The Eagle Eye

Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: News

LHU communication media graduate, Stephanie LaSota is participating in one year of volunteer service as a WorldTeach Volunteer in Costa Rica.
WorldTeach is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that sends volunteer teachers to developing nations.
As a student with a minor in Spanish, LaSota was interested in traveling to Spanish speaking countries; she even completed a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain.
"My motivation to join WorldTeach came from my desire to travel abroad and increase my Spanish fluency. WorldTeach was my chance to live in Costa Rica for an extended period of time," she said.
LaSota found out that she was chosen as a volunteer about one month before leaving for Costa Rica.
She then quit her job as a newspaper reporter at The Republican and Herald in Pottsville, Pa.
After that, she started to raise the $7,000 needed for the trip.
With donations from her family and friends, personal savings and a fundraising dinner, LaSota was able to get the money needed within five weeks.
LaSota arrived in Costa Rica on Jan. 7 and is staying with a host family in Orosi for the first month while attending orientation and training with the other 21 volunteers.
After transitioning to her permanent site placement, LaSota will be moving in with a new host family and parting ways with the other volunteers to teach in separate schools.
"I personally like living with the family and have become very close to them. The best part about living with a family here is that I get a true taste of the local culture, and I get better practice with Spanish. They let me in on local gossip and colloquial expressions that I may not otherwise have learned," she said.
Since previously studying abroad in Spain, LaSota was more familiar than most with experiencing a culture shock upon having arrived to a new country. "There is incredible stress being immersed not only in a different culture, but also in a different language," she said.
"I'm away from everything familiar and no one knows where exactly I came from and what I'm about."
Nonetheless, LaSota feels very fortunate to be in Costa Rica and to be involved in the students' lives, "not to mention my site placement is so gorgeous it makes me want to cry; in a good way."
All the volunteers will be teaching first through sixth grades in rural sections of Costa Rica.
The school year officially starts Feb. 16, so LaSota will be in orientation until then.
So far, LaSota completed one week of practicum, teaching the local students in Orosi.
Many students also signed up for free English classes as well, so she can implement her teacher training while gaining real experience before being relocated.
"I´m hoping this year will help me increase my patience and compassion for other people. I´m hoping I can learn better self discipline, time management and also learn to relax," she said.
LaSota also wanted to share advice for graduating seniors and anyone interested in applying for the WorldTeach program.
"Differentiate yourself from the other applicants out there. Experience speaks for itself, but I believe half the battle is personality and your social skills," she said.
"People want kind, open, team players to work with. But they also want original, internally driven employees. If you can find a way to translate your LHU education into these qualities, you'll probably do well."

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