Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Pizza and Brownie Lesson at School

Today I had a cooking class - pizza and brownies! Hope you enjoy the photos!
http://picasaweb.google.com/mcatherinelambert/SchoolPizza#

Monday, October 20, 2008

Cobre Loa Wins!!!!!!

I attended my first futbol game yesterday! After an entire day of walking along the river, John, Chris, and I headed to the stadium to watch Cobre Loa (local team for Calama) vs. Colo Colo (one of the most popular teams from Santiago). John received a ticket from a friend...Chris and I had our fingers crossed for scalpers with cheap tickets or extras at the ticket windows. On the Cobre Loa side, tickets were 10 mil ($20)...too rich for our blood. While walking away from the stadium - resigned to the fact that we would only be able to watch the game on tv - one of Chris' teachers passed by and stopped to tell us the Colo Colo side was cheaper. We retraced our steps back around the stadium and found that tickets were only 3 mil ($6)!

Estatic - we raced into the stadium to see the start of the game. The anticipation, energy, and excitement surged through the crowd with each kick. Colo Colo is one of our biggest rivals here in Calama! I'm stoked that my first futbol game was in my home town against one of the best teams in Chile...and we won! I hope you can feel some of the excitement in my photos!

My home town teams seem to be on fire! I have my students and fellow volunteers here excited to watch the Phillies this week and next! Go Phils!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mcatherinelambert/FirstFutbolGameAndRioWalk#

Friday, October 17, 2008

New Avenues for my Chilean Knowledge Quest...

Wanted: a wine enthusiast in Chile who speaks English

I keep seeing the wine...Carménère...I bought a nice bottle this week (five dollars) and look forward to sampling it this week. I'm hoping to research more about the wines of Chile, especially before I travel South this summer/December. I'm open to any and all suggestions of how I can learn the most via the web or other resources!

Excerpt from http://www.winesofchile.org/...

Chile's signature grape Carménère appeared during this process of vineyard renovation. The world was aware that Chile's Merlot was unique, and local growers were certain that not all of the vines were the same, but it wasn't until 1994 that French ampelographer Jean Michel Boursiquo t finally attached a name to the variant variety: Carménère, a red variety from France that arrived in Chile prior to the phylloxera crisis. Because the late-ripening variety is difficult to manage in cool climates and highly susceptible to phylloxera, it was never replanted in its native Bordeaux and had long been forgotten until its rediscovery in Chile. Since that time, extensive work has been done to separate the two varieties and treat each according to its own specific requirements, resulting in major style changes in both.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

El Camino

After a short bike ride along the river, I walked for 3 hours aimlessly. The day was gorgeous and I wanted to capture some of the everyday Calama sights. I hope to write more tomorrow about the images linked here. Happy Friday!



Monday, October 13, 2008

El Rio

Two blog posts in one day! One on language (below) and the other on nature. Can you tell I've been reviewing poetry with Rodrigo? Last week, Chris and I explored the river in Calama. Apparently, the path starts behind my house and snakes its way through the outskirts of the town. Be prepared to see greens, blues, and wildlife - things that shocked Chris and I as we ventured further! I apologize for so many pictures of the same things - these are shots from both of our cameras. Enjoy!

Como se dice in ingles...o espanol?

QUOTATION:
Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation.

ATTRIBUTION:
Noam Chomsky (b. 1928), U.S. linguist, political analyst. Lecture, January 1970, delivered at Loyola University, Chicago. “Language and Freedom,” published in For Reasons of State (1973).


Most people think I’m either insane or brave to live in a country where I do not speak the language. With no time for classes or crash courses, I’ve settled into this country with beginner’s level Spanish (one clarification: Chileans do not speak Spanish. Chileanos speak…Chilean. The Spanish I learned 10 years ago…doesn’t apply).

I’ve learned that speaking another language involves an extremely important skill: confidence. Unfortunately, mine (I’m not alone on this sentiment) is shot the minute a Chilean person begins to speak. Depending on the topic of conversation and situation, my comprehension varies greatly. Once I don’t understand, my confidence to pull words covered in cobwebs buried deep within my brain – vanishes. Entonces (So)…practicing and learning for fluency are a bit more difficult than originally anticipated.
Taking all of the positives and negatives – I don't think I'm crazy or brave. While I certainly do not have an advantage, I am not hindered. There are actually quite a few perks. Because I have difficulty mustering the energy to learn, I can more easily relate to my students’ frustrations and rudimentary grasp of completely foreign words. More importantly - my students and I both gain problem-solving skills on a daily basis. Unknown words elude us everyday – yet with each of these words we flex our creativity by enlisting charades, drawings, and the ability to describe a word with other words (not as easy as it sounds). Defining an English word in English (and vice versa) has forced me to contemplate my own language and think outside the box. For this – I consider myself not crazy, not brave…but oddly lucky. Fortunate to have the opportunity for such a mental exercise and new perspective.

My conversations in English with other volunteers often turn to collocations and idioms. We all marvel at how often we say things that make no sense at all. A blanket of fog – river bank/bank account – a blessing in disguise – chip on your shoulder – up against – piece of cake – a drop in the bucket, etc. It’s particularly interesting for me because I’ve studied English, yet have not spent time focusing on the language, pronunciation, and use. Last weekend, John, Chris, and I contemplated the use of the preposition “to” with certain verbs. You listen to music – you speak to someone. But why?

While I do want to master the Spanish language and learn more from the people who live here…I also relish the moments of difficult conversations where I need to push myself to language limits to express my ideas. I’m becoming more aware of universal body language. It dawned on me this week that I now focus on someone’s body language first – then their words. I’m not sure how to apply these news skills to my American life…but I’m happy to add to my reservoir of random knowledge!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Peanut Butter Jams

My American Cultures extracurricular class rocked peanut butter and jelly today! Be proud, fellow Americans – I represented our great land quite well with our childhood’s favorite staple. One advantage of Chile – I didn’t need a permit for peanut butter in a public school. Peanut allergies must go undiagnosed or do not exist here.

Safeway peanut butter, marmelada de frutilla (strawberry jelly), and Lider brand sliced white pan combined to create an entirely new flavor sensation for my students. As we smeared the spreads we also jammed out to the Brendan Borek Family 3 tunes (which most of you have in your music collections from the Shoobie Roundup).

You might ask – Cat, where’s the lesson plan? No need to fret – the food historian in me researched the genesis of peanut butter and jelly. Apparently, jams and preserves date well into our civilized history. Peanut butter emerged in the late 1800s (crushed almonds pre-date the smashed peanuts) as a ritzy luxury served to the Vanity Fair crowd. Without sugar, it matched more savory items in tea sandwiches. The 1920s proved to be not only a turning point for women’s rights and prohibition, but also for our beloved sandwiches. Sliced bread appeared on grocery store shelves and suddenly life became a bit easier.

While the process of making peanut butter improved, the hearty accompaniment only made appearances at high teas and upscale functions. World War II changed everything. Slight understatement – let’s not forget WWII also brought Jello and recycling to the forefront (please reference my senior thesis on the salvage efforts of WWII). The GIs needed a non-perishable meal for the battle field. The US government provided rations of peanut butter and jelly. Add some sliced bread and voila! When the soldiers returned from war, they craved their protein-rich, convenient snack. Manufacturers caught wind of the popularity and created a more economical process that also added sugar to the ingredients, which attracted an entirely new audience: children. Fast forward 60 years, many successful folks continue to eat PB&J well into adulthood. Example: John Kerry has a peanut butter sandwich before speaking engagements to hold off hunger (as I witnessed at the Franklin Institute).

Ok, you might still say: But, Cat, you’re teaching English…not food history. Did I mention this is an advanced class? In conversation, we came across the following new words/phrases: delicacy, tasty, delicious, soooo good, manufacturer, nutritious, spooky, rations, upscale, fluff, perishable, sorry, that went down the wrong pipe, etc. We also watched a youtube clip of a woman explaining how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to test listening comprehension. Yes, these videos exist. Subsequently, we spent a few minutes laughing and questioning why anyone would have enough time in their life to record a video about such a simple task.

By the end of the two hours, I was quite happy to sit back and watch my students laughing, joking in English, dancing to my music, and enjoying a bit of American culture.

Hope you enjoy the photos linked here - a few views from my window, the exterior of my school, my classroom and a video of my students, and my American Cultures Class (classroom shots taken today, October 8th). Now I must shower because I walked to my tutoring gig this afternoon along a dirty road for 45 minutes...I'm quite grimy! http://picasaweb.google.com/mcatherinelambert/SchoolAndPBJ#

upDATE: In the collectivo on the way home from the tutoring gig, a very nice man and I had a little Spanish convo (I was very proud/surprised regarding my sentences). At the end of the convo, in perfectly clear English, he asked: phone number? I took the lesson from class today to heart...and lied: I don't have a phone.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Hollar Back Now

To save some plata (money), I've been walking home from school occasionally. During these walks I'm safe - but encounter all sorts of new intrigues. Machismo runs rampant here. If a gringa simply places one foot on the streets of Chile, the shouts pour out (in thick accents): I love you! Hello! How are you? Hello, my friend! With this - whistles and hollers also fill the air.

Today, I remembered something I hadn't shared with you, my blog audience. Some of the collectivos (like taxis) and cars here have special horns. The height of laziness...some cars honk with a hey-baby-style whistle. The first time I heard such an electronic whistle - I stopped and said aloud: did that just happen? This afternoon, it didn't phase me. Which made me realize that its such a common occurrence here - I'm now accustomed to it.

Tip for men reading this blog thinking they need to install such a device: please don't.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Wild Saturdays in Calama


Good day! Yesterday started with pancakes (Safeway brand mix...which you can buy here in Lider) and a peach/apple sauce. Chris, John, Rodrgio, and I then shared an hour long English/Spanish lesson. We dined on pasta and fried potatoes (with Safeway brand 4 Cheese Pasta Sauce...yes, another item you can buy here in the grocery store). We walked to town to get John's haircut and then walked back to drink hot chocolate and sing kareoke. Yes, I realize you all are jealous of this rockstar life. I hope you enjoy a few photos, video, and fabulous audio!

Today - I walked around town and now will spend the next few hours creating a lesson plan for this week and sorting my itunes...which experienced a mishap this week.

Enjoy!

The Location: my house in Calama
The Characters: John (Washington State), Chris (Australia), Michelle (California), Rodrigo (my host brother), and Leslie (my host mother)
http://picasaweb.google.com/mcatherinelambert/CalamaSaturdayNights#

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Tour of Calama Downtown

Greetings! While walking to meet John and Chris today - I suddenly had the urge to video some of my walk down Latorre (from school to the plaza)! I hope you enjoy a glimpse into Calama! The tour is after the pictures of my house here. I apologize in advance about the fairly boring narrative in the videos!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mcatherinelambert/HouseInCalama#

ps - I receive some advice not to date other teachers (see yesterday's post) - no worries, faithful readers - I have no interest in dinner with said teacher! The answer will be a blunt no (being blunt is very Chilean).

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Dating

For the second time, a teacher has asked me out...third party style.

The scene: Teacher A talks to me while I wait for class to start. He asks about my health and recommends a stomach medication for my illness. Our nice conversation winds down and he leaves for his class. Teacher B then greets me and chats with me about my health. She then adds that Teacher A plans to ask me to dinner. She tells me he's a "very nice boy," a former student of the school, etc. She asks: will you go to dinner? I respond, "Teacher A is so kind to ask..." I avoid an answer. Last night, Rodrigo told me that Teacher C was commenting on how Teacher A should not be so obvious regarding his interest in me.

Entonces (so)...apparently most of the faculty knows this will go down at some point this week!

Hopefully you're laughing as you read this!