A Traveler Not A Tourist

Wanderlust; (noun) the strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world.

Passport & Morgan's KY ring.

Before I continue this blog I guess I should give an update on what has happened since I last wrote (for the unfortunate souls that stumble upon it by accident). All previous entries are from a wonderful time I had while studying in Sevilla, Spain for the fall semester of 2012. Originally I started writing as a way to help family and friends stay updated with my travels without having to retell story after story to each person and to maintain a time capsule of sorts. A time capsule that was strictly for my own memory, since few were/are expected to care about the ramblings of a white girl's so called adventures. I have no delusions to the insignificance that I am in comparison to the world and all the great minds that have and still do roam it. I merely pray that I am able absorb as much as I can and if I'm lucky leave a small impression on the world myself. 

Two years have gone by since I was last able to curb my wanderlust. That's not to say I spent my time idly, for the most part, either. With my bachelors degree in psychology and minor in Spanish I am ready to take the next step... sorta. A year before I graduated from Georgetown College I would have said that I would immediately attend a graduate school afterwards and earn my masters followed by my PhD or PsyD. Reality and life itself hit as the date for my graduation slowly approached. Going straight to school again seemed like a daunting task that I could not tackle. Remembering that while I was in Spain I was contacted by Marta, a teacher at a school in Chile that I had visited and worked with a year previously, asking if I was interested in returning to work with the English department for a semester I considered my options. At the time I passed it off, having one more year of school left, and also imagining myself going straight to school. So I contacted Marta and asked about the position which led me to speak with Grundy Janes, who officially offered my the position.

First day in the school!

Grundy is a beloved man in Chile who lived in Temuco for over 40 years with his family as a missionary and principle at the Colegio Bautista, a private baptist school. He is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and up until the recent president was elected at Georgetown College he worked with a partnership between the two schools. Students from the colegio could attend the college at a set price and every two years a mission group was sent from the college to assist the school and explore Chile. The summer after my freshman year I was lucky enough to be on the trip to the school and that's where I made a few of the connections I have now. After a very veeeerrrrryyyy long summer of unemployment (intentional, my thinking was it was too short of a time to get a job where I was staying with my parents) I am finally in Chile! No I am not a full time teacher with my own classroom. Simmer down. Mostly I just have small group conversations with students to help them practice their English. All grade levels are worked with throughout the department, I was even lucky enough to go to the kinder (kindergarden) class and be smothered with love from the students. 

View from the English Department office.

Only one hiccup occurred on my way to Chile. Not a big deal. But I almost didn't get admitted into the country... scared me to death! I'm really not sure what happened though cause the boarder agent never really explained why he was being so hesitant with me. Once I mentioned, in my broken Spanish. that I was staying at the baptist high school he let me by. Note: make sure if you are traveling you are prepared for anything! This time I wasn't expecting that and I was already sick from the plane (no sleep on a 10 hour flight...) so I was very off guard. I made it though! So I will worry about that in October when I have to leave and return to renew my visa. 

Yellow flowered trees.

My arrival date was July 27th and departure is December 16th. About six months to see what adventures I can find myself in. So far most attempts at adventure have been thwarted. Stress not. Adventures will be had. The students have been great so far, through ranging from two extremes. They either sit silently in conversations avoiding eye contact usually, probably praying to God I don't actually ask them to speak (the feeling mutual when it comes to Spanish for me right now) or they talk so much I don't even have a chance to ask other students questions. A bad habit has formed of asking their classmates how to say something instead of talking about to the group. My Spanish minor isn't a complete sham after all. In all seriousness though, my Spanish is pathetic. Comprehension is greater than conversation, but even that comes at a struggle. After my return from Spain I was done with all my requirements for Spanish and was unable to practice or take any more classes back at the college. Spanish dwindled from my memory. Not that I was a pro before. Read my previous posts, I'm sure there is angst written all throughout them about it. 

Chileans in general are great. Remind me of the southern comforts of being from Kentucky. Always making sure you are happy and completely obsessed with making sure you've eaten enough. It's endearing really. Though I find myself inexplicably aware of my differences as I walk down the streets. Usually I draw attention just by walking in a room. The white girl. Growing up I never really considered race a factor. Yes people were different looking but I was never inclined to blatantly stare at someone who is different. Chilean diversity is not the same as American and grading papers from a movie review of "The Blind Side" made the differences stand out even more. Nothing is meant out of malice, just curiosity for them. Though the illusion that all Americans have a lot of money still lingers in the air. To set things straight on my part I do not have money and neither does my family (not in the modest 'oh we get by' way but in the I grew up with very little way).  I am the minority. When I travel I usually have moments where I stand out and am perfectly content with being a tourist. Other times I merely want to go by unnoticed and to experience the culture. Temuco not being a tourist town also causes me to stand out more so.

Temuco from the roof of Javiera. 

Sunday's I have spent time being invited to different churches followed by lunch at someone's house. I cherish these moments. Having a chance to spend time with a Chilean family and attempting my best Spanish while trying to refrain from being frustrated by my own lack there of is heart warming. Sadly though I fear that these events have mostly been restricted to Sundays. Which I love getting to visit different churches but there are six other days of the week to consider. Marta and her family have been a big help so far and I love her for it. The past two Saturday's I have spent time with them. Going shopping for groceries and hiking the hill in the city (discovering my raincoat is water resistant not proof and taking me to buy a new one).  A trip was planned for the teachers to go to the thermos (hot springs) and was either post-poned or canceled (still up in the air I guess) so there went one possible adventure. Last time I was here I did a lot of things so it's also difficult to think of what to do this time around. A lot of repeat trips will occur I'm sure. It's Chilean winter now, which for Temuco means cold and rain. Honestly, it isn't that cold but there isn't central heat so at times it just seems like it's always cold. Also, I despise rain. I love a good summer Kentucky rain but a cold rain... no sir. And... I have ants in my kitchen. I hate ants. 

Welcome to the land of coffee and rain. 

Clearly rambling on about nothing is my specialty, so we shall see how this goes! I'm currently trying to make more connections with people closer to my age. I love the teachers and spending time with them (I'm an old soul) and the students, but there is a difference. The students are clearly younger and it's just a different type of relationship. I know though, until my Spanish improves, making these connections will be difficult for me. At the school I have been given the opportunity to attend some of the sophomore Spanish classes to start improving my skills. In the mean time I've read a lot of books on my Kindle (Divergent trilogy... killed it in a weekend. To be noted that I'm a fast reader). With my hopes for future friendships I also hope for new traveling companions. Traveling is a must. But it's always funner with a friend...