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I'm Melody. This is my teaching and traveling experience in Costa Rica.
5/19/17
So far my experience in Costa Rica has been nothing but enjoyable and an enormous blessing. Today I went with the students, other volunteers, and director to the Copeedota R.L. (a well-known coffee manufacturer in Costa Rica). Along with the students, I was able to try authentic Costa Rican frapuccino and a caramel pastry. It was very interesting and educational to see the process of the product from a bean to a fresh cup of coffee. The children seemed to enjoy it a lot and I was glad to be exposed to a part of Costa Rican culture.
Today also concludes my first week of teaching. I am teaching first and second grade. I have enjoyed meeting my students and having the experience of teaching for the first time. So far, we have been working on family members, room names, there is, there are, and prepositions.
Overall, this experience has been valuable to my education and will only grow with value throughout my stay.
So far my experience in Costa Rica has been nothing but enjoyable and an enormous blessing. Today I went with the students, other volunteers, and director to the Copeedota R.L. (a well-known coffee manufacturer in Costa Rica). Along with the students, I was able to try authentic Costa Rican frapuccino and a caramel pastry. It was very interesting and educational to see the process of the product from a bean to a fresh cup of coffee. The children seemed to enjoy it a lot and I was glad to be exposed to a part of Costa Rican culture.
Today also concludes my first week of teaching. I am teaching first and second grade. I have enjoyed meeting my students and having the experience of teaching for the first time. So far, we have been working on family members, room names, there is, there are, and prepositions.
Overall, this experience has been valuable to my education and will only grow with value throughout my stay.
5/20/17
Today marks my first weekend in Copey. This morning has been productive for me and the community. Parents, students, teachers, the director, and other volunteers gathered at the center for a community trash pickup day. We divided into three groups and tackled different areas in town. In my group we went to the "Rio Blanco" or the White River to pick up trash. I was surprised at how organized and efficient the day went. Trash-bags were labeled for plastics, cardboard, cans, paper, and more. A large amount of trash was gathered and overall the town much looks better. It was heartwarming to see a community come together and to care about their town enough to spend their Saturday morning pickup trash. It was also another chance for me to learn more Spanish so it was easier to communicate with the students. At the same time, the students liked to practice their English while picking up trash. They are just as much my teachers as I am their teacher.
Today marks my first weekend in Copey. This morning has been productive for me and the community. Parents, students, teachers, the director, and other volunteers gathered at the center for a community trash pickup day. We divided into three groups and tackled different areas in town. In my group we went to the "Rio Blanco" or the White River to pick up trash. I was surprised at how organized and efficient the day went. Trash-bags were labeled for plastics, cardboard, cans, paper, and more. A large amount of trash was gathered and overall the town much looks better. It was heartwarming to see a community come together and to care about their town enough to spend their Saturday morning pickup trash. It was also another chance for me to learn more Spanish so it was easier to communicate with the students. At the same time, the students liked to practice their English while picking up trash. They are just as much my teachers as I am their teacher.
5/24/17
Today officially marks my tenth day in another country. So much has already happened within these ten days in Copey. From teaching my first class, using Spanish for the first time, living with a host family, and more. Due to my clumsy nature, yesterday I had a bit of a tumble in the road and sprained my ankle. Thankfully, my friend helped me back to my room. My host family was so kind and helped me beyond what I think I deserve. They helped give me ice every few hours for my sprain and had me rest in bed. Not to mention they brought me ice cream in bed. One important lesson I've learned is that kindness has no language barrier. No matter the country or culture, caring is instinctive in human nature.
Today officially marks my tenth day in another country. So much has already happened within these ten days in Copey. From teaching my first class, using Spanish for the first time, living with a host family, and more. Due to my clumsy nature, yesterday I had a bit of a tumble in the road and sprained my ankle. Thankfully, my friend helped me back to my room. My host family was so kind and helped me beyond what I think I deserve. They helped give me ice every few hours for my sprain and had me rest in bed. Not to mention they brought me ice cream in bed. One important lesson I've learned is that kindness has no language barrier. No matter the country or culture, caring is instinctive in human nature.
5/27/17
Thankfully with all of the help from my host family and the Copey community I am now well. I was able to teach classes the next day and finish the week out. The students were so gracious and understanding for one day of classes being cancelled when I sprained my ankle. I am blessed to have such compassionate students. I will always remember how helpful the Copey community was when I fell and sprained my ankle. These are qualities I hope to take back to the U.S. and to encourage more of.
Today marks my second weekend in Costa Rica. On Friday, I had the privilege of touring a local family's farm called "Finca la Florida". They had many animals, fresh fruits growing, and a lecheria (where milk is produced). The family was even kind enough to send me home with fresh strawberries and blackberries from the farm. I really enjoyed seeing the process of milk production and getting to meet all of the cute animals. In addition, I got to learn more about how agriculture/farming is an important component to Copey's local economy for families and for the town in general.
In addition, I got to explore a new town in Costa Rica called San Marcos. San Marcos is about an hour away from Copey and has more shops and restaurants.It is much bigger than Copey. I was able to try my favorite dish "ACP" to compare it to the states...Costa Rica won. Also, I got to try some ice cream which was very delicious. I've enjoyed my experience so far and am sad that it is going by so fast. However, I am beyond grateful for all of the people and everything that has been given to me while I'm here. I have 8 days left of teaching and one more full weekend in Costa Rica. I intend to make the most of it and can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead of me. Also, I would like to give another shout-out and express my gratitude to all of the people who have made this trip possible for me. Thank you.
Thankfully with all of the help from my host family and the Copey community I am now well. I was able to teach classes the next day and finish the week out. The students were so gracious and understanding for one day of classes being cancelled when I sprained my ankle. I am blessed to have such compassionate students. I will always remember how helpful the Copey community was when I fell and sprained my ankle. These are qualities I hope to take back to the U.S. and to encourage more of.
Today marks my second weekend in Costa Rica. On Friday, I had the privilege of touring a local family's farm called "Finca la Florida". They had many animals, fresh fruits growing, and a lecheria (where milk is produced). The family was even kind enough to send me home with fresh strawberries and blackberries from the farm. I really enjoyed seeing the process of milk production and getting to meet all of the cute animals. In addition, I got to learn more about how agriculture/farming is an important component to Copey's local economy for families and for the town in general.
In addition, I got to explore a new town in Costa Rica called San Marcos. San Marcos is about an hour away from Copey and has more shops and restaurants.It is much bigger than Copey. I was able to try my favorite dish "ACP" to compare it to the states...Costa Rica won. Also, I got to try some ice cream which was very delicious. I've enjoyed my experience so far and am sad that it is going by so fast. However, I am beyond grateful for all of the people and everything that has been given to me while I'm here. I have 8 days left of teaching and one more full weekend in Costa Rica. I intend to make the most of it and can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead of me. Also, I would like to give another shout-out and express my gratitude to all of the people who have made this trip possible for me. Thank you.
5/29/17
Today marks my final two weeks of teaching. Yesterday I was actually able to go to a Catholic communion and reception afterwards for a student which was a cool experience. The food at the reception was so delicious! In addition, it was cool to really immerse myself in the Costa Rican culture by attending this religious commencement. It is a tradition expressed by those in Costa Rica who are Catholic. The family of the student whose communion we attended were so gracious and welcoming. The family invited me along with all of the other volunteers to attend. There was dancing to songs like Despacito and Bailando, food, speeches, pictures with the student, and more! I really enjoyed the experience. This week I begin to help out with more classes such as Colegio A (teenagers) and Adultos B (adults). The teenagers actually have a higher comprehension level than the adults at English. They have had more time to learn and practice than the adults. The adults have more work and family responsibilities. In Colegio A, we are actually working on a project. The students are going to express in English where they see themselves five years from now. Since they are all in high school, I thought that their future would be an important topic for them to begin to think about. In addition, being able to express their dreams and goals in a different language can give them an edge over other people their age. I am also very interested and excited to see what they envision for themselves in the future. This trip overall is going by so fast. I only have 6 days left of teaching. This has helped develop me more as an individual and increased my self-awareness ten-fold. I have more confidence as a working professional due to this opportunity as well. Having the experience of working with kids, adults, and teenagers has helped me to see that I have the ability to work with any age group. My host family is wonderful as usual. To thank them for all they have done, another volunteer and I who are staying with them made them dinner the other day. We were successful in making two delicious lasagnas that were consumed till the last piece. I think my host family appreciated the gesture and I was glad to have a way to express my gratitude. Everyone went to sleep with full stomachs that night. My |
5/31/17
As of today, I only have 5 days of teaching left in Copey. This trip has flown by. I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. I intend to make the most of the teaching days I have left. Last night, I started teaching the Adulto B class. There were three new students who could not speak a word of English. This is great! This means I have so much I can teach them. I started off the class with the basics such as the alphabet, colors, numbers, animals, and so on. I intend to review these and to give the students a strong foundation in the language. This will help prepare them for the future so they can build on their knowledge of English.
In 1st and 2nd grade we are working on "All About Me" books. This book helps them to express themselves in a different language and to have something to take home to practice their English. This is also a good review for the verbs "to be" and "to have". The students seem to be enjoying their books and it is an opportunity for them to color, express themselves, and be creative. It has been a pleasure and
joy to be their teacher.
In addition, tonight I teach the Colegio A class. This is all teenagers. Tonight, students are finishing our "In 5 Years" project where students express in English what they would like to do in the future. The students will also be presenting their projects to the class. I think this will be a fun exercise and help them to better express their long term goals in English. I look forward to getting to know the students better through their presentations.
Also the center is getting computers which is very exciting. Yesterday, we rearranged the center to make room for three new tables donated by a gracious community member to place the computers on. The center will receive a total of ten computers that students will be able to use to enhance the quality of their education. I look forward to seeing the center when it is complete with the computers.
6/4/17
This Saturday, I was able to visit San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. My host mother's friend was gracious enough to give us a ride and be my local tour guide. I got to see the city, visit mercados, see the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, and even see Wonder Woman in 3D in the San Jose mall. I got to also try authentic Costa Rican ice cream in the mall and look around. I really enjoyed touring the capital and was so grateful to have someone who knows the area guide me around. In addition, I was able to purchase some souvenirs for my family and friends. I also enjoyed visiting the museum and learning more about the history of the country.
Today, I was able to travel to Santa Maria to get another delicious frapuccino and try another pastry. I will definitely miss this place ! In addition, my host family surprised me after Santa Maria by treating me to Restaurante La Catarata which means "The Waterfall Restaurant. They told me they wanted to do something nice for me since it was my last week. I was so shocked and grateful that they had thought that much of me. Like the name, the restaurant was beside a waterfall. It was night, but the waterfall was well lit with lights and there was even a place for customers to take pictures with the waterfall in the background. I was able to get a picture with my host father and with my friend Barerah. In the restaurant I tried "Arroz Con Camarones" or ACC. It was delicious! I had a great time and am so thankful for the host family I have been blessed with. I am planning on writing them a letter in Spanish to thank them for all they have done for me.
This will also be my last week in Costa Rica. I only have Monday through Thursday of this week for teaching as well. I plan on focusing on action verbs which have been really fun for the kids. I hope to help my students create a "Weekly Routine" calendar to help them learn actions. I think that this craft will be fun for the students and give them a chance to be creative.
This Saturday, I was able to visit San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. My host mother's friend was gracious enough to give us a ride and be my local tour guide. I got to see the city, visit mercados, see the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, and even see Wonder Woman in 3D in the San Jose mall. I got to also try authentic Costa Rican ice cream in the mall and look around. I really enjoyed touring the capital and was so grateful to have someone who knows the area guide me around. In addition, I was able to purchase some souvenirs for my family and friends. I also enjoyed visiting the museum and learning more about the history of the country.
Today, I was able to travel to Santa Maria to get another delicious frapuccino and try another pastry. I will definitely miss this place ! In addition, my host family surprised me after Santa Maria by treating me to Restaurante La Catarata which means "The Waterfall Restaurant. They told me they wanted to do something nice for me since it was my last week. I was so shocked and grateful that they had thought that much of me. Like the name, the restaurant was beside a waterfall. It was night, but the waterfall was well lit with lights and there was even a place for customers to take pictures with the waterfall in the background. I was able to get a picture with my host father and with my friend Barerah. In the restaurant I tried "Arroz Con Camarones" or ACC. It was delicious! I had a great time and am so thankful for the host family I have been blessed with. I am planning on writing them a letter in Spanish to thank them for all they have done for me.
This will also be my last week in Costa Rica. I only have Monday through Thursday of this week for teaching as well. I plan on focusing on action verbs which have been really fun for the kids. I hope to help my students create a "Weekly Routine" calendar to help them learn actions. I think that this craft will be fun for the students and give them a chance to be creative.
6/5/17
Today is the beginning of my last week of teaching in Copey. I have truly been blessed and have gained a lot of experience through this opportunity. I have enjoyed working with my students and helping them improve their English. All of my students have so much potential! I am sure that they will do nothing but succeed in the future. I'm also glad that I was able to work with English learners of all ages from the age of preschool all the way to adults. I have learned different strategies for teaching various age groups that I will carry with me in my professional career.
The Copey community is another aspect of my trip that has greatly influenced me as an individual and as a volunteer. Their ability to come together to do activities such as a "Cleaning Copey Day" shows just how much these citizens care about the environment they live in. Also, when I sprained my ankle the people who asked about me, checked on me, came to my room...speaks volumes about these people and what they are all about...community. I will forever be grateful for my host family and how gracious and welcoming they were to me. They have treated me like one of their own, like family, and that is something I will never forget. They have welcomed me into their own home, made me meals,taken me to La Restaurante Catarata, and even taught me how to play a board game in Spanish (Rummy-O or Rummy). The qualities the Copey community practices are qualities that have been etched into my character and will be part of me no matter where I go.
Today is the beginning of my last week of teaching in Copey. I have truly been blessed and have gained a lot of experience through this opportunity. I have enjoyed working with my students and helping them improve their English. All of my students have so much potential! I am sure that they will do nothing but succeed in the future. I'm also glad that I was able to work with English learners of all ages from the age of preschool all the way to adults. I have learned different strategies for teaching various age groups that I will carry with me in my professional career.
The Copey community is another aspect of my trip that has greatly influenced me as an individual and as a volunteer. Their ability to come together to do activities such as a "Cleaning Copey Day" shows just how much these citizens care about the environment they live in. Also, when I sprained my ankle the people who asked about me, checked on me, came to my room...speaks volumes about these people and what they are all about...community. I will forever be grateful for my host family and how gracious and welcoming they were to me. They have treated me like one of their own, like family, and that is something I will never forget. They have welcomed me into their own home, made me meals,taken me to La Restaurante Catarata, and even taught me how to play a board game in Spanish (Rummy-O or Rummy). The qualities the Copey community practices are qualities that have been etched into my character and will be part of me no matter where I go.
6/8/17
I have two days left in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. I have had so many wonderful experiences and have learned so many things. I am happy to see my family again in a few short days, but I will miss the Copey community immensely. Yesterday, I was given a surprise that only made me more grateful and more reluctant to leave this beautiful place. Members of the board at the Copey Learning Center surprised me and came to my house to take me to Santa Maria. They took me back to Coopedota R.L. to have coffee and say goodbye at Cafe Priviliegio. In addition, on the ride back home they were kind enough to give me a parting gift. It was a t-shirt that said "Costa Rica" along with a leather coin purse/bag that said "Costa Rica". I did not expect all of the kind gestures and gifts that I have received on this trip. Again, I am beyond blessed.
Yesterday was also my last class with 1st and 2nd grade. It was a fun last class and I was able to get final photos with my group. I will miss them so much! They were a joy and pleasure to teach. I hope they continue to learn and enjoy English.
Tonight is my last class with Adulto B. It has been a good experience for me to teach those of various ages. I have developed new strategies for teaching this way and have figured out what works best for what age groups.
I am soaking in the final moments while I have them and am so grateful to have another home in Copey, Costa Rica.
¡Pura Vida!
I have two days left in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. I have had so many wonderful experiences and have learned so many things. I am happy to see my family again in a few short days, but I will miss the Copey community immensely. Yesterday, I was given a surprise that only made me more grateful and more reluctant to leave this beautiful place. Members of the board at the Copey Learning Center surprised me and came to my house to take me to Santa Maria. They took me back to Coopedota R.L. to have coffee and say goodbye at Cafe Priviliegio. In addition, on the ride back home they were kind enough to give me a parting gift. It was a t-shirt that said "Costa Rica" along with a leather coin purse/bag that said "Costa Rica". I did not expect all of the kind gestures and gifts that I have received on this trip. Again, I am beyond blessed.
Yesterday was also my last class with 1st and 2nd grade. It was a fun last class and I was able to get final photos with my group. I will miss them so much! They were a joy and pleasure to teach. I hope they continue to learn and enjoy English.
Tonight is my last class with Adulto B. It has been a good experience for me to teach those of various ages. I have developed new strategies for teaching this way and have figured out what works best for what age groups.
I am soaking in the final moments while I have them and am so grateful to have another home in Copey, Costa Rica.
¡Pura Vida!
6/9/17
Today is my last day in the beautiful oasis that is Copey. I can't believe how fast this trip has gone by. I still feel like I only got here yesterday. I am so blessed, lucky, and grateful for everyone who has crossed my path and for all the adventures I've experienced. This trip has given me more confidence to travel and explore other places as an independent person. I feel like I broke down the walls of fear I had when it came to travelling.
In addition, I gained invaluable teaching experience. I am so glad that I was able to work with ESL students of all ages from preschool to adults. I have acquired new skills from this and have gained new methods of teaching during my time volunteering as an ESL teacher.
Again, I will miss Copey immensely. The community here has welcomed me with open arms since the first day I got here. All of their kind gestures do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. I will always be grateful for all this town has done for me and the kind people who inhabit it.
So for now I will not say goodbye, but "¡Hasta luego!". Copey now has a special place in my heart and hope in the future to visit again.¡Gracias por todos! Y...
¡PURA VIDA!
Today is my last day in the beautiful oasis that is Copey. I can't believe how fast this trip has gone by. I still feel like I only got here yesterday. I am so blessed, lucky, and grateful for everyone who has crossed my path and for all the adventures I've experienced. This trip has given me more confidence to travel and explore other places as an independent person. I feel like I broke down the walls of fear I had when it came to travelling.
In addition, I gained invaluable teaching experience. I am so glad that I was able to work with ESL students of all ages from preschool to adults. I have acquired new skills from this and have gained new methods of teaching during my time volunteering as an ESL teacher.
Again, I will miss Copey immensely. The community here has welcomed me with open arms since the first day I got here. All of their kind gestures do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. I will always be grateful for all this town has done for me and the kind people who inhabit it.
So for now I will not say goodbye, but "¡Hasta luego!". Copey now has a special place in my heart and hope in the future to visit again.¡Gracias por todos! Y...
¡PURA VIDA!