every little ting

1:51pm Wednesday, Apr 23 Edit Note Delete
The minute I walked in the school I knew something was different. Their pants hung a little lower, their hair was a little longer, and their attitudes were high. Turns out, I was right – CEI (Centro Educatio Interactiva) is a school for kids who have rebelled against everything about schools – the rules, the uniforms, the punishments. With good reason, CEPPA wants to implement its peace program here. I figured we’d come up with some more creative, cooperative, fun interactive activities, but my director insists we stick to the original plan – teaching them a “feel good”, “love each other”, “Pavarotti & friends” song in English. This should go over well – teaching a lame song to students who are only there because they hate school in the first place. The kids are amazing, but I sense a sing-a-long just ain’t their thing (and so does their teacher). Suggestions are welcome (as are miracles).

But like I said, these kids are amazing. In a class debate about capital punishment, one student was getting a little worked up, so the other students hugged her and broke out into a spontaneous chorus of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” [“don’t worry, about a thing … ‘cause every little ting, is gonna be all right …”]. The fact that she is 17 and that passionate about anything is one thing – but to be able to express her frustration so accurately in her second language is nothing less than impressive (as is the 12-year old grade nine student who speaks Spanish, English, Italian and Japanese. Whew.) And there’s something awfully inspiring about kids singing some Bob Marley in a foreign classroom – I don’t quite know what it is, but I hope you all get the chance to hear it someday. It proved that in Costa Rica, there’s obviously a sense of community that we should focus on expanding, not inventing.

If I’ve learned anything from this experience so far, it’s that the biggest problems sometimes have the smallest solutions. A little bit of cooperation in a classroom can drastically reduce violence on the streets. Really.

But it hasn’t all been “fun and games” here (to say the very least). As I mentioned before, living in a homestay is incredibly (and surprisingly) trying. The other night I was sitting in on a lecture at a university in Heredia and didn’t get home till about 9pm … and apparently had my hostess worried sick the whole time. This is problematic on sooooo many levels:No idea I was obligated to tell her where I was …[But rest assured, your “mother” IS always with you wherever you go]…No idea how to find/use/pay for a payphone. No idea how to say “I am going to be late” had I been able to find/use a payphone.The Spanish silent treatment was my punishment … so awkward it had me actually appreciating the solitude of my cockroach-infested pad on the weekend.

And solitude is great – until you can feel every set of eyes on you as you walk down the street alone. In different circumstances, it’d be flattering – but picture bars on every window, dilapidated buildings, barbed-wire fences and glass-littered sidewalks …. and it’s just plain frightening.

And so, big cheers to: generous people from Georgia, 50+ year olds who offer great conversation, sweet coladas on the sandy beach, and a couple of motivational Bob Marley notes.

Never underestimate the infinite importance of those little things …
Keep ‘em coming, and every little ting is gonna be alright.