Semana+2


 * Sábado, 9 de octubre**

Everyone had a sleep in today and then it was time to do some washing and other housework.It was a glorious day and I got a bit sunburnt sitting out in the back yard reading after I had given a bit of a hand with the housework. In the late afternoon I accompanied Sylvia to the hairdresser´s and then we rushed home to get ready to the First Communion party of the daughter of an old school friend of Sylvia´s. We had asado (barbecued meat) for dinner and for dessert we had the most divine cake with nuts and manjar (dulce de leche) in it. ¡Qué rico!


 * Domingo, 10 de octubre**: The day they broke through to the miners at Copiapó

We were a bit weary after the late night lastnight and having to change the clocks on to Daylight Saving so we didn´t get up too early but we did need a reasonably early start to set off to Santiago to visit Sylvia´s sister and brother-in-law. The drive to Santiago was lovely as we drove parallel to the Andes with the coastal range on our left. Then we came to the point where the two merge. The motorway system we went on was impressive. We went through two toll gateways and there was a tunnel that also had a toll but we didn´t have to stop as it functions in a similar way to the Wairewa one. Santiago looked glorious in the sunshine. I got a completely different impression of it to what I had on previous visits and I´m keen to explore it somemore. It really makes a difference when you get driven around by locals compared with having to find your own way around on foot or going underground on the metro!



First we went to Santa Lucia Craft Market where I got some souvenirs to take home as well as some pastcards to write. There were lots of interesting things on sale and at quite reasonable prices too. Our destination was on the other side of the city in a condominium in lovely area. I was given a warm welcome and then we sat out the back in a shaded patio area and sipped Chilean champagne. We had a delicious asado for lunch - chicken, turkey, pork and veal - accompanied by salads and more Chilean wines and followed by Sylvia´s famous "pie de limón (lemon meringue pie). ¡Riquísimo! There was lots of interesting conversation in which I was able to participate fully. Our hosts were very kind and I had a great time.



A highlight of the day was seeing a condor planing in the skies about the cerro (mountain) behind the house. Although Chantal and I had climbed a cerro in El Chaltén where there you were supposed to be able to see condors, we were not lucky that time, much to my disappointment. It was after 10pm by the time we left and we had an hour´s drive to get home. I did spare a thought for my family, friends, colleagues and students who were at work or back at school for Term 4 as I sat in the sun sipping champagne!!! All in all it was a very successful day - majestic mountains, good food and wine, charming company, glorious weather and A CONDOR!! All that was missing was a llama ... although I did buy a miniature version in Santa Lucia.


 * Lunes, 11 de octubre**

Today is a public holiday - Columbus Day. It it meant to be on the 12 but they are celebrating it on the Monday before this year otherwise they would have to give people a "bridge" which would mean 2 days off. Nothing much happens on this day, however. We have heavy fog and it´s cold and damp.


 * Martes, 12 de octubre:** The day the miners were finally brought back to the surface.

Today I went on a class trip to the interactive museum and the aquarium in Santiago with Syvia´s home room class of Year 5s. We left school about 8.10 by bus (a really luxurious one compared with the ones we get supplied with for our school trips!) and accopanied by a student teacher. We arrived at our destination at 9.30. There were lots of other school groups there too. The children werew very excited and it was tricky keeping them all together so we could go to our pre-booked workshops on time. It did a workshop on creating comic strips with a group of children. The theme was the indigenous peoples of Chile - the Kawésgar, the Aymara, the Mapuche and the Rapa Nui (from Easter Island), something I´m interested in knowing more about. It was a really good activity and I videoed what my children did. I´d like to use this activity back at Massey with my students. When we were finshed there we went to the aquarium which was a bit disappointing as there was not a lot to see although I did get to see some locos which I had eaten without knowing what they were. It turns out they are a kind of pakeha verson of paua but with a white ridged shell.

Lunchtime was next. Some of the children had a packed lunch but the rest of us ate in the cafetería in the complex. We let the children have a play outside for a while before going back into the museum of a 3D film show about the origins of the planet which was very interesting. However, unlike the children, I didn´t scream when mysterious objects from outer space or raging dinosaurs came perilously close to my face.

All today there was a feeling of tension as the preparations for rescue of the miners went ahead. It was exciting to know that it was finally going to happen. We watched it live with baited breath. What a huge relief it was to see the first miner reach the surface and be reunited with his loved ones! It was a very emotional moment and I bet there were not many dry eyes in Chile at the moment! And no doubt there were many tears of emotion and relief shed around the world as this event has drawn the peoples of the world together as few others, if any, have in the past. I watched into the wee small hours of the morning but there was school the next day so I had to go bed. There is a strong feeing being expressed by the locals about the fact that this is a miracle and the re-kindling of lapsed faith as a result.


 * Miércoles, 13 de octubre**

My first class was with Sylvia - Year 6. I did a speaking activity with them involving Smarties so that went over well. The local dentists will be doing a roaring business as a result of my visit! After that Sylvia had a test sçwith her next class so I went to a nearby street market (feria) to get some vegies and fruit. That was fun. I wandered down until the very end of the market before making my purchases so I could compare prices like a good Chilean housewife. My purchases included gigantic strawberries, 2 huge bunches of succulent asparagus, some sachets of Merquén,(a mixture of chili, garlic and salt that I am addicted to) and a book by Isabel Allende. It turns out that my book is a pirated version and contains a lot of errors. Books are normally very expensive in Chliie so I was pleased to find one by this author in the market and just presumed it to be second-hand, but that wasn´t the case.


 * Jueves, 14 de octubre**

I only had time to go to one class before we got news that Kuky had had one baby. Sylvia got Diego out of class and we went home. We in time to see number 3 born. Number 1 is a pale caramel colour, number 2 is white and number 3 a slightly deeper caramel colour. Eventually 2 more were born. Number 4 was the smallest - you could see her ribs - and number 5 was the fattest. However, all except number 4 had fat little tummies. Kuky did everything by the text-book, much to our relief as the vet had warned us how things could go wrong. Sylvia had to go back to school before they were all born but Diego and I stayed home with Javiera for the rest of the day.



Today there was no school because it was the Day of the Teacher. Instead the school put on alunch at a restaurant for the staff and I was included. eachers are much more respected here - and especially so at St Johns where they are really valued by the whole school community. Everyone is regarded with a great deal of affection and care. It creates a wonderful working and learning environment. Sylvia and I went to the hairdressers first and then into the city centre to do some shopping and post my first batch of postcards home. Then we rushed home to get changed and head off to the restaurant. On arrival we were each given a card in honour of the occasion. Proceedings began with an address by the Principal who acknowledged the work done by all the teaching staff and made presentations to those who had been at the school for 15 years and 20 years. They sang the school song composed by the Founder of the school who was also present. Her age is a secret but I would imagine she must be in her late 80s. She still has an office at the school where she puts in some time every day. Presentations were then made to the Founder and the Principal.
 * Viernes, 15 de octubre**: El Día de profesor



This was followed an appéritif - drinks including pisco sour and mango sour, canapés and empanadas. We sat down for the meal which began with a first course of large prawns and salad. The main course was steak with a mushroom sauce and a potato stuffed with spinach and cheese. It was all delicious. Dessert was crêpes filled with manjar served with raspberry sauce and ice-cream. Crêpes are usualy served with manjar in Chile. Later there was tea or coffee served with cake also layered with manjar. Very yummy but also very rich. I did suggest to Sylvia that I should run home behind the car!