Infamous Public Schools in Colombia

Me and technology have not gotten along very well in Colombia. About 4 weeks ago my beloved Ipod to which I listened to many podcasts as well as American music (!) passed away. While this little 4 GB box of heaven got me through countless hours of training this past year, I belief its death was premature! So therefore I will be writing a letter to either Steve (CEO of Apple) or Steve Wozniak (Co-Founder of Apple)...that's right I googled the head haunchos!

Than a week later I went swimming with my cell phone! There will be no letters sent on this one because I am simply an idiot!

To top it off, I was working on a new blog update when I leaned on my computer. PS: Never lean on anything that costs a lot. When the "Black Screen of Death" appeared...I knew I was about to pay alot. Somehow in my insane muscular strength and body mass, I broke the hard drive. Apparently, they just don't make them like they used to (I used to have a 1970's Commodore desktop that weighed 240 lbs!). But thanks to a failing economy and good friends, I paid about $120 bucks for a new drive, Windows 7 (Team Bill Gates...take that Apple...like you need it), and labor (you da man Ivan!). Which leads me all to say that i'm still alive and kicking and ready to share some of the experiences I have been having here in Colombia via this blog!

So how about I finally talk about my teaching placement here in Santa Ana!

When I was asked to switch from my University teaching placement in beautiful Cartagena to dirt, dust, and donkees of Santa Ana, I was given the opportunity to chose which of the 2 teaching placements I would prefer here on the Island. In Santa Ana I knew there were 2 schools (a private and public) to choose from. The only differences I was given, in that moment, were that the public school co-teachers tend to be less engaged and therefore you have more autonomy. So being a glutton for a good challenge, I excitedly choose the Santa Ana Public School!

I am an english teacher in a community where learning this language translates into money. If you know english- you can get a job. In fact, this beautiful island has attracted potentional real estate giants as Donald Trump. In the past year, there has been as all-inclusive resort that opened near Playa Blanca with plans for several more within the next 5 years. You ask any kid "why learn english" and they will draw you dollar signs! Tourism around Playa Blanca is what their parents often do and is a career many will fall into as well (not very many options). The difference is that if these children learn english, instead of spending 10 hrs days in the hot sun trying to sell food, beverages, necklaces, or massages, they could work in an air conditioned resort or restaurant. According to some reports they can make upwards to 30% more in such positions- that's some serious "plata!" The tough reality though, is that if they done learn english, they could be displaced by more competetive individuals who would tend to know this highly valued language (English speaking tourists).

I have come to learn the hype around public schooling in Colombia is true (can't tell you how many presentations we had in Bogota about the problems in education here).

While the kids in both schools (private and public) present teachers with the same problems each day, I have come to learn that the institutions themselves are to blame. The culture of learning in the private school here (Barbocoas) is impressive. The teachers, who live here during the week, are prepared and eager to teach. There seems to be appropriate accountability from executive leadership to all faculty and staff. While every institution has its problems, I feel they work very diligently to keep the kids first!

At the public school (Santa Ana Public School), while I believe there are good intentions, the culture of learning is flawed. In Colombia they have one of the most powerful teacher unions every assembled. For many this means serious job security. The reality is that there is almost nothing you could do to be fired from your position. So it's obvious how this can matriculate down to the education of these beautiful children. What hurts the most, is that these kids here in Santa Ana don't have any other resource to learn from. What they get here will often be all they get!

But this is the reason WorldTeach and Volunteers Colombia has us here- so bring it on!

So while there are 6 of us "gringo's" here in Santa Ana, only 2 of us teach at the public school. The other teacher is an awesome girl named Kim Handel. She is from California and has the perfect balance of humor, reality, and sarcasm for such a placement as ours! Most mornings we make the 10 minute walk to our school together often laughing at the impending insanity that is our world!

I am teaching multiple classes in 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grade! I average about 23-25 hrs each week in the classroom. Most of my classes have anywhere from 20-30 kids in each classroom. Hopefully, you can get a perspective of what the classrooms look like in the pictures I will post. If this is your first time reading my blog: Its hot here! By hot, I mean I take 3-4 showers a day. So these classrooms are somewhat open and are all equipped with 1-2 ceiling fans that occasionally work. Needless to say, I am soaked by the time I am done! Its awesome!

The kids are the reason I am here! So while there have been many instances I wanted to toss them in the ceiling fan- they are beautifully tolerated and loved. Its a tough job teaching english here but Kim and I are learning new strategies and methods to get the information across. Let me not sugar coat things and say that a day doesn't go by where I did not ask a student to leave or hand out a zero for cheating, but its getting better. They are learning that while the "gringo" means business, he really cares for them! I thought it best to fight these battles early on so we can make some real progress down the road. Respect is everything here.

All my teacher friends are probably wondering how much time I spend lesson planning each week with so many grades...well a lot less than I anticipated because they are all almost at the same level (which happens to be a 6th grade or less ability). If Donald Trump rolled in tomorrow, these kids are screwed. But if Kim and I can make some real progress this year helping change the learning environment of our school, encourage and educate our Colombia co-teachers, and if WorldTeach commits to this project for 5 years, I can see real change coming to this community!

Classes are an adventure but I have to say I have really been enjoying it! I have seen a little progress just in the fact that I don't have to use my ghetto spanish to teach the whole class anymore! This week was full or ups and downs but I saw a lot out of them the past few days! My 11th graders were awesome while my 4th graders were on crack. I also had some tough conversations with the principle about some of my concerns regarding the disorganization of the school. I am hopeful He can make a few changes that will greatly impact the learning environment here.

Its South America and we have all quickly learned to adapt and overcome. This is a different world and sometimes I feel I barely display that in this blog. Yet, I pray this experience gives you a different outlook on life and a blessed perspective of life where you are this moment. I am sure i'll talk more about teaching and these kids- its a huge part of my life here. So until the next time, hug your children and get involved in their education! Maybe someday they can use what they have learned to come and attempt to make an impact where kids simply are not as fortunate.

Talk soon- have a blessed day!

Yo No Se Manana

I dont know about tomorrow.

The title of the blog is actually a really cool song here in South America. Its by a guy named Luis Enrique who from a few web searches seems to be "the man." To put it in a way that everyone at home could relate, I think he is the Latin American version of Sting. He certainly went through some narly haricuts (the Kid and Play hightop to the spanish Fabio mess) and some weird outfits (gotta love the sweater vest with no shirt underneath), but after just watching his music video for this song, the man is a pimp (Mom- not in the way where someone takes money from hookers for providing care and protection- but its actually an endearing term)!

While I may not understand all the words to this song, and i'll kind of ignore the line where I think he says something like "from the cafe to the couch," I certainly have been digging the killer salsa beat and rhythm of this kind of music. Do I love it so much to get out of my bed at 11pm and show my Santa Ana neighbors my true Colombian rhythm and footwork...not so much. Yet, I appreciate their consideration to serenade us "gringos" with the all the hit records of South America at times where I believe that even my donkey friends are sleeping!

I don't know about tomorrow! So every day here I have tried to make it memorable. In the mornings when I head off to school I know that I wont have to do anything personally to make it an adventure. Something is bound to happen that will give me an awesome story to share with my fellow American teachers at lunch. I know I have said this before, but more details to come.
For all my teacher friends, I think i'm heading to the Bronx to teach after i'm done here. Woah.

Both during and after school, I have become a regular at the panaderia (bread shop),which is actually out of this families home, (helped him move a new dresser into it the other day) across the street from the school. The first time I met them they said laughing "usted no entiende nada" which lovingly means "you don't understand anything." While they are correct, they love me because I bust out my 50 mil (25 cents) and routinely buy 1 pastry and 2 cookies from them like 2-3 times a day! Gotta support the local economy!

The midday is me, sweating that pastry and 2 cookies away, laying on my bed with a fan full blast aimed at my grill! Hoping no one busts in my door without knocking because I may or may not have many clothes on. This is when I get the opportunity to have some quality God and me time. I like to think that me being almost neked may enhance these moments. He certainly had Adam and Eve walk around without shame, so im sure He won't mind if reenact this during our time together (i mean its like 98 degrees here...everyday!).

During the early evenings I try and do some form of exercise. Funny story: so the other day i'm running down 1 of the 2 dirt roads I often frequent here. Its about 4:30 pm which still means its smoking hot but not as bad as earlier in the day. Its swear I am in Africa on these runs. There is nothing but fields of cattle, donkeys, and weird looking trees. But I have to admit its really relaxing minus when a truck comes and im covered in dust. So anyways, I turn this corner and there are like 4 huge cows. This is nothing new, but for some reason I forgot to walk past them and my running startles the little one. So they start running down the road infront of me. No problem but there are fences the line the road for miles! So for about 5 minutes I feel like I am in Pamplona, Spain running with the bulls (yet they are kind of infront of me). Funny gets hilarious when as 1 unit we turn the corner and we meet my other friends, the donkeys! There is a small family of 4 who also gets wigged out at the 3 tons of beef and the 150 lb gringo that is running at them. So they decide to join us and we become quite the site for another 1/4 mile until a legit (not an uber mutt) guard dog comes out of nowhere and thankfully changes the direction of my herd. If the farmer who owns all these animals happens to learn how to use that fancy box gringos always seem to carry around and reads this blog...I am sorry!

The evenings have been about culture! From learning new ways to perfect patacones to making empanadas, I just upped my stock just in time for dating season (starts tomorrow until Halloween...another blog in itself). I am also doing a language exchange with a really cool young man named Luis. I truly feel that God had his hand in us meeting each other as I believe there will many cool ministry opportunities that may come from this. And of course, I regularly play with my South American Sandlot crew. The other teachers I work with have been coming with me more regulary (to play of just hang out) and its been a pretty fun time. The crew is growing and I am considering finding a new spot- which means a serious clean up project!

The night is about chilling out with the great group I am here with, getting ready for another day of classes, and spending some times talking about all of you to Him! At the end of the day, I double check the walls for man eating mosquitos that have rocked me in my sleep a few nights last week, and then pull the covers over my already 99.8 degree body.

For those who made it this far in todays blog always lovingly ask yourself this: While life is always full of adventure, can you say it always has purpose? What makes my day so awesome is that I know I am doing the things God wants me to do here. I have never felt His presence in such an amazing way and that makes me both excited and terrified in what He will present next! And so why I have do not about tomorrow, I will walk with Him and make the most of all He gives me today!

Waves

Life here in Santa Ana has been going awesome! I am truly in love with this country and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this community! Though the other night I could have traded my kidney for a good ol’ American Cheeseburger, every day I feel more at home here in Colombia!

Today was my first day teaching! I had an 11th grade class that began at 6:30 am and you can only imagine how excited they were to be up that early to learn English…some things are universal! This was followed by another 11th grade class, a two hour 9th grade class, and a 6th grade class from the underworld. Anyone remember the beast from Revelations 13? The one with 10 horns and 7 heads who wreaked havoc on all the earth’s inhabitants…that kid is in my class! Otherwise, it was a pretty cool day and I am excited to put some cool lesson plans together to help them learn English. It was very clear we have miles to go before they’ll be at any level of proficiency! More to come!

For this blog entry I want to share something I read the other day. Last Saturday I met the IMB Ministry team in the morning. I will be helping in these missions every weekend while I am here. I hope to share more on this very soon! I was suppose to meet them at 8:30 am but the motorcycle driver I took that morning must have just watched Fast and Furious because I was almost 30 minutes early! So I hung out on the beach (rough life) and read my daily devotion which at the time was in Ephesians. I was in chapter 4: 14 which says:

“Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunningness and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ.”

As I read this I looked out at the waves and made some observations. Waves come in all different shapes and sizes. Waves are relentless, yet incredibly unpredictable. Sometimes when everything is normal, you’ll have a huge wave come in and surprise you. I noticed how strong they were. When they crash you can see the sand turn underneath it. Sometimes they pull rocks back in as the wave recedes while other times it pushes them up on shore.

In all these observations, it was not hard to see why Paul used this example. Even the person who wrote the motto “Life is a Beach” may have been on to something. In a spiritual sense, Satan’s attacks are relentless. He will present them in creative and different ways. When everything appears calm, the god of this world throws something at us that can be overwhelming. We have moments where it feels as if the ground is being swept out from under us. Another day we feel as if we’re being thrown against the rocks. Satan wants nothing more than for us to lose our bearings and in a moment, feel scared. Can you relate to this? What are the waves in your life?

As I observed the ocean that morning, there was something else I could see. I noticed that the waves of any significance were only near the shoreline. The deeper you went out, the calmer the water was. I reminisced when I did Ironman Florida. I had worked on a few strategies to get through these “breaker” waves. I kept the mantra to “just stay focused and relax” because when I did successfully get through them, the rest of the swim would be easy as I knew the conditions were better the farther out you were! How important is it for us to “get off the shore and into the deep water” as it relates to our faith? The reality is that this can be a daunting proposition because of two reasons: it’s scary and people don’t know how to swim.

I listened to a sermon the other day and the pastor referenced The Chronicles of Narnia where someone asked “is the Lion safe (God)…No! But He is just!” When we rest our lives in His hands it doesnt always mean "calmer waters" as we would imagine. Yet, as we venture out in Faith, the waves that once crashed around us, causing us to become disorganized and at times fearful, disappear. Instead He replaces them with purpose and direction. A storm out in sea is not uncommon, but remember what Jesus said to the disciples in such a similar situation in John 6:20 "It is I; dont be afraid." The sea is always unpredicable, but unless we get out of the surf and into deeper water, we may never come to know Christ in the manner we are told to.

Doubt can also creep in when one does not know how to swim. How many times have you ever felt convicted you needed to act on His behalf and thoughts of inadequacy overwhelmed you? There were moments, a few years ago, when I joined a swim team to learn how to swim. After a few practices- I remember wanting to crawl into somewhere and die! It was hard and I thought I would never learn. But I trusted in my coaches teaching and saw in her ability that she knew what she was doing! Sound familiar?

God has given you and me everything we need to swim and to freestyle our way into calmer waters. He has given this entire world His words, teachings, team (church), instructions, and the Example!

There were moments this past year that seemed overwhelming. Times where I lost my focus and felt scared! Yet, as I write this I am excited for what He is doing in this life. I know there is an amazing, overwhelming amount of me that needs to go to Him. But I pray that each day the Holy Spirit convicts me of this and I am able to give them up. All of us have gone through some serious “breakers” in our days and maybe you are in that moment today. So I want you to know that as it is in Christ, as we grow up into Him, we are granted the peace, joy, and strength to swim to that place. A place that is dangerous but we feel safe. A place that is unchartered but we aren’t lost. A place that is foreign but we feel at home.

For me, my best friend Kendall has been that encouragement and example for me. She showed me that in His hands, there is no room for fear. She reminded me that God doesn’t look for the qualified, He makes them.

In moments of crashing waves and dangerous currents, are you clinging to something or possibly someone that is not Him and should be? Can you even see the calmer waters in front of you? Prayerfully let go of what you are holding onto this moment. Trust in the Creator God. Allow Him to guide you through these breakers and out in the deep waters. Sometimes we only see the waves and forgot there is another world to be discovered behind them. Find that place and I guarantee you that is where He has always wanted you to be!