Well, it is wierd to be back. I kinda hate it and love it all at the same time. I feel like I'm more of a culture shock now than I am back to the U.S. than when I was in Costa Rica. Everything is stressed, busy, and pending here! In Costa Rica I had no care in the world... I just taught everyday and lived the life of a tica.
Teaching in another country and not speaking their language was AWESOME! I learned so much about myself and how I can adjust to something totally new. Since the lifestyle was so laid back, I became that way as well. By the last week, I just taught my classes with no preparation because that is how it happens for the most part and loved every bit of it!
It isn't as if the teachers are not doing a good job, it is just different and students are as well. It was hard trying to learn the structure of the school because of how different it was, but by the end I could say, "Everyone needs to be respectful to me or the other teacher," and the students would listen. I started to move students around who would normally being "chatty katty" with and told them instead of talking they need to the listening!
I loved it because I didn't feel as stressed and nervous all the time about teaching, it just happened and flowed out of me. I feel as if my students did learn with me as a teacher. I was teaching one of my classes about possessives and making them hold conversations using those words and sentences. It was fun to be creative each day!
I want to go back and teach again. Without the threat of the swine flu... I'm there. I really loved it and took away so much.
Sarah