Back From the Dead!

I have officially been resurrected.  Well, my computer at least.  I am so grateful for techie friends!

Not much has happened since my last blog.  At least nothing major.  We did have spirit day at school last Thursday where we wore blue and yellow...our school colors.  I didn't feel like buying a school shirt, so I only wore the colors.  I have been "helping" with the basketball team, although it's more like I work out with them and then if they need an extra person, fill in during drills or practice games.  I suck at basketball and am too short, but I enjoy getting to work with my kids and getting to know some of the older kids.  Anyways, last Thursday, we had a teacher vs. kids game.  I, of course, played, boasting to the kids all day that we would win.

The basketball coach, Andres, who is the math teacher used to go to Calvert as a student and had a number of old basketball jerseys.  The "starting five," which were Andres, Leah and Hannah (the two student teachers), Danny (the college coordinator), and I wore the jerseys all day.  It was fun interacting with the kids using basketball as a topic.  At 430, the game started.  And you know, for a bunch of "old folks," we didn't too bad...at least during the first half.  Andres ended up not playing and just referring, and we got one of the first grade teachers, Ferman, to play.  At half-time, the kids were beating us 10-6, I believe.  We were able to get some good shots in and everything.  Well, Danny, Leah, Ferman, and Hannah had some good shots.  The only thing I was good for was sprinting down the court when the kids stole the ball to try to prevent them from scoring.  I usually beat them there, but again, short problems kicked in and I was usually unable to stop them from scoring.  The second half was disastrous as the adults were definitely feeling the age difference.  We went from running down the court to walking, and sometimes limping.  The kids ended up winning 20-8, but we tried...

On Friday, we didn't have school as it was Cochabamba Day.  All the teachers had to walk in the local parade.  Women wore white tops, black pants and shoes, and a light blue scarf.  Men wore white shirts, black pants and shoes, and a blue tie.  We were lined up shortest to tallest, with four rows of women between two rows of men.  We all looked quite dashing and I regret not getting any pictures.  The parade was supposed to begin at 8AM and as we were number 17 in the line-up, we were hoping to get down within two or three hours.  We didn't end up starting until almost 10!  We ended around 1130, so it wasn't too bad, but we were all impatient to get done.  We walked down El Prado, which is one of the major streets in town.  There were people lining up both sides of the street to watch the procession of schools and important clubs from around the city.

When we were done, the school had booked reservations at a nearby restaurant for Saltanias, which are similar to Hot Pockets.  They have meat (either beef or chicken) with potatoes and a gravy-like sauce in a bread type pocket.  It is absolutely delicious.  We ended up having a great time even though it was an exhausting day.

The rest of the weekend went well, too.  Hung out with my friend, Alexis and her husband David.  On Saturday evening, we all went to another American's house, Hilary.  She is from Nebraska, but has lived in Bolivia for about two years.  It was so nice to meet other Americans and just to have more friends outside of work.  Now, it's back to the hum-drum of school again, which I will write more about a little later.

National Day of the Pedestrian

Internet is working for the moment, so I thought I'd update....

The past week or so has been a whirlwind of kids and fun.  Teaching is slowly adjusting and the kids are getting used to me...I still have yet to get used to them. Lol!  They've been working on creating stories in groups, and I've enjoyed watching them get into their project.  Many groups chose to do horror stories, which I cautioned them to make it school appropriate.  But there are a few groups who are really being creative and it's been fun seeing them get into the stories.  

On Sunday, we celebrated "National Day of the Pedestrian," which is throughout all of Bolivia.  On this day, all motorized vehicles are prohibited from driving and the streets are covered with people walking and riding bikes.  Downtown, was covered with vendors and activities.  Giovanni took Leah, Hannah, and I downtown to explore.  We went to the Tennis club and was able to rent a third bike from one of the cooks.  The three of us went exploring Cochabamba for about an hour and a half, until Hannah started feeling sick.  She had been sick the past few days and, though, she had been feeling better, I think it was a little much.  We headed back and she returned to the Tennis Club to rest with Giovanni.  I also had to sit out for a while because the sun was causing me to feel light-headed and nauseous.  But, I soon recovered.  Leah and I headed over to a friend's for dinner, which was amazing...basil pizza. Yum!

The mountains and scenery has slowly been turning green and luscious.  I can't wait until the trees are in full bloom and the flowers are bright and colorful.  I've been meaning to post pictures of my adventures, but with my internet down, it presents a bit of a problem.  

Well, that's pretty much what's been going on lately.  Am planning on blogging more about the beep distinctions and a typical day for me, but that will be later.  Hopefully, once my internet is fixed completely.  If there are any topics you, my readers, would like me to address, please let me know!!  Until next time....

Been a While...

So I realize it has been a little while since I last wrote, and I apologize.  My computer has not been very cooperative with the wifi the past few days.

Tonight is the high school open house...eek!  Never had an open house before, so I'm a little nervous as to what to expect.  Most of the teachers said not a lot of parents show anyways, so it'll be more time to do grading and other work.  Whew...hopefully, I'll be off the hook.  However, I should be prepared if parents do show up.  My walls look colorful.  I'm displaying some of the student's work.  And hopefully, I'm prepared for any questions they have.

I think lately, my students have been respecting me more, which has been really nice!  My 9th grade classes have simmered down, although there's still a few who try shenanigans.  Oh, so my last blog I had written about the three mark rule.  Well, last week, both my 9th grade classes received three marks and had to come on break to write sentences.  I crammed almost 40 kids in my class and made them write 20 sentences on being respectful.  Some of them complained because it wasn't the whole class, so I said that repeat offenders would do their sentences on their own from now on and the entire class wouldn't be punished.  Since then, they haven't had to write anything!

I did have to talk to one kid about his behavior yesterday, though.  He is a big jokester and loves being the center of attention.  Other teachers have also had difficult with him, so the principal suggested calling his mother.  Since then, he's been an angel!  He even apologized for acting up in class.  Let me just say that mothers who believe the teachers over their kids are few and far between, but are the most amazing people to a teacher!!

I also had to deal with a punk today who came purposely late to class.  I told him he had to come back to my room after school, before soccer practice, to write sentences.  He didn't show, and if the soccer coach tells me he did end up going to practice, he's gonna be in hot water tomorrow!  The attitudes of these kids are amazing...they think they can get away with anything.  Little do they know....

As for other social events in my life since my last blog, there's been small get together's and other outings.  It's been fun getting to explore Cochabamba and getting to hang out with the other teachers outside of school.  I've also enjoyed getting to know some of the elementary teachers, too.  We now have a "group," as we call ourselves.  It's been a lot of fun, and I'm so glad I've been able to make these friendships.

Crackin' the Whip!!

So, yesterday, we had a "new teacher" meeting with the high school teachers.  One of the things that was brought up was addressing any issues with classes.  I spoke up and said that my students, particularly my 9th graders, were very inconsiderate of me, as the teacher, and of their other classmates.  They always talk over whomever is talking, and simply don't pay attention.  A few other teachers also voiced their agreement in the matter.

As I was talking this morning with Ms. Katherine, the other English teacher, about the meeting, I told her how I was at my wits end.  I refused to stop class every two minutes to tell my kids to stop talking.  There are a few kids who want to learn, and shouldn't have to be punished for the actions of those who view school as a social time.  Ms. Katherine told me her method.  She said she told the kids that anytime they are disrespectful or rude or anything she deems as inappropriate, she makes a mark on the board.  Three marks and the whole class has to stay during break or after school and write the appropriate consequence sentence 50 times (the whole high school had agreed to use a method that another teacher had devised where the student must write a pre-written sentence so many times as a consequence.  The idea is that the student will get sick of writing the sentence, that they will eventually stop their bad behavior).  Now, this may not seem fair to those in the class who did nothing wrong, but I also wanted them to keep each other accountable.

I explained to my 7th graders and the one 8th grade class that this rule probably wouldn't be in effect for them, since they were angels.  However, my 9th grade classes and the other 8th grade class, this was definitely needed!  Both of my 9th grade classes each received one mark, but they were silent and encouraged each other to pay attention, as well.  It worked!  I at last had found how to get through to these kids!  My last 8th grade class, well, they didn't quite make it and will have to return tomorrow during break.  However, I am so excited that my 9th graders have finally learned I mean business.  I am hoping this works and keeps them in line.  I told them that I am sick of having to stop class every two minutes.  That my sisters act better than they do...and they're the same age as my students.  Although they may not enjoy the next few weeks as I crack down on their behavior, I do hope that they learn to respect me and each other.  I want them to learn life lessons, as well as academics.

Urkupina

It's been a while since I last posted...I apologize.  I haven't been feeling the best this past week, so I pretty much went to work, came home and slept, ate dinner, and then slept some more.  But I wanted to update everyone on how the past week has been.

Last Sunday, Alma and Giovanni had taken Leah, Hannah, and I to the small town of Quillacollo, on the outskirts of Cochabamba.  There was a festival going on this past week called Urkupina.  It is said that at this town, on a nearby mountain, the Virgin Mary appeared to a small girl, so once a year they hold a festival celebrating the Virgin of Urkupina.  There is a small church in the town square that is very famous.  Many Catholics from other nations travel, or make a pilgrimage, to visit this famed church.  Many virgins come to pay homage, as well.  Many people also go to the hillside of Cota, where the Virgin was said to have appeared.  It is tradition for people to take home a rock from this hill as a sign of peace or good luck for the following year, and then return it a year later.  Who is to say that this rock is actually returned, but that is the tradition.  Although, this tradition has led to a small deterioration of the hillside.

        

Inside, the church is decorated and off the side, there is a large room, with a shrine to the Virgin Mary, where visitors lay down flowers and light candles.  It is a solemn process to see, and the variety of colors of the decorations and flowers are lovely to see.  As we walked around the town, the fragrance of the many flowers and food being cooked were a delight.  Vendors lined the sides of the road and alleyways.  We stopped frequently to look at things the people were selling, or to buy some type of food.  Giovanni and Alma's friend and her daughter (their goddaughter), Jessica also came along.  We were a merry little party as we strolled along the streets.

           


This festival is supposed to be a celebration of Bolivian culture and there were to be traditional dances, although by the time they actually began, we had left.  While we were sitting in the town square waiting for the dancers, Jessica ran happily up and down the street with her new kite.  At one point, she ran past Giovanni who leaped back out of the path of the kite.  In doing so, he threw his arms up and into the tray of a lady who was selling jello with whipped cream on top.  Giovanni's arm was covered with whipped cream and it began to drip onto his shoes and the ground.  There was a collective gasp, then chortles of laughter.  Hannah, Leah, and I tried to hide our laughter, but it was no use.  It was a sight to see.  Later on, we all teased Giovanni every time a vendor lady passed by with a tray of delights.

Everywhere I looked, there were ladies dressed in the traditional Bolivian dress of knee-length, almost velour type fabric skirts, with loose fitting blouses.  Their long black hair was usually braided into two braids down their back and tied with a ribbon at the bottom connecting the two braids.  They wore straw hats to ward off the sun, and either flip flops or flat black shoes.  There were also clowns who tried selling passerby's their toys and fun activities.  We also saw these two adorable little girls dancing in the streets.  They were dressed with the knee-length skirts, but had heavy button-up sweaters.  They both had straw hats on and were giggling as they danced.

One of the things that broke my heart, was seeing the tons of beggars that lined the streets.  They are not as prevalent in town, or maybe just where I normally walk, but for this holiday, they were everywhere, as there was more of a chance to receive a handout.  They would sit on the ground, with their arms outstretched waiting for someone to drop some coins in their hands.  They would be heavily dressed with mismatched clothes, sometimes sitting on bags, and other times sitting on the cold ground.  The part that really choked me up, was seeing the young kids sitting alongside their parents.  They, too, were all bundled up, and sometimes had blankets to cover them.  It was heartbreaking to see such young children forced into such poverty, to the point of begging.  I thought of my siblings, especially the ones from Russia, and thought how terrible that must have been for them, as they went through a similar experience.

                 


All in all, it was a fun day.  I learned more about Bolivia and its culture and history.  Although I didn't get to see the traditional dances, it was still a fun day, full of memories.

Going Down In History...

Ok, so I'm skipping a few days to write about today's events.  I have officially made my mark at the school and will be well-known among the high-schoolers.  The school has a strict, No Cell Phone policy.  Kids must have their phones in the lockers and only take them out during break and lunch.  Well, today, during first period (yes, it was the very first class of the day), a phone went off while I was teaching.  I asked the class who's phone went off.  No one admitted to it...typical.  One of the boys in the back said he knew it was from the group of girls in the front, which I knew as well, but wanted to give them an opportunity to come forward.  Tried to persuade them a few more times to be honest.  Reminded them about the school and classroom policy of no phones, and said that since they received their lockers yesterday, their phones should have been there.

When I did not get any results, I ran next door to Ms. Katherine, the 10-12 English teacher.  She is from England and has the most wonderful accent.  I explained the problem and asked her advice.  With a warning to her class not to make a sound, she came over to my class and also tried to persuade the culprit to come forward.  We both told the class that whomever came forward would be punished, as per the policy, but it would not be as bad as if they lied about it.  After a few minutes of unsuccessfully persuading them, Ms. Katherine went off to get the High-School principal.  My class began murmuring and pointing out who they thought the guilty party was.  I had had enough at this point, and told the class to put their heads down on their desks until the principal arrived.  I told them if they were going to act like little children, I would treat them as such.  They hurriedly obeyed and for the next few moments, the class was silent.

The principal, school director, and the college coordinator (who assigned the lockers the day before) all paraded into the room.  The kids lifted their heads.  Ms. Alma, the director began sternly telling the kids about the school policy and how they should know what the rules are.  Mr. Kuster, the principal, chimed in about respect for teacher (me) and how it was cutting into their class time.  Ms. Alma demanded that all cell phones be placed onto the desks in front of them.  About 10 phones were then confiscated among cries of despair and groans.  Many kids protested that it was unfair as they have yet to get a lock on their locker.  How were their valuables to remain safe?  Ms. Alma calmly replied that when they showed her a lock, they would get their phones back.  Other students said it was unfair that all of their phones were taken away when only the culprit's phone should be taken.  Ms. Alma explained that a rule was a rule, no matter whose phone went off.  They were all violating the rule.

After the chaos had subsided, the rest of the 10 minutes of class were excruciatingly painful.  The glares of dislike I received and low mumbles of being treated unfairly were very evident.  After a few minutes, I eventually gave up.  I was annoyed and so the kids...no learning was going to take place in the next 6 minutes.

The rest of the day turned out to be ok, until my other 9th grade class a few periods later.  I asked how many students had phones on their persons.  A few raised their hands.  I told them to put them on their desks.  About 5 did as I had asked.  I promptly took them into custody and informed them that they would have to see Mr. Kuster about getting them back.  I knew that others had them, but were just not being honest.  Oh well.  Again, there were complaints and pleadings to get them back.  Students kept saying I was being unfair and tricking them.  I reviewed the rules with them, and told them they needed to start obeying them.  A few of the boys tried to trick me and say that I had my phone.  I explained that as the room was my locker, it was ok.  Plus, I did not have it out during class, and as a teacher, I am entitled to certain rights the students are not.  We got through the rest of class fairly well, although they tried their best to get their phones back.

At the end of the day, one will usually find a group of teachers near the office waiting to clock out, as we are not allowed to clock out until 330.  As I approached the group soon before 330, one of the teachers commented on how weary I was looking.  I explained what happened, and there was a cry of astonishment that I was the "dreaded" teacher who had inflicted this terrible punishment on the kids.  The other teachers were very supportive and agreed that I had done the best thing possible.  I felt a moment of pride as I knew that I would be quite famous around the high school...at least for the next few days, possibly weeks.  Students would know that I was not going to be lenient with them and they would not be able to just walk all over me.  I may be young and inexperienced, but I know what I'm doing....or at least I just pretend I do.  Hopefully, the kids will respect me for what I did, although I don't imagine their feelings of dislike and possibly hatred, will disappear by tomorrow.  Good thing there is only two days of school left this week and I would most likely be gone most of tomorrow on visa stuff.  For my revenge on the kids, I planned on them writing a short essay on what the meaning of respect means....now, let's see how much more they like me :)

First Weekend Out

My weekend was pretty good.  Friday night was my first experience of night life in Bolivia.  One of the other teachers had a Jazz concert that she was in, so Hannah, Leah, and a few other teachers went to go show our support.  I'm not a big fan of Jazz, but this was actually pretty good.  There was a variety of music and singing.  The evening began with Ms. Lili, Hannah's co-operating teacher, picking us up in front of the school.  It was a bit windy as as we sat, I watched the trash and dirt in the streets swirl around making mini tornadoes at times.

We arrived at the place of the concert, which was called Palacio Portales.  It was an actual palace designed by a French architect in the early 1900s.  It was created for Bolivian millionaire, Simon Iturri Patino, who from what I understand, never actually lived in it.  It was nestled on acres of beautiful land, with gardens designed after the gardens of the Versailles Palace in France.  The architecture was magnificent and a sight to behold.  We entered and I was again awed at the grandeur of this place.  Such detail and precision.  The ceilings looked like paintings from the Sistine Chapel.  We found our seats, and since there was time before the concert began, Hannah, Leah, and I ventured upstairs to look around.  I began snapping pictures, creating documentation.  After about 5 minutes, one of the security guards came upstairs and began yelling at us.  His Spanish was so rapid, so I only caught the words, "prohibito" and "no photographs."  Whoops...I hid my camera as we were herded downstairs.
           




The concert began, and Hannah and I sat with two other elementary school teachers.  Leah sat across the aisle with the High School principal and two other high school teachers.  During the concert, I happened to glance over at Leah and her group, and quickly nudged Hannah.  Danny's head was tilted back and he eyes were nearly shut, Leah had the most bored look on her face as she stared ahead, and Andres was leaning forward with his head in his hands.  Those three embodied the essence of bored to tears!  It was hilarious to see, and Hannah and I were greatly amused.

After the concert, a group of us decided to go out for dinner and some drinks.  We walked down the street to a local restaurant, where we had pizza and some drinks.  I had so much fun getting to know these teachers outside of school, and even the elementary teachers, who I really had no interaction with.  We left the restaurant to go to Andres's apartment for some more fun.  We literally squeezed about 5 or 6 of us girls into the backseat of one of the vehicles.  At the apartment, we continued having fun until a knock at the door about half an hour later stopped us.  It was the neighbor upstairs who was pretty upset at how loud we were...oops!!  We hurriedly left, again cramming into the car to go to FranCois Lounge, where we continued dancing and getting to know each other better.  A few hours later, we all headed home.  It was a wonderful first night out and so full of memories.

Saturday was spent mostly being lazy...just a typical Saturday for me.  I lounged around, blogging, getting on FB, and avoiding doing any work.  In the evening, I went to dinner with Alexis and her husband David.  We went to a small pizza place and spent our time catching up.  It was so great seeing them both and it was almost unreal that I was here, in Bolivia with them.  They showed me some of downtown, and it was interesting to see the drastic change between the north and south side of Cochabamba.  The south side was more full of indigenous people, while the north side held more sophisticated people.  Not to say that the south side was sleazy or less sophisticated, but it was very different.  People dressed differently and even walked differently.  It's difficult to describe coming from such a small town back home, but here in Bolivia, there are different social classes, and people tend to congregate in certain areas if they are from a certain social class.  As I remain here for the next year, I'm anxious to explore all aspects of Cochabamba and experience more of the city.