Hello from Peru! I am in Lima with one of the nicest families in Peru and probably the world. I have eaten a true Peruvian meal, survived Peruvian traffic, and am now completely aware of how incompetent I am at speaking Spanish.
Today was my first day at Abraham Lincoln School.
The staff was incredibly welcoming, and I am eager to begin. This is
definitely an adventure for me as I have never taught outside of the
states and have never spent an extended period of time in a coutnry that
speaks anything other than English.
I decided to go to Peru a few months ago when I was
informed that my university would be, for the first time, offering an
international teaching placement. I went back and forth on the idea for a
while. It was a glamorous opportunity in that I could be the Chaco
wearing hipster traipsing through the ruins of Machu Picchu (bonus
points for using the word traipsing). It was terrifying because I had
never traveled and stayed with a host family I had never met alone. I
know a handful of Spanish words (Donde esta el baño?), and I have never
taught English language arts to a class full of students who do not
speak English as their first langague. I would be away from the support
of my family, friends, and chruch, and if it turned out to be the worst
experience ever (it hasn't), I would be stuck for six weeks.
What made me decide to go? Jillian Michaels. While grunting and sweating through her Yoga Meltdown
a few months ago, Jillian yelled at me: "BE COMFORTABLE WITH BEING
UNCOMFORTABLE!" Since then those words have come to mind anytime I have
been afraid to do something. I have found that my greatest growth has
come through uncomfortable situations. Moments in which I was the least
informed person in the room. Conversations when I thought I knew more
than I actually did. Times in which I had to apologize or admit that I
was wrong, and situations that were just awkward in every way. I like to
be right and opinionated, but I found I am a better (and more
tolerable) person when I am inquistive and listening. I have at least
one drastic perspective change a year. Maybe that isn't such a good
thing, but I think it has been good for me.
Read more from Alaina at alainarainey91.wix.com/how-to-be-still/
