Nescafe, Seismic Activity, and Masonic Education -Amaris del Carmen Guzman

✈️...I sit here at my Chilean "Calvo Pobleti" Family's Dinner Table... sipping ☕️ Nescafe with tasty stevia sugar, recollecting my thoughts ✒️On Concepcion, Chile...and so the blogging begins...

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My experiences thus far have been an amazing exchange among a few cultures: my Caribbean-Dominican Heritage, my 'NorteAmericana' heritage, and the rich heritage of Chileans. I bring the bilingual or what my fellow LSU tigers call "translator" dynamics to the table with my everyday interactions. Nonetheless, my experiences differ.  Coffee has certainly been a good start for me, considering its the mandatory drink for each family meal here. My dear friend ☕️ Nescafe has certainly begun great conversations on Chilean history, politics, food, culture, and economy. My Chilean pop has shared super interesting and insightful thoughts on Chile and I can't begin to share the amazing hospitality I have received thus far here with my host family.  I am especially blessed with Sra. Denny and my awesome teenage brothers Benjamin and Nico who happen to make hilarious faces when I switch from Spanish to English to ensure they are learning English at all times possible.  I am indebted to their hospitality including the food, comfy bed, and of course the Nescafe! ☕️

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Touring Colegio de Concepcion (High School) this morning/afternoon opened my eyes to an obvious reality, seismic activity in Concepcion.  One of the English Teachers asked us to look ahead at a screen nearby the front entrance of the school.  At first, I looked at the much larger flat screen and noticed slightly later that he was referring to the smaller screen that sort of looked like an ER heart monitor for patients. He went on to explain that the school has the screen as a visual for possible seismic activity in the area.  In the case that an earthquake happens, we are directed to stay put unless the "lines" rise on the monitor.  If the nescafe ☕️ didn't wake me up from earlier, this screen monitoring seismic activity certainly did.  I wasn't aware of earthquakes in the region and much less the recent one that happened in this area.  Walking home this afternoon, I learned of a nearby local condo that was impacted and cracked in several areas leaving apartments much more vacant then before.  After measuring the size of the building and our proximity from it--I had hoped then to clink my glass of wine and say "salud" literally as I did several nights ago Chilean style... 🍷😏...

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☕️ Nescafe over conversations of seismic activities in Concepcion made its way up up to the third floor at the high school this afternoon.  Taking a tour around the school, I noticed the masonic symbol on the outside.  Familiar with similar symbols back in the states, I was curious as to some of the school's foundational principles. Pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education coupled with my passion for history led me to consider how these Masonic principles served the school.  It was certainly refreshing to hear the President of the Masonic Education Corp. speak about its mission to educate communities like those of Concepcion. Meeting the History teacher this afternoon was also exciting--one of much more interest as his discussions were centered on economies of Africa and Chile. I walked into awesome conversations about world geography, history, and economy--education I wish I had received many many moons ago.  Given my 2 graduate degrees in Border Studies and Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies, I'm excited to share great discussions in the course on history of the region. I am also super excited to co-teach along side my fellow history teachers and hope to contribute several interesting perspectives to the classroom these next several weeks... 

Til the next few days of Masonic education, ☕️ Nescafe, and Chilenismos...

Late Arrivals

Looks like we have everyone safe in Chile and with their families!  Today brought our "returning" gringas as well, adding their experience to the group.  The families were very ready to take our intrepid travelers for naps, lunch, etc and rushed them away to begin their visits!  Get some rest folks tomorrow starts what will be a very busy week!

Mi Familia es Hermosa

Jai Jackson

(My Family)

It's been 24 hours since the journey began and I'm more and more happy with my decisions to come to Chilé (cue 'Happy' by Pharrel). Missy Elliot said it best and 'I can't stand the rain' but it gives me more time to spend with my family. I believe the funniest part is our time around the table conversing and the pauses so we can each type into our devices and await the translation. 

Let me be one of the many who preach the benefits of being bilingual. Not speaking a different language is like living on a desert island and not knowing how to swim (I can't swim either btw). But just like any family, we're making it work for us. 

My host Papa has worked for the government for a number of years in the Department of Energy so we've been discussing sustainable energy practices and and opportunities. He is working on several projects and I feel compelled to do my part (no more long showers). 

Breakfast has been new experiences but great food. I feel more and more at home each hour and I'm even going to meet the grandparents today for lunch (wish me luck). 

I'm trying not to corrupt the children but I did bring some John Singleton movies with me (anybody remember Boyz in the Hood) and even better... IN SPANISH! Mind... Blown!

In the words of the immortal Don Cornelius... Peace, Love, and SOOOUUUUUULLLLL!

First Arrivals, New and Old Friends

I think one of the greatest things about the Teaching Experience in Chile is the range of folks that we get to meet and interact with as part of the experience. Some are professional colleagues or soon to be colleagues and some are friends that by our standards are now "old" friends.  We have watched as some of the partnerships change and other grow into something very different that what we began with three years ago. We have been fortunate to reconnect with students we met on our first trip and to see how much they have grown and how their English has improved!

Today was the first day of students arriving and meeting their families. It is quite a busy time that always comes with associated travel problems and phone calls. Planes are delayed or broken, flights cancelled and other joys of traveling made more difficult when language is a challenge. For those successfully arriving today, WELCOME to Chile!  You have made the first leg of what we hope will be a wonderful learning adventure for you.  We are all (faculty, families, and school personnel) happy you are here!  Enjoy what is left of your weekend and get ready for a very busy week ahead.

For those still traveling, you will make it! Call us if needed and relax these things work themselves out (with a lot of help from Kenny of course!)

A Dog Smuggler in Lenga by Katie Chandler

After a series of flight cancellations and a bit of stress, I made it to Chile all in once piece. Despite Santiago Customs' accusations of smuggling dogs in my luggage, I had a pleasant traveling experience. My suitcase was covered in red tape with "perro" written all over it. The customs officers rifled through my luggage checking every pocket to locate the alleged perro. Needless to say, I won that battle.

( I insisted we take a picture in front of the Orca & told them all about Blackfish, ha)

After meeting my family at the airport, we connected almost instantly! The girls and I bonded over our love for shoes, Snapchat, and One Direction! They took me to a place called Lenga which was absolutely beautiful. The pictures hardly do it justice.

We went to a seafood restaurant in Lenga to eat empanadas and fish. Their seafood is very different from what I'm used to back home, but I enjoyed it. Naturally, the shrimp and queso empanadas were my favorite part. We spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other and talking about different things. We call each other postisas! I love them already.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

The Next Episode...

(Jai Jackson)

The first leg of my journey started days earlier when I drove from lovely Red Stick (Baton Rouge) to North Carolina/Virginia so I could drop off my dog and visit family before embarking on the travels to Santiago/Concepcion, Chile. 1050 miles, 8 states, and a few pit stops and here I am sitting in the JFK International Airport mooching off of free WiFi in the food court. 

Just a tip to the wise, always double and triple check your terminal information when flying through JFK. It is a disaster to leave one and go to another because if you get it wrong, you will then have to go through security again (long lines and rude folks). 

The next leg of my journey departs in T-minus 7 hours so wish me luck as I gorge myself on airport terminal food, Raisinettes, and a week's supply of Airborne tables. To my fellow travelers coming from LSU... Geaux Tigers and to my family and friends reading my post... Take care of my dog and don't forget to miss me.

(My dog, Karma)

And so it begins! - by Kenny Varner

What an exciting time for us here at the LSU Teaching in Chile program.  Months of planning, organizing, and dreaming come together in the next few days as the participants begin to arrive.  We came down several days early so that we could get organized and ready for the group. 

Before getting into the work we had the chance to visit Volcano Osorno and Torres del Paine, two treasures in the Chilean landscape.

Torres del Paine - So, looks like a postcard but taken with iPhone -- sun and no wind created calm on this lake.  

Torres del Paine - Cascading river and mountain

Volcano Osorno -- Literally in the clouds..it was warm below

Here in Concepcion we have been hard at work with our colleagues at Colegio Concepcion and the University of Concepcion in preparing for the arrival.  We met with teachers, administrators, professors, and visited both of the Pk-12 schools campus sites.  Our partners are very motivated by the collaboration and have invested a lot of time, love, and energy into this project.  We know that this year will bring some new adventures and lots of new friendships.  We are taking a new approach based on the schools desire to have participation by as many teachers as possible.  Our students will spend two days a week with one teacher, two days a week with another, and on Fridays we will have a number of events planned (visiting with University partners, planting trees in the community with students, and participating in other community service opportunities.  All these opportunities put us in closer union with the people of Concepcion and further the cultural exchange aspects of this program.  For our three repeating students (Jordan, Maddie, and Gabby) the experiences this year will be distinct from what they experienced on their first trip to Chile.

Last night we also met with the host families as a group.  We are BLESSED with incredible host families.  The families asked great questions and we could see the genuine enthusiasm in their eyes and their great anticipation for the arrival of the gringos (in Chile gringo refers to people from the US; in Chile gringo is an affectionate word unlike in other parts of the world.  Today at 1:50 our first participant arrives.  Saturday about 2/3 of the group arrives on 3 different flights.  On Sunday the last 1/3 of the group arrives in two different flights (these are the folks who are graduating today from LSU and we are really proud of their accomplishments).  We wish all of our participants safe and speedy travels to the bottom of the world :)