Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Coming to an end...
The trip continues to wind down quickly. This is the last week of actual class. I have a test tomorrow and a paper and creative presentation due Friday. Tonight I'm going to another soccer game which I'm way excited about to get my mind off the projects. Monday we leave for Panama. My group does anyway, another group goes to Guatemala and another to Cuba. We fly out in the morning and spend the night in Panama City. Tuesday we leave early to go to some islands off Panama where the Kunas live which are an indigenous group of people. We have to go there on little boats and then we'll just be living with the people for 5 nights, 6 days. I'll turn 22 on the island so that should be a different birthday experience. We'll be roughing it again. No electricity, fish and rice for the meals, sleeping in hammocks, etc. I am really excited! We'll return to Panama City for 2 more nights to hang out in the city and see the Panama Canal. Then we'll fly to Miami for re-entry culture shock and return home December 13!!! I can't wait to see everyone and catch up with you all. It'll be here before we know it!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
4 More Weeks
Today marks officially 4 more weeks to my return home. It's hard to believe how fast the time has flown. I am ready to see family and friends and eat some home cooked American food again, but I will also miss my life here. I'm trying to take advantage of it since there's not much left!
My life has been busier than I thought these last 2 weeks. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays I go to an elementary school and work with first and second graders, but they are like 8 and 9 year olds. It is a lot of fun (especially since we always play soccer during the breaks in the halls) but a LOT of work. I am working with kids who need extra attention and have fallen behind in math and reading. The class has over 30 students so it is impossible for the teacher to give the appropriate attention. It is sad to see how the kids through the neglect of the attention they need to understand have lost a little of their sense of worth. They just think they can't do it and have accustomed themselves to cheating or just getting it wrong. I never really thought of schools have "marginalized" groups, but it is clear to see that every classroom does. I have gained a whole new respect for teachers. Through education classes at Lipscomb, I've worked and taught in classrooms before, but for short periods of time, like an hour. After spending 7 to 4 in the classroom 3 days a week, I don't see how the teachers do it! I am pooped! Especially last Thursday when Steven and I were the substitutes in the afternoon for a sick teacher. Wow. That's all I can say. What a challenge.
Tuesdays and Thursdays we have grammar class in small groups of 6 or 7 and process groups to discuss our readings. We are studying different marginalized groups like prostitutes, squatters, etc. We also go to different organizations to hear their stories. Last week we went to an organization called Jesus para la Cuidad. They offer classes and activities mainly for adolescents to try to change typical habits that come with poverty like violence, abuse, drugs, etc., and to offer hope and opportunity to people who don't receive any. Today we went to an organization that works with women who are looking to leave the sex industry. Costa Rica is huge in prostitution, human trafficking, sex tourism, child prostitution, everything. We heard 3 different stories of women who are healing for years of living a street lifestyle. Their wounds are deep and it was amazing to hear their lives which stand in dark contrast to my comfortable one. They entered prostitution to make money for their families at the age of 11 or 12. One mom gave the girl an outfit and told her to do it because the family needed money. I am enjoying reading and hearing stories different from my own that represent many groups of people who live without a voice, live with opportunity and hope, live trying to survive today with little hope of a better tomorrow, people who are burdened by the social systems that stand. I don't know how, but I want to represent these people and work to change the systems that stand. Our benevelance may help in the short term, but there are deep, socital changes that are needed to truly help these people and give their lives value.
So that's what I've been up to. We're going to Teatro Nacional tonight to see a production, not even really sure of what we're seeing. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Think about me as we have class that morning and are trying to piece together a Thanksgiving meal for the afternoon. I sure will miss Grandma's feast and the time with family. Love and peace to all.
My life has been busier than I thought these last 2 weeks. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays I go to an elementary school and work with first and second graders, but they are like 8 and 9 year olds. It is a lot of fun (especially since we always play soccer during the breaks in the halls) but a LOT of work. I am working with kids who need extra attention and have fallen behind in math and reading. The class has over 30 students so it is impossible for the teacher to give the appropriate attention. It is sad to see how the kids through the neglect of the attention they need to understand have lost a little of their sense of worth. They just think they can't do it and have accustomed themselves to cheating or just getting it wrong. I never really thought of schools have "marginalized" groups, but it is clear to see that every classroom does. I have gained a whole new respect for teachers. Through education classes at Lipscomb, I've worked and taught in classrooms before, but for short periods of time, like an hour. After spending 7 to 4 in the classroom 3 days a week, I don't see how the teachers do it! I am pooped! Especially last Thursday when Steven and I were the substitutes in the afternoon for a sick teacher. Wow. That's all I can say. What a challenge.
Tuesdays and Thursdays we have grammar class in small groups of 6 or 7 and process groups to discuss our readings. We are studying different marginalized groups like prostitutes, squatters, etc. We also go to different organizations to hear their stories. Last week we went to an organization called Jesus para la Cuidad. They offer classes and activities mainly for adolescents to try to change typical habits that come with poverty like violence, abuse, drugs, etc., and to offer hope and opportunity to people who don't receive any. Today we went to an organization that works with women who are looking to leave the sex industry. Costa Rica is huge in prostitution, human trafficking, sex tourism, child prostitution, everything. We heard 3 different stories of women who are healing for years of living a street lifestyle. Their wounds are deep and it was amazing to hear their lives which stand in dark contrast to my comfortable one. They entered prostitution to make money for their families at the age of 11 or 12. One mom gave the girl an outfit and told her to do it because the family needed money. I am enjoying reading and hearing stories different from my own that represent many groups of people who live without a voice, live with opportunity and hope, live trying to survive today with little hope of a better tomorrow, people who are burdened by the social systems that stand. I don't know how, but I want to represent these people and work to change the systems that stand. Our benevelance may help in the short term, but there are deep, socital changes that are needed to truly help these people and give their lives value.
So that's what I've been up to. We're going to Teatro Nacional tonight to see a production, not even really sure of what we're seeing. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Think about me as we have class that morning and are trying to piece together a Thanksgiving meal for the afternoon. I sure will miss Grandma's feast and the time with family. Love and peace to all.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Fall Break
So last Wednesday was the last day of our regular core seminar. We ended with group presentations and I found out today that my group got an A. Also found out I got an 85 on my paper so I was pretty pleased. After class, Jessie, Caroline, Rachel, and I hopped on a bus and headed to La Fortuna, which is a city about 4 hours north that is home to the most active volcano (Volcán Arenal) in Costa Rica. We stayed at a hostel that had a swimming pool which we thoroughly enjoyed during the day when it was blazing hot. Crazy for November, normal for Costa Rica.
Thursday we just hung out at the pool and then it rained so we just played cards and ate peanut butter and banana sandwiches, our lunch for the whole weekend. Later that afternoon other students from our group arrived. We went to the hot springs that night which were so relaxing and fun.
Friday we hiked to a waterfall and played around in the cold water there. Absolutely gorgeous. That afternoon we took a cab to the Observatory lodge which is closest to the volcano. We saw it up close and personal and could even hear the rocks spewing out of the top and watch them tumbling down the mountain. We never saw lava because at night we weren't close enough.
Saturday I hiked about a 2 hour straight incline to Cerro Chato, a lake-filled volcanic crater where I could also see the volcano. Absolutely beautiful. That night we went to a nice restaurant. Sunday we checked out of the hostel and headed back home to San Jose. It was a very nice and relaxing break from our school work.
Today has begun a new schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have language and literature classes and we also go to hear different speakers. We are specifically discussing different marginalized groups like the poor, women, etc. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I am going to be helping at an elementary school. Not sure of all the details, but I will be working with 1-3 graders who have learning disabilities. I think I'll be working with about 4 students in areas of reading and math. Kinda nervous but excited to get into the schools here, too.
So that's what's new in my life. I don't have much time to write or I would elaborate. I realized this weekend how much Costa Rica has changed me. For one, I cannot sleep past 8 am (which is very unusual for me) and I am ready to go to bed at 10 pm. Also, I noticed myself noticing things that previously would not have bothered me. For instance, we went to this one waterfall at a hotel and I noticed signs of deforrestation and it made me so mad. Before this experience, I knew nothing of the fact! Just some thoughts to tell...later!
Thursday we just hung out at the pool and then it rained so we just played cards and ate peanut butter and banana sandwiches, our lunch for the whole weekend. Later that afternoon other students from our group arrived. We went to the hot springs that night which were so relaxing and fun.
Friday we hiked to a waterfall and played around in the cold water there. Absolutely gorgeous. That afternoon we took a cab to the Observatory lodge which is closest to the volcano. We saw it up close and personal and could even hear the rocks spewing out of the top and watch them tumbling down the mountain. We never saw lava because at night we weren't close enough.
Saturday I hiked about a 2 hour straight incline to Cerro Chato, a lake-filled volcanic crater where I could also see the volcano. Absolutely beautiful. That night we went to a nice restaurant. Sunday we checked out of the hostel and headed back home to San Jose. It was a very nice and relaxing break from our school work.
Today has begun a new schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have language and literature classes and we also go to hear different speakers. We are specifically discussing different marginalized groups like the poor, women, etc. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I am going to be helping at an elementary school. Not sure of all the details, but I will be working with 1-3 graders who have learning disabilities. I think I'll be working with about 4 students in areas of reading and math. Kinda nervous but excited to get into the schools here, too.
So that's what's new in my life. I don't have much time to write or I would elaborate. I realized this weekend how much Costa Rica has changed me. For one, I cannot sleep past 8 am (which is very unusual for me) and I am ready to go to bed at 10 pm. Also, I noticed myself noticing things that previously would not have bothered me. For instance, we went to this one waterfall at a hotel and I noticed signs of deforrestation and it made me so mad. Before this experience, I knew nothing of the fact! Just some thoughts to tell...later!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)