The Education Cycle: Who's Learning Most?

Teaching is hard. I mean, it's really hard.

Especially Science. I have three grades in one classroom, and I have to teach three different subjects to three different grades in one hour and hope and pray that they actually understand a little bit of what I'm saying.

Which is made even harder when they don't understand my primary language, yet I'm supposed to only speak to them in English.

That being said, teaching is amazing. It's the most remarkable thing I've ever done. I mean, look at these guys!

Here they look unassumingly organized and compliant. Do not be fooled.

They are adorable. Super adorable. But when I teach, most of them share this look:

Closely followed by the whine: "Ay, teacher!" 

Still. They may be crazy, and they may try to cuss in Spanish just because I was never taught bad words and they think they can get away with it, but teaching them is rewarding. It's a beautiful thing. I love it.

I have learned WAY more than I think they have in the two weeks I've been teaching. I have made mistakes, but have learned from them, and am growing as a teacher. I am comforted by the fact that I have 8 more months to make up for a rough start.

Teaching is why I'm here; it is my mission.

However, my experience in Costa Rica is already so much more than just working at the school. For example - I am in a completely different culture with completely different values, world views, and food. The food here is typically DELICIOUS. I love it. I love Gallo Pinto, I love the fruit (so much PAPAYA!) I love the rice and beans. 

What I do NOT like is eating a generous helping of lentils with yuka, to find 3/4 of the way through my meal that the yuka was covered in blue spots. That evening, my stomach didn't like it either. I woke up mid-vomit at 11pm. The remains of my entire un-digested dinner covered my blankets. It had been years since I'd thrown up.

It was a terrible experience. I showered and woke up Priscilla to ask for some new blankets after cleaning up what I could. I still felt ridiculously weak and yucky, so I went back to bed and washed the blankets the next day.

Thankfully, I did not continue to throw up. It was only that one time to get the rotten food out of my stomach. It could have been a lot worse.

I even went to school the next day to help the kids prepare for their special program that we had at church this Sabbath. The kids all dressed up and shared the importance of Adventist Education. Krystal and I sang, they played guitars, and recited poems.

After church, 12 people all crammed into a car to go to this beautiful location for lunch. The table was covered by a ceiling, but it was outdoors and we could watch as it poured a few feet away.

The amazing covered outdoor lunch spot of yesterday.

 The food was delicious, too. I was grateful to have my appetite back.

A happy girl, far away from home.

Afterwards we went on a nature walk through one of the reserves, even though it was still pouring. We didn't see a lot of animals, but the trees were crazy awesome.

This beasty is the cousin of the Ficus! Yes, the Ficus! You probably have one in your house.

Today, Krystal and I are at the school preparing (blogging) for next week. Soon we'll leave and walk into town to buy some fruit and food to make Priscilla and her aunt dinner.

Life here is just that - life. But it's beautiful.

Pura Vida.(: