No entiendo (I do not understand) by Emily Rhatigan

Oh what an adventure Chile has been for me! I was fortunate enough to leave school immediately after finals with Morgan, Haley, and Kassie. Before this trip, I had no idea who Kassie or Haley even were besides seeing them at the couple meetings we had, but now look at us.  We got to travel to Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama for a week before our program actually started!



While in San Pedro de Atacama, the Northern desert part of Chile, we got the opportunity to go on an incredible moon tour where we got to look through a microscope and see the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and gaze the Galaxy. Since it was a full moon on this night, the experience was even better.  Also, we got to go sandboarding in Death Valley, not the tigers Death Valley, but Atacama's Death Valley. Sand boarding is similar to snow boarding, but a lot easier because the sand slows you down.  We spent a lot of time in the cute, quaint town eating, walking around, and shopping.  Lastly, in Santiago we walked around the city, ate lots of delicious food (thanks to our new friend Javier) and went on the best wine tour in the Casablanca Valley of Chile. We got to taste many different wines that were very good and locally made. My favorite two wines were the Sauvignon Blanc and the Rosé. Spending our last day on a wine tour in Santiago was the best decision.

Our next stop was to Concepcion to finally meet our host families. I was not nervous until I stepped off the airplane and things turned into a reality! The time had finally come! I met my Chilean mom, brother (Cristain) and sister (Catalina).  My other sister (Fanny) and dad were at gymnastics practice. Things at first were kind of uncomfortable and awkward especially because of the language barrier, but we just used google translate (thank god that is a thing)! Turns out I have an amazing, loving and 
family-oriented family and I love them a lot! They take such good care of me and although there is a language barrier, they are all so willing to learn English and use google translate when I don't understand what they say, which is practically all the time.

This passed week was my first week at the school I will be working at for the three weeks.  I am working with 1-4 graders teaching Math and English to the children.  Every second of each day is filled with something.  While at school, teaching the students, working with my teachers, and interacting with the students and while at home I am kept very busy by my family, whether that be driving around with my mom or watching my sister dance at practice.  At school, the most difficult part is not being able to communicate with the students, so I quickly learned how to say no entiendo. I have loved every piece of each day and I know when the time comes to say good bye it is going to be very tough.


Although these passed two weeks have been full of "no entiendo's," I have learned and grown so much from this experience!!  I've tried lots of new foods and been pushed way far out of my comfort zone in these passed two weeks and I am so beyond happy and proud of myself and my accomplishments thus far! There are still two more weeks to come on this crazy adventure so stay tuned!