Volunteer Stories | Lisa
Although I only got to spend 2 weeks in Xalapa, Mexico with Travel to Teach, I had an amazing time and felt like I accomplished as much as I could have in such a short time.
My days were jam-packed with teaching English (at two orphanages and one public school), working at a substance abuse prevention center, lesson planning, hanging out with the kids, getting to know my host family and Sue (the other T2T volunteer), and spending lots of time on the camiones (the city buses - it's so easy to get lost!). I really enjoyed my time teaching at the two orphanages in particular. The kids there were very sweet and eager to learn English, a language that certainly opens up job opportunities in the future. They were also just so delighted that someone cared enough to teach them in their home, and they loved to play and teach ME things (like soccer and skateboarding) after the day's lessons were over. After the boys found out that I was a brown belt in karate, they asked for lessons, which I was happy to give. The girls loved doing the Hokey Pokey (great for teaching the concepts of in/out, right/left, and body part vocabulary),and all the children were very patient with my slow Spanish and limited vocabulary.
The most challenging part was teaching to such mixed levels and ages - the children at the orphanages were anywhere from 5 years old to 17 years old, and they were at very different levels of English. I had to spontaneously adjust many of the lesson plans, but it usually worked out in the end.
To describe the city a bit - it's large, with a small town feel because the streets are small, windy, and sometimes cobblestone. People are generally very friendly, welcoming, and outgoing. I never felt unsafe. (But if you're a blond female, be prepared for lots of whistles and stares. I'm Mexican-American so I didn't really look foreign, but the other teacher was blond and got a bit annoyed after a while...however, it's completely harmless). Just outside the city, the natural beauty is incredible. There are mountains, valleys, fields, and gorgeous waterfalls. It's a great place, to say the least. And it's very inexpensive, too - a major bonus. (A 15-minute cab ride cost about US$2.50, a bus ticket to anywhere in the city is 50 cents, and dining out always cost under US$10).
T2T offers a homestay option, which I did and highly recommend, as well. The homestay includes all meals (including a bagged lunch if you need it), and is a great way to learn about the culture and improve your Spanish.
Finally, my last site placement was at CIJ, a drug addiction prevention center (kind of like the D.A.R.E. program in the States). I worked with a social worker and several psychology/sociology students from the University of Veracuz to help plan a series of workshops about self-esteem, self-respect and drugs. I helped teach the first workshop in a small school with few resources located on the outskirts of the city.
Overall, it was an excellent experience. I was able to have a positive impact on the children while strengthening my teaching skills and improving my Spanish, which are both quite useful for the future. In addition, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into a foreign culture and meeting some absolutely wonderful people. The program coordinators were great and helpful, my host mother was incredibly sweet and generous, and the students were very energetic and affectionate. I hope to be able to return to Xalapa soon!