Estoy Cansada

Yes, I'm tired. Very tired. I took on a lot all once and I'm feeling it. It's good to be busy doing what I came here to do, though. I'm grateful so much for the opportunities available and am trying to take advantage of it all. Next month should be better, once in more settled and accustomed to the routine I've for going on.

I'll post more later when I'm not so tuckered out. 

La Semana Primera

The first week.

I successfully complete my first official week of teaching English! It was intense and a lot of material making, but all done!

Time for next week! I procrastinated preparing for next week and am quickly learning that this will not fly. This program is still fairly new, which means there is not just a book of ready-to-go lesson plans for my taking. I'm lucky because I came at a time when there are most or some completed lessons and materials to go along with those lessons, but it's still very much in the tweaking/growing phase. Even though it's a lot more work, I'm excited to be a part of the growth.

Tomorrow starts the high school gig! This job makes me more nervous, for several reasons. First, it's for real. This is high school, not an evening class that someone is paying for because they want to learn English. Second, this is high school, and that means teenagers. And connected those teenagers are parents. I don't know what's going to be worse. Ha. One plus side is that I'm not creating lessons from scratch. They have a textbook we work from, so that's easier than the first job, as for lesson planning. 

Tutoring also starts this week. I'll be going to a third school to tutor these two girls. Here's one of them:

She drew a picture of me (her interpretation). So sweet. I may only be tutoring them for a month or so. We'll see. The principal asked me yesterday of I would sub for some classes for a few weeks. I'm talking to her about it tomorrow. 

There is definitely endless opportunity here for me to teach English. It truly is a huge relief and blessing. And even another opportunity is to help a local tour company edit their brochures and possibly tutor some employees in the future. The guy who talked to me about it let me and my work colleague and new friend go on the kayak tour for FREE! Well, in exchange for the English help. 

It was an amazing experience and so much fun, even though I felt seasick THE WHOLE TIME. Who knew kayaking in the ocean was not like kayaking on a river or lake, like I did in Puerto Rico?? That was my first time kayaking. This is my second. And my upper body strength is not what it should be. Ha. At least I could enjoy all the beauty that surrounded me. Too bad I didn't take more photos. I honestly couldn't do anything but try and sit still on the boat ride back. Blast this sensitive stomach of mine!

Mañana, mañana

One more week down. That makes almost three, and I could not be more ready to begin working. It may sound crazy, but I can only hang out and do nothing in a beautiful place for so long. It'd be different if I was on vacation and taking tours and seeing the sights of the country....but I'm not. I live here now. It is real life, and real life with no job to keep me busy? Ha! I've never heard of such a thing. Not my reality. Not now, probably not ever. Pura vida, eh?

Side note: Pura vida is a common saying here in Costa Rica, the literal translation being the obvious (pure life, aka: the good life). But people use it as a quick greeting/goodbye, a way to say things are going well, or as a way of saying thank you.  And probably several others ways. 

Pura vida, indeed.

Tomorrow I begin teaching, and I'm both excited and a little nervous. I ended up getting this job offer pretty last minute (which is also a thing Costa Ricans are known for..."Tico Time"). It's different than the one I mentioned previously (I start that one next week). This one is at the school where I certified to teach in February. Here it is (second floor, left side of the building.):

A couple of rooms are rented out at this building and that's the school. It's called Lingo TEFL Language Institute.

I knew a teacher was leaving (Laurie), so I had my hopes I would fill her spot. Well, there was absolutely NO sign of them offering it to me. In fact, the director even referred me to a job opening she knew of as a reservation person at a hotel resort, trying to be helpful. I appreciated it greatly, but was bummed I wasn't getting offered a teaching job. Well, the day Laurie left, I was asked if I was still interested. And I was. 

Three places. I will be teaching three different places, all of which are great opportunities, with room to grow. I'm feeling very grateful that everything is continuing to work out.  And this is the view from my balcony this very moment...

Not too shabby.:)