It is really weird being in a new country. Especially when your native language (English in this case) is essentially useless. But it is a great challenge. JJ 2012 has been in country for three days, and already we have had two lessons with our spanish teachers, two lessons with los niños at the school in San Pedro, and one hour of salsa lessons with Juan Carlos. From everyone's reports, all the host families are great. The weather is somewhat crazy, with rain and sun switching every hour. I love the litte kids at the school. Yesterday, on the first day they met us, something like twenty kids tackled Andrew (from Guate Guate), Gabe, and Brian, trying to take their backpacks and tickle them to death. Somehow, today I got roped into swinging several students around so that their feet came off the ground. They laughed and screamed and yelled 'mas, mas!' I couldn't say no, even after they demanded piggy-back rides and my hat. I am teaching first graders how to identify animals in English, but they all speak spanish, so I have some problems with communication; more than once, the kids have tricked me into saying 'si' to '¿juego?, which meant that they could go outside. Two days, and I am amazed by everything; The colors, the smells, the scary-sounding birds. It is great. Really humid, but great. Couldn't ask for a better school-funded trip.
Reporting from Antigua, Guatemala, and signing off (for now...).
-Madeline
viernes, 25 de mayo de 2012
My First Day Teaching =)
When I first got to the Sevilla Language School I was so excited! I watched all the ninos y ninas (boys and girls) walking around saying Hola Hola Hola. They were so friendly. All of us in junior journey waited in the courtyard watching these group of kids play soccer. They all seemed so happy, and some of then were clearly better soccer players than me. Which made perfect sense since I dont even play soccer.Anyways the kids kept smiling at me which made me really excited to teach! Then after the kids lined up at the end of gym class the same kids recited a poem for junior journey. It was so cute and the entire time we are all just like ÄWWW. The show they put on was great I loved it.
Soon after it was time for recess, those kids do not get tired! They loved soccer and duck duck goose. They also love head shoulders knees and toes.I thought recess was going to be my favorite time of they day. But then teaching came along! I go into my class and I realize the soccer playing kids, the kids reciting the poem were my 2nd grade class! They are all awesome kids. There is this nino named Armando, he can be a trouble maker but when he does his work it is amazing. There is this angel named Emily she is so quiet and smart she always makes me smile. Also Kevin, Javier, Alex and Benjamin are so polite and always say jokes. And Michael loves showing off his english skills. Diana loves helping me find stuff around the room. Jualita is loud and knows all the answers. Basically my entire class is awesome and I already love them. At the end of class I got 2 handmade braceletts and over 15 cards that say te quiero mucho ( I love you alot). I just love my kids so much, teaching is definately the highlight of my day. And thanks to junior journey I will definately consider education as a profession. Ojala que (Hopefully) it will be a little easier in english.
-Rachelle
Soon after it was time for recess, those kids do not get tired! They loved soccer and duck duck goose. They also love head shoulders knees and toes.I thought recess was going to be my favorite time of they day. But then teaching came along! I go into my class and I realize the soccer playing kids, the kids reciting the poem were my 2nd grade class! They are all awesome kids. There is this nino named Armando, he can be a trouble maker but when he does his work it is amazing. There is this angel named Emily she is so quiet and smart she always makes me smile. Also Kevin, Javier, Alex and Benjamin are so polite and always say jokes. And Michael loves showing off his english skills. Diana loves helping me find stuff around the room. Jualita is loud and knows all the answers. Basically my entire class is awesome and I already love them. At the end of class I got 2 handmade braceletts and over 15 cards that say te quiero mucho ( I love you alot). I just love my kids so much, teaching is definately the highlight of my day. And thanks to junior journey I will definately consider education as a profession. Ojala que (Hopefully) it will be a little easier in english.
-Rachelle
I´m here!
So I am finally in Guatemala. I cannot believe it. The plane ride was the most scary part of this trip for me because i am deathly afraid of them. Never the less i made it and i am so happy i did. When i got to Guatemala all i could do was jump up and down and smile. Granted that may have been because i was finally off of the plane after what seemed like hours of traveling, but still, it was amazing.
We got on the "fire bus" and drove through Guatemala city. It reminded me a little bit of Boston. Now that the plane trip was over i was nervous to see my host family because i didn't know if i could communicate well enough or if we would get along. I couldn't be happier. She is probably the cutest thing i have ever seen in my whole life. I felt so at home and Adel is the best roommate i could ask for, we get along so well. It is amazing how quickly you form a bond with someone you live with even if it is just a couple days.
The only problem was that our room was filled with bugs. We hate bugs. We will survive though, our family and the food is beyond worth it. Already i am starting to speak Spanish instead of English without even realizing it and i surprised myself with how easily i could hold a conversation. I am having so much fun and even though i do really miss home this is definitely worth it.
-Kira
We got on the "fire bus" and drove through Guatemala city. It reminded me a little bit of Boston. Now that the plane trip was over i was nervous to see my host family because i didn't know if i could communicate well enough or if we would get along. I couldn't be happier. She is probably the cutest thing i have ever seen in my whole life. I felt so at home and Adel is the best roommate i could ask for, we get along so well. It is amazing how quickly you form a bond with someone you live with even if it is just a couple days.
The only problem was that our room was filled with bugs. We hate bugs. We will survive though, our family and the food is beyond worth it. Already i am starting to speak Spanish instead of English without even realizing it and i surprised myself with how easily i could hold a conversation. I am having so much fun and even though i do really miss home this is definitely worth it.
-Kira
Guatemala!
I've been in Guatemale for two days now and I am starting to fall in love. Teaching is definitely my favorite part of the day, the little kids are so addorible. I could play with them all day if I didn't get so tired from giving them piggy back rides and always getting chosen to be ganso in pato pato ganso. My first teaching lesson for the 6th graders didn't go as well as i had hoped for, however today was much better, as the class was more organized, and we managed to teach the kids vocabulary about basketball. My homestay has also been really great. The host parents are great about my roomate's and my food diets. The parents are so adorible as well. One night the mother made a family tree list and put our names on the list as well, which was really sweet. I've met the daugher and one of the sons of the family and they are both very nice. We also had our first salsa dance lessons which were so much fun! Guatemala has been great so far, and I have a feeling it's going to get even better.
Talia Aronson
Talia Aronson
Weird Dreams In A New Place
So far, both nights I´ve been in Guatemala, I´ve have really crazy dreams. The first night, I dreamt about working in a large white house where I had to help these people by picking big white, glowing flowers that grew on a hill next to the house, and the second night, I dreamt about having crazy parties where people dressed in gorilla suits danced around beige rooms with campfires.
For me, dreams only come when I can get ample sleep, and can find peace in my own head. And thus far, Guate has been like this, and I´ve found that I am relaxed yet also hyperaware of everything around me. The streets are beautiful, the houses are so colorful, and the people seem so nice.
My host family is super adorable, and extremely accomadating to my weirdness/awkwardness and also dietary needs. The father, Obdulio, is very sweet, and the mama, Ingrid, is also amazing. Talia and I have met the daughter and one of the sons, and they´re pretty awesome as well.
Nonetheless, Guate is great so far, and I hope to have some more bizarre dreams to report.
-Poppy
For me, dreams only come when I can get ample sleep, and can find peace in my own head. And thus far, Guate has been like this, and I´ve found that I am relaxed yet also hyperaware of everything around me. The streets are beautiful, the houses are so colorful, and the people seem so nice.
My host family is super adorable, and extremely accomadating to my weirdness/awkwardness and also dietary needs. The father, Obdulio, is very sweet, and the mama, Ingrid, is also amazing. Talia and I have met the daughter and one of the sons, and they´re pretty awesome as well.
Nonetheless, Guate is great so far, and I hope to have some more bizarre dreams to report.
-Poppy
Hola Guatemala
As I start my temporary new life here in Guatemala I started to realize the how new I am to the lifestyles outside of the protective walls of PHA. I love my host family, my host mother immediately brought me and my partner in and treated us as one of her own. In the morning I am a student of the Sevilla Language Shool learing from my amazing teacher Mayra, and in the afternoon I am a second grade teacher to the crazy amazing children in the school in San Pedro. My first three days here have been the best in my life and I still have a long way to go, I'm not sure what else will be in my future here in Guatemala, but all I know is the next three weeks will be the best.
- Aaliyah
- Aaliyah
Guate Guate
Well here I am, Guatemala. I'm going to try to write on this blog without being overly corny. So yes, so far everything has been great. My one on one time with my teacher has been amazing, so far we've gotten along very well. I've only taught the little kids for one day, but so far I have no complaints. I acctually have a class who listens and is respectful, and give me awkward giggles as I walk past. My mother is absolutely amazing. She is so nice, laughs at my jokes, and just most of all puts up with me, which most of the time people have a hard time doing. It's only been 3 days, but I can't wait for the rest. For now I'm going to try to enjoy myself as much as possible.
Andrew
Andrew
Junior Journey 2012 well underway
Today marks day two of Spanish lessons at The Sevilla Language School...
Cantu
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