Gosh, I am still in awe of how much Chile is taking over my heart. We have been teaching English in the school for about two weeks now, and each day just keeps getting better. We have been teaching students about American holidays, Dreams, and Bucket Lists. We walked into a 10th grade classroom expecting to teach an English lesson like we had been doing everyday, but I was so wrong. We were in for a treat. Instead, we were welcomed by the students who put their desks together, put on nice table clothes, table-runners, Chilean flag napkins, and tables full of endless favorite Chilean foods.
Last week, we asked the students for a list of their favorite foods and favorite resturants we should visit during our time here in Chile. After we met this class last week, the students went home and made their favorite Chiliean dishes and brought it to school. They told us they wanted to do this just for us, and that they wanted us to fully experience the culture here.
I got to walk around to each table and try each students favorite Chilean food, and ask them why it is their favorite. Man, I was stuffed full the whole time, but I had to keep going and try every food. I cannot pick a favorite; it was all just too good. The foods consisted of empanadas, donuts, sandwhiches, sopapillas, and fancy desserts that I couldn’t pronounce if I tried.
After we ate and laughed together, they attempted to teach us their National Dance called the Cueca. Chile’s Independence Day is coming up next month, so the students have been mastering the Cueca. This brought so many laughs and even tears of how fun it was for us Americans to try. After that, they asked us if we had a National Dance. Which sadly we do not, but we got to teach them linedancing and the Cha Cha Slide.
I am still in awe that a group of 15 year olds chose to go out of their way to make us feel so welcomed in their country. It has made be fall deeper in love with this place because everyone wants to make sure we are getting the full experience of their culture.
Anyways, Chile is great. Time is flying by so fast, but I guess you know what they say, “Time flies when you are having fun.” I will post more updates soon.
Blessings,
Catie Collins Smith
