By the time I had to get ready to leave, I had adjusted enough and gotten into enough of a routine that I was used to being in the States and it was really starting to feel like I HAD to get ready to leave, not that I GOT to get ready to leave. But, it was in the plan, and I'd signed my contract, and I was sure it would be better once I actually got back.
I finally started to get excited as I felt the plane dip down to land. Once I landed, I rushed off to get in line for immigration, but I was coming from the back of my plane, so I was in the back of the line, and we landed almost an hour late, so two other planes had come in before us. It was a long line. I was stuck waiting with an impatient, but nice, woman from Spain. We were behind a group of Korean-American teenagers in a group, and they were very annoying. They also split in the line and the group leader came in front of us so she could go first, which made sense to me, but then, when we were finally getting close, 5 more members of the group cut in front of us. They didn't seem to know a lick of Spanish, so the woman and I were able to complain about them. I got through, got my bag, and got out.
When I got to Copan, and as I drove in saw a student and a different student's parent, and Megan, I finally felt like I was coming home. It was good, because I was beginning to be afraid that I wouldn't feel that way and I will be living here for another year, whether I felt at home or not.
I know that a year ago I swore up and down that I'd only be in Copan for a year, and now I say again that I'll only be here for another year, but this time it's true (honest, let me earn back some credibility!) The reason I'm the only returning teacher is because of the pay. It's also the reason I can only stay one more year. It's plenty to live on, but it's not enough for the plane fare back and forth.
I am now thinking of coming home for at least a year of schooling, probably at TNCC, to take care of some undergrad courses that I need to be certified as a primary teacher. From there we'll see if I got straight into a graduate program, start a grad program online and in the summers, or come back to somewhere in Central or South America for an international school (which would really help me get away with not having to take out loans.)
But...for now, I have moved into my new, awesome house. And, it is, if you couldn't guess, awesome. I was mostly set up by noon on my first full day (yesterday) and I got started on it around 5:30 or 6 when I woke up (and had some coffee).
The house is awesome (pictures are on facebook) and the view is fantastic. Next week my landlord is paying someone to come replace the kitchen shelves, because they are full of termites, and to paint the wall, because the paint was washed away by a leak. I was sad to see that my big beautiful mango tree is not producing right now. It's too wet for it, apparently.
Now that I'm settled in, I'm going to be helping the new teachers figure out the town. Three came in last night and they seem very nice. It'll just be us until Monday night, so I'll have plenty of time to show them around and get to know them.
I plan to start taking classes again on Monday, because, just like a child coming back from summer, my Spanish is not doing very well. This year, I will not break from Spanish classes for the first month or so of work like I did last year, I'll just stick with it and hit it pretty hard. The new teachers, at least these 3, are already more experienced than I am with Spanish. It just gives me more incentive :)
No comments:
Post a Comment