So, I meant to write this post a few weeks ago, after I’d been here for a month, as a kind of reflection on how the transition has been. But, despite my ample free time, especially in the week between the end of my classes at CPI and the start of my internship at the CEC, it just didn’t seem to get done! As a result, I’ve kind of been dreading writing it because so much has changed since my last post and it’s a lot to wrap my head around for one message. Also, this means I am fully revoking my promise to make my posts shorter… but here it goes!
Towards the end of January, I finished my classes at CPI. I was actually really sad about this- I was enjoying not only learning Spanish, but also getting to have a ton of really interesting discussions with my teachers there. I’m so thankful for my time there, because I got to learn so much about the culture here and hear so many different opinions about education, gardening, tourism, healthy eating, equality, and so many other topics from all of the teachers I got to work with. Plus, of course, I learned so much vocabulary for things that are important to me, along with all the necessary grammar! I think my month of classes there was the perfect way for me to transition into my time in Costa Rica.
The week after I finished at CPI was low-key, to say the least. I had six whole days to myself, alone, with very little to do (solo-traveling didn’t seem like a very appealing option for me). Looking back on it, I guess it was a good time for me to relax and plan a little bit for my summer, but in the midst of the week, I couldn’t help but wishing I had productive things to do, or at least some people to pass the time with… I found myself wallowing a bit in homesickness and a good dose of loneliness and boredom. I wish I had been more proactive in going out of my way to meet new people or seeing new things, but this week really proved to me that I’m not all that comfortable or interested in going out and doing new things on my own. On the bright side, I ended up reading more books for fun than I have in a long while (thank goodness there’s such a wonderful library here!) and went on some long walks and runs. I also got to spend some time with Dixia when she wasn’t at work. We cleaned, talked about our families, and baked (we made banana bread and homemade peanut butterrr, among many other things).
After it’s solo, low-key beginnings, the week ended on a really positive and exciting note! Recharged after receiving a wonderful care package from my mom (thank you!!), I finally got to start at the CEC on Friday the 27th! We had an intern orientation, so throughout the day, we got a tour of the school, meet all the other interns, and spent a bit of time in our classrooms. To start the day off, we attended school sing, a weekly CEC tradition where different grades take turns performing songs for the rest of the school. As soon as I got there, I was bombarded by a horde of second-grade girls wanting to sit on my lap, hold my hand, and know all about my life. Their energy and excitement didn’t subside when I went to their classroom a bit later in the day to introduce myself; we all sat in a circle and they asked me all sorts of questions about my life. It was a great introduction to a class I am quickly coming to love.
The first official week of my internship was spent mainly getting to know the schedule and flow of the class- and of course learning names! On Monday, we took a hike in the school’s forest (over 100 acres!) to the Kiosko, a gazebo built a few years ago overlooking the school, Santa Elena, and Cañitas (I was unfortunately unable to spot my house!). The school forest is really wonderful- it’s right next to the infamous Monteverde Reserve- but without all the tourists! Once we got back to the classroom, I spent the rest of the day and most of the week helping out small groups of students and getting to know them during snack and lunch. There are fifteen students in my class- four boys and eleven girls- and they all seem incredibly sweet and most of them appear to love school. I’m really looking forward to getting to know them each individually, learning about their different interests and learning styles.
All the interns eased into our time at the CEC with a short week; Friday was a “staff event day,” so we went on the CEC trip… to the beach! It was quite the experience. All school staff and their families were invited, so we all loaded onto a school bus early Friday morning, equipped with food, musical instruments, and games, and headed down to Puntarenas. We went to a really nice park and pretty much took over (it wasn’t to busy since it was during the week). We spent the day swimming, relaxing, playing football, grilling, and eating. It was a great opportunity for my to get to know some of the other people who work at the school in a relaxed environment (though I wouldn’t exactly call the CEC work environment an up-tight or high-stress one anyway). I spent the rest of the weekend with the rest of the interns hiking in the Monteverde Reserve and house sitting for one of the CEC teachers. It was fun to spend a night on our own- we got to cook a delicious dinner of fresh veggies and pasta from the weekly feria (like a farmer’s market). I ran into my family in Santa Elena as I was walking home on Sunday and we ended up going out to lunch (my first meal in a restaurant since I’ve been here!) to a place called the Krusty Krab. I found the SpongeBob reference quite comical. It was a lot of fun to spend the afternoon with them!
I’m now into my second week at the CEC, and I’m slowly integrating into the class and gaining more responsibilities. Like yesterday, for Valentine’s Day, I got to lead an art project where we made little mailboxes so we could deliver everyone’s Valentine’s. I also got to teach a little grammar lesson to a group of students. I’m definitely still very nervous about the prospect of teaching, especially in front of a whole class, but I have faith that things will become a lot more comfortable as I spend more time in the classroom and continue to get to know the students. Also, I am so lucky to be with Beverly. She’s a fantastic teaching model and has already been so helpful and interesting to talk to. I’ve already figured out that second grade is younger than I actually want to teach (I pretty much already knew this), but Beverly has actually taught at all elementary school levels, so I’ve been getting some good insights from her. I’ll save a good, full reflection on the school for another time, though. I’ve been thinking a lot about a lot of things in terms of the culture of the school, managing a classroom, and learning and schooling in general- way to much to get into now! At the very least, the CEC seems like a really special place for students, parents, and teachers alike and I’m excited to learn more about it!
Aside from the prospect of spending the next four months in a classroom and getting to learn so much about teaching, I think the most exciting advancement for me has been fiiinally cooking with Dixia! I knew my insistence to do the dishes every night and to just hang around in the kitchen while she was cooking would pay off! I have worked my way up the ladder ☺ A proud moment was last week when she asked me what vegetables she should get from the store so we could cook meals this week. I’ve now gotten into the routine of joining her in the kitchen right when I get home from school in the evening, so we get to spend a bunch of hours cooking, cleaning, and talking. This is a great time for us to share recipes, and we’ve been having a lot of conversations about healthy and local food. I am so thankful for this time I get to spend with her; it’s been infinitely helpful in getting us to develop a strong relationship and it’s a great opportunity for me to practice Spanish. It’s to the point now where, when she introduces me to other people, she says I am her oldest daughter (which often receives some strange looks because we clearly have very different backgrounds haha)! The other night, after Angelica and I had made a carrot-pineapple cake to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Dixia said to me, “You’re not allowed to go back to the States. You need to find yourself a Costa Rican boyfriend so you’ll move down here and cook with me all the time!” Not only does that truly made me feel like a part of the family, but it really solidifies with me how humble of a person Dixia is. I wish I could paint for you a perfect picture of this woman. She never stops working, but she also always has a smile on her face and the heartiest laugh. And she is talking to me as if I have all the things in the world to teach her cooking-wise, when in fact it is quite the opposite! I feel as though every moment I spend with this family reminds me of how lucky I am to be here with them. I couldn’t have asked for a better homestay!
***
Though so much has happened and changed since I arrived, it’s kind of hard to believe I’ve been here for a month and a half already. At Swarthmore, we often talk about the feeling of time warp, where everything simultaneously feels like it’s just started and also like it’s been going on forever. I remember after only a week of being here, I felt so comfortable and in place that it seems like being back in Connecticut was just a distant memory. Now it’s strange to think that I’m already one quarter through my time here!
When I compare how I feel now, though, and how I felt that first day I arrived here, I can easily see how much has changed in the time that has passed. Not only is there the obvious improvement of my language skills, but also the accompanied integration into my family. I am so happy to be past the times when I used to write down everything I wanted to say and read to people from my notebook! It’s way more fun to have spontaneous conversations haha :) I also feel infinitely more comfortable with being on my own, in a place where I clearly don’t fit in appearance-wise. On that note- I think one of my biggest frustrations of being here is the fact that many people can peg me as being an American and, as a result, often automatically use English, even if I start to speak to them in Spanish. Though, I guess an even bigger frustration of mine would be the people here who perpetuate the stereotype of the ignorant American traveler and only speak in English. Yes, Monteverde is a very touristy place, but that does not change the fact that you are in a Spanish-speaking country and that you should not always assume English to be the common or correct language for communication!! At least make an effort to use a little bit of Spanish!! With that said, though, I will restrain myself from venting more.
Back to the point, which is that every day I am falling more in love with Costa Rica and all the people I’ve been lucky enough to meet. I can’t really pinpoint what it feels like to be here, because it just feels so natural. All I know if that I am really enjoying it here, and I am so very excited for my next four months of learning the ins and outs of teaching. Since I consider myself to be pretty much obsessed with all things education-related, I can’t imagine a better way to spend my semester!
I’m sending everyone my best! I hope all is well in your respective parts of the world! <3
p.s. I added a bunch of new photos, so be sure to check them out! :)
Towards the end of January, I finished my classes at CPI. I was actually really sad about this- I was enjoying not only learning Spanish, but also getting to have a ton of really interesting discussions with my teachers there. I’m so thankful for my time there, because I got to learn so much about the culture here and hear so many different opinions about education, gardening, tourism, healthy eating, equality, and so many other topics from all of the teachers I got to work with. Plus, of course, I learned so much vocabulary for things that are important to me, along with all the necessary grammar! I think my month of classes there was the perfect way for me to transition into my time in Costa Rica.
The week after I finished at CPI was low-key, to say the least. I had six whole days to myself, alone, with very little to do (solo-traveling didn’t seem like a very appealing option for me). Looking back on it, I guess it was a good time for me to relax and plan a little bit for my summer, but in the midst of the week, I couldn’t help but wishing I had productive things to do, or at least some people to pass the time with… I found myself wallowing a bit in homesickness and a good dose of loneliness and boredom. I wish I had been more proactive in going out of my way to meet new people or seeing new things, but this week really proved to me that I’m not all that comfortable or interested in going out and doing new things on my own. On the bright side, I ended up reading more books for fun than I have in a long while (thank goodness there’s such a wonderful library here!) and went on some long walks and runs. I also got to spend some time with Dixia when she wasn’t at work. We cleaned, talked about our families, and baked (we made banana bread and homemade peanut butterrr, among many other things).
After it’s solo, low-key beginnings, the week ended on a really positive and exciting note! Recharged after receiving a wonderful care package from my mom (thank you!!), I finally got to start at the CEC on Friday the 27th! We had an intern orientation, so throughout the day, we got a tour of the school, meet all the other interns, and spent a bit of time in our classrooms. To start the day off, we attended school sing, a weekly CEC tradition where different grades take turns performing songs for the rest of the school. As soon as I got there, I was bombarded by a horde of second-grade girls wanting to sit on my lap, hold my hand, and know all about my life. Their energy and excitement didn’t subside when I went to their classroom a bit later in the day to introduce myself; we all sat in a circle and they asked me all sorts of questions about my life. It was a great introduction to a class I am quickly coming to love.
The first official week of my internship was spent mainly getting to know the schedule and flow of the class- and of course learning names! On Monday, we took a hike in the school’s forest (over 100 acres!) to the Kiosko, a gazebo built a few years ago overlooking the school, Santa Elena, and Cañitas (I was unfortunately unable to spot my house!). The school forest is really wonderful- it’s right next to the infamous Monteverde Reserve- but without all the tourists! Once we got back to the classroom, I spent the rest of the day and most of the week helping out small groups of students and getting to know them during snack and lunch. There are fifteen students in my class- four boys and eleven girls- and they all seem incredibly sweet and most of them appear to love school. I’m really looking forward to getting to know them each individually, learning about their different interests and learning styles.
All the interns eased into our time at the CEC with a short week; Friday was a “staff event day,” so we went on the CEC trip… to the beach! It was quite the experience. All school staff and their families were invited, so we all loaded onto a school bus early Friday morning, equipped with food, musical instruments, and games, and headed down to Puntarenas. We went to a really nice park and pretty much took over (it wasn’t to busy since it was during the week). We spent the day swimming, relaxing, playing football, grilling, and eating. It was a great opportunity for my to get to know some of the other people who work at the school in a relaxed environment (though I wouldn’t exactly call the CEC work environment an up-tight or high-stress one anyway). I spent the rest of the weekend with the rest of the interns hiking in the Monteverde Reserve and house sitting for one of the CEC teachers. It was fun to spend a night on our own- we got to cook a delicious dinner of fresh veggies and pasta from the weekly feria (like a farmer’s market). I ran into my family in Santa Elena as I was walking home on Sunday and we ended up going out to lunch (my first meal in a restaurant since I’ve been here!) to a place called the Krusty Krab. I found the SpongeBob reference quite comical. It was a lot of fun to spend the afternoon with them!
I’m now into my second week at the CEC, and I’m slowly integrating into the class and gaining more responsibilities. Like yesterday, for Valentine’s Day, I got to lead an art project where we made little mailboxes so we could deliver everyone’s Valentine’s. I also got to teach a little grammar lesson to a group of students. I’m definitely still very nervous about the prospect of teaching, especially in front of a whole class, but I have faith that things will become a lot more comfortable as I spend more time in the classroom and continue to get to know the students. Also, I am so lucky to be with Beverly. She’s a fantastic teaching model and has already been so helpful and interesting to talk to. I’ve already figured out that second grade is younger than I actually want to teach (I pretty much already knew this), but Beverly has actually taught at all elementary school levels, so I’ve been getting some good insights from her. I’ll save a good, full reflection on the school for another time, though. I’ve been thinking a lot about a lot of things in terms of the culture of the school, managing a classroom, and learning and schooling in general- way to much to get into now! At the very least, the CEC seems like a really special place for students, parents, and teachers alike and I’m excited to learn more about it!
Aside from the prospect of spending the next four months in a classroom and getting to learn so much about teaching, I think the most exciting advancement for me has been fiiinally cooking with Dixia! I knew my insistence to do the dishes every night and to just hang around in the kitchen while she was cooking would pay off! I have worked my way up the ladder ☺ A proud moment was last week when she asked me what vegetables she should get from the store so we could cook meals this week. I’ve now gotten into the routine of joining her in the kitchen right when I get home from school in the evening, so we get to spend a bunch of hours cooking, cleaning, and talking. This is a great time for us to share recipes, and we’ve been having a lot of conversations about healthy and local food. I am so thankful for this time I get to spend with her; it’s been infinitely helpful in getting us to develop a strong relationship and it’s a great opportunity for me to practice Spanish. It’s to the point now where, when she introduces me to other people, she says I am her oldest daughter (which often receives some strange looks because we clearly have very different backgrounds haha)! The other night, after Angelica and I had made a carrot-pineapple cake to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Dixia said to me, “You’re not allowed to go back to the States. You need to find yourself a Costa Rican boyfriend so you’ll move down here and cook with me all the time!” Not only does that truly made me feel like a part of the family, but it really solidifies with me how humble of a person Dixia is. I wish I could paint for you a perfect picture of this woman. She never stops working, but she also always has a smile on her face and the heartiest laugh. And she is talking to me as if I have all the things in the world to teach her cooking-wise, when in fact it is quite the opposite! I feel as though every moment I spend with this family reminds me of how lucky I am to be here with them. I couldn’t have asked for a better homestay!
***
Though so much has happened and changed since I arrived, it’s kind of hard to believe I’ve been here for a month and a half already. At Swarthmore, we often talk about the feeling of time warp, where everything simultaneously feels like it’s just started and also like it’s been going on forever. I remember after only a week of being here, I felt so comfortable and in place that it seems like being back in Connecticut was just a distant memory. Now it’s strange to think that I’m already one quarter through my time here!
When I compare how I feel now, though, and how I felt that first day I arrived here, I can easily see how much has changed in the time that has passed. Not only is there the obvious improvement of my language skills, but also the accompanied integration into my family. I am so happy to be past the times when I used to write down everything I wanted to say and read to people from my notebook! It’s way more fun to have spontaneous conversations haha :) I also feel infinitely more comfortable with being on my own, in a place where I clearly don’t fit in appearance-wise. On that note- I think one of my biggest frustrations of being here is the fact that many people can peg me as being an American and, as a result, often automatically use English, even if I start to speak to them in Spanish. Though, I guess an even bigger frustration of mine would be the people here who perpetuate the stereotype of the ignorant American traveler and only speak in English. Yes, Monteverde is a very touristy place, but that does not change the fact that you are in a Spanish-speaking country and that you should not always assume English to be the common or correct language for communication!! At least make an effort to use a little bit of Spanish!! With that said, though, I will restrain myself from venting more.
Back to the point, which is that every day I am falling more in love with Costa Rica and all the people I’ve been lucky enough to meet. I can’t really pinpoint what it feels like to be here, because it just feels so natural. All I know if that I am really enjoying it here, and I am so very excited for my next four months of learning the ins and outs of teaching. Since I consider myself to be pretty much obsessed with all things education-related, I can’t imagine a better way to spend my semester!
I’m sending everyone my best! I hope all is well in your respective parts of the world! <3
p.s. I added a bunch of new photos, so be sure to check them out! :)
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