Small World

Talk about a small world.  I have been emailing back and forth with my cousin.  I told him I was going to Costa Rica and would be on a retirement tour.  He emailed me back and said, "Not George Lundquist?  My wife and I have been thinking about going there and taking his tour."  I was so excited.  The word is every where about George's tour.  Also, as it turns out his brother, my cousin, had gone to Costa Rica and visited with George, but not actually taken the tour.  Maybe there will be a whole colony of us living in Costa Rica!

The Costa Rican Government is very careful to protect it's citizens ability to earn a living.  Anyone can move to Costa Rica, but no one that is not a citizen can work for a company there.  They do not want people moving in and taking jobs away for their citizens.  You can however open your own business.  George opened his retirement tour business there.  For this reason, I am taking the online English teaching course by TESOL Express, so I can tutor to make extra money.  If I can find a need when I get there that matches skills I have I'd love to start a business.  I have owned 2 of my own businesses in my life time, so it would not be something completely new for me. 

Cheers,
Claudia

English Course

I started my English teaching class.  It's wonderful and very different than what I thought it was going to be.  The first section deals with how to work with students that do not speak English, therefore not really understanding much of what you are saying.  So many things I never considered.

The course is teaching such things as hand gestures to signal what you are saying.  Using the board to put examples in pictures of what you are talking about.  Words not to use.   Shorten your sentences using as little words as possible.  Cutting down on your adverbs and adjectives.  It will be very different from teaching children that already speak the language.

I have learned one lesson...do not try to study a lesson and take the test at work.  I failed my first test!  Not a good start, plus I am a personality that hates to make mistakes.  Especially when I consider them stupid mistakes.

This process really is empowering.  We are all going to need or want to stop working one day and be able to enjoy the rest of our lives.  If we do not start planning and working our plan it will never happen.  I have my 2-3 year plan and feel great seeing it already starting.

Cheers,
Claudia

Continuing to Map It

Not so fast....Would you believe after 3 phone calls and 5 different departments my savings account just went on line today!  Something that should have been so simple took two weeks.

I am continuing to move forward.  Today I signed up for a 120 hour course to become certified to teach and tutor English.  This course specializes in teaching non English speaking students.   English is a required course in Costa Rica.  Hopefully when I get there I will be able to find people to tutor.  I'd particularly like to tutor adults who need to become more proficient for their business careers.  The English language and perfect grammar have always been important to me.  Ask my children.  I nearly drove them crazy correcting their speech.  Today they thank me!

My travel agent is still looking for a great deal on flight tickets for Meleese and me.    We are looking so forward to getting to Costa Rica and taking George's retirement tour.

Cheers,
Claudia