Always Love

So life in Texas is obviously a little bit different than life in Providence or Philly or Ireland or Kenya... this is not something that should come as a great surprise to anyone, and it certainly doesn't for me. I have lived in enough different cities and countries in the past four years to know that I would certainly have to adjust.

And what an adjustment it has been... it is really hot here, did you know that? But you have to bring a sweater with you everywhere, because it's so highly air conditioned everywhere you go. And there are an odd number of stray dogs here, and as many of you may know, I don't mix so well with most animals, especially most dogs, so that isn't my most favorite thing. "Y'all" is a constant reminder that I'm not in Kansas anymore, and I am still holding out on adapting it... I survived four years in Providence and I only managed to pick up the very occasional "wicked," so I think I'll be ok in Texas for a year.

Sunday night, we immersed ourselves into one aspect of Houstonian culture that is right outside our door, and that we work with every day, but we never really get to the culture of: the immigrant community here. I teach students who are immigrants themselves and children of immigrants, I struggle to teach proper English grammar to students whose second language is my first, and I drive past Spanish signs and hear Spanish every day. Some of these immigrants are Mexican, many are not. I live with two children of immigrant parents, and while I know this and am aware of it each day, my actions in school are the limit of my involvement with this aspect of the culture.

But then, there's food. One of the reasons I love food is that it's so universal- everyone has a favorite dish, and our culture as a whole is so fascinated by food, and whether it's viewed in a positive or negative light depends on where it's coming from. Eva took us to a restaurant on Sunday where I got to participate in the immigrant culture and really be immersed in it, and by doing so, I got to eat some delicious food.

Papusas. Pupusas. Popusas. Ever had them? They're spelled in different ways depending on who you ask, but while I don't really know how to spell them, I know I really like to eat them. They're a treat from El Salvador that Eva has talked about since day one of JVC, and she was shocked when I told her that I hadn't ever had one. They're made of corn flour, and stuffed with cheese and other excellent foods... as simple as they sound, they're a wonderful treat.

We went to a Salvadorian restaurant around the corner from our house, and it was definitely an experience when I was the minority in the room and could feel it. I was with my fellow gringas as we marched in a line led by Eva into the restaurant. Lots of weird looks and side glances, followed by Spanish conversation that I couldn't understand, and we were seated. Eva had to order for me, because though so many of my fellow Americans speak Spanish, I have yet to learn and am still that white girl who doesn't know how to communicate, though not for lack of trying.

Eva ordered me a really yummy fruit juice, and while I already forget the word for it, I remember that it's from the fruit that cashews come from. It was surprisingly sweet, and tasted like pineapple juice... it was a big hit. I again followed Eva's advice and ordered 3 papusas- one plain cheese, and two beef and cheese, though I meant to get three different ones. I was flustered by not knowing how to communicate, and I told Eva a different thing than what I actually wanted. Regardless, the papusas were delicious, and it was a really interesting experience to not be able to communicate with my waitress.

I felt like I was five again, so dependent on someone else to get what I needed. I felt guilty for not knowing how to ask for what I wanted. My few murmured "gracias"es were not enough- I couldn't connect with another human being, and I felt dumb for it. It gave me insight into how so many people feel every day when they're trying to get things done that they need to get done: describing their ailments at a health clinic, asking for food at a pantry or restaurant, or describing their lives at an intake desk at any one of the many social services agencies in Houston. My awkward yet delicious experience opened my eyes to just how much of a role English has in terms of success in the US.

It's given me an extra push as a grammar teacher, and has opened my eyes to the prejudices around me. I'm working on my Spanish again, because if I want to be able to help my students and interact with their families, then I need to communicate in a language in which they feel comfortable. English, with all its irregularities and spellings that don't make sense, is a complicated language.

As I sit here observing John's "Hyphenated Americans" class on 9/11, it's a little overwhelming. Today is always a hard day for me, and I think as I get older and have a deeper understanding of what happened, it gets harder. Experiencing 9/11 in Texas as compared to on the East Coast is certainly different due to the physical separation from the attacks, but also because of the people here. So many people here have actively chosen to make America their country, and they see the attacks in a different light. Today, the seniors are discussing a prompt: What's more powerful, love or hate?

Always, love.

Day By Day

I'm trying to do less of a day-to-day update type of post, and one that's more topical, so here goes! I usually like posting that way because it gives me a way to reflect on the past few weeks and have a chance to really think about more than just what I did yesterday.

I've been thinking a lot about faith obviously as I've been here, and just like going to Kenya, or Italy, or Ireland, or Providence, mass here in Houston is different than mass at home. The music is different, the preaching styles are different, and the way people go to church is different. Over the past few weeks, we've definitely been "church shopping," but I think we've finally found one we like and will continue to go to.

During the shopping process, you notice things about mass. I have noticed that Catholic mass here has a distinct Protestant flavor, which honestly isn't that much of a surprise here in the deep south. People dress up way more than we do at home. It could be that I'm used to my college kid 10:30 PM masses (which by the way, I miss, and I was thinking of you all last night!), but everyone here gets very dressed up- some ladies wear hats! It's nice, because we do it too (not the hats), and it makes going to church more of an outing than something you simply do every week. It brings some of the formality back, and it makes us aware that we're going somewhere special.

I have also noticed the influence on the preaching style of the different priests whose homilies I have heard since I've been here. They sound more like southern Baptist preachers than Catholic priests, and I'm saying this having been to mass in several different places. Fr. Martinez, the Jesuit who is President of Cristo Rey, has an especially loud and engaging voice, and his homilies most remind me of being at mass in New Orleans. He uses the same inflection and tone as we see in many movies about the south, and I still think it's funny that that stereotype is actually true.

The music is also very much influenced by protestant traditions. We have been going to mass at St. Anne's, where the choir wears robes, and we each have a St. Anne's songbook in the pews. This also has all the readings for the year- it's a bound book with a hard cover, and it makes sense if you think about it, but it's still so funny to have a nice songbook instead of the new one every year. The music style is different from home. I don't recognize a lot of the songs, which is rare, and they all have a lot of slides and connected notes. The tempo is a bit slower and the beat is more of a march, and I find the lyrics to be less poetic. It's just different, but I like it!

I like going to mass at St. Anne's because there is a real diversity of people at mass. Lots of young married couples, lots of families, older people, and then there's us, who are somewhere in between. We feel comfortable there, and are beginning to be involved with the Young Adults group that's really active. We're still settling in, and having one place to go to church is helping with that.

One Month Down

Happy Month-i-versary!

Can you believe it? It's been just over a month since my first Torchy's taco, and it has honestly gone by so fast. I have been incredibly busy, which is why I feel like it flew, but it feels a little strange. I am so much more settled in here at school, I have a pretty solid routine, and I know my commute to school without even having to think about it. I am definitely still not used to waking up before the sun or getting to school in the dark, but I'm not sure that's something I'll ever get used to.

I still feel like I just got here, like it's maybe the second day of school, and I am embarrassingly still learning some of my students' names. My community is in a pretty consistent rhythm, especially when it comes to grocery shopping and chores and things around the house. I actually have a pretty good sense of where things are geographically, and my confidence in driving around downtown is growing each day.

So obviously, I have a lot more growing, exploring, and work to do, but one month is finished. Here's to the next eleven!

xo

Awake My Soul

Happy Tuesday! My favorite day of the week (as most PC friends know). I am minorly heartbroken that I'm not in my first day of classes at PC, and I won't be returning to DiTraglia to hang out with 501 and 601 and build surprise forts, but I also know that if I was at PC today, none of those people would be there (except Mary), so it wouldn't be as fun. The moving back in tweets and facebook posts were tough yesterday, as well as all the OL love... I'm missing my home away from home, but I'm trying to focus on my new home here.

This weekend was a wonderful chance to relax and take some time to myself to refuel and re-energize for the week ahead. I did some exploring around Houston, found some cool restaurants, made my way to Central Market (foodie heaven), worked out a lot, and visited with some people I love. I did also lesson plan and clean the house, but all in all it was a nourishing weekend.


I made dinner Saturday night... sweet potato black bean enchiladas... yum. We worked out at the YMCA, used the interwebs, and were so excited to go to bed because we were so tired! That morning, we went to visit Megan at work, where there was a 10 cent sale at the Vincentian Services Center. I got a VCR for the house for $2 since we have a ton of tapes but no way to watch them, as well as this excellent find for a quarter:

We went back for naps and I did some arts and crafts! I put one of my favorite quotes from Mumford & Sons on our wall: "where you invest your love/you invest your life." I think it's so appropriate for our JV year, and I need to fix some of the letters, but overall, I think it looks pretty cool :).

Sunday, I took my roommates to mass at a Dominican parish! It was so exciting to see the OPs, and the mass was really beautiful. It was almost entirely chanted, and most of the prayers were sung in Latin- not exactly what we were expecting, but really beautiful. It was a little more traditional than the parish we've been attending each week, but we plan to go back next week at a different time in order to participate in a different style mass.

We had Spirituality night on Sunday, led by Megan, but before that, we went to Costco! Karen and I both have cards now because one of us will always go, and it was a good investment for our house. I felt like such a big kid with my very own Costco card! And we have a ton of snacks now- so great.

Yesterday was a busy day filled with errands, lesson plans, and working out- AND visiting with Sister Mary! Cassie and I went to Central Market again, and then we discovered that the famed cupcake shop Sprinkles was right down the street... so naturally, we got a half dozen to bring home as a Labor Day treat. They were absolutely delicious.

Sister Mary and I met that afternoon at the Cenacle Sisters Retreat House, a beautiful spot about 30 minutes away from my house (but still in Houston). We went on a walk/hike on the grounds, and it was so lovely to catch up with her and talk about Kenya, Ireland, and life as a JV. We continued our chat over some delicious salads, and parted ways because we both had an early day today!

It was so good to see her, and have a little time to myself outside of the house. I'm at school in a calm, confident attitude, even if I am missing my morning LaSalle and seeing the Dominicans every day.

Catching My Breath

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a time-honored tradition that Cristo Rey takes part in each year. Students, their families, faculty and staff, donors, and friends of the school are invited to celebrate mass and ask for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for both the students and their teachers, so that they might learn as much as they can.

Last night's mass was absolutely beautiful! It was such a powerful experience, and I'm so happy that I got to be a part of it. The students returned to school an hour before mass, and we gathered in our 8th period classes. I happen to love my 8th period, it's my most outgoing drama class, so I was really happy to share the experience of Mass of the Holy Spirit with them.

The music was in a combination of languages and styles, representing the various ethnic backgrounds of CRJ students. The Nigerian Igbo Catholic Choir, about 20 people, was there, along with their drummers. Some parts of the Mass and the music were in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Latin, and the music styles ranged from traditional to tribal to upbeat. It was an amazing celebration of the school, and as we processed in, I couldn't believe just how many people were there!

That's right...we processed in. We walked down the aisle as a whole school, grade by grade, faculty mixed in with students. The aisle was lined by the Knights of Columbus in full regalia, and we had several visiting Jesuits, Archdiocesan priests, and sisters, as well as the president of St. Thomas University in Houston. The gym was transformed into a beautiful space for worship, and really reflected how hard the development staff and campus minister have worked over the past few weeks.

I was a Eucharistic Minister at mass last night, and I think that was the coolest part of the whole experience. So many of my students came to me to receive the Eucharist, and being able to say their names when I offered them the blood of Christ definitely made the whole mass even more meaningful. One student who I'd had to send to P.H. (Penance Hall, or detention) over something that happened in our class this past week, came to me to receive communion, and it felt like a reconciliation in a sense.

Immediately after the Mass had ended, there was a real live mariachi band to lead all 1,000 people into the party in the cafeteria, or as everyone at CRJ calls it, the cafe! James Coney Island, a Houston institution so I've been told, was there serving chili dogs, chips, and cookies and soda, and it was a great time for the students to show their families around the school. I met the families of two of my most wonderful students, one freshman and one junior. I was so honored that the girls introduced me to their moms, and it was so good to honestly brag about each of them!

Not only were families of students everywhere, but it was also great to meet families of the other faculty and staff. I was in line for food with my 3 housemates who came and our JVC Program Coordinator, Katie, when I turned my head, and was so pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face... a good friend from PC, Charlie DaSilva!!

Charlie has a good friend who also teaches at CRJ, and he came to visit for the weekend... AND brought me my favorite treat from LaSalle Bakery in Providence! No, not banana hazelnut iced coffee, he couldn't bring liquids on the plane... but banana chocolate chunk bread! A whole loaf! As of writing this, I've already had two pieces, and I couldn't be a happier girl. Especially since I am off today and Monday! I slept in (til 7:45, woohoo!), had a leisurely breakfast, cleaned up my room a little, had lunch with Eva thanks to a groupon left by the JVs from last year, and just finished working out at the gym. We have a connection with the Houston YMCA, and are working on a very discounted membership... but for now, I have a 1-week free trial membership :).

It was so nice to have a day for some self-care, and I'm really enjoying time to myself for a few hours. Plans for the weekend include cleaning the whole house as a community, possibly a high school football game, and seeing Sister Mary and Charlie! Have a wonderful long weekend, and I'll post more when there's more to share!

xo

I was the happiest girl last night... 4-day weekend, and LaSalle!

Miss Tully at her desk... better decorations to come! The bookshelf behind me isn't mine... just what's on my desk :).

Let's Go Eat

Last night, Megan and I screamed like teenage girls. I'm pretty sure I acted the same way that most of my freshman ladies would have had they been in the same 100 mile radius as One Direction (1D, as the kids are calling them these days). 

We went to the Astros game, and not because the Phils were in town (that's in 2 weeks, woohoo!). The Astros were playing the Giants... and many of you know, there are few teams I like less than the Giants. However, during the trading period, my Phils traded Hunter Pence to the Giants, and while I'm still really upset about it, the Astros fans are still upset that THEY lost Hunter to the Phillies. Megan and I wanted to see Hunter while he was in town, and while we're pretty sure there were more Giants fans than Astros fans at the game last night, we were not Hunter's only fans. People of Houston and San Francisco love him, and we got to the park at 5:45 for a 7:15 game to go to batting practice.

Of course, we had a clever sign with us. Two, actually. Megan made a sign before she went to bed on Tuesday night (Ms. Tully needs to go to bed early) that read "Phans transplanted from Philadelphia, PENCE-sylvania," and I had 3 papers, each with one word on them: Let's Go Eat. If you're not a Phillies phan, this probably sounds weird, but Hunter Pence's tagline refers to his habit of eating a big meal after a big win. It's kind of taken over in Philadelphia... remember the excellent Liscio's Italian bread commercials where he is using the bread to measure the height of his socks and to row down the Schuylkill?

Our seats were in section 409, and there was one other family sitting there by the time the game started. We didn't really care too much... we paid $10 for a ticket to the game, a hotdog, a soda, and a bag of chips. Good deal, huh? We were sitting enjoying the game and cheering louder than the rest of the stadium for the Astros during the first inning, when a man in a shirt and tie came up to our section. He was an intern with the Astros, and he happened to have 3 extra seats in section 113. Would we like them? (Did I mention that Cassie, our communitymate who is actually a Giants fan, came with us?)

YUP. AGAIN, we got magically moved down close to the field, and found ourselves right behind the Giants dugout. It was amazing to be so close to the players! Megan and I knew this was our chance- we were in direct eyeline of Hunter, if only he'd look up coming into the dugout! We worked so hard all night, trying desperately to get his attention. I'm pretty sure we each tweeted at him, and we were starting to get sad as the game went on. All we wanted was some acknowledgment! The fans around us loved our sign, and they wanted him to acknowledge us too... people kept stopping to read our sign up close, and we had lots of conversation about how sad it was to lose Hunter. The Astros fans were very sympathetic.

In the 8th inning, when we thought it was hopeless, we tried to get his attention. As Hunter was running into the dugout, we screamed and held up our sign... AND HE LOOKED UP! And read the signs... and smiled... and waved!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Megan and I were jumping up and down like 12-year-olds, screaming and laughing. Everyone in our section loved it, and they were all very happy for us and our success. So much so that they insisted that we try to move down closer to the dugout so that he could sign our poster at the end of the game... and one guy actually went down to try to distract security so that we could. We found ourselves in the second row, and while we didn't get Hunter's autograph, I was less than 5 feet away from him.

All in all, an awesome night. We're not sure how we'll be able to handle the upcoming Phils game... we plan to be there when the park opens at 5. We're bringing tissues.

I'll post pictures later... let's go teach!

Hurricane Update!

To everyone who is worried about me and Isaac:

Don't be! I promise! While I do appreciate the texts telling me to batten down the hatches, and one in particular to find all the flashlights and candles (done, thanks to this weekend!) and fill the bathtub with water... Isaac won't be visiting today. He may show up a little late, but not in excess- don't worry about me, worry about my NOLA!

I downloaded the American Red Cross Hurricane app to my phone, so not only will I know how to prepare if Isaac changes his mind, but I'll know IF he's coming here- the app alerts me if the area I'm in goes under a hurricane watch or warning. Thank you for the worries, but use them for someone else :). Here's to being halfway through my week!

xo