School/Work?

School/work (something I still get confused about) here in Chile is pretty nice. Everyone is really sweet and even when the kids are being really annoying and not learning, one will be really cute or one will try really hard to learn and that makes it all better.

From nuts to sweets, fruit to stickers and apply-yourself tattoos, the classroom is a great place for black market selling. I love watching the kids shift over to one another, hand over a few hundred pesos and hastily shove their purchase in their pocket. It's also funny when they look at me like they're not sure if it's a good thing I've seen them or not. I'm not sure if they're actually allowed to do this or not. No one seems to mind but then maybe no one else notices.

Oh just a note to all students and all people who were students. I don't know how we ever thought that we could not pay attention in class and get away with it. It is unbelievably obvious when someone is not paying attention to you, even if you have a class of 35. It's also really annoying. So sorry to any teachers I may have annoyed in the past by not paying attention.

We spent two lessons today teaching ceilidh dancing to kids. So much fun. Didn't realise how much I love ceilidh music and dancing. Whenever I hear the music now I smile so much and become really happy. All the kids were laughing at our crazy dancing when me and Amina were demonstrating. (Thanks PT for showing us the spinny hold where you have your arms behind you and SPIN during Strip The Willow). A bit difficult to explain that there is no set foot for you to stamp with if you're waiting your turn or how often you have to clap. Chileans are used to having very set dance moves because the cueca has very set steps. But overall I think they enjoyed it. I certainly did.

Today one of the kids gave me a small fruit that I had never seen before. It was called an albaricoque (apricot) but it didn't look anything like an apricot. When I bit into it it was hard and really sour. All the kids were laughing at my face. Then they told me not to eat the middle... about 2 seconds after I had eaten it. It was horrible. Amina didn't like it either.

Following are some pictures showing that I do actually work.

 I  have to do this pose quite often

If in doubt resort to 'Heads Shoulder Knees and Toes'

So yeh. Life is alright. Like I was saying to my friend Rhona (hey Rhona!) the hardest thing about being here at the moment is not being able to speak Spanish and having to focus so much on learning. I get tired sometimes but other times I feel super enthusiastic again. Ahh wells. 

I shall leave you with this slighty blurry picture of me scooting under the board so that I didn't block words for the kids. See you!