Finally Photos!!!

I had a whole post written about my first bad day, which was yesterday. The more I thought about it, the more I decided that I really don't want to dwell on the negative. In short, as I work with kids with emotional/mental/developmental disabilities, things are going to get out of hand. Yesterday was one of those days. It was a day that made me question whether or not I had made the right decision coming here, or whether I really want to be working in a school setting instead of an orphanage, or most of all, whether it makes any sense to teach kids Spanish words that you aren't sure exist.

But today was another day. It was bright and sunny and the kids were slightly better behaved. My favorite little boy gave me a kiss on the cheek for no reason. He is my favorite because he is cute as a button and totally hates me. He hates me with good reason, as I can't understand him (he speaks his own language, so for once I won't blame the Spanish) and I took away his Goofy doll. So I've made it my mission to convince him that I am not the enemy. And I think I convinced him a little bit today. Of course, after the sudden affection he gave me the finger.

I also feel good today because I have some photos to post. In fairness, I did not take these photos, so I must give my fellow volunteer Lamia props for the awesome shots of the mountains.

So without further ado:During orientation week, we had a scavenger hunt. These men were one of the clues...the one in the middle is the first Chilean I had a somewhat successful conversation with.
This is the little park in our neighborhood, which hopefully give a good sense of how close the Andes seem. But an even better shot is...



And finally, what you've all been waiting for:


So, this really isn't the best way to show you the street dogs. Perhaps if you, in your mind, multiply this dog by 5 and make him much more straggly you'll get the idea. However, this photo illustrates 1) the street where I catch the Micro/Collectivo 2) the fact that its totally normal for a dog to spend all day laying in the street. Seriously. Laying in the street. All day. Sometimes he moves for big cars, but mostly they swerve around him.

There's more to come...

Besos.

We don't pull hair!

Here's a quick rundown of my first day at School (a special school for children with disabilities). Please keep in mind that I am completely terrifed, because my years of spanish class and practice before I left have proved useless, and I appear as an idiot gringa everywhere I go. I figured I would get to class and be more of a problem than a help.

It turns out that my fears are for naught, because I have been placed in "bad class" (according to the directora). They are pre-teens who cannot speak, let alone engage me in potentialy humilating conversation. They can understand most things however, so I am filling my vocabulary with such gems as "Put that down" "Pick that up please" and "When you pull my hair it hurts me. Let go."

The morning went surprisingly well, which I will partially give myself credit for, as I do in fact have experience with the population. Of course, all good things must come to a screeching halt: One boy through a fit, and had to be taken out by the tia (teacher), leaving me with four (stir-crazy and freezing) others, who have succumb to the domino effect of having one kid be dragged kicking and screaming from the class to god knows where, and subsequently kicking a screaming themselves.

There was climbing, jumping, hair pulling and throwing of blocks. Oh, and they all laughed heartily at my attempts to tell them to sit down, which came out half English/half Spanish (Sit-ta-tay!). I found out today that the boy had a stomach ache, and I once again appreciated how challenging autism is. I complain that I can't explain to the cashier at Ribiero that I want to use my credit card, while this poor boy can't tell me that his stomach hurts. Communication is underrated.

Things obviously settled, and I made it through the morning, only to be placed at noon in the six year olds class full of little know-it-alls who call me rubia (blondie) and ask me why I can't understand them when they speak. They don't understand the meaning of enunciate. But god, are they the cutest little things. Even when they are telling me that I am beautiful, but "a little fat."

Exhausted, I return home to find the office (which is in my house) brimming with ideas about how we are going to get thousands upon thousands of dollars in donations in the next six months. The director thinks it would be more productive to brainstorm while cleaning the office, so he's in a suit vacuuming while I'm pushing things around that don't necessarily have a place in the office. Piles of homeless blank cd's and sketches of the new website. Then we have to sit and organize all of our thoughts (we have a LOT) and my day comes to an end around 9pm. Will it always be like this? I doubt it, but I've never had a better 13 hour day.

Beautiful Andes!!!

I didn't take the photo on the left so I can't take credit, but the size of these mountains is nothing short of incredible. Our casa is actually quite a bit closer than where this picture was taken from (I think), so as soon as I can find my computer cord I'll get right on adding one that more is close up. There is also snow on them now, which is gorgeous. The positive thing about the smog problem is the way the mountains look at sunset. In the meantime, I'm including a photo of me trying to learn to dance reggaeton. I'm in the upper left corner. The photo is of most of the new voluntarios, with the director in the middle. We are such gringos.

Cheers!

A Breakthrough?

I'm just coming off of an interview with the director of the program, and my theme for the day is that everything here is surprising.

Por ejemplo: I was starting to get really scared about work. Like, really really scared. Mostly because I don't speak the language. I used to say that I spoke a little Spanish, and honestly thought that I did. Nope. I just don't speak Spanish, and everyday is a struggle.

My interview made me realize this, but more importantly made me realize that I am harping on it. The director asks me "what are you most apprehensive about?" My answer "spanish". Then he asks "What has been the hardest part?" My answer "The spanish." After more of this he finally says "Lauren, it's only been a week."

Has it really? It feels like months. It feels like I've been struggling, and laughing and walking around for so long and yet haven't really gotten the hang of it. I haven't even started working yet. The biggest shock was that no one here expects me to really know what I am doing. Surprise! Lauren doesn't know everything! And for once, I'm completely ok with it.

So I'm standing at the collectivo (like a bus/taxi hybrid) stand, waiting. I'm with a bunch of voluntarios, and we are speaking in english and broken spanish. This normally causes people to avoid us, but there was confusion about which line was which so a woman asks me (in spanish) "Which line is this?" And I answer (in spanish) "I think its for the 3019." No trepidation, no stuttering, no looking around for someone to translate. The beauty of it was, I actually helped her.

So apparently, I'm going to be ok.

Second surprise of the day: I love babies. We visited the Casa de Guaguas (Baby House) today. I'm not a baby person. I think I'm going to drop them or something and it makes me nervous. However, the scene when we entered the hogar was this: A room full of toys, with 10 babies teeter-tottering around like little chubby bouncing balls. They're crawling, they're walking, they're talking. The voluntarios and I immediately hit the floor and start playing with them, as they crawl and grab and laugh. Me! Babies!

There are siblings, even twins, in the group. Most of them will stay at the Casa until they are old enoughed to be permanently placed in another hogar. Sadly, few will actually find adoptive parents.

But between the volunteers and the tias, however, the Casa de Guaguas is brimming with love...and Barney.

Besos.

Smog Dog Grog

Hola from Chile!

Finally here after the debacle that was American Airlines flight 957. I wrote a whole snarky post about it, but it was exhausting to write and mostly likely not very interesting to read. To keep things to the point, and to entertain you (the masses) until I can post some photos, here are my first impressions of Chile:

1) Smog: Smog has a smell. As another voluntario so eloquently stated, its like someone (everyone!) is perpetually barbequeing. Its strange, since I don't have any experience with smog. But here it permeates everything. Especially if you spend your entire first day hiking around el centro on a Scavenger Hunt (we won!). They have our whole first week planned out like this - hora a hora, minute to minute. For me, esta bien, because I'm so lost and appreciate being forced to become comfortable in a new city. I had my first conversation (en espanol) with an ACTUAL Chilean. A guard at the...ok, can't remember the name of the place, but I did take a funny photo with him. I got my point across, which was my first small language victory, but that wasn't without him telling me (in english) to slow down and relax...twice. I'm sure most of you can imagine the bright red face accompanying that exchange.

2) Dog: They are everywhere. They follow you in the hopes that you will feed them or play "throw the rock". They sleep in piles to combat the cold. Some of them are mean, while some of them are our pretend "bodyguards" as we walk to the UniMarc. They are the city, with so many fat and happy and so many more skin and bones.

3) Grog: My state, after all of the flying and walking and eating. We ask each other the same questions over and over, attempting to get to know everyone well in a short time. We try to speak spanish, try to keep up with the volunteers who have been here and have already found their way. It makes my head spin, and at the end of the day I feel groggy, look at my watch and realize that it is only 8:30pm, and wonder if it will be weird to just go to bed.

But its wonderful. It is wonderful to see that the old volunteers are still just as in awe of the mountains as us newbies. It is wonderful to think about the first time we'll meet our kids. Its wonderful to think about all of the possibilities that we, the June class, brought with us from the States, and from France, and from Greece (by way of Belgium).

And I'm so happy.

Please feel free to post a comment, and check back for photos of the first day (mountains, dogs, Lauren having her portrait done).

Cheers!

War of the....

My parents have cable. And TiVo. Needless to say, my days spent "packing" have involved alot of movie watching. All of these movies I never had time to watch are now all in one convenient little box, and its awesome.

That is, until I decided to watch War of the Worlds. I had avoided this movie, because it seemed that Tom Cruise had launched his own war against the real world and I simply didn't want to see any more of it. But the movie`started at a good time, so I went with it.

I was scared out of my damn mind. Seriously, I think that aliens are going to come out of the earth and get me. And then there was Tim Robbins, the nutball, and he scared me even more. The whole movie, the only character I could relate to was the little girl with the giant eyes because she was screaming and crying the whole time.

There was no reason for this post, other than the fact that I'm pretty bored today.