Lago Titicaca on a beautiful day



Fort Atkinson Twilight--Polka concert Summer '07

My own little flood and crazy Chileans

I washed my clothes today. No biggie. Well I put the first load in and went upstairs to finishing cleaning my room. When I went downstairs again to change the load I noticed the floor was all wet. As I was investigating, I noticed the sink where the washer drains into had gotten clogged by a plastic bag that had been in the sink. Uh oh. Not only did it get the laundry room floor wet, the water went into the maid's room. We don't have a maid right now but there is stuff everywhere in that room. Samantha had managed to create some work for herself. I had to clean out the room in which I found about 5 different kitchen machinery items, from a George Foreman all the way to an ancient-looking food processor. Then there were clothes upon clothes upon clothes. Who seriously needs that much stuff? I know my mother is a packrat but my host mom is to the extreme. I really think she needs to get checked out. There were like 7 pillows just lying on the floor gathering dust and dirt. Who really needs that many pillows lying around. She already has ten on her bed. I am by no means a neat freak, my mother and roommates can attest to that. So when someone else's clutter starts to bother me, you know it's bad. I got everything out of the room and put it all to one side of the garage where it was dry. I then proceeded to sweep out the water. It was quite interesting what I found while I was sweeping. Years of dirt and grime and I think what was the remains of a dead mouse. Now I just have to wait for it to dry properly and attempt to put the mess back in. How can these people live like this??? ahhhhhh!

I also went to class this afternoon. As I entered the common area of the building I saw my classmates standing, watching something going on out front of the building. Here were some crazy Chileans throwing rocks at an armored truck of the Arican police. The armored truck would spray them with an intense beam of water. They were breaking the walls with rocks, to get other rocks. One person actually chucked a chair. They were yelling profanities, all the while I was thinking the cops in there are pry just kickin back, havin a snack, thinking you idiots, "You can throw as many rocks as you want. But at the end of the day, we've still got the armored truck." The students want the strike to continue. Unless something major happens, I don't see that flying at all.

Today was one of those days where you wake up and you're not in a very good mood. I can't really say what the reason is, it could be because I actually had to wake up before noon today, but whatever the case, something just wasn't sitting right. I was supposed to march in an anniversary parade with the kindergarten class that I teach. I walk to the school and on my way peoples stares and whistles were really getting to me. Most days I can blow them off as if they weren't there, but days like today I'm more sensitive to them. I don't feel like being the object of someone's whistle or suggestive gesture. I don't want to be stared at just because I'm obviously not Latina. It's days like this that really make me miss home. I showered before I went to the school and I realized I shouldn't have. Arica is so dirty. Every passing car seems to shower you with some sort of dirt or exhaust. Your shoes are never clean because everything is dirt or sand. What's more is that the city itself is like one big garbage dump. There's this huge, I guess you could call it a hole, where kids play soccer. I've seen people actually put their garbage bags next to it. The city workers go around with their brooms and sweep the dirt. Sweep the dirt? You know you're just moving it around right, you're not actually cleaning it. The idea of someone sweeping dirt or picking up any type of garbage in this city is ridiculous. I just miss Iowa's greeness and fresh air! I realize I am pretty much just complaining right now, I have to do it somewhere I guess. Well I need to go release some stress and go on a run. I'll just turn my music up really loud and keep my eyes forward to avoid the strange looks.

P.S. HOME IN T-31 DAYYYYSSS!!

Living with the Morales'

Today I was reminded of how lucky I am to be staying with such an amazing family. I told my host sister Yuli (the one in the middle of the picture) that I had never had a completo. A completo is the thing that looks like a hot dog, which it basically is. It's a hot dog, diced tomatoes, avocado, mayo and ketchup all in an oversized bun. It's a staple Chilean food. The subject came up at lunch and she made them for dinner. I was resting in my bed because I went out last night and my younger host sister and her friend Alessandra (the girl on the left) came up to my room and said they had a surprise for me and that I had to wait in my room until they told me to come out. Ok, that's fine, continuing to lay down doesn't require much effort. Well they came and got me and they were all dressed up in crazy clothes and they told me I had to close my eyes until they told me to open them. They lead me downstairs and into the kitchen. There I opened my eyes and there on the table were completos all set out nicely, some other goodies and a cake! They were calling it my pre-going away party. It was totally unexpected, and for them to do that for me really means something.

I truly feel at home here. I don't have a younger sister and my 8 year old Chilean sister Catalina is like my pseudo-sister. We goof around together, watch cartoons together, eat together and go places together. That little girl has touched my life more than she will ever know. My other Chilean sister Yuli has a heart of gold and is an amazing cook. She is always willing to help me with any little thing I want. She had Cata when she was 18 and I don't know the story but I can't help but think it wasn't planned. She is a great mom. And then there's my host mom Fatima. She's something else. A little crazy, thinks she knows everything and loves sweets just about as much as I do. When I got my wallet stolen in the first few weeks I was here we went all around the city going to the taxi stations because I thought I could have possibly left it in a taxi. We went around the campus asking people if they saw anything, she alerted the campus police. She did everything in her power to help me. I don't know where Yuli's or Cata's father is, but living in this house has really taught me something that I thought I already knew. It has shown me what it means to be a strong woman. You don't need a man to define who you are. I knew the concept, but I didn't fully understand it until now. I am truly blessed to have met and lived with this family.

I am missing my life in Iowa, but at the same time I don't want to leave! Of course I don't. It's like a vacation for me right now. I get to explore another part of the world which in turn, allows me to explore another part of myself. I get to meet so many new people that would have otherwise been just an aspiration. Part of me doesn't want to go back to my life in Iowa because I know what the next year, year and a half holds. It's my senior year. I'm going to graduate from college? Well, depending on what happens with my credits here, I should be able to get done with my classes and then have student teaching left, so about a year and a half. I really don't have many responsibilities here. The end of college?? What? I didn't think college would ever end. Ugh, I don't even want to think about getting out into the 'real world'. That can stay away for quite some time yet. Samantha's not ready for that transition. But are we ever really 'ready' for any big transition like that? I don't really think so. How could be? We can be ready for the mental scenarios we have in our head about how it's going to be, but no one actually knows what's going to happen. It's like that saying that goes:

At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when
you don't really expect it. Its like one day you realize that the fairy tale
may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be
a castle. And its not so important happy ever after, just that its happy
right now. See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise
you , and once in a while people may even take your breath away.

I have been looking at all the flood coverage on KWWL and CNN. Wow. I can't grasp the magnitude of it all. I suppose no one else can either. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have your home underwater or your business. Your life...washed away. I am glad not that maybe people have died. One is still too many. First there was the tornado, now the flood. Iowa seems to be getting it's butt kicked right now. I pray for all the people who's homes, businesses, workplaces, lives have been affected by the flood. Stuff like this reminds me what it is we are all really doing on this planet. To love and care for one another. No matter what. Tragedy seems to connect us all. It's like a swift kick in the face that hey, you really are human and definitely not invincible. I pray the waters recede soon and people can get back on with their lives in the best way possible.

Viewing all the crap that's been going on around home makes me miss home even more. I miss my family...and my friends....my life! I realize where I am...what I am doing. I know I need to enjoy what I am doing here. And I definitely am. I am definitely making the most of everything. However, it's just human to miss what you love. I can't help it. I can't be a perpetual tower of strength that never flinches or never sheds a tear. I really miss my broha...and my mom and dad and grandma and grandpa....especially my grandpa and dad b/c yesterday was Father's Day. I wish I could have been there for that. I can't keep track of all the festivities that I am missing while I'm away. I have to focus on the positives. I have to focus on the fact that there are so many people that wish they could be doing what I am doing right now. I'm not sure people actually realize what it takes to study abroad. All the way from the planning and then actually getting on a plane and traveling to another country, usually continent. Then having to get by in a completely different country...you have to adapt to social normalities that may be way beyond your comprehension. All of this while you are thousands of miles away from what you know and love. It takes something special. And I am proud to say I have that something.

I miss you and love you all....you're what makes my world go 'round....

CrEaTiVe SpUrT....///...WoRk In PrOgReSs

Anyone who knows me, who really knows me,
knows that I tell it like it is.
They know I think I am pretty funny and
I laugh at my own jokes.  They
know I care deeply for others, and
despite my loud, sometimes obnoxious
exterior, I have a lot of love in me. 
They know how much I love to eat and
thoroughly enjoy sweets, especially
chocolate.  They should know they 
can talk to me; I've got a great ear. 
They should know I really try and
avoid conflict because it makes me
feel uncomfortable, which may seem
odd considering how brash I can be
at times.  They know I am not your
run of the mill girl.  They know how
independent I am.  They know how
open I am.  They know how much I love
to travel.  They know how much I
love to have a good time and throw my
head back and laugh.  They know
how much music is a part of my life, 
as well as writing and being creative.
They know how much I love to run and
be active.  They know how much
I enjoy the company of children.  Each
time I see one laugh or do something 
they’ve never done before, that little
flash of life sparks my own spirit and
ignites my hope in the future.  They know how
I try and look on the positive side
of everything.  They know how much
I love my life.  They know how much
my family means to me, especially
my grandma Norma.   And I hope they
know how much I care about them. 
My life has been brightened and
enlightened by so many and I have no words
to sufficiently thank everyone
for how they have touched my 
life.  

Running in South America: An Experience

I am training to run the half marathon with Andrea again this October. Not only that, I just enjoy running in general. I've always thought of it as my type of mediation. Minus the mmmmmmm. And sitting with your legs all crooked like that. As I alway do with running, I like to find a route and stick to it for the most part. I started running up a main street all the way down to the centro then making a big u and coming back up to my house on another main street. I mainly did this because I thought it would be safer. I didn't exactly feel comfortable running alone in Arica. Although mind you, I would be running so if someone would try and harass me, I could assumebly (I think I just made that word up, my English is becoming worse, but you get what I mean) just run away from them. However this is assuming the assaulter would be unarmed and with out locomotion. Whatever the hypothetical case would be, as I went on more and more daily runs, I realized the harassment would always be existent. I mean harassment in a very non-harming sense. I don't want to sound like I am going through battle each time I run. Doing exercise in public here is a very odd thing, and being a woman, alone, makes it three fold. I do it anyway. I changed my route to a more rural way. For the most part, I get less looks but I have a hard time dodging the body shops. Body shops seem to be the worst for bringing out yelps and hollers from the men folk. If there are say, five men working outside the body shop, when they see you come they will literally stop what they are doing, lean back on the cars, and just watch you run by. Talk about awkward. I thought people honked a lot in this country, especially when they were by me, I've now realized they are honking at me. And if I don't hear a whistle from a man's mouth again in this country, it will be too soon.

39 Daaaayyys...me falta poco tiempo

My brother sent me the picture on the left of our driveway. When I opened the email the first thing I said was, holy s***! I have seen it flood where it's a little questionable if I can get through there with my itty bitty Sunfire, but wow, never like that. I put the other because this is the most recent picture of me. While everyone in northeast Iowa is needing to construct an arc, here I am enjoying my free time during the strike in a very, very dry northern Chile. The picture was taken this past weekend at a Welcome Home party for a friend of friends. You will notice the very classy smoky element to the photo. It seems like everyone here smokes like South America has a tobacco shortage.

I have definitely been making the most of my free time since the strike has been going on. This past weekend was pretty crazy. To give you an idea of just how fun it was, I slept from 4 p.m. yesterday until 11:30 this morning. I'm not that sharp with numbers but I am going to say that's a good, almost 20 hours of some much needed Z's.

I have 39 days left in this country. I have to admit that I did make a countdown. I made it within the first month that I arrived. I can't deny that I am super excited to come home. I really miss everyone a lot more than I ever did in Spain. Sorry Mom and Dad, Spain was just too much fun, I didn't want to come home! It could have something to do with how close I have become with my parents in the past year, and even with my friends. But I know how incredibly blessed I am with the people I have in my life. They make up such an intricate part of my life, I'm missing everyone like caarazy!

The Good Life...

My past two weeks has consisted of doing nothing much at all. Since there's no school I spend most of my days sleeping in, running, spending time with my host family and just doing random things. I am hearing rumors that the strike is going to last longer so I think I definitely need to travel. This city is fun, but an entire month with nothing to do is maybe a little too much of a good thing!

My host sister's "Tata" is here for the weekend. Tata means grandfather but he's not actually her grandfather. He's known the family forever and plays an important role in their life. He brought Catalina a music player and this toy she wanted. She is so spoiled. Last night we were in the centro getting Cata's computer fixed and while we were in the store she went around and was like I want this, and this and this....which ended up being some headphones, games, speakers, webcam and a new mouse. Who needs that at eight...seriously. Did I mention she has her own cell phone too? He's actually a really cool guy, always joking around and very funny. He bought Catalina and I treats, can't help but like a guy who buys me chocolate:)

Today we went to a market called the Agro. It's a huge place and sells everything from fruit to washing machines. While we were in the food section my host mom stopped at this stand that sold herbal remedies for every ache and pain. I was reading the labels on the different herbs about what ailments they were for. Just about every one cured stomach pain and sore throats. All of the baggies were generally some sort of shade of green, gray or brown. Normal colors. One particular bag stuck out. It was pinkish red. I red the label and it said it was rose petals. Ok, I thought they were good for potpourri, I didn't know you could consume then. Ok so rose petals, what on earth could they help with? Gonorrhea. What!? Excuse me, but does that say it helps with gonorrhea. Wow, I mean all the other herb baggies were half way believable but really...rose petals...gonorrhea? Kind of ironic (don't know if that's the right word or not) but don't roses usually lead to things that cause gonorrhea...odd. I knew they were pulling my leg when I saw that one. They have a lot of stuff like that in this country. I am not sure if it's partly because the indigenous cultures still have such a big influence here or what. I do know that my host mom firmly believes you can catch a cold by walking around on cold floors barefoot. If only she knew what occurs at Adams Christmases! Family, you get the joke. But for everyone else, it's tradition in the Jack and Norma Household that on Christmas Day whoever has the urge runs around the house barefoot...in the snow. No one has died yet.

When we got to the car as we were leaving the Agro my host mom couldn't get into the car b/c the car next to us had parked too close. She had me back the car up and then she let me drive! Yes I know, how illegal...but what a rush! The car is your standard SUV automatic. No big deal. However we don't have roundabouts in America. At least not in Northeast Iowa. So that part was interesting. Mom, don't worry nothing happened, no tickets were written, I didn't even have any close calls! You'd be proud!

I am writing out of order today. You can tell where my head is at. So rewind to Friday. On Friday night I had a blind date with one of my host mom's coworkers. And I know, if you do remember I posted awhile back that I had a boyfriend down here. Boy was I wrong. To make a long story short, we weren't on the same page and I know that I don't deserve to just be an option...so for my own sake I broke it off (well if you can call it breaking up if we were never actually together). So anyway! I had a blind date. First one of my life. I was really, really nervous. The guy knows no English. This is going to be interesting. Well he was two hours late from when he said he'd be at my house. Strike one. He was dressed in two unmatching shirts, a fanny pack and white sneakers. I wish I could say that's a strike but I know guys don't always have the best sense of style, and it wasn't that bad. He could have a had a red mohawk and a ring through his nose like a sow. It's what's on the inside that count anyway. Within the first 15 minutes of meeting him he lit up a cigarette. Strike two. I will not date a guy who smokes. Period. We had some drinks at a pretty low key bar. There was good conversation, I was impressed with myself at how I could communicate in my second language. That was the best part about the night. Among the many cigarettes and my eyes burning from the smoke, I had to pinch myself to stay focused on the conversation. I also had to bite my lip at times to keep myself from laughing. Kate, if you are reading this right now I was thinking of you during that. All I could think about was how movie-esque this blind date was and how ridiculous it is. And then I just thought about what you would do if you could be watching me right now and I thought about your laugh and I had a hard time not busting out laughing in his face. He kept telling me how beautiful I was and how my host mom didn't inform him how beautiful was. It's nice to get compliments, but he was laying it on a little thick. His semi-inappropriate comments for a first date that followed gave me the feeling that we definitely weren't on the same page. If you get my drift. However, I kept my composure and avoided some awkward topics. He took me home and I said I'd call him on Saturday to let him know what my plans were, however that could have been a white lie. Yes, ok it definitely was. I don't want to make it sound like this was the date from hell b/c it wasn't by any means. He paid for everything, so that was nice. Haha. No but seriously, he was a nice guy, very personable but there just wasn't anything there. Not even a flicker.

So needless to say I am still on the search for Prince Charming. I think my dad will do as my Prince Charming for now:)

The maid told me today that I could only make one egg. I was making three. Who only makes one egg...I mean, really. I pay too much money to live here to only be able to make only one egg. I'm an active girl, I need my protein! So I bought my own eggs. Ha, take that.

Things are still relatively uneventful. I am not sure if the strike is over or not, I haven't heard anything. It seems that we will finally be going back to school on Monday. Kind of happy, kind of not about it. I guess we have to go back to school at some point. And don't worry, this strike is not going to affect my schooling as far as how my credits transfer and what I will get credit for. I have been assured of this but my better sense doubts it because of my past track record with South America being sure of something.

Today I really did nothing. I slept in, ate breakfast at like 11, watched a movie and fell back to sleep. Then got up for lunch. After lunch I laid in bed and watched the Disney Channel with my host sister. I finally gathered up enough ambition to walk to the supermarket and buy some stuff (the eggs). The supermarket isn't the huge one so they didn't have peanut butter or the granola that I wanted. I know...what a worry, I am concerned about getting peanut butter and granola. Life's pretty good right now. And if I just bored you to death talking about needing to find granola and peanut butter, I won't be offended if you stop reading.

As type I am waiting to get picked up by one of my host mom's coworkers. I guess they were talking about how I live with her and he said he wanted to take me out. Is this a blind date?? I am not sure. We are meeting other people. I am bracing myself to bombarded by Spanish that's so fast it sounds like a bunch of gobbly-goop (is that a word?). Either way, I am shitting my pants. Pardon my French. Here goes nothin!

I got back from Iquique on Sunday night. All in all it was a very good trip. I went with my friend Roberto and it was nice to just be the two of us. Iquique has a lot of history with the mining of nitrates and then silver used to be mined near the area as well in the 1800's. This lead to a lot of rich architecture. There are wood sidewalks and very beautiful plazas. They call the type of architecture Georgian so if you want to look it up you can. To me it kind of reminded me of what you would think of when you think of the Old West. We didn't really do much sight seeing, I wish we would have because there's quite a bit to see. However, we more enjoyed the night life if you get my drift. It's only 4 hours away, so it's not like I can't go back.

We still aren't in school. I guess they had a meeting yesterday to see how long the strike was going to go but I haven't heard anything. The latest I heard was June 15th and as early as this week. I am thinking we'll probably go back on Monday. I have also heard that the police are going to start coming into the campus and removing the students who are blocking the entrances. You can't get in unless you show your student ID at the gates. I wouldn't really mind going back to school. I would love to travel but the funds are definitely getting low. Plus, I've got to go to school sometime so I would like to just get on with it. There has also been talk about the school year going longer than planned because of the strike but I was told yesterday that that would only happen if the strike went longer than a month. Right now we're on two weeks, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I would really hate to get screwed out of credits that I paid for. Although this not doing much of anything is pretty neato too. Kind of boring at times, but I know that this upcoming year is going to be a killer so I am trying to soak this up as much as possible. I am taking 15 credit hours plus I am doing my Level II which is basically a month long intensive lab where I am in the classroom every day for half of the day and I have to do all these lessons and write up this big report at the end. Plus I have two jobs, possibly three. I start to freak out just writing about it! And it's my senior year! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ok....breath....you'll be alright and you've got to grow up sometime.

I still feel that my thirst for seeing the world hasn't been quenched and I plan on doing my student teaching abroad. Nita is relieved that I will at least be doing an entire school year in Iowa this time which is something I haven't done since I was a freshman. Where's the next destination you ask? I am thinking Spain or England. Europe at least. South America is ok but I haven't fell in love in with like I did Europe. What's more is that there are some aspects of Latin culture I just can't wrap my head around. One big one is the fact that pretty much anyone will try and rip you off if they can. I have had a Chilean friend go up to a vendor and ask how much an item was, then I went and asked and it was almost double what she told my Chilean friend. I don't know if they think it's because I'm American so I must have a lot of money or something, I don't know. I have talked to some Chileans about it and they said it's pretty much with anyone, even if they are Latino too. My small town Iowa manners come out and me and that just really pisses (pardon my French) me off that people would do that to people. Ripping people off and stealing are two things I can't get used to here. Stealing here isn't anything, no one thinks twice about it.

I really wish I could be home today. Philip, the German foreign exchange student we had when I was a freshman, and his family are at our house right now. I haven't seen him in almost 7 years.

But I'm in Chile....I've got to enjoy where I am....I only have 51 days left...

ick...

Things have gotten better. I am still not sure on the housing situation. I am very attached to this family and my parents are willing to help me. However, do I want to give them another financial worry? Or should I take the leap into a maybe not as comfy pension? I am not sure...I have been praying about it and we shall see.

I am starting to feel sick. My friends were sick last week and I am thinking I picked something up from them. My throat is sore and I am just overall feeling kind of crappy. Not good. Especially since a friend and I plan on traveling to a city called Iquique (pronounced E-key-kay) tomorrow and staying the whole weekend. It's just about 4 hours south of here. We still don't have school and we aren't even sure if we will have it on Monday or not. I am loving this free time. Kind of. Arica really doesn't have that much to do/see. Well especially now since it's their winter. It's too cold to the go to the beach and there really aren't any 'sites' or anything like that. I could walk around the city...but even that's pretty ugly. However, as I reread this I feel like I am telling everyone the bad parts. Arica does have a beautiful side. The ocean of course is always breathtaking and the view from the Morro is priceless. The Morro is a gigantic headrock that juts out towards the sea and has weathered time. It was where the Chileans took the Peruvians in some war a long time ago. If you keep on going past the Morro you'll find gorgeous beaches and coastlines. So! It's not all bad!

One thing I can't get used to here in South America are all the stray dogs. They are everywhere....literally...everywhere. I don't know how there got to be such a large population of stray dogs....but the numbers seem to be booming down here. One I remember seeing look like it hadn't eaten in a week and it was dragging one hind leg and another was turned inward. I really hope there's a Dog Heaven and every dog gets to eat as much as he or she desires.

I have been teaching English to my family's friend's kindergarten class every Thursday. It is going well. Practically every child comes from some kind of broken home and has little to no discipline in their life. They are 5 years old, but some of them are completely terrible. I actually had one child run out of the classroom and into the playground and proceeded to run away from us whenever we got close. Reaching out for attention I am gathering. Today day I did a lesson on things in a classroom. Next week I am going to do the days of the week. Teaching this class has really been a challenge for me. I am used to working with kids but not this young. It's a challenge because they can't read yet, so you have to improvise. What's more is that they know little to no English. I am learning what works and what doesn't and trying and failing and trying again is what becoming a good teacher is all about.

Chile is really testing me right now. Boy troubles, host family troubles....well ok that's about it. But being in this country is sure showing me what I'm made of. I am moving out. Nothing major really happened between my host mom and I, but I honestly didn't always have the best feeling about her. My friends have told me that about her as well. I pay almost $400 a month here, total. I also pay almost $300 for rent in my apartment in Cedar Falls. Financially, I just can't cut it. I need money to actually have some fun in this country and be able to live when I get back to Iowa. I explained my financial situation to her and I asked her if they could just not feed me or something and I could pay less to stay here. Which, by the way, this is what they did for my roommate but I left his name out of it. She wasn't willing to negotiate though. This was, mind you, all during her 20 minute rant in rapid Spanish. I got the general meaning but the details are a little blurred. We've already had some minor issues with me asking her to lower the rent once before and then some of my clothes have magically disappeared. One of them I put in the wash and never got back. The others I didn't even wear or put in the wash, and now they're not there. I know, it ticks me off. I can't help but think the maid is stealing them. Or she confuses my clothes with my eight year old host sisters. I'm not that big but I'm definitely not that small either. I know that's where all my socks went to. So that's another reason I want to move out, I can do my own laundry. I am going with some friends to look for a place to live tomorrow. We'll see what pans out.

Average Number of Vacation Days Around the World Per Year

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days


I think I'll move to Italy...


http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922052.html

I haven't had school for almost a week now. I still don't know why there is the strike but I do know I am fully enjoy free time. Not like I didn't have loads of it before. The chairs and tables and desks are still up against the gates of the school at both entrances but there is one door open on each end where you can get in. Why do people want to get into the school if there's no classes and no one is working? Very simple, party! Last week on the first day of the toma I was on campus most of the night with my friends. At one point I had to just take a step back and be quiet for a moment. I was thinking about how this would NEVER happen in the US and about how much I loved it. The culture here is so much more laid back and not always in a hurry. I have at least walked by the campus every evening/night since the toma has started and the merrymaking has not ceased. I thought Kuboushek's/Adams' knew how to party but oh cont rare. I had a hunch in Spain but now I am beginning to feel like it's entirely true that just about every other country besides America knows how to let loose and actually take 'er easy for an extended period of time. Don't believe me? According to careerjoy.com the average American has 10 vacation days in a year where as citizens of the European Union have an average of four weeks (more in some countries)per year and Japan has an average of five weeks of vacation time a year. Why can't everyone just chillax for like a month, I think it'd do everyone some good.

He's Gonna Kick my Ass--so funny

UTA in strike

Soooo we don't have school for the next week because the university is in strike. Why? I am not really sure, something the students don't agree with in the education system, universal issue I see. This week is great, but it isn't going to be that fun when we have to go back and have everything squished in.

Another interesting occurence...my host mom bought a rabbit at the market and had it run around our house for a week before she and my boyfriend killed. They then proceeded to sautee the blood and make this really disgusting looking dish. Killing animals is something I'm not used to in any culture.

What else? UNI students arrived this week for the summer program. I have been showing them around the university and city. It makes me feel like I actually know what I am talking about. This Saturday I am having a kind of welcome party for them at my house. It should be pretty fun, I can't wait.

My Life in Chile Thus Far

I have been in Chile for exactly two months today. What, huh!?! It feels as if I have been here for much longer than that. I have done so much living in two months.

My most recent excursion was to La Paz, Bolivia. I went with three other American guys which was all fine and dandy, but there were some definite gender differences. The bus ride to La Paz was 7 1/2 hours. The ride wasn't too bad considering I nodded on and off about the whole time, however the bus got pretty crowded because they just pick up random people on the side of the road on the way. Probably the only bad thing about the whole trip happened at the Bolivian border. We had been told we would need and had also been told we wouldn't need a visa to enter Bolivia. My host mom assured and reassured me that we wouldn't need one, but sure enough, we did. The kicker was that it was $100, in dollars too. We had to get money exchanged by this little old lady sitting on the side of the road who kept her change in her bra. That was interesting. We arrived in La Paz at about 8 on Thursday night, and we found a hostel, had something to eat and crashed for the night. The currency in Bolivia is Bolivianos and the exchange rate is definitely in the American favor. We spent a total of $20 for four nights in the hostel. The next day we got up and walked around the city the whole day. I have a Lonely Planet book, which for those of you who are not familiar with the Lonely Planet books, they are a series of travel books that are basically the travelers bible. They have them for about any place you could imagine and they have reviews and all kinds of information about anything and everything where you are. We went to some museums, churches and parks, all with amazing things. That night we went to a place in my book called the Black Market. It was this narrow, winding street filled with little shops that sell just about everything. There were 'witches' that would tell you your fortune, and all kinds of herbs and spices for every aliment. One very interesting item was dried baby alpacas fetuses. Yes, a little baby alpaca (like a llama) dried, for sale in a basket. They believe that if you bury one under your front porch when you build a new house you'll have good luck. By the looks of how many dried baby alpaca fetuses there were, not too much construction is happening in La Paz. Another interesting item for sale at many of the shops was dried and preserved frogs. The frogs had been completely gutted and then glazed with some chemical to harden them and sewn back up. I know you totally wanted one of those Ben, but I didn't think I could get it back through customs. Other things for sale were hats, gloves, socks, shawls, scarves, purses and just about anything else you could imagine made out of baby alpaca. There were typical trinkets and jewelry of the indigenous people, all claiming to be real, one stand had bottles of sparkley sand and shells. When I asked the lady what it was for she said it was for good luck, now I know they were just pulling my leg then, I think I made the same thing when I was eleven and mom got me a sand kit for my birthday. That night we went to the "Hard Rock Cafe" of La Paz. I put that in quotes because it wasn't real. We had many people tell us where it was and when we arrived we were like uhhhh where is it? In true South American style though, it was an imitation. The next day we took a city tour by double decker bus. We went to the Valley of the Moon which is called that because the rock there has weathered in such a way it looks as if you were on the moon. What a beautiful sight that was. Keep in mind La Paz is around 3000m above sea level and the city itself is set in a valley....so most of the city requires a lot of climbing up hill. At that altitude, it felt like I had been smoking for 30 years. The best part of the whole trip was on Sunday. We took an all inclusive tour to Lago Titicaca which is only about three hours out of La Paz. We ate at a delicious restaurant before taking a boat to la Isla del Sol on Lago Titicaca. Lago Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The ancient Incans believed the island was the place where all Incans came from, kind of like the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve idea. The boat ride took us about an hour, but how beautiful! The water was incredibly blue and so clear, our guide told us there were only about seven species of fish in the lake as well. No catfish, snapping turtles or leeches? I should have gone swimming. I did manage to get a rock at least. On the island we explored an ancient Incan temple. That was absolutely amazing to use the same stairs of the ancient Incans and stand in the same rooms as them. We hiked up the island a bit (very tiring!) and the views of the lake was amazing. Snow capped mountains in the background and the intense blue of the lake as far as the eye could see. Absolutely wonderful. We continued walking along the island to a tiny village. I would hate to live there. Everything is so steep and they have to hike up and down the side of the island every day for water. Too much work if you ask me....wow, how American of me. The boat ride back to the shore was as equally beautiful, even more so with the setting sun. We left La Paz very early on Monday morning. I got stuck in the very back seat next to the bathroom. Not fun. What else is new here in Chile? This past weekend we celebrated my host sister's 27th birthday. A lot of family and friends were around. Saturday night was the actual party and there was a lot of merrymaking. Alright, time to eat some dinner. More later.

SPILLVILLE

This is a satellite picture of my home town. I live on the road on the very last road on the left that is parallel to the bottom of the map. And yes, you are seeing it right, there would be only one main street.

South Winneshiek

This would be a front view of the one and only South Winneshiek High School in the winter. I graduated in 2005 but in a way it seems like only yesterday I was there with ants in my pants to get out of dodge. Now that I have gotten out of dodge (way away, South America actually) there is this part of me that longs for those teenage years. At the time everything seemed so crucial, so hard, so unfair, but now I see that I grew from it all and it shaped me into who I am today. Hindsight is always 20/20 though, right?

WEBQUEST Y WIKIS

¿Qué es Webquest y qué es Wikis? ¿Quién los creó y por qué?

Webquest fue desarollado por Bernie Dodge. Webquest fue construido como una herrmienta para aprendizaje. Es un tipo de actividad dónde todo el trabajo y información que los alumnos encuentran o usan es del internet. Basicamente, Webquest es una forma de trabajo usando tecnología en que el trabajo y la experiencia de los alumnos es mejor.

Wikis fue construido del proyecto Nupedia de Jimmy Wales y Larry Sanger. El proyecto fue un esfuerzo colaborativo. La idea principal de Wikis es que el público puede contribuir al enciclopedia público de Wikis. Wikis contiene páginas de temas diferentes. El público puede dar información de las páginas de Wikis. No requieren una licensura especial o algo así y pueden ofrecer información nueva sobre un tema para cambiarla en la página de web.

Charlie bit me! jajaja

Where I come from

This is where I come from....
My dad Bill is the love of my life...
My mom Juanita is one of my heroes
My big brother Benjamin is always there for me...
The one in the middle is Kat, that's Ben's fiance...she's from England, kind of weird right...long story on how they met but now they are engaged and all that happy junk and getting hitched in the fall.

These are my people
This is where I come from
Were givin' this life everything we got and then some
It ain't always pretty
But its real
It's the way we were made
Wouldn't have it any other way
These are my people

THE GOOOONIES!!!

BLOGS

1. ¿Que es un journal, y que es un journal style?
Un journal es un diario donde una persona escribe sobre cualquier cosa pero muchas personas lo usa para personal pensamientos. Un journal style is es el estilo de escribiendo

2. ¿Que tipos de blogs existen?
Puede ser muchos tipos y temas de blogs. En primer lugar una persona puede usar el blog para cosas personales como un diario. También, otros tipos de blogs son: instructional, informaciónal, revisiones, listas, profiles, entrevistas, investigaciones y muchos más.

3. ¿Cuanto cuesta crear un blog personal o institucional?
Creando un blog es gratis.


4. ¿Que tipo de información puedo poner en un blog?
Puede poner cualquier tipo de información en un blog. Puede poner información sobre la vida, trabajo, temas del mundo o lo que sea una persona desee.


5. ¿Necesito saber de programación o tener un grado de conocimiento tecnológico para poder crear y mantener un blog?
Sí. Creando un blog requiere un grado de conocimiento tecnológico. Hoy en día me parece que la mayoría de las personas tiene un tipo de email o le conocen alguien que ya lo tengo. Qué más, es que me parece que muchas personas ya tienen la conocimiento para usar una computadora y email, por lo menos en usos básicos. Obviomente, si una persona ya sabe que usar su email y tiene un conocimiento general del internet, creando un blog estará más fácil que una persona no sabe nada sobre computadoras o tecnológico. Ejemplo de esa persona: Mi mamá que tiene 58 años y ella no ha usado una computadora nunca en su vida. Para ella, creando un blog estará muy, muy dificíl.

6. ¿Cuales son los requerimientos mínimos para ellos?
Los requerimientos mínimos para ellos son un conocimiento de como buscar para cosas en Google por ejemplo y como usar su email.

7. ¿ Qué tipo de blog te gustó más y en qué tipo de blog te gustaría participar?
A mí me gusta blogs personales como un diario de un viaje de un amigo. Me gustaría participar en un blog sobre algo que me interesado. Por ejemplo, me gustaría participar en un blog sobre música o deportes.

8. ¿ Qué utilización puedes anticipar para la creación de un blog para este Taller?
Adémas usando este blog para trabajar, podría usarlo como un diario de mis viajes acá en Chile. También, yo podría usarlo cuando yo regreso a los Estados Unidos para trabajo en mi universidad.