Roberto, me, Flor, Karen, Paola
School was finally normal... or so I thought since they had other teachers cover the English classes. It was a pretty easy day, especially in comparison. The last class of the day was cancelled since the students all were gathered in the courtyard to hear other students speak about what is going on with the education protests all throughout Chile. Oh yeah, and I finally signed my contract today! But after school, I got called into the Vice-principal's office... thought it was about my contract, but instead he wanted me to have a conversation in English with a prospective substitute English teacher. The guy was hired on the spot, and was a really nice guy. Instead of following my normal schedule tomorrow, I am going to all of his classes to help him out for his first day. Since I don't come in til the 2nd block of class, I offered to come into school earlier so he wouldn't have his first class alone. I know what it feels like to be the new guy, pretty confused. Hell, I still am the new guy. I was told by a ton of people to be careful in the streets. The substitute took the metro back with me and dropped me off at the hostel. We got off a stop further than normal since Metro Baquedano is in the center and had a lot of action with protesters. I guessed something was going on since there was talk yesterday and there were carabineros already by the metro in the morning.
The carabineros are US version of the SWAT team. I got back to the hostel, a met up with Roberto and went with him to get a hot dog. When we let the gas station, there were more carabineros on the street. We sat on a bench to talk, and a HUGE crowd of people started running towards us. We went into the hostel so Roberto could get ready for his farewell night and to get out of the street. I went outside to say bye and got stung with tear gas. That stuff works fast! It makes your throat, nose, and eyes burn and your eyes swell up with tears.
I went inside and watched all of the action. Ronna, one of the housekeepers and I were watching from an upstairs window. We watched police cars file down the streets, we saw a student get taken down and brought into the squad car, we watched tear gas bombs get kicked around, and cars pouring tear gas down the streets. Mobs of people have been on the street in front of our hostel for over two hours. Actually, all day since this has been going on since the afternoon. Oh yeah and there are helicopters and the police spray people with sewer water. We have a very central location since it is across from a University. According to my broken Spanish conversation, students all over Chile are protesting at various universities. For a bit, they weren't letting people even leave the hostel. Karen was stuck in the Metro and then stuck in the station.
View of the protest (all the cop cars and students) from the upstairs window of the hostel
In one way its kinda cool how involved people in Chile are in their politics and country. In another sense, I don't think they are the best thought out plans and its a little scary. To get real information, Chilean students protest article Don't worry loves, I am being smart and safe. Love you!
Oh man! Even in the hostel like 3 hours later, we got hit with tear gas since people were watching the crowd with the window open. All of us moved downstairs because the tear gas is SO potent and powerful. We ate some lemon juice to help soothe the sore throatness from the gas.
And in random other news, not only did Roberto drunkenly tell hostile man receptionist that he was disrespectful and cold. He did it again last night... He kept saying rude comments to us while we were talking last night. So Roberto politely told him again that basically, he sucks at this job. Roberto had an apology note waiting for him this morning.
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