"The art of longing and the art of belonging must be experienced in life." The quote I read on my yogi tea bag the other day, really sums up how I have been feeling lately. Adjusting to a brand new lifestyle takes time, patience, and an open mind. As well as a whole lot of learning - about myself, and my surroundings. Life is treating me pretty well in LA. I am now 3 weeks into the program, and each day I work with the kids I learn to love them more and more. There are about 270 kids at my school, so I have yet to learn so many more names! The pressure is on, because I have now moved up to the teacher role, as I have taken on teaching music classes two days a week to all of the kids. That makes for about 5 classes a day that I teach on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I also lead music at Mass, which they have biweekly.
It is amazing how once the kids saw me with a guitar, heard me play and sing, how their love for me increased even more. Now instead of only the kids from the 3 classes that I worked with during the day, and the 50 or so kids I worked with after school, now everyone says to me as they pass "Hi Ms. Schiebe!" very enthusiastically with a grin on their face. The younger ones to greet me with a hug and once in a while I will get an "I love you." They make my heart melt. Yes, they are trying on patience, and make my voice hurt by the end of the day from trying to get their attention and keep them under control; but they are so loveable. I give teachers so much credit for what they do - it's a crazy hard job! Very rewarding though.
Little by little I am trying to explore the LA area - and soak it all in, as well as finding my nich in where I am at and what I do. I have now checked out the LA public library downtown, which is absolutely wonderful; I have tried the froyo at Yogurtland; embraced the ocean-front on the Santa Monica Beach; been to the "Abbey" in West Hollywood, learned how not on time the bussing system is; taken the time to cook; bought fresh produce at the Grand Central Market downtown LA; learned how to handle lots of kids of all ages; made some wonderful new friends; and more.
A whirlwind of new places, people, sights, sounds, smells, and emotions have all hit me at once - and it will continue to take time to process them all. The story is beginning to unfold as I put peices together of why God has called me to this specific place to work with these specific people. Though I am out of my comfort zone as the minirity, and as the "newbie," which is intimidating; I do know that things will fall into place - with faith and trust.
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