Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead (El Día de Muertos) is a Hispanic holiday celebrated throughout Spanish-speaking countries and around the world in many cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.  Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

About three weeks ago I assigned a Day of the Dead project for my Spanish 1 students.  Their assignment was to chose a deceased hispanic person, write a paper about their lives and then create an alter or gravesite to honor them.  I really enjoy this project because it allows the students to be creative and learn about the hispanic culture.  I was so impressed with their work that I wanted to share it.  

It was also a great way to discuss the concept and idea of death with my students.  Why do we celebrate the dead?  What can we gain from this?  Is it truly full-filling to bring honor to someone that is no longer in existence?  It was a great way to discuss Christ and his conquer over death.  Thankfully we do not have to celebrate a god who is dead, but one that LIVES!  

Crazy girls acting like Frida

Great alter for Salvador Dali

 Using puzzle pieces to create a Dali portrait 

Excited to eat the food!

My Spanish 1 Class

Girls loving the delicious food

An awesome video that my good friend, Lindsey Harrell, shared with me to remind us that Jesus is Alive!

A sweet little visit

This past weekend Becca and I had our first visitors!  When we were at PFO (pre-field orientation) this past summer we met many fellow teachers who were about to venture across the world.  There was a small group going to Europe and we got to know many of them pretty well.  Our friends, Kathryn and Megan, are currently teaching at the International Christian School of Budapest in Hungry and decided to visit Vienna.  It was great to reconnect, share stories and have some great time of encouragement.

In addition to Kathryn and Megan, my friend Amy visited as well.  She is student teaching at ICSB and decided to visit as well.  It was a nice little treat to see her and have somewhat of a taste of home.  I am looking forward to coming home for Christmas and hope to see you all :).

The whole group!  

First taste of Weiner Schnitzel 

Amy and I :)

Making the train look good

PFO reunions

Fall Festival

This past Friday ICSV hosted a family fall festival night.  Everyone was invited and it was a great way to see the whole school come together for some family fun!  Very rarely do I get to see the elementary students since I work in the high school so it was a nice little treat to spend some time with students that I do not have in class.  Check out pics below!

Arm Wrestling fights

Sack racing (The girl did end up winning!)

Fellow ELL teacher :)

One of my students representing the Austrian Flag well

Elementary Kids singing 

Cutie

Pie in the face!

50s Diner Night

This past Friday night our Junior class hosted a 50s diner/karaoke night for the entire school.  Naturally when karaoke singing is involved I am the first one to sign up!  Becca begrudgingly joined me :).  We decided to sing What a Wonderful World by Sam Cooke.  Neither Becca nor I have been blessed with a singing voice so I am sure our students, staff members and visitors were glad when we were done.  It was such a wonderful night to share with the students.  Many of the students did not understand the concept of "50s Diner" so it was fun to teach them a little bit about the 50s in America.    

Check out the night below!

  

Wonderful 50s decor

Rockin' and a rollin'

Two of my students

Becca and I showing off our karaoke skills

To hear the song that we sang click  --->  What a Wonderful World   

My volleyball girls

Phil, our science teacher, and James, school director dancing up a storm

My fellow co-worker, Kristi-Anna :)

I also won best dressed for the night.  I would like to thank my mom for some wonderful dress ideas :).   

She rocked the 50s! 

An Original Myth: The Origin of the Mouse

In my ELL class we just finished a short unit on myths.  After defining what a myth was, reading many Greek stories and sharing myths from our home countries, I had the students write their own myths.  One student in particular decided to inform us of the origin of the mouse.  I thought I would share this cute little story with you all!

The Origin of the Mouse

There once was a monster who lived in a cave.  The monster wanted to run.  He left the cave and ran.  Then the elephant stepped on the monster.  Now the monster is a small monster.  Then the small monster ran into the woods.  A worm bit the small monster in the butt and never left.  Ouch!  Later the small monster asked a snake for his ears.  The snake gave the small monster two ears.  Then there was a mouse!  

*Author pictured above

What's your story?

Spiritual  Emphasis  Week

This past week was our school's Spiritual Emphasis week.  Instead of having chapel once a week it was scheduled everyday for the secondary students (High School and Middle School).  In the past the school usually brings in various speakers to talk to the students about various topics.  This year our Chapel team decided to stay "in house" and use the teachers to speak.  The theme was titled By His Design.  Six different teachers shared their testimonies about how Jesus Christ saved them and his complete faithfulness during very difficult times.  It was such a powerful and enriching week for everyone.  I thought it was so neat for the students to see the teachers as "real people" with real stories.  God was moving mountains in many of these student's lives.  Walls were breaking down, questions were being asked and conversations about Jesus were happening hourly.  It was quite an amazing experience!

We tend to forget that our testimonies and stories are sometimes the most powerful tools that we have to share Jesus with others.  It is hard to debate and argue with real life experiences that involve Jesus Christ.  In one of my Spanish classes a student asked me, "So Ms. Johnson... what's your story?".  The student that asked me this question is one that is seeking God and unsure of what she believes.  God presented such an opportunity to share what Jesus meant to me right in class.  Later that day in another Spanish class I asked the students what they had thought of the speakers so far and thus began a huge debate between a Christian, Muslim and an agnostic on the matter of Jesus Christ.

One thing I have learned this week is the power of TESTIMONY.  Jesus has given us all a different story of how we have come to know him and that is powerful.  Whether it be easy or hard, God has been incredibly faithful and good.  So my prayer for this year is that my students create/find their story and share it with as many people as possible.

What is your testimony?  I'd love to hear it some day!  :)

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb 

and because the word of their testimony...

Getting ready to worship

S.E.W. devotional 

One of our speakers 

Listening to the speaker

  

A beautiful little song I came across:  Jesus, lover of my soul (It's all about you)

Bollywood Night!

One of the perks of teaching at an international school is being able to learn about hundreds of different cultures around the world.  My knowledge of geography has definitely increased :).  A fellow teacher calculated that the students that attend our school represent about 1/4 of the world's nations.  It is amazing to see so many different cultures interact and develop strong friendships.  Some of these friendships stem from countries that do not necessarily get along.  In addition, when we hear about the famines in Somalia, the torture of the untouchables in India and the typhoons in the Philippines it really hits home to many of our students and these terrible events are made very real.  Many of our students have left their home countries to escape famines, difficult living conditions due to government restrictions, persecutions and even torture.  Many of these students experience more pain and loss in one year than some of us will every experience in a lifetime.

ICSV has created such a warm and welcoming environment for these students.  In addition, there are many outside events that the school puts on in order to allow the students to feel more welcome.  This past Friday night the seniors put on a Bollywood event!  Many of our Indian students wore their sari's and cooked us delicious Indian food.  There were even 3 students painting Henna tattoos on people.  It was a real neat event!  I got to see many of my students outside the classroom and even deepen some friendships with them.  I am learning that sharing the love of Jesus Christ is so much about building relationships with people.  It's so important to build a trust and close bond in order to go deep with people.  Many of these students have deep pain and it can take years to break down those walls.  Thankfully we serve a patient and loving God who can break down any walls!

See some pictures below of the Bollywood night!  

Welcome to Bollywood!  

One of our senior girls who helped make the food

Getting some Henna

Fun Henna tattoos

One of my Spanish students 

Yikes!

Some of my volleyball girls enjoying the night