Service Learning

So, I guess I have to catch everyone up on things that have happened since I last posted something. Well, I guess we can start off with last Thursday and how I had to get the typhoid immunization shot or whatever they call it. Now, normally I’m not that big of a baby with shots. I take them, and if my arm is a little bit sore, I deal with it like a big girl and move on with my life without much complaint. That said, that was the worst shot I’ve ever had! Not only did it make my arm super sore for a couple of days (I couldn’t even sleep on that arm that night), but the next day was horrible. I know that it was the shot and not just an overreaction because everyone in my Spanish class who had the shot felt really crappy too.

Anyway, that day I had the second day of my service-learning project at the school. It was kind of a perfect storm because I really thought that I was going to pass out in front of these kids, but I’m not really sure that would have made a difference because that day, they were rowdy and uncooperative. It made Claire and I kind of nervous since that was the day they were preparing their presentation about bullying. We divided the class into four groups, each dealing with different aspects of bullying. Some kids were on point, but group 4 refused to participate. Eventually their real teacher talked to them, which was a relief because we thought that she would handle it. It turns out, we were very wrong. She came back to me saying, in Spanish of course, “Oh, well they don’t want to participate. The girls are embarrassed.” At that point, I thought that we were doomed, because if their teacher couldn’t make them do it, then they definitely weren’t going to listen to me. Even if they would, I didn’t have it in me to get on their case about it. I was just trying to make it through the day. Luckily, Claire stepped up to the plate and somehow she magically got them do their part. That was the most tiring day ever. I’m pretty sure that I went to bed around 8. It’s quite possible it was earlier than that.

Yesterday (Wed), we went in for our final day of our service-learning project. Walking into the classroom I was slightly nervous for them considering how the last meeting went. Surprisingly though, the kids were on fire that day. They were focused and they did their little skits so well. I’m not going to lie, they were impressive. They acted out their parts so well and everyone pulled their weight. Tom, one of the guys in my Spanish class who was leading the other class, seemed pretty impressed with our class too, so I know I’m not just being biased. Claire and I were so proud of our class, and Tom and Claude were happy with how their project went, that we went out for a beer at one of the local Chinese restaurants. For those of you who are curious about Costa Rican beer, try Imperial. It’s big here and it’s pretty good. Anyway, I’m going to miss our class even if we only had 3 sessions with them. They were a good group of kids and knowing that a lot of them come from poorer families makes them more endearing.

This week my Spanish class had our second LPI (language proficiency interview). This is kind of like a verbal test that the Peace Corps uses to gage where we are at in terms of our language skills. Coming into Costa Rica, I was at Intermediate Low. To swear in as a volunteer, you are technically supposed to be at Intermediate Medium. Super stoked to say that my entire class moved up a level to Intermediate Medium! Yay us! I guess we are learning stuff after all. Sometimes it amazes me because it still feels like I haven’t made any improvements at all, but obviously I must be getting better. I feel like every once in a while a light bulb goes off and something that I have been struggling with will all of a sudden make sense. They are really random moments too, for example, getting out of bed and realizing that I actually do understand the imperfect tense and it’s not that difficult after all. Anyway, I hope to make it to at least Intermediate High before swearing in. Also, after meeting a bunch of current volunteers and hearing them speak Spanish, I’m really excited to get to where they are at in terms of language, although, their projects seem pretty cool also.

This weekend, we are all going to the province of Puntarenas to do tech week. My CYF group is being split into two groups and we are going to different cities until Thursday. The group that I’m not in is going to the community that I went to when I was visiting my mentor. The rest of us are going to a nearby community. I’m pretty sure that we’re all going to meet up sometime, but I’m just excited to go somewhere new again. Also, the rain has started here in San Jose, so I feel like it will be nice to go somewhere warmer. Anyway, I’ll let you know how that goes.