Los Niños Parche Ácidas Y Mas

This post is dedicated to my kids at Liceo Josefina Aguirre Montenegro who are best described as Sour Patch Kids (SPK's). SPK's are a popular candy whose slogan in the past few years has been, "First they're sour, then they're sweet". This accurately portrays my interactions with my kids. However, based on what I know about myself it's fair for them to say the same about me. When they dish it at me, I throw it right back. It's priceless, how unnerved they are when the joke comes full circle. I  like that we can laugh together. Although, some of them are more sour than others, they're all sweet and I love them.

What's it like being an English speaking teacher in a school where only a handful of people know English? It's often lonely and always exhausting. My fellow professors are very gracious people, so with much sign language and questionable Spanish I'm usually able to communicate. However, to high school students who are sometimes just a few years younger than myself, this is without a doubt the best time to say, "No entiendo nada", "wassup mothaf-er" and a handful of other clutch phrases. 

As a novice with the odds stacked against me, I would say, I have enjoyed a moderate amount of success. There's nothing like seeing my students bobbing their heads to the Beatles or Smash Mouth, or getting googly eyed at the sight of pennies, nickels, and quarters. Or yelling to me on the way out, "Catch you on the flip side!" Insert Napolean Dynamite fist pump here.

The Classroom

I start most classes with a warm up to break the glazed zombie look that my students seem to acquire throughout the day from their sheer existence. Sometimes we play Hangman, learn new slang, or tease out tongue twisters. One of my favorites and to my satisfaction theirs was, "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very fuzzy was he?"

Some days it's fun, and some days it's like pulling teeth just to get my students to guess a letter in Hangman. After the warm up I spend some time coaxing my students to tell me how they're feeling and basic things like what is the date today?

We the J.A.M.

Those who are from Coyhaique have offered me good luck and sympathy for having been placed at Josefina Aguirre Montenegro (J.A.M.). The students who attend here are by their standards no good. I do not agree.  Do they make questionable choices? Yes, but what teenager doesn't? Do they make me feel awful and angry? Yes, but really what teenager doesn't?! Do they also hit me with incredible insight, warm smiles, hugs, high-5's and kisses? Yes, but what?! Beyond the gritty hard crystalline coating there's a sweet interior. It's hard to succeed when everyone already expects you to fail.

The fact is some of them live really hard lives and come from broken homes. Coming to school means a chance to eat and a few hours away from their nightmare of reality.* These are things I've heard, I haven't delved into the depths because I'm scared at what I'll find. The sour exterior is a mechanism to ward off more pain and I get that.

For others this narrative doesn't fit. There are several students who love coming to school and learning in general. Regardless their situation, I still believe they all have potential and often just need a gentle-not so gentle nudge in the right direction. Also, learning English is really hard in a place where there's little exposure.

It's not all bad though. There is a solid amount of enthusiasm and lightheartedness. Although, tourist are normal in Coyhaique, for most of students this is the closest to the US, California, San Diego, Santa Barbara, New York City that they'll get. Sometimes I think my students think I walked out of a movie and into their life. They think I know English, Spanish, and French. They think I can sing and dance. They also think I'm pretty good at soccer. I start laughing when they start laughing at the foreign language that I'm speaking and the way I speak. But to be sure that I'm legit, they ask me about who I know in Hollywood? What California is like? What's my favorite food? Do I miss home? Am I married? Why not? Am I dating? Will you marry me? What local soccer team I'm supporting? So far I'm sticking with Catholica, and haven't actually watched a game...oops.

Classes are like a performance. The more hyped I am, the more hyped they are. I'm finally solidifying a routine and comfortable with them. And although I'm not at 100% just yet, I know the name of almost every one of my students which is pretty much a super power. Fun fact, in many schools here students are called by numbers or teachers don't take time to know their names. Whether you're a teacher or not, please take the time to at least know the names of those you interact with. It's not that hard, and a little attention to detail goes a long way.

 
Our new unit on Human Rights with the Juniors of 3A, has gone over really well. Today, I introduced would you rather scenarios and the result was pretty interesting. Would you rather be poor and hungry or well fed and naked? Would you rather live with HIV/AIDS or be wrongfully imprisoned? Last week we listened to some music from the Civil Rights movement, and my students started connecting the dots about discrimination and racism in the US. By the end of class, we were clapping and chanting for freedom just like members of S.N.C.C.

With the sophomores in 2A, who are learning about sports, I brought in All-Star by Smash Mouth. Most of them know because of Shrek, but they don't know what it means and how to pronounce the words. It could be a nice tricky way to get them to speak English. It worked and even some of my more difficult students left with big smiles.

I still have a lot to learn about classroom management and lesson planning, but I think I've found something I have an affinity for. There's nothing like seeing the light bulb go on inside a kid's head. Now that the newness is wearing off, I also feel even more pressure to bring everything I've got. Although, I never know if they're going to be sweet or sour, I feel invested at this point to bring the best. Do I want to teach forever? Will get there when we get there.

 In other news it's getting cold here in Coyhaique (if you're wondering how to pronounce it: Koi-I-Kay). Today, I was pleasantly surprised that it was 41 degrees Farenheit. Due to a lot of rain and snow, I have been forced to stay indoors and hibernate. However, a little R&R is good I guess my body is getting that much needed rest. That was one of the reasons I decided to change lifestyles in the first place, right?

 
*To be clear, I'm not telling you these things to make you feel sorry for my students, which is why I've hesitated to disclose anything. Pity might be the biggest disservice. Tell their story and let's do something about it. There are probably children in your neighborhood in similar situations that are in need of something too.

No Car, No Problem Part II (Pictures)

Puerto Rio Tranquilo and The Marble Caves

Here's what happened when the plan failed. First, we spent several hours trying to hitch hike out of Puerto Rio Ibanez. At one point I was sitting in the middle of the road when a dog decided to pee on my backpack...After being in three different cars, we traveled about 159 kilometers (98 miles) to the other side of the same lake.

It was nightfall when we arrived and a light rain was picking up. After finding an affordable hospedaje and handling some other logistics, we went for a walk along the lake. Puerto Rio Tranquilo lives up to it's name, it is quiet and peaceful. The next day the adventure continued and I had some much needed to time to just be.

Inside Sole's Cafe- It's a cafe in an old bus. It's also one of the only food stops for 8 hours.

What do you see?

Lake General Carrera

Marble Caves

Capilla Marmol

Marble Caves Again

Heading to the caves

Puerto Rio Ibañez

Identity Theft

Cold wind swirls around me as I walk down Bilbao street to meet up with a friend. Rain softly alights on my cheekbones. Is it rain or is it tears? Feelings come from above and below. Is it sadness or anger? Pride or shame? All I know is that winter is like a frozen hell...

___________

When I was somewhere around the age of nine or ten, I was playing on a futsal team with my first club team under coach Mario.—For those of you who know me as the sassy, wordy, confident Jameisha. That was not always the case. Jameisha Janice of the 90's and early 2000's, was a sap...—I ran towards my mother for comfort, after this really awful excuse for a human being teased me to the point of tears.
 

Fact: Rocked this hairstyle with 700 barettes all the way til middle school.

"Why are you crying?" asked my mother.

Through much gasping and sputtering I was finally able to utter, "B-b-because he was making fun of my hair."

"Is there something wrong with your hair? You know that boy is just trying to get in your head, so why do you let him bother you?" she chided.

I stood speechless as more tears gently moved with gravity towards the ground. I don't remember verbatim what she said next but it was something to the effect of, 'Sorry baby-g but you need to suck it up and start learning to fight your own battles.'

1990's-2000's

___________

Thirteen or so years later, at the prime age of 23, a different Jameisha saunters around. I'm growing better everyday. I'm finally realizing that my best advocate is me. I'm finally able to look in a mirror and think, "Wow, that's me!" I can confidently walk in front of a crowd of people and electrify them with my words. I have scrapped the word 'trying' from my vocabulary for the better 'I will'. "I want to be" is now "I am". I am beautiful. I am smart. I am tough and I will fight. Chile has only helped solidify these changes.

I will fight you and I will win!

But even now I'm not perfect. Even now after so many steps forward, I still backslide occasionally. I have always been and will always be a sensitive person. Luckily for me, as I recounted the latest malaise in my life to my mom, the same tough love was sent my way from Letitia Wallace. I laughed and jokingly said to my mom, "Sometimes I just want you to be wrong and I want you to just say what I WANT to hear not what I NEED to hear."

This week, maybe even this month is already proving to be a whole different kind of animal. In the last week I finally slipped into the clutches of homesickness. I didn't want to go to school but didn't want to be at home. An excess of free time and isolation made me long for California burritos, warm sunny days, and freedom to use an automobile. This week, I thought maybe I was wrong... maybe I should bow out in July at the half way mark of my service.

While being sensitive has some pretty obvious downsides, it's not all bad. I would much rather feel something than nothing at all. As I left my job at the YMCA, I received some of the best compliments I've ever received. A member came up and thanked me for being different than others my age, she thanked me for my compassion and genuine interest in her well-being.

It's hard to publicly admit that I'm weak from time to time. However, it's also useful. Every superhero great human in the history of superheroes humans has always had a weakness. Weaknesses aren't bad, however how we approach them is what sets most of us apart. Often times we give up before we have an opportunity to be great. We want to change who we are but we don't want to do the work.

Reading the Essence magazine that my mom slipped into the awesome package she sent me. I read the cover story on Janelle Monae, another twenty something year old. I had heard her song once, but I had no idea the person behind it. If you don't know about the artist who is wowing crowds with songs like "Tightrope" go look her up now, she's inspirational.

Janelle Monae

It's clear to me that Chile, despite it's challenges, is exactly what I need. My identity is changing in many ways for the better. I'm becoming a bolder, truer, and stronger me. However, the sensitivity that always threatens to destroy me, now fuels me. Although, this week I really considered throwing in the towel, my mom and Monae remind me that I've got work to do.

Remember, YOU are Beautiful!

Don't Forget Your Veil

May 29, 2013
I have spent the last two mornings with a group of  40+ students, volunteers, and teachers for the English Opens Doors Regional Debate. Watching the debates was, to say the least, an experience. I have so much respect for these students, who are investing their free time in the debates and improving their English.

My first thoughts are, it takes serious guts to stand in front of a huge audience and speak. Then add the fact that you're speaking in a foreign language to convince a panel of judges that your team should win. Even though, at times it was definitely more memorization and reading than understanding. That doesn't make what these students are working for any less important. With these things in mind, I commend those students throughout Chile who are participating in the debates.

The topic for this round of the debate was "Rap Music is a Bad Influence on Young People". An interesting and thought-provoking question. Many of the arguments were the same, for example, rap music leads teens to: violence, drugs, and sexual misconduct; or rap isn't bad because it breeds artistic expression and social awareness.

However, there were also some creative arguments. For instance, one student said, "Sure, rap may talk about violence, but there is very big distinction between talking about violence and being violent." Another argued that maybe the reason people believe that rap is a bad influence is the slant presented by the media. Then there were a few really uncomfortable silences where students lost their train of thought, spoke out of turn, or spoke so fast that by the end all you could say was huh?

As a member of the 4 person jury it was kind of hard to actually enjoy the debate. You never realize how hard something is, until you're the one doing it. One important criteria students were to consider and prepare for was rebuttals. This was a very common weakness. While some actually did attempt counter-arguments. More often they said something that was pretty good, but when you contextualize it as a response to the last speaker it was completely irrelevant.

At the end of two days of deliberating and scrutinizing what each team brought, I don't mind saying that there are some things I'm glad I don't for a living. I'm reminded of days in college studying political theory and constitutional law. In particular, John Rawls' concept of the veil of ignorance.

If you're thinking what's the veil of ignorance, don't worry you're probably more familiar with this principle than you think. Have you ever shared a slice of pizza/cake with a friend or sibling? How did you cut it? Close to 50/50. Why? Because afterwards you allowed the other person to choose, right? You cut that cake evenly because you had no control over which piece would be yours.

So why am I thinking about this? It's definitely important to be critical, judgment can be good, and varying world views are certainly valuable. But judgment and justice are not exactly the same. Reading the news and controversy over gay rights, wars, and the many other problems around the world. There are more than enough people passing judgment and willing to speak their mind. However, very people of these people are seeking justice. I'm not saying that the veil of ignorance is perfect, but I am saying we have got to do better than just bickering over who's right or wrong. Maybe instead of asking how do you feel about this, let's ask what are we going to do about "insert pertinent issue here"?

I have heard it said that traveling isn't about where you go, but acquiring news eyes to see the things around you. So put on your veil and see with new eyes the injustice all around, then do something about it.