Connections and Dopamine

Today was the biggest dopamine rush I have had yet in Peru and it had so much to do with one thing….STUDENTS! We attended a Catholic private school in Lima and were immediately greeted with warm welcomes and joy. With the layout of the school, it immediately reminded me of the international school I worked at in Taiwan. Both schools had an outdoor classroom layout. There was one open space in the courtyard that served for gym class and recess, many levels and stairs between grades, there was a five minute break between classes that becomes a free for all as everyone socializes in and around the courtyard, and of course the immediate joy I receive working with students learning English. ❤ My oh my, did I miss this kind of energy. However, what I must admit is something that I do NOT miss the over 35 student classrooms that these private schools demand. No, thank you! Ha!

As we got off the bus, we were waiting for our placement classrooms and I started to wander over to the gym class of 9 year olds that were waving at us and jumping up and down with excitement. I just wanna be where the kiddos are! So of course, I immediately started talking with the kids and my ear-to-ear smile didn’t leave my face once.

We started playing “Do you like __?” and the kids had a blast. Do you like ice cream? YES!! (they all jumped and screamed) Do you like BlackPink? YES!!! Do you like dogs? YES!!! Do you like school? Uhhhh (they got quiet haha!) After jumping for joy and connecting with the sweetest little cherubs on this planet, I made my way to the upper grades where I came to a classroom of 15 year olds. I connected with students in the class sharing about America and listening to their lives. They were so enthusiastic and SO amazing! The students wanted to know about life in New Jersey and New York. In that class, there was a student named Kamila who after I left sprinted around the courtyard during a break and asking my friend Kelly, “Can you PLEASE get this to Miss Sarah?!”. I received a beautiful handmade drawing of myself with the words I wish that you will be happy here on Peru. I’m not crying YOU ARE!!!! I found her as soon as I could and gave her a giant hug and we got a picture…..kids are simply the best.

After that, I talked to Mary a Peruvian English teacher at the school who had taught for 37 years and didn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. A remarkable woman. She said “This is just what I am meant to do”. I get that Mary…I truly do.

Following that, I came into her class of 17 year olds and showed them a video clip my students in Cape May made of our school. The kids asked good questions and were surprised by our cafeteria/gym set up, the pool, and how our school was enclosed. I was really happy my students got to share a bit of our school and they were so impressed with all of their English. It was a blast!

After that, we talked in community and it was a treasure to connect with the many amazing Peruvian educators and hear about their lives/trajectories. Teachers are truly amazing. Oh, and I had a girl come up to me and say “Miss you are sexy”. I am going to think that one was an English mistranslation…lol!

My heart was so saddened when it was time to go and a deep part of me wished we were staying at that school for longer because the kids were truly so great. But, after many years of many classrooms if anything education has taught me the kids are amazing no matter where you go.

The next day, due to protests against transportation, the schools had an online session. Therefore, we got a day to explore and enjoy. Another dopamine level immediately hit when Kelly, Disha, and I wandered to the Inka market in Lima. There I found a new Baby Alpaca sweater and met a new friend!

I was walking through one of the stalls when a woman named Beky complimented my shirt. We started talking and all seemed normal until next thing I know we are taking a shot. One, two, and three different flavored shots later…Beky was my new best friend. Ha! Her son Sebastian was there, he was about 7 years old and he was practicing his English. However, his attention kept getting pulled to his Elsa and Anna laptop and the game that resembled Fortnite on it…kids are the same everywhere. After saying my goodbyes and following each other on IG, I found my other friends buying watercolor paintings from a remarkable artist named Rafael.

When I found Kelly and Disha I told them what happened and Disha laughed and said “Sarah you really are a connector. You connect to people no matter where you go.” And that was probably the coolest thing anyone’s every told me, because from a young age that has always been my life’s mission. To connect with as many people as I possibly can. Looks like I am maybe at a good start.

After that me and the fam, headed towards Barranco. As we were walking we stopped to get a snack at a good churro place called Manolo, when we were stopped by people outside of the pharmacy next door. A man asked me to buy baby formula for his baby. The heartstrings got pulled and I said yes and went to the counter with him. He asked the man at the counter for formula and he said it would be 1220 soles or 340 USD. The look on my face must have been complete and utter shock and I quickly said “No” and also a quiet voice in my head yelled, “Oh fungus….this is a set up”. Then he said okay only four formula. Again going to be around 100 USD. So I said absolutely not and told him I would get him only one…about 30 USD. Based on the interactions, the sign that he had ready in his pocket, how the person at the counter wrote the money information on a slip of paper for me like he had done it many times, the fact that he tried to give me a hug and I had a feeling he was looking for a loose pocket on my bookbag, and most importantly because of the fact that there were 3 other people asking for the same things…I think….definitely a scam. When I got home, I researched it and confirmed it to be true. That often the people resell the formula for themselves to make a quick buck. Alas, the hopeful and good Samaritan in my soul hopes it went to a baby in need. Ah well.

After that quick little detour, we got to Barranco and it was probably my favorite section in Lima. Filled with lots of beautiful art, vibrant colors, trendy coffee shops, beautiful overlooks of the sea, and great community members. I tried my first ceviche (well worth the hype…SO GOOD!) and had my first Pilsner Callao, very refreshing. The dopamine levels are at an all time high and I am not even at my permanent school or community yet. Let’s keep the good vibes going!