Challenges and Future Plans

Beautiful sunset over Quito

In the dead of night, just after 2 am, the loud clanking of my window panes woke me. I began to process a heavy wind, but then realized that my entire bed was also shaking back and forth. In a second, I understood. I sprang up and began to head under my desk, but before I made it there the shaking subsided.

I decided to lay back down in my bed and search for information on my phone. As I felt little vibrational jolts through my body - the aftershocks - I discovered the earthquake warning and newly forming information about it. Once the aftershocks subsided, I fell back asleep. As of this morning, the Columbian Geological Service has determined that it was 3.5 magnitude quake that occurred about 17km northwest of Quito.

Growing up in southwest Ohio, earthquakes are a thing of myths. Never in my life did I expect to actually experience one, even a small one such as the one that occurred last night. Luckily, a few weeks ago, a teacher and I were discussing the frequency and magnitude of quakes in Quito. Otherwise, I may not have recognized what was happening, which could have spooked me. Although the quake was alarming in the moment, I am now deeply fascinated by the experience.

Although nothing can compare to experiencing Mother Nature's power, there have been other experiences that have made me feel a little shocked and fascinated. One major "challenge" associated with my student teaching has been a desire to learn the language. Truly, I wanted to take a Spanish language class the entire time that I have been here. Unfortunately, I am not here long enough to engage with formal instruction. It can be tricky to teach yourself a language. However, I am incredibly grateful for my host family teaching me what they have and being able to learn from speakers around me. A great benefit of this placement is that students and adults seem to be very willing to teach me words and phrases if I ask. In fact, the students really enjoy this.

Another challenge has been feeling confident in myself. When you are immersed in another culture, especially when facing a language barrier, you can feel out-of-place at times. I will say that my host family has helped tremendously with encouraging me. When learning a new language and getting used to a new place, it can make someone feel less-confident at first. Through time, Quito has grown familiar. I am now feeling more confident than I did when I first arrived.

Northern Ohio had a cold and brutal winter this year. Average temperatures in the weeks leading up to this trip were below freezing and sometimes would drop into the single-digits. Now, I am in a place that is also in its "cold season" but the temperatures range from the 50s to sometimes the upper 60s. I find myself feeling hot quite often. This is due to the sharp contrast between Ohio's winter temperature and the mild climate here.

Although I have written about challenges associated with studying abroad, this has been the most amazing experience that I could have hoped for! I think it's important for me to share challenges so that prospect student teachers have an idea of some types of challenges that they may experience.

My future plans for my teaching career are focused heavily around fulfilling my TEACH Grant service. I plan to teach for four years in a public school in the States as a special education teacher. I do not know where that school will be or the age range of students, but the wind always leads me to the most interesting places!