As I write this, I realize I have been in Santiago for over a month now. My oh my, what a month it’s been! Sometimes I have one those ‘whoa, I really am a teacher!’ moments and it seems so surreal. I always had plans to get my TEFL certification and teach English abroad after graduating and this is the perfect first experience. I have already learned so, so much and continue to learn each day, just as I hope my students do. I feel like I am really beginning to understand what works and what doesn’t, poco a poco. I began last week at another school in town, Panul. It has been really interesting teaching at a different escuela because they each have their own separate vibe. I am teaching three classes: second grade, third/fourth grade and fifth/sixth grade. The 3rd and 4th grade classes are combined and there are 26 students. What really surprised me is that the combined 5th and 6th grade class has only 8 students, three girls and 5 boys. Panul is a true statement to the reality of a lot of Guatemalan children; many students don’t make it to sixth grade. As well, a lot of the students are in the upper teens. I really applaud them for continuing to go to school, because I’m sure it can be frustrating. I have found that I’m going to have to try even harder because a lot of the fun games that I use are more appropriate for younger ages and as well, it’s sometimes easier to do them with a larger group. It will be a good challenge and even more experience and I am happy for that. Even though Chu’ul and Panul are different, as always, kids are kids and they are just as cute. Lots of the kids want to play games with me at recess or hold my hand and they are always smiling and laughing. Though I am quite attached to my Chu’ul students, I have lots of room in my heart for all the niños at Panul as well!
Last week, Laura and Maggie (two of my friends) and I took 10 kids to one of the parks across town as a little field trip. We wanted to make sure that their parents knew where they were so we went to all their houses and talked to their parents and then we were off! We piled them into tuk tuks and traversed the narrow, winding, up and down streets of the city, which lots of the girls thought was so much fun. I felt like tour guide Brianna because the whole time I yelled at them to keep their limbs in the vehicle! At the park, which is located right by the lake, we looked for fish, played in the grass and had a little juice box treat. Isabel, one of the little cuties, put a flower in my hair and kissed me on the cheek, smiling as she said “Brianna, te quiero mucho!” It’s moments like that when I feel as though I have captured the purest form of joy. <3
On Sunday, four of us from Milpas hiked the volcano San Pedro (which is in a lot of my pictures). Not really sure why I had the idea that it wouldn’t be that hard (come on Bri, it’s obvious that volcanoes have very steep sides), but I was maybe not as prepared as I would have liked! My legs definitely went numb on multiple occasions and I will admit to excessively grabbing on to tree limbs to pull me up. At times, it seemed like we were the only people on the whole volcano and we had the trail to ourselves. It was really green and mossy and so nice to be away from all the hustle and bustle of Santiago for a little bit. Finally at the top (a very self-fulfilling moment indeed), it was really cloudy and we couldn’t really see much but I did google some images afterwards, so hey that’s alright! In utter exhaustion while waiting on the boat, we witnessed a man carrying two giant carts of chickens on his head fall into the lake. I was so tired, it was one of the moments where I didn’t even know if I was really seeing it happen. PS, for all of you that have been wondering if a chicken can swim, it kind of can! All in all, it was an entertaining day. I wanted to climb a volcano while here so I’m happy I did it, but I don’t know if I’ll be the first person in line to sign up next time :)
Last night we had our first intense rain storm here in Santiago. Since I have been here, there have been probably 15 minutes of rain in total. No joking around over here, when they mean dry season, they mean it! We were all so shocked at the storm, but mesmerized by the lightning that lit up the whole sky and made it look like daylight for a few seconds. The thunder was the loudest I have ever heard it my life. We sat up on the terrace and watched it all around us. I pulled my new rain jacket on and tested it out. I was tempted to pull out my knee-high yellow rain boots as well but I resisted, seeing as how my walk is probably not even 15 seconds :) The power went out and Laura and I had a romantic, candle-lit lesson planning date. This morning, I plunged into an ice-cold shower only to be further shocked when the water stopped completely and has yet to come on again. If this is any sign of what the rainy season is like, I’m in for a wild ride! I love the sun and blue skies so I’m hoping it has no intention of starting up early.
Next week, I head off to Costa Rica for a long weekend to visit my friend Claire who I met while studying abroad in Argentina. We haven’t seen each other since then so I’m really excited!! I can’t wait to sample another taste of Central American culture. Xok aaq'a (Tz’utujil for good night!)*
*Side note: You know a language is difficult when you have a hard time even pronouncing the name of the language, but it sounds really cool and I’m trying to learn some phrases to surprise the kids
Bri, the first year at Chu'ul, it was a lot like Panul. So much change in such a little time! We also had a very small 5th/6th grade with older kids. But keeping those larger, younger groups going produces the big graduating classes we are now having at Chu'ul and your work at Panul is part of that process. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's awesome to see how much change can occur in such a short period of time! It's been really cool being at both schools and seeing the differences.I'm excited you all are involved with Panul and I hope that everything keeps going as it is.
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