5.27.2008
quick update
We take a cab at 5am to the bus depot in Ciudad Quesada to then ride for 2.5 hours to the airport. We fly out at 12ish and arrive in Houston. I think we have a long layover because we finally arrive in Chicago at 9:45pm.
See you all in the States soon!
5.24.2008
...did you know?
1. There are many earthquakes each day. (Don't worry, Mom, they're tiny ones!) I actually felt one today while sitting on the couch!
2. There are no addresses beyond the downtown area. To give directions, landmarks are used -- and landmarks include current and past buildings. Like the Burger King that is nonexistent today is still used as a landmark when giving directions.
3. Costa Ricans are called "ticos". Anyone else is called a "gringo". It's not derogatory at all to be called a "gringo".
4. A public bus only costs about 25 cents to ride (150 colones). $1.00 equals 500 colones.
5.23.2008
Hola Sojourn Academy!
I met many of the students that I will have in 4th grade (It's official! 4th grade is mine!). I had the opportunity to teach a 3rd grade math lesson to the students that will be in my class -- I've become acquainted with their personalities and academic needs already!
closer to the orange buildings of Sojourn
a hallway of the school. Actually this is the middle school building.
and then here's some fun photos, of course :)...
an interesting flower that caught my eye... not sure what it's called.
We were getting photo-happy in the pouring rain.
5.20.2008
we made it!
Jaclyn and I have arrived safely here in San Jose. Wow, it's been a long day of travel, but we definitely made the most of it. Here's a few photos that I've already captured:
Photo shoot at the Houston airport.
We sat next to this man, Tet, during the flight from Houston to San Jose.
He is from Peru by birth but currently lives 6 months in San Francisco and 6 months on the Tamarindo Beach in Costa Rica. He filled us in on all the places to visit and places to avoid. His nephew is an architect, and Jaclyn is searching for an architecture internship (hopefully here in San Jose :)), so he gave us his nephew's contact information. We are also welcome to visit Asiento del Suenos, Tet's home on the beach.
Oh, a funny story: During our flight from Chicago to Houston, Jaclyn and I sat by an outgoing 5 year-old redhead boy named Leam. We talked all about Pokemon cards and kindergarten. Leam had informed me of his girlfriend Sophie who was also in his kindergarten class. His parents were sitting across the aisle and their attempts to quiet him throughout the flight were not successful (I really didn't mind talking with Leam!). By the end of the trip, Leam had declared "I love you girls!" and so Leam's exasperated dad says, "Leam, your girlfriend at home would not like you telling these ladies that you love them. Let's save that phrase for your girlfriend." Leam says, "Dad, Sophie can't hear what I say right now, so it's alright. Don't worry about it." Oh kids.
My best photo today. Priscilla and Ale picked us up at the San Jose airport and drove us to the San Francisco district, where Jaclyn and I will be staying for the next 4 or 5 nights. I met these two when I travelled to Costa Rica with the Judson mission project 2 years ago. By email, Priscilla had requested Burt's Bees "lipstick" from the States, so I brought several tubes in exchange for the ride to San Francisco. She was so excited about the chapstick!
Tomorrow we will be at Sojourn Academy!
more stories to come...
5.15.2008
why in the world would i want to do this?!?
this isn't an impulsive decision, i promise. this has been a dream growing in my heart for at least two years, and it has been a growing reality while searching for teaching jobs.
why would i dream of such a thing? many of you know i have travelled with mission projects over the last four spring breaks while a student at Judson University. each destination has increased my desire to travel and to be a learner of another culture for a time.
also, applying for teaching jobs in the states with no experience earns the same answer over and over: "well, we can't hire you without experience." so, in an effort to gain coveted experience, i am going somewhere that truly needs teachers.
plus, working in a hispanic culture will give me numerous opportunities to learn spanish -- probably more opportunities that i want, at first! my desire to understand and communicate in spanish has been growing ever since becoming good friends with my best friend Rosena in high school.
it gets even better! i will be teaching at Sojourn Academy in Costa Rica, the elementary school that is part of the Instituto de Lengua EspaƱola. entire families move in to the school -- the parents go to the Institute to learn spanish, and the children come to the Academy. at the Academy, i will be teaching either 3rd or 4th grade (not sure yet -- those details to come!). i will teach the usual subjects, just like in the states, and my students will have a daily spanish class with another teacher as well as the specials (art, pe, music) being taught in spanish. i am so glad to be surrounded by this many spanish speaking opportunities!
so reasons i want to do this... adventure, travel, gain valuable experience, learn spanish. a great combination. is this a permanent move to Costa Rica? no. in the longterm plans, i would like to return to a diverse area of the U.S. and teach in a bilingual environment. but long term plans usually change, so i'm staying flexible.
so now what? i mean, school starts in August, so what is between now and then?
Jaclyn and i will be travelling to Costa Rica May 20th. we will visit Sojourn, as well as explore San Jose and be the best tourists we can be. we return May 28th, and then i will be heading to Elgin again to nanny for the Kovanda family for the summer. i'll be moving to Costa Rica sometime in mid-August.
details to follow.