I think I have finally recovered. There was food. So. Much. Food. For many days. Wednesday through Monday. I'm tired all over again just thinking about it all. Here are a few highlights: Wednesday, September 14thWednesday was a big day for our school. The students put together a presentation that represented Chile's history and key cultural icons and also featured dances from different regions of the country. Afterwards everyone got together as the families, students, and school staff shared typical food. Children kept bringing me food. I ate 10 different things. Then the staff had our own little celebration afterwards...with, you guessed it, more food. Thursday, September 15thThursday was Longaví's parade and our school was proud to march. Since the parade was not until 4:30pm, everyone came to school after lunch, around 2:30. You may be wondering what marching in the parade exactly entails? I think one student summed it up the best like this: "We wait for 2 hours and then walk for 2 minutes." Saturday, September 17thOn Saturday I went with Jon & Elise out to el campo {el cahm-po} [the countryside] to share in the festivities of the lovely family of Maria Rosa & Gustavo. What did I learn this weekend? I actually really enjoy oysters and mussels. Especially raw with lemon. #surprised #wow #delish Check out this video that Jon made of our day, including a trip to a beautiful nearby river! Also make sure to check out their blog post for some great pictures from the weekend! Sunday, September 18thSunday we went back to Maria Rosa & Gustavo's house where there was lots more food, family, fun, and cueca! Check out this video summary of another great day! Check out other celebration week related videos Jon has done about Chile's National Dance "The Cueca" and Fiestas Patrias celebrations at his rural Chilean school (which includes dances from all over Chile). You have probably realized by now that you should be subscribing to Jon's vlog on YouTube! Subscribing to his vlog will also bring you great benefits such as: news, joy, happiness, tidbits about our lives in Chile, and random appearances by yours truly. Coming soon to a blog near you...Stay tuned for another update coming to you very soon about an AMAZING hike we took last Saturday. Here's a teaser: Also coming soon, the first installment in a section I'm going to call "Meet & Greet" where I will introduce you to special people in my life here in Chile! Mystery Guest #1 is...a secret.
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Why, hello there.More than a month has gone by since I have written a blog. Why?? Because God is great. God is so incredibly great. He has given me more than enough to keep my time occupied and my heart full. So, there. That is my excuse, and well, you're just going to have to accept it. I really hope you haven't been sitting around hitting the refresh button every hour in hopes that I've posted something...(but if you have, I appreciate you and thank you for that very special committment.) So, without further ado, here is a bit of one year anniversary reflecting! "I can't wait..."Lately I have been thinking back to the first few months I arrived here. There were times when I was frustrated with not knowing many people and feeling like I didn't have many extra things to do. I would pray that God would give me opportunities to fill my schedule and to meet awesome people and knew that with a bit of patience and time that surely things would change. And then they did. Some weeks I wonder if I'm even going to be able to Netflix at all. Today in town I saw at least a handful of people I knew. My schedule is now sprinkled with tutoring, dinner invitations, a puppy, and hanging with friends. [And, don't worry, Grandpa, a few dates now and again too.] ;-) God. Is. GREAT. Things are really just getting startedWhen people ask me how long I plan to stay in Chile I like to reply: "Entre hoy y la muerte" which means "Between today and death." Why? Partially because it is an unexpected answer and I like the reaction. Partially because many English-speaking teachers come to Chile but only for a few months to a year and I want people to know that we are here for something more than a cultural exchange. Partially because after one year I feel at home...and let's be real...it is a lot of work to move. Partially because I finally can pronounce Quiñepeumo and Freire. But mostly because in the past when I have made plans of what I thought was a great idea, God's timing was different...and always better. Always. Slow but steadyEvery neighborhood here is sprinkled with little corner stores that carry a small supply of just about anything you could want. Here in Chile they are known as almacenes {al-mah-cen-ehs}. Ever since getting settled in my población I noticed that everyone in the almacenes greeted each other as "neighbor", vecino {veh-see-no}...and thus my dream was born. I wanted soooo badly to be called vecina. I patiently waited and about 9ish months later....it happened. I was on my way out somewhere and as I turned the corner one of the shop owners smiled and said two little words that turned my world upside down: "Hola, vecina." I felt so alive! You know that tingling feeling that you get when a dream becomes a reality? It was just like in the movies...no, actually, it was better. A tear may have escaped. I'm pretty sure there was a rainbow and a shooting star at the same time. I am not even sure if I remembered to greet her back. While the tingles have subsided, the vecina comments keep coming from my corner shop friends and other people I have met in the neighborhood...and sometimes even in the cuter form of veci {veh-see}, which I personally highly favor. Two little words. So much power. Sometimes that's all it takes to make someone feel alive. And those two little words were like a gift that keeps on giving. They have given me a confidence...I feel like I could talk to my vecinos about anything! Well, ok, some stuff anyways...but I am sure we'll get there someday. They have given me a sense of belonging...they know I am not just on tour, but a part of the community...they have accepted me! [cue gospel choir music] They have opened up new conversations and opportunities to share...and I pray that it continues to do so! Those two little words took some time in coming, but they were well worth the wait. (Maybe someday I will have a picture with a neighbor that I can put here!! #newgoal) Etc.
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