Rocking that *International* Paradise

Last weekend was filled with little successes for me.  Nothing major.  Nothing life-changing.  But there have been multiple moments that made me smile to myself and think, “You did it!”  or “That worked out well!”  Saturday morning I went for a run around the school grounds.  For the first time since I’ve been here, I made it way all the way up the hill and into the school without stopping to walk.  It’s a minor success, but I was happy as I realized I was passing the school guards and hadn’t yet walked.  Then, on my run, I successfully found the “perimeter path” that circles all of the ball fields and buildings within the school walls—approximately ¾ of a mile.  It’s not a nice 6 mile loop, but it’s at least more of a change of scenery than running around the track over and over and over again.  When I got home, I finally figured out how to lock my phone, so people here should be receiving many less pocket-dials from me now....

What a difference 2 years makes!  I remember (vaguely) how I felt my first day as a “real teacher” in Puerto Rico.  I’m pretty sure I was as petrified as the new 7 th  graders.  Last year was much easier, because I knew half of my students already, and I felt comfortable in my classroom and with what we’d be doing.  This year, I’m at a new school in a new country.  So although it’s my 3 rd  year teaching, in some ways, I feel like a brand new teacher because I’m in such a new environment.  However, I do still have those years of experience under my belt, and I noticed it in the difference in my attitude the night before the first day of school.  I wasn’t nervous… I was excited. First days are easy.  You meet the kids, create a welcoming environment, do an icebreaker or two, and go over the rules and procedures for the year.  So, while I may not be 100% sure yet where I’m going with instruction this first trimester, I felt c...

Thursday, we had a day off of school because of a Guatemalan holiday.  So naturally, a few of us decided we should go on an adventure—preferably hiking.  There’s a volcano (well, there are several) about an hour’s drive from Guate.  So we spread the word, and sure enough, plenty of people were interested.  We talked to Annette, one of the new teachers who has been working in Guatemala for the past 3 years with an organization called Young Life, and she just so happened to have a contact for a driver and a guide for us.  The driver had a 15 passenger van and charged $125 for the day.  We easily came up with 12 people who were interested in going, and we made it happen.    Talk about a reasonable price!  And when Annette told me the guide’s fee for taking us up the volcano—the equivalent of $12 US, my first question was, “Per person, right?”  No.  For the whole group.  We tipped a little more, because isn’t a 4 hour hike wi...

Classes haven’t even started yet, but I am completely impressed with my new school.  I’m fairly certain the other new teachers would all agree with me.  The past six days at school, we’ve attended meetings, gone to professional development workshops, and begun to get situated in our classrooms.  I think so far, one of the things that makes this place so special is the atmosphere.  The message from administrators is very clear: We respect you and we value you.  We expect that you are an excellent teacher, and we have confidence that you will do high quality work for us.  In exchange, we will continue treating you with respect.  This confidence and respect, and the feeling we’re appreciated, is what makes things so fantastic right here.  I think a lot of people probably take this atmosphere for granted, but for me, it’s the first time I’ve really experienced it in a job.  It’s really refreshing.  Like breathing clean air after bei...

On Saturday, the school took all of the new teachers to Antigua, an hour’s drive from home.  It was our first taste of Guatemala outside of our little corner of the city.  Antigua is, in my opinion, Guatemala’s version of Old San Juan.  It’s a picturesque, historic town which caters to tourists.  Everywhere there is history, color, marketplaces and churches.  We didn’t actually spend much time in the city on Saturday.  We arrived around 10:30 and divided into teams.  Each team was given a list of about 6 things to take pictures of—a scavenger hunt!  Each group was also paired with a returning teacher and an administrator, so “finding” the things wasn’t really an issue, as our guides knew their ways around.  It was still an entertaining way to get us to see some of the city, though.  Our group tried to take as many silly pictures as possible (which may have been partly my idea), and we also enjoyed two markets.  I purchased a hu...

It all comes down to first impressions.  Maybe it shouldn’t.  But, though we tell each other “not to judge a book by its cover,” realistically, it’s hard not to do so.  With international teaching, I think this is especially true.  When you’re setting yourself in a new country where you know no one or almost no one, a good first impression will color your entire experience.  Thankfully, I’m happy to say my first impression of Guatemala and my new school has been a great one.  But let’s backtrack a bit so I can tell you about the journey to get there. When I was packing on Tuesday (because I always leave packing until the day before leaving), I was chatting with my friend Lucas, who has been teaching in Guatemala the past 2 years.  He brought up the travel embargo during the summer—which I hadn’t bothered to read or learn about.  See, for some reason, in the summer, you’re only allowed to bring 2 50lb bags into Guatemala City (unless ...

I’m not the type of person who sits still very often.  So this summer was right up my alley.  I was home for one short week in June, then set off for a whirlwind month in Europe.  And I finished my summer with nearly 3 weeks in my hometown.  I wasn’t in any one place for a very long time.  And yet, I managed to do more than I thought possible.  I spent a lot of time running and enjoying beautiful weather and beautiful countryside.  I ran past misty bluffs, bright green lawns, and past sunsets over corn fields.  I really enjoyed my time on my own two feet.  I played board games—even learned a few new ones.  I visited my favorite restaurants—ate ice cream at The Pearl, sushi at Sushi Pirate, hearty breakfasts at the La Crosse Family Restaurant and Perkins. Sushi!    I discovered new places, and realized there are indeed several establishments in the area where it’s possible to sit outside in the fresh ai...

I think that the movie Shrek probably falls into the category of “lifelong favorites” for me.  I’ve seen it several times over the years, have the soundtrack memorized, and really enjoy the way the story-line and humor blend together.  In one scene in the movie, Shrek and Donkey have to cross a very rickety old bridge.  Of course it’s towering over a pit of boiling lava, and Donkey has some trepidation about crossing.  Shrek crosses easily, looking straight ahead of him and focusing on the walking along the bridge, not the lava.  He tells Donkey to do the same.  Donkey makes it about halfway, but then a board breaks beneath his foot, and Donkey exclaims in a panic, “Shrek, I’m looking down!!!”  Today feels like I’m looking down.  Leading up to the move to Guatemala, I’ve been remarkably calm and relaxed.  I haven’t had any nervousness about it at all, really.  I’ve gotten a few things in order, kept myself organized, and for th...