Hoy es hoy

Ayer se fue

No hay duda

[Today is today. Yesterday is gone. There is no doubt. - Pablo Neruda ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is remarkable to me how quickly time is passing  at school - only 4 weeks left! Because the end of the semester is ending, we have had many activities this past week, and more for next week too. This week I was a chaperon for my sister Emi's 3rd grade class (and 4th grade class) field trip to Casablanca for a Ruta Historia. It was pretty funny - Naturally they stick me in the back of the crazy bus full of little kiddos all riled up! It was a good trip though - good bonding with my sister and her friends, and I was able to communicate pretty well all day. (Talking with kids is usually easier.) Unfortunately, they also think my scolding in Spanish is more funny, than commanding...so it was an interesting bus ride home! Our first stop was a museum, and then we had lunch and a project in the park, followed by a trip to a family farm! We got to see tons of baby cows, and were able to buy fresh cheese and milk as well. It was pretty neat and the little vacitos were adorable (albeit stinky)! Here are photos from the day;

 baby cows:)

 my students

 3rd grade boys

 Emi & I on the bus!

 Locitos!

 Josefa & I...she is Emi's best friend and is at my house a lot

 visiting the farm

 learning about irrigation!

4th grade girls

Also, I took a video of my sister Emi singing with her classmates. For some reason they love the song, "who let the dogs out", and I am pretty sure they don't know what it means, but they sing it in both English and Spanish and thinks its SOOO cool - pretty funny, and gives a good indication of Emi's awesome personality!

I took many of the kids and you can see more of them on my Picaso site Here: https://picasaweb.google.com/lindsay.c.keene/ColegioMontesolFieldTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCKXR3-G_5vr9Pw&feat=directlink  .
As you can see, my students do not wear uniforms which is extremely rare in Chile, about 99% of schools have uniforms, so we are definitely the exception. Overall, Colegio Montesol is an amazing school, and far above average for the Chilean education system. 

On Thursday, my friend Monica and I traveled to Isla Negra, a small coastal town south of Valparaiso - it is where the famous poet Pablo Neruda has yet another house, and he and his wife are also buried there. It was my favorite Neruda house yet....right on the beautiful coast. We had great weather and it was a fun day trip - His houses are incredibly unique and creative - my dream house indeed! here are some of my photos...

 Monica & I

 Entrance to la casa de Neruda

 Signature fish design by Neruda, facing the beach

 the pacific ocean view...loud & beautiful!

 A gorgeous day!

 Sunset on the beach:)

It's funny, but all of Pablo Neruda's houses have a nautical theme. the floors have no nails, but pegs. Most of the doors are off of ships, and they are full of sea glass and figureheads from ships, and the most beautiful things you have ever seen - yet, in his life he was afraid of the sea, and so he never went on a single ship! He truly was an amazing collector as well a poet. I enjoy visiting his houses very much, as they have a certain way of delighting you in ways you wouldn't expect. Unfortunately you cannot take photos in the house, but the property is enough to see what a beautiful spot it really is -  again here is the Picasa site for more! https://picasaweb.google.com/lindsay.c.keene/IslaNegra?authkey=Gv1sRgCLLP08K5prvLGg&feat=directlink

Alas, the weekend has arrived! Tomorrow I am going to a handball tournament with my family. Handball is essentially basketball, but with soccer nets instead of hoops...I think! I can't quite understand it yet, but it's very popular and all the young kids play it! So tomorrow I am watching my sister's school (colegio Monetsol) play against my host dad's school (colegio de los reyes). Should be a fun day with the family:) Next week I have another field trip with my high-school kids to Santiago, which should be a good time as well! At the end of the month we (me and some other volunteers) are thinking of heading north for warmer weather and a bit of camping in the mountains or on the beach - Life is good!
Til, next time...
lck