Jumping right in!

I finally arrived to Guayama two weeks ago. I jumped right in to my new life. The day after I arrived I had one day to put together a classroom, with no supplies, to welcome my new students the next day. It was a crazy first day of meeting my 120 students, but somehow I survived. Despite my exhaustion we made it to the beach for an after school swim and I ended up falling asleep in the car while I was trying to wait out an afternoon shower. Then when the rain stopped the warm sand proved to be a more comfortable napping spot. I began to believe that I will be enjoying my new adventure. I can get use to trips to the beach after a long day of teaching.

Since those first days, two busy weeks have passed. Busy between school, trips to the beach, and getting to know my new friends and the island. My first weekend we headed up to Luquillo, a beach on the northeast coast. The drive was incredible. We curved around the mountains along the coastline. The beach was a great swimming beach so we unload the cooler and jumped right in!

Then this past weekend we went to Old San Juan. It is the historic part of San Juan (500 years of history). We walked along the walls that were built hundreds of years ago to protect the city from the pirates. Within the old city walls lies a charming city of brightly colored Spanish colonial buildings, now filled with restuarants and shops.

As far as school goes it will be a great learning experience. I teach language arts to 5th and 6th graders. I really like the age group and I am excited to get into some writing projects with them. I believe that they have been acustom to traditional teaching styles so I am excited to give them some freedom and an opportunity to be creative with their writing, while at the same time trying to explain what a predicate is. Most of the kids are motivated to learn and succeed in school so hopefully we will have a successful school year.

After school "meeting"

Puerto Rico is an interesting mix of a hispanic caribean culture with American influence. When I am in the Walmart parking lot there are tailgaters observing the shoppers. Outside the Walgreens I can shop at the fruit and vegetable stand. As we drive to the beach and see roadside stands cooking roasted chicken and selling Medalla beers for a dollar, I know that I am not in the US.

Through all the excitment I think of all of you at home and can't wait to share some of these experiences with you. Mi casa es su casa!