School Week

"School Week" sounds far less glamorous than "Semana del Colegio", but the craziness that was the three days leading up to our September vacations wasn't  lost in translation... not even a little bit.

So far from my experience working in my very posh Chilean school, School Week is in the top 3 things that I wish I could bring back with me to a Texas school eventually.
 (The other two things are actual recess for children of all ages.. like more than 10 minutes, because kids need to spend at least part of their day just being kids.. and the teacher uniform.  Seriously, I can't adequately describe my feelings for the delantal.  It simplifies life so much...it deserves a blog post all its own.. honestly)

Anyway, Semana del Colegio was a three-day break from all things academic organized entirely by the students for the students.  What would undoubtedly be called a "gigantic waste of time" in the United States, was so fun to watch unfold.  Obviously, something organized entirely by kids lacked what we might call, complete organization, and was more what we should call semi-organized chaos at times, but was something that every kid, from age 4-18 seemed to enjoy every second of.

The whole school was divided into 4 alianzas (including the teachers).  This year the theme was "International Festivals" and each teach had to prepare a presentation to start the week that included information about their particular festival (so I guess they did learn something) and costumes, and dancing... so much dancing.  My team was Red, and also Chinese New Year.  They made a giant paper mache dragon.  That happened.

Then, every minute of the next three days was scheduled in manner that had kids running, dancing, screaming, jumping, in every corner of the school.  There were choreographed dances, non-choreographed dances, teacher dances, basketball games, dodgeball games, trivia races, talent shows, sack races, a go-cart race, and even mini-dieciocho fondas.  There were even "Misiones Imposibles" recorded around town and played for all of our entertainment.  My favorite:  "Sit by someone on the metro, answer your phone and say "Tengo el cuerpo, que hago con el cuerpo?" Everything earned points that were added up little by little until the winner was announced between Cuecas on Friday.  Aside from the somewhat shocking costume choices and dance moves coming out of the conservative Catholic environment which are things that make you go... eep, the week was chalked full of smiles.

To sum up, these three days reminded me that there is so much more to school than being in class.  The kids took so much pride in what they were doing and in upholding the traditions of this yearly activity.  Chile has taught me in many ways to, for lack of a better way to put it, freaking chill out and stop worrying.  I think our schools in the US could use a little bit of this mentality before we create an entire generation of kids that hate school so much they confuse that with hating to learn. (You didn't pass the STAAR, now you don't get lunch with your friends for the entire year.... YOU ARE KIDDING ME!)  Learning happens even amid the chaos, and sometimes... you've just gotta DANCE!

Photo evidence: (the child on the right is 4th grade Chilean me... Down to the teeth, kind of nerdy demeanor and mad dance moves)

Presentations:

As Sarah put it... Casual goat.

This girl wore this handmade llama costume every day.

Huasos

Giant board games:

Sports:

Celebrations:

Fiestas Patrias AKA Independence gone crazy

We just emerged from the long weekend that was "dieciocho" weekend.  All of Chile has been celebrating their independence since Friday, and some people won't quit until they have to go back to work on Monday.  Friday afternoon on the news they showed the mass exodus from Santiago as people flocked to beaches, lakes, etc for their celebrations.  We stayed in Santiago and I would say definitely "experienced" the craziness.
I had more people ask me over the last few days what the 4th of July is like in America, to which I replied "mas tranquilo que aqui", as in, most people only get one day off of work, and while we drink beer and barbeque, it is far less debaucherous overall.  A few years back, I went to the ultimate 4th of July celebration in Boston, and I would still say---calm in comparison.
The weather for dieciocho, for lack of a better word, kind of sucked.  It was cold and rainy for days, but that doesn't really seem to deter the people of Chile.  The preparations around town have been happening since we arrived here.  You would be hard pressed to find a home, building, park or car that wasn't sporting la banderita de Chile.  Actually, as we drove to an Asado on Sunday, little Antonia began pointing them out "Ese, ese, ese, ese"  literally every two seconds.  Obviously, Chileans are very proud of their country, but from what I have experienced so far, it isn't in a "our country is better than your country so there" kind of proud, but more of a "I live here in an independent country with lots of things to offer, isn't that cool?" kind of proud.  Worth noting :).
We experienced a mix of at home asado and out on the town fondas.  My Spanish teacher told me that the average Chilean gains 3 kilos over the celebrations, and I believe it.  SO MUCH FOOD!! annndd.. drinking.    Over the next few days, I am only allowed water and vegetables to counteract all of the Chicha, Terremoto (Earthquake... a drink with some kind of wine, pineapple icecream and grenadine), Cerveza, Vino, Choripan, Carne, Carne and MORE Carne, and Empanadas.  Seriously.. everything was delicious, but wow.
Needless to say, even though the highway was packed with cars on Friday, there were still PLENTY of people in Santiago to partake in all of the celebrations.  The 19th is Military Day (how convenient), and there was a fantastic parade to celebrate every branch, including the police officers.  Side note:  No one is allowed to make anyone work on ANY of these national holidays.  There was actually a story on the news about it-- if you made your employees work and got caught, you got fined.  Anyway, here is photo evidence of the fun.

The family made homemade empanadas.  They were, obviously fantastic.  The traditional kind called pino has some kind of onion/meat mix with part of a hardboiled egg and one olive.

Salud!

Estadio Nacional Fonda en Nunoa-- Chicha, Rodeo, y diversion OH MY!!

This game is your run of the mill carnival game in which you play "ring toss" on to wine, beer, soda.  This game was set up every 15 steps.   You also got 20 tries for the equivalent of $1.  Obviously, we still didn't win.

 I saw this on one of those "Bizarre Foods" shows at home awhile back.  "Sandwich Potito"= "Butt Sandwich"... I laugh every time, so we took photos.  I didn't eat it this time-- honestly, it had a really distinctive smell that wasn't near as good as all of the other food being served.  Are we adventurous enough to eat "butt".?.. I guess we'll see.

People playing foosball...Taca taca

On the 19th.. Military Day, we went to Parque O'Higgins to partake in the festivities.  The first part of this actually reminded me of the people aligning themselves along the river in Boston awaiting the fireworks... picnicing etc.  The one clear difference were the people flying kites.  Chilenos love their volantines.  There were hundreds in the air, many "fighting" one another by trying to snap the string.  It was a pretty cool sight.  We got to see part of the parade, which gave me my marching band fix for the time being.  All of the military was dressed in regalia, INCLUDING high heels for the lady-cops.  WHAT?  That hardly seems fair, but there ya go.

The president is somewhere in this picture. Look verrry closely.  

Sweet glasses bro!

 

Somewhere there are many sad children because their kites are in this tree.  

Check out those lines!  And we are in step!  Well done!

 Watching the parade was very pleasant and fun.  People watching was enjoyable.  When we decided to leave and made the choice to walk through the "carnival" area is when I had my first real unenjoyable  moment since arriving here.  It was SO full of people that you moved with the current... until you didn't and had to force yourself through.  I was so afraid that one of the many small children that parents were trying to maneuver was doing to trip and be trampled.  There were drunk people stone cold passed out on the ground and people just laughed and stepped around them.  There were so many smells, sounds, and sights that I was on definite sensory overload.  That was definitely a "see it one time" kind of thing.  Once we escaped the masses, we rewarded ourselves with yet another empanada--- all was right with the world.

Basically, my first dieciocho was a success.  A huge thanks to family that made sure we had the right experiences.  I am hoping that the flags don't go away.  Honestly, seeing them everywhere, sometimes I feel right at home looking up at the lonestar.  Viva Chile!  God Bless Texas!  Party on y'all!  :)