THURSDAY afternoon

So Thursday I went on a walk with my older brother. He is like my personal tour guide of Cartagena. We went to this place called “el atún”. It was so beautiful. You climb down these cliffs and into these rocks. From there you have the most beautiful view of Cartagena. When we got there the waves were pretty good size, so it was fun watching them smack against the rocks. After we hiked back and continued our tour. Im so lucky to have him, he is so patient with me and has the best attitude. Below I have attached some pictures of our walk and of Cartagena.

After our walk we went home and hung out for a bit. And then my brother asked me if I wanted to dance. Confused I looked at him and said “que”. So I guess every Thursday and Tuesday at the public gym they have free dance classes. He said I can dance while he plays basketball. Laughing I told him I would go with him to watch his basketball game, but I would have to observe the class before I joined. I was nervous because I know latin woman can shake it. We got to the gym and Eliseo and I hung out on the bleachers as I checked it all out. The dance class looked so fun! They were rocking out! I wanted to join, but I felt a little embarrassed. But on Tuesday I told my brother I was going to go and that I’m bringing our mama. She said yes so vamos haber….

Afternoon with mis hermanos

Tour of Cartagena

First off I want to say how much I have enjoyed my experience here in Cartagena. My family is so great. My brothers couldn’t be cuter with each other, always watching out for one and other. And my sweet mom, who is so giving and may I say a marvelous cook. She makes these amazing soups like Canzuela de vacuno and Porotos Granados. So good and healthy, me encanta!

Anyway. Today my brothers Hector and Eli took me to see more of Cartagena. Here in Cartagena we have two beaches, playa grande, where my house lies, and down street is playa chica. It was a bright in sunny day so it was nice to get out and see the town. My brother was telling me how Cartagena in the 40’s use to be a place for the “VIP”. Although many of these beautiful sites are abandoned, you can see how this city used to thrive como churches, castles, and other beautiful estates. The president once had a huge house here. Below I took a few pictures so you can check them out. Hoy en día during winter many of the stores and restaurants are closed because there’s not much traffic. But the city flourishes in the summer so they say… so maybe I might have to stay until then.... :) also the surf rocks and the graffit is genial!

Second day with my ALUMNOS

Vida as a teacher….. So today was my second day of class and it was lovely. Once again the kids made me feel so loved. However today I was with younger students. The lower grades in my school have a lot more students like 25-45.

Below is my schedule and I’m going to share some funny things that happened today in each class

1^st period= 8^th grade 

In this class there are many of what we as teachers call “travelers”. Students who get up for no reason, always roaming the class. In the states this would never be tolerated but here its not a big deal.

2^nd period=6^th grade

My babies. Sixth grade is thus far my favorite. Today they kept swarming me asking me a million questions. What is the capital, do you know Micheal Jackson or Brad Pitt? How do you say” me gusta jugar fútbol”.I would move about the class trying to help different  people but I kept finding myself in a huddle of students.

3^rd period=6^th grade S

aSme deal as class before. I noticed that my students have a hard time pronouncing the “j” and it comes out in the sound of “h”. From this I learned that many of the kids like to “hump rope”. I was dying laughing.  Also two students got sent outside for trying to teach my bad words….

4^th period=5^th grade

My little ones,que lindos están. This class for my co-teacher was lost cause. He couldn’t teach them anything because they kept swarming me, but they didn’t give me as much room to breath as the 6^th grade. At times I was feeling claustrophobic. The kept shouting “I love California” and  wanting me to draw them pictures?

5^th period=5^th grade

Same deal. Que bueno!

I think I received over 1000 kisses today. I gotta say, I just love it!

El Colegio Particular de Cartenga

I never thought I would know what it was like to be famous…But here at El Colegio Particular de Cartenga this is how the receive me…the stares, the smiles, the giggles, the screams, the whispers….Students constantly, I mean constantly, coming up to me kissing me and hugging me. The small ones stand in front of me and just stare and say “hola”. Its amazing how much excitement an American can bring to a place such as Cartagena.

So yesterday was my first day at my school. I met my director and many other teachers, all greeting me with smiles and besos. The principal, a fat man around 65, runs the school. The school is built around a large courtyard where students like to play soccer and hang out. When the bell rings the all gather and line up according to their grade. The principal approaches his podium and commanding the students, “look straight” “feet together” “turn forward”. I couldn’t believe it, I started giggling to the teacher next to me and she told me that for some weird reason he like to run announcements as if the students where in the military. Like a dictator his speech was very slow and direct, taking long pauses in between words. We did are saludos and sang the national anthem and then he introduced me to the school. As I walked to the front I could feel all 800 eyes starring at me and it became awkwardly silent. I greeted them in English, and said thank you for having me. As they marched off to class, I got a tour of the school. I didn’t spend the whole day there because I had to go to Vina del Mar with the school director and my co-teacher for a seminar.

After the meeting we all headed back. On the way home we stopped at the most amazing place and ate Costillar de cerdo, a tradition of Cartagena. I'm not kidding it was the best pig I have ever eating, I will dream about this for rest of my life. Not only did we eat but we all enjoyed wine and beer together. Tipsy and full we headed back to the school. I thought to myself, isn’t this weird we are going back to school tipsy? But of course not. We ran into the principal  and we told him how we enjoyed some wine, and he was loving it. God Chile is awesome and so relaxed. They always want to have a good relaxing time. I thoroughly enjoy this culture of peace and love.

Best thing in the world!

10th graders

Monday was my first day of actual classes. This week I am not doing any teaching but more observing. The students are all so hilarious, and fun. The pedagogy is much different here. The teacher I work with has a very casual and fun relationship with her students. In general the whole student and teacher interaction is much different. They are always kissing and joking and laughing with each other, but not in a foolish way because I noticed that the students show her respect. I seriously love, love the affection they show here. I wish that it wasn’t so unusual as in the states.  I am excited to work with all these wonderful chileanos!

Heading to Cartagena

Nervous I guarded my bags as I waited for my bus to Cartagena. In Santiago I felt so comfortable. Everyone I met was super nice and we became a little family. But at the bus stop it hit me that I hadn’t really started the adventure I came here for, to teach English. Sweating profusely I boarded the bus, filled with hot and sweaty people.  I found myself alone for the first time in two weeks, but I was okay with it, I was excited.

The bus ride to Cartagena from the capital is about on hour in half. Traveling through the countryside I got to see the soul of Chile and its greenery. Baking in the sun, I felt very alive, and blessed to be able to have this eye opening experience. As I got closer I began to get a little nervous, I didn’t know anything at all about Cartagena. I tried researching on the Internet about the city, but there isn’t a lot of information at all. SO I knew that this new place was a little unknown probably because it was poor.

I arrived and with open arms there was my darling little mother and my little brother Eliso who is eight years old. I arrive about 6:30 pm and we hopped in a taxi to my “house”. They were speaking so fast, I was bombarded with questions, half of which I didn’t really understand. Chilean Spanish is very different then what I studied in the past. Its been said by many that if you understand Chilean Spanish, you can understand all Spanish The native tongue here is something that I will have to get use to, but with practice I will be just fine.

In the taxi and I observed my surroundings, I could tell that my new city it very rural but beautiful as it hugs the coast. We arrived at the house, my mom speaking a million kilometers a minute was explaining many things. One of them was that their house is a hotel and that many pasajeros who come in and out of here. Its very cool and very clean. It reminds my of a boat, everything made out of wood, and it smells like one too because I literally live on the beach. In the kitchen you have the most beautiful view of the ocean, it’s amazing. The hotel has 16 rooms. I think this is actually a blessing that I live in a hotel because it’s a great way for me to meet new people and I will always be talking and practicing my Spanish. Also, if anyone wants to visit me, ay! I know just the place! I have my own room and bathroom so that is very nice.

After I unpacked a little my Mom feed me dinner. She is an amazing cook, loves veggies and good meats- my kind of gal. I had an empanada horno and a typical Chilean stew- so good.  My mom is hilarious like all Latin women, commenting on my weight and the way I look. It so funny how abrupt and in your face they are. I don’t mind it because it’s a great way to break the ice. Most Americans would have a big problem with this, but I find it awesome. In two hours, she new everything about me, my family, my diet, my weight, Taylor, what I think of Obama, if I believe in god, the medications I take. Its nice to just lay it out.

So I have three brothers Eliso, 8 Miguel 22 and hector 23. I haven’t met hector yet but the other two are great. Eliso, el niño and I are going to be best friends sin duda. He actually attends the school that I will be teaching at, so we get to hold hands and walk to class together. As of right now, I’m not sure exactly what grade I will be teaching, but tomorrow I will find out.  Stoked about my family I decided to go to bed early at 1:30am

Sunday 4/1

I woke up this morning excited to walk around the city. I ate desayuno with mi madre padre y hermanito. I plan to gain some weight here because Pan (bread) is about 60% of your diet, but I don’t mind it. After deasyuno my brother and I went for a walk to show me around the town. Cartagena is a beach town of about 16,000 people. Just walking a few blocks, I could tell it was a little poor. I would say 65% of it is middle class and 35% lower class.  The town is small so it’s nice that I can walk everywhere. There is one main plaza, where there is a market and some other stores. There are many dogs here, as of all of Chile. But the dogs here seem to be a little, how should I say, rapid. This is the really only thing that I'm scarred of, but I will be fine. For the most part they mind their own business. We walked for about 20 minutes and decided to head home. Cartagena so far so good. over and out.

AMIGOS

bread, smog, friends, teaching, exploring

Last Days in Santiago

Sorry I haven’t written in awhile, been so busy finishing up training. So my last couple days in Chile have been amazing. We met some Chilean guys in town and we have been hanging out with them a lot. Chilean people are the truth, so kind and generous. We all enjoyed each other’s company, and in a short week became good friends. They really showed us what Santiago was all about. Took us out to eat, drink, to parks ECT… One of my favorite nights was when we went to dance with the locals. They took us to the coolest bar where live music was playing. The bar was on a random calle, you would have never guessed there was anything there. We arrived at the big wooden door, knocked twice, and then entered. Inside was a 7 person Quimbo band. If you have never heard of the music quimbo, it s a typical music of Chile that I thoroughly enjoyed I danced my ass off, it rocked!

Thursday was a very important de in Chile for protest. On this day students stormed the street demonstrating their frustrations with education. Here it can be a little dangerous to maneuver through downtown because it can often be dangerous because they are not always civil.