Tales of a former social chair

I have had something of an Epiphany. The reason that I am so unhappy here, the reason that I hate Costa Rica is because, for the first time in my life, no one likes me. I realize that there isn’t a wide variety of people for me to be friends with as is, but still, going from the Social Chair of USC to the “Ticher” in El Vergel was not a healthy switch.
Everyone tolerates me, but no one goes out of his way to say, “hello”. This coupled with the fact that I have such limited connection to the world I left has led to a case of minor depression. I should have gone to Chile, worked in a City so that I could have had people to talk to and a phone to talk on. So far my only symptoms have been general gloominess and an increased need for naps. I am seriously unsatisfied with the year thus far. My students are ungrateful and greedy, which I cannot understand since they don’t have anything to be greedy over. I do know that they stole the jump ropes that I bought.
Class is starting to improve. My first graders still throw tantrum’s every day, but I have gotten better at keeping them from walking out of class. We are doing a section on animals right now and they are having a lot of fun. I am thinking I can probably keep it going for a couple more weeks. We did farm and domestic animals last week. We all made masks and several of them found reasons to cry over their having to use the “big” scissors. This coming week we are covering animals that live in Costa Rica. Should be fun. 2nd through 5th grades are making houses out of cardboard boxes. Several students couldn’t find any boxes, despite my giving them 3 weeks of warning about it. Others have been skipping class just because they don’t feel like making houses. It’s a little bit frustrating, but the good projects are worth all of the other trouble.
My 6th graders are still brilliant but Lazy. Now every time they ask me if they can watch movies/leave early/play Uno, I take away five minutes of their Friday Free-Time. Their vocabularies are improving as is their grammar, but they, for the most part, refuse to speak. The problem with teaching as a volunteer, is that it’s incredibly hard to care when no one else does. My lack of motivation is stunning and my “energy” has hit rock bottom.
On the upside, I have done a ton of worksheets this weekend for next week’s lectures. I never work this far ahead. I also cleaned out my bedroom and classroom. I’ve started taking bike rides and walks with my 6th grader Christian. He is one of my smarter students and says, “Oh Teacher” about 47 times a day. I make him speak English on our rides, so at least he’s getting practice.
I struggle more and more every day not to hold my placement against my bosses. I really don’t know what they were thinking putting me here. Granted, I don’t know that there is another particular site that would have fit me more, but this is just absurd. At least I’m going home soon. I will get the re-charge that I need for the last 5 months. So, that’s my life. I hate Costa Rica. I am excited to come home. See you in T-minus 18 days. Thanks for all of the emails.
If any of you would like to send me a care package/birthday card but are wary because of the mail in Costa Rica, you can send it to my house in Santa Barbara.

761 Hot Springs Rd
Santa Barbara, CA
93108

PS. Shout out to Katie Perkins: I watched My Boys on TV this morning. Sheer genius. Thank god for satellite television.