sad to say my final goodbyes!
• Speaking of people in Fiji that I will miss, I truly have become so close with the HELP team. Although I was able to form a lot of great relationships during the first month, I've truly learned to love and appreciate every single person on the team over the past couple of weeks since there have only been a handful of us in the house. We've had several "technology free" nights, lots of down time with each other, and wonderful, down-to-earth conversations that have really helped to build lasting friendships.
• Lastly, Sarah and I were fortunate enough to conduct 5 workshops for teachers at various schools in Suva this week. Most of them went fantastically and the staff were so excited to implement these ideas and resources into their own classrooms. Sarah and I even got to help teachers do this at one school today which we both found incredibly rewarding and fun. (I taught some multiplication tricks to Class 4 -- see the video below. I don't think they've ever had so much fun learning!); however, after doing an entire workshop on ways that teachers can motivate students at one school, the principal thanked Sarah and I by saying, "We learned a lot today; however, teachers don't have time to do this because we have a lot to teach. But thank you!" Good thing I'll never get that hour of my life back. Hey, you win some... you lose some. It's too bad for these students that they'll never be introduced to our awesome motivational techniques (approved by Ms. Puckli's 5th grade class). They were so close to having them though! #sorrykids

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               I'll write in a couple of days to give my proper goodbyes and to tie my summer in Fiji together with a nice little bow, but for now, I'll continue to cherish every moment until it's gone as I'm so close... so close... so close.