Apartment hopping

So yesterday was another scheduled protest. I woke up to pots, pans, whistles and chants. I walked to Santa Isabel, paid my rent, got my keys, and headed to school. When I got to school, I found out that 1. Jose Luis was not there again, but his new substitute was and 2. Students wanted to go to the protests so a bunch of them gathered in the courtyard and literally stormed the gate. They left the school, and there weren't that many students left. We still taught what we could with only 15-20 students in a class. (that's about half of what is normally there). The last block of classes were cancelled, and the teachers were allowed to leave at 4:30.(Normally on Tuesdays I am supposed to stay until 6 to do a private class with teachers). Most of the teachers were happy, but I was pretty bored for the last hour or so...

Since I had such a lazy Monday in my bed, I decided I should do something with my day. I met Ronna and Hannah in Plaza de Armas, visited their new little place. We hung out there for a bit, then Hannah and I went to see Karen, Ashley and Amy's new place. It is so nice and pretty spacious there for a Chilean apartment. Then 4 of us left to go to Megan and Laura's new place so we could surprise Laura for her birthday. Megan made her a chocolate cake and we did the lovely American singing of happy birthday. I got to see three new apartments in a span of hours!!! I hope I am as happy in my new place as my friends are in theirs. It was already 11:20 by this time and I was scared that I was not going to get home safely. I got into the deserted metro, walked out and felt like I was going to get locked in the Metro overnight. All of my normal exits were blocked off and I was a mouse in a maze looking for some freshly polluted Santiago air. Luckily I got out in one piece, a little sweaty and shook up, but nonetheless out. (Dan had called me to see if our street was crazy because of the protests, and when he realized I wasn't back yet, had offered to pick me up if the metro was closed... don't worry family---still being safe). Banquedano was very tranquil, nothing like it was last Thursday. According to other people, there was a lot of damage, some car burnings, and your typical chaos. I  just witnessed a lot of people gathering, families on the corner banging their pots and pans, and marches with banners. We shall see what happens Thursday though... that's the deadline that the student leaders gave the government to create a positive and alternative solution to the education problem.

Happy 22nd birthday Laura!

(Me, Megan, Ashley, Laura, Karen, Hannah)

I was cutting it a little too close getting to school today. I'm sure the VP is just glad that I was there since NONE OF THE ENGLISH TEACHERS WERE IN SCHOOL TODAY! The English department today consisted of me (the gringa), Ramundo (has been at school for 3 days), and Fernanda (has been at school for 1 day). I did make a time to meet with two of my students to have 1-on-1 English lessons with my more enthusiastic English learners. However, only in one of the classes did I feel effective... I did confiscate A TON of rubber bands and about 5 cell phones though. I even had a class today, that I am supposed to teach on a regular basis, that I met for the first time. I have no idea what my schedule is since I never follow it. Glad its so easy for teachers to not show up for work. I don't know what to do... I would be okay teaching alone if that is what the job called for, but I just feel a bit taken advantage of... Oh poo. Hopefully things start becoming "normal," whatever that is, and tomorrow is better day. What's left of the hostel family (Dan, Kelsey, and Piper) is going to get our food and drink on!

Oh yeah and this is my lunchtime buddy Bruce

(now you can put a name to the face Tasker) and he likes to do tricks for food.