For you complainers who like to complain but don't even leave me comments to read...
We're headin out to a Retreat for the Jr/Sr high schoolers. It's like camp pretty much. We're leavin in a few minutes and will be gone til Tuesday.. I'll update this when we come back!
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
End of Week Two.
I miss one week and I'm getting harassed. I have been meaning to update this though. My goal is at least once a week. Apparently, I missed that. Sorry.
Everything has been really good. I was telling some people that that's what it just is.. GOOD. No drama. No stress. No working on the weekends. It's just simply good. I'm enjoying my time with my kids. I feel like I have a story everyday from them. They are so stinkin funny. I'm enjoying my time with Lindsay and Craig, spending nights that I'm laughing so much I'm crying, spending nights staying up late and just talking with Linds, like the old days :]. It's just been so relaxing.
Last weekend we went to the beach and the largest mall in the Carribbean, along with the largest Old Navy. This weekend we didn't have school Friday or tomorrow, so we went to the beach in San Juan on Friday, the outlets yesterday, Old San Juan today, and tomorrow we're going to another beach on the opposite side of the island. I think this one is one that's part of the Carribbean Sea, so it's crystal clear water. So pretty.
Um. What else.. I tried what I think is the most popular form of puerto rican food.. monfongo. Look it up. It's like mashed plantains. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't think there was much taste to it.
I did end up talking to my teacher on her expectations of me. She said I've about finished my student teaching so she didn't think I was expected to teach at all and it was more observance and if I did teach, it wouldn't be until after I've been there a month. Lindsay said it's more because I need to get acquainted with the culture before I'm able to teach the kids.. that's understandable for sure. I talked to my internship coordinator and he said that this placement is different and my requirements are not the same. He said whatever I do will be between me and my mentor teacher and what she wants me to do. He said I will gain the teaching experience being there and helping when needed and just being involved in that way. I can see that too. What makes it hard is that I don't even feel like there's "teaching" anyway. The only thing that seems to be taught is Math. I haven't really seen a lesson in anything else. There's so much I wish I could do and change as far the teaching methods go. It's very teacher-centered and not student centered, which is what I've been taught. For those not familiar, teacher-centered is workbooks and the basic solid teaching in that matter. Student-centered is more focused on getting the students involved and doing something other than worksheets and workbooks. It's more hands on learning and instruction that will best meet their form of learning. So it's been rough in that aspect.
Other than that, things are good! I got a call about a week ago about a potential job at a preschool opening up in Knoxville. He left me a message, I called him back and got the voicemail and left him a message. Last week I hadn't heard from him and every time I got the voicemail. I left another message on Wednesday just forming him that I was interested and would like to talk to him more about the preschool and everything. We'll see where it goes. It was really, really exciting getting that first call. It also helped because someone talked me up to him and said he had nothing but great things to say. The guy happened to be one of the officers that does security at the theater. Picks on me all the time but told them I was a great worker and that I would fit right in with the people there. :] We'll see what happens. Hopefully this week I'll get a call back. Be praying. I've also got 3 more applications I really need to get on the ball with. That will be my goal this week. It's mid-March. I am definitely slacking.
Sorry it's so long. I will really try to update more frequently so each one isn't a novel.
Instead of trying to get pictures on here (it's a pain), you can go to the following links to see some. Let me know if they don't work.
Where I'm staying:
Beach Number One:
Beach Number Two (visit from my sister) plus more pictures including Old San Juan:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
here's the mail it never fails...
Okay.. I've been asked for an address.. so.. if you'd like to make my day, you can send something to:
Craig and Lindsay Beatty (Katrina)
Cond. Lago Playa
Apt. 2621
Toa Baja, PR 00949
I should receive it then and you'd make me happy :]
So today.. me and Linds went grocery shopping and I went to pay and had my first official moment where I was spoken to in Spanish and just kind of froze. Lindsay finally jumped in and helped and told me he wanted my ID. haha. And then we went to Taco Bell (yes, they have Taco Bell!) and as we were walking in Linds was like, let's see how good my Spanish is when ordering! ...DUH! I'm not even thinking when it comes to that. Luckily, this girl was like, I speak English.. and she was from PR but her English was sooo good. So yeah.. it was a pretty relaxing evening. Now we're just hanging out watching American Idol. This time last night, I was already in bed. I don't know what it is about this place, but it SUCKS the energy right out of you. I slept for 9hrs last night and couldn't manage to stay awake this morning. I also had felt like a truck hit me.. don't know why.. but my body just ached.
anyway.
Didn't get a chance to talk to my teacher today.. She kept me busy grading and running copies.. this placement really is going to be rough. I don't see me teaching much... so that's going to have to be okay with certain people back at home.
um... so I got called a name by one of my students. Have no idea what it was.. but one kid was like, he's telling jokes about you. And then another one gasped and said, he called you a really bad name! And the teacher dealt with it.. but I have no idea what he said! The little punk.
Another kid asked me if I knew that Hannah Montana lived in Tennessee where I lived :] And then she was like, when is she going to come to Puerto Rico!?? aw. poor girl. I should have been like they were in the movie and be like, I know Hannah Montana. :] hahaha.
Oh. and we have a student with ODD.. which I've never heard of. It's Oppositional Defiant Disorder. HA. yeah.. no joke. it's a disorder. Anyway. He was really sweet to me. He kept coming to me for help and then in the cafeteria we have to sit with them (I know, it sucks) and he was like teacher! teacher! here! (The students called you "teacher"). Anyway. At least he's not being crazy for me.. yet.
I felt like I was going to say something else... but I don't remember.
Anyway. Keep on reading. Keep on praying. Send me mail. I love you all. :]
Craig and Lindsay Beatty (Katrina)
Cond. Lago Playa
Apt. 2621
Toa Baja, PR 00949
I should receive it then and you'd make me happy :]
So today.. me and Linds went grocery shopping and I went to pay and had my first official moment where I was spoken to in Spanish and just kind of froze. Lindsay finally jumped in and helped and told me he wanted my ID. haha. And then we went to Taco Bell (yes, they have Taco Bell!) and as we were walking in Linds was like, let's see how good my Spanish is when ordering! ...DUH! I'm not even thinking when it comes to that. Luckily, this girl was like, I speak English.. and she was from PR but her English was sooo good. So yeah.. it was a pretty relaxing evening. Now we're just hanging out watching American Idol. This time last night, I was already in bed. I don't know what it is about this place, but it SUCKS the energy right out of you. I slept for 9hrs last night and couldn't manage to stay awake this morning. I also had felt like a truck hit me.. don't know why.. but my body just ached.
anyway.
Didn't get a chance to talk to my teacher today.. She kept me busy grading and running copies.. this placement really is going to be rough. I don't see me teaching much... so that's going to have to be okay with certain people back at home.
um... so I got called a name by one of my students. Have no idea what it was.. but one kid was like, he's telling jokes about you. And then another one gasped and said, he called you a really bad name! And the teacher dealt with it.. but I have no idea what he said! The little punk.
Another kid asked me if I knew that Hannah Montana lived in Tennessee where I lived :] And then she was like, when is she going to come to Puerto Rico!?? aw. poor girl. I should have been like they were in the movie and be like, I know Hannah Montana. :] hahaha.
Oh. and we have a student with ODD.. which I've never heard of. It's Oppositional Defiant Disorder. HA. yeah.. no joke. it's a disorder. Anyway. He was really sweet to me. He kept coming to me for help and then in the cafeteria we have to sit with them (I know, it sucks) and he was like teacher! teacher! here! (The students called you "teacher"). Anyway. At least he's not being crazy for me.. yet.
I felt like I was going to say something else... but I don't remember.
Anyway. Keep on reading. Keep on praying. Send me mail. I love you all. :]
Monday, March 8, 2010
I'm gonna go with Molly's title... Sorry for the book.. but its my first update in PR!
I wish I could tell you I was in the beautiful city of San Juan (or right outside it), but I can't. I'm here, but with this weather, it hasn't been beautiful. I refuse to take out my camera until the sun comes out! It's been in the 70s which feels nice, but this gloomy rain thing has got to go. And when it goes, it can take my allergies with it. My nose has been nothing but stuffy and I have done nothing but sneezing!
To back it up a bit, I came in on Saturday. My flights were good. The first one from Knoxville to Charlotte was a little rough, but luckily, it was only 30-40ish minutes. It was on a teeny plane with two seats on each side. Lucky for me, I sat next to a bigger gentleman, making me lean into the aisle a little bit. Just like in the movies though, I fell asleep and then someone walked down the aisle and hit my shoulder. Nice, huh?
So I got to Charlotte, which was a nice airport, and had about an hour and a half wait til my next flight. This one was a lot better. The day before when I checked in online, I changed my seat to a window so I can take some pictures (it was cloudy so that didn't happen). I sat next to a girl my age that was on her way to relax for Spring Break. We got to talk a lot and she happened to be from CA, which some of you know I'm applying for a job there. She was telling me how pretty that area was and how I needed to just go for it. She's studying in DC in International Politics. Crazy, right? I know. Anyway. She was sweet and it was good to talk to someone... as well as good to sleep during the flight!
Craig and Lindsay were there to pick me up. It was sooo good to see them. I'm so excited I get to spend this time with them and it's so comforting and such an enouragement to have them here as well. Like I said, it's been raining, so the drive wasn't too much to see. It all just looked so crummy. We dropped my stuff off at the apartment and went to the mall to go to Chili's for dinner. Okay.. When people asked me how I was going to do this teaching thing here, I kept saying, oh! It's an English instructed school.. no big deal. But what I didn't think as well is how everything else around me would be Spanish! The menu for instance. I could read like every other word so I figured it out, with Linds' help as well. But everywhere you go it's Spanish.. street signs, menus, receipts... and then you'll run into Puerto Ricans who speak better English than you. But it was a little bit of a culture shock because I wasn't thinking of the obvious.
Sunday we went to church... it's no Crossings, that's for sure. And I wasn't expecting it to be. It's a small church, the organ plays 2 songs and then the guitar and drums play 2 songs.. and that's because they can't agree, but that's another story. Craig preached though, so that was good.
We did some shopping at Costco and came home and all three of us slept the afternoon. It was kind of nice to nap. That evening we went to one of their friends' house to celebrate Lindsay's birthday. They are all super sweet and very welcoming. They made some kind of Puerto Rican steak on the grill, which was soo good. I think it's called... chureso? Or something along those lines. But I had a good time. It was nice to get to know everybody right away.
And today... it was my first day at school. I'm going to love these kids. One of them came up to me and started talking in Spanish and I just looked at him and smiled and then he was like, Are you from another country? And I laughed and said yeah.. so he got out a map and I showed him where.. then he said, You speak in Spanish? And I told him very little and he just laughed and said, hok. I talk to Ingles. haha.
The teacher's aid that's in there will not be in there while I'm there. She's on doctor's orders not to go back to work, so my teacher said it was like a blessing in disguise that I got to come be here. It was a little rough today, but we're meeting during their Spanish class first thing in the morning tomorrow to talk. So I kind find out what she expects of me, what I expect of her, etc. Hopefully it will get better than what it was.
Anyway. I won't keep writing a book. They'll be pictures soon, I promise. Maybe next weekend when the sun's out? And I can show you mi casa as well :]
To back it up a bit, I came in on Saturday. My flights were good. The first one from Knoxville to Charlotte was a little rough, but luckily, it was only 30-40ish minutes. It was on a teeny plane with two seats on each side. Lucky for me, I sat next to a bigger gentleman, making me lean into the aisle a little bit. Just like in the movies though, I fell asleep and then someone walked down the aisle and hit my shoulder. Nice, huh?
So I got to Charlotte, which was a nice airport, and had about an hour and a half wait til my next flight. This one was a lot better. The day before when I checked in online, I changed my seat to a window so I can take some pictures (it was cloudy so that didn't happen). I sat next to a girl my age that was on her way to relax for Spring Break. We got to talk a lot and she happened to be from CA, which some of you know I'm applying for a job there. She was telling me how pretty that area was and how I needed to just go for it. She's studying in DC in International Politics. Crazy, right? I know. Anyway. She was sweet and it was good to talk to someone... as well as good to sleep during the flight!
Craig and Lindsay were there to pick me up. It was sooo good to see them. I'm so excited I get to spend this time with them and it's so comforting and such an enouragement to have them here as well. Like I said, it's been raining, so the drive wasn't too much to see. It all just looked so crummy. We dropped my stuff off at the apartment and went to the mall to go to Chili's for dinner. Okay.. When people asked me how I was going to do this teaching thing here, I kept saying, oh! It's an English instructed school.. no big deal. But what I didn't think as well is how everything else around me would be Spanish! The menu for instance. I could read like every other word so I figured it out, with Linds' help as well. But everywhere you go it's Spanish.. street signs, menus, receipts... and then you'll run into Puerto Ricans who speak better English than you. But it was a little bit of a culture shock because I wasn't thinking of the obvious.
Sunday we went to church... it's no Crossings, that's for sure. And I wasn't expecting it to be. It's a small church, the organ plays 2 songs and then the guitar and drums play 2 songs.. and that's because they can't agree, but that's another story. Craig preached though, so that was good.
We did some shopping at Costco and came home and all three of us slept the afternoon. It was kind of nice to nap. That evening we went to one of their friends' house to celebrate Lindsay's birthday. They are all super sweet and very welcoming. They made some kind of Puerto Rican steak on the grill, which was soo good. I think it's called... chureso? Or something along those lines. But I had a good time. It was nice to get to know everybody right away.
And today... it was my first day at school. I'm going to love these kids. One of them came up to me and started talking in Spanish and I just looked at him and smiled and then he was like, Are you from another country? And I laughed and said yeah.. so he got out a map and I showed him where.. then he said, You speak in Spanish? And I told him very little and he just laughed and said, hok. I talk to Ingles. haha.
The teacher's aid that's in there will not be in there while I'm there. She's on doctor's orders not to go back to work, so my teacher said it was like a blessing in disguise that I got to come be here. It was a little rough today, but we're meeting during their Spanish class first thing in the morning tomorrow to talk. So I kind find out what she expects of me, what I expect of her, etc. Hopefully it will get better than what it was.
Anyway. I won't keep writing a book. They'll be pictures soon, I promise. Maybe next weekend when the sun's out? And I can show you mi casa as well :]
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