Spring in Chile

Hola Todos,

I know that as of late, I have been a horrible blogger. This is a long on so hopefully all of you (probably about 3 or 4 people in total) who have been anxiously awaiting an update, here it goes:
(To the right of this post is a photo slide show entitled, Spring in Chile. These photos are from the past few weeks. Click on it and it will open up to a larger window...disfrutan!!!)

My top time consumer right now is school, school and more school. I am in a certificate program which has me writing six page papers every weekend. Long story short, but the program has been somewhat disappointing. Two main reasons are, first, we are doing a ton of work (reading and writing) and very little learning. All of my professors use a lecture style of teaching in which student participation is non-existent. Last semester, the classroom is where I felt my Spanish and understanding of Chilean culture improved greatly. You would think that with a class of 5 people, participation and discussion would be the focus. Anyways, no more whining. I’m a mover and a shaker, so rather than keep complaining about the problems I have with the program, yesterday I went and spoke to our program coordinator. I told her about our issues and we set and appointment to speak with the director next week. Three of the other four students and I are going to explain our frustrations and possible solutions. Wish us luck!!

I have also been very busy with Rotary the past few weeks. Jessica and I went to a Rotary Foundation Conference hosted by our district. My host club President, Lily Castro, gave an amazing speech about the importance of donating to the Foundation. It’s incredible that in a country where there is so much need; people like her recognize that there is greater and/or an equal amount of need in other countries. Jessica also gave a speech detailing what the role of an Ambassadorial Scholar is and the impact the scholarship has had on her. We also went to one of my Rotary club’s meetings just to catch up and hang out. Then we met with several members for once to discuss my home club of Thousand Oak’s visit to Chile. They are so excited (so am I) about the potential of working together on a project.

Tias y Tios is going GREAT!! Our first event was a folkloric theater show and playtime at the Quinta Vergara Museum. The theater show was interesting. It was about a brothel in Valpo. Good music, but prostitution and drunkenness were not themes we expected from a Chilean folkloric show. I think it went over the kids’ heads, but still it was awkward. After the show we had a big pizza lunch and played the M & M get to know you game. The kids were really cute. They kept playing with the stray dogs when people were giving their answers…so easily distracted. We also made our own hoola hoops and did gymnastics.

Our second event was a beach soccer game and movie night. The kids met up with us at our apartment, which if you didn’t know is on the beach. (I know, I’m really lucky) We made a field using cones and played soccer for about an hour and half. Playing soccer on sand is sooo hard! I was wiped out after 10 minutes and made them let me play goalie. After soccer we did a sandwich buffet and watched the Simpson's Movie.

This weekend we will be visiting a local fire station. My good friend Blake, my friend Bre’s husband, is a volunteer firefighter in Valpo and set up an activity for the kids at the station. They will be trying on the uniforms, climbing the trucks and learning about fire safety. I think this will probably end up being the boys’ favorite Tias y Tios event thus far.

Other than the big events, Jessica and I have gone up to the house to check up on the construction projects and visit with Gina. Everything is nearly done. She needs some trinkets here and there, but that’s it. To me it looks like a completely new house on the inside. She and the kids are thrilled with the finished product.

This last week was a big week in Chile: La Semana de Fiestas Patrias. We have the Fourth of July, they have a whole week of celebrating 18 de Septiembre. Jess and I went to spend the holiday with our Chilean family in Santiago. It was a much needed visit after about 3 weeks of non-stop school work. We ate empanandas, chorripan and asado. We also attempted to learn Chile’s national dance, the cueca. I wanted to teach them the U.S. national dance, but sadly we don’t have one. Diego, my one year old Chilean nephew is walking now. When I arrived he was still wearing infant clothes…now he can walk around on his own, oh how time flies!!!

There is much more to tell but this blog is ridiculously long as is and my homework awaits me. Below are some photos from around my hood…spring has arrived in Chile and the sun is shinning and the flowers are blooming!!