Brace yourself, I am about to sound a but poetic.
As I was running along the beach this morning, I looked behind me and, for the first time, noticed I was leaving footprints behind in the sand. Although I think I was always aware that my shoes left prints, I never actually saw them. Than I got to thinking - how poetic and/or metaphoric is that image? People leave footprints behind wherever they walk in life, yet may very rarely realize it.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of my last week of actual teaching and it is not even a full week; I am finished as of 10am on Thursday. Than the following week, I teach Monday and Tuesday and then head to Orosi (which is where we had orientation for a month in the beginning of the year) for our End of Service meeting. After that, I am back in Manuel Antonio until the 20th or 21st of December. I will not actually be teaching the month of December, though. We do what they call ¨workshops¨ which is basically arts and crafts. This means more prep work for me, but I am also excited. It will hopefully be a nice time to have fun with my students before I leave. They are definitely what I am going to miss the most. Well, them and the beach. haha.
I am really looking forward to seeing everyone. I can´t wait to get back and share my stories and hear what everyone has been up to for the past 11 months! I am expecting lots of lunch and dinner dates so prepare yourselves!
Have a great Monday tomorrow !
amor para todos
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thank you SSJ Youth Group!!!!
I first need to give un monton (a lot and lot basically - although I am not sure if that is how you spell it) of thank yous to Jen and Ss. Simon and Jude youth group. I was giving a test on Tuesday morning when our mailman in Quepos made his way up the hill to Manuel Antonio to deliver a box to the teacher at the school. As I was sitting in the office with my sixth grader trying to persuade some English words out of him, in walked the mailman with my box. I was sooooo excited!!! My excitment only increased when I opened it and found a bunch of letters from the youth at SSJ, candy and much needed toiletries! And so, with that being said, I have a few shout-outs to give and a few questions to answer:
To Katie Mulligan - Yes, I have a killer tan. I have tan lines like you wouldn´t believe. I have tan lines from swim suits, sports bras and even ankle bracelets. I am sure I will be looking like somewhat of a freak because of them when I arrive home in the middle of winter!
Sarah Tellez - I have to say, I think I laughed more from your letter than any one else´s! You have an amazing sense of humor and know how to put smiles on people´s faces - a true gift.
Sierra Rue - I am so excited you like Michael Franti now! He is an amazing singer and an even better performer. If you have the opportunity to see him in concert, you should definitely go. He is by far one of the best people I have ever seen live.
For all of you who don´t know who Michael Franti is - Find Sierra Rue and make her burn you a copy of his best songs!
Maria Diaz - Shout out to you!!!
To all who wrote - I am glad to hear that those of you I do know are doing well and I am excited to meet those of you I don´t know when I return. You sound like an awesome group and I look forward to working with you all. Thank you not only for the box, but for all your prayers as well.
Not SSJ related:
I did a 10k run last weekend in San Jose! My friend Danna and I ran together. It was actually a run that benefitted breast cancer research and there were a TON of people there. I ended up running then entire 10k (which I am excited about - I didn´t think I would be able to actually run the entire thing) and did it in an hour and 5 minutes. I am super proud of this time, especially since it is my first running race ever. It was fun too, because as we were running through the city, people would come out of their businesses and houses and cheer us on. So I got to run to the cheers of, ¨vamos¨and, ¨corre, corre¨, and every once in a while they would see the gringa coming and shout, ¨Run!¨. haha. It was a lot of fun though and I am glad I did it. Plus, I got a medal!
Thank you again to Youth Group and I hope everyone who reads the blog is doing well. I love you all and will be seeing you soon!
To Katie Mulligan - Yes, I have a killer tan. I have tan lines like you wouldn´t believe. I have tan lines from swim suits, sports bras and even ankle bracelets. I am sure I will be looking like somewhat of a freak because of them when I arrive home in the middle of winter!
Sarah Tellez - I have to say, I think I laughed more from your letter than any one else´s! You have an amazing sense of humor and know how to put smiles on people´s faces - a true gift.
Sierra Rue - I am so excited you like Michael Franti now! He is an amazing singer and an even better performer. If you have the opportunity to see him in concert, you should definitely go. He is by far one of the best people I have ever seen live.
For all of you who don´t know who Michael Franti is - Find Sierra Rue and make her burn you a copy of his best songs!
Maria Diaz - Shout out to you!!!
To all who wrote - I am glad to hear that those of you I do know are doing well and I am excited to meet those of you I don´t know when I return. You sound like an awesome group and I look forward to working with you all. Thank you not only for the box, but for all your prayers as well.
Not SSJ related:
I did a 10k run last weekend in San Jose! My friend Danna and I ran together. It was actually a run that benefitted breast cancer research and there were a TON of people there. I ended up running then entire 10k (which I am excited about - I didn´t think I would be able to actually run the entire thing) and did it in an hour and 5 minutes. I am super proud of this time, especially since it is my first running race ever. It was fun too, because as we were running through the city, people would come out of their businesses and houses and cheer us on. So I got to run to the cheers of, ¨vamos¨and, ¨corre, corre¨, and every once in a while they would see the gringa coming and shout, ¨Run!¨. haha. It was a lot of fun though and I am glad I did it. Plus, I got a medal!
Thank you again to Youth Group and I hope everyone who reads the blog is doing well. I love you all and will be seeing you soon!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Quick Update
Yesterday was English Day at the school and it was great! It was A LOT of work and I went home exhausted, but I am glad we did it. As you all know, the students had been preparing for a few weeks for the Acto Civico. All the students did an awesome job and we actually had a really good turnout of parents too! I had a couple of parents express how impressed they were with what the students could do. Before the Acto Civico, each English teacher had a room with a different activity. I had origami (I make a mean penguin by the way), Michelle had dance, Jessica had a game room and Susy had Bingo. We started the activities for the morning kids (half of our kids come in the morning and the other half in the afternoon) at 10am. The students were given a "passport" which they had to carry with them throughout the morning. After they completed each rotation, they would get a stamp on their passport. Than, at the end, if they had all four stamps they received a raffle ticket. At the end of the Acto Civico, we raffled off a prize. Than, after the Acto Civico, we did the same thing for the afternoon kids. I was basically running around from 10am to about 2:30pm. It was worth, it though, and the kids really enjoyed it.
Next week, I teach Monday and Tuesday and than have the rest of the week off. There is actually a rumor that we will not be teaching on Tuesday too, because the teachers might be going on strike that day. Apparently they have not been getting paid and are not too happy about that! I am not sure what will come of it but we will see I guess.
I don't really have anything else to report. Things are pretty tranquilo right now. I hope everyone is doing well at home!
Next week, I teach Monday and Tuesday and than have the rest of the week off. There is actually a rumor that we will not be teaching on Tuesday too, because the teachers might be going on strike that day. Apparently they have not been getting paid and are not too happy about that! I am not sure what will come of it but we will see I guess.
I don't really have anything else to report. Things are pretty tranquilo right now. I hope everyone is doing well at home!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Rain, rain go away...
...and please dont come another day!
It has been raining a lot this past week! Earlier this week, I didn´t even hear my alarm go off due to the pounding rain on my tin roof and the earsplitting thundering going on outside! It was crazy. Luckily, no one is able to sleep past 6 a.m. in Costa Rica, so I still woke up in plenty of time to go to school. Than, it started to pour on Thursday afternoon and didn´t stop until almost the same time the next day. It POURED for almost 24 hours straight. The road to my house turned into a river, ankle deep.
I also signed up at the gym this past week. It is super tiny, but has most of the machines I use and also offers aerobics and pilates classes. I have to say, signing up at a gym here is way easier than signing up at a gym in the States. I walked in, told them I wanted to sign up for a month and paid. There was no start up fee, contract, tour of the gym (maybe because you could see all the gym had to offer standing there at the front desk?), nothing. I didn´t even receive a card or anything saying that I was a ¨member¨for the month. Ah, the easines...
School is going well. Last week I was not in class because I was finishing my second week of my TEFL certification. On Monday, all of my students were super excited that I was back. I even had a 6th grader tell me they missed me, which I guess (according to the Tica teacher) is huge. It was nice to be back, though. We were testing, so it was not the most interesting of weeks, but we did practice a lot for English Day. I also had a student tell me as one of his answers to his oral test that he ¨poops things in his backpack¨. It was supposed to be ¨put things in his backpack¨but he got a little confused I guess. I laughed.
I have quite a few breaks coming up here in October. I am off of school Oct. 8-12 and than again on the 21-24. There are also rumors of school closing for good on November 22. lots of down time...hopefully that gym membership will work out!
love to you all!
It has been raining a lot this past week! Earlier this week, I didn´t even hear my alarm go off due to the pounding rain on my tin roof and the earsplitting thundering going on outside! It was crazy. Luckily, no one is able to sleep past 6 a.m. in Costa Rica, so I still woke up in plenty of time to go to school. Than, it started to pour on Thursday afternoon and didn´t stop until almost the same time the next day. It POURED for almost 24 hours straight. The road to my house turned into a river, ankle deep.
I also signed up at the gym this past week. It is super tiny, but has most of the machines I use and also offers aerobics and pilates classes. I have to say, signing up at a gym here is way easier than signing up at a gym in the States. I walked in, told them I wanted to sign up for a month and paid. There was no start up fee, contract, tour of the gym (maybe because you could see all the gym had to offer standing there at the front desk?), nothing. I didn´t even receive a card or anything saying that I was a ¨member¨for the month. Ah, the easines...
School is going well. Last week I was not in class because I was finishing my second week of my TEFL certification. On Monday, all of my students were super excited that I was back. I even had a 6th grader tell me they missed me, which I guess (according to the Tica teacher) is huge. It was nice to be back, though. We were testing, so it was not the most interesting of weeks, but we did practice a lot for English Day. I also had a student tell me as one of his answers to his oral test that he ¨poops things in his backpack¨. It was supposed to be ¨put things in his backpack¨but he got a little confused I guess. I laughed.
I have quite a few breaks coming up here in October. I am off of school Oct. 8-12 and than again on the 21-24. There are also rumors of school closing for good on November 22. lots of down time...hopefully that gym membership will work out!
love to you all!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Independence Day
Costa Rica's Independence Day was so much fun! As you all know, I was really nervous about the run with the torch. It ended up being really awesome, though. The students were the ones that actually held the torch. They were placed at intervals along the road from Quepos to Manuel Antonio so that they didn't have to run the whole thing. It was more of a relay style type thing. We also had a fire truck with the sirens going and everything that led us down the road. It was cool because people would hear the sirens an come our of their businesses or houses and cheer us on as we ran. When we reached the school, we had an Acto Civico where they lit a larger torch that stayed lit the entire day.
Later on that night, there was a big Acto Civivo at the school. This time, though, all the people from the neighborhood and school were there. They had made lanterns from all sorts of materials and in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There were lanterns that depicted the Costa Rican shield that is on the 100 colon coin. There were others for the country flower, beach themes, ox carts...everything! Part of this Acto Civico was to walk around the town with all the lanterns lit. It was really cool. There were a ton of us and as we walked people chanted "Viva Costa Rica!". It was an awesome experience.
October 2 is English Day at school. Each class is presenting something in English and than we are having about an hour and a half of activities for the students. I am really excited for it and hope it gets the students excited about English as well. My second graders are singing a Bob Marley song, my 4a class is singing and dancing to Thriller (MJ), my 4b class is painting a jungle scene which they will share with the school and my 6th graders are doing skits. It is a lot of preparation, but the students enjoy it and I enjoy it!
That's about all that's going on here. I am taking a TEFL course this week so I will have free internet - write to me and I will actually be able to write back in a timely manner!
paz y amor mis amigos
Later on that night, there was a big Acto Civivo at the school. This time, though, all the people from the neighborhood and school were there. They had made lanterns from all sorts of materials and in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There were lanterns that depicted the Costa Rican shield that is on the 100 colon coin. There were others for the country flower, beach themes, ox carts...everything! Part of this Acto Civico was to walk around the town with all the lanterns lit. It was really cool. There were a ton of us and as we walked people chanted "Viva Costa Rica!". It was an awesome experience.
October 2 is English Day at school. Each class is presenting something in English and than we are having about an hour and a half of activities for the students. I am really excited for it and hope it gets the students excited about English as well. My second graders are singing a Bob Marley song, my 4a class is singing and dancing to Thriller (MJ), my 4b class is painting a jungle scene which they will share with the school and my 6th graders are doing skits. It is a lot of preparation, but the students enjoy it and I enjoy it!
That's about all that's going on here. I am taking a TEFL course this week so I will have free internet - write to me and I will actually be able to write back in a timely manner!
paz y amor mis amigos
Thursday, September 10, 2009
School Stuff
A little update on what's going on at school. Enjoy!
2nd Grade: We are going on tour!!!!
For the past few weeks, I have been teaching my second graders the song "Stand By Me". They love it and are super cute (I even made up little dance moves for them!). The whole class gets really into it and we end up screaming most of the lyrics. Anyway, being the week before Independence Day, we have had Acto Civicos everyday. On Monday, my 2nd graders and I performed our song for the entire school at the Acto Civico. My director liked it so much, she has asked us to go to a BIG Acto Civico in Quepos (little town near mine) on Friday night to perform for them. Everyone is really, really excited, and what can I say - I am a bit proud. Now I just need to think of a new song to teach them. Any suggestions?
4th Grade - Can you say "Sparkle"?
I have been doing alphabet games with my 4th graders because they are constantly asking me to spell things for them. The only thing is, when I spell the word, they get all the letters wrong. Hence, the alphabet practice. We play all sorts of games, but their favorite is Sparkle. They come in almost everyday asking me, "Teacher, today game? Today, eh-sparkle?". I love it!
6th Grade - Class Competition!
My 6th graders have been learning about superlatives and comparatives. After spending a few days on the topic, I put together a class competition for them. I had a big score board on the white board with different categories in which they were to compete. There were things like "Who can run the fastest" and "Who has the biggest mouth (I bought marshmallows for them to stuff in their mouth). They had to break up into four groups and than nominate someone to compete in each category. It was so much fun! I had the other English teacher take pictures of it, so I will have to post them for you. The kids loved it as well. Everyone was super excited, and I think I got the concept of superlatives and comparatives across. I guess we'll see when test time comes!
That's about it. This week has been crazy with all the Acto Civicos! Monday I will be running with a torch up a long, windy, truck/car/bus driven road with a bunch of caffeinated Tico children - wish me luck!
2nd Grade: We are going on tour!!!!
For the past few weeks, I have been teaching my second graders the song "Stand By Me". They love it and are super cute (I even made up little dance moves for them!). The whole class gets really into it and we end up screaming most of the lyrics. Anyway, being the week before Independence Day, we have had Acto Civicos everyday. On Monday, my 2nd graders and I performed our song for the entire school at the Acto Civico. My director liked it so much, she has asked us to go to a BIG Acto Civico in Quepos (little town near mine) on Friday night to perform for them. Everyone is really, really excited, and what can I say - I am a bit proud. Now I just need to think of a new song to teach them. Any suggestions?
4th Grade - Can you say "Sparkle"?
I have been doing alphabet games with my 4th graders because they are constantly asking me to spell things for them. The only thing is, when I spell the word, they get all the letters wrong. Hence, the alphabet practice. We play all sorts of games, but their favorite is Sparkle. They come in almost everyday asking me, "Teacher, today game? Today, eh-sparkle?". I love it!
6th Grade - Class Competition!
My 6th graders have been learning about superlatives and comparatives. After spending a few days on the topic, I put together a class competition for them. I had a big score board on the white board with different categories in which they were to compete. There were things like "Who can run the fastest" and "Who has the biggest mouth (I bought marshmallows for them to stuff in their mouth). They had to break up into four groups and than nominate someone to compete in each category. It was so much fun! I had the other English teacher take pictures of it, so I will have to post them for you. The kids loved it as well. Everyone was super excited, and I think I got the concept of superlatives and comparatives across. I guess we'll see when test time comes!
That's about it. This week has been crazy with all the Acto Civicos! Monday I will be running with a torch up a long, windy, truck/car/bus driven road with a bunch of caffeinated Tico children - wish me luck!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Costa Rica vs. Mexico
I am currently in San Jose right now, having travelled in for the Costa Rica/Mexico futbol game last night. Although Costa Rica lost (0-3), the game was a lot of fun and I am glad I made the trip. The game started at 8pm and everyone (EVERYONE!) was wearing red. There were probably only about 300 people in from Mexico. Costa Rica ended up playing like crap but the energy in the stadium was awesome. Ticos love their futbol! We ended up sitting in the CR section (of course!) but were near the Mexico section. I probably heard more Spanish curse words in the two hours of playing than I have heard in the 8 months I have been here. There was also a lot of singing (ole ole ole ole ticos ticos...) and cheering. The strange thing about the game though, was how serious everyone became when the game actually started. There was no announcer giving the play by play, no commercials or instant replay, no dancers, nothing. When the game was going on, people sat and watched, stood up when the players got near a goal and than sat back down again. There was also no alcohol served at the game. People honestly came to the game to watch the game - a little different than in the states where I feel games are more of a social activity and the game itself is just there in the background. Costa Rica now plays Argentina next, who we will most definitely lose to and than we will officially be out of the running for the WorldCup. It's ok Costa Rica, we still love you.
Speaking of sports games, will someone please keep me updated on how the Devils are doing this year? I am assuming their season has started...?
Last bit of news - Tomorrow marks the start of Costa Rica Independence Day festivities. Independence Day here is huge, mainly because they don't really have a ton of holidays. Anyways, the actual Independence Day is on the 15th but starting tomorrow, we have Acto Civicos every morning and afternoon and than the Monday after (the 14th) Michelle and I are running with a torch and the students from Quepos, up a very windy and dangerous (no sidewalks) hill, to Manuel Antonio. I am hoping the close the road down, although I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. I am really excited for it, though. Apparently carrying the torch is something that is done all over the country and I get to be a part of it! Wish me luck in the next couple of weeks, though, because the students are going to be crazy!
paz y amor
Speaking of sports games, will someone please keep me updated on how the Devils are doing this year? I am assuming their season has started...?
Last bit of news - Tomorrow marks the start of Costa Rica Independence Day festivities. Independence Day here is huge, mainly because they don't really have a ton of holidays. Anyways, the actual Independence Day is on the 15th but starting tomorrow, we have Acto Civicos every morning and afternoon and than the Monday after (the 14th) Michelle and I are running with a torch and the students from Quepos, up a very windy and dangerous (no sidewalks) hill, to Manuel Antonio. I am hoping the close the road down, although I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. I am really excited for it, though. Apparently carrying the torch is something that is done all over the country and I get to be a part of it! Wish me luck in the next couple of weeks, though, because the students are going to be crazy!
paz y amor
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