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Published: September 27th 2009
I've tried writing this 2 times before this and both times something happened. The first time my battery ran out before I had a chance to save it and the second time the window went back to the previous screen on its own without me hitting the Back button. So here goes again:
It's been a busy few weeks here. I've been feeling the rapid approach of my return to the US. This pressure has encouraged me to really start making a plan for the following months and years. So over the past month or so I've been spending as much time as I can looking into graduate school, internships, and other employment. I really enjoy the process though at times it is tedious. It allows me to dream about what kind of life I want and then to actually pursue it.
Right now the plan is as follows:
I am applying to do an internship in Santiago with the same program I am doing right now. I would be working directly for the Ministry of Education in Chile. My responsibilities would vary from planning and conducting English camps to cooperating with the United Nations on developing the English
Opens Doors program. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope I get it. Unfortunately there are only 3 spots available. If I got it (or should I say WHEN I get it...that's right, think it first...) I would return to Oregon and Minnesota for 3-4 weeks in December-January and then sometime in the beginning of January I would head back to Santiago for 6 months.
I am also applying to (at least) Gonzaga University's Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Master's International program in conjunction with the Peace Corps. This would mean a year of classes in Spokane, WA, then 2 years teaching in another country, then finishing out any classes that I might have left and a thesis.
Fingers-crossed that it goes as planned...
Las Fiestas Patrias
Independence Day in Chile is celebrated on September 18th. Well, to be honest it's
celebrated for about a week and a half. Stores close early, classes are out, and people stay up all night having asados and
carretes, parties that generally last until the morning, all to commemorate Chilean independence from Spain. I spent time with friends as my host family was
in the US. My host brother had luchimia when he was younger and they moved to Memphis, TN for about 4 years as he was going through treatment. They have to go back every year for check-ups so that was what they were in the US for that week. My host family own their own engineering business and some of the employees threw an asado so I went and ate goat meat with them--it's DELICIOUS by the way. I also spent most of the time at my friend Gina's house. For about 3 weeks they taught me
Cueca, the Chilean national dance, and so on the 15th of September I actually ended up dancing it in front of my entire school. It was so much fun even though it was a little embarrassing.
I'm about to head to lunch with the local priest. He's gonna show me around the cathedral--which by the way was constructed using pine from Oregon! How cool!
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Levi
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The Future...
Seems like all the annual school plays at St. John's prepared you well for dancing "Cueca!" ;) You look like you were awesome. After you get the internship and have your Minnesota plans firmed up, please let me know immediately so I can plan my trip home and we can hang out. I miss you Zach!