The challenges of being a teacher in a different country.

Coming to Belize was such an awesome and amazing experience that I could not pass up the opportunity.  The intense 10 weeks I had to endure in Wilmington, NC didn't prepare me for Belize! As I have said before, the students lack classroom management.  I have tried to help out in the class because I know my teacher wants to enforce the rules that she has posted. She definitely wants help in that area and I am super anxious to help her. I knew this week was going to be really stressful because it's the week before Easter break. I have reverted back to my 10 week adventure in the States.  I have begun to brainstorm on what I learned from my partnership teacher. I have also found a lot of things on the internet too that I would like to try.  I have talked to my teacher here in Belize and I am going to be doing half of the lessons during our last 2 weeks here! I am super excited because I want to show her my skills so she can learn from me as well.  I am going to be working on lesson plans during our 2 week break on the subjects I am doing. I found out that she has internet at home so I think getting her email will be the best way of communicating while we are on break.  I was even able to get some of the books they will use for Children's Rights.  However, I am going to be searching the internet constantly for ideas for my kids so they are not just stuck in their workbooks.  They need time fillers and easier transitions too and I think with my new knowledge and my teacher's knowledge we can conquer our goals for the class!

Playing Police!

On a lighter note, my students had P.E. yesterday afternoon.  It was very informal to what we are use to in America because they do not have a designated P.E. teacher.  They did a little bit of exercise and running.  After that they played games like tag and police.  They did all of this in the school playground.  It was fun watching them run around!

You know I have to post a food picture!!! We went to Caroline's Kitchen tonight for dinner and it was awesome! I had Conch Ceviche and watermelon juice!
















Stay tuned, tomorrow is definitely going to be another fun filled day! : )

The best of both worlds: Teaching and Learning

Picture of my Infant I class (1st grade)

Well the pass couple of days have been very interesting.  The teachers here in San Pedro do not have any classroom management skills. I keep thinking about all of the things I learned back home in the States.  I want to try new things, but I don't want to step on any ones toes.  However, my teacher is very open to new things.  I think she would be willing to let me do more things with her class. I definitely need to talk to her more about it.






When you walk into the room for the first time, its a complete shock.  I am use to way different things in the States.  We have a lot bigger classroom with so many supplies and computers to use.  It definitely puts another perspective on how to do things.  The teachers here come out of high school and teach! One of the other girls I am with, her teacher is 18! I am 25 and thinking back to when I was 18, I don't think I could be a teacher right out of High School.

The students are wonderful, but they all shout at once and get up out of their seats constantly.  I feel overwhelmed watching my teacher deal with the chaos that's going on.  I watch her and she does not seem stressed at all.  I am not trying to sound rude, but when I taught them the math I felt like they listened to me more than they listened to her.  I don't know if it's because I have might have a more of an authoritative voice than she does.  I see that she wants to do classroom management.  She has even asked me for advice and I am happy because I have a lot of great ideas to share.

I love being at Isla Bonita and it is such a wonderful experience.  We ride our bikes to school and then we walk to get lunch. I am excited about the days to come and then our service project week (next week).  I am definitely excited when more people from NC come down in week 4!

We have found a new place to eat for super cheap!! I ate 4 toastadas and had a full glass of watermelon juice for 5BZD (2.50 USD) and it was very satisfying. Some of the girls wanted something chocolate so we decided to go to the ice cream shop. I got a cup of German Chocolate with chocolate sprinkles for 4BZD (2 USD) SOOOO Yummy!

Last night, we finally went on our big group dinner and we went to Hurricanes (which sits right on the water). It was dark so I didn't take a pic, but I will take one and post it later.  However, I wanted to get the nachos for my dinner but Dr. K decided to get 2 plates of those for appetizers so I had to change my plan to this!

Belizean Shrimp Quesadillas

Have a great night America! See you soon!

Take me there to the Paradise City!!!

Friday we were able to go tour San Pedro High School and Isla Bonita Elementary School.  It was amazing the high school is right on the water!  The high school were doing their science fair so we were able to see a lot of their work.  It was awesome! They all took a lot of pride in what they did.

San Pedro High School Gym

They all worked on a banner and they said it took them days to make, but they were all so proud of them.  Their parents and friends came to look at their projects!

We stayed at the high school for an hour or so just looking all around.  Their school is 3 stories and their "gym" is out side. If you sit on the top you can see the ocean!!!!

Isla Bonita Elementary is where I am going to be teaching.  I am in an Infant I class which is equivalent to 1st grade.  However, there are 4, 5, and one 6 year old in my class.  When I got there, they were doing a spelling test!  I was able to talk to some of them and they were telling me about their brothers and sisters.  After their test, they went to lunch.  So then I left and joined my group again and we went out for lunch.  We took our time and ate some burritos!



When we got back to Isla Bonita the students in my Infant I class were going out side to do art class.  They were all over the place, but they did a pretty good job!



These pictures are some of my students painting.  They were painting a plate and from what I was told they were making the body of a bunny.  Easter is a really big holiday here and that's one of the reasons they get a two week break.  This coming up week at school is going to be crazy but fun.  They are all going to be excited about Easter and spring break! However, we are still going to be working while they are on break.  We will be doing some service projects around here in San Pedro!



Have a great night America!

Alyssa

Fry tacos, conch burrito, watermelon juice, OH MY!

I left America yesterday and it has been an amazing adventure since we have been here in San Pedro, Belize. It consisted of a 3 hour international flight to Belize City and then a local puddle jumper flight (TropicAir) to San Pedro. We have had 1 1/2 days of free time so we are making the best of it since the real work is starting tomorrow. 

Yesterday, we walked around and ate lunch at a place called Esteles and it was right on the water! Such a beautiful view.  We are staying at a place called Pedro's Inn and its a basic place.  Its for people who are traveling around (mainly hikers/backpackers).  We went to the pool and soaked up some of the Belize rays and had a lot of fun.  We did a lot more walking after that. We found local grocery stores, fruit stands and their department store (Wings).  Everyone drives golf carts or some type of van.  People also ride bikes all around and we rented bikes for our stay as well.  It's so funny because the seat is a little too high for me so I have to get a little start going and then jump in my seat :)

We had burritos at a place that Dr. Paul (Consulate for Belize in Wilmington NC) recommended to us. I don't remember the name of the place, but it was soooooo good! I had the conch burrito and wow...AHmazing!

Today, I went to breakfast with the boys! haha....they were the only ones I saw up at 8 am so I just tagged a long with them.  We went to a little place and I had a omelet with ham and cheese.  We then went to the fruit stand and Colin bought some pineapple....it was super yummy.  I am going to buy some another day.  Oh yeah, the money is 2:1 here.  We have the advantaged ;) However, you still need to be careful!  We then went back to the pool for a bit and then went to a pier at the beach.  We swam and soaked up the rays.  All of us got a little red.  Elizabeth was the last one to come and she got here a hour ago.  So she and a few others went to eat some lunch.  The rest of us went to lunch before that and had a great meal again!!!! They served watermelon juice and it tasted just like a watermelon.  It wasn't like flavored juice, it was actual watermelon juice!!! Amazing and it was only 1BZD (50 cents)

More exploring and eating in a bit.  Its 2:48 pm and we headed back to the beach!!!

From San Pedro, Belize
Alyssa

Only 14 days!!

It seems so unreal that I am going to be leaving in 14 days!  San Pedro, Belize is going to be one of the most amazing experiences that I'll ever have. 

However, this amazing experience is something that many people are not able to do.  I am not going there for just pleasure, which of course I would not complain about.  I am going with 10 student interns to complete my student internship. 

We are going to be teaching for 3 weeks and doing community service project for the town of San Pedro!  Of course, there will be some time to get in some traveling and sightseeing! Many pictures will be taken, I promise!

I am very thankful for this experience because it will open many doors.  I going to do anything and everything I can to be successful for my family.

I am going to be graduating on May 11 and I am so excited! I am excited not only for me, but for my family because now they will have a mother that is a college graduate and can provide for them a lot better.

I will be in San Pedro for 39 days from March 21 to April 28.  It will definitely be a life changing experience for me because I have never been away from my family for this long.

I am leaving from Atlanta, GA on March 21st because it was a nonstop flight and plus we have some family that live outside of Atlanta.  It just made more sense for me to go there because I didn't want to have a layover anywhere.

I only have 7 more school days here in Wilmington! It seems like yesterday I was starting my college career! 

Stay tuned to more posts!!!

xo
Alyssa

P.S. I know you all liked my play on Crewsing in unBelizeable Adventures (my last name is Crews)....haha