World Cup Fever has hit down here and it's insane!!!!! CHILEANS ARE INSANE!!! And I love it!!! So Chile played on Wednesday morning, so I "rescheduled" my class that was at that time so my students (and myself) could watch the game. I ended up leaving for my next class right after Chile beat Honduras. It was crazy!!!! On my walk to the metro, there is a four lane highway, that was packed with hundreds of people for as far as the eyes could see in both directions. The traffic lights meant absolutley nothing as the cars couldn't go anywhere anyway. The "preparations" (drinking) for the game had started the night before and lasted all the next day. It's the first time Chile has won in a World Cup in around 40 years. They're actually in a really tough spot right now, as they have to go up against Spain (second in the world, rankings wise) and Switzerland, who just beat Spain on Wednesday. I actually can't wait for their next game. I slept on Tuesday instead of doing any crazy Chilean partying, but I'd like to make it to a local bar for the next one, just to be part of the atmosphere. I cannot imagine how crazy it's going to be!!!
And thank goodness USA tied Slovenia this morning. Now what we need is for England to beat Slovenia and we have to beat Algeria to move on. So everyone root for USA against Algeria; game's on June 23!
Chi-Chi-Chi-le-le-le, Viva Chile!! The common chant here for the national team, but which Connie and I actually heard when we went to an impromptu earthquake benefit concert the first month we were here! Amazing to see how this country unites, for it's people and for the world cup! The atmosphere is very similar to how it was in Spain when I was there for the World Cup in 2006. Ha. It's awesome! Viva Chile!
viernes, 18 de junio de 2010
lunes, 14 de junio de 2010
viva chile!
So everything here is progressing pretty normally. I'm still teaching. I'm still hanging out with my main group of friends here, although I have added a few Chileans to the mix. I'm still loving my roomies and most importantly, I'm still really enjoying my time down here.
I just sent off an email to a volunteer organization that helps at risk kids and their families. I tried getting involved with two others (one very similar to a Habaitat for Humanity), but they never got back to me, but this one looks promising. Hopefully I'll hear back within the next few days then can maybe start next week.
I'm scoping out all the good places to eat, or the good places for dessert. Any time I mention a place we have to go to my parents, it most likely pertains to dessert - Bravissimo gelato, crepes down the street, ice cream half a block away....I may not know the city inside and out yet but I certainly know where to get good dessert.
We luckily have still been able to travel a bit. We went to La Isla Negra yesterday which is the town where one of Pablo Neruda's homes is located. Very beautiful, right on the beach, very peaceful. We've also been to Vina del Mar and Valparaiso, both beautiful coast towns, one's very resorty and one is very artsy, with murals on the sides of all the buildings. It's nice to be able to get out of Santiago, at least for the day. We also went to Cajon de Maipu to hike for an afternoon and it was beautiful.
At this point with classes, my students are semi-frustrating but I still love them. They're getting lazier and more obnoxious, but also a lot funnier. They make more and more wise cracks during class and they're even putting them on tests now.
On one test, the problem was: There are not enough places for children in the city. My students had to create a solution. Maria Jose writes: There should be less people having children. Hahah. I laughed out loud reading that in the middle of class. The same student, when we were practicing I use this for .... or I use this to.... writes: I use my knife for killing people or I use my knife to kill people. This comes from a girl who is my height, adorable and who giggles after every semi inappropriate comment she makes. Ha. In another class, my student wrote his name on top of his test, then put "Daddy" in quotations next to it....Still not sure what to do with that. Then I have one student, who, when asked to make up an excuse for not being able to go to the movies wrote: I would love to, but I have to find my unicorn. Ha.
What's great is that, although they can be brats and have attitudes, we have a very positive relationsihp, where we can joke with each other and most importantly, where they feel comfortable to make mistakes. Since I am still pretty much doing half the class in English and half in Spanish, they hear all the mistakes I make and they tease me about it; in turn, when I tease them or laugh at/with them for their mistakes, it doesn't make them want to participate less; it just becomes something we can joke about. Then they also like to get me to say hard words in Spanish just because I can't say them, so I tease back and make them say: cheap/sheep/chip/ship. To them, there's absolutely no difference in how it sounds. Ha.
We're also in the middle of the World Cup down here, so although we're not allowed to 'suspend' classes, our students get a free absense. I already asked my students if any of them were coming to class on the days when Chile plays and was answered with a resounding 'no'. I'm actually really excited for when Chile plays, as I'm sure it will be crazy here! Especially if they make it out of their group. There's a chance but they'll have to play really well. I actually had a little World Cup party here the other day for the USA vs England game (which was pretty underwhelming but since we got a tie, I'm not complaining).
Other than that, we're starting to plan for winter vacation, at the end of July, and are hoping to make it up to Iguazu Falls in Argentina, then Machu Pichu in Peru and maybe Buenos Aires as well. We'll have to see how far our funds can take us.
Well I need to go lesson plan a bit more, but I love you all and miss you terribly. Hope all is well at home or wherever you are.
I just sent off an email to a volunteer organization that helps at risk kids and their families. I tried getting involved with two others (one very similar to a Habaitat for Humanity), but they never got back to me, but this one looks promising. Hopefully I'll hear back within the next few days then can maybe start next week.
I'm scoping out all the good places to eat, or the good places for dessert. Any time I mention a place we have to go to my parents, it most likely pertains to dessert - Bravissimo gelato, crepes down the street, ice cream half a block away....I may not know the city inside and out yet but I certainly know where to get good dessert.
We luckily have still been able to travel a bit. We went to La Isla Negra yesterday which is the town where one of Pablo Neruda's homes is located. Very beautiful, right on the beach, very peaceful. We've also been to Vina del Mar and Valparaiso, both beautiful coast towns, one's very resorty and one is very artsy, with murals on the sides of all the buildings. It's nice to be able to get out of Santiago, at least for the day. We also went to Cajon de Maipu to hike for an afternoon and it was beautiful.
At this point with classes, my students are semi-frustrating but I still love them. They're getting lazier and more obnoxious, but also a lot funnier. They make more and more wise cracks during class and they're even putting them on tests now.
On one test, the problem was: There are not enough places for children in the city. My students had to create a solution. Maria Jose writes: There should be less people having children. Hahah. I laughed out loud reading that in the middle of class. The same student, when we were practicing I use this for .... or I use this to.... writes: I use my knife for killing people or I use my knife to kill people. This comes from a girl who is my height, adorable and who giggles after every semi inappropriate comment she makes. Ha. In another class, my student wrote his name on top of his test, then put "Daddy" in quotations next to it....Still not sure what to do with that. Then I have one student, who, when asked to make up an excuse for not being able to go to the movies wrote: I would love to, but I have to find my unicorn. Ha.
What's great is that, although they can be brats and have attitudes, we have a very positive relationsihp, where we can joke with each other and most importantly, where they feel comfortable to make mistakes. Since I am still pretty much doing half the class in English and half in Spanish, they hear all the mistakes I make and they tease me about it; in turn, when I tease them or laugh at/with them for their mistakes, it doesn't make them want to participate less; it just becomes something we can joke about. Then they also like to get me to say hard words in Spanish just because I can't say them, so I tease back and make them say: cheap/sheep/chip/ship. To them, there's absolutely no difference in how it sounds. Ha.
We're also in the middle of the World Cup down here, so although we're not allowed to 'suspend' classes, our students get a free absense. I already asked my students if any of them were coming to class on the days when Chile plays and was answered with a resounding 'no'. I'm actually really excited for when Chile plays, as I'm sure it will be crazy here! Especially if they make it out of their group. There's a chance but they'll have to play really well. I actually had a little World Cup party here the other day for the USA vs England game (which was pretty underwhelming but since we got a tie, I'm not complaining).
Other than that, we're starting to plan for winter vacation, at the end of July, and are hoping to make it up to Iguazu Falls in Argentina, then Machu Pichu in Peru and maybe Buenos Aires as well. We'll have to see how far our funds can take us.
Well I need to go lesson plan a bit more, but I love you all and miss you terribly. Hope all is well at home or wherever you are.
jueves, 29 de abril de 2010
mas y mas y mas
So Chile is still great and I'm getting more and more wrapped up in it every day. We took that trip to Mendoza and it was really fun (and really, really cold - something that our tour guides neglected to mention but we probably should have figured out on our own). We did some trekking and white water rafting, level, 4, which was awesome. I may have been thrown in the water by one of the guides because I was being such a brat, ha. All in all, trip to Mendoza was fun, except the 10 hour bus ride in which 3 of those hours were spent at the border, showing passports and Chilean IDs (which I now have).
The people in Chile are still a bit of a mystery to me. They can be the absolute friendliest when you talk to them but they can also be incredibly rude. For one, Chileans ALWAYS play chicken with you in the street, and they will slam into you before they are the ones to move.....soooo I've started playing back. Ha. They're still in the lead but I'm coming back strong. The women here are pretty and nice, and wear the tightest clothes I've ever seen. One of our fellow teachers at DUOC the other day, assuming we were ignorant 'gringas', talked really badly about us in Spanish in our ear shot, about how we were dumb gringas who couldn't teach - I'm still trying to think of a good retort. Other than that though, people are always super friendly if you talk to them and the rest of the staff at San Carlos de Apoquindo has been great.
My classes are still going well. I am always really proud of my students when they do well on tests or when the lightbulbs start clicking. They're absolutely great, especially my Basic Intensive students, who I have for twice as much time a week as my other classes, so thank goodness I like them. The kids (I call them kids even though I have students who are 25) are even greater since they try their hardest to focus in class when there are men jackhammering outside of the classroom (literally), from the earthquake damage.
Speaking of earthquakes, we've had a few more - more aftershocks, I believe. We had one yesterday morning that I didn't realize was happening until my student said we were moving and I looked at the markers on my desk rolling back and forth. At this point, I always think we're moving, so I just assume that it's all in my head.
The weather is getting a little colder here, and some of the leaves are changing, not to bright colors, more just straight to brown, but it still gives it the feeling of fall: brisk weather, crunchy leaves...which of course, in turn, is making me miss home. I can't believe that I've now been here for 2 months. It has absolutely flown by, which I'm hoping it continues to do in certain ways and not in other ways.
I'm loving my new apartment and the area where I live. I'm especially loving my housemates, Jackie - from Iowa, and Erik - from Peru, who are the best. I'm surprisingly loving the fact that for the first time, I'm paying all my bills on my own. I don't like it that much when I'm actually spending the money on necessities, but it makes me feel more accomplished, more like an adult - ha.
I miss and love you all and am trying to figure out how to post pictures on here. Maybe next time. Love, Sis
The people in Chile are still a bit of a mystery to me. They can be the absolute friendliest when you talk to them but they can also be incredibly rude. For one, Chileans ALWAYS play chicken with you in the street, and they will slam into you before they are the ones to move.....soooo I've started playing back. Ha. They're still in the lead but I'm coming back strong. The women here are pretty and nice, and wear the tightest clothes I've ever seen. One of our fellow teachers at DUOC the other day, assuming we were ignorant 'gringas', talked really badly about us in Spanish in our ear shot, about how we were dumb gringas who couldn't teach - I'm still trying to think of a good retort. Other than that though, people are always super friendly if you talk to them and the rest of the staff at San Carlos de Apoquindo has been great.
My classes are still going well. I am always really proud of my students when they do well on tests or when the lightbulbs start clicking. They're absolutely great, especially my Basic Intensive students, who I have for twice as much time a week as my other classes, so thank goodness I like them. The kids (I call them kids even though I have students who are 25) are even greater since they try their hardest to focus in class when there are men jackhammering outside of the classroom (literally), from the earthquake damage.
Speaking of earthquakes, we've had a few more - more aftershocks, I believe. We had one yesterday morning that I didn't realize was happening until my student said we were moving and I looked at the markers on my desk rolling back and forth. At this point, I always think we're moving, so I just assume that it's all in my head.
The weather is getting a little colder here, and some of the leaves are changing, not to bright colors, more just straight to brown, but it still gives it the feeling of fall: brisk weather, crunchy leaves...which of course, in turn, is making me miss home. I can't believe that I've now been here for 2 months. It has absolutely flown by, which I'm hoping it continues to do in certain ways and not in other ways.
I'm loving my new apartment and the area where I live. I'm especially loving my housemates, Jackie - from Iowa, and Erik - from Peru, who are the best. I'm surprisingly loving the fact that for the first time, I'm paying all my bills on my own. I don't like it that much when I'm actually spending the money on necessities, but it makes me feel more accomplished, more like an adult - ha.
I miss and love you all and am trying to figure out how to post pictures on here. Maybe next time. Love, Sis
sábado, 27 de marzo de 2010
whirlwind week 2
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
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
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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