Cloud Forest Elementary School

The Cloud Forest School was absouletly stunning. When we walked in we were greeted by a very sweet lady who was in charge of the tours and inviting people to come to the school to volunteer and intern. We walked around the trails of the school at first and saw different plants and trees that were planted by some of the students in the school. The school will be celebrating its twentieth year anniversary this coming up year. We first walked down the trails and came to a section that was the play area for the school, it consisted of a soccer field with unnetted goals, a basketball court and many places to sit and hang out. It was a large space for all the children during their break or downtime to come and relax. The guide told us that it was the "heart" of the school, because that was a time with the kids could come together and relax. I loved all the plants and gardens they had around the school because the majority of the gardens and trees planted were planted by the children of the school. The school only consisted of 180 children, and the grade levels were from preschool to eleventh grade. I liked the way that the school was very enviornmental friendly and Eduardo the only maintenance man in the school told us that the reason they are teaching and showing these children how to farm and maintain plants and fruits because they want to be more enviornmentally friendly and in Monteverde it is very important to know the skills of farming. Monteverde has a lot of open land and has alot of natural and organic foods. When we went into the classrooms we saw that a lot of the teachers were international teachers, and some from America. Fifty percent of the teachers were natives of Costa Rica and the other half were international, from Latin America to the United States. It was very interesting. The school is aiming to be a full bi lengual school in the future. I think that is very important in the development of a school here is incorporating not just spanish literacy but as well as English. As a teacher I feel that incorporating spanish into the classroom would be beneficial as well, considering by the year 2020 almost half of the students in elementary ranged grades will be spanish speaking students. The Cloud Forest School cost as much as $3600 dollars per student to attend because it is a private school. The extra resources, and the beautiful 160 acre land is absolutely amazing. I want to incorporate as much science and enviornmental studies into my classroom as this school did. I loved the vivid colors, displayed student work on the walls as well. This school was a school I could see myself at in the future. I would love to teach english to young children in another country where english is not dominate. We had the opportunity to visit a wonderful school and got to see another side of schools here in Costa Rica. I really enjoyed the visit, and took many new ideas and thoughts from the trip to Cloud Forest School.

The travels to Volcan Arenal, and time for Relaxation

VOLCAN ARENAL AND LA FORTUNA

This weekend we traveled to Volcan Arenal in La Fortuna Costa Rica. This weekend was very nice and relaxing after the long weekend in Monteverde. The trip was long and bumpy, but luckily I could catch some rest before we got there. Once we got there we were able to go around the shops and look at all the souvenirs. It was very tourist area I saw many Americans there. We were able to purchase perfume for less than five dollars! It was pretty interesting. After La Fortuna we returned to a beautiful hotel where we stayed. The hotel included a hot springs which was very relaxing and new to me. The hot springs is warmed by the water that is underground near the volcano. It was very hot. But very nice. The next day we explored and hiked a trail that was right in front of the volcano. We saw many new animals and plants I have never seen before. We saw a plant that when touched would close up automatically for about ten minutes. We saw a group of about six howling monkeys that were definitely howling loud. I am deathly afraid of wasp and bees, so of course we saw a few of those. The fun part was that one of our own girls in the group Krysta ate a termite. Very interesting! So now we know if we are lost in the forest, that is one of the few edible things. The nature is so beautiful here and green. Everywhere you look in La Fortuna, Costa Rica is green and full of wild life. We were very fortunate when we got there to get a clear view of the beautiful volcano. After a week full of classes, and learning about the Country Costa Rica it was very nice to get a moment to relax and take in the natural beauty of Costa Rica. I was surprised to see that many of the restaurants are outside restaurants so the air conditioning is the natural wind. It was very nice, even though it was hot. The breeze was cool and comforting. Costa Rica is very different then North Carolina. I was born and raised in North Carolina, and I truely didn't understand the natural beauty before I came to Costa Rica. The nature, the animals, the serene sounds, and natural waters. It is all so beautiful. Using the nature and including it into my classroom setting would be a great way to enhance learning by engagement. The nature is beautiful and so many ways, and it took the hikes here, and the view for me to realize the true beauty of it.

Learning as a teacher

My new family is very special to me. My youngest sister Valentina is not learning spanish in her school yet because she is only in kindergarten. Her old sister Maria Jose is in fourth grade, and is learning english. The thing that is interesting to me is that Maria doesn't seem to be learning much from her english learning class. The class is only fifty minutes long so there isn't much time for a lot of information and learning. Fifty minutes realistically is only forty minutes in a class room with twenty five kids if the time isn't utilized correctly. My spanish classes are going very well, but I have started to realize the frustration of every day four hour classes of spanish. ESL students in english classrooms start to become frustrated like I have started to become in classes. After a long day, being in a classroom for four hours and not knowing everything solidly can be very frustrating. I learned that as a new language learner there are times when you may feel frustrated or overwhelmed but that is when I remembered that it is important for my future students that I know or at least understand spanish language. Being here in Costa Rica made me realize more things about myself such as the importance of communication and how at times a lot of people tend to shrug away or ignore students with difficulties learning, or difficulties speaking. These are the students that we need to have higher expectations for because if they know that we care, they will begin to care more as well. My family Tico has helped me to realize a lot about the importance of family as well. My mother tica ask her children everyday if they have finished there homework and if they need any assistance doing so. Many students in America don't have the family support at home that they need to complete homework assignments or to even be assisted with homework assignments. As a teacher I want to reach out to students who may need the after school assistance so that questions can be answered and questions can be asked for the students. As a teacher being in the Saint Elena Elementary school has opened my eyes to the diverse ways of teaching and learning. My students seemed very engaged when we came into the classroom every day. They wanted to learn and that was because we engaged, supported, and assisted them. The english teacher spoke english but it wasn't the sharpest english. That could be something that spanish students have trouble with is understanding spanish from a teacher who speaks predominately english. The barrier may be difficult for the students to understand. In the future when I begin to teach I will be sure to know the correct way of teaching english to spanish children and not just using the books, but also using creativity and uniqueness to engage.

My students from Saint Elena May 24 ( My hermana Tica is on the far left!)

More Costa Rica

Costa Rica is still one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I am learning a lot about myself and about the people of Costa Rica. This weekend we had the opportunity to spend time in Manuel Antonio which is a beach in Costa Rica. We stayed at a hotel that had no TV but yet internet access so we weren't totally isolated. In Manuel Antonio we had were able to hike in the National park. We were able to see much wild life that is not in the United States. We saw white faced monkeys that weren't even a foot away from us, we saw a green and yellow frog which is poisnous and if kissed or licked, could be extremely deadly. One thing I am realizing about myself during the trip is that even with the conditions of San Joaquin or certain parts of Costa Rica like La Corpia people are very happy to live. La Corpia is a place in Costa Rica with extreme poverty. We worked in the Humanitarian Foundation with some of the children, and it was such an awesome experience. We were toured around La Corpia and went to a shop where bunk beds were made for families with not a lot of money or no beds for their children. It was very sad, and definetly a culture shock for me. Trash was lined up on the side of the road with hundreds of flies flying around them. One thing that touched my heart deeply was a young mother with her son who was severely disabled. She has to carry her son up 140 steps a day to get him to The Humanitarian Foundation so that she can go to work and make the little money that she does. In the past week, The mother passed out carrying her son and cut her hand open because of the exhaustion of carrying her 60 lb son down so many stairs because they had no money to afford leg braces. Situations like this that I encounter in Costa Rica really make me sit back and think about the appreciation I should have for life. Monday I got to meet my new host Family. Who I absolutely Love!  I have Mama Tica Xenia, A papa Tica Dennis, and two hermana ticas a ten year old named Maria Jose and a five year old named Valentina. The girls go to a school called Saint Elena which is very close to their home. the first day I was put into a room that had a tv, a large bed, and my own closet area. Tuesday Morning I found out that the room is actually the parents room and they moved their stuff from the room so that I could have a place to stay. Family is very important in my family tica. We eat dinner together and breakfast together, which isn't always the case in The United States for some families. My mama tica is a wonderful cook and I was introduced to many new different cheeses, powdered milk, and plantanas. Which are banana like fruits that are fried and served. It is very tasty! we got to teach in the classrooms today at Saint Elena Elementary which is the school that my hermana ticas attend. I got to teach the students the leaf lesson which had them exam the size, color, length, texture, and veins of the leaves. It was very complicated to say things that you didn't know in spanish. At times I found that the students were giving me a confused look, but that was when I had to stop and reevaluate what I was saying to correct my self. Spanish is a very hard language to learn because of the difference between english and spanish. Last Night I had the opportunity to help my Mama Tica with her english. She is currently taking high school classes because she was working her whole life until she met her husband and was unable to graduate. As my Mama Tica was asking me questions I found that at times I was unable to explain words to her in english. For example " I don't know how they are going to handle a big house like that" It was very hard to explain to her that going in this context doesn't mean going anywhere, but yet its an expression. I am having a great time here in Costa Rica, and I hope to continue to further my spanish education, and to learn more about Costa Rica, Along with learning more about myself.

Monday through Wednesday:)

My first Mama Tica, Maria

We got to San Joaquin, and this is after an earthquake, volcano seeing and waterfall seeing, and I kept thinking.. WHAT is next?! I really love the place that our school is at (CPI). It is so green and filled with trees, and has a hammock for me to relax on (when I actually have time to relax). I met my mama-tica on Sunday, and she is so amazing! She doesn't speak any English at all, but every night that I have been home we have been talking, talking, and talking. Sometimes she will give me the confused look, but that is when I respond with "No importa".. in English meaning "Nevermind". I really enjoy the weather here, except the fact that we have to walk through it and by the time I get to class, I feel like I jumped into a pool. Being here really helps me to appreciate the schooling that we have. The schools here are very small, and they have blocked scheduling for school. Sometimes there are three shifts of students that come in at three different times. Normally there is two shifts, kids in the morning, and kids in the afternoon. The schools are open with no air conditioning just fans to keep it a bit cool inside. I worked with two young boys today and it was such an awesome experience. They didn't know much if any English at all. I spoke to them in Spanish, and helped them to match colors with pictures. I taught them all the colors in English. After that activity the boys took me on a tour of the school, and i would point to a color and ask them what it was in English. They struggled a bit, but it was exciting to hear them get it correctly. Back to my mama tica. She makes the best food ever. She has breakfast ready for me in the morning, containing banana, pineapple, mango, melon, and along with fruits my favorite, Eggs and Onions, what a good combo! It was also exciting to know that the mango I was eating came from here back yard.  Every night I get home Mama Tica has Dinner ready for me too, which is also a different type of dinner. First night I had the best penne past with beef, rice, beans, and ensalada. Which here is called a "Casada", meaning "marriage" or Together. The second night I had green beans topped with eggs side dishes of rice and beans. Thank goodness I love rice! My hermana tica is my age, and luckily speaks fluent English so last night we went out to conversate and have a bite to eat. Now... My spanish classes. Alot of Spanish speaking. Sometimes I catch myself talking in Spanish to my English friends here. Its four hours a day of Spanish. I have been learning though that students that are ESL students get frustrated. I got frustrated trying to learn because I was not grasping it, or not saying things correctly. It is very hard to stay positive when you can't communicate or can't speak correctly. I know the feeling that students feel when they come to America with little or no English experience. I am very excited because Friday my Mama Tica is taking Megan and Me to dance on Friday.  So I am for sure going so I can learn the proper Spanish way of dancing. It should be great way of immersing myself in the Spanish Culture. So far I am having the best time, and learning so much about the life here in Costa Rica. I have 20 more days, much more Spanish to learn and much more to see. Very excited and fortunate to have an opportunity like this!

The Poas Volcano

1st Full day in Costa Rica!

Today was such an exciting day! we went to La Paz Waterfalls and it was so beautiful! We drove through the towns of Costa Rica, and the towns seemed to have many people in them with alot of stray dogs. But no one seemed to notice or care. The mountains and the scenary were absolutely amazing. Everything was so green. Our tour guide Juvario was so awesome! He was hilarious, and made the trip so awesome because of his knowledge and good jokes. The girls and I had to get up early but had a great breakfast with a lot of fruits, huevos, and some amazing coffee that got us going for the day. The trip to La Paz was a little scary because of the long, windy road but I slept most of the drive haha of course. When we arrived at La Paz the weather was awesome, hot, sunny, beautiful day. We went and saw beautiful birds, such as tucans, parrots, hummingbirds, and a hawk. Then moved to beautiful butterflies and for my first time I held a butterfly in my hand which was very exciting! We then saw a numerous amount of snakes, from boa constrictors to rattlesnacks. After that we saw what I had been looking forward to seeing in Costa Rica and that was the Frogs. The colorful looking frogs that you see on post cards but never in real life! It was exciting. Shortly after seeing the frogs of course we were hit with rain. But the rain cooled us down and we all put on our ponchos and kept going. We ate a wonderful lunch, and started to hike some more. We saw some jaguars, and some Jungle cats, which we were told aren't as friendly as you would think. The most amazing part was at the end where we saw waterfalls. It was so beautiful, this was my first time ever seeing a waterfall and we saw three of them. the rush of the blue clear water, and the green leaves plants and rain forest all together was breath taking. It was so pretty and so soothing. Another cool thing I did for the first time was held a centipede! I have always been scared of things like that, and I wasn't scared once I saw a lot of the girls try it! it was amazing! I love the nature, and the animals and insects we saw were so beautiful and unique. We were over 2000 ft above sea level and I felt like I was on top of the world. After leaving the waterfalls everyone on their face had a smile. It was the best thing we have probably ever seen. we have the best bus driver Roy. But on our shuttle back to the beginning of La Paz we were taken on a crazy bus drive by another guy. I thought I was going to cry haha. The streets are so narrow and so windy, with no railing. Imagine going 30 mph on a road like that. all I can say was it was Crazy!! After all of this magnificent things, we went back to the hotel and enjoyed the beautiful La Condesa Hotel. All the girls got in the hot tub and relaxed before we went to dinner at a place that was very small but food was very deliciuos. funny thing about dinner was there was two dogs in the restaurant very different from America. But it was enjoyable I cleared my plate needless to say,  arroz con pollo.. something I will have to get used to.. Tomorrow will be such an interesting day I get to meet my family that I am staying with. I know it will be such an adventure! I get to see a volcano for my first time so I will be sure to post pictures and post about how awesome that adventure is! Pura Vida. Costa Rica is making me want to live here.

PICTURES ON THE FIRST DAY:) one at airport in America, one of the first stop in COSTA RICA!

Day before I leave for Costa Rica!

Never procrastinate on packing, I thought I had everything I needed but I didn't. I had to go out and grab last minute things its better to be prepared. The feeling I am feeling right now is so much excitement but yet some sort of anxiety as well. I really like the girls and guy that are going with us on this trip so I know it will be such an adventure. Getting on the plane and flying away will be when it really hits me that I am going to be in Costa Rica for three and a half weeks. I got everything together and I am waiting to have my mother pick me up and take me to the airport. Only a few hours left until I can start this wonderful adventure with amazing people. I can not wait to start! You will be feeling the nervousness and excitement but its a great feeling!