Meet the Students: Part 1

It’s been awhile since our last update for various reasons. Primarily, we have had a lack of regular Internet access for numerous Colombianesque reasons (you know, wind, rain, sun, power lines held up by branches, or just because).

But here we are, five months in…

We are learning how to teach in Santa Ana, a task in itself. Our classes are improving, one day at a time. We are getting to know our students and their lives’ here on the island. And because they are the reason we are here, we would like to introduce a few of them to you:

 

Oliberta is in 10^th grade at Barbacoas (private) and has a very bright future. She maintains some of the highest grades in her class, she volunteers after school with a local ecological organization and she is currently competing in an English singing competition, with a top prize of a scholarship to the best English language institute in the country. Oliberta lives with her mother, father, 2 sisters and a brother in a 3-bedroom house in Santa Ana. Her mother works at a local tienda and her father works in Cartagena. When she graduates, she would like to become a gospel music singer because she “wants to share her faith through music”. Oliberta is a funny, intelligent, enthusiastic student who has an obvious desire to learn all she can and share that knowledge with others.

Arnold is a classmate of Oliberta and a bit of a class clown. He enjoys making others laugh, even at his own expense. Despite his antics, he is consistently at the top of his class and speaks English well. Arnold lives with his mother, father and 2 brothers. His father is a moto-taxi driver and his mother is “an artisan of necklaces”, likely sold on Playa Blanca. Arnold’s older sister moved to Cartagena a few years ago to pursue a career in hospitality, the same career Arnold is hoping to explore after he graduates. When asked if he enjoys living in Santa Ana, he replied "Mas o menos porque me gusta los deportes que hacen", or "More or less, I like the sports we play". Arnold is a selfless, bright individual who does not take himself too seriously and always finds time to crack a joke between acing tests.

Camilo, 10th grade, is a bit of a trouble maker, though I suspect that it has more to do with him being bored with normal classwork than him being a troubled kid. He is one of the best English speaker in the school and receives very high marks in his other subjects as well. Camilo lives with his grandmother in Santa Ana. He has 3 older brothers that live in Monteria, a 6-hour bus ride South of Cartagena. After school he works on a boat at Playa Blanca, ferrying tourists to and from Cartagena. After graduating from Barbacoas, Camilo hopes to be a professional soccer player.

Maria Angelica, age 7, is a third grader at the public school. She is playful, friendly, always smiling and is at the top of her English class. Her favorite color is yellow, like most of her classmates, and she loves to play muñecas, or dolls. She doesn’t go to the beach much, but loves to go to Cartagena with her parents and little brother. Her mother is an ama de casa, or housewife. Her father works at the large resort on the island, The Decameron.

Maria Angelica & Diana

Diana is 9-years-old and in fourth grade at the public school. She is sweet and very smart and is always eager to help her classmates. Her favorite colors are blue and red and she also loves playing with muñecas. She lives with her mother, who is also an ama de casa, and her little brother.

 

Michel (pronounced Mee-shell) is 12-years-old and is in the same fourth grade class as Diana. She is quiet and keeps to herself but she is excelling in English. Her favorite color is purple and fútbol is her favorite game to play. She lives with her father, who works for a nearby labor company, her mother, her brother and her grandmother, who cooks and sells typical Colombian fried food on the beach.

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Carlos Andres is 13 and is one of the top English students in the public school’s 4^th grade – he even asks for more homework! He wants to be a math teacher when he grows up but right now he loves to play fútbol and his favorite color is blue. Carlos lives with his parents and his 4-year-old brother. His father works at a vegetable finca, or farm, in Santa Ana and his mother works on the beach.