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IamTtocs
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Name: Scott
Country: Morocco
Birthday: 7/16/1980
Interests: I like long walks on the beach an... wait. Wrong site.
I like hanging out with people.
I like spending quite time without people.
Eh, life is a contradiction, deal with it.
Expertise: I am an expert Hang Glider. ;) I am an expert at living. I feel that my record for staying alive gives me some crediblity in this area.
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message meEmail: email me
AIM:  IamTtocs
MSN: Iamttocs
Member Since:
10/8/2003
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| It is strange to think that Ramadan is almost over. To say that things here have been interesting would be an understatement. Fortunately, there are only a few days left, and then things will be back to normal (or whatever typically happens here...) Tomorrow night is the "night of power" when Muslims believe that Mohammed received his divine revelation from God. If a Muslim fasts all day and night, and spends the entire time in prayer, then at the exact moment of sunrise, if they make a wish, it is almost guaranteed that God will find favor and grant their request. For those of us who hold to other views, it means that the students will be rather exhausted and irritable on Friday. There are still a few more days after that, but it's just winding down. Thankfully, we have a holiday next week, and I am looking forward to a little rest. The year started out well with the students, but some other things were difficult. I think that things are smoothing out, but it's hard to tell.
There are some really good things that are taking place, however. There have been some great times to hang out and build relationships with some of my students, and some of the ex-pats who live in Casa. Several of the guys from youth group are meeting on Sunday afternoons for some study and quality hangout time  , and the discussions have been good. It has also been good to keep up the relationships from last year. There are some very amazing people who live here, and it is good to just spend time with them. Some day I hope to know that they have become like-minded, and will know my Dad... until that day, however, I keep on loving and spending time.
I am looking forward to some down time. As far as I know, there won't be Boy Scouts, Youth Group, School, or some of the other things that I'm doing these days. They are good when they happen, and it's good when they don't, so I'm happy either way  .
One of the guys was standing near the window looking out onto the soccer field (which is not yet planted, but we hope will be there someday...)... when he turned around, the had the blue window curtain wrapped around his face. When I asked him what he was doing, he replied "Mister, I do like this so my eyes are like you..." Strange kids that I teach. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
Peace, friend. And remember, I (and you) don't rule the universe, and He works all things for His glory, even the things that look like they are reallllly messed up.
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| Each year at almost any job brings new people (as others leave...). Much of the first few weeks is spent figuring out how the new and the old will interact well together (or not well, as the case may be...). This year at school, we have a new MS Principal who will be in charge of me and several others. After some of the events of last year, several of us were unsure if we would appriciate another administrator, but our fears were at least pushed down for a while when he explained that working with people should not be approached as if you are a mushroom farmer. Obviously, some of us (especially me!) were confused by that comment. Then he explained... when you are growing mushrooms, you keep them in the dark and pile on the *$%# (poop... ). While that may be really good for growing mushrooms, people don't work that way. I think it's going to be a good year. And it's really good to see my students again.
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| Someone asked me a little bit ago if it is strange to be back (actually, people asked me that both in the US, and in North Africa, so I can just be vague on this...), and after thinking about it for a while, I decided that, no, it's not strange at all. That's like asking if it's strange to visit your grandparents house or something like that. I mean, you don't go there all the time, but when you go, you fall into a certain pattern of life... "no, thanks, gram... i'm reeeally not hungry... I don't want anything to eat... why thank you for making me that sandwich anyway..." and you expect it to be that way, even if it's not like that at your friends houses... For me, it's the same way. When I'm in the US, I do the things I do there (don't believe me, ask those I dropped in on this summer) and when I'm here, I do what I do here (I think I was back all of 12 hours when I got to start dealing with my first student issue). The real issue, I think, is not if things are strange, but rather, if I am where I should be. I think people feel strange in different places because 1) they are expecting something much different from reality, or 2) they don't feel like they fit into the pattern of that place. Thus far, I have been expecting what I get, and I am oblivious enough to fit into the places I go (or just not notice that I don't fit). That having been said...
Summer at Camp Susque was very good. And I mean that. Different, but good. And there were a lot of good memories, talks, and whatnot. I was glad to work with Martin, Dave, and Ben. Can I go back?
Anyway, Gabe is the reason I'm posting this, so, hi Gabriel.
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| Hey now now. There are only 2.5 weeks left for me here this school year. This week, next week, then Monday and Tuesday of the following week. Finals start on Wednesday and end on Friday. And I am flying out at 12:30am on Thursday morning (which means I'm missing two finals for my kids  oops, poor planning on my part) Then I fly from here to Frankfurt, Germany, and after a little layover, end up in Philly. Danny told me he's picking me up at the airport to take me back to Millersville to get some of my stuff before we head up to Camp Susque the next day. Truth be told, I'm not sure if I'm excited or sad. I really love what I do here, and I will miss my kids a ton. On the other hand, I get to go to camp again! And the US (which is a little differnt from here, but not toooo much ). And I get to see my nephews and my new niece! So that's good. Besides, I'm back here by August 18th. I decided to teach 7th grade next year, so I'll have my kids again! WOOOHOOOO! I guess I'll figure things out all right. I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do before I go. If you wanna do something while I'm back, let me know. I don't know that I can, but I might try.
Peace.
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| I've been exploring, not as a result of my own will, you understand... some of the hard truths of Hosea along with the YG. To say that the conversations have been pointed would be an understatemnt. And yet, grace is still really really good. Not only those ideas, but also up there in the list of importance has been the value of integrety, and that compromise can be wonderful, as long as it is restrained. Unrestrained compromise can be a very terrible thing.
This comes into play in everyday life here. When do you flex, and when must you say that enough is enough? It is not always easy to do what is right. But it is good. (even when I'd sometimes rather bend the rules...)
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