School Days

Greetings from Peru! We finished our first week working at the school and have gotten many of our unresolved questions answered regarding our schedule and life in Peru. 

Our teaching schedule keeps us busy - most of us are teaching three 45-minute classes each day in the primary or secondary school. These schools are called "B Group" for the Berrospid family, who started the school. The primary school has 6 grades and students start grade one when they are 5 years old (similar to our kindergarten). Across the street from the primary school is the secondary school, where students go for 5 years. They start again at 1st grade when they reach the secondary school! For example, if you are in 7th grade in the states, you are in the 2nd grade of the secondary school here in Peru.

A view of the secondary school from the primary school across the street. 

A view of the street that the school is on. The school is the tallest building on the street!

The view of the front desk at the primary school. At the desk are two teachers we work with a lot - Sofia and Janina. The man waving is always at the front door to let people in. I love his friendly personality!

For the most part, I teach in the secondary school, but I have three classes in the primary school as well. The students are very similar to those in the US! It is interesting to enter a classroom for the first time and figure out that particular class' dynamic. Some classes are extremely quiet and shy - not wanting to speak or participate, perhaps because of a fear of being wrong. Others are very rambunctious and are hard to settle down! This is especially true in the primary school.



My first class I taught was a second grade class. I walked in and students immediately began approaching me and giving me hugs, telling me they love me, and asking for my name. It was very endearing - I don't get that in the US with my students! :) However, when I am trying to teach, it is difficult to get all of the students' attention and keep it for the entire 45 minutes. I am learning, though!!

This is the English teacher's work room, located on the third floor of the primary school. We spend our breaks here, chatting with the other English teachers, reading books, and using the Wi-Fi.

A first grade classroom in the primary school. I LOVE the sign on the left "Leer es Poder," which translates to "Reading is Powerful" or something like that... :)

Another classroom in the primary school - this one is a 3rd grade classroom.

The school day is structured very differently! Each class is 45 minutes long, but regardless of if you are in primary or secondary school, you stay in the same classroom all day. The teachers travel between the classes to give their lessons! Each class has about 25 students, and they are separated by ability level, from first grade of primary on! In the secondary, some classes are pre-university, so the students are very studious and hard-working. They LOVE math - in fact I was given a difficult problem to solve when they learned that I was a math teacher in the states! :)


Students arrive around 8:30 AM and leave school at 2:30 PM (depending on the age of the students - the younger ones leave earlier). However, they do not each lunch at the school! There are two 15 minute breaks in the day: one at 10 AM and one at 12 PM. The first break is generally used for snacks and the second for recess/play time.

A picture of the students playing during a break at school. You can see some girls playing jump rope in the back with a curly phone cord! :)

We leave school around 2 to return to Daniel's apartment for lunch. Lunch is the largest meal of the day (I plan to do a whole post about food, so I'll get into this later!) At 4 PM, we return to the school to teach the Language Center classes. There are many different levels of students at the Language Center - anywhere from beginner to advanced! Also, students are a variety of ages, including adults. It is a nice change of pace as the classes are very small and everyone is engaged and wants to learn. These classes are 90 minutes long, so they cover a lot of material in a short period of time. Students are very fast learners and it is very fun to watch their language develop!

Anyways, I need to go as my computer battery is dying. Let me know if you have any questions for me regarding school or anything with Peru! I'll do my best to answer all your questions. :) 

The first few days

It has been a whirlwind the last two days! Not only did I arrive in Peru on Sunday night, but I have also gotten acquianted with my colleagues, started teaching, and been practicing my Spanish skills as often as possible. 

I am really enjoying my time here in Peru. The people are so welcoming and friendly! Daniel, the owner of the school, has taken very good care of us - meaning me, Monique, Erin, and Aimee, the other teachers from the US. For example, for the last few days we have been without warm water in the shower. Last night he called a repairman to come check it out! On Monday, he took us to Miraflores to see some beautiful parks and eat at McDonald's. :) It was the most elegant McDonald's I have ever been to... complete with table service and VERY fancy coffee drinks. His family is so kind. I am looking forward to getting to know them better!

The two schools I teach at are about 5 blocks away from where we are living, with Daniel's apartment that he shares with his family about 1/2 way between each. I love getting to know the people between our home and the school - each day we walk the same route so faces, sights, and smells are becoming familiar. Highlights include the little puppy that occasionally appears at a construction site, the market right by the school, and watching a painter finish painting the name of a business on a building. As silly as it sounds, it comforts me to see the same sights each day and watch people on their daily routines so far away from home!

Anyways, I will expand on my teaching experiences and other fun moments next time! For now, I'll leave you with a little tour of our apartment. The power was off this morning, so I wasn't able to get a picture of the bathroom - but just imagine a small room with a toilet, shower, and sink all in one tiled area. When we shower, EVERYTHING gets wet!

This is a view of the living area. I am at the front door, taking a picture looking toward the back of the apartment. 

This is a room to the left of the front door. We haven't used this area a ton yet. 

As you walk to the back of the apartment, this is the hallway to the two bedrooms and the bathroom. 

The bedrooms are to your left and the bathroom is straight ahead. 

An interesting feature of our apartment! The back hallway is open to the sky!

Monique and my bedroom! This was taken just after I arrived on Sunday. We are a little more organized now. :)  

On my way!

Holy moly! I am on my way to Peru for two months – a trip that I have been looking forward to for almost a year! Not to mention that I have dreamed of this experience, to teach abroad, since my college years. I am so excited but also anxious for what is to come.

I will miss my wonderfully relaxing summer days and time spent with my family and friends during my months off. After working long and stressful days at school, free time is a welcome change! I am not anticipating a lot of free time in Peru – teaching English, exploring the community, and getting to know my students and other teachers are all on my to-do list.

Rather than relishing in my free time, I am hoping that my time abroad will allow me to feel fulfilled in new ways. I look forward expanding my horizons both professionally and personally. I love opportunities that force me to go outside my comfort zone. These experiences make me a more understanding and appreciative person. I am so blessed.