2010 Peru Adventures: I'm going to Peru!

"Who are you?"

Fourteen years ago, Rialto Unified School District took a chance and hired me as a Special Education Teacher. Why do I say took a chance? I had no classroom teaching experience, knew nothing about Special Education .... and yet the District hired me. For six action packed years, I taught 9 - 12th grade SDC social studies at Rialto High School, before moving to the district office for 8 years as a mentor teacher.

My signature leather hat ..... students thought I was a cowboy ..... everyone else just thought I was "special!"

I am extremely grateful to Rialto School District for all the great experiences .... my sincere thanks go out to all the students, parents, secretaries, teachers, and administrators who made my journey so remarkable, as well as enjoyable!

May 14th, 2010 was my last day with Rialto Unified School District. I'm retired, and I now have more time to travel internationally to volunteer and teach English in schools in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Life is interesting ...... In 1970 when I applied to Peace Corps, I wanted to go to Peru. When a volunteer assignment was not available in Peru, I accepted one in Mali, West Africa. I spent the next 18 years in Africa, with a variety of not-for-profit organizations, facilitating village level self-help development projects in Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ghana, Togo and Mali. Peru disappeared into the recesses of my mind....

Now 40 years later ..... I'm going to Peru! In Cuzco, Peru .... the ancient Inca capital, I'll be a volunteer teaching English at a school with about 1500 students K-12. What grade level will I be teaching? I'm not sure! Where will I be living? Other than staying with a Peruvian family.... that too is a little up in the air. For me, the above questions are part of the fascination, challenge and the fun of international volunteering. I'll find out more .... when I arrive in Cuzco on June 7th!