Volunteering

We are official.  After a surprise party thrown by our first host families, a long hike, dinner at Flavors, and saying good bye one more time-we are real volunteers. The Hubs and I swore in to the Peace Corps 1 1/2 weeks ago, moved to our site, and began our work.

(Tico 23 with the US Ambassador to Costa Rica)

Things are falling into place and becoming routine.  My Spanish is slowly (I mean very slowly) improving.  We are living with a wonderful host family.  They love to talk, help with my Spanish "homework", and include us in things.  The Hubs and I live in a bedroom with a bathroom above their patio.  It is a pretty sweet set up and almost makes me feel independent.

(Our room after our FIRST load of stuff-there is more now)

The Hubs is working at a bi-lingual high school in Santa Cruz.  He plans with the English teachers, teaches, hand out fruit during Health week, creates activities for his students, makes copies, and whatever else needs to be done.  He is wanting to create a Bachillerato course and maybe do a sports project for his students.  

(The Hubs helping with the English departments part of Health week in the schools)

I am working at the regional assessors' office in Santa Cruz.  The regional assessors supervise over all the teachers of their area (in my case-English).  The regional assessors observe/provide feedback to individual teachers, design/facilitate workshops, aid in festivals regarding their area, design content specific curriculum, and support their teachers any way they can.  In my first week, I observed one workshop about listening in English using songs, co-created/facilitated the first of a five day workshop about utilizing different materials in their classrooms, and began the editing process of a province wide English curriculum based on Guanacaste.  

(The teachers creating materials to use in their classroom)

I already love what I do.  I love training the teachers and hearing how they will use or have used what was presented to them.  If I continue to enjoy the training aspect, I may try to proceed with a similar career after Peace Corps (yes, we are already thinking of that future).  Even though I am enjoying my work, there are still MOMENTS (just moments now) when I forget why we decided to come here and feel down trodden.  That is when I put in my iPod and listen to two of my go to songs- 

"Some Nights" (Fun.) 

"I Won't Give Up" (Jason Mraz)

These songs help remind me that I didn't come here to find comfort, but to push myself, to better myself and those around me.  I came here to learn another language; work with people who have different traditions, expectations, lifestyles, and goals than me; I came here to change.