Hello Everyone,

I am very excited to be starting this phase of the Mano a Mano program and to start exchanging ideas with all of you.

My name is Jessica Pineda and I currently live in on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. I was born in Hartford Connecticut to a Colombian father and a Puerto Rican mother ( who is also a teacher). When I was 15 years old my dad moved us to Colombia where I finally learned how to speak Spanish and dance salsa (love it!!!). I also finished high school and went on to university where I studied Architectural design. I worked on getting my degree for four years when I finally realized that I wasn't meant to be an architect. I loved the idea of being one, but I wasn't one. It just wasn't in me. So, how, you may ask, did I become a teacher? All through university I tutored and taught English classes for extra money and realized I was good at it because it came naturally to me. My first teaching job was as an assistant at a bilingual school in Periera Colombia. I later went on to teach first and second grade for the next five years. It was there where I met my husband, who was an overseas teacher from Canada at the time. He is now an administrator and my boss. He happens to be the director of the school where we work. It makes for an interesting relationship to say the least.

After we married, we went on to live and teach in Santa Cruz Bolivia for two years and now we are here in the D.R. We have been here for two and a half years. We have two gorgeous children ( Nate's three and a half and Emily is nine months). We are unequivocally happy.

There are many things I enjoy doing in my free time. Unfortunately, I don't really have much free time at all. However, when I do happen to come accross two or three minutes of nothing, I listen to music, dance, sing, and read. I love reading. I devour books and then become obsessed with the subject matter. I usually end up researching the topic and reading more about whatever the book was about.

When I day dream, I do so about things I fantasize about and not necessarily things that I plan or set as goals for my future. To be completely honest, I do not fantasize about completing my masters or improving my teaching. I understand that these are things I absolutely must achieve in order to improve myself as a professional. These are things I cannot compromise. Neither do I day dream about my children because they have already made my dreams come true. Therefore, when I day dream, I do so about extravegancies such as getting up on a stage and singing my heart out. I day dream about having the courage to sing in front of hundreds of people, because I know that it would terrify me. And before I die, I will do this even if it kills me.

Jessica Pineda