Christine's update on the strike

This is week 3 of the teachers strike and I thought I would write a short explanation about the strike as it was explained to me.

The strike is the result of a bonus that teachers throughout the country were promised last year during a renegotiation of their contracts. The government claims that it sent the bonus money out to the municipalities to be distributed to the teachers, but apparently the municipalities spent the money on other things without passing it along to the intended recipients. Teachers in Valparaiso began striking roughly a month ago to demand the bonuses and since then the strike has spread to many other schools throughout every part of the country. The government has been in negotiations with the teachers and has offered to pay them a part of the bonus now, with the rest to follow in several instalments, but so far the teachers have deemed this unacceptable. Negotiations are continuing and officials believe that the situation is close to a resolution. However there’s no real way of knowing when the strike will end.

Unfortunately for students, teachers, and volunteers alike, strikes are an inescapable part of educational life in Chile . Almost every volunteer is forced to deal with them at some point and we are encouraged to remain neutral in a strike, in large part because as foreign guests in the country we generally lack the cultural and historical background necessary to fully comprehend the issues at stake.

It is possible that I will work Saturdays to make up lost time or that the 2 week holiday in July will be make up time as well. However, I have been keeping busy during the time studying spanish, learning more salsa combinations, researching, and site seeing around town.

I'll keep you all posted!

CW

Christine's neat encounter

Yesterday I met a friend for some ice cream downtown. I was sitting on a bench waiting when I noticed a crew of about 3-4 people with a camera man following this older gentleman. They approached a man in the streets playing his harmonicas to just listen to his song. All of a sudden a crowd started forming around this crew so I got up to look. Then in an instant the group grew from 10 to 20 and maybe easily 30 people. I started taking a couple pictures with my camera so that when I got home I could ask my family who he was.

I saw people takin photos with their cell phones, calling people, and getting really excited. I thought, "hmmm.... must be someone really famous." I then asked the lady next to me who he was. It was Don Francisco!

A quick bio for those not familiar with him (because i wasn't):

Don Francisco was born to a Chilean Jewish family of Ashkenazi descent; his parents had fled Germany to Chile, escaping from Nazi persecution. As a youth, he traveled to New York to study to be a tailor, but he spent most of the time watching TV[citation needed]. Back in Chile, where TV was just beginning, Don Francisco started a TV show in 1962, and he named it Sábados Gigantes. In it, he adapted many of the formulas he had seen in American TV to the Chilean public. The show became an instant hit that has lasted 40 years. (Taken from Wikipedia)

Then a man behind me who had heard me speaking English on the phone says, "Where are you from?" in English with no accent. I turned around and said I was from the United States. We started talking and he (Vince) turns out to be the producer or director of the show! They travel all over the world doing some sort of a travel documentary show and they decided to come to Chile, Don Francisco's homeland. They were traveling to Calama, then San Pedro. We talked about what I was doing in Chile, a little about the show they were filming, and before we knew it Don Francisco had moved on and the two gentlemen I was talking to had to leave. It was a neat encounter!

Last bit of news..........I finally got my carnet! I'm sort of a Chilena now- yah!

Ciao,
CW

Back From Peru, Trip to NM, and Then Off To Costa Rica!

Well these past few weeks have been unbelieveable. First of all it is hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was getting off a plane from Lima, Peru, back in the United States. I had an amazing time in South America and I can't wait to go back.

A week after I got back, Julie Wilson and I decided to take off and do something fun. I have a professor from OSU that has a cabin up in the mountains of Red River and she had offered it to us to stay in. So we did! While we were there we did some hiking, some driving around in a Jeep in the mountains, and even went to a biker bar because it was the Memorial Day Weekend Biker Rally in Red River.

This was when Julie and I stopped in Amarillo, Texas. Home of the BIG TEXAN. The most rediculous western type restaraunt. Everyone has to go once. We definately didn't have the 72oz steak...

This is the awsome little cabin we stayed in for the week. It had a fireplace, a regular kitchen so we could do some cooking, and it was right by a river. It was amazing.

We took several trips in Dr. Deyong's Land Cruiser, a toyota Jeep thing, and it was awsome. Alway bumpy even on flat roads, but it could go anywhere. We took it down some mountain trails in and around Red River.



We also drove to Toas, which on the way is the Royal Gorge of NM. As you are traveling across the desert all of sudden a huge gorge just opens up in front of you. You would never expect it driving down the road.

Julie and I, mainly myself... decided to make a hike up to Wheeler Peak, NM or one of the campsites on the way. Look how happy we are in this picture! Well that soon changed. We ended up having snow on the trail and after we tried to traverse a couple miles of it we got stuck on the side of the mountain.

We ended up having to camp on the side of the trail and we had to build a big fire just to dry off all of our socks and pants and shoes. They were soaked because we had to walk through the snow.

Well right now I am packing up and getting ready to go to Costa Rica. I will be there between May 29th through August 8th. I will be up in the mountains of Costa Rica in a little town of 200 people where the main source of income comes from Sugar Cane farming. I will teaching English and living with a Costa Rican family. It should be neat!

DKW

Christine's Trip to San Pedro de Atacama

Well, I have been up for about 37 hours so I should be sleeping but I've decided to post this blog and pictures.

I just got back from a 4 day trip to San Pedro, a touristy small town with a lot to do within a couple hours drive. It was a holiday week so we had an extra long weekend. I went with 8 other volunteers from the Antofagasta Region and it was a blast!

We arrived Wednesday night at the Iquisa Hostal. It is run by a mother and her son, both very nice people.

Thursday morning we woke up and strolled into town to find breakfast. I got quiche and others got panqueques (pancakes but that are more like crepes), omelettes, and sandwiches.

Later that afternoon we took a tour to the Valle De La Luna (Moon Valley). The valley is famous for its resemblance to the surface of the moon, owing to its different stratifications and the salt formations that are caused by the natural environment.

We were in the area known as the Preandan Depression but were surrounded by the Andean Mountain Range, Volcanoes, and the Cordillera de Domeyko (another mountain range).

We thought it would be fun to creat Hyroglyphics with our shadows. I'm the one with the saddle bag hips because of how all my stuff made me look!

Then we made the cingular wireless bars.

Below is the specific point called The Great Dune Path within the Valle de la Luna. It is said that the Great Sand Dune was probably formed by the accumulation of sand, prompted by natural barriers which constitute the base of the dunes.

Right next to the great sand dune was the Amphi Theatre, or more formerly called the Cordillera de la Sal. It was formed by the horizontal accumulation of thin layers of materials which were subsequently destroyed by movements in earth's crust. Wind and water have created a sequence of peaks, similiar in outline to the bellows of an acordion.

Then Friday we took an entire day trip to see the National Reservation of Flamencos, Atacama Salt Lake, and the tiny city of Toconao.

On our way to the national parks we stumbled upon some llamas on the edge of the road. They were all decked out in decoration (which you can see if you look closely in the picture).

Below is the Atacama Salt Lake. It is at an elevation of 2,300 meters above sea level. Its surface salt crusts are visible and caused by the constant accumulation of crystals produced by the underground water evaporaion of heavy saline load. The entire eco-system of the salt plain has a scarse depth and the muddy state makes the life of many microscopic shapes of algae and microinvertebrate possible. This constitutes the food of the flamingoes.

As much as I liked having my picture taken with the llama that morning, by the afternoon I just had to try what they taste like! Llama on a stick, and although the meat does have a slightly fatty texture, it was still a nice treat for about $2.

Then Saturday morning we woke up at 3am to be ready for our tour bus at 4am. We were off to see the Geysers of Tatio about two hours away from San Pedro. It was absolutely freezing!!!!!! I could hardly feel my toes after 20 minutes. I had about 5 layers on top and it was not enough, but it was worth it and the neat sight of hot boiling water bubbling up.

We got back from the Geyers around 1pm. We grabbed lunch and then I stuck around "downtown" for some window shopping. That night we met up for dinner, drinks, and fun! I was even able to squeeze in a couple salsa dances with a fellow Chilean friend we ended up making. Then we went to a carrete (party) of a friend of a friend and had a great time mingling till almost 5 in the morning. Needless to say, with having to get up at 7am to catch the bus back to Antofagasta, I didn´t get much sleep and have been up for rounding 40 hours. Yikes!

It was a great time had by all and some fun pictures to reflect on!

CW

Christine's Update

(My city)

I've been in Chile for almost two months to the day and sometimes I still can't believe that I am here.

Its Tuesday and I'm on my second free day of the week because the public school teachers are on strike in Chile. School is anticipated to resume this coming Monday.

This past weekend I went salsa dancing at T'Quila, a pub that has started "Sábado Salsero" which are Saturday Latin nights. I went with two friends and we met up with our salsa instructor. It was a lot of fun and I am starting to recognize people and make friends with fellow salseros.

On Sunday I met Rachel and we went to the Museo de Antofagasta. Then we hopped over the main highway to the local seafood market to get the best Empanadas around and look at the sea lions.

Rachel and I pictured above.

Last week we spent an entire morning working on visa and carnet (like a license and SS number) documentation. After we were fingerprinted, photographed, and put into their computer, we got our picture taken.

(Me, Joe, Rachel, Amy, Susan, Johnny) Paul not pictured.

A Little Message From Us To The Folks

Hello hello! Well I just got back today from several days in a bus traveling from Antofagasta visiting my sister back to Cusco. I had a fantastic time. Hiked up a desert mountain, went to the beach, danced salsa, and ate Tecieto. A little of everything. Christy's family is fantastic, they are nice, fun, and laugh alot. I also went to Christy's school. It is a relatively newish school, but it is also in the northern part of town which is sort of a poorer part of town. Antofagasta is definately a modern city and a much safer city when compared to Peru and Cusco. They have gas stations, everyone has a car, and you can walk anywhere at night without any problems.

Anyways without further adu, Christy and myself have a little present for Mama and Daddy. I little music video we made while hanging out at my hostal in Antofagasta.

Christine's Volunteer Group

I thought I would post a couple pictures of the 8-month volunteer group.

Above was an outing to a Brazilian restaurant within a couple weeks of our arrival. The local newspaper was also there to catch the story of our arrival.

(Me, Joe, Paul, Rachel, Johnny, Amy, Susan)

This picture above was taken at Rachel's house, one of the volunteers, for her birthday celebration. I am not much of a wine drinker but this strawberry wine concoction we were drinking was excellent!

CW