Coming Along!

So the school is still under construction but it is coming along well.  Here are some updated pictures.  The weeks are starting to move a little faster.  I have ventured out and taken taxi's by myself.  The city is pretty safe in that sense and I only go to places that I have been to before.  The weather has been very hot over 100F everyday.  When we get out of school it is hard to be productive because of the humidity .   I met a girl named Alejandra through my friend Cristabel.  Ale is from Madrid and is an international journalist here for a few months.  Cristabel, Ale and I run at a place called the Mirador, it is an avenue that is closed for recreation in the evenings.  I have been once before about five years ago and it is really cool.  Check out videos on Youtube, as I probably wont be bringing a camera.  adios! 

My ClassroomMy Books
The Pool! YAY
Water from the storm...blowing pretty hard!

Hey!  I am including more photos of the school.  It is still under construction BUT things are coming along more quickly than I had expected.  Today I went up the three flights of stairs to find the teacher editions of my school books, Success!  That is great because now I can make my year plan and write out my syllabus.  Yay.  

The school is overall pretty nice. There is a pool which is great, the kids have swimming once a week.  There is also an outdoor playing court and an indoor one.  The classrooms are located on three levels starting with the little ones on the first level and me... well I am going to have some really nice leg muscles by the end!  Ha!  I do have a nice view!  

There is a guard on duty at the gate all the time and there are security cameras in place.  A lot of things get stolen around here... like care

Michelle, Alissa, Sara and Lourdes hard at work!

Jose Sosa and his oragami class at a great bookstore called Thesaurus.  That is Cristabel's dad!
View of the city from the apartment roof that we are currently living in.  See the tall buildings in the distance?  That is where the school is and where we are hoping to move... SOON!

First Weeks

Things are beautiful here but of course it is a city and a dirty one.  Looking past that things are ok.  Alissa and Michelle also US teachers here at the school.  We flew in on the same plane and are sharing the same temporary apartment right now.  School planning is going on but it is a bit makeshift right now as parts/all of the school is under construction.  I am impressed with the progress so far though, and think that by the time students are coming everything will be settled.  Shopping, taxi's and all other interactions have been aided by Alissa who speaks fluent Spanish. I am working on my vocab and trying to pick up the language everywhere I can. 

I have spent time with my friend Cristabel.  I met her in January through Habitat for Humanity and she helped connect me with the school.  So far other activities include: a day at the beach, a few evenings out, a baby shower (Cristabel's friends), oragami lessons and a massage.  I have found a Yoga studio and will hopefully start soon!  

The teachers and staff at school are really nice and have helped us out so much already.  We are currently trying to find an apartment near the school, right now we are about 10 blocks or more which is WAY too far to walk in this city. 

Students come on the 28th and then things will get really exciting.  As for now we are trying to fit in some weekend trips.