New faces at BIS: Ms. Maria

“So, how did you get here?” This is a very common question when I meet people here in BIS. There are not many (if any) Panamanians in Bishkek or in Kyrgyzstan, so the question does not surprise me. I was welcomed into this heartwarming learning community six weeks ago, making me feel at home. 

It is interesting to see how our international school communities are similar in many ways around the world. We can always find a little bit of “home” in the smiles and caring gestures of the wonderful people around us. The values of global citizenship of our BIS community are perceived from the moment you enter the gates. This is one big reason why I am here. I have worked in international schools with IB Curriculum for the past 7 years in my home country, Panama. I have been a teacher for the last 15 years. I realized how much I love teaching when I was a Psychology student, having a job in a school as a single subject teacher back in 2007. I changed my career path to Primary Education, fascinated with how learning works in the brain, the support I could give children while being their teacher, and the impact teachers had on students’ lives. Like many of us in this profession, I am an idealist that thinks that teachers can make the world a better place. If you ask me, there’s nothing I’d rather do than be in a classroom. This is my first time working abroad, after welcoming so many colleagues and families into my country as a local teacher. I always wondered how it felt to be on the other side, so I was a risk-taker and decided to try it myself. 

Coming from a country with lavish tropical rainforests, one of the reasons why Kyrgyzstan seemed perfect for my family was its beautiful mountains and nature. My husband, Luis, and my two sons, Massimo and Matteo, love the outdoors. My husband is from Uruguay, where cooking outdoors is a tradition. We enjoy camping and “asados” or South American grill. We cannot wait to try the traditional cooking techniques of the Kyrgyz people and learn more about this wonderful country. 

Ms Maria, Grade 1Y Homeroom Teacher