It is now Wednesday night and I am well into my week training the new chaperones.
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Right now we are in Monteverde, after receiving them Monday night at SJO and staying in a local hostel. We spent all day Tuesday going up and down in Heredia, having the newbies get reacquainted with San Joaquin and walking around downtown Heredia for the first time. We visited various restaurants, hotels and were welcomed by the CPI staff. Three of the four new chaps I am with were students like me, so they have had a Costa Rica experience and know a little bit about what to expect in the job. One of them was a student of mine last year...! And I am so glad she will be part of the team this season.
I keep trying to remember everything I had questions about, everything I was uncertain of when I first started in this position. My first training comes to mind, all those years ago, with Jessica and Maria in the van and Gerry explaining to us about Costa Rica and CPI. What fun memories! It makes me feel nostalgic.
Tomorrow we have a tour in the morning and then in the afternoon we go to CPI Flamingo, which will be a first for all of them, as the former students never studied at CPI Flamingo and the other does not know Costa Rica.
I only hope that after this training they feel prepared, as they are my pupils this week and if they have any failings it will fall on my shoulders as my fault. I want them to be as prepared and as confident as they can be before they get their first group.
All of these chaperones will do well, I think. They all have a positive attitude, speak good Spanish (and a few I anticipate will improve during the season), and have the leadership skills and confidence that will earn them respect and admiration from their students as well as school staff.
But this week, as they learn what it is like from the logistical side with more responsibility, they are my pupils...
my pollitos (little chicks), following in my footsteps. Trying to cut a clear path!
Pura Vida
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