LiVinG ThE DrEaM

MeMoRiEs

June 4, 2008

I’ve had many memories with all types of people. Most have been my friends, which I absoulutely love! What I really wanted to think back on, were my Middle School memories. There’s so much things and so much fun, that I’m trying to bring it all together in a post. It all started when we moved to Middle School in 5^th grade. It was the first time that CDS had moved 5^th grade to the Middle School, so it was all a new concept. We were very lucky because, common, being in Middle School is way better than being in Elementary. Also, we got new 5^th grade classes, in the new building. It was a hard transition because we were used to being in one class all day and having all the subjects taught by the same teacher. It was different in Middle School. We had a schedule, and we needed to move from class to class when we heard the bell. Fortunately, we had our teachers Ms. Saucy, Ms. Rumford, Mr. P., Ms. Porter, and Ms. Montero to help us. These teachers were great and they taught us well enough to be able to survive Middle School. We were really lucky to have Ms. Rumford again this year teaching us Lit. and English! But 5^th grade was not all about schedules and classes; we also had other fun things like field trips. Our big field trip that year was to Tirimbina. This trip didn’t consist of all the 5^th grade, we only went by Advisories. Since my advisory with Ms. Montero was very small, it was split and I got to go with Mr. P’s. We were really nervous because it was the first Field Trip were we would be spending the night. After the bus ride, we crossed a hanging bridge suspended over a river and got to the other side which was a tropical rainforest. We spend most of the day hiking, and then had some free time. I remember the fun we had gathering in someone’s room playing cards. Then, at night we saw bats. Not just flying around, but we actually got to touch them and feed them. It was great! Then the next day we went to a small creek to get insects but it ended up being a water fight. It was very fun because we used our rubber boots to fill with water and splash the others. That was a very fun trip. At the end of the year, we had a trip to Parque de Diversiones and a water fight, like it has been a tradition here in Middle School.

            After that adventurous year of experiencing new Middle School things, came 6^th grade. This year, we had the MEP exams, and we had to take classes every day after school with a tutor so that we could pass them. These exams were to let you study here in Costa Rica. Not everyone took them, but most did. We had a great year with all our classes including Ms. Wilson’s science class and Mr. Strance’s math and social studies classes. Unfortunately, these two wonderful teachers left the Middle School community. We also had a trip this year, and we went to Hacienda Chapernal in Guanacaste. The good thing about this trip was that the entire 6^th grade went, and this was something new to us. It was a long bus ride, and when we were about to reach the place, the bus got stuck. We all had to get off the bus, and wait. Some helped push the bus, and other just walked around the place. It turned out that what stopped the bus was an old armadillo shell, and Ms. Wilson saved it. She later gave it to Mr. Wilson the science teacher, and it’s still in the science class cabinet! Then, we got to the place and settled in our rooms. These weren’t very, fancy let’s say. They were little houses spread across a big piece of land. On that trip, we horse back rode, went to the beach, walked around the Hacienda at night hearing legends, and even had a dance party! On the last night, we played some music and danced all night long. Even the teachers danced. I clearly remember Dr. Nolan and Mr. Strance stealing the dance floor! It was very fun. 6^th grade was a year that made friendships stronger and taught new things. At the end of the year we also had the Parque de Diversiones trip. This annual trip was always so fun! Just running around with friends under the summer sun, getting into the wildest rides. The best ones were always the water rides, because everyone would end up soaking wet. Talking about soaking wet, we also had the water fight, which will indeed leave you soaking wet!

            Then we had 7^th grade, also known as Geography Fair year. That was something we did all year, and it took all our efforts. This was with the help of Mrs. Porter, our wonderful social studies teacher. The social studies class, or Eastern Hemisphere was extremely fun! We would take notes and learn, but at the same time had time to socialize and talk with our friends. We would tell jokes, and even bug a Korean student telling him he was Mexican. I don’t know how this joke started, but it was very funny, even for him. For the Geo. Fair we spent from writing reports, to making posters and looking for things to put on our country booths. We also met a new teacher to the Middle School community, Mr. Jobe, who taught us everything he knew. He was a wonderful science and math teacher. We also had another great teacher, Mrs. Barquero. Who with all her teaching experience taught us and gave us a great year. We had a field trip to Arenal. We got great views of the Arenal volcano, hiked, and spent some relaxing time at the fantastic hotel. There was also a race between Mr. Jobe and one of the eighth grade students Brandon Fargo. Mr. Jobe was beaten just by a matter of seconds! he best part of the trip was when we went into the caves. A tour took us inside these age old magnificent caves, and we even got to swim inside them! Everything was great that year, except that about 15 students left. We had never had that big of a number leave! But, they will always remain on our hearts. We also had a Parque de Diversiones field trip, and a water fight.

            Finally, 8^th grade. In my opinion, this was the best year. We were the Middle School leaders, and it felt great. We got special 8^th grade shirts with our names printed on them and got to wear them Wednesdays and Fridays. We also had a great year learning. New teachers came like Mr. Domont and Ms. O’Bannon. We also got to know Mr. Katz, with his funny and outgoing personality. Some of those teachers had been out teachers before, like Ms. Rumford and Ms. Barquero. We were very happy to have them again! And the best part, the 8^th grade field trip to Manuel Antonio. This was a rewards trip, so we didn’t need to do any work for the trips, like in the past years. We did canopy at Turubari Park, rafting at Rio Savegre, and went to the beautiful beach. The bad thing was we spend a long time in the bus. But, fortunately, we brought music with us and partied in the bus. We put techno in the loudspeakers and everyone, including Mr. Jobe and Mr. Katz, danced. That was a fun bus ride! We also had a fashion show, modeling our shirts we made from the novel we were reading. We spent time at the pool and at the beach, and had a wonderful time. I will never forget this trip, or any of the others. And we finally have our 8^th grade graduation, something we’ve been looking up to all year. Now that I’m here, I can’t believe four years just passed ahead of us. These years were full of fun and surprises, and full of wonderful friends I will never forget. I want to thank everyone who helped me succeed in my Middle School years. Including teachers, parents, friends, and everyone else who helped me. Thank you all.

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