Entry 1: Maslow and Me
I don't cry often but when I do, the tears are usually associated with extreme frustration. The frustration builds overtime reaching an emotion best described as pissed off. Multiple events must happen simultaneously and at a rate, I have a little to no control over in order to get me too pissed off mode. If the past six days had occurred in a city where I knew what was going on, I wouldn't be talking so intimately about Maslow.
As expected, today's team-teaching for a children's intermediate English language class was flooded by bad decisions. While the lesson plans were formed by each of us, our presentation of them were washed away by our lack of teamwork. During our debriefing with our observers, Scott and Kristin, I had little to say. During the debrief, mine rapidly reviewed the previous five days, with significant stops at last night with no Internet and this morning with no access to the school. Those a few minutes were all it took to realize I'd spend 80% of my week with Maslow.
Entry 2: Hold On...
Someone's knocking at my door. I'm confused because I have no friends here but will answer because, I hear Anibal's voice.
Someone's knocking at my door. I'm confused because I have no friends here but will answer because, I hear Anibal's voice.
Entry 3: Awkward
That was Scott and his wife. Scott teaches the pedagogy section of the TEFL course. He was also my observer today during my horrible student teaching. Scott had the opportunity to see and hear what too much time at the lower end of Maslow's does to me. They have invited me to dinner tonight at 7 PM. So do I continue this journal entry or do I stop? If you keep reading, you will figure it out.
That was Scott and his wife. Scott teaches the pedagogy section of the TEFL course. He was also my observer today during my horrible student teaching. Scott had the opportunity to see and hear what too much time at the lower end of Maslow's does to me. They have invited me to dinner tonight at 7 PM. So do I continue this journal entry or do I stop? If you keep reading, you will figure it out.
Entry 1 continued: Maslow Time is Cool If...
Spending time with Maslow is cool if it's at the upper end of his needs of hierarchy. However, Maslow and had me stuck in the ghetto struggling to find physiological and safety needs...
Spending time with Maslow is cool if it's at the upper end of his needs of hierarchy. However, Maslow and had me stuck in the ghetto struggling to find physiological and safety needs...
100% Basic Level Maslow
Monday and Tuesday we spent 100% of our time in the ghetto. Tuesday, our time there was insignificantly reduced to about 96% because I did have a cold meal of beans and rice, which I'd packed in my suitcase.
Monday and Tuesday we spent 100% of our time in the ghetto. Tuesday, our time there was insignificantly reduced to about 96% because I did have a cold meal of beans and rice, which I'd packed in my suitcase.
Maslow @ 80%...
Wednesday and Thursday, we were there ghetto-bound about 80% of the time. I found the super market on Wednesday, and met on Thursday, meet Pedro, the school's administrator, managed to cook a meal, and completed some TEFL assignments.
Wednesday and Thursday, we were there ghetto-bound about 80% of the time. I found the super market on Wednesday, and met on Thursday, meet Pedro, the school's administrator, managed to cook a meal, and completed some TEFL assignments.
Maslow @ 65%...
Friday, we were there were about 65% of the time and saw flicker of self-actualization's neighborhood. I had a successful mini-lesson and found another shopping plaza. The most significant event was making a friend, which boosted me out of the ghetto and on to the outskirts of belonging. Ximena is a classmate and lives here. She'd been telling me about house shopping all week and today said she found a house and they'd be moving on closer to the school on Sunday. She walked with me part of the way to the new plaza I was discovering, and I offered to help them move on Sunday. However, by the time I got back to my room at about 7 PM, I was back in the ghetto with no Internet service to use for preparing for class, no hot water, and no heat.
Friday, we were there were about 65% of the time and saw flicker of self-actualization's neighborhood. I had a successful mini-lesson and found another shopping plaza. The most significant event was making a friend, which boosted me out of the ghetto and on to the outskirts of belonging. Ximena is a classmate and lives here. She'd been telling me about house shopping all week and today said she found a house and they'd be moving on closer to the school on Sunday. She walked with me part of the way to the new plaza I was discovering, and I offered to help them move on Sunday. However, by the time I got back to my room at about 7 PM, I was back in the ghetto with no Internet service to use for preparing for class, no hot water, and no heat.
Maslow Holding Steady...
Saturday was shaping up to be a 65% or more ghetto day with Maslow: no access to the internet or school, team teaching with Juan was not pretty, and when I got back to my room, noticed that I'm missing the grocery bag with my Nutella and other items not nearly as important as Nutella.
However, now it's been a few hours since I realized I've been living at Maslow basic needs levels: physiological (warmth, water, food), safety, belonging instead of course content preparation - AKA the ghetto. My reaction to this realization may not be like others because mine was pissed off. How frustrating is it when you are reaching for self-actualization while you're trapped at basic needs.
I decided to deal with the day 6 in Arequipa, Peru by coming to my room, writing this entry, and sleeping until it's time to break my fast. When Scott and his wife showed up to invite me out to dinner, I was happily surprised. I'm predicating dinner will give me material in need to chill with Maslow in the neighborhoods I'm more familiar with - belonging, esteem, and self-actualization!
Saturday was shaping up to be a 65% or more ghetto day with Maslow: no access to the internet or school, team teaching with Juan was not pretty, and when I got back to my room, noticed that I'm missing the grocery bag with my Nutella and other items not nearly as important as Nutella.
However, now it's been a few hours since I realized I've been living at Maslow basic needs levels: physiological (warmth, water, food), safety, belonging instead of course content preparation - AKA the ghetto. My reaction to this realization may not be like others because mine was pissed off. How frustrating is it when you are reaching for self-actualization while you're trapped at basic needs.
I decided to deal with the day 6 in Arequipa, Peru by coming to my room, writing this entry, and sleeping until it's time to break my fast. When Scott and his wife showed up to invite me out to dinner, I was happily surprised. I'm predicating dinner will give me material in need to chill with Maslow in the neighborhoods I'm more familiar with - belonging, esteem, and self-actualization!
It's Nap Time...
Sleep is the best I can offer my esteem needs.
Sleep is the best I can offer my esteem needs.