So first off, I forgot to put this in my last blog and feel it is too important to pass up again. The other day when we were doing the speed dialogues with the older students, we asked the typical get to know you questions in our groups. One group asked about our favorite music/singer. As all of you already guessed, I said Katy Perry. Suddenly a very loud gasp came from the group. You would have thought someone just knocked the wind out of this kid. I was nervous as to why his response was so dramatic, but it was because he too LOVED Katy Perry. My heart was so full finding this great commonality. Side note: who's taking me to the new tour that Katy just announced, January 5th people!?
But anyway, similarities, however small can be so comforting in a foreign land. This trip was way outside of my comfort zone to begin with. WAY WAY. I just said yes without thinking. I have been challenged in so many ways and it's only been about two and half weeks.
This is a group of LSU gringas with some of the teachers. My teacher is taking the selfie.
I was talking to my teacher that I'm paired with, this week, about trying new things and our travels to different places. Him to Minnesota... of all places and me to Concepcion... of all places! You go on these types of trips not to be stuck in your old ways or comfortable but to grow; to say yes without thinking. So as I continue on this trip, here's to trying new things! My teacher has become a great source of wisdom and challenge in my time here. He gives me the in-class worksheets to go home and translate if I want, and has tasked me with helping him plan and teach a moral/ethics class (we're learning about tolerance) and a physics lab (centripetal force: shoutout to my high school physics teacher) both coming up at the end of this week/beginning of next. He also sits and chats with me during his breaks making sure all is well and taking time to get to know me and maybe even throwing in a little language lesson here and there from either party. Who knew sibling and popsicle were such odd words?
This is my 14 year old sister, Cami.
My family has continued to be great as well: very sassy, respectful of introversion time (you know I need that), and making sure I'm well taken care of. My sisters and I (we've started calling each other "sister" now) got our nails done together this weekend and ran home across the foot bridge screaming and laughing the whole way. My 11 year old sister, Javi, and I binge on candy together, thanks to our major sweet teeth; but then we run it off chasing each other around the house or the store playing tag and stealing each other's phones. Oh the joys of little sisters! My host mom and dad provide me with food and clothing (I definitely was not prepared for this weather) and kind smiles (since they don't speak English). And my brother is shy but fun to mess with. I now know the nickname his friends call him and use it frequently just to get a reaction out of him. I've also gotten to sit in on some of his classes and even helped interview him for his English test!
In place of some class time and even after school activities, the other Gringos and I are getting the chance to talk with teachers from the school about similarities and differences between the school systems of the US and Chile. It's such an open dialogue between us and them and there is much we could learn from each other. We also have gotten to take field trips like a tour of the University of Concepción yesterday (gorgeous) and Chiflón del Diablo today which means Whistle of the Devil. It is an old mine turned museum that tunnels underneath the Pacific Ocean! More adventures to come. Ciao for now! (I promise it's not just an Italian word, they say it here too!!!)
The whole group at the University.
Going down the mine elevator.
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