Learning How to Colombia
It has been an interesting month here! It is a little overwhelming learning about a new culture, language and how to teach all at the same time. Working hard and taking it one day at a time has been a great way for me to process everything and still enjoy my time here in beautiful Colombia! My students and fellow faculty at the Colegio here are great and so very understanding (as they listen to me try to "speak" Spanish with them). I am very encouraged by the students enthusiasm but I am struggling to find a way to constantly connect with them in the classroom every day, every week. Believe it or not, saying 'English is fun! you all should learn this!' doesn't always work. **My friends and readers I would love if you sent in any advice or activities that have worked well in educational settings for grades Pre-K through 11th grade. I would greatly appreciate it!**
Last week I went to Dabeiba which is about a three hour twisting and turning bus ride in the mountains from Apartadó with Carson and my new host mother, Yasmine. We stayed with Pastor Omar in the Presbyterian there which was beautiful right next to a park and these great trees that were over 100 years old. During that week in the mountains, we visited several different farms that harvested coffee and variety of other fruits. One farm we observed the beans (granos) being taken out of the shells in a manual grinder-sort of-thing after a beautiful church service. The second farm was high up in the mountains, there we got to pick the coffee fruit off the trees/bushes, watched them get separated from the shells with a motorized machine this time and then saw how they dry out in the sun. We also got to climb in a sapote tree and eat the fruit while sitting in the branches. The next day we went to the third farm and picked mandarins oranges! Then later that afternoon we watched Pastor Raul, another great person we were able to meet in the Dabeiba community, roast coffee beans over the stove top. And of course we were finally able to drink the coffee......after grinding the roasted beans in a manual grinder. My arm muscles appreciate my coffee grinder from home much more now.
**A prayer request for my Louisiana family please. A family member is sick right now and I know that every prayer or pause in your day to think to God helps**
Thank you all! Much love from the lady trying to learn how to Colombia
