This newsletter summarizes the experiences of WorldTeach volunteers in Chile over the past few months. It includes reflections on adjusting to life in Chile, celebrating national holidays, traveling around the country, enjoying Chilean cuisine, and preparing to say goodbye. The volunteers have taught in new areas, started an newsletter, and worked on video projects. They share stories and photos from their time in Chile to give readers a sense of what it's like to volunteer with WorldTeach in this country.

1. November
2010
Short Stories, Long Country Issue 2

2. A Message from the FD
Allyson Caudill
WorldTeach Chile Field Director
¡Saludos a todos!
This year, twenty-four new smiling faces landed in Chile and as-
sumed the role of the WorldTeach Chile 2010 volunteers. They
have spent their time here inspiring their students,
bonding with their host families, and exploring this
long, baffling country. In just three more weeks they
will have officially survived the plethora of mayon-
naise, the unpredictable schedules, and the daily
doses of nescafé.
It has been my pleasure to work with and be a part of
this year´s WorldTeach Chile familia. This trailblazing
group has accomplished things no other volunteer has
before them: teaching in a new region, the Short Sto-
ries, Long Country newsletter, and various video pro-
jects.
Now, as they prepare to bid Chile farewell, they have
compiled one last ¨Ode to Chile¨ to share with the
world. In the following pages you will read how they have
changed Chile, and how Chile has changed them. It has been a
“Remember, BE LIQUID!” rollercoaster of Chilean fun and, with this newsletter, they invite
you to join them for the ride.
~ Allyson Cheers to you, my dazzling 24, que siempre mantengan a Chile en
sus corazones, po!
Abracitos.
Allyson
About WorldTeach
Based at the Center for International Development at, WorldTeach offers the
benefits of a well-established volunteer organization, while also providing more
comprehensive, personalized support and training as a small NGO. In each of our
programs, volunteers are placed in schools and host communities in developing
countries that specifically request WorldTeach volunteers and would otherwise be
unable to afford or locate qualified teachers. Volunteers receive training, lan-
guage preparation, and field support, empowering them to make an impact that
will last long after they leave.
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3. Table of Contents
Winter in July: Welcome to the Southern Hemisphere 4
What I Didn’t Know Before I Got Here… 6
Chilenismos
Integrating into the Community 7
Fiestas Patrias 2010 9
At Home 11
Remedies for Homesickness
At School 13
Student Quips: Heard in the classroom…
On the Road (and Off): Travel In and Around Chile 16
Chile Bucket List
Pan y Palta: Musings and Recipes on Chilean Cuisine 18
Los 33 20
Then & Now 21
1st Annual SSLC Photo Contest 22
Chau Chile! Reflections… 23
From the Editors...
To all Past, Present, and Prospective Volunteers, Family and Friends,
The school year in Chile is winding down and the time has come to reflect on our experiences. Life of a WorldTeach
volunteer in Chile is always changing and is never quite the same from one person to the next. Everyone has a dis-
tinct experience. However we do all share particular elements of living abroad: getting to know a new place, new
people, new life, becoming comfortable, experiencing frustrations and elations, and then preparing to leave.
At this point, we have all been fortunate to call Chile our home for at least a little chunk of our life and this means
that we‟ve got lots of stories, opinions, anecdotes, thoughts, and pictures to share.
Our goal with this newsletter is to create an outlet for everyone to tell their story and for others to get to know Chile
a little better, whether or not they‟ve ever been here. We are proud of what we have accomplished and we are ex-
cited to share our thoughts and stories.
Thank you to those who contributed to this issue. Special thanks to our AWESOME field director, Allyson Caudill.
By her doing, the WorldTeach program in Chile has only gotten better. Thanks to all the volunteers and their family
and friends for their support. WorldTeach Chile is an amazing program and we are all so happy to count ourselves a
part of it.
Hasta Luego,
The Editors
Heather Tang Lauren Phillips Allison Hahn
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4. Winter in July
Welcome to the Southern Hemisphere...
Jeremy, Bennett, Field Director Allyson, and
Corrie get ready with their snowballs at
At Least It Kept the Wind Out
WorldTeach Midservice at Termas de Chillan.
By Chris Doherty
In a different culture, the simplest things can become difficult. Take replacing a window. We might think this is straight-
forward: the window is broken somehow, therefore it should be fixed. We ask someone to fix it. What happens?
My host family's house is fairly old by Chilean standards, where everything gets destroyed by an earthquake sooner or
later, and when I moved into my room, the first thing I noticed, after the stunning bay vista, was that the window was
warped, leaving 1-inch gaps at all four corners. My host dad Oscar said, "And the window's completely screwed up. We're
going to replace it soon." A month passed, and it started to get cool and breezy, and like most people, I have a hard time
sleeping with a cold wind on my face. I asked a couple times about replacing the window. "Yep! This weekend." A couple
more weeks. "There's a shortage of windows due to earthquake reconstruction."
Now, every culture has its map of social lies: things we can or cannot say, things we are expected to be less than honest
about. You might say that cultures have different relationships to the truth, what's considered "truthful" and what it
means to be honest. This is a big source of cultural conflict. I was mildly shocked one day in class when one of my girls
got her friend's attention by shouting "Hey! Ugly!": the student is Asian with braces, very un-Chilean-looking, but attrac-
tive by North American standards. But "Ugly" was her nickname, in a neutral way it could never be in the US. Ditto for
"Chubby."
Another part of the map of social lies is what to tell people when they ask for things. In Chile, people find it difficult to
say "No"; in fact, it's pretty hard to get anything as definite as "I don't know when that will happen." In the U.S. we're
used to directness around time estimates, so much like hearing "mañana" in Mexico, we may feel as though someone is
leading us on in a less-than-honest way. Oscar didn't mean to "lie" in the way we usually think of lying: instead, I think
the different Chilean relationship to the truth, along with his feeling responsible for my well-being, prevented him from
giving a straightforward answer. I could have gotten angry, but while I wasn't exactly pleased, what would be the point?
The family had taken excellent care of me otherwise, and I clearly couldn't figure out how to press the issue in a Chilean
way. Allowing myself to get angry would just add fruitless tension to the relationship with my host family, and I would be
the unhappy one.
Finally, winter came, and I decided that if a window wasn't happening, maybe we could at least cover the window in
sheet plastic. A few days after another "Yep, we'll do that this weekend," I asked more insistently if we had any plastic
around and I could just do it myself. Oscar chuckled and gave me plastic and nails and said "Good luck." I didn't get
around to it, and a couple days later on the weekend I came home to find the glass window gone entirely--not my plan,
since the glass has value as insulation--and the window completely covered in sheet plastic, far better than I would have
done it.
This lasted for a couple months, and my room was actually colder: the window became a radiator that radiated cold. But!
No wind! A fine trade-off. Oscar would periodically ask me if I was cold, and I would say, "Yeah, a little cold," while my
window stayed plastic. It finally dawned on me that a different (and clearer) answer might produce a different response,
so the next time he asked, I said, "Yes. Very cold."
That was the magic answer. Within a couple days, I noticed outside that Oscar was actually modifying an existing (or per-
haps broken) window frame, and glazing in the panes himself. And then, there it was! My room had an actual glass win-
dow! The temperature in my room went up 10 degrees, and I could see out over the bay again.
Lessons learned: 1. Don't get angry about cultural differences. 2. Everything is a cultural difference. 3. If you've got a
glass window instead of plastic, be grateful.
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5. Carving the Chilean Powder Dancing with the Stripper
By Brandy Hearn By Bennett Pearson
Similar to surfers and climbers, being a skier is more than Not too long ago, Corrie and I went with my friends,
just the physical act of the sport. You don't just ski, you Nicolas and Catalina, up north about seven hours to the
embody the mentality and lifestyle of the culture. In a nut- renowned Chanos de Llalle National Park. We left about
shell, for my friends and I, that lifestyle usually consists of one week after the news of the catastrophic collapse of
an adventurous, athletic, outgoing, and fun personality cou- the San Jose mine, where thirty-three miners were
pled with a great appreciation for the outdoors. This type of trapped below.
person is always open for a new challenge, meeting new We were some three or four hours southwest of them,
people, and is usually, unless a powder day is on the fore- near Huasco. Suprisingly too, when we arrived at our
cast, up for a party any day of the week. What I have real- campsite, the area didn‟t
ized while skiing in Chile is that the culture I love so much have the hot slaked
back home is virtually the same, it's just the scenery that breath of a desert, as
changes. That is what makes being on a mountain so spe- what you might expect in
cial. Wherever you are in the world, when you are on that Arizona or Texas, but it
mountain, you can feel completely at home and in your ele- was actually drizzling.
ment. The first time I had this revelation was when I was Yet, it was still inhabited
skiing at Termas de Chillan, a beautiful resort about 6 by its beasts. By beasts,
hours south of Santiago. I mean to say, MOS-
QUITOS. Sorry, I‟m go-
Termas de Chillan is absolutely stellar. Imagine quaint cab- ing to yell for a second:
ins with snow piled as high as one can dream, thermal pools HOW FEROCIOUS THEY
as hot as one would want, and a variety of in and out of ARE! God, what purpose do they represent? What is their
bounds slopes separated not by trees, as the mountains are reason for existence?!?!?!?!?!?
too young, but by rocks and man made lines. The land- However, once you move past Huasco, you feel like you‟re
scape is absolutely incredible filled with snowy peaks of on an expedition. All around there is so much open space.
glory and luscious green forestry down at the base. Some Everywhere free of signs, free of fear, free of laws, free of
say you can see the ocean but what amazed me more was development, nothing but lands that have their million-
the snow covered volcano off in the distance and the pano- year-old scent. And how great it is to drive into these
ramic view of this incredibly beautiful country while racing small towns, towns of thirty people at these tiny ports!
down what is said to be the longest trail in all of South Ports that have two boats anchored offshore, left alone to
America. To say the float carelessly at sea.
least, Termas de Chil- Beyond this too, lies a wave. In English, depending on
lan is a skiiers dream- who you talk to, it might be called the Stripper. And I‟ll
like paradise. The tell you an experience I had with the Stripper: she didn‟t
only draw back? The want to dance with me! On my first wave after dropping
chairlifts are incredi- in, I thought the section in front of me was going to hol-
bly slow. However, low out into a tube, so I tried to race to the section. But
slow chairlifts give instead of doing this, it fell on me; and as I came up after
way to great conver- being pushed down, I didn‟t feel my board attached to my
sation with people ankle at all, only my leash remained, and as I looked to-
from all over the wards shore, I saw my board for a split second floating
world and for me, a there, still new and bruise-less, until the next wave
great way to practice crashed and pushed it into the rocks, the big black rocks
my Spanish. full of barnacles. When I got to my board it had two big
punctures, and several dings. So, that was my first dance
If you are planning on visiting Chile during the winter with the stripper (but
months (our summer), I highly recommend checking out not my last!).
not only Termas de Chillan but the many mountains just Anyway, the best
outside of Santiago. Portillo is said to be the best in the quote of the trip was
country and is home to the US Ski Team during the Ameri- from Nicolas him-
can summer months. Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La
self, when I met him
Parva all share one incredibly windy road making it easy to
go from one mountain to the other if you plan on staying in the lineup that
for a long time. The beautiful thing about skiing down here day: “Welcome to
is that you can be on the mountain one day and on the Chile”.
beach in 70 degree weather the next. It really is a mind
boggling experience. I have truly loved my time skiing
down here and hope to return in the future when I have
more than two pennies to rub together.
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6. What I Didn’t Know
Before I Got Here…
I didn‟t realize that Chile has such a diverse landscape.
-Lauren Phillips
Chile is not as conservative as I thought it would be. I have found
that society generally accepts the wide variety of relationships
that people have, especially the younger generation who are in
their 20s and 30s.
-Grace Chen
Their obsession with french fries, hot dogs, and mayo. The Cueca
-Lauren Lastra
Chilenismos
The food is bland, and then they‟ll surprise you with empanadas, Because you can never have enough!
wine, asados and penca.
-Allison Hahn Chanta la moto
-wait/hold on, cut it out
Cueca was the national dance. Chori (adj)
-Sharon Welch -fun, cool
Chupamedia (n)
Dieciocho is a huge holiday! And when they say they party all -a suck up
night, they‟re not kidding. Cuatico (adj)
-Hannah Fullington -dramatic, overemphasized
Donde el diablo perdió el poncho (n)
Shoes (or slippers, never socks!) stay on your feet at all times ex- (Where the devil lost his poncho)
cept for in bed. And even there, taking them off is optional. -middle of nowhere
-Heather Tang Flaco/a (n)
-buddy
How fast people talk and how they use “que rico” and “que lindo” Guagua (n)
to describe basically everything. -baby
Le falta gramos para al kilo (adj)
-Kristy Hui
(You lack grams for the kilo)
-you‟re slow/stupid
Chileans are extremely proud of where they come from. Many of Luca (n)
them are aware of Chilean politics and stand firm in their views. -one thousand pesos
They may ask you several questions about your own background No comaí delante de los pobres
such as where your family is from and the population of those (Don‟t eat next to the poor)
places as well as what languages you can speak other than Eng- -said when there is a little too much PDA
lish. Be ready to answer!
Plata (n)
-Stephanie Blanch -money
Pololo/a (n)
-boyfriend/girlfriend
Rallas la papa (adj)
(You grate the potato)
-you‟re crazy
Súper taldo (adj)
-very random
Tocar el violín (v)
(Play the violin)
-third wheel
Former Pinochet Dictatorship detainee and our Civil
Rights tour guide, Andres, with his daughter, Paula, talk-
ing about the watchtower as a torture chamber at Villa
Grimaldi in Santiago.
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7. Gran Bingo
By Sharon Welch
Last month our school had a fundraiser called “Gran Bingo”. That translates to something like, “Big Bingo”. The money
from “Gran Bingo” went to the family of Silvia, a math teacher at our school.
Silvia lost her son, Silvio, only 18-years-old, last month. He was walking on a sidewalk with a friend when a car and a
truck crashed. Part of one of the vehicles cut off his leg and part of his lower torso. An absolute tragedy! He was in the
hospital with a massive infection for about 38 days. The family and doctors did everything they could, and the teachers
said prayers for him in the faculty room. It was very touching.
The bingo was to raise money to help pay for medical bills. No one here has a lot of money to donate so the teachers had
a bingo for about 300 people complete with prizes, music, and Cueca dancers. The culinary students made empanadas
and cakes, and students volunteered to set up the tables. All of the teachers contributed prizes and money for the grand
prize. Many people showed up, and Silvia‟s family received more money to pay those expensive medical bills.
I volunteered to help, and the teachers put me in charge of “guarding” the prizes in the prize room. I think that was
probably a good place for me. The older women teachers work together like a “well oiled machine”. They have all
worked together for about 25 years. I had planned to stay for a couple of hours, but without realizing it, I stayed for nine.
I really got to know each teacher so much better as we worked together. I realized that the independence that I prized so
much was really stopping me from getting to know all of the dedicated people who make up the staff at Liceo Limache.
That was a lesson that I learned from “Gran Bingo”.
It also made me remember that “Tomorrow is promised to no one.” I try to enjoy something about each day that I am in
Chile. I am the oldest volunteer in the Ministry group, and I don‟t know if this is the last time that I will be able to volun
teer abroad. To experience another culture is a great gift, and I am thankful that I am here.
Gracias Por La Invitación
By Jennifer Fernandes
In the United States, I‟m always making plans. Plans to take a trip, visit with friends and family, see a movie or try a new
restaurant. I wasn‟t sure how my lifestyle would translate in Chile since I would be starting from scratch. I also was un-
sure how easy it would be to make meaningful friendships, especially with the language barrier.
To my delight, the people I‟ve encountered have been incredibly welcoming and want you to love Chile as much as they
do. I‟ve made it a point to make the most of this and accept the random invitations that come my way. The invitations
are always last minute from unexpected people and I‟m never quite sure of the details or what exactly I‟m getting into.
Here are a few memorable experiences:
 Every time I see the history teacher at school, she says, “How are you?” giggles and gives me a hug. One day while
waiting at the bus stop, she walked by and invited me to her house the following week. She lived close to the school
and it was a lovely evening talking to her family, including her daughter who is a journalist in Valparaiso, eating
homemade carrot “Queque” and walking through the impressive gardens at the Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa
Maria. Shortly after, she switched schools, yet we still keep in touch.
 The Santiago Wanderers, the Valparaiso soccer team, are not on a winning streak. Despite this, fanaticos crowd into
the stadium every week with hopes that it‟s the team‟s lucky day. When a family friend extended an invitation to join
a group of friends at a match, I couldn‟t refuse. Everyone was showing their team pride in green and white as fans
stood, cheered, jumped, climbed fences and chanted the entire time. The police guards menacingly watched the
crowds with their shields, as it‟s not uncommon for fans to rush the field. Sadly, it was not a lucky day for the Wan-
derers but nonetheless an amazing experience.
 One day in class my co-teacher turned to me in a serious tone and said, “I have to ask you a personal question.” Not
sure what exactly that meant and slightly nervous, he proceeded to say he talked with his wife and would like to in-
vite me to join them during Dieciocho. Touched, I agreed and found myself on the metro to Quilpue on the 18th of
September. It was an amazing day filled with cueca, vino, empanada cooking lessons and kite flying. He and his wife
invited their English teacher friends, knowing that I would appreciate the chance to speak English with others. The
night ended with plans for them to come visit me someday in the US and although this will probably never happen, I
felt like I made lifelong friends.
I continue to say yes to invitations even when I‟m feeling tired or lazy. Although it‟s easy to dismiss random
things to do that come my way, this is a once in a lifetime chance to experience the unexpected in Chile.
PAGE 7
SSLC

8. Chilean Birthday Parties: Who Needs Sleep Anyway?
By Bennett Pearson
A few days ago I attended a birthday party of Maria Teresa, a girl celebrating her 19 th birthday. All of her closest family,
from grandmothers and grandfathers to neighbors to friends from as far north as Copiapo, to teachers, local dogs and
myself were present for her turning of age.
Although I try to be as punctual as possible in almost all cases, that day I arrived slightly late, just by 20-30 minutes. Yet,
I won't forget my arrival. How surprising it was to have arrived at a scene with so many people already squeezed into
each other like the posts of a fence, completely belligerent with laughter, hysterical over jokes coming from all sides of
one large table! I think of it now and I'm still not sure if I've ever heard such cackling before, or rather, the laugh of her
mother. It was one of those contagious laughs. It was just so incredibly distinct, as if their laughter was the sound of a
hundred guns, and hers, a single cannon.
So, this mother was to my right, exploding. To my left sat another Señora, and the first thing she asked me is if I wanted
to be her husband. I tried to decline, but really what it amounted to was two affectionate photos with her hands resting
on my shoulders; and the whole time she kept telling me something about the "gallinas" (roosters) and that I had to
meet them, but exactly why, who knows. Meanwhile, all around it sounds like this: "¡Echame una chiste!" "¡Echame una
chiste!"(Tell me a joke!)
My last memory of the party was this one man named Patricio. However, like many Chileans, he had a nickname. So, on
that day we called him "Pato Luca". Yes, if there was any sense of propriety that still remained, however dwindling, well
with this man, it finally reached its end. After my quick tour of the residence, we finally sat ourselves down completely
without any notion of when we would leave (which you must keep in mind when you come to a Chilean birthday party)
and people began to arrange themselves into a circle, bringing out their shot glasses and bottles of whisky or so. How to
explain what happened next? Well, the more I think of trying to explain all this, the more I think of how much better it
would be for me to simply keep it as short as possible, since I still keep seeing only the obscene, and the overly-obscene.
Nevertheless, I had the great pleasure of sitting next to Señor Pato, and he really helped me when I didn't understand his
jokes. There is so much slang that one has never heard before, that when you first hear it, it races right past you. In
memory, I can recall all kinds of talk of enchapelotas, petizos, tenkas, piluchos, and much more. Perhaps you too have
never heard these words before? But, like I said, there was talk of such things. However with me, since I did not under-
stand, there was this breakdown, this slow, in-depth analysis, a piece by piece description using hand and face gestures
to explain such words. "De Nuevo, de nuevo", he kept saying. In short, I left home with multiple, bawdy descriptions of
someone robbed and left naked (pilucho), and another splendid image of a man who, unfortunately, cannot be aroused
(tenka).
In any case, fellow volunteers, if you haven't gone to a Chilean birthday party yet, I encourage you to! You must go! Ex-
pect long hours of laughter, a feast of food, wine and an even bigger attendance of people, and those who seem to keep
entering and keep adding seats to the conversation! Indeed, they‟re full of people who enjoy your company, who will
laugh with you, and who will continue to make you laugh until all the viands and drinks are gone!
Un Alfajor, Por Favor Birthday party after-party: Bennett’s uncles pop
By Lauren Phillips balloons by sandwiching them between themselves
and a very lucky volunteer.
Actually, make that five: three for onces with my host family, one to stuff in my mouth right now before I can even pay
for it, and one for the walk home.
For those who have yet to see the light, alfajores are a sort of Latin American “moon pie”. Generally manjar (Chilean
dulce de leche or caramel) between two cookies and sometimes coated in chocolate or pow-
dered sugar.
The worst thing that could happen to my waste-line was the discovery of this bakery that
only sells sugar coated in chocolate with a dusting of sugar to top it off. It‟s conveniently
located in the town closest to mine. After the first time I tried the pasteles and had my
first alfajorgasm (it‟s alfajorgasmic! Ok, no more), I decided to make it a rule that if I‟m
going to consume alfajores or any sweets from this pasteleria, I have to walk there. Which
is not such a harsh punishment, it‟s a 30 minute one-way
walk along the beautiful Chilean coast- I‟m not going to
complain.
And yes, of course the owner knows my name. We‟ve
chatted it up a number of times, he‟s very friendly- would-
n‟t you be if you make savory sweets all day? He makes everything on his own in the
kitchen attached to the bakery. And I‟ve tried it all, the three varieties of alfajores, the
sweet bread, the meringue-topped cookie filled with honey and manjar, and they‟re all
delicious. So, if you‟re ever in the area, I‟d be happy to accompany you to the pastelería in
Zapallar. And then we can go for a much needed run.
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9. El Dieciocho The 18th
de Septiembre of September
Running on the Fuel of Empanadas
By Heather Tang
There aren‟t too many holidays in the US that take an entire month to celebrate. Perhaps, if you included the holiday
shopping frenzy that is December, but that‟s about as close as we get.
Let me introduce you to Dieciocho de Septiembre, or September 18th, the Independence Day of Chile. When I heard
about this holiday back in the early months after our arrival, I equated it to something like our July 4 th--big barbecues,
spending time with family and friends, fireworks, and drinking--just for a weekend‟s worth. No.
I noticed it would be much more than just a weekend celebration starting on September 1 st. Every classroom at my
school was suddenly adorned with blue, red, and white streamers, flags, and kites. Over the course of the first two weeks
of the month, the students practiced the Cueca (Chile‟s national dance) in Phys Ed, painted countless pictures of the na-
tional flag and flower (the lovely Copihue), and rehearsed for the big acto, or assembly, to be presented the day before the
holiday weekend, while the school served countless empanadas. Every home in the country raised the flag in its yard,
and I heard that in the city of Coquimbo, people were actually fined for not having one out front. And since this year
marked Chile‟s bicentennial anniversary of independence from Spain, it just made everything that much bigger.
I had to make plans for the actual weekend of the 18th somewhat in advance since any kind of bus ticket would be sold out
in the days leading up should I decide to travel somewhere. I was torn between staying the entire 4-day weekend with
my family in Quilpué for our big asado or going up to Coquimbo to meet up with northern volunteer friends where the
annual mega-fair La Pampilla was taking place. Then I realized the only and most fulfilling answer was to go for both.
My whirlwind weekend began on Thursday, September 16th. After I attended my school‟s acto in the afternoon, and also
my host siblings‟ school performance in the evening, then a concert in town for Sol y Lluvia, a Chilean folk band, until
3am, I woke up early on Friday to catch my five-hour bus ride to Coquimbo/La Serena, which I had snagged the last seat
for. And once there, I was reunited with nine other friends.
The ensuing 48 hours would include a moonlight powwow on the beach next to La Serena‟s famous faro, or lighthouse,
singing Beatles songs on the micros (city buses), consuming large amounts of asado meat, and dancing the Cueca on re-
peat. The highlight of the trip was meandering the football field-size labyrinth of tents and crowds at La Pampilla where
we saw a random slew of stuff for sale from knives for $2 to army-style vests to kids bicyles, just escaped a scuffle involv-
ing some drunken Chileans and a slingshot, drank Chicha, a traditional drink of fermented fruit, and riding the carnival
thrill ride, Kamakazi, three times.
On Sunday, I caught my bus back to Quilpué at 6AM after finishing the night off with dancing at a beachside club, arriv-
ing home just in time to celebrate with my family and friends with more great food, drinks, dance, and games at our
asado the rest of the day. Needless to say, I made the most of the holiday, only sleeping about 17 hours out of 96, but it
was certainly worth every empanada.
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10. Independence Day on Steroids
By Katie Eldridge
I‟m from Virginia where we celebrate the 4th of July right. You‟ve got Dad on the grill cooking up the hot dogs and ham-
burgers - Who wants cheese? - Mom cooling the jello, and lil Bro playing with fire, I mean, sparklers.
Take that, multiply by 10, spread it out over five days and you've got yourself the Chilean celebration. Dieciocho fell on a
Saturday this year, but my fun started Thursday with my students giving speeches as Bernardo O'Higgins, lip-synching to
Chilean classics, and dancing the cueca in flowery red and blue dresses. Friday, my host family drove me to their friend‟s
house to enjoy some chorripan (sausage in a roll) and jote (red wine mixed with Coke). Chorripan is delectable, jote not
so much. I danced the cueca with a bunch of goofy men who kept making doble sentido jokes, and I found out my Chilean
crush has a girlfriend. ¡Qué fome!
Saturday, the family drove to the grandparents‟ house for an asado of grilled chicken and pork, potato salad, and a com-
petitive game of ocho loco, or Crazy 8‟s. Sunday, we met the cousins in the campo, where I soundly won at musical chairs
and lost at tug-of-war. I enjoyed some tea and sopaipillas with some Chileans discussing their beliefs about the US, in-
cluding that they‟d love to visit even though the Illuminati run the country. (Apparently they run every country, accord-
ing to one of the guys.) After dancing to Américo for hours, we went home to sleep a bit before Monday morning‟s air and
boat show on the Valparaíso beaches. Watching the Chilean navy sail by with some Argentinean, American, Canadian,
and British allies was a sweet ending to a food-filled, Cueca-dancing, Chilean jamboree. ¡Viva Chile!
Maureen pieces together a kite.
Kristy gets some help with hers.
Ryan gets down on his knees as the
Katie’s host parents tear up
A Dieciocho Education “prince,” and the “princess,” thanks him
the dance floor.
for saving her.
By Grace Chen
Every year, my Chilean family, hosts a huge party at their house for 2 consecutive days during the Fiesta Patrias. This
year, four WorldTeach volunteers and another volunteer through the Ministry of Education became cousins in a matter
of weeks as we all got placed with various members of a huge extended family. Therefore, there were 5 new additions to
the annual party resulting in 55 people on Friday on mi mamás side of the family and 45 people on Saturday on mi ca-
chito’s (papá’s) side of the family.
We had tons of fun playing games similar to those in the United States such as egg toss, potato sack racing and steal the
bacon. However, we also learned how to play a few new games such as a heart-stopping race incorporating Rock, Paper,
Scissors (called ca-chi-pún in Chile) which I definitely want to teach and play with other WorldTeach volunteers and
friends. We also formed a fortress around a princess by linking our
arms together and using our bodies to block the prince from saving
the princess. The best thing about our games was that the grand-
parents, parents, and children all participated. Later, we binged on
the candy that we received after we played the games, everyone
swapping candies with each other. My favorite was the sour
Frugelé!
We ate a great deal of empanadas, chorizo, anticuchos (skewers of
meat and onions) and danced until 4am. I practiced my Cueca
dancing skills out on our patio and learned a Rapa Nui dance
which appeared ris·qué. I was the first one out when we had to
dance around a circle of plastic soda bottles as I accidentally
kicked one down when the circle got progressively smaller and
smaller. I could not believe how much fun it would be to watch the
50-60 year-old women in the family play musical chairs. They
were the ultimate cheaters as they tried to move the chairs farther
away from each other and pushed each other off. I definitely Grace, her host family, and
learned a good deal about how to party from them! WorldTeach cousins.
SSLC PAGE 10

11. Torpeza
At Home
By Katie Eldridge
Well, I started everything off right.
Broke two glasses at orientation.
Never gonna do that again, quite,
Don‟t want to ruin my reputation.
Problem is I‟m half-blind at night.
No contacts, can‟t see my reflection.
I reached for my glasses, end fight!
Liquid soap didn‟t try a deflection.
Shards of ceramic refracting light.
I paused, “Did mi familia hear it?”–
I went to my room, started to write
An apology letter, I‟ll buy a new one.
Practicing Spanish, good thing, right?
The first step of a ridiculous omen.
I‟d better make this very polite,
They‟ll read this, then I‟m done!
I wrote the note, clear and forthright,
And fell asleep at half-past one.
They read my note and to my delight,
Found no reason (yet) to bludgeon.
And even better – well, not quite –
My host mamá broke the new one.
Socks
By Ryan Mosser
Disclaimer: This situation was entirely preventable through communication or proactive behavior, and we even directly
discussed host family situations in WorldTeach orientation. However, I am what I would call laid back (some might use
other words), and was attempting frugality after losing my debit card (entirely my fault).
My host family is incredibly nice. Like many others, they opened their house to me on short notice, and have done any-
thing and everything to make me feel at home. Their first words to me were, “Small house, big hearts,” and both of these
things are true. My room, in particular, has a bed lofted to the ceiling, the family‟s internet connection and desk under
the bed, a clothing rack, a small bedside table, a dirty laundry hamper, and my 7 year-old host brother‟s bike. My minis-
cule freshman-year dorm room was perfect training. The bike eventually left, exponentially increasing my floor space,
and I developed a method for ascending my ladder-less bed: Right foot on the ground, left foot onto the bedside table,
pivot while lifting the blinds to put the right foot on the windowsill, then a small leap to the bed and a head tuck to avoid
the ceiling light fixture (which has never had a light bulb, see disclaimer). My system has been modified slightly now that
I may or may not have caused part of the bedside table to become structurally unstable after a late night, but it still works
great.
Anyways, one day I realized I had two clean pairs of socks left, both wool, out of about twenty that I brought. Now, I actu-
ally enjoy doing laundry and washing dishes, but my family is typically Chilean in many ways. For example, my host
mom once caught me washing the dishes and said, “Men don‟t wash dishes.” Argument over. Based on the gendered allo-
cation of household duties, it was clear that men don‟t do laundry, either. I consider myself quite the liberated feminist,
but it seemed best not to challenge the woman that also feeds me.
So, I wore the wool socks. After two days, I looked for less-dirty socks in the hamper but there were none to be found.
Not to worry, I had foot spray! A heavy dousing, and day three passed. And day four. And day five through eleven. I am
never alone in the house, and it seemed uncouth to rummage through the laundry area (clearly her space). I couldn‟t
think of a way to ask for my socks in Spanish without seemingly complaining or otherwise being offensive. In any event
she was very busy with various celebrations, birthdays, etc. At about day nine, one pair became literally unwearable.
Massive amounts of spray and powder went into the other pair, as the weather got warmer and warmer.
Finally, after well over a week of nursing these two pairs of socks, things calmed down at the house and my host mom
asked me if I needed any laundry. I told her I was running low on socks. Turns out there were clean socks the whole time,
but she didn‟t give them to me because she didn‟t have time to sort them. Apparently men don‟t sort laundry either,
though we compromised on this in the ensuing conversation.
SSLC PAGE 11

12. Private Property: Do Enter
By Lauren Phillips
I‟ve made a recent and welcome discovery in Chile: you can trespass!!! This revelation has been useful in and around my
Chilean hometown. The coast of the fifth region looks like the central coast of California, with beautiful beaches and
green hills that slope down to the water. These green hills are fenced off with a variety of
materials: wood, barbed wire, scrap metal. But fear not! There are always holes to climb
through, and climb through you may!
It‟s completely acceptable to walk through the fields of other people‟s property so long as
you don‟t trash the place or start a campfire. There are various trails that are utilized by
walkers and mountain bikers.
For me, it has been such a wonderful opportunity to get “outside” without having to take
the bus to the nearest park (aka hours away). I can literally walk out my front door, cross
the street, pop through the fence, and start walking up a hill. Do that in the U.S. and
you‟re probably going to get shot. But the Chileans are more laid back when it comes to
this, and if you want to walk through their field with the grazing cows and donkeys, go
right ahead.
Within an hour of walking out my front door, I can be on top of a hill with a view of the
beach towns and ocean and feel miles away. These walks up into the hills have been some of my favorite experiences in
Chile and I am so thankful that trespassing isn‟t always a crime!
“Reading the onion and my political podcasts.”
“Peanut Butter and nutella.” -Stephen Hildebrand
- Lauren Phillips and Grace Chen
“Go get a drink at the Starbucks in Viña
del Mar. Although you might not be a fan
“Doritos and Mango Pisco.” of Starbucks back in the States, it’s really
-Sharon Welch comforting here. Trust me.”
-Kristy Hui
“Talking to family and friends on Skype.”
-Allison Hahn, Grace Chen, and pretty “Home cookin.”
much everyone in the program -Heather Tang
“Facebook and my
Remedies iPod playlist.”
-Lauren Lastra
for
“Brings lots of photos and notes from “I like to remind myself how badass it
home and put them up on your wall. ” Homesickness is that I live in Chile.”
-Kristy Hui -Lauren Phillips
“Getting out of the house and doing
anything with a group of people.”
“Listen to music in your room, write in your journal, find a -Hannah Fullington
view that you love and just write and/or simply reflect.”
-Stephanie Blanch
“Watching “King Kong” and not watching the part
“Watch a favorite movie or catch where he falls off the Empire State Building .”
up with TV shows on TVDuck.” -Sharon Welch
-Heather Tang
SSLC PAGE 12

13. My Students are Angels
At School
By Allison Hahn
On the rare occasion that my class is not canceled (everything is a valid excuse to miss class) and my classes are not driv-
ing me absolutely crazy, they are making me crack up. For all of those that know me, there are two reason why this is
bad news: I have an incredibly loud and contagious laugh for which I imagine my students make fun of me, AND I be-
come unnaturally tomato red when I‟m embarrassed (which is often and easy to do) and, as you can also imagine, my
students love to embarrass me. There are entirely too many to recount, but let me share some of my favorite memories
with y‟all:
1. Today we were playing some sort of game in which one person in the entire class wins! Yay, congratulations
Nicholas! Nicolas is totally awesome, tranquilo, participates in my class, and he likes English. I didn‟t have a
premio (prize) for him but promising something the following week did not satisfy the class: the entire class
broke out in a chant of „BESO! BESO! BESO!‟ Unsure of what to do, I just stood there and turned red and
attempted to hush them unsuccessfully.
2. One day I was teaching sports: „What is your favorite sport?‟ and „My favorite sport is (fill in your favorite
sport here).‟ I was busy randomly asking my students their favorite sports and helping them through the
pronunciation when one of my alumnos (of course) says behind me „My favorite sport is sexo.‟ Sometimes all
you have to do is add the O on to the end of English to form Spanish!
3. I was teaching vegetables. As I am a native English speaker, I often do not consider that some words in Eng-
lish sound like words in Spanish (mish! Que raro!). So I was pleasantly surprised to find that potatoes
sounds similar to potitos: little butts. Do you like potitos Jonathan? Yes I like potitos!
4. It‟s a very rare thing in the Chilean public school system that the students are required to think for them-
selves (ie. forming English sentences on their own). So I experimented; I challenged them. We played
Hangman. I chose the word and after they figured out the word they could get extra points by using it in a
sentence. So just to throw them off a little, I used MY name. No one could figure out how to use it. But
Francisco was thinking really, really, really hard and I was interested in seeing what he could figure out.
Right as I was about to move on, he excitedly tells me to wait and then slowly, questioning himself the entire
way, says „Allison…. is…. beautiful???‟ Of course the class freaked out and so did I.
5. Sometimes my students like to show me their artistic skills, which I discovered when I was teaching parts of
the body. I was doing the „ticket to leave‟ (my students answer a question in order to leave my classroom)
when I noticed that Samuel and Daniel were lingering outside. Surprised they wouldn‟t leave, I just went
back into my classroom to prepare the next class when I observed the largest penis ever added to my draw-
ing of the body. I freaked out and they exploded in a fit of laughter as they watched my reaction through the
window from outside of my classroom.
Unfortunately these acts of immaturity are the moments that most interrupt my class but I also the moments that make
me laugh the most. I guess growing up with a younger brother really prepared me for these!
P.S. Anecdotes numbers 1, 4 and 5 are from the same curso, second medio B (sophomores), and both 2 and 3 from fourth
medio (seniors). Thank you for the good times.
SSLC PAGE 13

14. Meet My Cast of Characters
By Katie Eldridge
My students generally love me when it‟s not test day, stop talking only to breathe and eat, and offer me chocolate-covered
sweets with manjar. That being said, I have some odd apples (I‟m weird too, and so I claim full rights to hypocrisy). Here
are my students, introduced by our real conversations:
Student A: Dead Bird Girl
When I asked, “Do you have any pets?” I expected that I might have to deal
with a girl crying over her departed dog (check) or with animal names I
couldn‟t translate (check). I did not expect the dead bird.
Student B: “Do you have any pets?”
Student A: “Yes. I have a bird. Dead four years.”
Me: “Wait, what?”
Student A: “I have a bird. It died four years ago.”
Me: “Say that in Spanish.”
Student A: “Tengo pájaro que murió hace cuatro años. Está en una jaula.”
Me: “It‟s in a cage?”
Student A: “Yes, in a cage. Am I right?”
Me: “Yeah, your English is correct.”
Student C: Cellmate
I teach at a Catholic subvencionado school, and after I answered the taboo question, “Miss, how do you say ateo in Eng-
lish?” one student thought that I‟d translate anything. (Ateo means atheist, by the way.)
Student C: “Miss, how do you say, „Quiero matar al presidente?‟”
Me: “You don‟t.”
Student C: “Por qué?”
Me: “Because I don‟t want to go to jail. Carcel.”
Student C: “We can go to jail together!”
Me: “Oh great!”
Student C: “It‟ll be fun!”
Student D and E: Stalkers
Granted, they only did this once. I‟m used to 5˚ básico stalkers that swarm
me during breaks. These girls, however, were older and stalking me after
school.
Me: “Why are you following me?”
Student D: “Something in Spanish. We‟re not.”
Me: “Liar!”
Student E: “Because we want to know where you live.”
Stephanie, Katie and her host sister
Me: “Great.”
(At my house)
Student D: “Tiene Wii?”
Me: “Nope.”
Student D: “Por qué? Why?”
Me: “Because I‟m poor, I don‟t have any money. I‟m a teacher.”
Student D: “Something in Spanish”
Student E: “We‟ll come back when you buy a Wii.”
Me: “How am I going to buy a Wii?”
Student D: “Sell papers.” (points to my notebook)
Me: “No. Do it for me.”
Student D: “No, soy floja.”
Student E: “Yes, she‟s lazy.”
I could tell you about the student that drew a picture of me as a Japanese anime character. I could tell you about the stu-
dent that claimed that her eyelash curler was a potato peeler. I could tell you about the student that wants to be “the first
nun on the moon with a Grammy and a vampire husband.” I could tell you, but I‟ve already hit my word limit.
SSLC PAGE 14

15. The Ultimate Pep Rally
By Jennifer Fernandes
It was a typical Thursday, where I taught my second medios, a rowdy but good-natured group of boys. Later in the after-
noon, I was prepped to teach my English Taller (or workshop) for three hours – my favorite part of my teaching week.
Sitting in the teacher‟s lunchroom with my tea and orange, I was informed that there was a special acto or assembly in
the afternoon so my Taller would be cut short. Like most schools, actos are usually a surprise but this was my first one.
It was explained to me that this was a pep rally of sorts. Of course I was immediately excited reminiscing of my high
school days of obstacle courses, cheering competitions between the different grades and maybe some sort of dance rou-
tine.
I teach at a technical school that prepares students for jobs related to construction, refrigeration, electrical wiring and
more. This should have been my first clue that this wouldn‟t be a typical “pep rally.”
As my Taller anxiously counted down the time for the rally, I tried to find out more information. I was told it was only
for seniors and everyone else watched.
It was time and the students ran out of the classes to quickly get a good spot to watch the action. The activity took place
on the center court, which also serves as a stage, soccer field and basketball court. The students hung off of balconies and
lined the outskirts of the court. As the three teams of two seniors walked out in their work uniform, similar to a me-
chanic suit, the crowds went wild.
And now it was time. There were four stations on the court with each technical director standing close watch. A bell
rang and the seniors darted to the first station with protective goggles in tow, where they had to saw through a metal
pipe. The teams were neck and neck but the soldering station (yes, I had to check the spelling on that one) held some of
the teams back. Next was the typical hammer and nail challenge, which was pretty easy for all of the teams and lastly
was some sort of plumbing challenge that I still can‟t figure out what exactly they had to do. It was a close race but the
triumphant team ran through the finish line and the crowd once again went wild.
Friends of the winning team rushed to congratulate them, as the other teams walked out disappointed. I was amazed
and slightly confused the entire time. As they walked past me beaming with pride, I made sure to give them a quick
thumbs up.
And that was my first Chilean Pep Rally at a technical school.
A Morning at School
By Maureen O‟Leary
Arrive at school greeted by El Luis at the door
Late students outside must wait for the next bell a little bit more
Walking to the class I hear lots of short English phrases directed my way
By students with grins on their faces, proud of what they know how to say
Arrive in the English lab, start to set up for the day‟s adventures ahead
Lots of minds will be arriving, ready to be fed
The agenda is written and the English music is playing
The kids file in singing and swaying
“Good Morning!” “what song is this?” “How was your night?”
Fist pumps, besos and hugs to your left and right
Get started with Days of the Week” followed by “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”
Enthusiastic youth sitting in two long rows
Such a bright and happy energy the students bring with them to class
Of course not without some reggaeton from their phones and teenage sass
Lessons are learned and new vocab is repeated
Those tough English sounds such as “th” are defeated!
The bell rings and all line up for their ticket out the door
They‟ve done great today and will return tomorrow for more!
Student Quips Heard in the classroom... “Miss Heather! Miss Heather !
What’s your name???”
“Miss Lauren’s class is awesome! “ “See ya? Miss, do you mean silla?” (Grins proudly)
(while pointing at the chairs in class)
“ Well... I need your help. Stay. Come on, lets go.”
" I want to spend time with women pretty"
“Mrs. Sharon, do I get
“On Friday I ate everything.” a smelly sticker?”
SSLC PAGE 15

16. Top 10 Things I’ve Learned About Travel In Chile By Traveling in Chile
By Leighann Loesch
10) When no colectivo presents itself, the back of a stranger’s truck will do.
9) When asking for directions from Chileans, be sure to ask at least 3 people so you can
compare the 3 different answers and try the best option.
8) It is possible to visit the desert and falling snow in one winter break.
7) The only thing that happens on time in Chile is the long-distance bus schedule.
6) Using the restroom in a moving bus on a the highway is difficult but not as difficult as. . .
5) Using the restroom in a moving bus in the city. The superman squat does not go well with
sudden stops and right angle turns.
4) A clear day in the desert can turn into a dust storm in seconds.
3) Always check the time printed on your bus ticket or you may end up with 6 hours to kill in Calama.
2) Traveling in a bus for 24 hours can actually be comfortable.
1) If you are willing to wait for colectivos or micros, sometimes for hours, you can get anywhere in this
country on public transportation.
On the Road (and Off)
Travel In and Around Chile
Peruvian Bathroom Break
By Allison Hahn
Upon arrival to Peru, we discovered that there is a very popular festi-
val a bit outside of Cusco for the exact dates we were going to be
there. And as I was dying to see „off the beaten path Peru‟ we quickly
built the festival into the plan. The bus ride was an surprisingly
long, 4 hour trip, the road all the while clinging to cliff sides.. A little
over halfway through the trip, right as Lauren (Phillips) was about to
pee her pants, we took a bathroom break. As you can imagine, there
were no actual facilities, which doesn‟t actually bother me. Sure I‟ll
use that tree over there. Wait…no trees either. Ok that bush… I sup-
pose… will suffice. Never have I experienced taking a nature bath-
room break with about 25 other people, 3 gringas and the rest mostly
Peruvian men. Well, all right, there‟s a first time for everything.
Well into my pee, I discovered that the road curves around the hill
so that it actually continues level with where we were peeing on the
other side of the ridge and that there were 5 local Peruvian BOYS
watching all the GRINGAS pee! We were "behind‟ the bushes which
meant that from their vantage point, we were all actually pee-ing in
front of the bushes. As I finished one of those never ending pees (you
know what I mean) I discovered my friend taking pictures of me. .
They were coming at me from all sides!
By the way, the picture‟s a classic.
SSLC PAGE 16

17. Chile Bucket List
 Take onces  Eat a sopapilla with ahí and mustard
 Drink copious amounts of pisco and vino tinto  Buy a really expensive Carmenere (for much less
 Eat an empanada de camaron y queso en Horcón than in the states)
 Visit Pomaire, a cool little town about an hour out-  Visit the southern island of Chiloe and the Lake
side of Santiago that specializes in ceramics and ½ Region, the “real” Chile so to speak
kilo empanadas  Trek the majestic Torres de Paine in Patagonia
 Visit Maintencillo, Cachagua, Zapallar, cool little  Take in the ocean and architecture in La Serena
beach towns that are beautiful and can be enjoyed  See a Chilean rodeo
by anyone all year round. Also, there’s an island  Play baseball in the campo with Chileans, because
reserve of Humboldt penguins in Cachagua! Chileans don’t play baseball
 Kick back in Valle de Elqui, a really tranquil area  Eat a chorillana and feel the aftermath for days
located about an hour east from La Serena. The  Live the Santiago night life
valley is known for its pisco and unparalleled star-  Experience Dieciocho de Septiembre
gazing. There have also been a number of UFO  Sing along to Américo songs when you hear them
sightings! playing even though you might sound like a fool
 Take the metro from Estación Limache to Estac- because you don’t know all the words.
tión Puerto (one end to another) for the awesome  Eat pancakes with manjar.
views.  Enjoy the palta especially on bread!
 Sandboard at the sand dunes in ConCón and up in  Keep practicing your Spanish as you immerse
San Pedro de Atacama. Wahooo! yourself in the culture
 Order a Marisco Chupe  Do some kite watching and try to fly one!
 Visit Pablo Neruda’s homes  Enjoy sunrise and sunset
 Have a picnic and watch the sunset at  Try fried and baked empanadas!
Reñaca beach  Enjoy freshly squeezed fruit juice!
 Go to an asado with your Chilean  Cook something for your family
friends and/or family and eat choripan!
 Pay attention to how your family cooks
 Take random adventures in the mi- so you can learn a recipe!
cro…see where the day takes you!
 Learn about Chile’s rich history through
 Explore the cerros in Valparaiso, espe- its beautiful folk music
cially Alegre, Concepción and Bellav-
 Learn to dance the Cueca
ista, and bring your camera!
 But cuidate!
Exploring the Chilean Spring
By Carol Eckman
Going along my merry way in Quilpue, one can't help noticing that it's Spring. And since it is Chile,
distinct and all as it is, dear reader, I can't help thinking of it as "vegetation on steroids." Huge for-
mations of ivy with so many leaves that it's practically bursting. What imitates the demure jade
plant is huge-- four feet high with a trunk that could support a small tree. Trees so covered with
leaves that you can't see the branches. Japanese maples in red and green. A flowering tree with
purple blossoms--"What kind of tree is that?" "Ciruela." “And what kind of fruit does it bear?”
"Ciruela."A tree with fern-like leaves, others cut and pruned to create giant sized bonsais. Behind
my house stands a luxuriant willow tree with a Beatle haircut. Vines with clusters of lilac flowers a
foot or more in length! Walking downtown, I pass a house where a vine is about to completely en-
gulf a palm tree 30 feet high. And more, more vigorous vine-y thing with small
white flowers that smell like lilies, or dark purple flowers covering a tree. I can't resist putting my
nose in for a good sniff. And today, I saw a weird kind of thistle---with blossoms. No, I can't describe
it-- too strange. You'll just have to explore for yourself.
And have you ever eaten fruit and vegetables this fresh? There's a big feria in Belloto on Saturdays.
Amazing! Since I don't live with a host family, it's possible to do more than admire the bounty--I
buy. They have everything--goat cheese, dried beans, clothes, pots and pans, fish and shellfish. No
meat, which seems like a good idea. Potatoes, cilantro, parsley, Limache tomatoes,watercress, swiss
chard, spinach, strawberries, lemons, lettuce, beets, carrots, all the varieties of palta (there are four or five) and those
divine clementinas, tiny little oranges so full of juice that they're crunchy.
SSLC PAGE 17

18. Pan y Palta
Musings and Recipes on Chilean Cuisine
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Three Reasons You Cannot Lose Weight In Chile
By Sharon Welch
Reason One: Margaritas
Right across the street from my school is the San Francisco Bakery. It is a great bakery. The
bakery ladies have an apricot margarita set aside for me everyday. It counts as one cookie, but it
is really a cookie with apricot jam on it and another cookie shaped like a flower on top. Then, it
is covered with powered sugar. I get a margarita every day after school. I can’t wait to eat it, so
I walk home with powdered sugar flying in all directions. The three times that I met the direc-
tor of my school on the street, my face was covered with powered sugar.
Reason Two: Lemon Pies
They sell lemon pies everywhere. I don’t think that it is the national dessert, but it could
be. They are delicious. Who knew that lemons would be big in Chile? Pilar’s (my host mother)
lemon pie has very thick meringue on top. She bakes two pies at a time so that everyone gets
enough. There are only four of us in the house, but we are all sugar addicts.
Reason Three: Portion Control
Pilar took me to the central market in Valparaiso for seafood last weekend. I had conger eel (a
Chilean favorite) with a sauce full of garlic and shellfish. There were species of shellfish in that
sauce that scientists have not discovered yet, and enough conger eel for a family of four.
On the way out, Pilar decided that I should have my photo taken with the chef. I tried to sneak
away, but she pushed me into the kitchen. I don’t know what she said to the chef, but he put a
hat on me, handed me a dish of pork, and the waitress snapped my photo. The piece of pork
was big enough to hold a Chilean flag, and there were potatoes on the side. (I think that Weight
Watchers says that a portion of meat should be the size of a deck of cards.) I don’t think that
Chileans have ever heard of Weight Watchers.
SSLC PAGE 18

19. Chicken Cazuela (Serves 4)
Mayo
By Grace Chen n
By Gr naise
Mix 2 ac e C
1. Saute the following on low-medium heat in a pot: e hen
lemon ggs with h
-Carrots (zanahoria)- 1/2 sliced, 1/2 shredded juice alf cu
p
mayo t
-Oregano recipe o your likin oil then ad
s also g d
-Celery (apio)- chopped in large pieces add m . I know so salt, peppe
ustard m r,
-1 clove of garlic (ajo)- shredded and g e other
arlic.
-onion (cebolla)- 1/2 shredded, 1/2 of an onion
-oil (aceite)- 2 tablespoons
-cilantro- 1/5 cup chopped
-1 sliced green, red, or yellow bell pepper (pimenton)
2. Mix in chopped chicken with some skin
3. Add water for soup and 2 Tbsp. salt and cover and simmer on
low heat for about 10-15 minutes
4. Then turn up heat. After soup boils, mix in the
following:
-2 Chopped corns (choclo)
-Green beans (poroto verde)
We learned these recipes from our host
-4 medium potatoes (papas) peeled and cut in half
families but check out more Chilean
-Medium sized pieces of pumpkin with or without
recipes at :
skin
http://cocinatipicachilena.blogspot.com
Note: In Chile, they use comote which is a type of
It’s in Spanish but try it out!
pumpkin (zapallo)
5. Add 2 small handfuls of rice (1/4 cup)
After water boils again, lower heat Sopaipillas w/ Pebre
Should be ready after 5-10 mins By Heather Tang
Serve hot
(There are no exact measurements. All of this was done by eye-
balling.)
d
hippe ruit
ine W Cream w/F
Sopaipillas
W
gue Pumpkin, chopped into large chunks
Merin e Chen Shortening
c
By Gra Flour (no-rise)
wine Salt
p red
1/3 cu ted sugar ined)
la
granu hites d/dra
canne e. 1. Boil pumpkin chunks in just enough water to cover them
w s h or d win
3 egg d fruit (fre cup re reaches 1 2. When pumpkin is soft enough to stick a fork through, remove
e 1/3
chopp our in ixture from the water. Set water aside (don’t throw away!)
ring cup, p until the m
measu r l it 3. Remove peel from pumpkin and mash together
e suga t unti
1. In a our in whit ediu m hea ng a 4. A little at a time, add flour, pumpkin mash, hot pumpkin wa-
i
Then
p with m y dipp
. on stove heck this b mixture ter, a few scoops of shortening (with a Tbsp), and about 3 Tsp
cup ure c e
t mixt ou can e if th ple of salt into a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.
2. Hea texture. Y it out to se a thin ma 5. Keep adding a little bit of flour, pumpkin, and pumpkin water
p g k e
is syru n and takin he spoon li and and mixing until it is a doughy texture and can be kneaded
i
poon rips down t wi n e
s dd in 6. Cover countertop with a film of flour. Move dough directly
slowly
d ixer. A
ham onto counter and keep kneading and adding flour until it is no
syru p. whit es wit
t egg r colo
r.
ured i
na longer sticky
3. Bea ixture. vende y mama po 7. Roll into a ball and let sit under a towel for about 10 minutes
m la
sugar urn into a fruit. M 8. Roll dough out flat to about 1/4 inch thick and cut out circles
It will t p ped it .
in cho ail fru about 3 inches in diameter with a cookie cutter
4 . Pour n of cockt
ca 9. Poke holes into circles a few times with a fork
32 oz. hilled 10. Deep fry until golden and let sit on a paper towel
Serv ec
Serve immediately or later with pebre, mustard, or syrup
Pebre
Chop up 1 tomato, 2 large yellow chili peppers, half of a white
onion, and a large bunch of cilantro into fine pieces and mix in
one bowl. Add olive oil until ingredients are soaked and mix to-
gether.
SSLC PAGE 19

20. On August 5, 2010, the San José copper and gold mine near the city of Copiapó in the Atacama Desert collapsed, trap-
ping 33 miners 2,300 ft underground. Seventeen days later, a note made it to the surface via probing drill indicating that
all 33 were alive and well in the refuge. As workers, family members, and volunteers worked to free them over the next
two months with the help of foreign aid, Chile showed its fierce nationalism and strength as it has so often until each and
every miner was brought to the back to the surface on October 13, 2010. The world watched the entire ordeal, witness of
Chile‟s efficiency, progress, resilience, and unity.
SSLC
“When Chile unites in the face of adversity, it can achieve great things.” PAGE 20
-President Sebastian Piñera

21. Then and Now
Then and Now
Then: I never knew that many things Then: Thought it was awkward to beso
would pop up during school hours. people on the cheek when saying hi or
Now: When teaching, patience and flexi- goodbye
bility are extremely important! Take a Now: It‟s almost second nature to me;
breath and go with it! when I get back to the States people are
-Stephanie Blanch going to think I‟m weird when I try to
beso them.
-Kristy Hui
Then: Avoid picking up the house phone
like the plague.
Now: Pick it up, ask what the caller wants, Then: Scream PARE as my bus stop
and either pass the phone along or try to passes by.
take a message. Now: Anticipate my stop and calmly
-Heather Tang walk up to the conductor and tell him
to stop.
-Allison Hahn
Then: I thought eating healthy would
be difficult.
Now: I can buy various familiar foods
in the suburbs and cities that help me Then: Thought that I would use
maintain a diet of fruit, vegetables, course books that I brought with me
fiber, and whole grains. Now: I use my imagination and games
-Grace Chen -making abilities more than any book.
-Sharon Welch
Then: Plate always
Now: I now don't put a plate under
my bread.
-Stephen Hildebrand
Then: Making tea, I scooped sugar
before wetting the spoon
Now: Screw it, and the table cloth, not
Then: Wondered how I would a plate, is meant to catch crumbs
survive on instant coffee -Ryan Mosser
Now: Drink about three cups a
day and rather enjoy it
-Hannah Fullington
Then: I thought learning Spanish was going
to be difficult and take a lot of hard work and
Then: I thought the micro was too practice.
confusing to take. Now: this still holds true, however in the
Now: I love the micro. It‟s fast, easy, beginning, I never thought much about en-
and always an adventure! joying the experience of learning Spanish.
-Lauren Lastra Now learning Spanish is exciting for me; it‟s
fun to hear and use new words, and seeing
improvement is extremely rewarding.
-Lauren Phillips
SSLC PAGE 21

22. We all voted for our favorite photos and after a very close race, here are the winners!
1st Place
2nd Place “Spring and Smile”
“Viña Sunset” Heather Tang 3rd Place
Kristy Hui “Huasito”
Ryan Mosser
Honorable Mention...
Maureen O’Leary Grace Chen
Lauren Phillips
Allison Hahn
Sharon Welch Bennett Pearson
SSLC PAGE 22