Comparatively speaking, last week was generally uneventful. I starting teaching spelling and handwriting by myself which will be something I continue to teach probably until I leave. Last weekend, we went to Jaco beach again (the place I got robbed) on an attempt to go somewhere much more interesting. Problem was, the ticket window opened later than when we needed the tickets to a much cooler place, so we were stuck with Jaco. Again. But we made the most of it. We just went for a day trip anyway. Problem was, there were no seats left on the buss we needed to Jaco, so we took the 2 hour ride on the floor of the bus. Bad idea for my car sickness.....let's just say the ride was less than pleasant. Floating in the ocean makes everything better though, so I was happy.
Surprisingly, it was the first weekend I was homesick, but I think that was because 1. I didn't feel so good 2. I usually go to the beach with my mom and 3. My team was playing in their first tourney of the season without me. It was the first tournament I think I've missed in two years. Weird. BUT There's nothing like a homemade care package waiting at school for you on Monday morning to cure a little homesickness.
There's also nothing like your teacher being sick and at home when you walk into the office first thing Monday morning. Yeah. That's right. Sick teacher = me teaching ALL day, all by myself, for the first time, unprepared. My kids are CRAZY on Mondays too, so this was definitely a challenge to say the least. I was supposed to start teaching Math this week anyway, so at least I was prepared for spelling, handwriting, and math. The rest of the day though, I was totally winging it. I was able to call my teacher once I arrived at school, LATE I may add because of our bus, and I listened as best I could to her very hoarse voice try to explain lesson plans from memory (her lesson plan book was at school go figure). I did well sticking to them so the kids wouldn't get too far behind, but the combination of being late and having to unexpectedly be in charge all day started the day with chaos that lasted all day! I MADE it though, with a little help from the other 3rd grade teachers, and the kids didn't get behind in anything! Considering the circumstances, successful day if I do say so myself.
After Monday, I prepared a little just in case Mrs. Calderon was sick again. Sure enough, she was since she didn't get to rest Monday on account of her being at the doctor's all day because her daughter's elbow came out of socket! Whew she had a rough day! So Tuesday I was prepared, and a little more in control and on time and less rushed, and I think it went very well. All lessons completed in the time allotted - CHECK! YAY! I actually felt like a real teacher because I got to check Mrs. Calderon's box and blow my whistle on the recess field and everything! Haha too bad I wasn't, you know, getting paid and everything too! Even thought Tuesday was going so well, i was, deep down, dreading the surely horrid volleyball practice I was going to have to run that afternoon. In case I forgot to mention, I started coaching the 3rd-5th grade coed volleyball team on Tuesday afternoons. Last week, it was probably THE worst practice and THE worst group of kids and THE worst volleyball experience I've had in all my years. Long story short, they were the most disrespectful kids I had ever coached. After talking to the principal, their old coach, and the varsity coach, I was hoping this week would be better, but I wasn't counting on it! Good thing too because it was right in the middle....Not as perfect as possible, but definitely not as bad. I'm getting worried though because all the players now come up and hug me every time the see me and I'm getting suspicious! Haha
The best part about Tuesday though was the WONDERFUL care package I got from my mom. (Okay you caught me, it WAS waiting on me at school Monday morning, but the chaos preventing me from actually GETTING it until Tuesday.) It had my granny doll that actually isn't new "I just forgot at home and now my mom's sending to me," EASYMAC!, Dove chocolates that I had been craving but never said anything about, a camera charger to replace to stolen one, a valentine's surprise, and LOTS of love! :) It was the perfect reward for my crazy start to the week and it couldn't have come at a better time! YAY!
Wednesday was a piece of cake after Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday was my first day helping with the middle school boys volleyball team. I don't know if this will be permanent yet, but the varsity coach wanted me to help a few boys get started until the rest of the team's soccer season was over. I only had 4 boys, but I really had a good time with it, and they were fast learners! It's my first time coaching an all boys team of any kind, and I can already tell you it's going to be a whole different world of volleyball and coaching, but I definitely think I'll like it. Next Wednesday after the weekly staff meeting, the teachers are even gonna start playing the varsity boys, so I'm glad volleyball in finally back in my liiifffeeee!!
Boy am I glad it's the weekend though! I will start teaching language arts next week, so I will be teaching everything but Science/Social Studies starting Monday. I am getting busier and busier as we speak, and I have literally NO motivation to do my Auburn online class for internship seminar. It's kinda pointless almost for my placement....I do all the reflecting naturally, and writing it down is just unnecessary work that takes up lesson planning time. I am learning SOOOO much just by being in this school and teaching everyday that I almost feel like my seminar class is a little behind the curve here. To be fair, I feel like my school is a little ahead of it. I love teaching here so much though, and it makes it so easy to get up in the morning and go to "work" - the weeks just FLY by! The staff is wonderful and my fellow 3rd grade teachers are so helpful, caring, laidback, and genuinely happy with what they're doing - it's infectious! I'm getting spoiled in my placement so fast and I'm soaking up every minute of it! It's going to be hard teaching in a regular ole school after this!
To the Country Club we go tomorrow for a nice, relaxing (and cheap) weekend before we head to Nicaragua next weekend for 5 days and 4 nights. We have to leave the country before 90 days to avoid needing a Visa, and we have a long weekend this weekend so we're headed out! The Panama border just got closed due to internal conflict, so we're switching plans last minute to the northern CR border. Should be interesting and I'm excited for the adventure. I did get a good sized knife today to make me feel better about myself though haha
I'll try to update more frequently (and shorter) in the next few weeks, but for now...
PURA VIDA!
Jessica
P.S. I am going to try to start using a little Spanish here and there in my entries, so watch out! I'm learning quickly! ("Yo apprendiendo muy rapido!".....I think...)
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