Sunday, July 26, 2009

my experience thus far...

Hello friends and family!

So I'm DONE with institute. I am now moved in and ALMOST settled into a 2 bedroom, 1 bath triplex in Greenwood, MS. I'm teaching 6th grade Math at Threadgill elementary. The students come Aug. 6th...so not much longer until I'm officially a teacher!

Since I've have already had SUCH an experience living here in Greenwood, MS- some friends and I put together something to describe our experience thus far....enjoy!

You know you are in Greenwood, Mississippi when…

-you get invited to 4 churches in one day
-you see a tractor drive through town
-you can order frog legs for dinner
-you hear Christian music playing…everywhere
-you try and order catfish and they say it’s “sold out”
-your landlord becomes your “mom figure”
-your banker gives you personal advice
- 90 degrees with 80 percent humidity starts to feel comfortable
-the mosquitoes LIKE insect repellent..and are bigger than your hand
-you have to finish your shopping by 5:00pm because everything closes…expect for Wal-Mart
- everyone you meet makes sure you are living in the “right” (white) part of town
-Wal-Mart becomes your best friend
-you have a constant shine of sweat on your body
-there are more churches then grocery stores
-the streets are named after Presidents…and one is Jefferson Davis
-you have to drive an hour to get to the nearest movie theater
-you have to have your house sprayed for cockroaches
-your glasses fog up when you go outside
-you pay $500 a month for a 2 bedroom house
-strangers ask you where your accent is from
-you feel rude if you say “thank you” without adding “ma’am” or “sir”
-you are excited to see JC penny
-you get seated on the “white” or “black” side of a restaurant
-strangers know you are doing Teach America before you even tell them
-it takes you 5 minutes to get across town
-the manager at the local bowling alley says, “come on hunny put your baadoonkkaa ddooonnkkk into it!” over the loud speaker
-as a first year teacher you are making double the median salary of MS
- the clerk from Big Lots offers to deliver your furniture when he gets off work
-you go outside and hear the sound of 100 dying cats…then realize it’s just the katydids
-the only radio stations are country or Christian…
-your cable guy gets upset when you watch BET
-you have to drive 2 ½ hours to Memphis, Tennessee to go to Starbucks
-squished bugs become a permanent car decoration

Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, and support. I appreciate all of you so much!
much love,
Dana