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Published: October 23rd 2008
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Lindsey's Daycare Experience
The following entry is by Lindsey, a volunteer who recently helped us out at our Hojancha Daycare Center Project:
Heading to Costa Rica After graduating college and before starting full-time work I wanted to do something where I felt I was making a difference. So, I packed my bags and headed down to Costa Rica where I was welcomed by some of the most incredible people I have ever met. I was able to spend a week in the town of Hojancha staying with a host family and teaching English at the local Daycare Center.
Meeting My Host Family When I arrived in Hojancha I was welcomed with open arms by my host family. Carmen and Carlos along with their daughters Karla and Gabby, and grandsons Carlos Eduardo and Jose Maria immediately made me feel at home. Throughout my week there they introduced me to many aspects of their life which made it very special for me. I had the pleasure of meeting some of their extended family, visiting their farm, attending a birthday party, watching them package their own brand of coffee and so much more. They included me in everything they did
and made this a very wonderful experience.
Off to School On my first day of classes I headed off to the Daycare Center with Carlos Eduardo where I met up with Ricardo from Tropical Adventures. Ricardo introduced me to Cecilia, the maestra, and all of the children I would get to play with all week. I was warmly greeted by everyone there and was quickly taken it as part of the group. Within five minutes of being there they had me dancing in circles and singing songs in Spanish. I knew very little of what I was singing, but the kids got a kick out of me pretending to have the nose of an elephant and acting out the other words of the song right along with them. The entire week they included me in everything they did. When we were playing chef they put an apron and hair net on me. When we were walking to lunch they would take my hand and walk with me. And when there was a birthday party they shared their party favors with me. The entire staff did a great job of making me feel comfortable. They did everything from
walking me home to make sure I got there safely to making sure I had enough to eat at lunch.
Teaching English at the Daycare Center… Words cannot explain how rewarding it was to see the kids’ excitement to learn English. They would all bring me books and toys and games and ask me over and over how to say the words. Their enthusiasm would keep smiling all day! One of my favorite stories is about a four-year-old named Fabian. We were learning actions and he asked probably twenty to thirty times how to tell his parents he wanted to take a ‘shower’. His desire to perfect even just one word was really touching.
… And What it Was like Not Knowing Much Spanish Truthfully, having only one semester of Spanish was a little difficult at first. The kids knew that I spoke English but had a little harder time understanding that I didn’t know much Spanish. A lot of our communicating seemed like a game of charades which turned out to be a lot of fun. By the end of the week they had helped to teach me Spanish and talking with them got easier. Yes, I went with the intention of teaching English but looking back I realize that those kids taught me more than I could ever have hoped to teach them.
Saying Goodbye to All the Incredible People The hardest part about the entire week was saying goodbye to everyone. On my last day at the school each of the students made me a paper flower. On the back they had written ‘con amor’ (with love) and their name. Each and every one of them gave me a flower along with a hug and a kiss and said thank you. It was extremely touching and made it all the more difficult to leave them. Having to say goodbye to my host family was just as hard. I was only there for such a short time but they really made me feel like part of the family and I will never forget the wonderful time I had with them.
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