The trip started out pretty shaky on Friday. I had to go to a meeting at Peter Claver in the morning before we left. It was really fun to see all the teachers and to hear about what they are doing at that school. We had to move the classroom of my cooperating teacher because there is espestice in the room. They are doing a huge re-model in the school. They are looking to rebuild, but for now we’re moving to another classroom with a new roof.
I can’t wait to get to the school tomorrow morning and meet the kids. I hope that I’m a good teacher. I can’t believe I’ve never met them and never seen my teacher teach and I am teaching tomorrow. It’s insane. I don’t even feel like I’m old enough to student teach… It’s nuts! I am so nervous.
Our plan was to leave at noon. Since we don’t have phones it’s a challenge to make plans. So half of us left at noon. Mackenzie, Jess, Chris and I left later on in the day. We didn’t even know that anyone got onto the first bus. We assumed that they didn’t. So, I walked over the girls house before the bus was leaving. They were gone. I biked in the rain to the boys house and they were gone. I pulled up at quarter to two (when the bus was leaving) and I was covered with mud. It was all over my shirt and my pants and I had a line of mud from my tire up my back. The girls and Chris were waiting and ready to go so I had to run into my room, change, grab my bags, and run like hell to catch the bus after we already missed the one we were supposed to take. We ran and it drove past us. We all stopped and were sad. Then someone yelled that the bus comes back around to the next block and it’ll be coming soon so we started running again! It was nuts.
The bus wasn’t too packed and the ride was actually really nice. It’s amazing to see all the huts that are just randomly in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by jungle. Then we went and waited for the Hockey Pockey water taxi. It’s a little boat that takes you over to Placencia. That was a short ride. Taking the bus for two hours and then the water taxi only costs $15 BZE, or $7.50 US. It’s nuts. We got to Placencia and when we got to the hotel we were SO excited and amazed! It was literally right on the beach. They had a little hut with six hammocks that we all spent plenty of time under, and the ocean right out back. The ocean down here is so warm and amazing! I couldn’t even believe it! We had three rooms at the hotel and each of us only had to pay $35 US for the entire weekend staying there. We spent so much time just sitting in the hammocks, swimming, laying in the sand.
We also went out to eat at the Cozy Corner. It’s an outdoor restaurant and bar. It’s amazing! We had deep fried fry bread. Stuffed! So it’s a deep-fried tortilla (delicious!) that is stuffed with eggs, cheese, ham, bacon…. Who knows what else!!! Ty and I got up both mornings at 7 just to get over there! We were the only ones that made it out. As soon as I got home tonight I asked Elena to teach me to make those, so later this week I’m going to learn to make homemade tortillas and then made stuffed fry jacks! YUM! I am literally obese from this trip already and it has been one week. Not normal!
We all had the best time in Placencia! It was gorgeous there and we didn’t even have to go out and do anything. We couldn’t snorkel because it was rainy, but Ty and I walked around early in the day and we met tons of local people and just talked to them about the schools there. We are basically moving there! Just kidding, but it’s so easy to make friends around here. Everyone is so laid back and friendly. All the shops there are full of amazing, unique things! It’s great! Otherwise we spent our time outside at the hotel. Ty and I made a sandcastle this morning. It turned out amazing! Absolutely LOVED it! A little boy from London was staying at the same hotel with his family and he helped us make it too! Everyone else was at breakfast/lunch. The same boy was out skinny dipping that day. He’s only 5 but it was hilarious. Since he’s from Europe he thought it was normal but all of us were having heart attacks. He was completely naked with an inflated tube around his waist and he did a cartwheel. How do you not laugh at that?
We all had the greatest time today. It was hard for us to leave. We all got onto the water taxi together. I doubt that we’ll have trouble from now on. Lesson learned. And when we got to Independence we had a couple hours to wait for the bus. We decided to go out to this random field and play catch. We threw around the football and Frisbee. Then we decided to have a little punt, pass and kick competition. So, the boys set up that competition for us girls to do. I won. No big deal. J Then us girls decided to make the boys do a competition. They had to walk down the dirt path that this field had, doing their best catwalk. They had to then do their best dance move. For the finish they had to tell us their best pick up line. I have never laughed so hard in my life. The boys are hilarious. We have the greatest group of people and we all get along so well.
When we went out this weekend everyone was wondering what we were doing. We were one of the biggest groups and I can’t imagine a better group of people. Everyone is on the same page and wants to just do whatever and have a great time while we’re on weekends.
The ride back today was PACKED on the bus. I had to share a seat with a random buy and a little girl. The boys had to stand for most of the ride. I fell asleep somehow on the ride back and I woke up with my hand on the random guys leg. It was so hilarious but obviously awkward.
Now I’m just getting ready for a big day tomorrow and I am SO nervous. I hope I am a good teacher.
January 11, 2010
The first day was amazing! I was so nervous to go into the classroom but the kids were great! The beginning of the day was pretty stressful though. Because the rooms are so open to the outdoors it was hard for me to concentrate. There was a man outside weed whacking (they weed whack entire yards) and it was really difficult for me to hear who was talking and to hear the students. I have some trouble understanding the students because of their accents but I think I’ll get used to it quickly.
Since I was with fifth graders last semester I forgot how much direction the students need. I also wasn’t aware that the students had never dealt with numbers 100-119 before. It was my first day and I haven’t even seen her teach them, so jumping in there was scary. I had to really be aware of whether or not the students were understanding me. They were able to do one set of problems that I gave them but when I asked them to simply write the numbers 100-119 in order they struggled.
During the break time all the students were hugging me. That was fun to have the students act that way. Fifth graders don’t do that! I went outside with them and played duck, duck, goose and tag. They were having so much fun and so was I. They are absolutely adorable!
In the morning they do prayer and religion. Then they have mathematics and language arts. They also have a fifteen-minute break period during the mornings. They all get to go home from 11:30-1:00. That is their lunch and most students go home to eat. I walked with Daisia (our host mom’s granddaughter) to Elena’s for lunch. I will do that everyday! Elena has the best food. Then in the afternoon they do prayer again and then story time. They have Spanish, social studies and penmanship. Then they write out their homework and go home at 2:30.
However, teachers stay MUCH later! They are responsible for everything at the school. They clean bathrooms, sweep, wash… They have to do all that on top of all their planning. My teacher has so many fun games and posters up in her room too that she has made by hand. They are such dedicated and creative teachers. I am sure that I’m going to learn a lot. More importantly, I am going to have so much fun playing with these kids!
It’s so fun to get home and have everything clean. Elena is always working. She cleans our laundry so nice and it hang dries in the backyard. I just love it here! I feel so at home. Elena even organizes all out things in our room for us! She’s a sweetheart. Us girls have really gotten close with her and her entire family. Her grandkids and sons and brothers and sisters. It’s great! And she talks to me about Ty and makes him come do work for her.
I can’t even remember what my life is like at our real house some days. I miss everyone though. I can’t believe that I can’t talk to anyone, but emails are nice so send them whenever you have time. This life is so laid back and comfortable. No one is ever rushed. Everyone is friendly. I think there are too many people in the US.
I honestly can’t imagine a better experience than this! The weekend was amazing! We are learning so much about how to get around in different places and we can talk to anyone and learn so much! I think this coming weekend we are going to Antigua Guatemala. We will all travel together but I think the boys are going to do their own thing and us girls will do our own thing. It’ll probably become a competition to see who can find the coolest stuff to do and have the most fun!
I don’t know what could be more fun than us playing in that field the other day. I will try to put up the videos but it was much funnier in person. Honestly, if anyone can come and visit me-do it! It is amazing here and there is so much to see and do! Hopefully I can make you stuffed fry jacks!
Today was my second day and I feel so much more at home already. It went much better with the students although I’m still not used to the teacher smacking a yard stick around the room. She is allowed to hit the kids and she does. I hopefully won’t be doing that. Haha. I don’t think I could! Playing outside with the kids is by far my favorite part of the day. I can’t wait to teach them Phy Ed tomorrow! They are all adorable! I don’t have the pictures up yet, but I will put them up asap!
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