Week Two- Morgan Denyes

Sunday:

Today did not start off to a great start… When I woke up my throat was killing me. These past few days it had been a bit sore but I just thought with time that it would go away. When I went to the bathroom I took a look at it saw that it was very red and that there were some white spots on it.. Uhh ohh I know what this could be. We were supposed to be going to hike the hill but I really didn't think that I should if I was sick and or contagious. I talked to my host father and explaining to him that I think i need to see a doctor for medicine if it is what i thought it was so that I can still go to the school and not be contagious.  In this whole situation, I really wish my mom was here, no matter how old you get sometimes you just want your mom when you don’t really feel well.

Anyways, the father was very nice and warming and took me to the emergency room. Once we got there I thanked my host father for bringing me and he said “No problem, now you are one of my children”. As I looked around at the clearly new facility I was enlightened to see friendly faces. I have never had to go to a doctor's office, let alone an emergency room in a foreign country so this was all new for me. The nurses got us in very quickly and they let my host father come in the room so that he could translate for me. After the nurse did the usual check up and left the room, my host father tried to lighten my spirit and joked about taking a picture of me acting very sad, I laughed and then handed him my phone because what other chance would I get to take a picture from a hospital in Chile? I hope never again… right? After this the Doctor on staff came in and looked at my throat and decided right then and there to prescribe me some medicine because he could see that I had an infection. Quick and easy!

​​

After leaving the doctor's office we then went to the grocery store and the pharmacy. At the grocery store the host father told me that he was going to buy many things for me to try. We got some classic chilean chocolate, some odd looking fruits, and some special breads. I haven't tried any of them yet, but once my throat feels better I will definitely be digging into that chocolate. When we arrived at home I at a little bit of food, took the medicine and then accidently fell asleep on the sofa while the kids were playing computer games right next to me. Overall the day did not go as planned, but the whole family was very kind and comforting.

Monday: 

Today was just a regular day at the school where my mentor teacher and I taught two classes in the morning and then spent the rest of the day preparing for the rest of the week. Starting on Tuesday I will begin the next english unit with our 4th graders. They are learning about prefixes, suffixes, VCV words and sequence of events. The topic at hand is Bats. All of today I spent preparing for my lesson tomorrow and Thursday. I started by making a worksheet to help the students learn and memorize the vocabulary of the lesson. In the worksheet the students are split up into groups and assigned one vocal word and then they are to create a new sentence and a movement for their word. After everyone has completed this activity, they then present it to the rest of the class. Before beginning my lesson on Thursday, I will do a quick quiz of the movements and have the students give me their definitions.

Tuesday:

Today I woke up excited to begin my english lesson. I have never been able to teach and entire unit before so as I got ready I felt both excited but also nervous. In the morning, the 5th and 6th graders were competing in English day. I was not sure what to expect from the competition, but all I can say is wow. It was amazing to watch the kids compete with their classmates to see which grade had the "best english skills". They played blockbuster, the price is right, heads up, and a series of skits and parodies. It was awesome! After the english day competition was finished it was supposed to be lunch and after that I would teach my lesson. Unfortunately the schools water had not been working at all during the day and because they could not make lunch so the rest of the day was canceled and everyone had to go home. I was sad because I didn't get to start my lesson. I also then found myself thinking like a teacher and reanalyzing how I am supposed to get most of the important topics and skills in this week. 

Wednesday:

This past Wednesday I went skiing in the Andes Mountains. On the way up there are a total of 38 turn backs. In Michigan there are no mountains, so this was a bit overwhelming for me. Imagine 12 people stuffed in a large van, a mediocre cooling system, and severe motion sickness because you decided to eat a big breakfast. Yep, that was me, stuffed between the driver and my friend because I already knew that I would get motion sickness, but unfortunately decided upon a front seat that does not get any air. Any ways, while suffering through the motion sickness I was gazing out the window at the immense beauty unfolding before me. The mountains are clear as day once you get out of the smog that consumes Santiago during its winter. 

​​

​​

Once to the top of the mountain the view is absolutely spectacular. I was amazed at the beauty that our world beholds. It is very difficult to try and describe the beauty and the pictures that I took do not do the Andes justice. This is the first time that I have ever skied in the mountains and it was probably one of the most amazing, scariest and breathtaking experiences I have ever had. One thing to note for any future trips, a green hill on a mountain is equivalent to a blue hill at a ski resort in Michigan.  I successfully ended the day with only two wipe outs and one pisco sour. 

​​

 

​​

 

​​

 

​​

 

​​

 

​​

 

​​

Thursday:

Today the school finally opened back up and I was able to begin my lesson that I had planned for Tuesday. I began my morning by teaching my students the lesson that I had planned for Tuesday. Overall my lesson went really well, but If I could do it again, I would have faster transitions. My teacher told me that she really liked the transition and that I did a good job because the kids were especially difficult today because of having the previous day off.  After teaching I decided to join along and check out Kidzania. It was sooo cool! I wish I could have played in it when I was a kid because it looks like so much fun!

Friday:

Today began like any other Friday where every student has an immense amount of energy and are ready to start their weekend. Today the plan was for me to have a 30 minute lesson after the student take their english test on the previous unit. But as many teachers know, rarely do plans go as well as planned. My students took much longer on their test that planned, so instead of teaching I pulled out the kids that finished early and had them read to me in the hallway. In my school I have noticed that my students have a lot of group and individual work but I want to hear them read and see where their fluency level is. After english, I had the rest of the day off so some friends and I went to lunch at the nearby mall. It was nice to get out and be an independent person and order my own food. I know that that may seem very simple, I do find myself missing my independence.

Saturday:

Today was a very lazy saturday. My host family and I spent the day inside and relaxing. Josephine and I played about 10 rounds of skip-bo and then watch Lilo and Stitch. Around 6:30 my host dad and I went to the grocery store and picked up some food for fathers day. While there I caved and bought some peanut butter. For the past two weeks I have missed peanut butter so much that I couldn't resist it any longer. This trip has made me learn to appreciate some very small things that are so easy to have and come by in the united states.