Since it's been two weeks, I think it'll be easier for my sanity to process information if I write my favorite moments day-by-day...
19 & 20 Teaching at Capulin
Capulin is a small school about a fifteen minute walk from our residence. The school had a new principal who didn't know about our organization and who didn't want us to interfere with the students' classes. Solution? Teach grades 4-6 in the morning (they have class in the afternoon) and 2-3 in the afternoon (class in the morning). Grace passed out permission slips after school and when the first day arrived, kids came running with slips in hand. I had never seen anything like it! I didn't teach at Capulin as it was my turn as materials person (pass out supplies to volunteers/take notes on teaching skills/take photos) and for this reason, my presence created some confusion among the kids. According to some of the volunteers, the kids assumed that I was the directora (principal) or jefa (boss). My favorite, however, was a girl named Shelby. When I first met Shelby, she was disappointed that I wasn't teaching and would give me a big smile whenever I passed by her group. On the second day, as we made a big circle to reintroduce ourselves, I heard someone yell, "GRINGA!" from across the circle. I looked up and saw Shelby pointing to the space next to her, "AQUI!" (Here!) So, I went and stood next to her. It wasn't until she told the boy next to her to shut up (his talking was preventing us from beginning) that I realized she was EXACTLY like me at that age! (and now, of course) In addition to Shelby, there was a young boy named Luis who presented more of a challenge to some of the volunteers (aka, he was a pain in the ass). Whenever I passed by his group, Antonio, a volunteer, would look at Luis, point at me, and say, "Do you want to go with her?" I'd give Luis my best "boss lady" face and raise an eyebrow. He'd give me a look of terror. At the end of the day, he insisted on being in the photo with Shelby and me...
21 & 22 Festival & Show SIN Talento
Since Guanacaste (the region in which Liberia is located) is currently celebrating its annexation into Costa Rica, the city hosted a festival. On Saturday we strolled around eating churros and plantain chips, rode rides (I took pictures instead), and pretended to assess the multitudes of livestock (so. many. bulls.). It was great to relax and participate in the celebration! Here's me with my Prince Charming...
On Sunday night, I emceed the annual show (without) talent. Volunteers rapped, danced to Saturday Night Fever, performed a skit based on the personalities of the group, and did a humorous take on the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet ("Julieta" had two boyfriends...Romeo, and Lomeo). I laughed so hard, I cried, and considering I was parodied twice, I consider the show a wonderful success :)
23 Teaching at Nazareth
We returned to Nazareth, this time to teach the 5th grade. I taught a lesson on the artist Chagall with Jean to a group of three: Keylin, Jordan, and Bryan (left to right). The group was very quiet at first, especially Keylin, but soon relaxed and participated in the lesson.
24-27 Teaching at Curubande, Playa Nacascolo, & Mini Adventures
On Tuesday, we traveled to a small school called Curubande to teach Kinder-6. I taught an ocean lesson with Erick to the Kindergardeners (Hooray!) and a lesson on teamwork (as a team since there were only six students) to the sixth graders. The kindergarders were ADORABLE and knew their colors in English! However, I think my favorite part was getting to twirl the jump rope in between classes :)
(Sofia, Megan, Kendall, & Estiven)
(Back row: Sarah, Erick, Me, Bryant. Not pictured: Deisi)
(Front row: Evelyn, Luz Maria, Fiorela, Richard, Joan, Juan Daniel)
Wednesday was a holiday, so we took a field trip to Playa Nacascolo. The beach is privately owned, so it was free of the multitudes of tourists and quite relaxing.
Also on Thursday, we visited a local prison-turned-museum where we found children practicing for a concert. We attended the concert later that night expecting a short children's concert...little did we know that we would get the chance to hear Costa Rica's National Symphony Orchestra! (Which was fantastic, by the way.)
We returned to Curubande on Friday to teach for our second and final time. When we arrived, the principal informed us that all the teachers and staff were going to attend a funeral and that we'd be in charge of all the children (!). So, we got to work! I taught the ocean lesson with Antonio to a group of first graders:
(Zeylin, Josephine, Anderson, Meybelin, Omar, Jose Pablo, Me)
I knew when I walked into the classroom and saw Anderson and Jose Pablo (two trouble makers who like to chase the girls at recess) that they would be in my group (fate has a way of laughing at me). However, they participated wonderfully :)
Once word got around that the teachers weren't at school, only seven children from 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade arrived for their late-morning classes. So, we made the best of the situation and half of us taught and half of us cleaned! Antonio and I had the pleasure of teaching the ocean lesson to two 2nd grade girls and I even translated an old Girl Scout shark song (with movements!) to sing with them.
Shark song!
(Me, Kiany, Yuliana, Antonio posing as our favorite sea animals: octopus, fish, and sea stars)
28 & 29 Open House
This weekend was pretty low-key except for our Open House on Saturday night with past and present volunteers. We enjoyed an incredible dinner of arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) with all types of fruits, side dishes, and cake!
Teaching at Salto was probably the most exhausting and most rewarding of all the schools. We taught full days (woke up at the crack of dawn, taught from 8 to 4) and had to maintain our energy in order to give our whole selves to the kids. The principal was wonderful; she gave us lunch on our second day (a traditional corn and chicken soup) and had us participate in a civic duty presentation (in celebration of the holiday).
In addition to our teaching, one of the cats in the residence gave birth to three kittens!
(Roberto, Nella, Isaac, Fanny, Dylan, Me)
(2nd Grade, lesson on the artist Kandinsky)
(Nella, Alexander, Adriana, Seylin, Me, Gina)
(5th Grade, lesson on Haiku)
(Victor, Jostin, Me, Katherin, Cristian. Not pictured: Lindsey, my teaching partner)
(3rd Grade, Kandinsky)
(Back: Jimena, Nella, Jeison, Anderson, Noelia. Front: Valeria, Me)
(4th Grade, Haiku)
More kittens!
(Victor, Cristian, Lindsey, Katherin, Me, Jostin)
(3rd Grade, Picasso)
(Jimena, Jeison, Me, Anderson, Noelia, Valeria. Not pictured: Lindsey)
(4th Grade, Chagall)
Traditional soup!
Kindergardeners :)
Volunteer (and fellow Support Person) Bryant trying to lasso the bull!
Alexander to the rescue! (Or not...)
(Isaac, Roberto, Me, Dylan)
(2nd Grade, Picasso)
Roberto gave me his artwork...I wanted him to take it home, but he insisted that I take it. He revealed to me that his mother burns his artwork. It broke my heart, but at least he knows that it will be cherished.
(Seylin, Alexander, Me, Adriana, Gina)
(5th Grade, Chagall)
My first time teaching alone!
August 1 (!) Last Day of Teaching and Community Project
We returned to Nazareth for our last day of teaching, this time with the sixth grade. I decided to push myself and teach alone again, this time with a more difficult lesson-Haiku. Things went well, but I did have some difficulty explaining some of the material. Thankfully, I was able to connect with my students and they were soon finishing my sentences! Tiffany even attempted to speak a couple phrases in English :)
After the lesson, we had time to play a game, and a fellow volunteer (Emily) and I decided on Rana y Moscas (Frog and Flies). Between the two of us, we were able to explain the game...what followed was absolute hilarity. Cristopher proved to be quite the actor, dying dramatically as he sprawled across the floor. After observing my quick method of killing (as a the frog), Tiffany proved to be a master-she killed almost everyone before the investigator figured out that she was the frog. Soon, we joined with two other groups and had a blast as one big group. At the end, the students performed a cute little chant in which they threw us besos (kisses). It was a perfect way to end our time teaching :)
(Tatiana, Tiffany, Cristopher, Me)
After teaching, we returned to Curubande to clean and organize a supply closet as our community project. Five hours later, the mini library was reorganized, garbage thrown out, the place clean, and the principal happy :)
August 2 (I still can't believe it's August) Playa Conchal
We went on our last field trip today to Playa Conchal, a beautiful beach consisting of crushed shells. Although I returned with crushed shells everywhere (and I mean everywhere), I had a blast in the waves-the current pushed us back and forth, allowing us to body surf close to shore.
(We didn't realize the tide came up so far!)
As it is now 2am Costa Rica time, I think I will end here :) However, I do have less than a week left, so look forward to some reflections!
Abrazos y besos!
