Que linda la cueca de mis alumnos!

Actualizaciones

1. I've been thinking more about what i will do after this program. I got an ambitious wind a few weeks ago and have been thinking more seriously about getting my masters, possibly to study ESL (english as a second language instruction) at UT the next fall semester. I have been preparing my essay, contacting old professors and mentors for letters of recommendation, and asking my mother to order more of my GRE test scores. Just because I apply, doesnt mean i'll go or go right away. Im still considering my options. I might get a job in Chile. I might get a job working with international students at a university in the US. I might find another teaching job in Austin. I might just find something else along the way, between now and then.

2. I have actually found a few good Chilean friends with similar interets: intellectual-artist-musicians-film makers. They only speak Spanish so it has been great practice for me. And I still see my best buds Nicole and Joseph all the time. Good friends and family here definitely make this place feel like home.

3. I'm getting out more (the weather is finally nice!). I go out every day during the week to walk in the sun with my ipod for at least an hour or two. Sometimes I have a destination (ie. meeting up with friends for coffee) and sometimes I dont. Last weekend I went out to the town festival and then out dancing. I will be going out this weekend to see one of my new friends DJ at a club.

4. Im becoming more involved in the community. Ive been to local bball and soccer games, choir practice, church services, ...ive done pretty much anything a local does. I'm going to join a gym soon and next month, I plan on taking art or cooking lessons. This is the difference between being a tourist and a temporary Chilean!

5. Everything is finally easier: speaking Spanish and teaching.

6. Last but not least: My parents are coming to visit! I am really excited to show them around Curico, introduce them to my Chilean family, and travel with them. It should be a very nice and funny visit (Mom and Dad, i hope you are studying your spanish!) I plan on taking them to the see the beach, a winery, waterfalls, and a cute german town. I even got permission to skip 4 days of class. (My students are really gonna miss me!)

La Cueca

Elisa wants to teach me the national dance of Chile, La Cueca, before their independence holiday on the 18th of September. There will be a week of festivities. I can't wait!

Here is a taste of my home life in Chile:

You will have to turn your head sideways to see it!

Dialogos!

We didn't place at the dialogue tournament, but i am still very proud of my students! They worked very hard! Their pronunciation improved so much!

It was a good learning experience for me in how to coach, deal with competitions (i went to beat up the judges afterwards) and encourage students when they are disheartened.

It's funny how teenagers can both hurt you and make you smile. My challenges with adolescents.

This week has been a roller coaster ride for me, emotionally. I am getting more attached to some students and more annoyed with others. I am starting to build relationships with classes because I am becoming confident with my Spanish, and yet at the same time, i am easily frustrated when I cant explain myself. There is still a language barrier.

Things I love about my students:
Their astounding interest in me and the USA
Their energy and sense of humor
Their ability to ask absurd questions
Their oblivion to my awkwardness and dorkiness
Their greetings with kisses and hugs
When they leave me notes or make me drawings

Things that bother me about my students:
Their short attention spans (roughly 5 min) and how they easily allow things to distract them from learning (crushes, phones, notes, someone hiding your backpack, music with "hidden" headphones, card games, friends looking in our window, friends that stop by the class to hang out (what class are they suppose to be in anyway? i don't know!)...etc etc the list goes on)
Their constant chatter or rough play-fighting
Their disrespect to my things (i lost my tape and found it in a girl's bag), to the classroom (writing on desks), and to other students (when they make fun of the chubby girls)
Their forgetfulness and apathy (forgetting how to enter my classroom, how to listen to each other's talking, or how to complete an assignment)
Their laziness.

There was one point today where i actually refused to teach to one of my classes. I said softly, "bueno. no quiero ensenar mas" and i sat down at my desk and took a deep breath. I simply could not get their attention. They were too round-up. They didn't want to learn so i thought, *why should i force them?* I was frustrated with them earlier for entering my room when I had my previous class and had yelled at them. I was tired. I did not want to shout anymore.

I sat and watched them.

The class was successfully entertaining themselves, clueless to the fact that I was silent and refusing to teach. I think they assumed I wanted them to play. The boys were chasing each other around the room, hiding backpacks in corners of the room or even behind my desk. The girls were playing card games or texting on their cell phones. Some of the students even came over to try and play with me. They were completely oblivious. They had no idea that there was more to do. They were the ones that were missing out! They could have been learning!

It all just made me laugh. I remember what it's like to be a teenager. These kids weren't "bad kids". They just weren't motivated. They are lazy, carefree, curious, and playful. They only think about themselves and their hair and their crush and how they look to others.

I made a spreadsheet to record a grade for every course each week. I will be grading them on behavior, participation, and cleanliness of the room. The class with the highest points every week will get a class reward. The class with the highest points at the end of the year will win a party!

Obviously, this class scored very low today. After they ran out, each giving me a kiss goodbye, I looked at the remains of what appeared to have been caused by a tornado. Hopefully the class will recognize their low score compared to their fellow classmates and adjust their behavior accordingly next week.

(the class that didnt know i was angry with them)

My following class were angels. They listened, they participated in the dialogue, and they created a drawing and poem in English about their "Future Self". They were even able to work while listening to Reggaeton, the dance music that should be the soundtrack of their lives.

Sometimes you just have to let kids be kids, or...let teenagers be teenagers.

I just made a website for my English classes.

http://alessandrienglishclass.blogspot.com/

Check it out!

Cumpleanos de los Viejos!

Sergio turned 77 yesterday and Haydee turns 71 on Monday. So, the family and I celebrated both of their birthdays today with appetizers, a huge meal and 2 cakes.



(Sergio and Haydee opening gifts i gave them. between them sits a granddaugher)

I asked Sergio what he usually does for his birthday every year and he said not much.
"Cada ano es un ano menos" (Every year is a year less)

Then, he spoke of how numbered his days were and that at this age, he must walk holding the hand of Jesus. His words weren't heavy or melancholy, they were simply a wise reflection. Sergio doesn't fear death because he believes in an impeccable afterlife. His faith keeps him strong and joyful. God is in his thoughts, his singing, his words, and his actions. I witness this daily and yet, he sometimes still blows me away by his humility, patience, and love for others. Sergio is a great man of God.

I am understanding old age the more I live in this house. And I can see more of the beauty with age. Also, I have been more comfortable with confronting the idea of death, like how I can now find peace at the cemetery.

I am very lucky to be living with elderly people and working with children. I still have a lot to learn from the old and the young about life.

El cementario feliz de Curico:

I take many strolls through this cementary. It isnt eery at all. It is lively and brings me at peace with the world.

They even sell flowers, candles, popcorn, and other snacks outside the walls.

El primer dia de primavera!

The first sign of spring in Curico! :)

Me thinking *I'm way too cool for my students*

Miss Corissa wedged between two fists

I stopped a real fist fight at my school today between two of my 8th grade students. The bell had just rung to signal the ending of "recreo", our 30 minute break, when I came across the boys. I witnessed another professor in the process of calming the two down. The teacher left a second later to go get "back up" or grab the "inspector" (guy that handles discipline) to deal with the two. At this moment, the two went at it again.

All of my students in this period were returning from break and were in the hall spectating the fight, yelling and encouraging. In a split second i realized, "hey I'm their teacher. I must intervene..and save the day!" I can be the "peace-maker!" My heart began to pump at an abnormally fast speed and i jumped in between the boys.

"Nada mas!" "Que paso con Uds?" "Tu vaya a la oficina" ...."Estas bien?"

I broke them up, sent them to cool off, and then comforted them like a mother.

The best part about this exciting event was that the boys returned to my class 30 minutes later (after they received a stern talking-to by the inspector), ...my class was in the middle of learning the lyrics to "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt. We were all belting out the lyrics. How ironic to find the two belligerent boys singing such a romantic song, so soon after their fight. They both left my class calm. However, i think they were sent home soon afterwards.

I am happy that the students respected me enough to stop fighting when I stepped in between them. I realized that I am a much bigger role model for these students than I imagined. I don't only teach English, I also teach about things such as openness, esteem, and humor; friendship, peace and love.

My Chilean students come from broken homes and need to be loved. Just like the students I've taught in the States.

Ski weekend with the stars.

I went with my friend Joseph and his family to the mountains this weekend. We left on Friday night with 2 trucks packed with food, drinks, ski apparel, and kids. One car had Joseph's sister's family, Joseph and I. The other car had the family of Joseph's sister's friend. (wow! my english is terrible now!) The father of this family was the manager of the ski range and owned the cabin where we would stay for the weekend.

The air was frosty as we approached the top of the mountain and the snow was as hard as ice. On our climb up the mountain, one of the trucks (with me) couldn't climb any further because it didnt have 4 wheel drive. The truck with the other family continued on without us. It was about 12am at the time of our car trouble.

Joseph was asked to jump on the bumper as we drove in reverse in an attempt to soften the snow and help us on our climb. But to no avail. So i held one of his nieces' tight as the two hiked off in the snow to pursue help. We waited and waited as the car shook softly from the heater. We applauded their bravery when they returned in another truck, attached us to their rear bumper with a chain, and dragged us up the mountain to our private cabin.


There was about 15 of us staying in the cabin that weekend. The cabin had tiny bedrooms, one bathroom, and one main room. One room slept a professional ski couple from Spain. The two other rooms slept the manager's kids (6 of them or so), the manager and his wife. The rest of us stayed on the floor of the main room, the same room where we all ate for every meal. So it was cozy alright. But i loved how lively the weekend passed....kids running in and out or playing "Uno"and the adults cracking jokes or sitting around chatting. And we all had plenty of fun in the snow. The cabin served as a public resting ground, to grab a snack or pee before heading back to ski.

Even though I slept terribly every night (due to men snoring), I still had the energy to ski and run around with the kiddos. We skied Saturday and Sunday, and I had many hilarious falls. Often, i would fall when i wasn't even in motion (attempting to mount a ski lift, etc). It never hurt to fall because the mountain had a powdery blanket of snow. It was always funny.

What was special about this ski resort was that it was private so there was only about 100 people skiing on this mountain. Muy tranquilo. There was the Andes in the backdrop, quaint multicolored cabins, beautiful sunshine, and wonderful company. Everyone seemed to know each other. It was like I found a secret ski club in Winter Wonderland.

On Saturday night, we all had a huge barbecue. We drank beer, cooked meat around a fire, and got silly. The kids played in the snow and the adults played ice soccer on the deck. The smell of the food brought out other ski instructors and friends. We all partied under the stars.

The night sky is distinct in the southern hemisphere but i thought, even on this side of the world i can feel a little at home. I recalled the stars of Texas in its vast sky and smiled.

Thanks again to Joseph, his sister's family and Lucho's family (manager) for a wonderful weekend!

Un Desfile

My school is going to be in a parade or "desfile" next Monday on Alameda, our main street in town. Apparently this school spirited event occurs every year and includes many of the schools in the area (mainly public schools i believe..maybe its a requirement i dont know!) The students and professors dress in their sharpest uniforms, all bleached and pressed, and march down the street. Of course, the school bands will lead with drummers, cymbals, and horns.

Yah, i admit, this sounds adorable. And I really can't think of a better way to show off your students all at once. Many people think of Macy's floats, cheering and cute kids on their dad's shoulders. Parades scream "family fun".

But, imagine a school that contains Kindergarten through 8th grade. Imagine a school with severe discipline problems and extreme apathy. Imagine a school where the teachers dislike all the students and the students dislike all the teachers. Ok. that's my school.

For the past two weeks, we have been practicing. "Ensayo para el desfile.

The speakers are plugged into the walls on the second floor and hung out the windows. A teacher calls out "izquierda, izquierda, izquierda, derecho..." into the microphone and the students march around the courtyard in rows 5 students across.

You would think that the students could figure out that they must listen to the beat to be together, but they dont. They try to watch others and figure it out that way. The schools in Chile do not reserve much time for physical eduation, and therefore, many students lack coordination.

So all the teachers, like me, either stand around to watch or the more anal teachers, march along side to straighten the lines. I am very amused by all of this.

Of course, I notice that all 400 of my students hate this. They know its stupid, I know its stupid, ..everyone knows. But, still, teenagers and kids enjoy attention, even in this form: a parade.

I am still somehow a celebrity at the school. So when i come out to the marching practice, they are all excited to see me. My students can not pass by me without waving, or shouting "hello miss!", or whistling when i speak to another male teacher. They try to get me to march with them. Even some of the little kiddos run out of their marching line to give me a kiss on the cheek and then sprint back.

So i like this practice. It makes me feel good that I have a relationship with my students. I will be at the parade to proudly support my new school....y mis alumnos.

snow day photo and yes...it's still cold here!

It has been the longest winter of my life! But at least i saw snow!

The first time since forever

since its snowed in Curico.

Today, one of Elisa's students interrupted class at around 10am to tell me,
"Miss, esta nevando."

We all ran to the window to check it out, and it seemed like the rain was in slow motion, as if it were snow, but the streets were still very dark and wet with rain. The land was too warm for the snow to stick.

But sooner or later the ground became as frozen as the air, and the snow stuck. At this point, I had no control. None of my students have ever seen snow. They went crazy.

"Vaya a jugar". i told them.

It would have been impossible to teach today....todo el tiempo mirando al nieve. Many of the parents came to school to pick up their dear children. The roads weren't safe because snow is so uncommon...people don't know how to drive in snowy conditions. And what's more, the power went off around 11am. Even if i wanted to teach and my students were actually attentive, I wouldnt of had electricity to show the video i had planned for today. (or the heater!)

I had a great bonding day with my students .....watching their faces light up from the snow, shivering with them outside, and escaping "La Marcia" (directora) so we could all go home.

I will see more snow this weekend when i go skiing with my friend Joseph and his family...so for now, im going to take a siesta.

i cooked a texan breakfast feast for my Chilean family!

Migas breakfast tacos, pancakes with marmalade and peanut butter, fruit salad and coffee. mmmmm

peleando la directora...y mis alumnos (pero con papel!)

I had an interested first few days back from my vacation. First, i felt like my tummy was still churning from the numerous bus rides...and no food i ate sat well. Then, I had planning to do for the week following vacation. I needed to sleep. It was hard to get myself motivated, to unpack, and to get out of bed.

But thankfully i didnt have to go to school on Monday, or so i thought....Monday was reserved for a teacher meeting day. Our school would resume on Tuesday. I rested on Sunday and saved all of my work for Monday. I knew I would have sufficient time to complete what I needed to prepare.

But.
I received a call at 9 am Monday morning. The director (or principal) was asking why i wasnt at the meeting. The english professor i work with told me i didnt need to go. It didnt regard me. I can't understand much of the happenings of the school because im new and spanish isnt my first language. The other teachers treat me differently because i'm a volunteer. And I am different. I am not paid; I can only work 25 hrs a week; I have a life (one that is different from their culture and family life); and i speak a different language. The other teachers are intimidated to talk to me. Some even talk behind my back. Also, these meetings arent a part of my responsibility with the program.....so. I was a perturbed to get this call. (not to mention that i needed to convalesce and prepare my lessons)

Also, i thought it was unprofessional of the director to stop the meeting and ask Elisa where I was. Many people at school treat me like I am the daughter of Elisa, never talking to me directly but through Elisa. But out of respect, i made my presence at the meeting anyways.

When i showed up, I realized that the meetings are grounds for complaining. No one bothers to offer a solution. I dont have time for such grumblings, so i left. I would rather use my time preparing for my students. They are my priority.

And if i stayed, would i have understood most of the discussions? no. Would i have been able to offer input? unlikely.

After i left the meeting, I felt relieved. It took guts to show emotion, to not sit nicely against my will. The old Cori would have stayed because it was the "polite thing to do".

I did apologize to the director today for not staying. I explained how i was exhausted from my travels and she understood. She only wishes that I would make more of an impact on the school and the teachers. I agree with this, that I should be more actively involved in the school. I was spending my first month getting accustomed to teaching in a foreign country, speaking spanish, teaching 400 students a week, not having materials, discipline/classroom management, my schedule, ....what else......so i didnt have time to concentrate on the outer workings of my classroom.

Im sorry, but the issue of students running in the hall is the least of my worries.

I will try to make my english club leave a stamp on the school. From the director's requests, i will give my "taller" the project of labeling every item in the school. Also, she wants them to practice the "competitive dialogues", where 2 students can have a chance to win the school an award or trophy at the countrywide tournament in Santiago. These specific dialogues are affective only for pronunciation because the level is far too advanced for my students. I will try to incorporate these out of obligation, but it is better for them to practice dialogues made from our class vocabulary.

Speaking of homemade dialogues, I wrote one for our first week back at class. This conversation reviewed all of the vocabulary I taught for the 4 weeks prior to winter vacation. It was a hit. The kids got really into it. It was great to see that they could put their knowledge into practice.

I knew it would be difficult to make my students work today after a 2 week break. To encourage good behavior, I introduced the incentive: "mystery word". I told them that when i caught the entire class acting good (all participating, working hard, listening, etc) then they would receive a letter. The letters would spell a prize. So once they earned all of the letters, they would earn a prize.

I am a volunteer. I do not have money to buy even 400 pencils or 20 bags of candy! The mystery word was "PAPER".

So when i "caught them" all acting good (which is hard sometimes!), i would say "i like how you are working, you get a letter!" Then the class would learn how i expect them to work.

In the beginning of the class i gave the letters easily. Once they had 3-4 letters, it became harder to earn the rest. I have to say, my students have never been so eager to learn....

It was funny too to hear them guess what they thought the mystery word was:
"papas" (french fries) "party" "pizza" "pisco " (alcohol) haha. many more.

One class was able to earn the paper....fight. It was a riot. I let them fight for the last 5 min of class. Of course, i joined them.

And when it was time for the class to go, they whined and whined. I said, "ok, then help me pick up all the paper!"

They said, "Tia, mira!" (aunt, look!) and pointed.
When i turned my back, they all got me. I WAS HIT with about 20 paper balls.

and i died laughing.

my other half!

i miss Nicole because we were attached at the hip for two weeks straight! I was so lucky to have such a fun and amazing person to travel with. We sure had our good share of laughs...(check out her blog to hear more of our stories in detail)--->

After a long vacation, one usually returns home. However, i returned to my home away from home. Its weird to end your vacation and realize that you are still very far away. Its like when you think you woke up from a dream, but you only dreamed you awoke, and you are actually still asleep. The thought of this made me homesick.

i miss everyone dearly. Even though it may appear im having the time of my life, i still think about home often.

Fortunately, i have great friends like Nicole here to share my experience. And i am very grateful for my parents consistent phone calls and the few friends that drop me a line. much love to you all.

San Pedro de Atacama y La Serena

We made our stops to San Pedro and La Serena but our time was cut short, due to the extended stay in Peru.

San Pedro is a desert town but not the least bit deserted. It draws in tourists of Chile and Europe because of its salt flats, geysers, astronomical tours, and trekking/adventuring trips. Life in San Pedro reminds me of New Mexico, where beauty can be found under all the dirt.

San Pedro has its authentic parts: adobe buildings and dusty smiles. However, some of the city's production seems to enhance the culture, to bring in higher profit. For example, the city has a dance performance every day with a parade.

Many of the restaurants offer vegetarians dishes (and that's not because of the locals!) Some culture is lost when a city is gentrified, but the inhabitants of San Pedro seem to reflect a rare culture of its own, crawling with hippies, artisans, and adventure guides. The nightlife and restaurant spread is comparable to Santiago. I'm surely not complaining.

We rented bikes for 5 hours and rode out to the infamous "Valley de la Luna". The valley looks very much like I would imagine the planet Mars mixed with the sands of Arizona. My shoes are still full of sand.

We had a "lay over" in La Serena for 12 hours. Nicole and I met up with our friend, Warren for the day. We ate seafood, shopped (again!), and visited an archaeological museum featuring pottery of the Incas and one of Easter Island's carved stones.

I am happy to be home in Curico. I have many showers and naps to catch up on!

Peru and its wonders

we made it!

Our climb upto macchu picchu

nicole asked them if they were playing with wood. They told us no, they were fixing their house "opps!!"

Girl on the side of the road selling crafts

Cuzco

Peru isnt for the weak

Nicole and I made our way to our long awaited destination: macchu picchu.
But it wasnt easy.

To get there, we had to pass through high hurdles.

1. 4 terribly exhausting bus rides that totaled to about 30 hrs on the road, For example, one overnight bus that felt more like riding a spinning amusement park ride for 10 hours (and nicole got sick). There was no heat or bathrooms. There wasnt space to stretch your legs. It smelt like vomit and berries, an awful combination. And we circled up mountains until the sun came up.

2. long ticket lines. Many rich europeans or chileans book their travel packages before arriving to macchu picchu. We didnt know how to book tickets in advance. We figured we could march right up to the ticket booth and buy two direct tickets, returning the same day. We ended up
with the last available option, and very expensive. 2way train ride for $100, leaving on sunday and returning on monday

3. money $$ To get to macchu picchu, one must take a train from Cuzco or another city to aguas calientes. You can only reach macchu picchu through aguas calientes. Aguas calientes is a city tucked between soaring, green mountains, much like those seen in the movie Jurassic park.
Its a really quaint town, but very touristy= expensive. We did the best we could to save money. We brought tons of food. We ate tuna sandwiches in the plaza. We stayed in a nice but affordable hostel. We didnt fall for tourist traps. We hiked up macchu picchu instead of taking a
$15 busride.

So it was much more rewarding when we reached the park. Nicole and I began our hike at 5 am. Thankfully we drank mate tea before our climb up the mountain, because we had to pass through the clouds. The area around macchu picchu has the most beautiful view i have ever seen in my entire life. I kept on blinkly in amazement,.... thinking that i would suddenly awake from a splendid dream.

The wait and pain was worth it. We conquered macchu picchu.
(and took many brillant photos to share when we return)

We will make our way back towards home tonight, stopping at one rural town in the desert to relax and see more of God´s splendors in San Pedro.