Keeping Sane During COVID

For more than two years, I’ve stayed close to my home, in Washington, DC. In fact like many, you might say I'm cocooning. 

No impromptu visits with friends. No dinner parties. No crowded restaurants. No human contact except from behind a mask while peering into eyes of others at the supermarket. You never know where COVID might be lurking.  I'm trying to live a sanitized and vaccinated life.

I think going digital is keeping me sane. 

My passion for teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) has beamed me into a new online world. 

I've become digital with Zoom.

Of course there is a learning curve. I had never used Zoom and now I’m about to use it for teaching.

First I had to teach myself so I went to “Google University.” That’s my name for the plethora of information delivered via text and videos online. Since I’m mostly a self taught ESL teacher, I’m accustomed to learning new skills on line. 

Before too long I’m creating break-out rooms, projecting videos, using online games, sharing my whiteboard and testing students via a chat box. That’s kind of good for an older guy like me if I do say so myself.

Oh sure, I make plenty of mistakes getting lost on the various levels of the software. Several times, I click on the wrong icon and end a Zoom meeting abruptly. Fortunately, my students know enough to rejoin.

I try to celebrate mistakes in class. I tell my students, mistakes are the doorway to more learning. 

My first group of Zoom students motivate me. Thank you Dzung, Ahn, Fang, Mahmoud, Jehan, Abid, Quinquin, for your patience and encouragement. We discovered that Zoom English and friendship can connect us beyond national boundaries. It’s a wonderful blessing during this age of COVID.

Sunset on Lake Chapala, Mexico

Since October I have been teaching ESL in Mexico. This time it’s in person! One of my classes has 8 students from the local Technical School (like a community college). In order to graduate, they need to pass an intermediate level test and give a speech in English.

I’ve been promoting the idea of becoming Self Guided Learners. Instead of a teacher, I introduce myself as a Coach. I explain, “Just like a coach, I can help you learn to play the game. And our game is English.” I supply curated links on the Internet and show them how to maximize practice time.

I found a great video that set in motion a lot of quality practice. It’s called JAM or “Just A Minute.” Students select a random topic – travel, friendships, favorite foods or whatever. If they get stuck for a new topic, they ask Google to produce “topics for conversations.” After all, they are becoming Self Directed Learners.

Then with no preparation, they set a timer for 60 seconds and start talking without pausing. The genius of this activity is that it forces a learner to stop mentally translating and start using English to think. Sure it’s hard to stretch the mind in this way, but thinking in English is an important step towards fluency.

Recently, I started a new project. It emerged during a Zoom conference about refugees with Unitarian Church leaders.

Many Afghan refugees are coming into the Washington, DC area. Typically, the men know some English since they worked with Americans in Afghanistan. 

But the woman do not. They stayed at home and now are in a strange land with an even stranger language.

Of course when they heard of my ESL experience, they wanted to set up tutoring sessions. I soon realized that one on one tutoring or even a class was not a sustainable solution given the numbers. 

 I got to thinking how do people learn a new language?

Often they hope for magic. If only we have a class or a tutor….they say to themselves...we’ll understand. But in reality, there is no magic, rather it’s a slow steady process that relies more on their own practice, patience and perseverance.

That’s when I decided to produce a guide. It’s entitled Yes, You Can Learn English. I began sharing it with churches and agencies. My hope is that refugees and new immigrants will be empowered to become Self Guided Learners. 

If you would like a copy to share with others, email me and request “Yes, You Can Learn English.” My only request is that you share it freely.

During these COVID years, I’ve learned that we can in fact turn lemons into lemonade. We pause and assess the situation. We see where there are still needs and discover ways to help. We risk making mistakes and learn a few new skills. Along the way we find unexpected friendships. 

 I think we’re not only keeping sane, but we’re finding ways to thrive.

Ajijic, Mexico Adventure Begins

I’m here at the Guadalajara airport. A plane full of people and I await the portable steps to disembark. It won’t be long. I see several workers bringing the stairway across the tarmac.

Destination: Ajijic on Lake Chapala

Now unexpectedly my first adventure begins.

I gaze down the steep and rickety stairs. “Oh well, one foot at a time,” I say to myself. It’s going to be slow, but that’s the way it’s gotten to be these days. 

The people behind me will have to be patient – not that anyone is complaining. I’m grateful.

And then surprise.

Out of nowhere, an attendant motions me towards a wheelchair. I demur thinking not me. Am I really looking that old? But with gestures, the man insists. “Senor, por favor.”

I take a seat. Quickly, we make it towards Customs. He ushers me from counter to counter. When you’re in a wheel chair, there’s no zig-zagging in lines. 

 A wheelchair person goes to the head of the line. What can be an arduous process is complete in record time.  Senior privilege. 

I get up to thank the attendant and be on my way, but he jesters - No No, Senor.  I’m captive to his hospitality. It’s onward to baggage claim and then towards a taxi...right to the curb.

Overlooking the Plaza in the center of Ajijic

Of course, there are friendly and caring people everywhere, but I’m especially thankful for this hospitality tonight. 

 I can’t help but wonder if his kindness might be an omen of good things to come.

The next morning I’m eager to re-acquaint myself with Ajijic.

I was here last year for 3 months teaching Adult ESL English and now I’m back for 6 more months. 

I love teaching and feel like I’m able to give back a little especially with all the rancor Mexican people have endured from our American politicians.

My Ajijic home is a two room apartment. It’s like Peace Corps living all over again. It’s a family run hotel about two block away from the main Plaza. It’s called Hotel Italo. 

Some would say it’s rustic and it does show vintage age, but my two rooms are spacious and have everything I’ll need. There’s even a wall of windows flooding my space with light...wonderful.

Outside is a patio. It’s like an extra room. Butterflies and humming birds skip from flower to flower sipping nectar. 

I’m delighted. 

 A row of pigeons stand guard on the walls of the neighboring church.

Look closely on the left ,
behind the turret is the hotel where I live

San Andres Church is rooted in the Spanish conquest of indigenous people around 1530.  Soon afterwards, the Catholic missionaries followed and began converting.    

Because Ajijic was a fishing village, they named the new  Church after Andrew, one of the disciples who Jesus called fisher of men. 

Hotel Italo was squeezed in a plot of land next to the Church around 1975.  

I have a charming view of the bell tower about 50 feet away from my patio. 

Imagine the surprise that awaits me each morning as bells announce early mass and the start of the day.

DONG! DONG! DONG! Dingaling dingaling dingaling! 

So since it’s easy to get up early in Ajijic (Does anyone have a choice?), let’s get ready and greet our day. 

 

Typical street scene

Walk down the cobble stone streets with me. 

Happy colors every where

Notice the small homes painted in ever so bright colors. 

Taking up a 4x8 foot wall space,
this Lizard looks friendly

Street art is carefully painted onto empty wall spaces. What do you think of this colorful lizard?

Often metal gates, like large garage doors, hide beautiful garden spaces punctuated with quaint casitas inside. Mexican people love their gardens.

Lush gardens

People say that the weather here is nearly perfect. 

Looking across Lake Chapala

Average day time temperature ranges from mid 70s to mid 80s year round.  Rarely does it get into the 90s or fall below 70. And when it rains, it’s most often at night. 

At 5,000 feet surrounded by mountains and nestled in a valley with a 14 mile long Lake Chapala, it seems nearly perfect. 

Locals make a joke asking "so where's that perfect place?"  

I like taking long walks and have a goal of strolling all the streets of Ajijic during my sojourn here. I’m, doing about 3 miles a day – not bad for an older guy!

While wandering to the end of the road,
I discovered this sight

Along the way, I take picture and imagine how I might turn the images into watercolors.

As I pass people, I'm greeted with an “Hola or Buenas Dias.”  People are genuinely friendly.

I meet these women - sisters and mother, I believe. 
Weeks later I meet the older woman again.
She insists on a lengthy conversation holding my hand the entire time.
I don't understand the Spanish but I do feel the human warmth. 
She will be 100 years in January.

Often, people pause and say, “Como esta?” asking, “How are you?” It’s like a mini- conversation making strangers feel connected and welcomed.  

I love it.

It reminds me of Satchmo Arstrong’s beloved song, What a Wonderful World. 

Take a listen to this version sung by young and old from around the world.  

Bookmark it for restoring hope and goodwill whenever you feel the need.   

It's great to be here.  My life in Ajijic is beginning again.