Alegria

So the craziest thing happened the other night. I couldn't fall asleep. Because I was happy. Normally I'd be frantically searching for something to knock me out, desperate to avoid being tired the next day. But I rode those waves of happiness ... and the big yawns that followed on Friday. Insomnia due to happiness isn't the worst thing in the world.

Everything is still going excellent.


My two Southern Belles, two of the four closest girl friends I've made here, are moving into my six-bedroom apartment on Friday. I made a choice to move out of the hostel provided for us for a month, early, as I wanted Santiago to feel like "home" as soon as possible. Because of that, I haven't spent as much time with the group of original teachers. It will be nice to be back "in the loop" again.

The first Southern Belle, Stephanie (from North Carolina), is as classy as they get. Big pearl earrings, scarves and dresses, always dresses. Until you give her a few drinks and she's suddenly the bawdiest person in the room. It's fabulous. Kathryn is actually from Washington D.C., but went to school in North Carolina. She has an insane amount of energy and if I could describe her in a sentence, I'd say she flits around like a fairy. She bounces from one place to the next faster than the human eye can follow. Both are in long-distance relationships, Steph with a 30-year-old and Kathryn with a 21-year-old. They are 24 and 23, respectively.





I have a second date tomorrow with someone I met at the castle last week. His name is Cristian and ... he's 31.

Buuuuuut, before you react to the ten year age difference, let me tell you something. And keep in mind that this is my perspective and my experience, not a generalization. I believe that the rate of maturity is different between countries. In Chile, people live with their families until they are 30 and often times longer than that. They don't pay room and board, instead using their post-college salaries to save up for a house. Not until then do they move out. Their mothers cook for them and do their laundry. Whereas in the states, when we hit college age, we are out of the house and post-college, on our own completely. So while Cristian may be ten years older, it doesn't feel like a huge age gap. Plus, he's not in that "phase" that guys my age seem to be stuck in since puberty. Which I am definitely not complaining about.

This second date with Cristian entails sushi. Which scores big points in my book. I'll let you know how it goes...


Many of my students are clamoring to add me on Facebook. Which I think is a very foolish idea. Here's what I wrote to Javier, a 9th grader:

Gracias por encontrandome! The rule at O'higgins is that I can't be facebook friends with my students until I am done teaching there. So I will add you next December, ok?? : )

And here's what I heard back, a few hours later:

Holy /@"#$%!!!This is disgusting¬¬, I thonk you will accept me at home but whit this @#$%\& I´m wrong.I will need to wait untill christmas to have you on Facebook.Well, I can´t do anithing, so I´ll be waiting for you... Sorry about those vulgarities but that makes me angry.Oh, and I need to tell you something, I found you very gorgeous^^

HAHAHAHA. He obviously felt very strongly about being Facebook friends.

Well, it's time to get ready for work. I shall return soon to write of more substantial matters.