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Short Stories, Long Country--Issue 3WorldTeach Chile's biannual newsletter!
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WorldTeach Chile July 2011 “Algún día en cualquier parte, en cualquier lugar indefectiblemente te encontrarás a ti mismo, y ésa, sólo ésa, puede ser la más feliz o la más amarga de tus horas.” — Pablo Neruda “Chile is at least a place where one can find oneself and find other people with a compass which is that of real life.” —Victor Jara Issue 3
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Page 1: SSLC July 2011

WorldTeach Chi le

July 2011

“Algún día en cualquier parte, en cualquier lugar indefectiblemente te encontrarás a ti mismo, y ésa, sólo ésa, puede ser la más feliz o la más amarga de tus horas.” — Pablo Neruda

“Chile is at least a place where one can find oneself and find other people with a compass which is that of real life.” —Victor Jara

Issue 3

Page 2: SSLC July 2011

[] First Impressions…………...….…..4 [] Placement Profiles…………..….....5 [] La Vida Chilena……………….…..6 [] En la Sala de Inglés…….…….…...9 []La Casa de mi Familia……...…….12 [] Comida Chilena…….……….……14 [] On the Road…………….………...16 [] Final Thoughts…………………...18

Letter from the Editors

We are excited to share with you the third edition of Short Stories, Long Country – WorldTeach Chile’s biannual newsletter! As editors, we had a great time compiling these stories and photos that share our experience as World-Teach volunteers. We can safely say that the finished product is a compilation of three type-A control freaks, all hoping to put forth another successful issue of SSLC! Writing this letter alone resulted in many “heated” discussions!

We would like to thank our families, friends, fellow volunteers and World-Teach support staff (especially our amazing Field Director, Heather Tang!) for making this experience possible. And of course, Chile, the country we have been lucky enough to call home for the last few months. Chile’s rich culture, diverse geography, and welcoming people have shaped not only our experi-ences but changed the way we see the world. We hope you enjoy this issue of SSLC – Feliz Leyendo!

Your SSLC Editors,

Eva, Monica & Lindsay

WorldTeach is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based at the Center for International Development at Harvard University that pro-

vides opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful contribution to international education by living and working as volunteer teachers in

developing countries.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 3: SSLC July 2011

A MESSAGE FROM OUR FIELD DIRECTOR

FUN FACTS ABOUT CHILE ▪ Chile is home to world’s driest desert: the Atacama. In one span, no rain fell there for 40 years.

▪ Chile claims 1,250,000 square kilometers of Antarctica.

▪ Chile’s length, 2,650 miles, is about 10 times it’s average width.

▪ The official national dance of Chile is La Cueca.

▪ Over 1/3 of the world’s copper production is produced in Chile. Other top exports include; fish, fruits, paper, and wine.

▪ In May 1960, Chile experienced the largest earthquake in recorded history, measuring at a 9.5 magnitude.

▪ Chile is home to the southernmost village in the world: Puerto Williams.

Chile. If this mysterious land comes up in conversation, most would know it as “that long, skinny one down in South America that makes great wine.” True, that it does produce an abundance of delicious vino, but it is also home to so much more. From the vibrantly colorful sand dunes in the Atacama Desert, through the ripe vineyards of the central valley and the lush forests of the south, to the awe-inspiring peaks and valleys of Patagonia, Chile’s people, culture, and magnificent landscapes are open for all the world to discover. And discover them we are! Up and down Chile, you can find gringos from all over the English-speaking world, here to share their language, customs, and vivacity, while living and breathing the life of a Chilean. One day they are teach-ing how to dance the hokey pokey, the next they are learning how to dance the Cueca, make an empanada, or that beso-ing everyone upon arri-val at a party is a must whether you know them or not. They are role models in their schools, cultural representatives in their communities, and most of all teachers for their students. Their motivation to contrib-ute to Chilean education is rivaled only by their creativity and dedica-tion in their classrooms. So as you turn through the following pages, know that you are about to be immersed into the worlds of these gringos, often confused, sometimes frustrated, but always positive and open-minded. Here they share their experiences, thoughts, observations, and what it means to be Chilean. Viva Chile! Heather Tang, WorldTeach Chile FD

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Page 4: SSLC July 2011

WELCOME TO CHILE

First Impressions

Great Expectations By Chelsea Snell

The weeks leading up to my arrival

in Chile were filled with checklists, shopping, immunizations, goodbye din-ners, and trying to pack my life for the next year into two suitcases. I knew I was about to embark on a life-altering

journey, but standing in line, ticket in hand, after a tearful goodbye at the San Francisco Airport, I was struck with panic. Was I crazy for flying across the world to live in a foreign country? What was I thinking?! What if this is not what I want to do? I knew that I was having a momentary freak out, tried to breathe

and eventually made it through secu-rity. Once I landed in Miami and met up with the rest of the group I knew that I had nothing to worry about.

The first few weeks in Chile were amazing! Exploring Santiago, taking Spanish lessons at the Hotel Plaza Lon-dres with Arnavick, discovering Lunas Café and roaming the streets with the dogs of Santiago are all memories I will

never forget. I was surprised at how similar Chile was to the United States. While there are some obvious differ-ences, such as the language and a diet centered around bread, empanadas and alfajores, it was surprisingly easy to ad-just to life in Chile. The people of Chile are incredibly welcoming and helpful.

Complete strangers will go out of their way to walk you to the metro stop or remind you to keep your belongings safe from “los delincuentes” (the delin-quents).

Before my arrival in Chile, I was so anxious to meet my host family and get settled in that I wasn’t that excited about my WorldTeach Orientation. But one of my favorite things about Chile so far has been the time I spent in Santiago forming wonderful relationships and sharing experiences with the other vol-unteers. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed orientation, and when it came time to go to our host families, I was not ready to leave my new WorldTeach family. I could not have hoped for a bet-ter introduction to this beautiful country and I am so grateful for the new friends I have made, the experiences we have had together and the adventures yet to come!

All in the Family By Monica Griffith

On the flight from San Francisco to

Miami, my head was filled with ques-tions, doubts and worries. I was leaving behind my family, friends, job, comfort zone—everything familiar—in search of who-knows-what. I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Where will I be living? What will the students be like? Did I pack the right stuff? Will I survive with my mediocre (at best) Spanish? What will I do if I don’t have internet access? Will my host-family like me? And most importantly: Who are these other crazy gringos who signed up to do this with me?

My nerves calmed considerably when Chelsea and her luggage busted through the door of the hotel room we had (crazily?) decided to share in Mi-ami. We bonded instantly over a late night breakfast at IHOP, a mutual love of Glee and hatred of pickles, and most

importantly, a realization that we shared the same fears for the unknown year ahead.

I further relaxed as I became ac-quainted with five more fellow volun-teers at the Miami airport, and met up with the rest of our group in the wee hours of the morning in Santiago. We got to know each other quickly and intimately. Arguably too intimately.

With every laugh, experience, story and knowing look shared (you know the look I’m talking about), my doubts and worries seemed to melt away. Even though there were (and still are) so many questions to be answered and experiences to be had, I take comfort in knowing that I have a support system in Chile: my crazy, weird, loving, teas-

ing, awesome WorldTeach familia!

“The people of Chile are incredibly welcoming and helpful...I could not have hoped for a better introduction to this beautiful country…”

Page 5: SSLC July 2011

PLACEMENT PROFILES

Lindsay Keene in Villa Alemana, Chile (Region V)

Population: 100,000 School: Colegio Montesol in Quilpué; a semi-private school with grades 1-12. This school has a

wonderful English program with two fluent English speaking co-teachers. Level of English ranges from Advanced Beginner to Advanced/Fluent – I teach grades 5-12. I teach independ-ently from my co-teachers, have my own classroom, and on average I have 12-20 students for each 90 minute class. Additionally, I am a teacher for an Elective English course for 3 hours a week as my extracurricular activity.

Must-Sees near Villa Alemana: My town is quite small, but there are many great things to do nearby! Only 40 minutes away in Olmué, I highly recommend climbing Cerro la Campana. Additionally, Viña del Mar and Valparaíso are less than 30 minutes away by train and are definite must-sees while in Chile!

Comments: I am incredibly lucky to be placed at this school. Its’ English program surpassed all my expectations. My students are phenomenal, well-behaved, and love to learn English!

Gabriela Garcia in La Calera, Chile (Region V) Population: 49,000 School: Colegio Apumanque; semi-private. I teach grades 5 to 11. The English level of my students

is mixed, but on average I would say the students are at a higher level. My co-teachers speak English very well and the students have 5 hours of English a week which is much more than at local municipal schools.

Must-Sees in La Calera: La Central Bakery; They serve great food, amazing café cortados and cake! The staff is friendly and welcoming!

Comments: Don’t judge a book by its cover. While La Calera is not beautiful in the traditional sense, the community is so rich with friendly people and culture. I am really happy to have been placed here and am grateful for all of the new friendships I have made!

Max Shapiro in Pinto, Chile (Region VIII) Population: 10,000 (4,000 urban) School: Liceo Politecnico de Pinto; a public municipal school. I teach high school students: 9th

grade to 12th, and I teach about 25 hours a week. The level of English at my school is very basic. Regardless of grade, my students are all at about the same level of proficiency.

Must-Sees in Pinto: The town of Pinto is quite small, but in a beautiful area. There is a small Plaza de Armas, and a few small stores and schools. As far as entertainment, Pinto is lim-ited but is close by to many other attractions.

Comments: Pinto is about 45 minutes from Termas de Chillán, a huge snowcapped volcano which attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the world. It’s also a great area for camping, hiking, and rock climbing. In addition, Pinto is about 30 minutes from Chillán, a decent sized city where you can find a few bars, universities and malls.

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Page 6: SSLC July 2011

ALL SETTLED IN

La Vida Chilena

‘Chile’ng Out By Monica Griffith

There are certainly difficulties that come with living in a foreign country. I miss friends and family back home, the culture and customs are hard to get used to, and the food is often downright strange! For the first little while, es-pecially when isolated by a language barrier and bombarded by culture shock, what would normally feel like negligible difficulties and frustrations can seem never ending.

I think one of the most important things I have learned in Chile (besides, of course my flawless (a.k.a. flaw-full) Spanish skills) is pa-tience. Chilean people are never in a rush. They take their time at meals. They sleep late on weekends. They don’t worry when something is not done on time; rather, they never assumed it would be. They don’t power-walk, but stroll calmly down the street (I’m talking TORTOISE pace here, people).

At first, these habits sort of bothered me (except for the whole sleeping late thing, which took zero getting used to). The relaxed pace of life here is so starkly different from the hustle and bustle I am used to at home: people always needing to eat on the go, run a quick errand or

go somewhere in a rush. When I first arrived, I tried to live the American life on the Chilean timetable. And instead of being uber-productive, I wound up perpetually frustrated.

After experiencing frustrations with sched-uling meetings with my co-teachers, miscom-munications with my host family and a particu-larly maddening series of trips to the Registro Civil (sort of like the Chilean version of the DMV), I finally came to the (now seemingly obvious) conclusion that it is futile to expect Chile to change for me. It was me that needed to adapt to my situation, and change my norms and expectations in order to acclimate to my new life in Chile.

Since my grand epiphany, I have made a distinct effort to take notice of the customs and habits of my host family, co-teachers and Chile-ans in general. As I have learned more about the Chilean lifestyle and the people here, I have found it much easier to acclimate and internal-ize the Chilean habit of being patient and going with the flow.

Now, I get irritated when I have to rush through a meal, am surprised when something is completed on time and I meander down the sidewalk at the pace of a snail. I am becoming Chilean, and it’s fabulous.

MYSTERIES OF CHILE

• The mullet/rattail revival. • The obsession with old 80’s hits. • How many stray dogs are enough to be considered a serious so-

cial problem? • In the 83 years since its invention, Chileans have not found any-

thing they like better than sliced bread. • Gas trucks that drive around playing music such as “Jingle Bells,”

followed by “When the Saints Come Marching In,” “Happy Birth-day” and “Frère Jacques.”

• Just because you put a scarf around your neck doesn’t mean you won’t catch a cold. And if you don’t blow-dry your hair, you’re not certain to be sick for a week either.

• Why are bras and underwear sold on the street? • Students are allowed to bump and grind on each other to reg-

gaeton during school functions! It’s graphic!

Page 7: SSLC July 2011

Roommates & Puppies By Eva Cappuccilli

It was brought up during orientation

that not every normal family/school situation covered over the course of the week would apply to your circumstances. Not everyone has an amazing shower situation in the house. Not everyone has a host family that eats healthy food. And not everyone has a traditional family situation in Chile. The latter has been the case for me. For all intent and purpose, I have three roommates.

Cecilia is my co-teacher at one of my two schools; Bruno, her boyfriend, is the professor diferencial at the other school; Hanna is a teacher at another school, and spends most of her time at her sister’s house. All three are wonderful people, and I enjoy their company a lot on the rare occasion they are around the house.

Within a couple weeks, I was forced to the realization that their company would be extremely limited throughout the year, whether by work schedules or social obligations, but as the three of them were not a family unit proper, I was

not actually part of a host “family.” Imagine my frustration: every other vol-unteer had a “family,” people that were around eat onces and talk with, to go to family gatherings with, etc. I didn’t; and for me, the only other people I knew in town where my fellow fifty-something year old teachers, and my students (age range eight to fourteen). I had no idea

what to do, not knowing anyone my age. Time for a new plan. It was simple

enough: figure out where the twenty-somethings were and haunt those places like the plague (figuratively speaking).

Having heard about a group that rescued street dogs and neutered/spayed them, I brought it up to Cecilia and Bruno one night that I was thinking of volun-teering with them. Based on their reac-tions, you would think no one had ever had a better idea in the history of the

world. The next morning I ventured out into Quilpué to ask in the most mangled Spanish a gringa has ever attempted, “Can I volunteer with you?” The answer: yes.

It was one of those moments where I felt irrationally pleased with myself. The idea wasn’t especially brilliant, but it was enough to get me out of the house and

speaking Spanish, which was my goal all along. And there were puppies involved. Who could be upset by that?

In the long run, I feel grateful that my situation has been to have room-mates. I enjoy talking to them, but I have been allowed more freedom this way. It’s forced me to get out and meet new peo-ple, overcome old shy habits, and just be inventive. If you don’t know a lot of peo-ple, the best thing to do it throw yourself out there and meet some.

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Climbing into Home By Max Shapiro

For me, the transition to Chilean life didn’t happen particularly easily or quickly. I grew up in Teaneck, New Jer-sey a suburb only five minutes from Manhattan. Upon my arrival in Chile however, I found myself living in a little pueblo called Pinto. It took no more than waking up in the morning to crowing roosters my first morning, to figure out that this city boy was going to have find some new ways to entertain himself!

I spent my first few weeks there mostly with my family. My routine be-came waking up early for school, eating lunch with my abuelita, and then back to school for more teaching, My first few weeks in Pinto were by no means bad, but I came to Chile in the hopes of meet-ing new people and experiencing Chilean culture in ways the pushed my comfort levels. Thus far I had rarely left the house unless I was going to school.

Things changed for me when I started venturing into Chillán, a small city near by. It’s not a city that I thought had

much to offer. Lonely Planet sums up Chillán quite nicely: “…Chillán itself is neither particularly beautiful nor espe-cially interesting”. Unfortunately not the best place to be a tourist! What got me to look around this city, though, was hear-ing about a climbing gym at a university.

I thought at least it will be a place to get some exercise but what I found turned out to be so much more. While the gym was just as small as Pinto, the group of climbers there are some of the warmest and most engaging people I have ever met. I now make the hour trip to the gym at least three times a week.

When I arrive I’m always greeted by hand shakes, hugs, and besos. When I leave I feel like I have twenty friends to say goodbye to: “Cuidate,” Nos vemos gringito!”, even the occasional, “See you later.” They have taken me to the beach, camping near the beautiful Siete Tazas, and climbing in the mountains. They’ve shown me the best place to get a beer and chorrillana.

When I left the states I was under the impression that bigger was better. That more people meant more to do. My pre-conceptions have been blown apart living out in the ‘campo’. You don’t need to travel to Chile’s famous cities to have a great time. While Vaplaraíso may be beautiful, Santiago big and booming, I found my niche in the chiquitito Pinto.

“The next morning I ventured out into Quilpué to ask in the most mangled Spanish a gringa has ever attempted, ‘Can I volunteer with you?’ The answer: yes.”

Page 8: SSLC July 2011

FAVORITE CHILENISMOS

Word Al tiro Bacán Basta Cachái? Carretear Chuta! Cuático(a) Es lo que hay Flaite Fomingo Onda Pelando las papas Plancha Po Que fome Que lata Rico Tener caña Taco Vale

Weá

Errands in Cartagena By Ryan Mosser

One of the first things you notice when arriving in Chile are the dogs. They seem to serve the same function as squir-rels, just larger, cuter, more pitiable, and very occasionally dangerous. They sun-bathe on sidewalks and in parks, wait for handouts from restaurants, fight amongst themselves, chase cars and bicycles, and generally act like dogs.

As most anyone who has been out late at night can attest, a Chilean dog will follow you forever (in hope of food or, it seems, company). This can quickly turn into a pack of 15 dogs escorting you through the city. Most of these dogs were pets at one point that escaped or were abandoned, and the Chilean practice of leaving their puppy-making parts intact exacerbates the widespread problem. However, most Chileans take pity on these animals, feeding them or even clothing them in the winter.

I live in a small town on the coast called Cartagena, which swells from 15,000 to 500,000 people in the summer months. It’s not an exaggeration that

dogs may well outnumber people during the off-season due to those who were abandoned (or created, unintentionally) by vacationers. Though, I ask if there is a better measure of adjusting to living in a new place than getting to know not just the people, but also the dogs who live in my town?

I need shampoo. “Vamos Dody,” I say, and my family’s cocker spaniel sprints to the door. I turn left at the gate. “Como estai, One Eye, Patches,?” I say, as I greet two strays that live on our street, intermittently fed by the neighbors. These two dogs always follow me for about 2 blocks, before trailing off when we reach my school. By the front steps, Limpy is still chasing micros and collectivos while Lazy is either dead or sleeping like usual. “Dody, is that one of yours?” I ask, gestur-ing toward one of Cartagena’s many cocker spaniel looking strays who looks suspiciously like Dody. The stray sniffs his apparent father as we enter the plaza.

Here the Gang of 4 always hangs around the sopaipilla stand, while the mangier Bloods sleep on the plaza stage. Lady and the Tramp are begging near the pan ama-sado vender. Unibomber lurks under a bench. “Quedate aca Dody,” I tell him to wait while I buy my shampoo. I return to find Dody sniffing around with Peaches,

his longtime girlfriend who lives down the street from us. Not one to disturb the mood, I head down to Playa Chica, where Loco is usually attacking the incoming waves. I don’t see him, but the rest of his friends, the Hobos, are relaxing on the sand. Here you can also find Wishbone and E.T., though they haven’t been get-ting along too well judging by their inju-ries. Climbing the hill, Balto, the steel-eyed husky, greets me along with Dody once more near the butcher shop (Dody’s favorite place in town). Shampoo in hand, we head back to my street, where One Eye and Patches accompany us back to my door.

Use Right away! To describe something cool Stop it, knock it off You know?, Get it? Party, bar hop Inoffensive term to express regret, disap-pointment Dramatic person Whatever Derogatory term for low class Contraction of fome (lame) and domingo (Sunday) To describe someone’s vibes, aura To describe someone who has gone crazy, is talking nonsense Embarrassment Added to the ends of words and phrases for emphasis Describing lame situations, things, people That sucks Delicious, hot, sexy...describes anything To be hungover Traffic jam Okay Extremely informal for “that”

Literal Meaning At the gun shot Cool Enough Understand? To party Darn! Difficult, exaggerated It is what it is Sketchy, ghetto Lame Sunday Wave Peeling the potatoes An iron Doesn’t mean anything! Lame, boring, corny Bummer, disappointment Rich To have the axe Taco Worth, voucher, ticket Thing

“As most anyone who has been out late at night can attest, a Chilean dog will follow you forever…”

Page 9: SSLC July 2011

A Complex System of Con-sequences By Eva Cappuccilli

The profesora jefe of second grade

walked into the teacher lounge one after-noon and saw me writing a note in the libro de clase. I suppose curiosity overtook her (as she has a habit of grilling me eve-ryday to gauge how much Spanish I have picked up overnight), because she asked what I was writing. I said a student had been especially talkative in class and had-n’t completed any work. Since the girl had received her fourth warning, this was the consequence. She looked at me and said, “Ooooooye, usted es muy estricta. Eso es lo que los alumnos necesitan!” (You are very strict. This is what the students need!) Then she made a chopping gesture with her hands and smiled at me. In the past month, this has been my reputation in the teachers lounge.

My first month of teaching, I was a huge pushover with students, and teach-ing wasn’t working out the way I imag-ined it. Chilean students are no walk in

the park: they talk all the time; they walk around the classroom looking for a certain color of pencil for no apparent reason; they physically stop teachers in the mid-dle of a lesson to ask a completely unre-lated question…and Chilean teachers let them. As a foreigner in the classroom, it was extremely frustrating.

Part of the problem lay in the fact that my expectations didn’t align with the Chilean norm. In class, we all muddled through with completely different ideas about discipline and never got through a whole lesson without some kind of major, fin del mundo problem.

About a month ago, something had to change, so I started teaching classroom procedures again. Here is the rundown of my new system.

1) A verbal warning—explanation of why the student is receiving the warning.

2) Second warning—student’s name is written on the board.

3) Third warning—student goes to the back of the room and copies the class rules.

4) Student sits outside the class-

room and calms down. Inspectora (or school disciplinarian) is in-formed and calls the student’s parents.

For general classroom behavior problems, counting down from ten works. If I ever get to zero, I leave, get the inspectora and everyone’s parents are called.

After a couple of weeks, I threw in some positive consequences. Each group now gets the chance to gain a star for good behavior. If they get ten stars, they win an English party. We haven’t gotten there yet, but by the end of the year, I’ll probably have to cook and play American music for all of my classes.

My kids aren’t always perfect. They still want to test boundaries with the young gringa whenever possible, but now they understand what consequences their actions have in my class. I’m amazed how much my patience has increased, too, since I just rely on my system now. I am currently the super strict (and yet miracu-lously fun) English teacher.

EN LA SALA DE INGLES

Inside the Classroom

OVERHEARD IN THE CLASSROOM

Favorite Quips and Quotes from Chilean Students

After being taught ‘I am____ ’ and ‘I like ____ ’ in consecutive lessons, a student proudly pronounces: “I am Lady Gaga!”

“Miss, qué significa ‘It’s raining men’?”

“Are your eyes and hair real?”

“Will you go on a date with me?”

“I am po!” (student trying to get an-other to say ‘I am’)

“Miss, I AM BEAUTIFUL!”

3rd Grader singing to himself: “Soy Justin Bieber.” His friend across the room: “Eres estupido!”

Student: "Miss, conoce a Michael Jackson?" (Do you know Michael Jackson?) Me: “Está muerto.” (He is dead.)

Student: “No en mi corazón.” (Not in my heart.)

“Tía, you’re from the United States? Are you Hannah Montana?!”

Walking into class in the morning...“It smells like some

poops in here!!!”

“How are you? Yes! What’s your name? Very good!”

Page 10: SSLC July 2011

Teen Bop Posters By Jade Rutledge

Freshman year can be a rough year. I

have mentally blocked out most of mine, but what I remember was that I felt incredi-bly uncool and like I didn’t fit in. The ages of 14 and 15 are usually accompanied by an awkward phase. Confusion of being in be-tween childhood and adulthood, and trying to figure out what high school is all about, while still trying to look cool in front of your friends and the opposite sex.

I teach approximately 200 students in this situation. Finding ways to ignite pas-sion for learning a new language that seems far removed from the daily dramas of teen-age life can be challenging at times. My stu-dents always seemed to enjoy my classes, but the real ticket to adoration was Justin Bieber, Taylor Lautner and Selena Gomez. Yes, that’s right. Teen stars won me the love of my students.

When my family first asked what I wanted in a care package from home, I asked them to send magazines for my kids. I thought that looking at the maga-zines would increase the students’ motiva-tion to learn English. So, I received three

teen magazines in the mail. The first day I brought them into the classroom, my stu-dents and I took five minutes to put up pic-tures and posters of Robert Pattinson, Tay-lor Lautner, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, and more.

The next class that entered my room was accompanied by an orchestra of blood-curdling screams. I glanced around the room looking for a spider or rat running across the floor, but the students had all ran up to the posters around the room and were performing various acts of devotion. Rob was being pet by several girls, Taylor was getting kissed, and some girl was screaming “I love, I love” over and over while leaning against the Bieber poster. I was worried that only the girls would be interested in the new decorations, but, I soon saw three boys clustered around the poster of Selena Gomez in a tank top exclaiming “my girl-friend!” excitedly.

I could not believe this reaction. I don’t know if the students necessarily have learned a lot more English from the maga-zines, but it brought the joy of being 14 into my classes...even at the cost of three Taylor Lautner posters that have gone missing from my classroom!

Life as a Chilean Teacher By Chelsea Snell

My first few days in the classroom were

somewhat of a shock. After the excitement of Orientation and meeting my host family, I kind of forgot that I had come to Chile to teach English! Chilean schools are like nothing I ever could have imagined. To start, I only see most of my students once a week for 90 minutes, which is not nearly enough time for someone to learn a lan-guage. There is also not a lot of discipline in the schools; the students put on make up, paint their nails, pluck their eyebrows (boys and girls), make phone calls and talk all the time while the teacher is trying to teach. Essentially, there are no classroom rules. One time I came to class and there weren’t even any students! There was a handball game in the gym and the students decided that they would rather watch the game…so we didn’t have class that day.

I work with 8th through 12th grade stu-dents at one of the poorest schools in my town. There are 37 mothers/mothers-to-be currently enrolled in my school, with the number rising every month. Many of my

students have lives that I cannot even begin to imagine and this experience has been both challenging and eye opening. The combination of the inefficient structure of the Chilean school system with the lack of support from home makes learning espe-cially hard for students. But despite the odds, many of them make an effort to learn and participate in my classes. I think that knowing out of all the schools in Chile, they were selected to have an English volunteer is motivating and empowering.

I feel equally lucky to have been placed at my school. I have an amazing co-teacher who speaks perfect English, is young, funny, smart and a wonderful friend. The students have been extremely welcoming. The boys are exceptionally attentive in class and insist on escorting me around the school, while the girls are always curious about my life back in California and how I am adjusting to life in Chile. They are such wonderful, kind-hearted people who always make me laugh. Some of them speak abso-lutely no English, but I think that I have been able to be a role model, friend and safe person to talk to, as well as an English re-source.

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Page 11: SSLC July 2011

Top Ten Reasons Why You Got Sick (According to your Chilean Host Mom)

1. You forgot your bufanda (scarf) at home

2. You wore your bufanda incorrectly

3. You went outside (or anywhere) with wet hair

4. You went barefoot (mere skin to floor contact could

result in utter disaster)

5. You slept with the window open

6. You went outside immediately after waking up

7. You opted out of long underwear for a day

8. You ate raw vegetables

9. You failed to drink powdered milk for a day

10. You left the house within 24 hours of rainfall

Things I Wish I had Brought From Home…

• Books (they are expensive) • Utter Fluency in Spanish • Graham Crackers • An Endless Supply of Spearmint Gum

• Burt’s Bees Chapstick • A Sleeping Bag • Warmer Clothes • Coffee • More Gifts for my Family, Co-Teachers and Students

• Peanut Butter! • English Movies • Venus Razors • More Socks and Underwear • Contact Solution

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Es Lo Que Hay! By Lindsay Keene

After living alone for several years, I knew that moving in with a Chilean fam-ily was bound to include some new ex-periences. I was excited and enthusiastic for this experience. But I must admit I wasn’t exactly prepared for what my new challenges turned out to be…

About one week after settling in at my new house, my host mom came into my room with my host sister in tow. Speaking in rapid Spanish, my mom pro-ceeds to indicate to my sister, specifically her head, and says, “Ella tiene los Piojos, tú conoces?” Obviously, I don’t, but I grab my handy dandy dictionary, and in two seconds I am staring at the most dreaded word I know; Lice. I nearly lost it! I was instantly itchy and paranoid and clinging to my mantra, ‘es lo que hay, es lo que hay’! (it is what it is, it is what it is!). Figuring I have no choice in the matter, I undergo the mandatory lice-check where it’s confirmed, yes, we do all indeed have los piojos! And though I never imagined it would be so, one of my first bonding experiences in Chile turned out to be this very day of de-lousing. As my entire family shampooed, fine-combed, and wrapped their head in plastic I couldn’t help but think, “well... welcome to the family!”

Now perhaps I have to thank that creature for such a memorable day, as it solidified us as a family indeed. But

there was one last creature that I wasn’t prepared for. It was several weeks after the lice incident that I woke up one morning with my stomach itchy and in-flamed. As I look further, I discover a serious pattern of bites that run from my belly to my back. They also itched like crazy and looked hideous. I wandered into my host mom’s room, and showed her with a look of question; ”ah”, she said, knowingly, “Las Pulgas”. Again, I marched back to my dictionary and came upon: Fleas. Perfect! But this time, only I was afflicted. The mystery began…my clothes, sheets, and linens were scoured to no avail, and yet everyday I discov-ered more bites. My family told me I have ‘sangre dulce’ (sweet blood) and that the fleas must just love ‘comida blanca’ (white food) all while smirking and laughing at me! After two weeks in misery, I had had enough! Armed with Raid, anti-allergenics, and Menthol rub that Chileans think could bring world peace; I was determined to win the bat-tle! And, after vigilant preventative care, including no longer touching fabric or kids at school, I successfully conquered the attack of the fleas.

These experiences were ones I never imagined would shape my family life so much, but they really did. My family all found my traumatic experiences to be nothing but humorous. And through them, I learned to really believe “it is what it is!” – Because after fleas, lice, and

who knows what else awaits me…I will always have my family there to laugh at me, but above all, with me.

EN LA CASA DE MI FAMILIA

At Home in Chile

You know you’re a

gringo when...

...you spend a whole afternoon asking for what you think are speakers and find out you have been asking for a computer screen. —Gabriela Garcia ...you bring toilet paper with you wherever you go. —Matt Duong …you have a pack of dogs fol-lowing you down the street. —Eva Cappuccilli ...you don’t think a naked hot dog slathered in mayonnaise is “rico”. —Monica Griffith ...you drink coffee (Nescafé) without five spoonfuls of sugar. —Ashley Johnston ...you get offended when some-one calls you “gordita” (a little chubby) . —Jade Rutledge ...you keep looking for the plate which you should set your food on, and feel guilty about all the crumbs you are making. —Lindsay Keene ...you eat at McDonald’s just to feel better about your life. —Max Shapiro ...you get made fun of for wear-ing your seatbelt. —Chelsea Snell

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Getting “Molested” By My Host Family By Monica Griffith

(Not literally, mom. Don’t worry.) In Spanish, the verb “molestar” means to bother, annoy, or make fun of. When I fig-ured this out, my Spanglish became infinitely more fun to use! I myself come from a long line of “molesters”. I developed thick skin as a child and learned to dole out a tongue lash-ing by the time I started Kindergarten. My family isn’t really the huggy/kissy type, so we tend to taunt each other to the point of tears in order to show our affection.

Before I arrived in Limache, Chile, I was nervous that my host family wouldn’t under-stand my fluency in sarcasm or that my jokes wouldn’t translate from English to Spanish. Fortunately for me, I had nothing to worry about. My host family shows their affection in exactly the same way as my family in the states and they are absolutely my favorite part about living in Chile.

Being that Limache isn’t exactly a thriv-ing metropolis, I spend a lot of my time just hanging out at the house with my Chilean family. I have 5 host siblings between the

ages of 28 and 13, and a wonderful single host mom. My host mom is sweet as pie and doesn’t have a mean or teasing bone in her body. My siblings, on the other hand, are quite the jokesters.

Within a couple of weeks, they had branded me with a long list of unflattering nicknames including rara (weird), enfermita (crazy, sick in the head), pava (literally turkey, but also someone who doesn’t understand anything), mona (monkey), tonta (fool) and longhi (person of low intelligence), just to name a few. On top of that, I am constantly “molested” for my lack of Spanish pronuncia-tion abilities, and receive cheers and applause when I announce that I am going to shower. (In my defense, it is WAY TOO COLD to shower more than once every few days. And I swear I use extra deodorant!!) I was quickly forced to improve my Spanish in order to defend myself and dish out a little “molesting” of my own.

In all seriousness, though, my host family is wonderful and amazing, and their playful teasing made me feel right at home. I have never felt anything but welcome and cared for in their home, and there is nothing I enjoy more than a little “molesting” from my Chil-ean host family.

Sweet Groove of Home Life By Gabriela Garcia

It’s hard to believe that two months ago

I had no clue what it would like living with Judith, Jonny and Matias. I can still remem-ber the night I first met my host family and the first impressions I had running through my mind. I was worried about feeling un-comfortable in stranger’s house. What time would I get up in the morning? Would my host family be awake? Can I take a shower or do I have to ask for permission? The next thing I knew, the driver pulled up be-hind a salmon pink apartment building and there were six people waiting for me. My next worry was that my living arrange-ments might be more communal then just sharing a bathroom. Thankfully not only did I get my own room but I got to form beautiful relationships with three new peo-ple: my Chilean family.

If the Ministry did one thing well I would say they nailed my host family placement. Judith, my host mom, is 31 and owns a hair salon. We share a birthday, a love for belly dancing and she always makes sure my eyebrows and hair are per-fectly trimmed. She and I have a weekly

unwinding routine that consists of belly dancing and wine. Jonny my host dad, is 36 and a professor of Bio-chemistry. Jonny also sings in a rock/ska band and I can attest that they are solid! He loves films and mu-sic and has given me tons of Chilean and Argentine music to add to my collection. Jonny is always playing the guitar when he is at home and has given me many pep talks and encouraged me to return to school when I get back to the states. My host par-ents have made me feel so much at home that even my real mom in the states has ex-pressed her jealousy about my affection for Judith and Jonny!

Last but not least, there is Matias, my twelve year old host brother. I can still re-member my first impression of Matias; I thought he was shy and quiet. Quite oppo-site to his timid behavior during our first encounter, Matias is a spark of lightning. My host brother has a really special place in my heart. His jokes are sharp and at times hurtful, especially when he tells me I am going to leave Chile looking like a “ball”, but he is super affectionate and loves watching the Disney channel with me while we eat candy and make fake fart noises. All in all the best part about my experience in Chile has definitely been my familia!

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Pantyhose & Nescafé By Jean Dick

I love coffee! I also enjoy traveling. When I

decided to go to Chile, beverage preference was not, initially, a determining factor. I chose Chile for the career enhancement opportunities and because I already had a working knowledge of Spanish.

One of the steps in the WorldTeach applica-tion process is an interview. When I met with Jennifer (Chile 2009), she informed me of the unique benefits and challenges of choosing Chile. Two minutes into the interview process I was confronted with information that made me stop and seriously consider my travel plans: “Normally, Chileans drink instant coffee.” Dumbfounded, I asked for clarification. "Aren't certain countries in South America famous for coffee? Columbia and Brazil are some of the leading exporters of coffee. Why don't they drink it?" I wrestled with the idea of 7 months of me-diocre mochas and lackluster lattes. Weighed in the balance, I determined that I would prevail...

After a couple months, I came to the realiza-

tion that Nescafé is not poisonous; Nescafé is also not coffee. Accepting this difference made it possible to drink. This was a large step for me considering that the average Chilean table would be incomplete without it. Along with a variety of toppings, breakfast and onces (the evening meal) consist of mainly bread and Nescafé.

Nevertheless, I made it my mission to seek out coffee. Bypassing the cafés and Starbucks locations, I went to the grocery store. There I found the shining holy beacon: Columbian ground coffee! But curiously, there were no fil-ters in sight. In a moment of sheer ingenuity, I grabbed a pair of nylon pantyhose and scissors from the next aisle, as necessity is the mother of invention. So I discovered when I shredded my pantyhose to make re-usable, environmentally friendly coffee filters. Making coffee in this fash-ion may seem ridiculous at first but I say don't knock it until you've tried it.

Coffee drinkers I implore you. Do not dis-count Chile simply because of their coffee cus-tom. If life gives you Nescafé, make pantyhose filters!

COMIDA CHILENA

Reflections on Chilean Cuisine

14

La Empanada de Queso By Ashley Johnston

It has been a wonderful time for me getting to know the local fare down here in Chile. Since I am living with a host family, I have been able to eat my way through many of the local dishes, discovering that I like them all (or at least the majority of them I’d ask for again). However, my favorite by far is the em-panada de queso. Empanadas are small, half-moon shaped pies of cheese. This isn’t just any cheese, either; it is local cheese that has such RICH flavor! As a cheese connoisseur, I have to say this is one of the best I’ve ever had. As I devour these fried little creatures, I feel like I’ve gone to heaven and back. Fortunately, along with eating them as often as I can, I have also had the opportunity to learn how to make them, thanks to my host sister!

After settling into my small town life here in the seventh region, in the town of Hualañé, I quickly discovered a small tienda that sells these delicious treats. Unfortunately, it is open

during the weekdays and school hours only. It’s a one-man shop. Since the shop is straight across from the local high school, there’s a long line for these gems every day at 1:30pm. My host mom and I get there early before the line gets too long to be certain we’ll walk away with a bag full of these deliciously hot treats! I’m cashing in on the readily avail-able empanadas de queso now, before I return to the States, since I know I’m never going to en-counter such deliciousness again!

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BEWARE: Things Sold in Bags

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly By Jade Rutledge

I decided to title my food musings in

this way because a) my Chilean host Dad loves this movie and periodically at-tempts to sing the theme song to me and b) I feel like it sums up the diversity of food adventures that come with living with a Chilean family.

First, the good! I have been lucky enough to eat some really good food with my host family! We have cazuela, a stew with potatoes, a pumpkin-like squash, spinach, and chicken in a broth, very regularly and I am always ecstatic when it appears! We also have our fair share of asados, which include over-whelming amounts of foods, many of which are centered on delicious meat from the grill.

Then there’s the bad. More than once, I have been served a naked, un-

adorned hot dog accompa-nied solely by rice. These hot dogs are boiled, not grilled, so there isn’t a lot of flavor in-volved apart from that special hot dog flavor. Or there is the other Chilean delicacy, ham-burger meat-rice mixed with mayo. Mmmmm! Another time, I saw my host Mom sau-téing healthy turkey and tending a pot of pasta on the stove. This looks good and healthy, I think to myself. I return for almuerzo (lunch time) to find that the menu is pasta with turkey in a delicious ketchup sauce. Full on, straight up ketchup slathered pasta. I ate it and imagined marinara the entire time. Not an easy feat.

Last, the ugly. One of my fa-vorite meals wasn’t the prettiest. Lobsters (or langostas en español) are caught on the coast of Chile off of Robinson Crusoe Island. They are ugly suckers, but they

do taste good. They also take a good hour per lobster to extract all the meat. But, once you do all the work, the only thing you have to do is stuff a beautifully ripe avocado with lobster meat topped with, you guessed it, mayonnaise. Plus, cracking lobster shells with rocks and getting sprayed with lobster juice was a good bonding experience with my fam-ily. The meal was super rica (yummy)!

ANATOMY OF A COMPLETOANATOMY OF A COMPLETOANATOMY OF A COMPLETOANATOMY OF A COMPLETO

(we’ll show you how to make it… figuring out how to eat it is up to you!)

PAN (or bread) will be your first line of defense.

VIENESA some-

where in there, there is an actual hot dog.

TOMATES diced. I highly recommend those from Limache!

PALTA (avocado). Smash it up and layer it on!

MAYO as a general rule, the slathering of mayo should be roughly the size of your forerm.

KETCHUP y MOSTAZA optional sidekicks for your truckload of mayonnaise.

1. Mayonnaise 2. Manjar (Caramel) 3. Marmalade 4. Yogurt 5. Pickles 6. Ketchup 7. Mustard 8. Shampoo 9. Lotion 10. Meat 11. Seafood 12. On the rare occa-sion, Horse

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TRAVEL STORIES

On the Road

¿Dónde Estamos? By Ashley Johnston

Once upon a time, fellow volunteer,

Matthew Duong, and I decided to go to the rodeo! Little did we know that we had quite the experience ahead of us, while we attempted to get to Rancagua! Matt and I first met in Curicó, where we bought tickets for a bus that went to

Santiago. We asked the attendants at the booth if it would be stopping in Ran-cagua along the way. They said yes. So, we got on the bus and before long, the bus attendant motioned us to the front. The bus literally had stopped along the highway, at some toll booth, and then they told us we were ‘here’ and that we were to get out!

Although I thought my Spanish was decent, it clearly failed me; we were lost.

Matt and I looked at each other like, ‘Umm… so… what just hap-pened?’ as we moved our way to the side of the road after jumping through three lanes of highway traffic. While pondering upon what to do, we met a random guy on the side of the road, and found out we were dropped off too early. Due to the road splitting in two, that’s why we were dropped off in the middle of the highway. Wouldn’t it have just been easier if the company in Curicó told us the bus doesn’t ACTUALLY go to

Rancagua? I couldn’t help but think to myself!

After waiting for fifteen minutes, a bus finally pulled up to the toll, to pay the fare, and the random guy went over to the driver and asked if we could all get on. So away we went! Matt and I headed to the two empty seats in the back—conveniently enough next to the bath-rooms. The guy walked back towards us, and we were thinking he was looking for a place to sit as well, since he had his bag and some baskets with him (we had been trying to figure out what was in them since the first moment we asked him for help on the road), turns out he was sell-ing things on the bus! He walked back towards Matt and me and handed each of us a pastry. It was a pretty tasty random treat, from some random guy in the mid-dle-of-nowhere-Chile! Finally, after about five minutes of being on the bus, we fi-nally got off at the right spot, found the rest of group of travelers, and we contin-ued on to the rodeo!

16

Mendoza, Argentina By Matthew Duong

One of the great things about living in Chile is its proximity to some excel-lent travel destinations. In May, we all traveled to Mendoza, Argentina, for a weekend away.

Argentina is a renowned tourist destination that had been on all of our travel wish lists long before we set foot in South America - and we were deter-mined to see the country before the year 2012 commenced, as the impend-ing Mayan apocalypse would make a future trip difficult, if not impossible.

Argentina is also relatively cheap, at least in comparison to Chile. More importantly, it also afforded me the opportunity to introduce my favorite Chilean joke to a brand new audience:

'What do you call a Chilean with a rub-ber toe?’ ‘Roberto!’

Mendoza is a beautiful city, pos-sessed of a certain relaxed charm and famed for its fine wine and chocolate. Surrounded by a picturesque country side dotted with vineyards, our trip to Mendoza was a perfect chance for us to sample the local Argentinean fare.

In order to arrive in Mendoza, one must catch an overnight bus from Santi-ago over the majestic Andes. The bus snaked its way along a very scenic road high through the mountains and we took in the breath taking views.

On our arrival in Mendoza we quickly found that contrary to its name, the city has its fair share of female deni-zens who are indeed awake and alert. First up on our itinerary was a bicycle wine tour. We had a fantastic day lei-surely cycling through the country side,

stopping by the Mendoza vineyards and soaking in the warm Argentinean sun. By the end of the day, we were all thoroughly happy and content. The wine, of course, had nothing to do with it.

The next day we strolled through the enormous Mendoza city park and stopped by its bustling street markets which sell all manner of interesting knick knacks. Later that night, we vis-ited the local Mendoza bars and restau-rants. I finally sampled an Argentinean steak and was not disappointed.

And just like that, our memorable trip to Mendoza was over. A long ride back to Chile awaited us. Shuffling onto our buses, our faces flushed with fond memories and just a trace of Men-doza wine, we bid goodbye to Argen-tina with a smile.

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Glimpsing the Life of a Poet By Jade Rutledge

A few weekends ago, I went on a pil-grimage to the house of Pablo Neruda in Isla Negra. It is a tiny town about an hour and a half from Valparaíso. Years after Neruda died, a foundation created to pre-serve his legacy converted his houses into museums for the public. He was a famous collector, so his houses were very mu-seum-like to begin with, and his houses have been left almost exactly as they were when he lived in them. During his life, Pablo amassed a ton of oddities and an-tiques from all over the world. You could spend hours looking at every little, intri-cate object that filled his cluttered, cozy homes. For someone who admittedly loves looking at other people’s stuff (I will look in your medicine cabinet when I go to your house), it is a really fun place to visit!

I didn’t know before I came to Chile, but Neruda was a political figure in Chile during his lifetime and was a foreign am-bassador to many different countries. Dur-ing his travels, he would collect objects from all his favorite locations. He had three houses: one in Valparaíso, one in Santiago, and his main house in Isla Negra.

Upon arrival, you realize there is not much to the town apart from his house, which is on a hill overlooking the ocean. He bought a normal sized house on the beach and built this sprawling, whimsi-cal, castle-like villa. It is reminiscent of a drawing you might find in a Dr. Seuss book.

I called ahead for a tour in English. Due to the fact that I was the only Eng-lish speaker visiting at that time, I re-ceived a private tour of the house. I think I may have offended the tour guide right away by asking where she was from. It turned out that she was Chilean and seemed to have a lot of na-tional pride. As it were, she kind of rushed me through the house in 30 min-utes. In that time, I let my eyes wash over a giant shell collection, ship in a bottle collection, ship figurehead collec-tion, spirits bottle collection, mask col-lections, many hand crafted, unique in-struments, pipe collections, and more!

Although the tour of the inside was fast, you can lurk about the grounds and the beach as long as you want, so I lin-

gered over exploring the outside of the house. You can’t take pictures from inside the house, so I only took pictures through the windows (which can really make you feel creepy).

Neruda had a weird sense of humor. For example, he loved the ocean despite the fact that he had no desire to go on a boat. He solely wanted to look upon it from the safety and comfort of his home. So, he had a boat on dry land outside his house where he would entertain friends and look at the ocean! Visiting the museum is a great opportunity to look inside a fa-mous poet’s house and wonder about what inspired his life and his poetry.

The beach of Isla Negra is beautiful in a haunting, wind swept sort of way. The day I went was cool, rainy day which suited the rocky beach perfectly. I spent hours walking along the beach looking at shells, plants, rocks, and seaweed. Regret-tably, there is no good sea glass, which I adore, but the seaweed is cool looking and there were a lot of interesting plants to in-vestigate. I went on the trip alone, which was a really good experience (despite the fact that I missed the first bus there and felt like an idiot. I guess it was a good learning experience, right?) I did a lot of reflecting while strolling along the Pacific Ocean. I was able to think a bit about my life and wonder about my path, which hasn’t got-ten any clearer as of yet… but, I started trying to figure out my life, which is a good start. I think Pablo would be proud!

TRAVEL

MUST SEES

IN CHILE

[] Torres del Paine

and Patagonia [] San Pedro de

Atacama [] Pablo Neruda’s

Three Houses [] Cerro La Cam-

pana in Olmué [] Valparaíso and

Viña del Mar [] Nightlife in

Santiago [] Vineyards in

Maipo [] Pucón [] Island of Chiloé [] Tierra del Fuego [] Copper Mine of

Chuquicamata [] Rapa Nui

(Easter Island)

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FINAL THOUGHTS Saying Goodbye...

My Time in Chile By Matthew Duong

Summing up my experience in Chile is a difficult thing to do. It only seems a week ago that I arrived in Santiago: appre-hensive, jet lagged and excited for the ad-venture ahead.

In the past few months, I have grown to love my small town of Molina—with its quiet plaza, stunning nearby scenery, and its roving packs of canine food-bandits. My host family has shown me nothing but kindness, love and a superhuman, Gan-dhi-like level of tolerance for my atrocious Spanish. And I have also grown to thor-oughly enjoy Chilean food and Chile's colorful culture (completos and reggaeton notwithstanding).

There have been countless other things that have made this experience wonderful, but if I were to be asked to identify the two things I will remember most fondly when I return to Sydney, this is what I would say: 1. My teaching experience!

Have you ever felt the thrill of walk-ing into a silent classroom full of utterly disciplined Chilean students? Ever felt the rush of teaching students who unques-tionably obey your every command? No? Neither have I!

But it is precisely the unpredictability and spontaneity of teaching in Chile that has made it so memorable and fun. My students are so full of life: funny, gregari-ous and kind hearted kids. Everyday their sense of humor and verve make me laugh. Molina is a town not without its socio-economic problems, and many of my stu-dents come from deeply disadvantaged backgrounds—yet despite all this, I find them to be unrelentingly enthusiastic and brave. I will always remember the great fun we have had together and all the times they have laughed with (at?) me. 2. My fellow volunteers!

For some of you, the articles you have been reading in this newsletter may be the only contact you have ever had with my

fellow volunteers, and it might be hard for you to discern exactly what kind of people they are solely by reading their writing. I don't presume to underestimate their

writing skills, but it would take a fine au-thor indeed to accurately convey what a fantastic collection of people they are.

Though they come from an array of different backgrounds, every one of them is an immensely intelligent, passionate, fun loving and kind person who came to Chile compelled by a sense of social jus-tice. We bonded immediately and I am fortunate to now count some of them among my closest friends. The fun and laughter we have shared together will be some of the things I will cherish most when I return to Australia. I am honored to have spent time with such a great group of people, and have (almost) even forgotten the fact that they are all Ameri-cans. So this article is my 'thank you' to you guys! It has been a blast!

Until Next Time... By Lindsay Keene

This journey to Chile has come to mean more to me than I could ever put down on a single page. Volunteering in Chile has been a time of endless chal-lenges, thoughts, and changes. It has also been a time of immense joy, laughter, and love.

As a country, Chile is indescribably beautiful. In my short time here, I have come to know the sights and sounds of a small town called Villa Alemana. I have lived la vida chilena. The people I have come to know here, my host family, my students, and my fellow WorldTeach vol-unteers have left an amazing impression on my life.

I have been to many places, and seen many things in this country. And yet , it is the mornings right here in Villa Alemana, that are my favorite. As the fog rolls in off

the ocean, the sun rises behind the moun-tains near my house. I sip my coffee and bundle up in layer after layer and troop off to school with my crazy funny family. And even though the mornings are cha-otic and cold, it is the time where this fam-ily from Chile, feels like my family. At school too, I have yet another family—of eager and intelligent kids, who surprise me every day with their energy and en-thusiasm. It is in those moments that I understand what this time for me has been about. All of it comes back to the connections I have made with others. The fact that even in a country where I hardly speak the language, I can belong to some-thing.

And of course, there is always the WorldTeach family. A group of people I have come to know and love and will miss very dearly. They are people unsurpassed in their integrity, spirit, and soul...okay okay, they are also hilarious and incredi-bly fun! They are the greatest – and so, my final thoughts really come back to the sin-gle emotion of gratitude. For the people and the places that have changed me, for the opportunities I have had to serve oth-ers, and for the time I was given to be a part of something greater than I alone. Life is a journey after all, so here’s to mak-ing it count—one day at a time.

18

“…My students are so full of life: funny, gregari-ous and kind hearted kids. Everyday their sense of humor and verve make me laugh…”

Page 19: SSLC July 2011

LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF SSLC

COMING IN NOVEMBER 2011!

Please direct all questions and comments to [email protected].

Eva Cappuccilli Jean Dick

Matthew Duong

Gabriela Garcia Monica Griffith Ashley Johnston

Lindsay Keene Ryan Mosser Jade Rutledge

Max Shapiro Chelsea Snell Heather Tang

CONTRIBUTIONS BY:

Translation from the cover:

“Someday, somewhere — anywhere, unfailingly, you'll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest

or bitterest hour of your life.” —Pablo Neruda

WorldTeach Chile, March 2011


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