English Classes

A couple of exchange students and I have started helping out with an English project in an all girls public school in San Bernardo. In Chilean public schools, they don't begin teaching English until 5th grade. However they're trying to start earlier and in this school they just started an English program for 1st-4th grade. The English teacher asked for us to start coming to ask as a kind of inspiration for the girls, so they can see people who actually know how to speak English.

the 4th grade class, me, and my friend Warren

I go two days a week to a class of 1st graders and 4th graders. Its been an absolutely amazing experience. My gringo friends and I are literally like superstars in the school. During the break time at least 50 girls will come up screaming and latching onto us, trying to give us hugs and kisses. They all actually asked for our autographs. It was so insane that we had to be moved into the principal's office, and even in there all of the girls had their faces pressed against the window trying to see us and were banging on the doors to try to get in. They were also obsessed with my hair and eyes, saying "dame tu pelo!" (give me your hair). 

This school is SUCH a different experience from my Chilean school. I go to a really expensive Catholic private school that is one of the best in the area. In general, Chilean public schools are absolutely horrible. This all girls one is one of the better ones, and its still pretty bad. It lacks good teachers, supplies, and has basic infrastructure problems. But the girls are absolutely incredible, they are all so excited to see us and are incredibly eager to learn English. Its amazing being able to help people :)

Exchange Students

Some exchange student made this and its been going all around the exchange groups on facebook, its absolutely perfect :)

I am an exchange student:
How are you gonna know what a dream is...if you've never completed one.
How are you gonna know what an adventure is...if you never undertook one.
How are you gonna know what anguish is...if you never told your family and friends "see you soon" with your eyes full of tears.
How are you gonna know what desperation is...if you never arrived in a place, alone, withou...t understanding anything the others were saying
How are you gonna know what it means to miss someone...if you've never been away from home
How are you gonna know what diversity is...if you've never shared under the same roof with people from all over the world
How are you gonna know what tolerance is...if you've never had to get used to something different, even if you don't like it.
How are you gonna know what independence is...if you've never had to make decisions for yourself.
How are you gonna know what it means to grow...if you never quit being a child to start in a new direction.
How are you gonna know what disability is...if you've never had to urge to hug someone, but the computer screen got in your way
How are you gonna know what distance is...if you've never looked at a map and said "Wow, I'm far"
How are you gonna know what a language is...if youve never had to learn one to make friends
How are you gonna know what patriotism is...if you've never shouted "I love my country" holding a flag in the hand.
How are you gonna know what a party is...if you've never traveled hours to go to one
How are you gonna know what true reality is...if you've never had the opportunity to see many different ones so you can create your own.
How are you gonna know what an opportunity is...if you've never taken advantage of one
How are you gonna know what pride is...if you never felt it for yourself when you realize what you've accomplished.
How are you gonna know what it means to seize the moment...if you've never seen how time passed through your hands with great strides
How are you gonna know what a friend is...if the circumstances never taught you which ones are real
How are you gonna know what a family is...if you've never had one that supported you unconditionally
How are you gonna know what your boundaries are...if you've never passed them to see what lies beyond.
How are you gonna know what money is...if you never had to manage it to get along.
How are you gonna know what imagination is...if you've never thought about the moment you get back home
How are you gonna know what the world is...if you never were an EXCHANGE STUDENT.

And lastly,

"You know that being an exchange student is taking years off of your life, but you're living more in one year than many live in ten."

Miss/Love

Things that I miss in the US:
-my family & my friends (obviously)
-my dog
-being able to drive
-being able to leave the house alone
-my mom's food
-not being catcalled
-salad dressing
-my own room
-free refills
-how safe my town is
-free water
-spicy food
-working
-real milk

Although most of the things I miss about the US are pretty small, its still makes it really difficult. Like when all I want is to go on a run outside but I can't because its too dangerous. But I just have to keep reminding myself about all of the amazing things in Chile and how incredibly awesome my exchange is.

Things I LOVE about Chile:
-my friends
-the other exchange students
-my host family
-parties
-manjar <3 (like caramel only a million times better)
-empanadas
-reggaeton
-chorripan
-not doing anything productive during school
-having a nana (maid) (I don't have to cook, clean, or do laundry, woop woop!)
-bread (love/hate relationship-its a little too much)
-having 4 meals a day
-dancing all the tme
-driving next to the Andes mountains every day
-having two summer vacations in one year

Exchange is really hard. Every day is a challenge and I have to think about EVERYTHING. I'm tired all of the time because of talking in Spanish (its like I'm in school 24/7-only way more fun). My host family is absolutely amazing, but its still difficult living with a family that isn't your real family.  Most problems that I have I have to solve on my own (and in Spanish) and can't simply go and complain to my mom. Making friends is still a challenge but its not very hard because people here are so welcoming (and my classmates are absolutely amazing). There are definitely times when I would give just about anything to be able to see my family for a day, but I never want to leave Chile. In these past two months I've had some of the most incredible experiences in my life.

I LOVE MY LIFE.

Concepcion

This weekend was a 4 day weekend because of Halloween (which they don't really celebrate) and some other holiday. I went to Concepcion, a city 5 hours south of Santiago on the coast, with my host family and with Macie. The south of Chile is much more relaxed, less crowded, and really really beautiful.

In 2010, Concepcion was hit by a really horrible earthquake and you can still see the effects, There are a lot of parts that are almost completely destroyed or just trashed.

the beach

Sofi, Macie, Ricardo, Me, Nicolas

On Monday we had a huge family reunion on the farm with all of the extended family, more than 50 people. We ate more than I previously thought was humanly possible, climbed some hills, picked strawberries, are some more, and just hung out with all of the family.

view from a hill

Halloween was weird, no costumes, no trick or treating, no carving pumpkins, overall a little sad. But I celebrated by going to my first disco with Macie and one of my host cousins, so better than nothing!

Adios IVº Medio!

Last week was the final week of classes for IVº Medio (the senior class). But in December they have the PSU, which is the Chilean equivalent of the SAT only its basically the only thing that universities look at, so even though they have technically graduated high school, they still have to study for over a month which kind of sucks.

Its a really big deal when IVº Medio leaves, especially because my school is so small and they have all gone to school together for their entire lives. The graduating class was around 30 people! There was a big going away celebration with the entire school. On Friday we had 'alianzas' where the school was split into two teams and competed in mini competitions just for kicks. My class also made a dance for IVº Medio that most of the high schoolers performed, complete with neon shirts and face paint. The teachers also made a dance of IVº Medio, their own rendition to cats which I originally thought was a joke (the combination of seeing all of the teachers decked out in skin tight black clothes with cat tails and attempting to sing in English).

me and my classmates

teacher's dance

It was a really different experience seeing the senior class leave here. It was basically the same process as CHS, only a lot smaller and more personal. Instead of yearbooks, the student council made notebooks that everyone wrote in. The teachers gave a mini speech for every member of the senior class. There was a 'king' and a 'queen' for the senior class that was simply announced during school. Overall, it was just really 'cute'.  :)

Normal life

This weekend Macie came over to my house to spend the night! Saturday we hung out with my host brother Tomas and my friend Agustin and made pizzas and played carioca (a Chilean card game)

Sunday we hung out, skyped with my host brother in Germany, tried to watch Mean Girls, went to Santiago and walked around a park then went shopping, and finally ate at McDonalds. And a random lady in McDonalds walked up to us and asked "Do you guys want these french fries? My son doesn't want them..." so we got a free thing of giant fries from McDonalds, being a gringa here rocks.

Overall my life here is getting more normal, which is nice. School, hanging out with friends, parties, eating more pan than I previously though was humanly possible...I've also started running with my friend Emily (another exchange student in my school from the US) to get in shape for upcoming trip. In a month we're going to Torres de Paine, in Patagonia (the way far south of Chile) for a week with our exchange program. We're trekking/backpacking everything, 8 hours of walking every day. And considering we do absolutely nothing right now we're attempting to get back in shape.

Much love from Chile!

More Exchange Students (:

Have a new exchange student in my school! Christina (Tina) from Germany. We're now both in Tercero Medio, which means we have all of our classes together. It's amazing! I still can barely understand anything in school, thus it can get incredible boring. Because Tina and I know almost the same amount of Spanish, we can talk practice with each other during school. Its great to have another exchange student around. And this week I was in Cuarto Medio (the senior class) because my curso was in Easter Island for a study trip (I'm going in April with my exchange program). Shout to IV Medio for everything!

This weekend my friend Macie, from North Carolina, came over for most of the weekend. We flew together from Atlanta to Santiago and have been talking a lot on facebook since and decided to finally meet up again. It was such a blast. We are practically gemelas (twins), with the blonde hair and blue eyes, and we have so much in common. Its amazing to have someone to talk to about all of the homesickness (we've both been hit pretty hard) and small frustrations with everything. And like Tina and I, we know the same amount of Spanish so we can practice with each other. We get along SO well, its awesome :)

Saturday there was a giant chorriparty at my house with all of the companeros of my host brother. Its basically a cookout with chorripan, kind of like sausauge, its absolutely amazing. Then went to a party and Macie slept over.

My host brother Alvaro finally left for his exchange to Germany (only 2 months late). He has been absolutely amazing and has helped make my first month and half of exchange incredible. Its really sad to have him go, especially because I don't know for sure when I will be able to see him again (I cried my eyes out in the airport), but its time for his exchange to begin. Te quiero Alvarito y gracias por todo!

Un beso! <3