escuela

so i've now completed 2 days of school.... and so far so good. the first day our morning was filled with orientation and getting to know the other trainees (there are about 20 of us). there are some pretty cool people here. but wait - it's been days since i posted.... let me tell you about my apartment:

it's actually pretty big. we have a kitchen (but no microwave, which is kind of annoying) a small dining area, a living room (and a tv that gets NO channels, very useful). then there are our rooms - four of them (but our 4th roomate never showed up, so we have one empty room), and two bathrooms. we're basically in a one floor home. the big downfall is that it's FAR. from town (about 10-15 minute walk) and even farther from school (25-30 minutes saunter - there's a steep hill, so we're sure not going to be power walking).

the first couple of days have been fun, some of it is stuff i'm kind of familiar with from my teaching stint in japan, and some of it is completely different. we have basically been focusing on teaching theory and a simple type of lesson plan that we are supposed to use for at least one of our practice teaching classes. so for the first two weeks we are in class from 9:30 to 5. but for the second two weeks we don't have to come to school at all - we have a schedule of classes that we are supposed to teach (offered free to the community) and observe.

i'm actually quite excited because TEFL International is throwing a little event for us this weekend, which will most likely be a little bbq on the beach with surfing lessons and stuff (it's not confirmed yet). and when we finish the course there will be a graduation dinner - free food and champagne is the word on the street. sounds good to me. three of my favorite words: free. food. champagne. :)

being the end of the rainy season the days are mostly pretty sunny, but it generally rains in the afternoons or evening. which is fine - i mean, it's hot and the rain is nice. BUT. the streets are such crap that we're sort of navigating small rivers and mud trying to walk around. but maybe by the end of the month the rain will let up some. i'm starting to look a little tan - just from walking around. but i'm hoping to get some real color starting this weekend when we're at the beach.