This week I started teaching my English classes. So far, all of the students have been really nice and pleasant to work with. In one class that I was filing in for (the regular teacher was ill), there was a discussion question that used the word "taboo", so I checked to make sure all of the students understood what that meant. After some abbreviated answers from the students, I clarified, "Something that is taboo in your culture is something that you should not talk about. Or only talk with close friends and family about." I said something that is taboo (first thing that came to my mind, of course) in America is sex. One of the younger men in the class said, "REALLY?!" I kind of laughed and said, "Yes, despite what you see on TV and movies, we really only discuss it with close friends, and in most cases not with family." Then one woman (maybe in her late 30s/early 40s) said, "Religion and politics are taboo here" (which is absolutely true...if you're not Roman Catholic, then you can just get out of town...and the years of dictatorship are almost never discussed openly*), and she said, "I don't think race is as taboo here as it is in the United States...you know, with the Negroes?" I had heard that the n-bomb is dropped here without much fuss, but I hadn't heard it yet, especially in a class. I was momentarily shocked, but then continued, "Yes, that's true...now moving on..." or something like that.
The other day, I went to go get my photograph taken for my Chilean work permit. I went to this small shop (about the size of my bedroom) in a mall that the administration at Bridge-Linguatec (the company I teach for, I'll abbreviate to "Bridge" from now on) recommended. I went there and the guy who runs it and photographs people is quite a bit more flamboyant than most Chileans. He has wild greying hair down to his shoulders, a colorful scarf, and moves very sharply and quickly like a small animal. It was like I was being photographed for a magazine or something. He was obviously very passionate about his job and made sure I looked like a million bucks!
The weekend before last, a woman who works at Bridge told us her husband's band, Los Sicarios del Ritmo (The Assassins of Rhythm...what an awesome name), were playing at a club in the bohemian Bella Vista area. I went and what an awesome time it was! They play a style of music called Cumbia that is a combination of traditional Latino music (primarily Columbian) and African tribal rhythms. Newer Cumbia bands also include some hints of reggae and hip-hop. The band was awesome and I danced my butt off the entire time. They had a vocalist, trumpeter, saxophonist, bassist, drummer, auxiliary percussionist, and a charangoist (a charango- think of a mandolin crossed with a guitar).
I've watched a few soccer matches while here in Chile. Chileans go absolutely mad for soccer. Not being a soccer fan beforehand, I definitely feel the need to become one now. The national Chilean team recently got to the semifinals of the Latin American Cup but lost against Venezuela. Our Spanish teacher said that one positive thing about losing a big soccer match is that people don't riot, haha. I thought that was hilarious. Whenever their national soccer team wins a game, people crowd into the crowd into Baquedano (which is the center of the city) and mayhem generally ensues.
I've always wondered how strange it is that the biggest international sport is one of the least popular sports in the United States. For the citizens of almost every other country in the world, it seems like the national soccer team is the one remaining, common source of patriotism. I'm sure there are tons of theories/reasons why, but it's still odd to me that Americans just aren't that big into soccer (maybe the recent success of the women's national soccer team will change some minds...)
This weekend I'm going to move into an apartment within 15-20 minutes walking distance of my place of work. I will be living with a Chilean man (age 29) and an American woman (age 25, from Boston). They seem like a lot of fun and it should be great!
I am seriously considering teaching English as a second language as a career. I feel really comfortable in front of the classroom (whether I have one student or, as I did in China, 30-40) and I think I have an ability to create and execute logically flowing lesson plans. On top of that, I think that I good at recognizing when students don't understand concepts and can bring them up to speed. It just all seems relatively natural to me. I'm kind of thinking about continuing to go around the world teaching in foreign countries (as money permits) for the next 5 or so years and then possibly getting my Masters in teaching ESL. We shall see!
Some Chilean trivia:
-If you order a hamburger, hotdog, or sandwich there is often the choice to get your order "Italiano". "Oh", so you might think,"I'm going to get some good Italian meat with, like, prosciutto as an extra topping." At the very least, you might think, "Oh, so I'll be getting a slice of mozzarella rather than a slice of cheddar." Not quite. "Italiano" means that you get the terrific combo of guacamole, mayonnaise, and tomato (sometimes ketchup or Ahi sauce (pepper sauce) plopped on your delicatessen dish. "Why?" you might ask. Because guacamole is green, mayonnaise is white, and tomato is red, just like the colors of the Italian flag, you silly billy!
-PDA (Public Displays of Affection) are not looked down upon here as they are in the United States. Young couples can often be seen making out in public, especially in public parks. This reminded me of my Chinese experience, because one could always see young Chinese couples on my campus being intimate (or fighting). From what I've been told, it's for the same reason. The Chinese students often had as many as 8 other roommates, so they couldn't be private with a significant other. Similarly, considering some Chileans live with their parents here until their mid-twenties, they bring their physical intimacy to the public eye.
-The other day I read a blurb in a textbook about clock time versus event time. Cultures usually operate on one or the other. Those who live by clock-time are often punctual, and schedule by specific times or time frames ("I'll call you at 5:00 p.m."). Those cultures who operate by event time usually have a better night life. They schedule events in relation to other events ("I'll meet you after dinner."). Americans definitely operate on clock time, and I am definitely a good example of that. Chileans (and Chinese) operate on event time, which is why no one ever arrives on time. We have had a teaching practice almost every day of my training class, and Chileans volunteer to be students. I'm not sure if we ever had a volunteer student arrive on time. I've been hearing the echo of my Foreign Affairs Director in China saying, "Later, later..."
*Strangely, there are tons of Chileans who sympathize with Augusto Pinochet (the dictator who ruled Chile from 1974 until 1990). Pinochet introduced a lot of economic reforms that still are applied today (such as the privatization of previously state-run agencies) and the scaling back of welfare. His economic policies drastically lowered inflation in Chile and it is largely attributed to his economic policies that Chile is where it's at right now (#1 economy in Latin America from what I understand). Usually it's the more conservative old and young who sympathize with him and his policies (including the businessmen and women whom I teach), but the younger generations seem to be a bit more liberal and thus point out the cruelty of his reign (Pinochet interned, tortured, and killed thousands of political opponents).
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