Guerrilla Improv at the Festival del Agua

It has always been a dream of mine to create a guerilla art piece.  One in which something unexpected happened and took the audience by surprise. The night of March 21st, this dream came true.  As usual, communication was too slow for our improv troupe to actually be in the festival so the woman in charge had the idea of having us come out of the audience - unexpectedly - after the movie, The Lorax, ended.

There we were, watching the movie with everyone else one moment... the next moment, hurriedly warming up, trying to get our energies together for the crazy exit we were about to make. 

We dispersed ourselves in the crowd and as the credits came up I held up my arm and counted to three.  When my third finger went up we all yelled in unison - "Perro de la Calle!!!!" and ran down in front of the movie screen. 

The audience didn't know what to think.  They just sat there in shock. 

We proceeded to explain ourselves in gibberish, another member of the group translating into Spanish what we were about to do. 


After the first game, some people got up and left but the majority stayed.  It was our biggest show ever (haha it was only the second) and we were now exposed to the community of Quepos. 

They now know who we are - Perro de la Calle!!!!

Improv Adventure - Always Another Bus... and maybe two taxis

The philosophy I've developed from traveling in Costa Rica: There's always another bus.  Sometimes, however, this bus may be a little bit more challenging to get to.  It may require a colectivo that takes you to the wrong deserted bus station and then it may lead to you negotiating with a taxi driver and taking to that taxi driver's brother on the phone while he drives you and your adolescent improv troupe that has exams the next day and parents awaiting them to the correct bus stop 20 minutes away. 

It may involve having that taxi pull up and block the last bus heading home that night before it pulls out of the rest stop.  Then, you might be fortunate that there is room on that bus that's actually direct and not permited to take on new passengers. 

You may thank yourself for stuffing extra money in your purse that morning with the foresight "in case of emergency" and feel glad that not more of your troupe came to the show.  You'll definitely never be happier to be on a bus home. 

There's always another bus, but nobody said it would be easy to catch. 

First Improv Show - Already on Tour and Doing Outreach

 

Language's Affect on Memory and Storytelling

I have been noticing more than ever, recently, that when I am telling a story that took place solely in Spanish I have a really difficult time with recalling certain words in English.  It's as if the story was stored in Spanish and the recall path doesn't access the equivalent words or concepts in my first language. 

How interesting is this?! I feel like I'm doing a cognitive language experiment on myself....

The study:

I was telling my friend a story of what happened with my improv troupe yesterday and I sent it over Whatsapp (a voice recording message) and because of this, I'm able to play it back and listen to how I told the story...

I wish I could upload it here, but I can't figure out how.  I'll just describe what I noticed.

I started with - "I want to tell you the story of yesterday."  This is a direct translation from Spanish syntax. 

Next, I set the scene with "we were waiting outside the park."  Then I corrected myself, saying that parks are already outside. "We were waiting in front of the park."  I don't know why I said this, but now that I think about it I think that "afuera"  might be appropriate here, meaning outside the limits of the park...?

Next, I told her that we started looking for a "workshop"... instead of a mechanic.  I still don't know how we would say it in English.... A car repair shop?  I'm serious.... I feel like I'm going crazy.

I proceeded to recount (another word I think I'm transferring from Spanish) that "The bus driver with his eyes glowing red of evilness...." drove right past us.  What? Red of evilness?!

Next, I described that "The car guy" (instead of the guy driving the car) needed to go get his wife.  I can't find a relation to Spanish, here.  Who knows, maybe I told stories like this before and now I just notice it.
I want to learn more about the science behind language acquisition and the ways in which it changes the brain.

No matter what, I am positive that Spanish is not only affecting my way of perceiving the world... but the way I express those events back out for the world to hear.

Weirdness of the Week and More Funny Things Students Say

This is not CR, it's just me.... 
I don't know why, but this week I have dropped four things down the toilet, one thing in the disgusting gutter that is always flowing (from what... we don't want to know since it is not raining and hasn't in over a month), and one thing in the garbage on the street.  That is weird.  I think in my entire life up to this point I had maybe dropped four things in the toilet.  Is this a sign from the universe?  Or maybe just a sign that I'm exhausted....

Four visits to the super in one day... otherwise known as how CR supports my lack of foresight in food preparation.
The fourth time I walked into the pulperia (mini super at the end of my sidewalk), I made a joke and said that I was back again.  The old man at the counter smiled and said I could come back as many times as I wanted in a day.  He didn't think it was weird at all that I would come to buy one banana on my way to school and then one packet of spaghetti sauce on my way home for lunch.  Later, one onion and finally, at night...one box of milk for next morning's coffee. 

More about super markets:
I walked into one and didn't see any eggs... if you remember, eggs here are kept out at room temperature.  They don't have the coating washed off that lets bacteria enter like we do in the US. Anyways, I asked the muchacho (guy) and he walked into the bathroom and brought out a six pack of eggs.  Yep, the bathroom.  My eggs came out of the bathroom.  Hahahahahah!
Then, I walked over to check out with my only purchase - the eggs from the bathroom - and I walked to the wrong side of the counter.  It was so unclear which side was for the worker, that I ended up standing next to him... awkwardly laughing when I realized.  Oh, always an adventure at the super.

This is the pulperia behind me

An old woman recently walked down my street and told me that I looked just like her granddaughter.
She insisted that I must be related to her.  :]  Aw.... I'm finally being viewed as Tica.
Along those lines.... when I came back from my grad school interview in the US, I had to get stamped back into the country.  The man stamping my passport heard my Spanish and asked if I had family in the country.  I told him I did... in Guacimo (my adopted family :)) and he welcomed me with open arms.  That was also a first.

Finally, on the topic of funny things students say and also a new favorite word of mine:
Relationshit.  Yes, you read correctly.  Relationshit.
A student was contandome (telling me) about a dysfunctional relationship she had gotten out of and said, "I left my relationshit."
What?" I replied.  "Relationship?"
"Yes, relationshit.... a bad relation."
She thought the word relationship was actually "relation" and that relationship was a word for a bad relation.  hahahahaha.  Comic GOLD!  So much material from this job.

And... a bonus topic! Funny things I now say since Spanish has taken over my language brain:
 The other day I sent a text to a friend in the US and said, "I right now, in this moment, am going to go to work."  What?!  Who says in this moment except my ELL students directly translating from Spanish?!

Another - That cute little boy is the brother of my student.  What?!

One more for laughs - At my grad school interview...
Professor: What is something that is important to you in this field?
Me: I think it is important to do teacher capacitations.  
Professor: Capacitations?
Me: When you train teachers?
Professor: In-services.
Me: Oh, sorry.  It's capacitaciones in Spanish and it sounds like it should be an English word, too.

We laughed. At least I'm memorable....

Mañana - El Estreno de "Perro de la Calle"

Llevamos mas que un año de trabajar juntos y mañana vamos a tener nuestro primer show :] 

Tomorrow, we go to the cashew festival in a tiny town about an hour and a half from San Jose for our first show ever.  The town is called San Mateo and is merely a stop along the collectivo bus' long winding route through the mountains. 

After our hour long set we're going to lead a "taller" (workshop) of improvisation.  

This afternoon we had our final rehearsal before the big day and I am so proud of my tiny little improv troupe that I got "piel de gallina" (skin of chicken - or what we call goosebumps). 

It sunk in that I STARTED and TRAINED a group of young people to do improv.  And to do it WELL.  But not only that.... watching the way they: work as a team, respond to each other so quickly in positive ways, banter wittily, use the rule of three, create callbacks, MC the show with such energy and confidence, transition between games like this is our 100th time performing together.....

I am beyond impressed.  I am inspired.  Their intelligent and fearless work inspires me.  

While it may be only 4 of us going, tomorrow... we are a mighty and cohesive little group. 

Vamos, Perro de la Calle!!!!!.... a San - Ma - Te- O, San - Ma - Te -O!!!!!!!!

Game list (in case any improv nerds are interested):

Introduction (what is improv, who we are and where we come from)

Slide Show (vacaciones) - with audience member to pose in photos
 - suggestion: an odd or imaginary place to vacation

Growing Shrinking Machine (la escena que crece y disminue)
- suggestion: an object in your bag

Translator (traductor)
- suggestion: an imaginary country and a made up title for a story

Word's Worst (lo pero del mundo)
- suggestion: jobs or professions

Half Life (La mitad)
- suggestion: relationship

Freeze (Congelese) 
- suggestion: a location where you are active


Lesson Plan for Taller

Names with ball toss
Word association with ball
Things you can find in.... (Cosas que puede encontrar en..... ) with ball toss
What is improv and what you noticed in the show? - discussion - How do we use improv in life?
Yes, lets! (si, vamos!)
Yes, and stories in partners (si, y historias en pareja)
Hitchhiker (collectivo)
Slide Show (vacaciones)

Applying to Graduate School from a Foreign Country and the Hilarity that Ensues….

*A big thanks to my parents who helped me apply by doing team viewer on my computer at home to help me get the files I needed and looking through binders I left at home to scan me old lessons and projects.  I couldn’t have done it without your help…

The first thoughts after reading the email that UT Austin wanted me to come interview:

1.  Wow.  They want ME!!!!! I was one of 8 out of who knows how many applicants. 

2.  That is going to be an expensive plane ticket.

3.  What am I going to wear?! I only have sandals and one pair of pants!

4.  Where am I going to stay and how am I going to get there?

The initial excitement of reading the email was quickly pushed out of the way by my random fears. 

What is a better way to deal with fears than facing them, right?  So… I scheduled a skype interview to ask questions about the different programs I applied to. 

The conversation was going wonderfully – I was getting a lot of questions answered and the director of the program was so thorough and intelligent with her responses.  Just as she was explaining one of my most important questions….

The POWER GOES OUT!

Yep…. True Costa Rican fashion.  I couldn’t believe it… but there was also absolutely nothing I could do about it.  No phone, no internet, no connection to the rest of the world. 

I just sat there in the laundry area (the only place I get good enough internet to skype) and stared at the computer, hoping the internet would suddenly work again.  It could be hours, I thought… or it could just be a minute. 

Absolutely powerless, I somewhat calmly waited for communication to return to my world.  I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at the ridiculousness of the situation – It’s not like the power goes off that often.

When life returned to my computer and the internet breathed its first revitalizing breath, there was an email patiently awaiting me from the director.  She had typed out the rest of her thoughts on my question as thoroughly as if she was writing an academic essay.  She ended the email by saying, “I imagine the internet is being a little cranky—I appreciate your efforts to get on the call. Let's keep brainstorming around the best fit for you. I am going to send you this quick message and then try to Skype you again.”

When we reconnected on skype, she was so understanding and patient and ready to continue, although I imagine she must have been very busy.  I could not have asked for a kinder and more supportive director of a program. 

Number 2 Issue – The Plane Ticket

Buying a plane ticket two weeks ahead of time from a foreign country is really expensive!!!! Luckily, I had frequent flyer miles from years of using a credit card that covered much of the ticket :]  Support all around.

Number 3 Issue – The Clothing

When I moved to a tropical climate, I was not imagining I would apply to and visit grad school during the winter.  I only had one pair of pants and the only closed toed shoes I had were tennis shoes.  That was not going to suffice for an interview in 32 degree weather. 

What did I do…?  Well, first… I went to the Ropa Americana!!! That is like a crazy thrift store full of second hand clothing shipped from the US.  I got these dress pants that were way to big in the legs but fit well otherwise.  They were $4.  Then, I went to the tailor and got them taken in.  That was $3.  Off to interviews with $7 dress pants from the Ropa Americana!  Ay, Dios. 

Next, my own personal styling team in Quepos raided their closets for any and all suitable clothing choices.  One friend just happened to have several pieces of clothing for cold weather and my other friend went as far as lending me her favorite bag because it looked elegant and I couldn’t possibly show up with a backpack.  I love that it was so important that she lent it to me even though she uses it every day.  I also giggle because everyone else there had backpacks – that’s what universities in the US are like :] 

Even her “suegra” mother in law busted out the clothing and dressed me up like I was a fashion model headed to the runway.  They all made me promise that I would fix my hair nicely because they wouldn’t be there to do it.  I love them.  My friend even gave me earrings to wear for good luck. 

Issue number 4 – The Housing and Transportation

This, also just took care of itself…. The department set me up with a current student who turned out to be one of my new favorite people.  As soon as I got off the plane and we greeted each other, it was like we had known each other for a very long time.  By the end of the day, we had inside jokes and were laughing so hard I would crumple to the floor. 

She even had scarves and jackets and socks to give me each day.  We laughed about how people would notice that I was always wearing her clothes, but nobody ever said anything.

She and the other grad students took such care of us that we never even had a chance to feel lost or alone.  I felt so taken care of by so much of the world.  

So much so, that when I got back home to Quepos – my friend and her boyfriend were at the bus to welcome me and help me get my suitcase home. 

Thank you to all of my old friends, new friends, and family for supporting me and making me feel so loved and cared for.  

A good story always has challenges… otherwise it is not interesting… and an even better story is one in which things line up and flow through those challenges in a way that helps you to see that you are on your path.  When you are following your personal legend, the whole universe conspires in your favor. 

And that is what I’m doing…  I don’t know where the path may lead, but 

“making a decision is only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist  

So, as one of my English students says… “Letting go!”*

 *(let’s go is what she means to say)

 This picture was my homework after the interview - we were asked to email a photo that represented "what remains" of our time spent on campus.  The title is Illuminating Inspiration through Collaboration.  I think it represents my experience perfectly :]  If you can't tell, I liked it there. 

Now I wait to hear if I'm one of the 4 they want.