Awkward Compliments

The first thing the lifeguard said to me (after I ran 10 minutes down the beach to ask him to call an ambulance for my unconscious friend) was: "You look skinnier.  Prettier."  Thanks?!  Timing is everything. 

And my friend is fine.  I guess it was just heat stroke or something like that. 

So then, I had to run back and tell him that we no longer needed an ambulance. 

"Tranquila, mi amor" was his reply.  

Another 3 Month Marker

It is a good reminder of time passing, here, when I leave the country every three months to renew my visa.  It signifies another mile of the journey completed... another three months grown stronger. 

Another three months of fun times, challenging times, cockroaches greeting me in the kitchen when I come home at 1am (their surprise when I come home and turn on the lights could be seen as amusing), days where I am convinced I no longer have any ability to speak or understand Spanish....

The experience is quite a diverse one. 

This weekend I head to Nicaragua, and I sure am ready to change scenery for a few days.  This three month period is the longest I have ever been in Quepos without traveling; while I love this little quirky town, seeing the same four streets every day and the homeless man now greeting me as princess and his love as I'm walking home from school requires a break. 

Ups and Downs at the Colegio (High School)

So, in my last post about the High School I said their would be ups and downs - right?

This week there were a bit more downs than ups.  More than half my class failed the first exam that I thought would be too easy.  My first thoughts were that it was my fault - that I was a bad teacher.  Then, I turned to anger at the students that they don't listen or work or study.  Then, I blamed the system and the test that I had to write (with no prior experience in testing ELLs like this).  Sounds a lot like the phases of grief, right?  I just realized that.

This really is true for me.  Writing helps me process life on a whole different level.  It is like having a dialogue with myself where myself tells me things I didn't know about me. 

Anyways, so after forgiving the system, and the kids, and myself... we started moving forward as a class, practicing basic skills like conjugating verbs in the present tense.  This requires a ton of planning on my part because we have completely abandoned the book and I need to learn how to teach some of these basic skills that I have never taught before.

On Friday I was teaching questions with the auxiliary verb - do - and realized halfway through that I really didn't know how to explain it.  I stopped them, explained to them that I didn't know how to answer their questions and that I would research it over the weekend and that we would try again on Monday.  They were perfectly happy with this and yelled out "bibity bibity bop!"  Haha.... which we played for the last 10 minutes of class.

*Small observation side note- when I speak to the class in Spanish they are silent and reallllly listen.  I thought it was because they understood me better or because they appreciated that I was trying to connect with them... but the director told me that it was probably because they were waiting to see if I would make mistakes so they could make fun of me.  That's one viewpoint.

I've decided to choose a different viewpoint.  I see them and feel their energy; I think I know when they are judging and when they are listening.  Besides, when I told them  - in Spanish - why I am here and that I choose to come to the HS every day to teach them, they smiled.  When they told me their parents force them to come and I said, "oh yeah.... they pick you up and put you in the car?" they laughed.  We had a good discussion about their goals and how learning English can help them.  That day, we were on the same page and class was great.

The next day felt like a fight again.

Ups and downs.

Ups and downs.

Some waves crash harder than others, but duck under them - flip over a few times - and all waves pass. 

Teaching an Israeli Boy Spanish Literature

Teaching an Israeli boy Spanish literature.... Now that's a job I never imagined doing in my wildest dreams. Life is so crazy. And the best part is.... Together through a lot of acting, we were successful and the look on his face after understanding what they had been reading for two months in class was the best feeling.

Living the Dream

There are days: moments, conversations, laughter, spontanious salsa dances on the stage of the theatre after rehearsal that remind me that I really am living the dream. 

Last March the idea of starting an improv group in a Spanish speaking country was a wisp of an idea.  A "wow, that would be cool" kind of a goal.  Yesterday, three new teenagers came to join.  That makes nine adolescents in my improv group!!! That makes me so excited.  They are so great; they are not afraid to be silly, to take big risks with characters, and they are starting to act like a team. 

When I ask them at the end of rehearsal what they learned about improv from the exercises and games we did they say things like:
I learned we need to listen to each other.
I learned that when a new person comes into a scene they can totally change it.
That you need to be spontaneous and not think so much.
That you can't deny your partner - "si, y..." hey wait, that's one of the rules!   (they point at the rule poster and all laugh).

I like that they use their minds. 

One highlight of rehearsal was when we played "hitchhiker."  It's a game where three people are sitting in a car and they stop to pick up a hitchhiker.  That new person has a very specific character and when they get in the car, everyone else takes on their character, too.  The driver finds a reason to stop, gets out, and everyone rotates seats so that it can start again. 

I changed the game to "collectivo" and, man, did they get into that.  It was really relate-able  to them because if you'd have ever experienced a collectivo ride... you'd have no problem imagining characters for this game.  I wonder if that's why it was the best I have EVER seen this game played by anyone.  I mean, most teenagers in the US don't have experiences with hitchhikers.   

They came in with strong characters, took turns talking, mirrored and heightened the other people in the scene, and one guy even threw himself out the imaginary car window (awesome space work) when they were all crazy people escaping a mental institution. At least I think that's what happened.... sometimes I really don't understand what's going on.  Haha!!! I just do my best to coach them anyway.

I also love that when I can't thoroughly explain or demonstrate an activity due to the language challenge, they are patient and eager to jump in and support - explaining what they think I said... then I just say yes... and hope we somehow figure it out. Although, just so we remember... sometimes I ask them if they understood and they all just look at me and say "no." Once we have some vague idea of what we are doing, I give the game to one of them to facilitate, and I help adjust as we go.   Talk about trusting my team to support me.... I really have no other choice and that is awesome.  I think this is one of the most fun challenges in teaching I have ever undertaken.  It makes the feeling I get when I see them improvising with skill that much more incredible.   

Ready to play!

Playing "Objective Obstacle Course" I think this tactic was "seduce"

Some of the members of the theatre group come and support us... Here, they are deciding on what tactics to assign to the obstacle course.

A crazy series of events

Tonight after I finished teaching at the pharmacy, I felt like going to visit my old host family.  I arrived and all was well.  We sat down to have some soup for dinner when the teenager of the house ran in and quickly mumbled something about his cell phone.  He and my host sister's husband ran out the front gate, picked up 2 big rocks and went running down the alley.  He had been sitting in the bank parking lot next door with his friends when someone grabbed his cell phone and ran.  The man jumped into a taxi (the driver turned out to be a friend of the family).  Of course, the driver didn't know anything at the time and when my host sister called the taxi after, he had already dropped the robber off in a dangerous part of town. The whole neighborhood was standing around outside when the police arrived, of course.

About a half an hour later, the two students that had just left the house to ride the bus to San Jose showed up at the door.  They told us that the bus left them and they didn't understand why.  It was very odd.  So, my host mom called the Spanish school and tried to work out a taxi... they had a flight to catch in San Jose at 7am.  Then, as she was busy with the cell phone thing... I ended up coordinating the rides for them.  The funny thing was that the girl calling from the Spanish school was a friend of mine :]  It really is a small town once you've lived here almost 9 months.

As the two girls were getting into the van... I asked one of them if they had all of their things.  I don't know why I felt like asking that.  I just thought the night was so weird that it would just make sense if they left something.  Then I noticed..... "HEY!!!! You have MY BACKPACK!"  The girl was getting in the van with my backpack!!!!! She thought it was her friend's and was just carrying everything out of the house.  My backpack almost went to San Jose and I would have had no way of contacting them.  I thanked God for helping me notice; all of my things are in there... including the keys to my house and the money I just got paid today.  

After that, I decided this was a night to spend at home in my bed.  I got sidetracked, however, on the way home to eat ice-cream and ended up talking with friends there for another hour.  By the way, the power just went off and then back on ..... I hope that is the last event of the night. 

I think it's time to go to bed. 

As my students say, "thanks God",  for helping me be in the right place at the right time - being open to the signs I need to see.

Something to Appreciate about Grocery Stores in the US - the yogurt scavenger hunt

Pretend you walk into your local grocery store and wonder - hmm....what products will I be able to buy today...?

I'm pretty sure that when you go to the grocery store in the US there are the same products every time you go.... and if the store is out of something it is a big deal and people are disgruntled.  I think I can safely say, though, that usually you can expect that the product you buy there one day will be there the next time you go.

That is not the case, here.  I am constantly on a scavenger hunt for plain yogurt, fresh orange juice, and some days... even bananas.  When a little store runs out, that's it - no bananas until the next ones arrive.  No big deal.

The yogurt, on the other hand, I don't understand.  One store will have it one week and then I won't see it there for another month. There's not even a space for it... It is like it never existed.  Another store will have one or two containers and then never have it again.  Am I the only one in this town buying the yogurt and I keep using up the stock?

It definitely makes shopping more interesting... and more fulfilling when you find that one container of yogurt (possibly the only one for the month).  Today was not a successful yogurt day... It made me want to come  home. 

Creative Toasting - Who needs a toaster?

Finally Teaching High School

Ever since I graduated from high school in 2004, I knew I wanted to teach high school.  Here in Quepos, Costa Rica... 10 years later - I got my wish.  On February 4th, I started teaching an intermediate English class to 27 students in a bare little classroom that has a window with a jungle-view.  I definitely never imagined this ten years ago.

I started this post in early February and never published it.  The excitement and novelty of teaching HS quickly wore off as the month progressed and the behavior digressed. The early schedule (getting up at 5:30 everyday), the procedures in planning required by the school, and the classroom management issues I was having were taking a toll on my spirits.  It got so bad at the beginning of this week that a part of me was starting to consider other career options.  Another part of me, though, deep down inside knew that I didn't want to quit and that I could do this.... but how?

Thanks to some great support that I have, I came up with some ideas.  First, I've noticed that they are the worst on Mondays and whenever we work out of the book.  I think they are tired and bored.

Integrating Theatre Into an English Classroom – Community Building

I also realized that I had one advantage... they like the theatre games we play!!! They seemed skeptical at first, but now they ask if we can play "Bibity Bibity Bop." haha.  That was it... the key.

I decided to start the class with a game to warm them up and get them focused.  Then, move into journaling and other activities.  I'm going to try to incorporate more movement into the hour and twenty minute class.  That's a long time for a teenager to sit in a class.

Today I started class with a game of "Zap" and it was the quietest they had ever been.  The ones who came in late - the same ones who always come late and disrupt the class as they make their grand desk dragging entrance - looked sad when they saw they were missing the game.  After that, we did a tongue twister - Peter Piper - and then I moved without a beat into assigning seats from a seating chart.  The grumbling I had feared didn't happen and they moved into their new seats with minimal resistance.  It was amazing.

The rest of the class, they behaved like a different group than I had seen previously.  It was almost like they had wanted that to happen so they could control themselves better.  I don't know why it took me so long to do this... I guess I was afraid of fighting with them and felt like I didn't know them well enough to decide where to put them. I guess it's better late than never - and now I know they are malleable and that there is still hope.  I knew they were capable of it... I saw them in their other classes, working and engaged, and respectful.  I thought it was just bad in my class because I'm an outsider and they thought they didn't need to respect me.  Maybe I'm earning their respect. I am trying to get it across to them that I want to learn from them and that I care about them and their lives.  I am going to continue managing through soft eyes, high expectations, and strong kindness. 

I know there will be days of ups and downs, but hopefully we will continue in a slight upward motion together.

I'm grateful that I made it back from the edge of giving up.

Holding High Expectations

Una Pijamada de Tres

The Bank

I learned a lot at the bank today when I had to go to cash my paycheck:

1.  It will always take a long time.
2.  No cell phones are allowed in the bank.
3.  The guard at the door locks and unlocks it anytime someone needs to enter or exit.
4.  People who have babies or who are old or are with a business or have a disability get a priority ticket... which is almost everyone.
5.  It is cold. 
6.  They don't have a bathroom.

"Cualquier Cosa, Me Llama, Mori"

The first few days in my new appartment:

Feeling alone, a flood, no water, getting locked out of the bathroom, another flood, electricity going out, spotty internet...

But, each day my new land lady who lives in the front house (just across the laundry area) would say goodnight and then say "cualquier cosa, me llamas Mori....me llamas" It got to be a joke that every day there was something else to call her about.

Thankfully, things here have settled down and it is really nice to have my own space to work and rest in.  Also, my great friend helped me warm the house with a slumber party which was very happy :]

Everyone from the house and the repair guy from down the street in my bathroom at 11pm

Weirdness of the Week - Episode 3.14159

Shoe Repair Man - I fixed your Chacos, you just can't get them wet.
Me- um.... that's what these shoes are for.
Shoe Repair Man - hm..... well... not anymore.  

*also, I haven't gotten them wet and after just this week, the soles have already fallen off again. 
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Six year olds calling me "Rica, Guapa" from their porch as I walked by in my new neighborhood.

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Having a woman call me "muñeca" as I walked by her porch in my new neighborhood.
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Having a woman say, "gracias mi corazon" to me when I shined a light so she could see where she was walking in my new neighborhood.

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Seeing a man driving a car with a baby on his lap.... so that it looked like the baby was steering the car.

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Getting into a collectivo where my fellow passenger in the back seat was a 3 year old girl... standing like it was her job to ride.  Maybe the driver was her grandpa?  I never found out and I'm still wondering why she had a piece of newspaper stuffed into the back of her shirt. 

"Moriah, nunca voy a olvidar esta obra."

"Moriah, nunca voy a olvidar esta obra."  This one comment from one of my improv students, tonight after watching the play by the National Theatre, made me feel like everything I'm doing here is worth it.  

After just three weeks of Saturday improv classes, we have a small but strong group of 4-6 teenagers.  They want to be there, they're not afraid to look silly, and I can see them already building skills. 

Not only are they participating in my group, but they are becoming a part of the theatre.  Starting the improv group has brought adolescents into our theatre community.... and that, is sssssssssssooooooooooooooooooo beyond exciting.  Today, I told them that if they came back at 6:00 to help set up chairs and worked as ushers/sold food at the soda they could see the play for free, and that it was a great opportunity for them.  They came.  As we were all working together - setting up chairs to the beat of the pop music filling the theatre, I remembered what a community theatre builds.  What a space it creates for, especially, adolescents. I remembered the feeling that caused me to study theatre arts education in the first place. 

Watching the little group of them running the soda, laughing, making silly jokes about charging my water bottle rent for sitting on the table and charging service fees for handing people chips, I felt so proud that they were there.  And that maybe I helped a little bit to set this experience in motion for them.  And that maybe this beginning would lead to a journey that would continue far longer than the bit of the path I am walking with them....