This one is going to be long! You might want to go to the bathroom and get a snack now if you need to.
Well, Friday was supposed to be trash day, but I got there that morning only to have Channel tell me that we weren’t doing trash day because of weather. So Ruth told me to teach her sixth graders, who I haven’t taught in awhile and only once. With no advanced notice, the lesson was not well executed and I felt pretty bad about that. There was a break in between and the kids started to clean up the school, so I helped two boys pick up trash right in front of the school. I don’t know if that was considered the pick up or not. I don’t think it was because Sandra said something about 100 meters or something. Who knows. Then, Ruth asked me to teach her first graders. It went better than with the 6th grade, because we played a game of tic-tac-toe where I split them into two teams and before they could put their “x” or “o” on the board they had to answer a question that reviewed their colors and numbers they learned with the fortune tellers. They seemed to like it for the most part and they also remembered a lot.
I came home to eat and get ready to leave for Puerto Viejo. First, I had to say goodbye to Anna and Katie, which was really sad, because they were probably my two favorite girls here. We left around two on the van and didn’t get there until after eight. We checked into our hotel, Casa Verde, and went to a late dinner at an open-air restaurant down the street. There was live music so it seemed fun. We got drinks and appetizers, which was good because four of us didn’t get our food until after ten. Ridiculous. That’s Tico Time for you.
The next morning, Jamie and Alex and I (who were roommates this trip), went to a small café nearby called Bread and Chocolate, two of my favorite things. It was quaint and the food was delicious. Everything was so fresh from the fruit drinks to the homemade bread that used to make my French toast. We shopped around and walked on the black-ssand beach while the other girls came and ate their breakfasts at B&C. When they finished, five of us got a cab to Punta Uva, a quiet white-sand beach about fifteen minutes away that Katie and Anna recommended. It was a nice beach – the water felt great and there was a cute hut of a restaurant/bar where we got drinks and lunch later. I came back around two and walked around the town a little bit, then headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner.
We went to Loco Natural, a Caribbean food restaurant recommended by Tom, the American owner of B&C. It was a nice atmosphere, and I think people enjoyed their various jerked meats. We went back to the hotel for a bit and then headed out, but not before I made a complete fool of myself in front of two Ticos from Cuidad Quesada who were staying at Casa Verde. I think Brittany made plans to meet up with them in front of a grocery store today, but I am not sure. Some of us went to Johnny's Place, a bar/club/sketch palace on the beach that had a mix of tourists and Ticos.
The next morning, Jamie, Alex and I went to B&C one last time. I had the French toasties again because they are a delight. We then hung out by the pool until check out time. The ride home was an hour shorter and there were a bunch of new volunteers in the house when we got back, which was really weird but fun. There's a woman from London, a family from Charleston, a girl from Japan. The house is a lot more lively and am looking forward to getting to know some of the new volunteers.
And now, pictures.
Well, Friday was supposed to be trash day, but I got there that morning only to have Channel tell me that we weren’t doing trash day because of weather. So Ruth told me to teach her sixth graders, who I haven’t taught in awhile and only once. With no advanced notice, the lesson was not well executed and I felt pretty bad about that. There was a break in between and the kids started to clean up the school, so I helped two boys pick up trash right in front of the school. I don’t know if that was considered the pick up or not. I don’t think it was because Sandra said something about 100 meters or something. Who knows. Then, Ruth asked me to teach her first graders. It went better than with the 6th grade, because we played a game of tic-tac-toe where I split them into two teams and before they could put their “x” or “o” on the board they had to answer a question that reviewed their colors and numbers they learned with the fortune tellers. They seemed to like it for the most part and they also remembered a lot.
I came home to eat and get ready to leave for Puerto Viejo. First, I had to say goodbye to Anna and Katie, which was really sad, because they were probably my two favorite girls here. We left around two on the van and didn’t get there until after eight. We checked into our hotel, Casa Verde, and went to a late dinner at an open-air restaurant down the street. There was live music so it seemed fun. We got drinks and appetizers, which was good because four of us didn’t get our food until after ten. Ridiculous. That’s Tico Time for you.
The next morning, Jamie and Alex and I (who were roommates this trip), went to a small café nearby called Bread and Chocolate, two of my favorite things. It was quaint and the food was delicious. Everything was so fresh from the fruit drinks to the homemade bread that used to make my French toast. We shopped around and walked on the black-ssand beach while the other girls came and ate their breakfasts at B&C. When they finished, five of us got a cab to Punta Uva, a quiet white-sand beach about fifteen minutes away that Katie and Anna recommended. It was a nice beach – the water felt great and there was a cute hut of a restaurant/bar where we got drinks and lunch later. I came back around two and walked around the town a little bit, then headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner.
We went to Loco Natural, a Caribbean food restaurant recommended by Tom, the American owner of B&C. It was a nice atmosphere, and I think people enjoyed their various jerked meats. We went back to the hotel for a bit and then headed out, but not before I made a complete fool of myself in front of two Ticos from Cuidad Quesada who were staying at Casa Verde. I think Brittany made plans to meet up with them in front of a grocery store today, but I am not sure. Some of us went to Johnny's Place, a bar/club/sketch palace on the beach that had a mix of tourists and Ticos.
The next morning, Jamie, Alex and I went to B&C one last time. I had the French toasties again because they are a delight. We then hung out by the pool until check out time. The ride home was an hour shorter and there were a bunch of new volunteers in the house when we got back, which was really weird but fun. There's a woman from London, a family from Charleston, a girl from Japan. The house is a lot more lively and am looking forward to getting to know some of the new volunteers.
And now, pictures.
Laura at the bar at Punta Uva
Punta Uva
Alex, swinging outside our hotel room
Laura, me, and Britt at the restaurant the first night
The bar/restaurant at Punta Uva
Jamie, Alex, me, Elena and Laura at dinner
Punta Uva
at Punta Uva
The hotel pool
Jamie, Alex and me at Loco Natural
The path that led to our rooms at Casa Verde
4 comments:
Yo, Taylor!! First comment! The place you visited looks and sounds wonderful, especially the food and drinks. May favorite pictures are the ones with you in them.
You did a good job of thinking on your feet with the first grade class. You'll be good when they get their act together and give you a little advance notice of your assignment.
Again, I love reading your blog and hope you are having a good time. I love you, and I miss you. Love, Mom.
DAAAANG she beat me. Now it is officially War. Blog Comment War.
Your weekend trip sounds awesome, and the pictures are really pretty too. How did you make a fool of yourself? Did they read your mind? Hahaha.
You should see the door tags I made for my Gov's School hall. They are ridiculously beautiful. I will send you some pictures when I get there and put them up.
Hopefully I will talk to you on IM soon. LY!! Luv, Taylor
May the nerdiest nerd win.
I'm sorry your two good friends left. Had they been there eight weeks already? Do volunteers come every week? It sounds like these new ones will be fun. I think you are probably much more effective at your teaching than you think you are. Remember that sixth graders are sixth graders the world around, and learning is probably not at the top of their to do list!! Keep blogging--I love it. Also love your VA LAW shirt!!!xoxoxoxoxooxoxo
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