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monday- July 23
So, I had my first day of teaching in Colombia. Getting ready was really not the easiest simply because I was wiped out! I got to meet my host teacher (I'll be using his room all week) Jeff, and he seems really great. He helped me get some last minute materials, and answered some of my questions about what to expect from Colombian kids.
When the kids finally showed up, it was like a blur. I vaguely remember showing them where I'm from on the computer, and then we did some math games. It went so fast, and the next thing I knew, it was time for them to go home. In fact, the only way I figured it out was that Jeff waved at me from the back of the room and told me they had 2 minutes before they had to leave. YIKES.
Personally, it wasn't my best day of teaching. I felt that I was slow to get things moving and the lessons dragged a bit. That leaves me loads of room for improvement for tomorrow, and the teachers that were watching me teach seemed to have really positive things to say (for the most part). It's always a little unnerving to have a bunch of fellow professionals watch every move you make and every word you say.
The rest of the day was all about keeping my eyes open. I planned with Jeff a little bit, went in search of some materials I needed. Now, I know that doesn't sound like much, but the campus we are on is 40 acres large on a hill! Of course the middle and high schools are at the top, and the elementary school is at the bottom ( where it so happens they have all the materials)! Couple that with the 8000 foot altitude, and you have a recipe for disaster.
We took off for the city around 5:30 after heaps of planning and catching up with everyone who taught. We headed out to a restaurant/bar that was straight from a movie set. There were waterfalls inside, cool lighting, and outdoor seating. Not to mention cute waitresses. The place was great. You'd be proud... I took a risk and ordered a portabello mushroom with melted cheese, shrimp, & octopus. The cute waitress told me to. She had good taste, it was delicious! Our group also ordered potato skins and two plates of them showed up. We just figured they were helping us to share and we dug in. 2/3 through the meal someone further down the table asked what happened to the potato skins. OOPS! We ate them (read: I ate them) and when they figured it out, I got a huge ration of you know what from everyone! It was an honest mistake as I had no idea what they ordered, but we joked about it anyways. The other "consultants" are really great people and I can see why Janis would want to have them around.
We got back to the hotel around 10 and now it's time to crash. I hope tomorrow is better than today, and I think it will be just because now I know what to expect! More later...
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