Transitions

You know that amazing feeling when you finish a semester of school, a big job, or accomplish something really, really cool? That's the feeling to finally be certified to teach English around the world.

After finishing our practical teaching week, my TEFL family had a little graduation party, got our certificates, and talked about the future and where our next steps would be.

It's amazing how strangers can become family so quickly, but like all wonderful travel adventures, this one too came to an end. 

After one last afternoon on our beloved beach, eating empanadas, talking about life and love and happiness, and catching wild birds, we said goodbye to Quepos and half of our group. Hannah, Beth, Kyle and I took off to San Pedro where we have been soaking in our last moments together, adventuring, cooking, dancing, and enjoying not being in school from 9 to 7.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the pigeons in San Jose??

After a day hanging out in the city, we decided to take a day and hike up montaña de la cruz, a steep mountain in Alejulita. I had done the hike three years ago and had wanted to do it again, but wasn't brave enough to master the busses to get there by myself. 

We started out late morning on a beautiful day, but by the time we arrived after our hour bus ride, it was sprinkling rain. It continued to rain as we hiked up a narrow path through streams and mud, but anything is fun with the right people.

And we found some cows...

We made it to the crosses, soaking wet, but it was beautiful. The clouds rolled in and consumed the mountains and the little farms of cows and horses below, and in the distance, the immense city of San Jose seemed peaceful from so high above. 

Besides the crosses, the only adventure came when I, again, was locked out of my sleeping place. This time, Hannah didn't lock me out, she was stuck outside with me. Somehow, the inside door to the hostel got locked and the key only works to the outside gate. 

We had gone out dancing, and met some cool people that we hung out with until three in the morning over way-too-expensive pizza. 

When we got back, the door was locked, our key didn't work, the wifi wasn't working, and no one answered the doorbell.

So, after a bathroom break in a clump of bushes in the park, we settled in on a patch of grass behind a little brick wall. Thankfully, it wasn't raining. We didn't sleep much. Especially since 30 minutes in, tons of sirens started wizzing by, and then what sounded like gunshots (I think it was actually a car backfiring or skmrghing...) came from across the park, followed by what sounded like angry people yelling at each other. We stayed down behind the wall, shivering, and laughing about the random things that always happen...but, we survived, and at 5 am someone answered the doorbell with a very confused, "What on earth are you doing outside...?" 

Bed never felt so good...

The next few days will be spent seeing friends here one more time, and saying more goodbyes to my wonderful friends. Then, back to Panama for my last month of this beautiful adventure. :)

Adventures in TEFL land...

I cant remember the last time I blogged. I haven't had time to go to the beach that's a 10 minute bus ride away, let alone take time to blog with this crazy course.

BUT!! I AM DONE!!! (Glory hallelujah.)

I can't really believe it is true. It's kind of sad. But way more happy. A month ago I came to Quepos, moved into a home with a family, met my TEFL class, and looked at the future month with so much anticipation and stress that I can't really believe that I got through it.

But here I am, just two days from our worldwide certification, with my teaching and projects all completed.

The last month has been an incredible, challenging blur. A mix of planning lesson plans and teaching classes, pulling my hair out in frustration and realizing that there's nothing I would rather do, and of course learning how to become a great ESL teacher.

And yes, in between the lesson plans and observation papers and grammar projects, there was just enough free time to bond with my fellow TEFLers and enjoy everything this beautiful place has to offer.

Everywhere I go, the people make the place great, and Quepos and Manuel Antonio were no exception. I had nine amazing, young, crazy, and motivated classmates that shared this journey with me.

That's Kyle. He thinks he's a king, and he likes to say y'all. As you can see, he is the most important and everyone else is just kind of back there.

Anyway, together, we experienced the crazy world of TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language.) 

We did projects together, shared ideas, ranted about everything we hated, and talked way too openly about things most people cringe at.

We also got to explore. Last week was Hannah's birthday. (Remember Hannah? She has purple hair.)

She is the coolest roomie ever, and I was so lucky to have lived with her for the last month.

Anyway. So, it was Hannah's birthday, and since we had all had a crazy stressful week, we teachers decided it was time to have some fun. Together, we all started walking down a little path that promised to end in a waterfall. It actually ended in a little river, but 30 minutes of walking downstream and we found the waterfall we were looking for. Unfortunately, in order to see the waterfall you had to jump down the waterfall. I passed on this experience, but I loved the walk through the rainforest.

After the waterfall, we all headed down the road to a quiet, local beach.

The waves were perfect, and we were looking out towards incredible mountains.

As we swam, it occasionally rained. The rain on the water sounded like tinkling crystal...such an incredible sound.

Over and over we said, "So much happy." Everyone needs a little Costa Rica in their lives.

After the wonderful weekend, it was time to buckle down and do some practical teaching! 

(Really. This is how we buckle down.)

Every day, each of us taught a one hour class. This might not sound like a big deal, but every day we had to have our lesson plans written, and all of our worksheets and assignments for critique, as well as writing a paper on an aspect of grammar and how to teach it. I know, all of you college kids go ahead and laugh. But I'm not used to this college stuff!

Teaching ESL is different from regular teaching, because your goal is to talk as little as possible and instead to get your students talking. And you have to make it fun! There was so much camp counseling involved with teaching ESL students, I quickly fell in love and can't wait to get a job.

This month we were mostly teaching teens and adults, and Ticos are so inconsistent! One day you would have five students in class, and the next you would have two. It was so hard to plan, but that's the importantance of thinking on your feet and having back up activities.

The students, of course make everything worth it. I'm sure all of you teachers understand this, but seeing a student "get it" for the first time is the most incredible feeling in the world. That and hearing them call, "Teacher! Teacher! Help me!" If you want to feel needed, become an ESL teacher.

The great thing about the students is that because they were older, they also became our friends. Several times we hung out with students outside of class, and my awesome learners danced with me and took me on motorcycle rides! The perks of knowing locals and not just being a tourist. :)

And...The hands down best experience was possibly the worst in the making, but thanks to the "pura vida" way of life, it just made me love this country and its people more.

(My little host sister)

After finishing prac teaching week, we had a good old teachers night out with lots of dancing. While in the discoteca, we ran into our student Kathrine. Kathrine is a quiet, simple, average student, with a pura vida heart and a love to laugh. She convinced us to come dance with her and her 8383 guy friends. (Ok, maybe there was only like 5.) That night, most of our TEFL friends left after awhile, but my roomie Hannah and I decided to stay and dance it up. (Still learning. I still can't salsa.)

I wisely gave my house keys to Hannah since she had a purse. We vowed to never leave without the other one and enjoyed the night. And then I realized that Hannah was gone. I looked everywhere, and started going into mini panic mode. Hannah is pretty beast and can take care of herself, but...without a house key, I am homeless.

Kathrine and her 8383 guy friends immediately came and asked me what was going on and helped me search. We didn't find Hannah.

I started going deeper into my mini panic mode but my lovely student kept saying, "Teacher, relax teacher." Kathrine and her friends drove me to my house to see if I could find Hannah, my keys, or get in.

All fails. But! I had my iPod and emergency numbers. I could just call and wake my mama up. Then. My iPod died.

Another fail. So, with everyone telling me it was all okay, I sat on the curb to wait out the night.

Thankfully, students are still human. Kathrine invited me to hop back in their car, and even though I'm pretty sure they had been headed to bed, they instead started driving. There was our car and one other car of friends, and we were pretty packed full of people. We drove and drove and Katherine kept reminding me to relax. Pura vida. They played loud Latin music and we all brought our dancing skills into the car...

We drove to a river where they informed me that we were going swimming. So, we went swimming. And we stayed there until the sun came up. I wish my iPod hadn't died, because the image of the river, the sunrise, and the incredible mountains was one of the most incredible views. And what better way to spend an all nighter than with new friends, good music, and some swimming?

After the river, since it was still only five in the morning, we went to a vacant beach and played with hermit crabs and tried to sleep.

I finally did get home, and all was well. And, it just goes to remind me that sometimes the suckiest situations become the most beautiful.

(Sunset. Not sunrise. But still beautiful.)

So besides that crazy adventure, I've been meeting and falling in love with so many locals. Still another place to add to places that I must return to.

My favorite is Jhonny. I met him last year, and we just continued our friendship, which is always the best. :]] 

Jhonny knows everyone, is an amazing surfer, and an amazing dancer. He took me jet skiing, and gave me free surf lessons! I spent a good part of a day learning to surf with a guy who surfs while doing head stands, no joke. He said I surf a lot better than I dance...I'm not surprised...

I look so professional, don't I??

I also found out that day that our beloved Jose, the guy that makes super super delicious empanadas, is Jhonnys brother! Two of my favorite guys, and they're brothers. Go figure. :)

  

That's me and a delicious empanada and  the two coolest guys in Manuel Antonio. Seriously, such big hearts. So much love for humanity. And! They're both super amazing rappers. I knew they both rapped really well, because they make up raps for people all the time, and it makes sense that they're related. :]]

Another cool person I met was a tour guide that I happened to meet while walking through the national park. I was checking out lots of little monkeys...

...and he offered to take me and Hannah on a night tour for free. (I saved so much money on activities by living here for a month.) 

Did you know scorpions glow under uv light? How cool is that!?

And a bunch of other awesome night time critters...

A snake that climbs trees straight up...

And lots of frogs and spiders and bugs and lizards! :)

Oh life. Beautiful beautiful life. The next step, is to head back to San Jose. It's strange, mixed feelings. I am so excited to see my friends there, but this has become a second home and leaving this comfort zone and these wonderful people is going to be rediculously hard. The price we pay for knowing and loving people in more than one place.

The longer I am here, the less I have any desire to go home. So, a teaching job is going to be happening in the near future, and I couldn't be more excited. :)

Also, if anyone has any desire, the demand for English teachers is rediculous. Several of my classmates haven't even finished the course and they have jobs lined up because the demand is so high. So. If you want to travel and see the world and get paid... Here you go. :)

And the last awesome bit...my family from San Jose came to visit! We spent the weekend on the beach, and my heart was so happy to be with my favorite Tocos again. :')

Much love. Xoxo