Ayer
We celebrated a student teacher's birthday yesterday. Went to a really good really cheap Mexican restaurant and then a movie. (You probably don't want to hear that we paid $1.80 for the movie, so I won't tell you.) I'd like to pause here to mention that about half a cup guacamole cost $1. Yeah, $1. Be jealous.
Hoy
I'm happy to say that fifth graders around the world are still watching the exact same sex ed video they showed us over ten years ago. (At least these students did.) And just as with my own fifth grade class, the boys and girls had to sit through the embarassingly detailed explanation of male and female puberty in the same room. It was really funny to watch them deal with both their intense discomfort and extreme curiosity. I have to give them credit, though: they behaved pretty well. There were only a few giggles and red faces.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fiesta de Cumpleaños, VIP movies, Valentine's, and Flying Solo
Felíz Cumpleaños a Mama Tica
A couple weeks ago we celebrated Mama Tica´s birthday. I have no idea how old she turned because my feeling is it´s probably an international rule to never ask a woman her age. So however many years we were celebrating, it was done at Mama Tica´s daughter´s house. Court and I spent the afternoon with Mama and Papa Tico, his mother, Mama and Papa´s daughter (Karen), Karen´s husband (Alfonso), Mama and Papa´s son (Eric), Eric´s wife (Catherine), and Catherine´s two sons (who will be referred to as "The Possible Fifth Grader" and "The Possible Seventh Grader" because I have no idea what their names are). It was a really nice afternoon chatting and eating with the family. Karen and Alfonso are also expecting their first baby, which is very exciting for everyone. Especially Mama and Papa because it will be their first grandbaby. During the lunch-that-was-also-really-dinner, we all gathered around in the kitchen to watch the rodeo on TV. Apparently, the bull has killed three riders this year, so it's kinda a big deal. Then we sang happy birthday in Spanish and Mama Tica blew out her candle. It was a good day.
VIP Movies
Wednesday we had a half day, so most of us went to the VIP movies. We saw "The Bankjob" (which, by the way, was released in theatres in the States in July 2008) for less than $4. The seats were enormous leather recliners (total La-z-boy status), and you could order sushi and wine to be delievered to you from the consession stand during the movie.
Did I mention we paid $4?
Felíz Día de la Amistad Y Amor
AKA Valentine´s Day. Our class had a parent-student-teacher get-together at a student's ranch. I really enjoyed meeting the kids' parents. They were extremely friendly and kind, and now I have a good idea of where the kids are coming from. It was also fun to be able to recognize some of the kids' parents by how much they resemble each other. We wrote messages of love on helium-filled balloons and released them into the air. (And yeah, I winced and apologized to the environment as I let mine go.) The kids also got a soccer game going, kids vs. dads. I was on the kids' team. (You're shocked, right?) It was a lot of fun playing, but a little while into it my knee locked up and I threw my weight onto it. I thought I had dislocated it, it hurt so badly. I'm fine now, it's just sore. But it was a fun game, both to play and to watch from the sidelines.
That night, Court, Karina and I saw "He's Just Not That Into You." Although I can take a step back and recognize that it's an incredibly cheezy movie, I was totally into it. Even teared up at the cute parts. En serio.
Flying Solo
Today my mentor teacher had to leave, so I was left alone with the class from 11:30 til 3. Kinda spooky, but really good. I'm happy to say the reading, math, and spelling went well. Math actually was much better than I expected, considering they usually need the lesson to be re-explained a few times. The trickiest part was the science lab because the kids had to work in teams to complete the activity. That proved to be a challenge for some of them. We ran about ten minutes late, but I got lucky because the science teacher said the next class wouldn't come in for another fifteen minutes. Plus at one point one of the girls gave me some badittude, which I immediately addressed and cleared up. Then later that same girl told me she had a headache and was "exhausted," and I had to bite my lip to keep from telling her just how tired I was, too.
Oh and tonight while Court and I were having dinner, Eric, Catherine, and her sons came over. The Possible Seventh Grader came up to me and put his ear in front of my face and his nose near my food. I kinda stared for a moment and said, "Uh..." until I realized he was just greeting me and expected a kiss on the cheek. I felt silly for that awkward pause and wanted to explain, but what could I say? "I thought you were smelling my food?"
A couple weeks ago we celebrated Mama Tica´s birthday. I have no idea how old she turned because my feeling is it´s probably an international rule to never ask a woman her age. So however many years we were celebrating, it was done at Mama Tica´s daughter´s house. Court and I spent the afternoon with Mama and Papa Tico, his mother, Mama and Papa´s daughter (Karen), Karen´s husband (Alfonso), Mama and Papa´s son (Eric), Eric´s wife (Catherine), and Catherine´s two sons (who will be referred to as "The Possible Fifth Grader" and "The Possible Seventh Grader" because I have no idea what their names are). It was a really nice afternoon chatting and eating with the family. Karen and Alfonso are also expecting their first baby, which is very exciting for everyone. Especially Mama and Papa because it will be their first grandbaby. During the lunch-that-was-also-really-dinner, we all gathered around in the kitchen to watch the rodeo on TV. Apparently, the bull has killed three riders this year, so it's kinda a big deal. Then we sang happy birthday in Spanish and Mama Tica blew out her candle. It was a good day.
VIP Movies
Wednesday we had a half day, so most of us went to the VIP movies. We saw "The Bankjob" (which, by the way, was released in theatres in the States in July 2008) for less than $4. The seats were enormous leather recliners (total La-z-boy status), and you could order sushi and wine to be delievered to you from the consession stand during the movie.
Did I mention we paid $4?
Felíz Día de la Amistad Y Amor
AKA Valentine´s Day. Our class had a parent-student-teacher get-together at a student's ranch. I really enjoyed meeting the kids' parents. They were extremely friendly and kind, and now I have a good idea of where the kids are coming from. It was also fun to be able to recognize some of the kids' parents by how much they resemble each other. We wrote messages of love on helium-filled balloons and released them into the air. (And yeah, I winced and apologized to the environment as I let mine go.) The kids also got a soccer game going, kids vs. dads. I was on the kids' team. (You're shocked, right?) It was a lot of fun playing, but a little while into it my knee locked up and I threw my weight onto it. I thought I had dislocated it, it hurt so badly. I'm fine now, it's just sore. But it was a fun game, both to play and to watch from the sidelines.
That night, Court, Karina and I saw "He's Just Not That Into You." Although I can take a step back and recognize that it's an incredibly cheezy movie, I was totally into it. Even teared up at the cute parts. En serio.
Flying Solo
Today my mentor teacher had to leave, so I was left alone with the class from 11:30 til 3. Kinda spooky, but really good. I'm happy to say the reading, math, and spelling went well. Math actually was much better than I expected, considering they usually need the lesson to be re-explained a few times. The trickiest part was the science lab because the kids had to work in teams to complete the activity. That proved to be a challenge for some of them. We ran about ten minutes late, but I got lucky because the science teacher said the next class wouldn't come in for another fifteen minutes. Plus at one point one of the girls gave me some badittude, which I immediately addressed and cleared up. Then later that same girl told me she had a headache and was "exhausted," and I had to bite my lip to keep from telling her just how tired I was, too.
Oh and tonight while Court and I were having dinner, Eric, Catherine, and her sons came over. The Possible Seventh Grader came up to me and put his ear in front of my face and his nose near my food. I kinda stared for a moment and said, "Uh..." until I realized he was just greeting me and expected a kiss on the cheek. I felt silly for that awkward pause and wanted to explain, but what could I say? "I thought you were smelling my food?"
Saturday, February 7, 2009
3 weeks in (or, right on time)
During our orientation week at Lincoln, we had a woman come speak with us about culture shock, and she showed us a line graph predicting our emotional highs and lows. The process begins with the "honeymoon stage." The line graph (aka, us) begins to dip downward as we struggle with feelings of sadness, loneliness, and not belonging. These feelings begin to manifest in the human body with excessive tiredness, sickness, and obsessive behaviors (ie, preoccupation with staying hydrated). But as people begin to form new friendships in the new country and realize they can remain in regular contact with family back home, their comfort increases and the line shoots up again. But then line dives again through to the third week, at which point the line diverges. People either continue to feel out of place and homesick or they begin to adjust to their new culture and feel at home (in which case the line levels off).
So after reading all that, most of it hasn't applied to me. I'd say I've been cruising in the "honeymoon stage" for these last three weeks. But in the last few days I've found my mind wandering more and more to friends and family back home, wondering what I'm missing out on in your lives. It started when I heard Ricky Martin's "La Copa de la Vida" over the radio. It was bittersweet; I smiled to hear a song from linedancing but it was also hard to remember that that chapter of my life is over, along with so much else. I think for the most part it's been easy for me to adjust because there's not too much that reminds me of the U.S. (aside from all the imported goods) so I've really been able to invest in the people here. But now that the novelty's worn off a little and I'm pretty well established I can't help but think of you guys. So then I go and do probably the most foolish thing I can think of: I read the letters you sent with me. I meant to only open one or two but then I got all wrapped up in it I ended up opening half of them. And yeah, then I might or might not have blubbered nonsensically on some answering machines. But what I was trying to tell you guys (in my own very ungraceful way) is that I so truly and deeply appreciate your friendship. Like I said before I left, you guys mean the absolute WORLD to me and I love you with all my heart. Thank you for listening and sharing with me, thank you for laughing with me, thank you for teaching me, and thank you for praying with me. You really are the best friends I could ever hope for.
Ok ok, I'll stop now. I'm such a sapball sometimes.
So after reading all that, most of it hasn't applied to me. I'd say I've been cruising in the "honeymoon stage" for these last three weeks. But in the last few days I've found my mind wandering more and more to friends and family back home, wondering what I'm missing out on in your lives. It started when I heard Ricky Martin's "La Copa de la Vida" over the radio. It was bittersweet; I smiled to hear a song from linedancing but it was also hard to remember that that chapter of my life is over, along with so much else. I think for the most part it's been easy for me to adjust because there's not too much that reminds me of the U.S. (aside from all the imported goods) so I've really been able to invest in the people here. But now that the novelty's worn off a little and I'm pretty well established I can't help but think of you guys. So then I go and do probably the most foolish thing I can think of: I read the letters you sent with me. I meant to only open one or two but then I got all wrapped up in it I ended up opening half of them. And yeah, then I might or might not have blubbered nonsensically on some answering machines. But what I was trying to tell you guys (in my own very ungraceful way) is that I so truly and deeply appreciate your friendship. Like I said before I left, you guys mean the absolute WORLD to me and I love you with all my heart. Thank you for listening and sharing with me, thank you for laughing with me, thank you for teaching me, and thank you for praying with me. You really are the best friends I could ever hope for.
Ok ok, I'll stop now. I'm such a sapball sometimes.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Home
So I'll try to understand what I can't hold in my hands
and wherever we are, home is there too.
And if you could try to find it too,
'cause this place is overgrowing to works in bloom.
Home is wherever we are, if there's love there too.
~Jack Johnson
and wherever we are, home is there too.
And if you could try to find it too,
'cause this place is overgrowing to works in bloom.
Home is wherever we are, if there's love there too.
~Jack Johnson
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
La clase y Puerto Viejo
Tuesday afternoon, Mitzi mentioned she thought the kids were getting used to having me around in the classroom and asked me if I’d like to teach a poetry lesson the next day. I was a little nervous about having such short notice to plan the lesson but it went really well! We looked at the life of Langston Hughes (who is the inspiration for a poetry project the whole fifth grade is doing), read some of his poetry , and then talked about it. The fifth grade is also spending the semester on US American black history, which ties in very neatly and is also very inspirational for the kids to write about concepts like “peace,” “dreams,” and “freedom.” Even though I erased the example poem we did together as a class, a lot of the kids remembered the ones we did together and “used” (I would say “copied”) them in their own poems. Some were basically just regurgitated from what we did together, which was okay, but a few kids really took the writing to heart and came up with some very beautiful poems. One girl in particular shyly took me aside to read some extra poems she wrote after she finished, and I was very moved by how personal and vulnerable they were and that she wanted to share them with me.
Also, all the kids wrote me letters to 1. practice grammar and vocabulary, and 2. tell me about themselves. One of my favorites (because let's be honest, we all have favorites) wrote this one:
In case you can't read it, he signed it "Today my teacher, tomorrow my friend." I LOVE this kid. If you've seen Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, he kinda looks like Diego Luna. I told him that in the cafeteria on the first day of school but he couldn't have cared less. Instead he says "Sometimes wherever I am I look down and find my pencil still in my hand. [We both looked down at the tray of food in his hands with a pencil poking out from underneath.] I don't know, Teacher." The Spanish grammar with English words cracks me up. Plus I love the lilt from their Costa Rican accents. But my absolute favorite is when they say "Ay, Teacher...!" It sounds like affectionately reluctant acceptance of whatever it is I'm telling them to do.
Last weekend about half of us went to Puerto Viejo, which is a beach on the Caribbean side. The area is suuuper Rasta from all the Jamaican influence. We got up at 5 but even still 4 of the 7 of us ended up without seats. We were supposed to stand for the whole 4 and a half hour drive but instead squeezed ourselves into any and all possible nooks and crannies of the bus. This was my seat:
Really, though, the time went pretty fast and we got there by 10:30. Saturday was overcast and rained off and on but it was still really muggy and the ocean was warm. We spent a good part of the day just playing in the waves and getting tousled. Followed by napping in hammocks in the hostel. Sunday ended up being a gorgeous day that just got hotter and hotter. Again, we spent most of it at the beach. One of the girls actually found a couple live sand dollars swimming around (or whatever it is sand dollars do). We also watched some local kids go fishing in the tide pools with baited string attached to water bottles. They just wound the string around the bottles like a reel and tossed out the line. The best part was watching them catch a couple fish. Whoever says you need a fancy reel and bait clearly has never been to Puerto Viejo.
our hostel
boy with fish
Oh, one more thing: on the train ride back I was looking out the window and saw construction cranes like the ones back home. Thought of you, Dad. And George Lucas. :o)
Also, all the kids wrote me letters to 1. practice grammar and vocabulary, and 2. tell me about themselves. One of my favorites (because let's be honest, we all have favorites) wrote this one:
In case you can't read it, he signed it "Today my teacher, tomorrow my friend." I LOVE this kid. If you've seen Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, he kinda looks like Diego Luna. I told him that in the cafeteria on the first day of school but he couldn't have cared less. Instead he says "Sometimes wherever I am I look down and find my pencil still in my hand. [We both looked down at the tray of food in his hands with a pencil poking out from underneath.] I don't know, Teacher." The Spanish grammar with English words cracks me up. Plus I love the lilt from their Costa Rican accents. But my absolute favorite is when they say "Ay, Teacher...!" It sounds like affectionately reluctant acceptance of whatever it is I'm telling them to do.
Last weekend about half of us went to Puerto Viejo, which is a beach on the Caribbean side. The area is suuuper Rasta from all the Jamaican influence. We got up at 5 but even still 4 of the 7 of us ended up without seats. We were supposed to stand for the whole 4 and a half hour drive but instead squeezed ourselves into any and all possible nooks and crannies of the bus. This was my seat:
Really, though, the time went pretty fast and we got there by 10:30. Saturday was overcast and rained off and on but it was still really muggy and the ocean was warm. We spent a good part of the day just playing in the waves and getting tousled. Followed by napping in hammocks in the hostel. Sunday ended up being a gorgeous day that just got hotter and hotter. Again, we spent most of it at the beach. One of the girls actually found a couple live sand dollars swimming around (or whatever it is sand dollars do). We also watched some local kids go fishing in the tide pools with baited string attached to water bottles. They just wound the string around the bottles like a reel and tossed out the line. The best part was watching them catch a couple fish. Whoever says you need a fancy reel and bait clearly has never been to Puerto Viejo.
our hostel
boy with fish
Oh, one more thing: on the train ride back I was looking out the window and saw construction cranes like the ones back home. Thought of you, Dad. And George Lucas. :o)
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