Well lots has happened since I last post, is it sad that when I do exciting and new things I can't wait to post them on the blog so I can share with whomever is reading this? I hope not :)

Anyway, Friday was the first time that we went to visit a school and it was the best experience I have had here so far. We went to a small part of Santiago named Victoria, that is known to be very poor and tends to be a big drug trafficking hub. So of course I was nervous and excited to see what this school had to offer. It was really incredible, for being in such a run down neighborhood I was completely blown away. When we first arrived there were about fifty 6 year olds lined up who greeted us with kisses on the cheeks and big smiles...it was quite welcoming, and it was clear that they were fascinated by all the gringas and one gringo. After a short introduction by the principal of the school we were off to classes. Me and two other girls in my program first went to a 3rd grade classroom. They were amazing, curious, smart, eager, patient, and kind. We talked with them, asked them questions about their schools, their families, they asked us how to say lots of different words in english, and the 45 minutes that we had to spend with them went very quickly. We then went to an 8th grade english class which was very different than what I would have expected. The english teacher could hardly even speak english herself and the kids knew a very minimal amount of it, we tired to talk to them in english but it was easier for all parties involved to speak in spanish. Did I just say it was easier to talk in spanish?

Towards the end of our stay with the 8th graders the rest of the kids on the program joined us and we watched two students dance the Cueca, which was beautiful. The Cueca is a traditonal Chilean dance.

It was sad to leave the school but it also left me excited because I know I will have many more opportunities to visit classes as the semester progresses.

Before we headed back to our part of Santiago we stopped at the house of Andre Jarlan, he was the priest in Victoria back in the 80's. He was incredibly well know as he was said to have saved Victoria from its severe drug abuse and lack of community. Andre Jarlan was murdered on 9/4/1984 during a riot during Pinochet's rule. Pinochet had ordered the policemen to kill everyone that was involved in the riot in Victoria and as Andre was saying a prayer in his room a policeman who misaimed actually shot Andre through his second story window. People say he was assassinated but it is unclear what really happened. We were able to visit his house and an old man and friend of Andre put on a little one man show of what supposedly happened to Andre during his final day. We then got to go to his room and the whole in the window where the bullet went through is still there as well as where it nicked the wall. It was all a bit emotional and felt very real as were standing in the bedroom that he was in when he died, and we visited on 9/4, so it was the 25th anniversary of his death.

I am loving all the additional history I am learning about Chile while I am here, obviously I am learning in-depth about Pinochet, Allende and the old and the new education policies but all the extra stuff is truly fascinating.

Saturday night some of the kids in my group and I went out to a bar to watch the Chile vs. Venezuela game, they ended up tying and were seeded to win so it was a little bit of a bummer but an experience to be in a bar with Chileans during a World Cup qualifying game. During and after the game we met some really cool Americans who are recent graduates of college and are teaching english here in Santiago for the year. It was great to pick their brains and hear all about there experience down here because teaching in South America after graduation has been something I have always wanted to do.

It's getting late here and I have classes tomorrow because the Chileans don't celebrate labor day (duh!). But before I go, everyone must listen to the song Color Esperanza, it is incredible. Here is the youtube link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5WfYEHw62E

SENDING LOTS OF LOVE