Post Trip

6/11/14

Well, it has been three days since arriving back in Missouri, and I am slowly getting back into the daily routine of being a wife and mommy.  I missed my kids so much at some points, I could barely handle it, but I am more than glad that I went on this journey and embarked on this amazing adventure.

When we arrived in Costa Rica, we were informed that the teachers were on strike after not being paid since January.  This information changed our plans that we had to visit and teach in some of the schools.  We were still able to visit some schools, just not all of the ones we had planned.  We visited an English class at a public school, a one room school house in an all farming community, a private school, and a public pre-school in a poverty stricken town.  The dynamics in all of the schools were different, but the passion for teaching was present in every teacher that we met.

Because of the strike, I was unable to meet, or speak with any special education teachers and therefore, my research project about autism in Costa Rica did not receive the complete answers I was hoping for, but as we found out often on the three week trip, plans change constantly and you have to be able to adapt to them, which is another trait that is needed to be a successful teacher.  We learned that with some of our lesson plans, the children in our groups were unable to focus, or understand, or achieve the goals, so we had to be flexible and able to change our lesson plans as needed.  As a teacher, you have to be flexible and willing to change plans to better meet the needs of the children.

One of the most meaningful, and significant experiences of this study away program occurred within my daily Spanish classes.  I did not think that these classes would have such a big impact on me.  Before the trip, I believed that the Spanish classes were just a bonus, and a simple requirement of the course. We were in Spanish class for 20 hours a weeks, and 4 hours every day.  The second week of class, we had a teacher that refused to speak any English and refused to change his teaching plans for our needs.  This made me shut down, because I was so overwhelmed with not being able to understand the language and being reprimanded when I spoke in my native language.  This is the week during the trip that had the most impact on me, because this is the moment that I was able to truly understand how English Language Learners, and other students with different abilities, or special needs feel when they are expected to engage and understand at the same level as the other students, when they are incapable of the skill being asked of them.  I was able to feel the overwhelming personal defeat, when I could not do the task, and was not given any help or sympathy from my teacher.  This was the hardest week of the trip, but it was also the most meaningful and teachable moment for me as a teacher.  I have always had sympathy for learners of different abilities, but until this moment, I had never truly understood what the student feels in these situations, only what the teacher feels.  As a teacher, I will try to always remember how I felt in this situation, so that I will have an insight into my ELL students and my students with special needs and abilities.  I will try to incorporate their language or interests into our lessons and into our conversations, so that they do not feel helpless and isolated.  I will let them teach me some of their special skills, interests, or abilities, so that they are not completely overwhelmed with what I am asking of them.  I will have casual and friendly conversations with them to make them comfortable and to let them know they are a part of my class family and our class community.

Another significant experience of this trip was the overall immersion, and the necessity to be willing to try new things, and take everything in, and embrace all of the differences.  I think, if you are unwilling to do this and to embrace the culture, the differences, and changes, then this experience would be hard and not very meaningful.  My advice for students considering this study away experience, or any other study away, would be to embrace everything, try everything, and be willing to change your ways.  Be willing to step, or rather leap, out of your comfort zone.  Be willing to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed.  Be willing to experience a new way of life.

I would assess my overall experience as successful.  I feel as though this experience has helped me to grow as a person, a mom, and a teacher.  I overcame some significant fears on this trip such as flying, zip-lining, and being immersed in a language that I could not speak.  I am a nontraditional student who has trouble bonding with my young classmates, but this trip put me into a group of people, who I am now proud to call my friends and my classmates.  Everything about this trip was out of my comfort zone, and I survived.  I pushed my limits and did things that I was unsure I was capable of.  I let go of the control of my own life and embraced these new experiences whole-heartedly.  This study away program allowed for me to experience opportunities I would have never done on my own and I am so very thankful for this program and what it has done for my personal growth, and my professional growth as a future teacher.

Costa Rican adventure done.  Next, and perhaps scarier adventure, potty training my two year old.

Pura Vida!!!!!

Home Sweet Home

6/8/14

Today, we made our long journey back to the states.  We began at 3 am and after 3 flights and a four hour lay over in Chicago, we arrived home at 9:37.  The day was long and tiring, and we were all very exhausted and crabby, but we pushed through and made it home.

 I was greeted at the airport by my mom and dad, my husband and my three beautiful babies who had spent the whole day making me "welcome Home" signs. 

I was so happy to go home, but it was bittersweet to leave all of my new friends whom I have bonded with and become a part of a group with over this past month.  Now, home to my bed, my family, and most important, no more beans and rice for a while!

Last Day with my Second Host Family

6/7/14

Today my host father took me to the drop off sight.  We will now be on our way back to San Jose, for our last night in Costa Rica.

My second home stay was different from the first because there were two children in the house.  The family tried to include me in their activities and conversations, but my lack of Spanish proved this to be difficult.  Within the two weeks we fell into a mostly silent, routine of coexisting.  It was not awkward like it was at first, but instead it became a comfortable routine.

Overall, I wish that I was able to communicate with them better, but through learning my small bit of Spanish, many hand gestures, and many understanding smiles, we made it worked.

I have learned so much through my homestays that I could not have learned in a classroom.  In the classroom, I learned 60 hours of Spanish, but in the homestays, I got to experience, how overwhelming and terrifying it can be to be immersed into a new culture where no one speaks my language, but I also learned the process of meeting new people, and learning to communicate needs in manners other than just language.  I learned that just like everything else, it is a process, and I am very appreciative of this opportunity, even though it was not easy.

Costa Rican and US Schools

6/9/14

During my trip to Costa Rica, one of our goals was to teach in Costa Rican Schools.  Because of the country wide teacher strike, our plans did not go as planned and we did not get to visit all of the schools we were meant to.  We visited three schools during our trip that I have blogged about.  The three schools were very different, with very different backgrounds, but we were about to get a sense about the education system in CR.

We visited a public school, a one room school house, and a private school, and we also got to meet with some of the teachers and administrators, plus the minister of education in Heredia.  Through visiting three different types and dynamics of schools, there were some differences between the schools, but all of them seemed to have the best interests of the students at bay. 

When we met with the English teacher and minister of education, we were told that all students in CR are given the right and the tools they need to learn English, but when we went to the one room school house, we were told that the money and resources are not always available to give all students the equal chance to learn English.

Part of my research project was to research autism and special education in Costa Rica.  Because of the teacher strike, I was unable to get much information, but the few people I did talk to explained that in CR, children are tested from birth, and if any special needs are found, they are given the interventions needed and their needs are stated in their school records so that schools know what special needs they have.  I have also been told, that most schools try to assist the students with their special needs and assure that they are given an equal education same as the other students.  I really wish I would have been able to continue to look for answers with this research project and talk to special education teachers in Costa Rica.

When comparing education in Costa Rica and in the United States, I can find many similarities and also some differences.  The biggest similarity I found is that the private school we visited, had many more resources and learning opportunities for students because they have the private money available to fund it.  This is the same in the U.S as private schools are able to do more, because they have more resources.  Also, they are not required to follow the same standards as public schools, because of their private status.  Another similarity, is that the private schools in CR, offer scholarships so that a few students who cannot afford it are still sometimes able to attend.

Another similarity I found when visiting the schools, is that every teacher we met and talked with, seemed to have the students’ best interests at heart.  At the same time however, we did not speak to many teachers because of the strike going on, which was a fight to be paid for teaching, so I feel that we may not have gotten to speak to enough teachers to get the whole picture.  When it comes down to it though, to me, it seems that the passion for teaching is there for all teachers we met, and the main goal, is to make better lives for the students, which should be every teacher’s goal for their job.

The biggest difference I saw, is with classroom management.  In the U.S., teachers are taught that classroom management is the most important step to a successful learning environment and without classroom management, the students will not be able to learn to their best abilities and the teachers will not be able to teach to theirs.  In CR, we saw very little classroom management and it seemed to be that the students were allowed to do whatever they wanted.  That being said, we also saw learning taking place in the classrooms, and the teachers did not seem at all distracted by the students who were out of their seats, being distracting, or misbehaving.

I will end tis by saying, that even in the U.S., every school district is different, and they do what works for them.  In Costa Rica, the three types of schools we visited were all very different, but yet their techniques and ideas seemed to work for them.  I am so lucky to have been able to see schools and teaching first hand in Costa Rica, and am glad to have been able to experience the diversity of teaching styles first hand.  I hope to one day be able to learn about education in other countries as well.

Sustainability

6/4/14

On Wednesday of our third week in Costa Rica, we visited another coffee farm.  This farm was Life Monteverde Sustainable Farm.  The crops and the steps of planting and harvesting the coffee were similar to the traditional coffee farm we visited, but what set this farm apart was the above and beyond, conscious effort for sustainability. 

Aside from the usual recycling bins, and effort to save energy, this farm goes above and beyond in the effort to reduce its carbon footprint.  Some of the major sustainable projects were recycling the methane produced form the animals (pigs and goats) on the farm, and reusing the energy to run the kitchen and other machines. 

 While we were at the farm, we did a service project of planting trees.  The owner of the farm explained to us, that by planting three trees each, we paid for our carbon footprint that we created just by flying from the U.S. to Costa Rica and Back.  This statement made it a reality to us of the impact we each have on the Earth and if we do not contribute to reversing that impact, we will not always have an Earth to live on.  I think as a teacher, it will be important to use hands-on experiences, to relate life lessons to the students so that they can understand personal impacts.

Our entire stay in Costa Rica has shown me that sustainability is important here.  They make a huge effort to recycle, compost, reuse, and be earth friendly.  Everywhere you go, there are recycle bins and signs to turn off lights when not in use.  In the United States, some of us try to be sustainable, but in Costa Rica, it seems to be a unified effort across the entire country, to try to make the earth better for the present people, and for the future generations that need a clean Earth.

Sustainability is very important to me, and at our house, we try to make conscious efforts such as recycling, composting, saving energy, etc.  But there is always more we can each do, and as a teacher, I plan on making the same efforts I make at home, at school, and also teaching my students the importance of sustainability and differences each student can make in the world, and for future generations.