Short Stories,

Long Country

A collection of experiences from 2011

WorldTeach volunteers in Chile

Issue 4

Table of Contents 3 Message from our Field Director

4 In the Classroom

10 Host Families

13 Travel

18 Comida Chilena

22 Grafiti Chileno

24 Reflections

Letter from the Editors Here it is! The fourth edition of Short Stories, Long Country—

WorldTeach Chile‘s biannual newsletter! It has been bittersweet

creating this edition, but we hope that the end product is

something representative of all the WorldTeach Chile volunteers.

We have high expectations! If your world is not rocked to the core

by this newsletter, you‘re reading it wrong.

In all seriousness though, we would like to thank several people for

making this newsletter (and more importantly this experience)

possible: our friends and family, for their continued support; our

fellow volunteers, for helping us assemble this newsletter; and last

but not least, the WorldTeach support staff, especially our awesome

field director, Heather Tang! This experience has been one of a

kind, and of course, we would be remiss to not note the one thing

tying all us gringos together: Chile. This is a country that is never

short of interesting stories—from the unique culture, to the

stunning geography, to the all the wonderfully warm and welcoming

people. We have been incredibly lucky to have spent even a

moment here, let alone lived and worked here for months.

Viva Chile!

Please enjoy this issue of SSLC, y lectura feliz!

Your SSLC editors,

Chika & Eva

―You are the

storyteller of

your own life and

you can create

your own legend

or not.‖

-Isabel Allende

Message from our

Field Director Another Chilean school year is coming to a close and once

again, our valiant WorldTeach volunteers have danced more

Cha Cha Slides, slapped more high fives, and clucked like

chickens more than they could have ever imagined. Their

students have enjoyed the benefits of learning English from

a gringo as well as sharing culture, laughter, and perhaps

just a little gossip about Justin Bieber. With the

omnipresent student movement for a change in the public

education system in progress since June, 2011 was

definitely an interesting year to be a part of the Chilean

school community. July bid farewell to half of our first

WorldTeach familia arrivals but also welcomed seven new

faces, ready to take on the their roles as teachers in their

schools, members in their host families, and cultural

ambassadors in Chile. From Valparaíso to Bio Bío, these

volunteers have made the most of their experiences in this

amazing country and formed memories and relationships

that they will cherish for a lifetime. With our partnership

with English Opens Doors coming to an end this year, this

is the final issue of Short Stories, Long Country with

WorldTeach functioning in this capacity in Chile. In the

following pages, you will relive the past year through the

eyes of our truly wonderful group of dedicated volunteer

teachers. We hope that one day we can return to Chile and

continue our exchange, as to become a part of this culture

and people is an experience well worth it. Disfruten!

Heather Tang WorldTeach is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based at the

Center for International Development at Harvard University that

provides opportunities for individuals to make

a meaningful contribution to international

education by living and working as volunteer

teachers in developing countries.

3

In the Classroom

4

Imagine yourself back in high school. What

were your priorities- fleeting romances, sports,

parties, fitting in? Maybe grades and college?

Maybe you chafed under the authoritarian

and arbitrary rule of adults a bit, especially

after getting suspended for wearing a

backpack during school hours (guilty)? How

about organizing on a national level to fight a

deeply stratified and broken educational

system that punishes the poor and working

class? What‘s that, you were looking for an

older sibling to buy Mike‘s Hard Lemonade for

Friday night?

The ongoing student protests for improved

public education in Chile have received

relatively little attention in the United States.

With events such as the riots in London, fall of

Gaddhafi in Libya, collapse of the Greek

economy, and ―upcoming‖ presidential

election in the US, perhaps it is to be

expected.

However, I see in Chile a distinctly positive

force in the movement, as thousands of

students demand greater results from a

En Toma by Ryan Mosser

failed system. A recent poll showed that 89

percent of Chileans support student

demands for educational reform. Hundreds

of schools, both secondary and universities,

have been en toma (physically taken over

and occupied by students in protest), and

every week there are massive marches all

over the country. They are protesting a

system where the privileged attend private

schools, those who can scrape together the

money send their children to semi-private

schools, and the rest attend dramatically

under funded public schools. This last

group, the majority, has little hope of

obtaining the minimum score on the SAT-

equivalent to go to college. Of those who do

then go college, students‘ families are

obliged to pay 85% of tuition to even state-

supported universities regardless of

economic means, leading to crushing

amounts of debt for years. Essentially, it‘s a

system that brutally affects the poor and, on

a broader scale, stifles national growth and

development.

At the high school where I teach, over 100

students directly participated in a takeover of

the school that lasted for a month. The

“Essentially, it‟s a system that

brutally affects the poor and,

on a broader scale, stifles

national growth and

development.”

students had a focused list of local

demands, and are still in the process of

negotiating with the mayor. As deadlines for

small physical improvements pass, the

students initiate small two-hour strikes

that disrupt the school day in order to state

clearly that they will not accept inaction.

At my school, the students support the

national cause of better public education,

but also have a list of basic improvements

that are fundamental to safety and

Revolución de

Educación

5

health. Many of these could be solved by $1,000 and a Sodimac (think Lowe‘s or

Home Depot), but have not been addressed even with a grant to the school at the

beginning of the year. The students want to know where the money went, and I

cannot say that I blame them. Their behavior during the takeover was absolutely

impeccable, with no destruction whatsoever to the school. I have no conclusion to

the story, as this struggle continues on a week-to-week basis.

“For Chile, a developing country with

significantly less resources and

people, this investment is all the more

important to its future success.”

I think the fundamental

question for a country,

whether Chile or the United

States, is how to make a

better future. As millions of

people all over the world have

answered in the past, the

students here in Chile see equitable education as the answer. The United

States, regardless of the economic downturn, is the richest country in the world

and can choose quite easily to invest in education in a meaningful way. In fact,

over the past 50 years we have built an enviable system of public education

(albeit with deep racial and socioeconomic flaws that we should continue to

improve). I truly hope that we continue to make education for all a priority, and

not a budget scapegoat. For Chile, a developing country with significantly less

resources and people, this investment is all the more important to its future

success. As thousands upon thousands upon thousands of students and

citizens are in the streets here to make that message loud and clear, one can‘t

help but be inspired to think that we can always do better in Chile, the United

States, or anywhere else in the world.

“We are guilty of many errors and many faults but

our worst crime is abandoning the children,

neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we

need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the

time his bones are being formed, his blood is being

made, and his senses are being developed. To him we

cannot answer 'Tomorrow.' His name is 'Today.'”

-Gabriela Mistral

6

―Do you know the Jonas Brothers?‖

―Why do you say you're welcome

after thanks, when welcome means

bienvenidos?‖

―Hi. I‘m angri!‖ Intercepted note

from a student, who was asked to

move desks after repeatedly talking

out of turn in class (angry was a

vocabulary word).

―I live sleeping. I do not live school.‖

- Student, meaning to say like.

Students butchering the theme

song to ―Happy Days.‖ They quickly

got better though.

―You‘re not the boss of me now!

You‘re not the boss of me now and

you‘re nosobiiii…‖ –Student taking

it upon himself to learn the theme

song from ―Malcolm in the Middle‖

―Miss, cuando voy a conocer mis

suegros?‖ (Miss, when am I going to

meet my in-laws?). Student before

meeting a volunteer‘s American

parents.

How old are you?‖ Student‘s

response: ―I am fine.‖

Student‘s reply to everything,

including, ―Stop it and sit down!‖:

―What‘s up, man?‖

After teaching students a series of

quips for Slang of the Day at the

beginning of the semester, hearing

them tacked on to the end of every

conversation in English.

―How are you? Boo yah!‖

―What time is it? Burn!‖

―Where are you from? Oh snap!‖

Several of students struggle to

remember the word ―skateboard,‖

but all can produce ―Bart Simpson.‖

Books in Chile are very expensive and thus not readily available as they are in

the United States. There are several reasons for this, like book-taxes and high

publishing costs. In a country working towards the creation of a better

educational system, the lack of reading materials puts students at a

disadvantage. A used paperback (which wouldn‘t go for more than a dollar in the

United States) can easily be priced at five to eight dollars in Chile. Now imagine

the price of brand new, Spanish textbooks (which are oftentimes more expensive

than English counterparts, having translation royalties incorporated into the

price): schools simply don‘t have enough books to foster reading among kids.

In one of my classes, the students took part in an activity where they listed

reading books as one of the most expensive leisure activities. As someone who

loves to read, this is a great tragedy! Therefore another Ministry volunteer and I

started a program called ―Besos for Books‖. We ask people who have books they

want to recycle or throw away, to instead send them to Chile. Any and all types

of books are needed: teacher resources, novels, history books, art books, music

books, etc. Teachers and students alike lack materials! It costs $50 to ship a

package filled with books at 20 pounds off to Chile. We plan to distribute these

books amongst the EFL teachers in order to help furnish libraries in public and

semi-private schools.

In return for books, students and teachers that ―Besos for Books‖ works with

will send a big BESO (KISS) to you as a thank you. (A beso is the traditional

Chilean greeting and good-bye).

Please spread the word about our program.

The students here would really appreciate your help!

Please ship all books to the following address:

English Department c/o Suzuki Koda

EOD Volunteer: Colleen Hall

323 Yerbas Buenas Street

Valdivia, Chile

Besos for Books by Crystal Chandy Overheard in the Classroom

Classroom Stories

7

Snug and secure in Hosteling International,

Warm rooms and bad food, both came with camaraderie.

Over orientation we learned about MINEDUC and Chile

Welcoming us to begin our journey

But we weren't meant to stay.

For just five nights we rested our heads,

Then re-packed out bags, pulled sheets from our beds

And were off to Viña.

Others would travel far and wide, while we

Needed but 90 minutes to first view the South Pacific.

In orderly Viña, Liceo Columbia had seen better days

One hall abandoned to last year's quake;

Tired classrooms, worn concrete, cracked but not broken.

But with 110 students, all eager to speak

And 12 volunteers would would take on the week,

It blossomed with wild oranges, yellow submarines, and

optimus purple.

The Warmth of Winter by Trey Thompson

With rousing karaoke and a raucous talent show

We bid students farewell; again we would go.

This time to Monte Patria, high in the hills.

We glimpsed snow-capped peaks from our lonely

cabanas

And planned out a week for just forty new learners

Ringed by mountains in this tiny town

Young voices were teaching not to bully, not to clown.

Nights lit by the Southern Cross and Milky Way.

Two very different settings, and quite different weeks

But the sameness was most stark.

Minnows and sharks, ninjas and robots,

Singing songs, making posters, and scavenger hunts,

Lunches together, which were far-from-inspired,

Field trips to cerros, either crowded or green,

And remolinos galore, to spread our message of esteem.

Blue shirts swimming through seas of orange.

Winter Camps

8

About Winter Camps:

Created by the Chilean Ministry of Education, total

immersion English Winter camps occur every

summer and winter vacation. Camps are designed

to give motivated Chilean high school students the

chance to practice English in a more hands on way,

as well as to provide opportunities for students to

work with volunteers/native speakers. This is done

through interactive activities including role-playing

exercises, field trips, group projects, and

competitive games.

Camps take place over the course of one week in

locations all over Chile. Volunteers were given the

opportunity to get to know other parts of Chile

beyond their placements. For many members of the

WorldTeach familia, this was their first hands on

experience with Chilean students.

Some students spoke with great ease

While others would struggle;

But all built friendships with the vols, with each other.

And all through the weeks, as we taught and played games,

We built skills to teach our new students

Between the games, the chats, the bromas.

Ready to teach, despite miles, despite paros, despite tomas;

We again joined new schools, spreading confidence, excitement,

and knowledge.

9

Host Families

10

I would like to begin with my father, Raul

―Chico‖ Flores. When I first met Senor Little

Flowers, he told me that a man from our

podunky, rustic mountain town of Quirihue

had once fought against Napoleon.

In my broken Spanish, I told him I play

guitar and I don‘t like yogurt.

So we played guitars, and we didn‘t eat

any yogurt. With his eyes shut, he wrapped

his arms around his encumbering

instrument like a koala to an over-girthed

eucalyptus. Singing ―Te Recuerdo Amanda‖

in perfect baritone, I watched his Adam‘s

apple dance playfully under the baby pudge

of his clean-shaven face. He smiled the

whole time he sang, as if in on a secret to a

very simple truth. He smiled as if his belly

was bursting with tickly butterflies,

metamorphing into hummingbirds, or

technicolor baby pterodactyls.

He put his guitar facedown on the couch,

raised his fists in the air and yelled,

―Alexander!‖ He walked me over to the

dinner table and pointed at a green garnish

dish next to a packet of mayo. He stood on

his tippy-toes and put his arm around my

Sonrisa Ancha

by Alexander Lokey shoulders, saying loudly, ―Cilantro!‖ We

then walked into the kitchen and (in

Spanish) he said, ―This was not

kitchen.‖

He pointed at his right eyeball, then to

the ceiling and proceeded to rigidly

convulse his body—was this supposed to be

the Earthquake Dance? He cackled at my

slight pause, and yelled, ―My son!‖

We totally hit it off.

It always happens in that meandering

order, an unpredictable Mad-Lib setting

where any scenario seems like a fill-in-the-

blank. Example: ―Dinner tonight was tasty

and [adjective].‖ Dinner tonight was tasty

and… adjective… Let‘s think, hmm…

Musical! Yes, ―Dinner tonight was tasty

and musical,‖ because my father danced

around the kitchen playing a flute, and I

ate a hot dog covered in avocado and

mayonnaise.

***

Petite as a button and dignified as running

water, Senora Cartes works very hard. I

imagine her afterlife to be a well-deserved

eternal foot massage de los dios sus

mismos. They will do her five loads of laundry

and insist—Insist, dammit!— that they do no

need help with any of it, nor the huge mid-day

lunches between work shifts. They will

send her on adventures outside the Above

World while they sweep the dust off the cloud

tops. Their only alone time will be at midnight

with ―Quien Quiere Ser Un Millonario?,‖

nursing sad cups of tea. Every day, every

single eensy-weensy trans-dimensional

microsecond, they will appreciate her.

Her patience stretches for miles—eh-hem,

excuse me, kilometers. Her patience stretches

further than wormholes. My success rate in

understanding everyday Spanish is

approaching 49 percent. Even so, if she sees

that I do not understand what she is saying to

me, she will continue speaking with her

arsenal of synonyms and tenses. She won‘t

even blink. Then she will give me more food.

Her ear-to-ear-and-back-again smile never

ceases. Enamel sunshine.

“He put his guitar facedown on

the couch, raised his fists in the

air and yelled, „Alexander!‟ ”

En la Casa

11

•Play every card game known to man, though

ones that involve slapping cards are preferable.

Three person spit is a favorite as you get to

hear a lot of ESPEET!

• Play fetch with the dog with a plastic bottle.

• Spend an hour and a half trying to retrieve

the plastic bottle your hermano accidentally

threw over the fence into the neighbors yard

with a 6-foot long pole, a nail, and a plastic

bag.

• Learn how to dance ballet while listening to

Lady Gaga, inevitably devolving into ice-skating

on the wood floors in your socks.

• Kick a shoe at the fence. The shoe is a make

shift soccer ball. The fence is a makeshift goal.

Every time you can kick the shoe all the way to

the fence, the US loses to Chile in the World

Cup final. Again.

• Try to lead an abs workout class. This will

lead to you doing abs while your hermanos lie

Activities to Entertain Your

Hermanos: A List By Emily Wauford

on the floor and flop their legs occasionally.

Also an excellent opportunity to expose them

to angry hip-hop music.

• Take a break from hermano time to read a

book outside. Watch as they come up with

their own activities to keep you from reading

your book at all costs. These activities could

include: hiding and then continually calling

your name until you try to come find them,

crawling underneath the entire house to pop

up beneath the staircase you're sitting on,

and throwing miscellaneous items out of the

second story window at you claiming that it is

raining stuff.

•Spend an hour throwing all the "stuff" it

"rained" back to the hermanos in the second

story window before the dog can get a hold of

it and eat it.

• Make food. When there isn't much in the

fridge, you of course will go for scrambled

eggs. You throw in some of the pepper that

your mom mailed you from home, which

causes the hermanos to have a conniption fit

since pepper is "way too spicy." This will lead

to a pepper-eating contest.

•Learn how to dance cueca. The plus side is

that the hermanos have to demonstrate on

each other, and will spend at least twenty

minutes arguing over who has to be the girl

before one of them caves and prances about

with a scarf tied around his head.

• Mess with the family cat. And by "mess with"

I mean throw it up into the air and see if it

can land on its feet every time.

• Arts and crafts: make gravestones for the

deceased family cat. You have to use pink and

green paper since those are the only colors

that are left. Appropriate since the cat's name

was Pinki, but that is lost on your brothers,

who have no idea what the word "pink"

means.

• Chop firewood. Straight up. These boys

have to learn how to become men somehow.

One time I bought a stupid little hand towel,

thinking that it was a regular bath towel (my

limited Spanish often leads me to unwanted

knick-knacks). It dried just fine, but it made

loin cloths seem like monk robes. My

predicament was simple: After drying, I

would change into my clothes in the

bathroom. Peachy as two peaches.

Regardless, it was my stupid little contingent

towel for when my ―man-towel‖ was being

washed, so I hardly needed it. When she

discovered my stupid little towel, she was

perplexed. I didn‘t know how to explain to

her that I could not really afford another one,

nor reveal my shame.

I now have four big contingent towels.

***

When my father mentioned that our kitchen

was never a kitchen, he meant that the back

half of the house collapsed in the earthquake

of 2010. Improvising, they turned a

remaining room into a kitchen, and moved

the debris to the furthest part of their

backyard. They masked the destruction with

a makeshift black tarp fence, but the

remnants of old memories still peek out over

in piles.

Last Sunday morning, I watched my father

plant my mother purple and yellow

tulips. She was sleeping. Not knowing really

how to, he had made me bacon (I finally

found some in Chile!). When she woke he

was waiting by the door to the backyard to

show her.

I nibbled on little scraps of bacon char

while they embraced next to the flower

garden.

12

Travel

13

Pucón by Crystal Chandy

A long weekend came up and I felt restless.

I wanted to make the most of my time here in

Chile and the idea of staying at home was not

one I wanted to entertain. Somehow I

stumbled upon Pucón. My host family

warned me about the cold weather there

since it is further south, but I had made up

my mind to go. Good thing I did!

A short 6-hour bus ride south of Cabrero is

Pucón—a westernized tourist town amidst the

mountains, volcanoes, and lakes. It‘s

absolutely beautiful! I walked around the city

alone for many hours that first day falling in

love with everything there was to do and see

there: the black sand beaches along the lake,

the artisan vendors set up in the Plaza, the

handicraft stores along Avenida Fresia, and

the most impressive, the active Volcan

Villarrica, where you can see smoke piping

from the top of it on a clear day.

I spent the next day hiking and exploring

the area. My family had suggested I find the

waterfalls known as the Ojos del Caburgua.

I hopped on a bus and it dropped me on the

side of the highway near a bunch of grazing

sheep. Only in Chile!

After a long trek, I finally reached a turn in

the road. There was a house on the corner

with livestock outside and clothes hanging on

the line. An old man came out and greeted

me. He had no teeth and his clothes were

disheveled. He approached me and told me I

had to pay him 500 pesos to continue on my

journey. I was very confused but after

debating my options for a minute—make a

run for it or pay the man— I decided to give

him the money. There didn‘t seem to be an

easy way to get around him and 500 pesos

wasn‘t going to buy him a new dental plan.

Every peso of the 500 pesos was worth it,

as the Ojos del Caburgua simply exuded

tranquility.

When I returned to Pucón, I walked around

the town a little more. I browsed stores with

hand-knit ponchos, popular Chilean games,

and native Mapuche carvings. I eventually

“I hopped on a bus and it dropped

me on the side of the highway near

a bunch of grazing sheep.

Only in Chile!”

• Visit the Atacama Desert

• Subrir a mountain and/or volcano

• See the fjords of the south

• Attend a premier-league soccer game

• Find a way to see the sunset in Quintay

(the collectivos stop running at 7:15pm)

• Travel to Chiloé

• Stargaze in the north

• Hike in Patagonia

• Visit the host springs in Pucón

• Dance the cueca successfully

• Watch a rodeo

• Visit Torres del Paine

• Visit Tierra del Fuego

Chilean Bucket List

Pucón

14

found myself in the most artistic store.

Everything in the store was made of nails,

screws, and other hardware manipulated to

form people and things. There were

motorcycles, cueca dancers, rock climbers,

soccer players, snowboarders, dentists,

teachers, and even Michael Jackson! My

favorite was a display known as borrachos,

where nails had been sculpted into people

who were obviously inebriated. There were

about 15 different types of drunken

situations. I was impressed with the

creativeness and spoke at length with the

storeowner about how he sculpted every

single piece. It was incredible! This was the

first time I realized my Spanish was

improving. All weekend, I had been able to

ask for directions, find a place to stay

overnight, figure out what buses to take

and when, and order at restaurants.

Now, I was talking to a shop owner about

things he sold in his store… in Spanish!

I was conversing in Spanish with much

less effort than ever before!

I‘m telling you, there is something

magical about Pucón! I can see myself

starting a business there - a place where

people can dance cueca on a porch lit up

at night and people can eat churrascos

and drink vino near a roaring fireplace.

Oye! It was difficult saying good-bye!

“I was conversing in Spanish with

much less effort than ever before!

I‟m telling you, there is something

magical about Pucón!”

15

One Week in the North by Eva Cappuccilli

so I told him I was looking for something for

my host mom. ―Your host mom?‖ he asked.

I briefly explained what I doing in Chile, and

maybe it broke up the mediocrity of normal

conversation, but the idea of me teaching,

and not just studying, interested him.

―So why did you choose Chile?‖ The usual

reasons come to mind: wanting to teach,

travel and learn Spanish. He laughed at the

last one and remarked on how bad Chilean

Spanish generally is. It‘s true, Chileans

have definitely earned their bad reputation

for speaking, by mumbling, dropping the

letter ‗s‘, shortening words and using an

inordinate amount of slang. All that said

though, I can relate. I am from Tennessee.

Every time I meet someone from a state

further north than Kentucky or further west

than Texas, there is a really good chance

he/she will make a dumb comment like,

―But you don‘t sound like you‘re from the

South.‖ Explaining this to him, and I

shrugged and said, ―So what? I‘ll just have

two bad accents.‖ He found that to be

very funny, and something as insignificant

Northern Chile is home to the Atacama,

the driest desert in the world. Having one

week of vacation (a rare and wondrous

thing for me), I decided to brave a 24-hour

bus ride to San Pedro, a small pueblo

located smack dab in the wettest part of

said desert. San Pedro is known for many

things, such as the lagunas formed from

run-off from the mountains, hot springs,

geysers, salt flats, and monstrous

volcanoes all around the outskirts of town.

There are no neighboring cities for nearly

a hundred kilometers however. It feels

like complete isolation…

Well, ok, except for all the gringo

tourists. Valle de la Luna and Valle de la

Muerte are particularly popular places to

visit, having really stunning rock

formations and pricey tours, there is no

other place in the world that offers better

stargazing, as evidenced by sheer amount

of astronomers that flock to the

observatories there; and the majority of

the people walking around the center of

town are not Chilean, or even native Spanish

speakers. San Pedro specializes in adventure

tourism, hence all the people. All that said,

what impressed me the most about San Pedro

wasn‘t really all the things I could do there (and

there were many), or all the tourists I could talk

to, but rather the sense of buena onda all

around. Buena onda means good vibes, and is

just as hippie as it sounds. Everyone I met from

San Pedro was very relaxed, friendly and

interested in conversation.

One afternoon, I walked around the center

looking for souvenirs, when I wandered into a

shop, and started poking through the shelves.

The shop owner came up to ask if I wanted help,

San Pedro de

Atacama

16

as bad accents became common ground.

I stayed and hung out with him a few times over the week, talking about religion,

astronomy, and all sorts of topics only hippies really care about. He was one of a

few examples of people in San Pedro being very open and friendly—more so than the

average Chilean. That‘s the main reason I would recommend the Atacama to people

looking to get really badly sunburned on vacation—at least you‘ll be surrounded by

buena onda while you fry, trying to climb a salt formation!

•Some of my tank tops/t-shirts. It‘s freezing

here, and I hardly ever take off my jacket

•Dresses & skirts

•My hair clippers. I forgot to check the voltage

requirements on them, and now I can't use them

without buying a converter that costs more than

a new pair of clippers.

•My old pocket watch. I had a vague sense that

this could be used to help teach students about

telling time, but it was quickly supplanted by a

foam clock from the 350-peso store.

•I brought too many sweaters and too many

bathing suits.

•Less casual clothes, more professional/nicer

clothes.

•I wish I had brought a 5-month supply of Sour

Patch Kids watermelon! It is my feel good snack

and nothing here compares to it!

•I wish I had brought more books to read. I was

definitely not prepared for life without internet.

•Supplies I thought I‘d need for teaching. I didn‘t

end up using half of them, and the ones I did

bring, I could have bought here.

•Half of my shoes… How am I going to get

them back?

Things I Wish

I Left at Home

17

Comida Chilena

18

Empanadas de Soya

by Eva Cappuccilli

Vegetarianism is not some passing

fancy for me; I‘ve been one for half of

my life. Unfortunately for me, not

many countries are really conducive to

this lifestyle, Chile included. Not that

Chileans eat more meat than other

people or anything, but they don‘t

particularly understand what being

vegetarian means. No, I won’t drink

chicken broth for my sore throat... No,

I’m not being difficult; some vegetarians

don’t eat fish, and I also hate fish…

No, I won’t just try one chorripan,

because it’s a sausage…

Luckily, my host mom has been

pretty good about understanding what

I will and will not eat, and being the

sweetest lady in all of Quilpué, she

goes out of her way to make sure I

always have something special for

every meal.

Cristina is about an inch short of five

feet, and has very grandmotherly vibe,

having twenty different stories to share

about her grandkids at all times. She‘s

also an amazing cook, and takes it

upon herself to feed everyone within

a mile radius (including people at the

hospital where she where she

volunteers). So, when I say she goes

out of her way to make sure I have

something special for every meal,

maybe I should say, that despite being

well-meaning, she even goes a bit too

far out of her way…

Case, the first: Independence Day.

It‘s practically akin to heresy not to eat

traditional Chilean foods on Dieciocho.

Empanadas de pino are the national

favorite, being made with onions,

olives, eggs, raisins, and… ground

beef. Understandably, I have never

tried one, but Cristina is determined

that I never settle for empanadas de

queso, rather that I never settle at all,

when I could be eating something she

thinks I may like better.

Over the course of the holiday

weekend, we had three family

barbecues, and on top of single-

handedly making an enormous array

of side dishes and grilled goods, she

made empanadas for everyone in the

family. As well as special ones for me.

Not that I asked; I am completely

content being a side dish vulture. All

the same, I was very grateful for the

gesture. The first barbecue, she

made me two. They were really

delicious, as in heavenly choirs

sang, and I made sure to tell her as

much. Well, taking note of this, she

made me three the second day.

Obviously they were still really good,

possibly earth-shattering, but I was

more than a little stuffed

afterwards—two was plenty the first

day. I still told her how good they

were, especially since she went out

of her way to make them just for me.

Well, if you were guessing (and

kudos to you), by this point you

know, on the third day, I got four. I

had to explain, as politely as

possible I cannot actually eat that

many empanadas in one sitting, as

much as I would like to… ―Ja,

mijita, no te preocupes!‖

Case, the second. The first time I

met my host uncle, Felipe, was at a

family dinner. Cristina made roast

chicken for every extended family

member currently living in Region V,

but for me, soy patties and extra

avocado. Being ever-so-shrewd,

Felipe looked at my plate, then at his

plate, then at my host mom and

asked:

Felipe: Why is she eating

something else?

Cristina: She‘s a vegetarian.

Felipe: So, she doesn‘t eat

meat?

Cristina: No. No red meat,

no chicken, no turkey, no

fish...

Felipe: No fish?

Cristina: No po.

Felipe: Eva, do you even

like carne de soya?

Me: Yeah, it‘s okay.

Felipe: Do you like tofu

better?

Me: Um, tofu‘s a good

substitute in dishes. I

wouldn‘t say I like it better.

Felipe: Well, why don‘t you

make tofu, mi hermana?

Cristina: And where am I

going to buy tofu, Felipe?

Felipe: The rastafarians!

There is a house in

Peñablanca that sells all

sorts of vegan stuff. Why

don‘t you just go there?

She’s a Vegetarian

19

While I found this conversation to be

incredibly flattering, given that that both of

them were so concerned that I was

adequately fed, the idea of my little host

mom driving thirty minutes to Peñablanca to

convene with rastafarians about the

possibility of buying tofu brings a hysterical

mental image to mind. I could very clearly

see her walking into a dark, shady, little

living room, surrounded by turbaned and/or

dreadlocked men, selling questionably

packaged foods, just to ask what texture of

tofu is best for casseroles. I could also

picture the way her face scrunches up while

she listens to new information, trying to

process, and, well, at the time this whole

conversation went down, I had the

misfortune of drinking a Coke Light, and

consequentially snorted the whole thing

down my front. My host dad thought I was

having a fit.

Patting my shirt with a napkin, I tried to

explain, it was incredibly considerate, but

really unnecessary. No matter what, she will

still find a way of trying to make sure I am

stuffed to bursting at all times. After all, the

first day I met her she told me, ―How will

your parents know you had a good host

family, if you don‘t gain weight?‖

•French fries/potato chips with mayo

•Beer with lemon, salt and merkén (red

pepper)

•Pizza. What happens every day at

Telepizza should be labeled for what it

is: a crime.

•Choripan. Not a gringo food, but

people take the centers out of the bread

and throw them away. That's the best

part! It took all my self-control not to

ask for the refuse pile and just chow

down on them in a corner.

•Pancakes - thin, flavorless, and

covered in manjar (dulce de leche). No

me gusta

“How will your parents know

you had a good host family,

if you don‟t gain weight?”

Anatomy of an Empanada

Cuisine… With a Chilean Twist •Pizza - Includes a slice of ham, corn

and a slab of cheese on top. No sauce

and with extremely thick, non-pizza

crust crust. Definitely not my favorite.

•Completos. Hot dogs with tomato,

avocado, and mayonnaise.

•Hamburger patties served with rice or

spaghetti instead of with a bun and a

side of fries!

•Guacamole. I know it‘s Mexican and

gringos alter it too, but there is

something wrong with a 2 to 1 ratio of

avocado and canola oil in the mixture.

•Anything that can viably pass for

desert has an inane amount of manjar

added to it.

20

Cazuela Ingredients:

1 Carrot

4-5 Garlic Cloves

3 Tablespoons of Oil

½ Red Bell Pepper

2 Celery tops

Per Person:

1 chicken part, 1 peeled potato, ½ corn on the cob, 1 slice

of Zapallo (Chilean squash, that can probably be replaced

with any orange pumpkin or squash)

Finely grate the carrot into the pot with the oil, add thin

strips of bell pepper, finely chopped celery tops and garlic.

Fry for 4-5 minutes. Then add the chicken and fry for

about 2 minutes. While waiting for the vegetables and

meat to fry, boil water (quantity depends on how much

soup you are making) and add to the pot 2 minutes after

the chicken. Then add the peeled potato and corn. Add salt

to taste, Chileans use quite a bit of salt, but it sure is

tasty! Boil for about 20-30 (until potato is close to done)

then add the squash. Cook until you can easily slide a

knife into the squash and potatoes. Finally, serve and

enjoy!!

Chicken Ingredients:

1 Piece of Chicken

for each person

3-4 Garlic Cloves

1-2 Pieces of Celery

2 Carrots

2 White Onion

1 Red Bell Pepper

2/3 Cup of Peas

Put a little oil in the

pot and cook the chicken

for 2-5 minutes. Add all veggies except the

onion. Cut the bell pepper into thin slices

and the carrots in round pieces. Add salt,

Chilean style. Let veggies and chicken cook

with the top on until carrots are soft, about

15 minutes. Add onions, which are cut into

long medium/small sized strips. Let simmer

until chicken and onions are completely

cooks. Stir occasionally.

Chilean Rice Ingredients:

1-2 Pieces of Celery (tops included)

2 Cups of Rice

½ Red Bell Pepper

1 Carrot

3-4 Garlic Cloves

Salt and Oil

Put oil in the pot and fry chopped

celery, thin strips of bell pepper,

chopped garlic, and finely shredded

carrot. While veggies are cooking,

heat up 4 cups of water until it

boils. Add rice and fry with veggies

for 2-4 minutes. Add boiling water,

2-3 tablespoons of oil and 2

tablespoons of salt. Bring rice to a

boil, then turn to lowest heat setting

and simmer until finished.

Chelsea’s Chilean Chow Recipes Courtesy of Chelsea Snell

Pollo al Jugo con Arroz Chileno

21

GRAFITI CHILENO

22

23

It‘s weird to think back to my first day

arriving in Quillota, Chile. Everything was so

foreign, and I felt so out of place. I knew no

one, I barely spoke or understood Chilean

Spanish, and now, almost nine months later, I

am leaving a new family, friends, community

and students whom I have grown of know so

well and love so much. While I can‘t wait to go

home to see my family and friends, eat Mexican

food and drink real coffee, I can‘t imagine my

life outside of Chile.

My time here has been one of most

rewarding and challenging experiences of my

life. I had to learn to adapt to another culture,

language and lifestyle, but it has helped me to

grow as a person and view the world from a

completely different perspective. The people I

have met and the places I have visited will

forever remind me that there is remarkable

beauty in this world and that we must

aprovechar la vida! My host family, who took

me in as their daughter, fed me until my pants

didn‘t fit, welcomed my American parents into

their home and loved me as a member of their

family, will always be a part of me and my

family no matter where I am. While it will be

so difficult to say goodbye, I am so fortunate

to have been placed with such amazing, kind

people.

My students who absolutely drove me

crazy, constantly made me laugh and never

ceased to surprise me, will forever be in my

heart and thoughts. Some of them have

unthinkably difficult lives, yet they are still

so loving, as well as being some of the most

special people I know. I wouldn‘t have traded

my time with them for anything and I

respect and love each one of them.

And last but not least, the friends I have

made in Chile have made my experience

unforgettable. My Chilean friends who took

me under their wings, helped me with my

mediocre Spanish and showed me the real

Chilean experience. And my WorldTeach

family, whom I consider to be some of my

closest friends; we have been through

everything together. We immediately bonded

and formed relationships and memories

that will last a lifetime.

Feeling at Home By Chelsea Snell

I want to thank everyone who has

contributed to this unforgettable

experience. There aren‘t words to explain

how much I will miss everything Chile, but

I know that at some point in my life I will

return to this incredible country.

VIVA CHILE!

Reflections

“My time here has been one of

most rewarding and challenging

experiences of my life.”

24

Facing Challenges with a Smile by Max Shapiro

¿Cuanto tiempo falta en Chile? ―How

much time do you have left in Chile?‖

is a question that I seem to be

answering quite frequently lately, and

every time I answer the number has

shrunk from the last. As my

remaining time dwindles away, I find

myself trying to put everything in

perspective. An easy task by no

means. This year has flown by in the

flash of a moment. It feels as though

only yesterday I was anxiously

boarding the plane for Santiago

having just met my fellow

WorldTeach volunteers.

I remember vividly the

nervous but excited

looks on the faces the

people who would

soon become some

of my best friends,

and I can only

imagine the look on

mine.

Yet, when I think back

to the months preceding

this emotional day it feels so

long ago. Another world, a different

era of my life. When I left the States I

was accustomed to having New York

City in my backyard. Big City life was

the only life for me. Even my college

town, Schenectady NY, was too small

to quench my thirst for excitement.

Before arriving in Pinto, my new home,

I could never have imagined that this

tiny pueblito of 4,000 people could

fulfill my desires to such a degree.

Pinto has taught me life does not have

to be in the fast lane, often things move

to quickly for us to even see what we

are passing by. Simply sitting with

friends and passing a yerba mate, walking

alone in a field, or sitting in tranquility below

the southern starry sky are some of the many

beauties I have found in Pinto chiquitito.

Admittedly not everything came easily or

proceeded to be wonderful during my time in

Chile. Unfortunately, teaching was not as

painless a task as I had hoped. I spent many

classes simply dealing with behavior issues,

and nearly six months after I began teaching a

student asked ―¿Que significa I am?‖ But

even amongst these various setbacks I

can look back at the countless more

joyful moments I spent in the

classroom. My students

were inexplicably

talented at bringing a

smile to my face

regardless of my mood.

Even if it was poking

fun at my often Tarzan-

like butchery of Spanish,

the times spent with

some of my classes will

remain cherished memories.

Living in a foreign

country immersed in a foreign

language certainly brought about its many

times of doubt and frustration. I now like to tell

people that I am so often confused that it's

when I am totally clear on what is happening,

that I am concerned something must be wrong.

But I will leave Chile comfortably clear on a few

things. Working for WorldTeach over this past

year has brought me some of the happiest

moments and some of the best friends of my

life. And for that I wish only to thank all of you

who helped make this such a fantastic

experience.

“Simply sitting we

friends and passing

a yerba mate,

walking alone in a

field, or sitting in

tranquility below the

southern starry sky

are some of the

many beauties I have

found in Pinto

chiquitito.”

25

Saludos de Chile

Chika Mba From: Los Angeles, CA

Location: Quilpué

School: Boston College

Major: Marketing & Psychology

Trey Thompson From: State College, PA

Location: Quilpué

School: University of Virginia

Major: Math & Psychology

Max Shapiro From: Teaneck, NJ

Location: Pinto

School: Union College

Major: Philosophy & Political

Science

Chelsea Snell From: Nevada City, CA

Location: Quillota

School: UC Santa Cruz

Major: Environmental Studies

& Sociology

Ashley Marie Johnston From: Heyworth, IL

Location: Hualañé

School: University of Illinois,

Champaign-Urbana

Major: Communications & Spanish

Alexander Lokey From: Baltimore, MD

Location: Quirihue

School: Towson University

Major: English

Ryan Mosser From: York, PA

Location: Cartegena

School: Vassar College

Major: History

Melinda Lee From: Newberg, OR

Location: Cañete

School: Linfield University

Major: English

Emily Wauford From: Richmond, VA

Location: Tome

School: Notre Dame University

Major: Romance Languages &

Political Science

Crystal Chandy From: Seattle, WA

Location: Cabrero

School: New York University

Major: Finance & Marketing

Simeon Garon-Wolf From: Denver, CO

Location: Laja

School: University of Denver

Major: International Studies

Eva Cappuccilli From: Nashville, TN

Location: Quilpué

School: Jacobs University Bremen

Major: History

26