So, just finished my first week of teaching college English. A very interesting experience to say the least. I'm absolutely loving it! They really scared us before hand about how bad the students were and how disrespectful and how they're never on time and bla bla bla.....the 'on time' thing, barely an issue (I made a rule that they're absent if they're more than 10 minutes late, and they all showed up on time); respect wise - they talk a lot, but they're sweet and funny and interested and I have no problems getting them to listen.
I am loving it! I never thought I would like teaching older students, but just goes to show you, I really have no idea what I'm talking about.
I have a kind of tough schedule: I'm teaching Monday through Saturday, from 1 1/2 a day to 5 hours a day. The worst is more the metro and bus trip there: it takes about an hour and a half to get there. So a lot of my day is spent just in travel. Kind of stinks, but...it's a great location, up in the mountains, and the air is cleaner and it's a beautiful campus.
This first week, as expected, was nuts nuts nuts. Tons of planning and craziness. Haven't really had a moment to myself. In addition to normal first week of class craziness, I was finalizing everything with my apartment. I'm really sad to be leaving the group; we've become so close, but I think we're all really looking forward to not living out of suitcases and nesting a bit.
Otherwise, it's fantastic down here. Tomorrow I'm heading out to Vina del Mar, on the coast, with Connie and then next week, for Easter, I think we're all heading to Mendoza, Argentina. I'm excited about both and definitely hoping I get that first paycheck before I head out....otherwise, trip #2 may not be happening.
Okay, wanted that to be short. Whoops. Love you all, sis
sábado, 27 de marzo de 2010
jueves, 18 de marzo de 2010
santiago, week 3
Hello all,
So it's been an exciting first few weeks in Chile. Our flexibility has certainly been tested as we get revised schedules on a daily basis and often don't know our schedules until the day before or day of.
The most exciting, and sad, news of course, is that we had the 6th biggest earthquake in history about a week after arriving here. Luckily, I don't remember it. We went out that night, got home (to the hostel) about 20 minutes before the earthquake, and I proceded to fall directly asleep. Apparently I was awake and lucid enough to follow directions to get out of our room (away from the bunkbeds), and to bring my pillow, cell phone, and stuffed animal. Woke up the next morning in the next room, with my friend Connie next to me.
We haven't suffered much damage in Santiago itself, especially not near where we're staying but the towns in the south have really been destroyed. Everyone here is trying to help but we're not able to at the moment for a multitude of reasons, primarily that transportation there is difficult.
As there has been some damage to all of the DUOC universities, our start dates for classes were pushed back 2 weeks, so we will be starting classes this Monday. I have classes Monday through Saturday and am teaching Basic and Intermediate English and an English in Tourism class (and since I'm so versed in tourism lingo, I'm sure I'll be great...or......not). Again because of the earthquake, we only received these schedules and our syllabi about 2 days ago. Supposed to be lesson planning right now actually......whoops....distractable me.
During our first on campus orientation, we actually had the 2 or 3 large aftershocks, which I was awake for, so that was really scary. The initial earthquake was an 8.8. The following 'aftershocks' during orientation were a 7.2, a 6.9, and another 6 pointer. We suspended the orientation for that day and continued yesterday.
Apparently, Chilean students are challenging, to say the least. Arrive late, college students act like high schoolers, cheat, lie, make tons of excuses, and should not be held accountable for at least some of these behaviors. I think they'll be in for a rude awakening with the TIPS this year (that's what they call us - don't know what it stands for, ha), since I think we're all going to demand a lot from our students.
Although there's been a lot that's happened that hasn't been ideal, I can't complain and I'm really really grateful to be here. The group of people in this program are amazing; I've never instantly clicked with a group of people more and have already made some great friends here. None of us really want to leave the hostel we're staying at; we've made a pseudo home of it here. It's going to be tough to cut the cord and I'm sure we're going to stay very close.
Santiago itself is really pretty. Tree lined streets, lots of shops and parks. It's a definite mix between old Europe and Latin America; really neat. We finally got out of the city a bit and went on a wine tour in Aquitano, a beautiful beautiful winery at the base of the Andes that looks over Santiago.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers and good thoughts. I'm doing great, as is everyone here. I'm hoping that you all can come visit. I'll write more soon.
Love and miss you all
So it's been an exciting first few weeks in Chile. Our flexibility has certainly been tested as we get revised schedules on a daily basis and often don't know our schedules until the day before or day of.
The most exciting, and sad, news of course, is that we had the 6th biggest earthquake in history about a week after arriving here. Luckily, I don't remember it. We went out that night, got home (to the hostel) about 20 minutes before the earthquake, and I proceded to fall directly asleep. Apparently I was awake and lucid enough to follow directions to get out of our room (away from the bunkbeds), and to bring my pillow, cell phone, and stuffed animal. Woke up the next morning in the next room, with my friend Connie next to me.
We haven't suffered much damage in Santiago itself, especially not near where we're staying but the towns in the south have really been destroyed. Everyone here is trying to help but we're not able to at the moment for a multitude of reasons, primarily that transportation there is difficult.
As there has been some damage to all of the DUOC universities, our start dates for classes were pushed back 2 weeks, so we will be starting classes this Monday. I have classes Monday through Saturday and am teaching Basic and Intermediate English and an English in Tourism class (and since I'm so versed in tourism lingo, I'm sure I'll be great...or......not). Again because of the earthquake, we only received these schedules and our syllabi about 2 days ago. Supposed to be lesson planning right now actually......whoops....distractable me.
During our first on campus orientation, we actually had the 2 or 3 large aftershocks, which I was awake for, so that was really scary. The initial earthquake was an 8.8. The following 'aftershocks' during orientation were a 7.2, a 6.9, and another 6 pointer. We suspended the orientation for that day and continued yesterday.
Apparently, Chilean students are challenging, to say the least. Arrive late, college students act like high schoolers, cheat, lie, make tons of excuses, and should not be held accountable for at least some of these behaviors. I think they'll be in for a rude awakening with the TIPS this year (that's what they call us - don't know what it stands for, ha), since I think we're all going to demand a lot from our students.
Although there's been a lot that's happened that hasn't been ideal, I can't complain and I'm really really grateful to be here. The group of people in this program are amazing; I've never instantly clicked with a group of people more and have already made some great friends here. None of us really want to leave the hostel we're staying at; we've made a pseudo home of it here. It's going to be tough to cut the cord and I'm sure we're going to stay very close.
Santiago itself is really pretty. Tree lined streets, lots of shops and parks. It's a definite mix between old Europe and Latin America; really neat. We finally got out of the city a bit and went on a wine tour in Aquitano, a beautiful beautiful winery at the base of the Andes that looks over Santiago.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers and good thoughts. I'm doing great, as is everyone here. I'm hoping that you all can come visit. I'll write more soon.
Love and miss you all
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