I am so glad that when I got to Guam, that it felt so familiar and comfortable. There are some things that are different, but it didn't take me long to feel comfortable driving into "town" for shopping and to visit friends for watercolor classes.
I had arranged with a family I knew before on Guam to give them and some of their friends watercolor art classes, similar to what I was doing back in Walla Walla. We got started right away on the first Sunday I was in town.
I brought good paper, brushes and paints for them to use, because there is no good quality, student grade materials, on island, that I know about.
We started by painting sea turtles, just minutes from the very sea that they swim in regularly. I taught the drawing and then wet-on-wet technique so that each portion of the shell was different.
What fun the students had using this new to them technique, letting the colors paint themselves, and enjoying all the happy surprises that the pretty colors bring as they mix themselves together.
I loved using the Jensen's home for our work, because they have painted their walls bright happy colors, perfect for an art studio. It has inspired me to think about what colors I can paint me art studio when I get back home.
We took two, 2.5 hour class periods to draw and paint our turtles, rather than the rushed 1.5 hours to do the same back at home. I learned that art classes can cost $30 for 1.5 hours here on Guam. I had no idea that my classes in Walla Walla were such a deal.
Our second drawing and painting was of sailboats by the sea.
At first I thought we were painting something from another state, and then we realized that these boats could be sailing inside the reef near Agat, because the hills were similar to those in our paintings.
Again we two, 2.5 hour class periods to finish our art.
This week was an art intensive, and after this I think we will be meeting only once per week.
On Sunday morning I went with Amy to a Flea Market where Chukese like to go, to sell literature, including Bibles and children's story books, in their language. I was very surprised at how excited people were to buy the materials, and they were available for a very good price.
On Tuesday I made Green Papaya Salad for the Agat Farmer's Market. The local church ladies go there every week and serve free samples of something healthy, hoping to help people make changes in their lifestyle that could improve their health and possibly overcome diabetes. I learned that Guam is tied with two other countries for the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world. Every grandma I have met so far, has told me that she is having struggles with diabetes. Doctors are trying to help, but change comes slow.
A Chamoro lady, named Barbara, from Agat church came to help. Her nickname is Bobbie. My nickname is Barbie. We had fun encouraging people to come have a taste. Some people really loved the salad and came back to tell us. Some even asked how to make the salad. Of course, there were some who wouldn't try, either they were busy, or maybe some of them don't eat vegetables.
On Thursday evening a new engineer for AWR, Alberto, and his wife, Antonieta, flew in to Guam. They were only here for one night, before they flew on to Thailand for Mission Institute. They will be back near the beginning of February to begin work. At that time will be teaching ESL to Antoneita, until I leave.
I'm thankful that she sleeps very well and doesn't whine in her crate or basket.
I've discovered she is a bit like a cat, in that she likes to sit on the back of the couch, and sit on your lap to be petted.
I had arranged with a family I knew before on Guam to give them and some of their friends watercolor art classes, similar to what I was doing back in Walla Walla. We got started right away on the first Sunday I was in town.
I brought good paper, brushes and paints for them to use, because there is no good quality, student grade materials, on island, that I know about.
We started by painting sea turtles, just minutes from the very sea that they swim in regularly. I taught the drawing and then wet-on-wet technique so that each portion of the shell was different.
What fun the students had using this new to them technique, letting the colors paint themselves, and enjoying all the happy surprises that the pretty colors bring as they mix themselves together.
I loved using the Jensen's home for our work, because they have painted their walls bright happy colors, perfect for an art studio. It has inspired me to think about what colors I can paint me art studio when I get back home.
We took two, 2.5 hour class periods to draw and paint our turtles, rather than the rushed 1.5 hours to do the same back at home. I learned that art classes can cost $30 for 1.5 hours here on Guam. I had no idea that my classes in Walla Walla were such a deal.
Our second drawing and painting was of sailboats by the sea.
At first I thought we were painting something from another state, and then we realized that these boats could be sailing inside the reef near Agat, because the hills were similar to those in our paintings.
Again we two, 2.5 hour class periods to finish our art.
This week was an art intensive, and after this I think we will be meeting only once per week.
On Sunday morning I went with Amy to a Flea Market where Chukese like to go, to sell literature, including Bibles and children's story books, in their language. I was very surprised at how excited people were to buy the materials, and they were available for a very good price.
A Chamoro lady, named Barbara, from Agat church came to help. Her nickname is Bobbie. My nickname is Barbie. We had fun encouraging people to come have a taste. Some people really loved the salad and came back to tell us. Some even asked how to make the salad. Of course, there were some who wouldn't try, either they were busy, or maybe some of them don't eat vegetables.
On Thursday evening a new engineer for AWR, Alberto, and his wife, Antonieta, flew in to Guam. They were only here for one night, before they flew on to Thailand for Mission Institute. They will be back near the beginning of February to begin work. At that time will be teaching ESL to Antoneita, until I leave.
A local Guam man, friends of our friends, left the island suddenly this week, and in the night before he left, called and asked our friends to come get his puppy to take care of. But they can't have an inside dog at their house, so Pika has come to stay with us for a while. She is a sweet Chihuahua who might be four months old, and is still figuring out going potty only outside. Pika means "spicy" in the Chamoro language. She is teething, and really a very sweet little dog.
I'm thankful that she sleeps very well and doesn't whine in her crate or basket.
Comments
Post a Comment