Monday, February 22 - Friday, February 26:
Week #5
The week began bright and early Monday morning with a Sports Day! The students got to work on living a healthy lifestyle by participating in mostly traditional Costa Rican games. Some of the games that we played included, pin the tail on the donkey, sack races, jump roping, hopscotch, tip the bottle, and twister. The sun shone brightly throughout the entire day, a welcomed scene after a rainy week the week before.
Kínder 2 was scheduled in the morning session this week. This means that we get to go water and feed the plants in the greenhouse right away before classes start each morning. This has definitely been one on my favorite parts of the day with my classes because I'm such a plant lover. Once the crops are ready to be eaten, the students will get an opportunity to eat a salad made from vegetables they helped grow. |
I am still shocked each and every day at the differences between the school system here in Costa Rica and the school system in Wisconsin. One example is that I have students in my classes that are six years old and are still unable to identify their first name and do not know their last names. Many are unable to correlate numbers with the visual representation. The majority of my students are still being bathed by their mothers. Some days it doesn't seem like a kindergarten class as much as an early preschool aged classroom. We are not allowed to start teaching the students how to read at all this year and they won't begin learning to write until much later in the year. This being very different from the US because within the first month the students are writing their names and beginning to read simple sight words. I have had to adjust many of my practices to fit with the curriculum that is being instilled within this Kínder program as well as within the two classrooms that I am currently working in.
Saturday, February 27 - Sunday, February 28:
An Adventure with Xiomara
Friday evening, the plan was to catch a bus at five o'clock to San Jose, where we would meet up with Mami's cousin. As per our luck (or lack there of) with traveling in this country, there was an accident on the main highway to San Jose delaying our bus. We were not given a set time but were able to get on a bus shortly after six o'clock. A bus ride that is typically about two hours, lasted for over three. We arrived in San Jose around 9:30 and were welcomed into the awaiting arms of Xiomara, a cousin of Mami. She took us to Popeye's Chicken for dinner (my first time there!) and we then spent the evening at her apartment. |
Saturday morning we got up not expecting all that was in store for us that day. Xiomara's coworker Rodriguez drove us across three different provinces of Costa Rica within 24 hours. We first drove in the direction of the Poas Volcano, stopping suddenly to ride in a carreta (what used to be used to transport coffee here in Costa Rica). It's a good thing this was a spur of the moment decision because I'm not sure either of us would have done it otherwise. We then saw some coffee fields and stopped at a local coffee shop to drink some fresh and delicious Costa Rican coffee. |
After a long, very scenic drive up the curvy mountain range, we entered the National Park of Poas Volcano and soon after began the walk up the point where you have the ability to see directly into the crater on a clear day. Although our trip did not begin with the best of luck, our luck improved when the clouds disappeared as we walked up to the viewing point!
The crater of Poas Volcano
The stunning views continued on our walk back to the car. They didn't stop there! We drove back down the curvy mountain and got to stop at a fresh fruit market. All along the mountain side we saw the coverings of strawberry fields. (They need to be covered to protect the plants from both the cold that occurs in the mountainous region as well as the powerful sun rays that easily burn the delicate leaves.) The strawberries were enormous but altogether sweet and juicy! I also got to try a fresh cherry! Both so delicious!
This was definitely a weekend full of new sights and lots of traveling. We managed to be in four of the seven provinces of Costa Rica all within two days!
Some Final Thoughts...
We are now more than halfway finished with our adventures here in the beautiful country of Costa Rica, it's crazy to think that I have already spent so many days here, but at the same time I am looking forward to returning to what I know and am accustomed to. I am missing my love and my family more and more each and every day and cannot wait to have them near me again. The countdown is at 19 days. Looking forward to what these last weeks have to offer!
Chau!
Chau!