Weekend en el Campo

I've been super overwhelmed with school (and probably a bit of culture shock and home sickness, too). We are on a three day weekend right now, and I'm actually out in the country with my previous host family. I stayed with them when I was studying abroad in 2007. They live in Santiago, but they also bought a cherry farm about 5 hours to the south. It's a cold and rainy weekend, but it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I think I am learning that I am not a city person! maybe a smaller city? There are over 7 million people in Santiago-- that's more than a third of the population of the entire country!

I think if I decide to stay in Chile, I will move to a smaller city. I like this country, I just think that the city life isnt for me.  I think being in the city affects how the students act, too. They are not very respectful of teachers, especially young, foreign ones (ie, me). It has gotten worse as the year goes by, even though I have gotten more strict with the rules.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Even though most of my students are only a couple years younger than me, the level of maturity expected is much lower than in the United States. They're rowdy in class, and never listen to instructions. They told me it was because they don't understand when I speak English (even though some of them are on their sixth semester of classes), so I even started to explain things in Spanish. Unfortunately, not only do they not pay attention to my directions, they now know that I speak Spanish, some refuse to speak to me in English.  It can be very annoying sometimes!

So, I've been a bit frustrated with the classes, especially with having so many levels. We have our second tests next week-- the written tests are standard, but I have to come up with my own orals. I've finished writing them all except for one class, so I can relax a little thus weekend.  I did really horribly with my documentation last time, so I'm looking for better ways to administer the tests this time.  I think I am going to come up with a printed paper that I can give to each student and just circle the points, or something like that.

Aside from working, I haven't really had time for much else. This weekend is the first I haven't worked since I first arrived. It's nice to get away, though. The weather is kind of bad, so we are stuck inside at the moment, but it feels good to know that I don't have any work to do (well, I do, but I'm caught up enough to take a beak). The family I'm with owns a huge parcel of land where they mostly grow cherries, but they also have avocados, oats, honey, chickens, and a horse. Too bad it's such a far drive from the city--this is where I want to live! They're actually trying to sell it because it had just gotten to be too much to take care of, with two active teenagers and both parents with full-time jobs. I would totally buy it from them! Even with the rain, this place is gorgeous!

Well, we are off to start the asado ( Chilean BBQ).  Yum-o!