Talk About A Birthday Month!!

Tuesday June 7th, 2011
I went to bed the night before my birthday with a slightly heavy heart because I was afraid I´d feel really homesick being away from my family on my birthday. However, the fun began at midnight with 2 birthday calls (Nati-my cousin & Ana-my friend). I had received a card the day before from my mom so I finally let myself open it since it was technically my birthday. A great surprise was the note inside from my little cousin, Taylor. I felt so loved and so thankful for a little piece of home.

Tuesday morning, after I woke up and got ready for school, I went out to the table and found presents on my plate. I unwrapped them to find a beautiful and unique silver ring and a hand painted dish to hold jewelry. After big hugs and many thank you´s, we were off for school where I was met with lots of hugs and kisses from my students and all of them wishing me happy birthday. As I made my way towards my classroom, I was met by one of my colleagues and friends, Carolina, and she gave me a beautiful pair of earrings.

In my room, a group of my 6th grade girls came in and made birthday cards for me before class. My first class was my 5th graders (completely adorable!). They came in and as I began the lesson they said ¨Wait, stop!...1....2...3...Happy Birthday to you....¨ and sang for me. I just treasured it!
After that, I had recess or ¨recreo¨ and the director/principal of our school, Miss Angelica gave me a clay plate painted with a mural of the school with students. I almost cried. It was so incredibly thoughtful and genuine. Then, I walked into the teachers´ room and was surprised with ¨Feliz cumpleanos¨ and lots of hugs and kisses from teachers and not just one, but two cakes! Yum! 
Monica & Juan Carlos gave me another pair of beautiful earrings.

Since I have a 2 hour break after recess for planning, I headed down to my room. Miguel Angel came to my room and said ¨close your eyes¨ and gave me a bag with ferrero rocher and chocolate =D Guess he´s got me figured out!

The rest of the school day was tons of fun with all my kids singing and celebrating with me. After classes, I got a call from Patricio Bohn (I think he´s my long lost 4th uncle or something) and  Margarita (his wife) because he wanted to take me and my family to dinner. They took us to Prego Ristorante, a delicious italian restaurant. Dinner menu:appartivo-mango sour, fetuccini with steak, glass of wine, tirramissu, (second) tirramasu with candle (didn´t eat the whole thing), and surprise champagne from the restaurant. I felt like a queen! On the drive home, mom, jenny, and I laughed so hard we cried for almost the whole drive. My dad started yelling ¨shut-up¨ (to be silly) in his Chilean/German English accent so we laughed even harder. Such a great birthday and so many wonderful memories!


Friday June 10, 2011
In order to begin planning for my vacation time, I went to a travel agent to ask about trip to San Pedro. Can I just mention that I love when people tell me that i speak and understand Spanish very well and that they are very impressed they are that I’ve only been here 5 months =D. The lady that helped me was very nice and very helpful. She gave me lots of options and helped me figure out the prices of each.

The night began with snacks and balloons and music Elena’s apartment. All of my friends sang happy birthday in English! They surprised me with an absolutely amazing birthday cake with an American flag (including all 50 stars). Not wanting to break tradition, I took a bite from the corner and abruptly had pushed my face in. I felt so Chilean! =D

We all packed into cars and headed to Mitoss for some dancing and karaoke! Of course, the moment we sat down, I found myself being called up onto the stage. The whole club sang happy birthday and I awkwardly danced with my friend/host teacher because I wasn´t there with a boyfriend/husband like the other birthday girls. Jajaja It was great. I got to do some salsa dancing with one of my friends, sang karaoke-Alicia Keys-¨If I Ain’t Got You¨-listened to a phenomenal live singer, and a whole lot of dancing!

When I walked out to meet my parents (funny being picked up by your parents after celebrating your 23rd birthday) and I heard “Hey! California!!” I just died laughing. It’s fun living in a small town where you stand out. It’s a little overwhelming in Santiago because I just stand out. So, I get stared at and pointed at like a circus animal on the run. Here in Osorno, I feel like a rock star. At first I just felt like “I’ve done nothing to deserve this”, and I still feel that way, but now I’m using it to build relationships and also share what I believe. I’m not saying that I shove it down people’s throats, but the topic of religion often comes up when people ask what I did on Sunday. It's also been great to help motivate people to use the English they all learn in school!


Saturday June 11, 2011
Talk about luck! After a very rainy week, I awoke Saturday to the beautiful sun shining in my window. I say that this is good luck because I had been invited by my principal and her husband to go to Valdivia for the day. On the road, I got a history lesson about Rio Bueno and La Union which are both very small cities. We first went to their son, Ignacio’s apartment to drop of lots of food and drinks (funny how mom’s take care of their 23 year olds all around the world ;). Then the 4 of us headed out to see the city. First, we drove to Niebla and around the coast to see the beautiful scenery. Then, we went to the feria, and I wanted to buy a mate cup and straw but Miss Angelica bought it for me!!! We started feeling pretty hungry, so we went to lunch at the casino where they had a “tenedor libre” or buffet. I quickly filled a large plate with veggies and salad (don’t get to eat enough of that down here). The main meal options were all small so I tried a few different things and they were all great. Miss Angelica and her husband wanted to stay and play at the casino for a while so I went with Ignacio to see the University Austral where he studies. We walked around the Botanical Garden there and I just fell in love with the beauty there. They had different sections for the trees of different parts of Chile. I kinda felt like I was in a Twilight movie without the whole vampire and werewolf thing. We tried to go into a few museums there but they were all closed for renovation. It wasn’t quite time to meet up yet so we drove around to lots of different parts of the city just to see.

I slept on the way home, as the rain poured down.

When we got back, I had to quickly get ready for the birthday party that my parents were throwing for me. I had invited about 12 of my closest friends and my parents took care of everything else. We had the party in the brewery of my dad’s nephew which is just across a path from my house. My 2 gringo friends weren’t able to make it so it was a full on Chilean fiesta!

For the last few years, it hasn’t been very expected for friends to exchange gifts much (probably since most of us don’t really have the money), but everyone who attended brought a gift. Many of them were to help me remember Osorno when I return home, and a few almost brought me to tears. Dinner was barbecued by the men outside and the smells of the pork wafted around the room as we waited. Everything was absolutely delicious and conversation was great. For desert, we had a traditional cake, but even better, apple strudel made by my dad. I’m pretty sure I want to have that as my wedding dessert some day! ;) 

To top off an already incredible evening, I was able to skype with my parents so they could meet my friends and family. It was so special and such a wonderful memory. They got to enjoy the ceremonial/traditional cake in face (instigated by my mother of course).

At the end of the night, as we all sat around talking, the topic of me leaving came up and I began to realize how hard it would be to say goodbye to these people that I have come to love dearly. One of my friends and coworkers, Danilo got a bit teary when we were talking about how little time I have left. I almost lost it. I’m not at all looking forward to my goodbyes at school =(


Sunday June 12, 2011
One of my seniors, Isabella invited me to go with her to church. We had had several conversations about God, church, and the place each holds in our lives. God was so good to give me someone who I really connected with on a spiritual level. I was so excited to see her church where she is heavily involved and very much a leader. I had a great time meeting her friends and her church family. I felt like there was a time warp and I was back in Grace when I was little before the new building was built. It was a great service and I was just so thankful for the time I got to spend with her. After, Isa, her brother, and I went out for pizza and then strolled around the feria.


Monday, June 20, 2011
All I wanted to do on this particular Monday was sit outside in the sun and soak it up. After school, I sauntered into the office to say hello to my mom and found myself looking at Nati. I don’t know if you remember, but when I first arrived in Osorno, 4 months ago, she was staying with my family. We had an instant connection and it was so hard to see her leave. I just about lost it when I saw her and gave her a big hug. We spent the rest of the day and night catching up!


Tuesday June 21, 2011
With the end of the semester fast approaching, the students are all bombarded with exams in their classes. In order to continue the learning and English practice, I found some games online that reviewed some of the things I had taught throughout the semester. Hearing all my kids tell me how “bakan” it was put the biggest smile on my face.

Nati came to the school for lunch and then joined me for my last class, seniors. It was fun showing her a little bit of what I do at the school. After, we walked to jumbo to buy snacks to eat while we watched High School Musical (yes, we sang every single song!). That night, we met up with my Miguel and went to a concert. It was supposed to be jazz, or so we thought, but it ended up being something totally different because we went to the wrong place. Didn’t matter though because we had a wonderful light and there was a girl who played piano and sang one of my favorite Sara Barielles songs, ¨Gravity¨.