Empezamos la adventura....

...and so begins una cuenta of an American living in Santiago de Chile.



Two weeks have passed since the grand adventure began and I can honestly say that Santiago feels like home. I love my job, my apartment, the friends I've made and the fact that I'm learning and seeing new things everyday.



On language...

Now, as you may have heard, Chilean spanish is NOTHING like the spanish we learned in school. No po. Some Chileans say it's almost another language. I do not beg to differ. While the basic structure and sentence construction remains the same, the proliferic use of unique Chilean slang and vocabulary in addition to mile-a-minute speech and words with endings left off makes expanding my language knowledge a daily adventure. Bakan. (Bakan means 'awesome' in "Chilean")





On Seattle...

When I say I'm from Seattle (which is much simpler than explaining that I live an hour and a half north of Seattle on an island that's not an island), most adults nod in recognition. The younger ones, however, aren't familiar with our Northern slice of the United States. The exception are Chilean teenage girls. While they don't know where Seattle is, they're eager to know all about Forks, WA ... thanks to the setting of the epic saga of forbidden vampire romance in the Twilight series currently sweeping the nation (and apparently South America).

On Obama...

Obama Barack is not only an American hero. Nearly every single class I've taught in so far has asked about Obama. In fact, the 12th grader's homework for last weekend was finding out when Obama's birthday was. Chileans seem to share in the excitement of a promise for a better future (well ... after we resolve our little economic crisis). Everyone here is also very aware of the worldwide financial crisis and while the country doesn't seem to be gripped to near paralysis like the U.S., people are bracing themselves for tougher times.

On my students...

Only in Chile would a teacher get whistled at by their tenth grade students as they walk to the front of the classroom. Yes, I admit ... it's flattering. However, can you imagine 20 pubescent boys hooting in unity at their teacher in the U.S.? Nooooo ... they'd be booted out of the classroom and given a lecture on sexual harrassment. Chile, my friends, much like all Latin American countries is a place of expressing passion. Hop to it - speak your mind. If you think someone's attractive, well, you're wasting your time by not saying so. This cultural tidbit of wisdom begins at an early age. Even the first graders are well on their way.

Girls are also very expressive and endearing. I've received several drawings with statements like, "I love you Miss. Breanna".

Salutations in Chile begin with a kiss on the right cheek and there's no better way to start one's day than 30 adorable six-year-olds rushing towards clamoring to be the first to kiss your cheek.

In our orientation, the directors of EducaUC told us that we might be some of the only foreigners the students will come into contact with. Therefore, inadvertently, we are a novelty to them; something to be watched and observed, admired and loved. I equally feel very blessed to share this with each student. It's an honor to be here, representing my country in a positive light as well as share in expanding each student's life and perspective. It's an opportunity for me to learn far beyond words can express. I will learn patience, develop leadership and make lasting connections with the 1,400 students at my colegio. A week and a day have passed by and I already feel like I am at home amongst my students.