Christine_Friends of Antofagasta

Just posting a picture from a week ago when a large group of volunteers and a couple native Chileans all went out to celebrate Amy's birthday. It was a fun night with dancing and friends.


Amy (Birthday girl) and I smiling for the camera.

(Part of) The group

CW

A Little Bit About What I Do

Well today I figured I should put up some pictures and mabye some information about what I actually do at the Aldea Yanapay school. The school is split into two main groups. This is Escuela Uno and Escuela Dos. The first school is for the younger kids and the second is for older kids (8 - 13). The schools start at 3:00 in the afternoon and for two hours the children have the chance to work on homework with volunteer help, or they have the oppurtunity to play games or do art. I have been helping out the most with the homework class, but this week I am helping with the games class. At about 5:00 the kids circle up to talk about some current issue, then they are split up into three groups and each group has a class. The theme varies from week to week, but this week we are learning about Buddhism. I have one of these groups, and for about the past three weeks I have had one of these classes by myself, or have been leading the class. Anyways a lot of these pictures are from Escuela Uno, which I was in last week.

Anyways, this is all for now. Next week I am heading to Chile to see Christy and hopefully get to do some serious Salsa dancing there. Chow for now!

DKW

Christine´s Random Comments_Newspaper_Earth Friendly Find_Work Day

A few random comments:

We volunteers were featured in the local newspaper under the headline, "Voluntarios extranjeros enseñan inglés en colegios. I am including the link below! I am the top left face.
http://www.mercurioantofagasta.cl/prontus4_noticias/site/extra/pdp/pdp.html?sec=2&ts=20090419000538&fp=20090419&pag=09

I went to a department store this weekend and my bag that carried my purchase read on the outside, "Usa esta bolsa biodegradable por un mundo más verde," translating to "Use this biodegradable bag for a more green world." It went on to explain the bag and how it is positive for the environment. I thought it was very interesting how in a country like Chile, who is thriving but not at the top of the food chain, they are already using biodegradable shopping bags for their customers. There may be retailers like this in the US but I have not seen it in the major clothing retailers and it especially shocked me to see it here.

Lastly, I had a really good day at work today. I taught one of my 7th grade classes the days of the week. We started with a review, then a song based on the theme of the Adams Family, and followed up with a game. I had one of my students later on in the day tell me that "today was an excellent lesson." Made my day considering I am in new occupational territory.

Ciao
CW

Christine's Home Away from Home

Quickly regarding my place of residence. I live with a very nice family with three children and a nephew. I am posting a couple pictures of my house in Chile from the outside.

You can see the desert mountains behind us. In front is a slight view of the ocean.

Ciao!

Christines trip to La Portada

Hello to all! I went to La Portada today with two friends and had a great time. It is located about 30 minutes outside of Antofagasta and it a touristic spot for visitors in the area. It was a beautiful day with a blue sky and a bright blue ocean. I got my feet wet in the sand, explored the area a little, and got some sun.

Here I am standing in front of La Portada, the incredible rock formation you see. Below is the spot to overlook it all.

Afterwards we went to a neighboring Pueblo to have Empanadas for a snack. I also took a video which I will attempt to post soon.

Machu Picchu... WOW

This past Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Adam, Julia, and myself went to the ancient city in the mountains, Machu Picchu.

We started off by taking a train from a small town called Oyantaytombo. The train ride was about two hours and it followed a river in the valley. We then arrived to a small town called Agua Calientes. It was a touristy town, but we were able to stay in a little hostal that was nice and quiet.

The next day we got up at 4:30 in the morning and went to the bus station to take a bus to the entrance to the Machu Picchu entrance. It took a little while to get through the gates and enter the park. But we got in and the whole park was amazing. It was wild to see how well preserved all the buildings were, and even more amazing to know that they had been untouched for nearly 500 years. The whole trip was amazing and now I can say I have been to one of the 7 wonders of the world!

This next week I will be working at the school for another two weeks. Then I will be going to visit Christinita in Chile! Then after that I come home! Its so soon!

DKW

Another week in Cusco!

Well not too much has happened since the last post. I am doing really well though and enjoying my time. The neatest thing that happened this past week is that I bought a guitar. I was exploring the city when I founda little tiny wood shop where a guy was making guitars. I then returned the next day and found a guitar that was unfinished, and chose that one as mine and picked out the colors. On the neck I had the guy put his name, and on the back, hecho para Donald Walsh. I picked it up friday and couldn't be happier.

The school is also going good. The kids are starting to remember me now. And I am starting to remember them. I am also getting alot more respect since my spanish is better now. It is amazing to see the children every day, you get to really see how their lives work.

Well that is it for now. Next week...Machu Picchu! We are leaving tomorrow for a small town called Ollantaytombo, and then the next day to Agua Calientes, a small town very close to Machu Picchu. Pictures next week!

DKW