It's been a little while since my last update. At site, I'm in the beginning stages of project implementation. In the past month and a half, I've been really diving into my projects: designing, planning, coordinating, managing, etc. It's a little bit of a slow process because I'm still learning the ropes, still navigating the education system and regulations, still finding my place with projects and the needs/desires of the community. In reality, this process will continue my whole time here. My counterparts and I agree that it's okay if projects are not 100% successful right away because the reality of my job is trial and error. I have the flexibility with my schedule and job tasks to work with the community with the resources available here and change the style or implementation of any program as time goes on. If a lesson plan or workshop doesn't go as planned, then we still learned something;Through this process, we are learning what does, or sometimes more often what doesn't, interest youth. We are learning what kind of communication styles or participation we can utilize with different groups of people. It's all a learning process. I think if we are learning along the way and sharing ideas together, then any project will be successful. So that's what I've been up to the last month and a half: starting the navigation process towards new ideas and projects for the benefit of youth.
Here is a little more specific information of what I am doing project-wise at each of my institutions and community:
High School- At the high school level, I'm working with a program called "horas guias," which is similar to what is known as "home room" in the U.S. This is one of my bigger projects going on at my site right now. Typically this class is utilized to build camaraderie and a positive class atmosphere. My job with this project is to use non-formal education techniques to support life skill learning in areas such as goal setting, values, team work, positive communication, creative problem solving, leadership, decision making, positive emotional health and self identity, healthy relationships, study habits, tolerance and diversity, and gender equality. In our first month and a half, we have focused mostly on values and goal setting, and we will soon be moving to technical study habits. The high school has 10 sections of "horas guias" from 7th grade through 11th. (Fun fact: The academic high schools in Costa Rica include 7th grade through 11th grade, and the technical high schools include 7th grade through 12th grade, an extra year for learning a more specific technical profession.) I'm working with the teacher of each section to accommodate the lesson plans best for the needs of each group. It's so interesting how each section of students can be so different. We are trying to take into account the different needs and learning atmosphere of each group. The main goal for this project is to build upon life skills, yes, but to also allow the students to have a voice. In my surveys that I did last year, the majority of students and parents noted the importance of life skills, especially in areas of goal setting and personal values. All lessons are designed around youth participation to allow the students to practice the skills in which they are learning. Also, this project not only (hopefully) supports youth, but also supports teachers who support youth. To do this, the teachers provide feedback about the class or lesson plan, and I use this information to create the next set of lessons and activities. Lesson plans are always flexible for the needs and styles of the teacher and the group of students, and we use the plans together to deliver a specific life skills message to the students. In reality, this project is still in the beginning stages. We have had some successful lessons...and of course, some lessons that were not very effective. But, that's part of the process.
At the high school, I'd also like to work towards creating a sort of leadership club for students, and I plan to work with parents in the future with my orientadora (guidance counselor). We've had conversations about these future projects, but nothing official just yet, stay tuned!
Here is a little more specific information of what I am doing project-wise at each of my institutions and community:
High School- At the high school level, I'm working with a program called "horas guias," which is similar to what is known as "home room" in the U.S. This is one of my bigger projects going on at my site right now. Typically this class is utilized to build camaraderie and a positive class atmosphere. My job with this project is to use non-formal education techniques to support life skill learning in areas such as goal setting, values, team work, positive communication, creative problem solving, leadership, decision making, positive emotional health and self identity, healthy relationships, study habits, tolerance and diversity, and gender equality. In our first month and a half, we have focused mostly on values and goal setting, and we will soon be moving to technical study habits. The high school has 10 sections of "horas guias" from 7th grade through 11th. (Fun fact: The academic high schools in Costa Rica include 7th grade through 11th grade, and the technical high schools include 7th grade through 12th grade, an extra year for learning a more specific technical profession.) I'm working with the teacher of each section to accommodate the lesson plans best for the needs of each group. It's so interesting how each section of students can be so different. We are trying to take into account the different needs and learning atmosphere of each group. The main goal for this project is to build upon life skills, yes, but to also allow the students to have a voice. In my surveys that I did last year, the majority of students and parents noted the importance of life skills, especially in areas of goal setting and personal values. All lessons are designed around youth participation to allow the students to practice the skills in which they are learning. Also, this project not only (hopefully) supports youth, but also supports teachers who support youth. To do this, the teachers provide feedback about the class or lesson plan, and I use this information to create the next set of lessons and activities. Lesson plans are always flexible for the needs and styles of the teacher and the group of students, and we use the plans together to deliver a specific life skills message to the students. In reality, this project is still in the beginning stages. We have had some successful lessons...and of course, some lessons that were not very effective. But, that's part of the process.
At the high school, I'd also like to work towards creating a sort of leadership club for students, and I plan to work with parents in the future with my orientadora (guidance counselor). We've had conversations about these future projects, but nothing official just yet, stay tuned!
Elementary School- At the elementary school, I am also doing life skills lessons, but in a much different manner. The hours at the elementary school are a little bit more complicated to work around, in comparison to the high school. There is a mourning group and an afternoon group, but they switch every week, making coordination for consistency a little complicated at times. The goal is to have life skills lesson once a month, mostly focusing on friendship, tolerance, positive communication, responsible behaviors, and positive self-identity. For the older groups (4th-6th), I'm using a Peace Corps resource called Circles of Friendship, which focuses on just that with lessons on emotions, empathy, mediation, and negotiation. For the younger groups, I'm working with a very popular story book that many teachers in the U.S. use, called Have You Filled A Bucket Today? It's a great story that teaches friendship and kindness. Translated to Spanish, I'm working on implementing the idea of "bucket filling" to the younger students. Hoping to even get real buckets to fill as a school-wide project!
In addition to these lessons, I'm also working with the 5th and 6th graders on a pen pal project. My brother-in-law in Cleveland is a 6th grade teacher. So far we have successfully exchanged letters between his 6th grade class and my 5th and 6th graders in Costa Rica. The students were so excited and full of questions to learn about another group of students so far away! We used Google Earth to show the difference in distance and to show the difference between the small rural school here in Costa Rica and the looks of an elementary school in a large city. It was a fun exchange, and the kids are hoping to do a video call in the future!
Also hoping to work with groups of parents, recycling art projects, and sports. Nothing too specific in these areas quite yet. It will be interesting to see if the current projects lead us in that direction! Stay tuned here also!
In addition to these lessons, I'm also working with the 5th and 6th graders on a pen pal project. My brother-in-law in Cleveland is a 6th grade teacher. So far we have successfully exchanged letters between his 6th grade class and my 5th and 6th graders in Costa Rica. The students were so excited and full of questions to learn about another group of students so far away! We used Google Earth to show the difference in distance and to show the difference between the small rural school here in Costa Rica and the looks of an elementary school in a large city. It was a fun exchange, and the kids are hoping to do a video call in the future!
Also hoping to work with groups of parents, recycling art projects, and sports. Nothing too specific in these areas quite yet. It will be interesting to see if the current projects lead us in that direction! Stay tuned here also!
Community- At the community level, I have an English class once a week. It's open to the entire community for free. Usually about 10 people come. I have a variety of age and ability levels, so I try to create a vocab lesson with different activities that can apply to youth who have English in the high school or for new beginners. It's a fun class, and it's exciting to see youth continue to want to learn after a long day of classes!
Through several conversations, I learned the importance of creating a women's group. I'm hoping this month to start a women's group to provide support, as well as an opportunity to share various talents: crafts, recipes, health and exercise ideas, etc. Looking forward to coordinating our first meeting to see where this group can go.
I'm also connected with a few other groups and committees in my community. I attend various meetings and help with various projects. It's nice to have these contacts and a foot in different groups for potential projects in the future.
Through several conversations, I learned the importance of creating a women's group. I'm hoping this month to start a women's group to provide support, as well as an opportunity to share various talents: crafts, recipes, health and exercise ideas, etc. Looking forward to coordinating our first meeting to see where this group can go.
I'm also connected with a few other groups and committees in my community. I attend various meetings and help with various projects. It's nice to have these contacts and a foot in different groups for potential projects in the future.
Recent Adventures and Site-seeing- See pictures below!
March was full of all kind of events! I went to a quincinera (like a sweet sixteen birthday party, but for 15) with my host family. I also went to my a concert with a friend! Super fun experience!
My birthday was also in March, and my host family was kind enough to throw me a surprise party! With cake! Many people from the community came too! It was incredibly kind and thoughtful! I'm so thankful for the kindness and open arms in which this community has welcomed me.
March was also Semana Santa (Holy Week) before Easter, and no school. Traditionally, it's a week to remember the last days of Jesus on Earth. There are many actualizations and religious activities that take place in the communities and the churches each day of the week. It's a very important religious week to the Catholic Costa Rican culture. During this week I did some traveling with some of my counterparts to Rio Celeste (Aqua River), a river in the northern part of Costa Rica that is tinted aqua due to physical properties of two rivers that merge together. It was incredibly beautiful! I also tried natural sugar cane for the first time! You have to suck the sugary juice out of the cane! It's very sweet and tasty! I also went on a hanging bridges tour with some fellow volunteers in La Fortuna! Finally, I cooked my host family a typical U.S. meal: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Yum!
March was full of all kind of events! I went to a quincinera (like a sweet sixteen birthday party, but for 15) with my host family. I also went to my a concert with a friend! Super fun experience!
My birthday was also in March, and my host family was kind enough to throw me a surprise party! With cake! Many people from the community came too! It was incredibly kind and thoughtful! I'm so thankful for the kindness and open arms in which this community has welcomed me.
March was also Semana Santa (Holy Week) before Easter, and no school. Traditionally, it's a week to remember the last days of Jesus on Earth. There are many actualizations and religious activities that take place in the communities and the churches each day of the week. It's a very important religious week to the Catholic Costa Rican culture. During this week I did some traveling with some of my counterparts to Rio Celeste (Aqua River), a river in the northern part of Costa Rica that is tinted aqua due to physical properties of two rivers that merge together. It was incredibly beautiful! I also tried natural sugar cane for the first time! You have to suck the sugary juice out of the cane! It's very sweet and tasty! I also went on a hanging bridges tour with some fellow volunteers in La Fortuna! Finally, I cooked my host family a typical U.S. meal: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Yum!
So, that's what I've been up to lately! Pretty busy working with several counterparts, looking for resources, creating lesson plans, and taking the first steps in each of my projects. Additionally, I also meet with other members from the Peace Corps group for training programs and to plan group projects. It's been busy, and not going to lie, a little tough at times figuring out what I'm doing and finding my way with the community, but I think overall, as a process, it's going very well. I acknowledge that it's a slow process towards integration from the outside in and towards implementation of projects, both that require a lot of patience, especially with myself. I've been here for 9 months already! Time feels like it's going quickly, but I also have a long ways to go. Naturally, after so much time, I'm missing home a lot too, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to go home and see my family for two weeks in June! I love my work here and this opportunity, but nobody said it would be easy! Trying to take in each day for what it's worth, enjoying the experience, and soaking in the learning process, while also acknowledging that it's okay to miss home. Like anything, it's a balance.
Thanks for taking time to read about my experiences! Hoping to do another update in May/June before I go home for two weeks. In the mean time, I'll be continuing with projects, and trying to stay cool by the fan...April is known as the hottest month of all the hot months here in Costa Rica.... Pura Vida, Emily |