Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a couple weeks. It seems like life has been business as usual but I'm surprised every time I upload my pictures at how much is happening.
The pastoral staff asked me to help lead a retreat for the sophomores that took place at Cerro San Cristobol, a beautiful hill in the city. The theme was "A Day in the Life of Jesus" so we started with prayer in this awesome stone chapel.
I was a little nervous about the retreat because the administration was skeptical about my involvement. I had to miss 2 classes, and with Alicia out (her second week of medical leave) the replacement burden was a bit much. I gave a talk (in Spanish, which added to the nerves) about Jesus' healing of the sick outside the city gate. It was a huge success--I made a real connection with the kids and everyone said it was the best part of the retreat. They asked me to come on Octavo Adventura in a couple weeks and I'm stoked.
The next week we had Alianzas, which translates to Alliances, for the anniversary of San Nicolás. There are 2 Alianzas, Black vs. White, Past vs. Future, based on grade level. They compete in sports, dancing, singing, and any other competition you can think of for 3 days to determine a winner. Basically there are no rules for 3 days. I was with Alianza Negra and had a blast.
Everything started with soccer. They insisted I play, so play I did. First organized soccer game for me in 10 years. It went about how you'd expect.
Later we had an obstacle course that involved the kids searching for a key to unlock me from a chair, then I had to bite a hanging apple (which you can kind of see hanging from the goal on the left) without using my hands, then we wheelbarrowed across the field and a student had to climb up a pole to get a flag. Typical Alianzas craziness.
Unfortunately there are no pictures of the 100m slip and slide I was asked to traverse the second day. No rules.
I didn't really understand this part, but they had us come out as princes and princesses and dance 8 bars of a waltz.
Possibly my favorite activity was the dance competition the first day. I wasn't really planning on participating (honestly, I didn't know what I was getting into with Alianzas) but I was volunteered at the last minute, so why not?
The idea was that you had to dance to whatever style of music they played. Salsa, merengue, machata, reggaeton, and cueca (pictured here) were all on the menu. We did the YMCA too, I showed the Chileans the real Village People dance.
They eliminated pairs after each song. We made it to the finals! They announced all the student winners, then said they were going to play one more song just for the teachers. When Gangnam Style started playing, I knew we had it locked down. Apparently word has traveled from Octavo Adventura last year about my love for this dance and we went all out. We won the competition! What a blast.
No one could believe a gringo could dance to Latin music. All the female teachers from the second unit pushed me into a room and asked me to repeat some of my moves. No rules.
The students get really into the competitions. They were working on these dresses for weeks. The one on the left is all tin foil and on the right is all newspaper. There were students painted from head to toe as well. This took place the second morning and it was quite cold. Props to all these kids.
Here I am gearing up for the hip hop battle between the Alianzas. Turned out teachers couldn't participate, much to everyone's disappointment, but I still looked pretty gangster.
Everyone in Chile is a fan of Michael Jackson. I did the original dance to Dangerous with our Alianza (it was awesome) and the teachers did a dance to Thriller that was more about the costumes than the dance. They looked great! I played the part of MJ.
This was such a great experience. It was fun to get to know the kids on another level and express myself through dance and energy instead of Spanish where a lot gets lost in translation.
While we appreciate Chilean food for what it is, every once in a while we get cravings for American food. Our friend Erin found a burger place that fits the bill. Their specialty is the Minnesota-born Juicy Lucy and they actually taste like a burger you'd get in the states. Here is my avocado burger with Gruyere and special sauce. It was delicious.
Last weekend we went on a hike in a park called Aguas de Ramón. It's actually the same hike my friends took when they were here a few weeks ago. It was a nice little hike, and a beautiful park.
We stopped at this waterfall to eat lunch, hiked a little further up the trail, then turned back. It was perfect for a Saturday afternoon.
This is a great picture of the smog that sets over the city during the winter. You can't see a thing, but downtown Santiago is out there somewhere.
Today is my dad's 60th birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! I celebrated yesterday with cake at school. They think that giving us cake makes up for 3 hour meetings on Friday afternoons (hence the Bucky Balls to stay awake). I usually don't eat it but for this special occasion I couldn't pass it up. Thanks for everything dad, congrats on 60!
We have Wednesday off this week, it's kind of like labor day. We're hoping to do something fun so watch for a post in the next week or so!
My friends came to visit!!! They were here from the 29th of March to the 6th of April.
They arrived early Friday morning and after a quick shower and some food (it was hard to find anything open since it was Good Friday) we hopped on a bus to Valparaíso.
Right after we checked into our hostel we decided it was about time for a beer. We went to a bar recommended by one of the workers at the hostel.
I went to high school with Stuart and Zach. We were in the band together and have played a lot (a lot) of cards over the years.
Their girlfriends came too! Laura, on the left, went to Bethel with Zach. Elizabeth and Stuart both went to St. Olaf but didn't meet until they were both working at 3M.
I had heard about the stations of the cross that move through the hills in in Valpo so we hopped over to check it out. There was some miscommunication with the times so we only caught the crucifixion, but it was really cool.
Our weekend in Valpo included a lot of the same things I did with my family, but we did a lot more walking around and just hanging out. Stuart wanted to see the cemetery at the top of Cerro Concepción so we stopped by on the way to Pablo Neruda's house. These balconies made a great stage for a couples photo.
Laura with Neruda. Very artsy.
On Saturday afternoon we went to a famous little cafe to play cards and have some food. We were there maybe 3 hours, it was a blast. We had noticed a cat wandering around the place, and the next thing I knew it was in my lap. It just wanted to play!
This cat got very comfortable. We got a lot of pictures.
We went out to a few live music places in Valpo. Some were better than others. This one, Trova, was a blast. We had some beers, a drink called a Terremoto (Earthquake) and played land mines. It's a game that involves spinning coins. We piqued the curiosity of several locals, it was a blast.
And all of a sudden this happened. The coin just stopped on its edge. Points to Trova for having level tables.
Easter Sunday we went to the Cathedral in Valpo for mass. Zach and I are the only Catholics of the bunch, but everyone wanted to experience the cultural aspect of going to church. We also brought along Oliver, a British chap we met Saturday. The Cathedral was beautiful and the bishop gave a great homily about Jesus' light in our lives in the year of faith.
After church we went to a huge market in a nearby park. We did a quick tour through the fish market which was rather dead given it was Easter Sunday, then headed back to the hostel to pack. Right under the hostel was Color Café, a little bar/restaurant that tapes up anything and everything that patrons want on the walls. Money, napkins, stories, pictures, whatever. There was a band that walked in and started playing traditional Chilean Cueca music. We played cards and ate and had a great time until we had to go catch our bus back to Santiago.
The week pretty much consisted of the 4 visitors doing fun stuff around the city (museums, climbing hills, visiting vineyards, the zoo) while I was working then we'd go out for dinner and do something fun at night. Monday night we got sushi. I'm convinced anything wrapped in avocado makes it ten times better. It was delicious.
After sushi we went out for beers at a local bar. I'm posting this picture because it's a great picture of Stu and Elizabeth and also because it highlights my favorite aspect of my friends' visit. It was just so nice to see them, to have them here and to chat about old times and exciting things to come. It was really a great gift. Thanks for coming guys!
Wednesday night we went out for steak at a place recommended to Zach called Bariloche. The steaks were huge and delicious. A little on the rare side for some in our group I think, but man, I loved it. Palta and Tomate on the side, super Chilean. We also had wine from Morandé, the vineyard my host dad co-founded.
Thursday night we went to see a soccer game, Universidad de Chile vs. Olimpia, a team from Paraguay. Continuing my streak, the home team did not score a single goal. All I want is to see the stadium erupt when their team scores! Final score: 1-0 Olimpia. Not the most exciting game, but we sat in the fans section and they were crazy so it was definitely a good time.
Every Friday during the first break, 9:50-10:05, we have a special breakfast that one teacher prepares. Friday the 5th was my day. I brought ham and cheese sandwiches (traditional Chilean breakfast) and brought olives and made puppy chow for the gluten free folk. The puppy chow was a huge success.
If you're thinking I had a busy week, you're right. On top of my friends here, which was awesome, my boss has been out sick now for 2 weeks and I'm covering nearly all of her classes. And it was my day for breakfast. Busy busy busy!
On Friday we definitely went out with a bang. We walked from their hostel to Bellavista where we went to Galindo, a restaurant that serves traditional Chilean food. We started with Machas a la Parmesana (shown here) which are razor clams with Parmesan Cheese. So good. Some had pastel de choclo, others a dish made with french fries and stewed beef, and I had humitas which were much better in Ecuador than here in Chile.
After dinner we went salsa dancing! It was a blast. I showed them a few basic steps and we danced the night away.
Their flight left Saturday at 8:40 p.m. so we had a lazy day at the apartment by way of an asado. Stuart and Zach have taken quite the liking to choripan and are planning on bringing the idea back to the states. We also made way more meat than we needed so I'm still eating steak sandwiches from last weekend (which I'm not complaining about at all). We sat around, ate food, and talked all day, then caught a van to the airport.
And here they are disappearing into Chilean border control. What a great week!
Not much exciting has been happening since they left. I took part in a fantastic retreat with the sophomores yesterday that I'll discuss in my next post, and we're celebrating Ryan's birthday tonight. Next week is the anniversary of San Nicolás so we have 3 days filled with student and teacher competitions that may or may not include me dressing up like a prince and dancing the waltz. Stay tuned.
I realized today that it's been almost two weeks since my last post. Time has been flying! We've been busy at school which is good. We're getting into a rhythm and anyone close to me knows that when my life has order I'm a happy man.
St. Patrick's Day was quite the event. We went to an Irish bar down the road from our apartment on Thursday. They had live music and dancers four days straight!
Though the Irish pubs celebrate and decorate to the nines, the rest of Chile is pretty oblivious to the holiday. I asked my students about it and they said "oh, yeah, that's the American holiday." So much for the Irish.
As is ChACE tradition, every holiday celebrated in the states that Chileans don't really observe mandates a huge party. So party we did! It was our first big party as the new occupants of the apartment and I'd say it was a huge success. I made puppy chow, it was delicious.
Speaking of the big apartment, they got hardwood floors last weekend and they look great.
Last Tuesday we bid farewell to a ChACEr that just finished her second year of teaching and is headed back to the states. We had an asado on the roof of her building on her last night in town. It had a great view of the city and this super awesome fountain.
Today I got some interesting news. I've learned that as the resident gringo at school that the administration only seeks me out if they want something. Today the principal asked me if I would teach preschool once a week for two hours. Always up for new experiences, I said yes without hesitation. I'm looking forward to the new challenge. This is part of a new program called Early English. San Nicolás has never taught English before first grade and they want the students to have some experience with a native speaker. Ok! I'm planning on lots of American kids shows, dancing, and singing. And games! Oh boy, it will be just like teaching my high schoolers.
Minnesota Friends arrive on Friday! Zach and Stuart, both of whom attended high school with me, will be coming with their significant others, Laura and Elizabeth, to spend Easter and the following week in Santiago. We're starting in Valparaíso for Easter weekend where they have stations of the cross on the beach and burn Judas in effigy. Sounds like a cultural experience! The week after we'll be in the city and activities on the menu include a soccer match and lots of good food and dancing. Check back for details!
Hey everyone! Happy Pi Day! I hear March really came in like a lion for those living in the North. I keep getting updates from Hyland Ski Area that they'll be open for an extra week. Down here we're about to complete our second week of school, and things are going great. I evaluated the 1st graders this week (a perk to being the only native speaker) and met this little guy, Alonso--quite the cutie. He likes to wear my sunglasses.
A great victory today: Lucas, a new student in my 7B class, knows very little English and was nervous coming into the class. He told his head teacher today that he loves my class, that he feels "buena onda" with me. Onda literally translates to wave, like a sound wave. The slang expression means good vibes. I have to say I'm feeling buena onda with all my students. They're great!
Elaine and I have buena onda going on in the apartment too. I was thrilled that she was interested in community cooking. Healthy, cheap, perfect. We trade off shopping on Sundays then cooking Monday through Thursday so we get two nights off a week. Weekends are usually spent out around Santiago with the other 5 ChACErs.
This is the beginning of some delicious chicken alfredo. Good stuff.
Every afternoon I come back intending to finish decorating my room but it still has yet to be completed. I get back around 5:30 and besides eating dinner and watching Criminal Minds (one of the few shows we get in English and I am now hooked on thanks to my host family) I don't really want to do much else. But we have managed to fix leaks in the washer and Elaine's sink, fix my toilet, and keep things clean which are all good things.
On Friday we had a visit from Fr. Tim Scully, the founder of both the ACE and the ChACE programs. If ever a guy had buena onda, this is the one. I have enjoyed mass with this guy on a balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a deck on Lake Michigan, in a living room in Tampa, and now in another living room in Santiago. Our corporal for the offering was the first book he wrote which happened to be on our shelf--"Rethinking the Center." No Pope no rules, right?
We went to a great Italian restaurant called Nolita within walking distance from our place. The meal was fantastic, I will definitely be back. Great wine, great food, and great conversation. Fr. Scully really wants me to get my PhD in math education...we'll see. Right now I'm just having a blast getting to know my kids and teaching some English. Toda buena onda.
The perfect command for the first day of school! I'll admit that starting school in March is a little weird, but I felt very little anxiety today and I think it had something to do with the fact that it isn't August or September. Also I wasn't supposed to have students today, but in typical San Nicolas fashion, I got a call while I was working in the teacher's room saying that I was 30 minutes late for a class that wasn't actually mine. It was fine, we chatted about the summer and learned names. Here is my second bulletin board. I think the turkey was better.
I got around to hanging my map yesterday! I never really understood how art can make you happy (some things that artists come up with just make me puzzled) but now that I have something that reminds me of an exciting trip I kind of get it. I love maps, and this painting reminds me how much of South America I've seen and how much I have left to see. I love it!
The artist was pretty excited about this ship. He told me something about it in Portuguese. I found out quickly that while there are some similarities between Spanish and Portuguese, they're different enough to make no one understand anything. He also talked to me about surfing off the coast of Chile.
I can't get enough of depictions of sunsets over Rio. Cristo, Sugar Loaf, and the beach just make it amazing.
At the suggestion of a few followers, and partly to stay on a more regular sleep schedule, I'm going to drop back to a post a week. I hope to relay great successes and lots of personal learning moments in the coming months! Stay tuned.
