Communication through physical movement

"How we think shows through in how we act.  Attitudes are mirrors of the mind.  They reflect thinking." - David J. Swartz

To live and work in New Hope Village it is essential to have a high level of Spanish.  When I arrived in Guatemala I needed more Spanish training, so I spent my first 15 weeks in Antigua working and studying the language.  I studied and studied and studied more—one-on-one tutoring classes for four to eight hours each day.  After this I felt much more comfortable arriving at New Hope Village, confident that I could now teach effectively in this newfound language.

Typically my days started as all good days, with planning. Then I participated in a variety of activities: in the mornings directing recess and teaching first grade reading groups, and in the afternoons assisting with the after-school program, helping students with homework and reading until we got to the “fun” part, the sports portion of the afternoon.

The children here are active and love to learn and play new sports.  We played many different games and exercises, from yoga to basketball, floor hockey to tag, relays, wrestling, Ultimate Frisbee, American football, and certainly soccer.  As a teacher I really appreciated the great, positive response and attitude the students showed with each new activity.  Being here I realized that, although I came from a different country, with a different background, language and culture, the games united everyone.  This has been the favorite part of my experience here.  When it gets down to it, children everywhere laugh, cooperate, and play in the same language.

Scoti is originally from Minneapolis, MN.  Before arriving at Common Hope, Scoti was the director of the school age child care program at Blessed Trinity Catholic School, as well as the Physical Education teacher, for over seven years.  When he returns to Minneapolis, Scoti plans to teach in Venezuela.

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