First Term... Its over already?!

The school year has taken off and we are almost finished with our first term! So much has happened in the last two months and life has been crazy busy.

In early August we hosted an Autumn party as I was really missing the Fall colors, activities and weather! We made S'mores and had homemade apple cider. No hay rides or sweaters though... its still in the 90 degrees here.

Alpha and I were able to celebrate our birthdays together for the first time ever! It was so nice to create a new memory and enjoy being with each other. Alpha surprised me with a cake, candles and flowers and a week later we celebrated Alpha's birthday with his dad and uncle's family. I made his cake and learned that in Bangladesh the birthday person cuts the cake, not someone else. (Guess what I did on his birthday.... oops!)

Alpha has joined the Worship team at our church DIA (Dhaka International Assembly). He has so enjoyed being a part of a church again and plays every Friday (We have church on Fridays, not Sundays). He also had a chance to play at a youth outreach.

I have been teaching a sword fighting unit at the Secondary School and the students are having a blast! I am so proud to watch them exercise self control and work extra hard to learn the techniques. 

Our school had a teachers training and retreat at the beautiful BRAC center north of Dhaka. We had helpful meetings and workshops as well as a time to relax, play some volleyball and worship the Lord. Alpha played with the worship band. It was a blessing to have him come on the retreat with me. 

At church we met the most amazing couple. Grace and D have become what I believe will be life long friends and we are so blessed to have them in our lives. Alpha and D have become good friends, causing mischief and smiles wherever the go! They met on the worship team and had many same interests. Grace and I are so happy to send out the hubbies so we can enjoy some cooking, fellowship and quite reading. :)

Dhaka had a security incident which you may have seen on the news. We are all safe here and used our day of lock down to fellowship with the other teachers and get some crafts painted for Lauren and Hannah's dining room. I feel so blessed to be living in the teacher's building where I can travel up a flight of stairs to see good friends on a day that was otherwise tragic. Please pray for the country of Bangladesh.

Now you are up to date, blessings!

Summer Wanderings

As the school year finished, Alpha and I had a decision to make about what to do with our summer. Oringinally we had decided to spend the summer in Germany with my family, but the visa process ended up taking about 10 weeks! And yes, we did get to Germany, but only for this last week before we go back to work. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Enjoying the great !

Alpha and I applied for his German visa back in May and when we realized it was going to take a lot longer then the 2 weeks originally quoted to us, we decided to go see his family in Khulna for a week of relaxation and just to get out of Dhaka. It was a wonderful time just being able to sit back and enjoy the beauty of Bangladesh.

And then on the 22 of July we got the call. Alpha's visa came through!And our flight leaves in 6 hours! That was quite the day. The night before we had to pack our whole apartment to move, then Alpha had a job interview in the morning and then we went to pick up his visa, booked our tickets and headed to the airport!
For Alpha's first time out of the country, pictures are worth a thousand words, here is our trip in pictures:

At the Airport!!

Waiting in lines... so many lines....

Alpha's first time on a moving walk way, of course we had to do it twice.

So tired and in desperate need of caffeine

We spent a day at a castle!

Castle Bread, yummy!

Yummy treats, Alpha really enjoyed the German food

Going inside to castle... I wonder how Jared feels about this...

Dad and Alpha Hiking 

Jared and Alpha after a long day of wandering 

Always ready for a photo oppertunity

Mom and Alpha enjoying the village

Just because...

Waling into the Castle for the first time!

Having fun

The Boys

Getting our Couple shot

Getting their Couple Shot

Mom found her bike!

Now that is a Rickshaw!

Well...

Okay... Really Guys....

There we go (At the Brandenburg Gate)

But this is better

Alpha REALLY liked all the fancy cars

At the Dubai Airport on our way home

A New Year To Come

The summer has come to a close and the new school year has started. Alpha and I have been enjoying a relaxing summer without having to teach, but it has also been stressful as we have spent many hours and weeks working on visa applications and interviews. After 10 weeks, Alpha was able to get a 12 day tourist visa to Germany so we could visit my parents. My next post will be about our time in Germany. Now back to the summer...

The school year ended with much joy and celebration, but also the sadness of saying goodbye. Grace International School had a large turn over of staff this year with many teachers finishing their contracts and moving on to the next chapter of their lives. Also my good friend Leslie, my adventure and travel buddy, had to return home unexpectedly. I miss her so much and can't wait till I can see her again!

The next chapter of my life with Alpha will be spent as another year in Bangladesh. I have accepted the position on Primary School Art and Secondary School Drama teacher at Grace for the coming school year. I am so excited about this change of position and cannot wait to get started with my students. The year is going to be filled with exciting projects, creativity and young imaginations!
Alpha has had and will have some more interviews at the international schools in the area, please pray he gets a job for this year.

We have a lot of work ahead of us as the school year starts. Alpha and I are starting the visa application process for him to come to the states. It is going to be long and complicated, please pray that we have patience and God makes the path clear for us.

We had Good Times in the Rain

My Cousin's Son Alferd

Practicing Bangla with Family

Visiting Family in Dhaka

Catching Up with Friends from Khulna

Saying Goodbye to My Dear Friend Leslie