Saturday, November 24, 2007 Family and Friends, the best way to spend a Saturday
5 am, place closes come outside expecting everyone to be gone, friends sitting outside drinking coronas chatting! Decide to tough it out and wait till the metro opens at 6:30 instead of taking cabs home. Only place open is McDonalds. Everyone gets food, no ice cream, so I just got water.
McDonalds closes at 6 am! Wait half an hour outside the metro
Said goodbye to Nici, she is leaving for San Pedro de Atacama then trip up to Columbia today!
Metro home, Olga laughs and told me she wasn’t worried at all!
Slept for 3 hours, woke up at 10:30 to go to Miguels soccer game
Found out Olga and Mario missed winning the lottery by 1 number out of 6! Instead of 40,000 USD, they get $16!
Soccer game, adorable
Tie 0-0, go to shoot out. Miguel goes first, makes his goal. His team ends up losing
Party afterwards, ice cream
Everyone comes over for almuerzo, talk about how they are all going to drive me to the airport on Dec. 12, which is also Miguel’s birthday. But Miguel has never been to the airport so will be excited to go!
Go to get ice cream with Sara, Courtney, Lorin and Alea in Providencia, sat in park chatting
Came home, slept
Decided to stay in, caught up on blog instead of doing homework!!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007 Fiesta de Despedida- Goodbye Party! Already?
Friday, November 23, 2007 Fiesta de Despedida- Goodbye Party! Already?
Work, Mass
Made friends after mass- 2 brothers, studying Engineering, from the south. Told me I’m a good Catholic (b/c I go to mass) and that my Spanish is really good! Gave them my messenger name.
Almuerzo, to Nuestra Casa to do interviews- really nervous
Went really well. Learned a lot, got good stuff for my investigation. Felt good to know they trusted me, many opened up and told me a lot about their lives. 3 guys have lived on the street all their lives. Incredible.
Rushed home, showered, dressed, Olga convinced me to wear my black flats instead of heels, told Olga not to worry, I might be out late with my gringo friends!
Went to CIEE office for the “Returning Home” workshop
Really helpful to learn about “re-entry” syndrome, reflect about how we’ve changed, what concerns we have about going back, what 3 things we’ve learned
How I’ve Changed:
Concerns I have about going back:
3 things I’ve learned:
1. The importance of language
2. JUST DO IT
3. Importance of my family in my life.
Most important thing I’ve learned while in Chile:
It’s not about what you have
It’s not about what you are doing
It’s not about where you are
It’s all about who you are with
After workshop, to Fiesta de Despedida, Goodbye party
Pisco sours, frutti drinks, wine
Delicious dinner
“graduation” ceremony, gave cards to program coordinators, said goodbye
I got up and asked people, esp the boys, to bring clothes/shoes to CIEE office so I can bring it to Nuestra Casa
Dessert, open bar, pictures, socializing, dancing
Left after midnight, walked to Avaneda Suecia, went to small club, danced the night away!
Nick and I danced with 3 chileans until place closed at 5 am!
Work, Mass
Made friends after mass- 2 brothers, studying Engineering, from the south. Told me I’m a good Catholic (b/c I go to mass) and that my Spanish is really good! Gave them my messenger name.
Almuerzo, to Nuestra Casa to do interviews- really nervous
Went really well. Learned a lot, got good stuff for my investigation. Felt good to know they trusted me, many opened up and told me a lot about their lives. 3 guys have lived on the street all their lives. Incredible.
Rushed home, showered, dressed, Olga convinced me to wear my black flats instead of heels, told Olga not to worry, I might be out late with my gringo friends!
Went to CIEE office for the “Returning Home” workshop
Really helpful to learn about “re-entry” syndrome, reflect about how we’ve changed, what concerns we have about going back, what 3 things we’ve learned
How I’ve Changed:
Concerns I have about going back:
3 things I’ve learned:
1. The importance of language
2. JUST DO IT
3. Importance of my family in my life.
Most important thing I’ve learned while in Chile:
It’s not about what you have
It’s not about what you are doing
It’s not about where you are
It’s all about who you are with
After workshop, to Fiesta de Despedida, Goodbye party
Pisco sours, frutti drinks, wine
Delicious dinner
“graduation” ceremony, gave cards to program coordinators, said goodbye
I got up and asked people, esp the boys, to bring clothes/shoes to CIEE office so I can bring it to Nuestra Casa
Dessert, open bar, pictures, socializing, dancing
Left after midnight, walked to Avaneda Suecia, went to small club, danced the night away!
Nick and I danced with 3 chileans until place closed at 5 am!
Thursday, November 22, 2007 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Chilean Education. Oh yeah, and its Thanksgiving. I forgot.
Thursday, November 22, 2007 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Chilean Education. Oh yeah, and its Thanksgiving. I forgot.
Today began and ended with the two extremes of education.
I started out my day volunteering at the high school.
The teacher Mabel didn’t show up, so I tried to teach them the numbers. Wanted to kill them. Instead ended up talking about Trevor, showed them photo of us.
Left early (i.e. gave up?), went to mass, almuerzo after mass. Had carrot omelet and refused to talk/think about turkey.
After lunch called Trevor, talked to Taylor for a while
Then called the family in California, had a break down. I’m a goose flying alone.
Talked to everyone. Never been so homesick. Wish I was there, know its worth it that I stayed, but can’t help second guessing my decision. Nice to know they are thinking of me and I love the pictures.
In the evening, went to Miguel’s “guitar concert” which ended up being a 3 hour display of every musical group and theater group in the high school. Long, but well worth it. Gave me hope that there is quality education in Chile. Then I realized this type of education is only for those that can afford it. Oh the vicious cycle.
A few interesting points during the concert
1. there choir director is Cuban and at one point he made a side comment that thanks to God here in Chile he is free and can say what he wants. Ironically it wasn’t long ago that Chile wasn’t free. But it was powerful.
2. They sang Amazing Grace, in English. The teacher made a comment that it was ironic that it was in English!
Enjoyed the evening with my Chilean family. I’ve got so much to be thankful for!
Starving by the end of the concert, Evan had cake, ate some on the bus home!!
Olga made me steak, ate at 11 at night! To celebrate Thanksgiving, I ate the rest of my cake with ice cream! A Delicious Chilean Thanksgiving feast!
Today began and ended with the two extremes of education.
I started out my day volunteering at the high school.
The teacher Mabel didn’t show up, so I tried to teach them the numbers. Wanted to kill them. Instead ended up talking about Trevor, showed them photo of us.
Left early (i.e. gave up?), went to mass, almuerzo after mass. Had carrot omelet and refused to talk/think about turkey.
After lunch called Trevor, talked to Taylor for a while
Then called the family in California, had a break down. I’m a goose flying alone.
Talked to everyone. Never been so homesick. Wish I was there, know its worth it that I stayed, but can’t help second guessing my decision. Nice to know they are thinking of me and I love the pictures.
In the evening, went to Miguel’s “guitar concert” which ended up being a 3 hour display of every musical group and theater group in the high school. Long, but well worth it. Gave me hope that there is quality education in Chile. Then I realized this type of education is only for those that can afford it. Oh the vicious cycle.
A few interesting points during the concert
1. there choir director is Cuban and at one point he made a side comment that thanks to God here in Chile he is free and can say what he wants. Ironically it wasn’t long ago that Chile wasn’t free. But it was powerful.
2. They sang Amazing Grace, in English. The teacher made a comment that it was ironic that it was in English!
Enjoyed the evening with my Chilean family. I’ve got so much to be thankful for!
Starving by the end of the concert, Evan had cake, ate some on the bus home!!
Olga made me steak, ate at 11 at night! To celebrate Thanksgiving, I ate the rest of my cake with ice cream! A Delicious Chilean Thanksgiving feast!
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