Second Semester and Spring is in the air....

Looking back on the day before classes started for first semester, I was a nervous wreck. I had NO idea what to expect. I didn't know if the students would like me, how the lesson plans would go, how to grade the tests, etc. The second time around, for second semester, I did a complete 180. I was not nearly as nervous and I felt much more confident in my teaching abilities. I was, however, not looking forward to planning for 3 SEPARATE classes instead of 1 class. This semester I am teaching 1 Basic 2 English Class, 3 Intermediate 1 classes, and 2 Intermediate 2 classes (Last semester I only taught 7 Basic 1 classes). So I am teaching completely new material with completely new students. Three weeks into the first semester and I think I have my planning down to an art. The typical things happened the first few weeks: I met some great new students, some students didn't even come to class and had no idea what was going on, I saw a bunch of my students from last semester, and I have taught all the material for the first test which is next week. For the most part, I really enjoy my new classes and most of my new students. I definitely miss some of my previous students but I still keep in touch and see some of them so that is nice. I have one class that has almost perfect attendance and who make class fun and entertaining. And they seem to understand what is going on for the most part. I have another class with students who failed the same class last semester so they are taking the class over again. Let's just say that a lot of them have the deer-in-headlights look. I try to give them assignments and exercises that will help prepare them for the test. I feel like I am preparing them better this semester for the test than I did last semester but I want to see how they do next week on the test. Once they are done with the test, then it is FIESTAS PATRIAS which means we get a whole week off from school for independence day! Can't wait for that!

Outside of school, I have found some good friends who I have enjoyed going to dinner or making meals with. About once a month a few of us get together to go to restaurants to get different types of ethnic food such as Sushi, Korean, Indian, Chilean, etc. If we don't go out to eat then we like to get together at someone's place and cook. We have had burger nights, pasta, lasagna, and spaghetti nights. A few weeks ago it was my friend Kimberley's birthday. Holly, another TIP at my school, decided to host a spaghetti lunch for Kimberley. I made a spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers and cheese salad, Holly made the sauce and spaghetti, and Trisha baked banana bread. It has been really fun going to people's place to eat and save some money. Not only did we eat good food, but we also had an INCREDIBLE view of the Andes and Santiago. It had rained for about 3 days and once it rains the infamous smog usually clears up leaving a clear and spectacular view of the mountains. It was the most clear I think I have seen it since I arrived in February.

Being a spinning instructor in the States and having run several races has always made me want to stay in shape. However, joining a gym in Santiago is expensive and my "gym" in my apartment consists of 1 treadmill that rarely works, a few indoor bikes, and a multi-purpose weight machine. I have tried running outside but there are so many street lights and hardly any running paths (and being "rubia" and extranjera definitely makes guys stare). Lately, I have been working out at an outdoor fitness park with Holly and Trisha. The park has some leg and arm machines and a nice area to run. It has been great to be outside and get some sunshine while getting some exercise. The smog is definitely an issue and I hope my lungs aren't taking a toll. I had been looking for races to run in Santiago but didn't have much luck finding anything. Last month, my friend Greg told me about a 10k race in Santiago. I instantly wanted to sign up. The Corrida Santander Techo race only cost $8,000 CLP (approx. $16) so I thought that was a great deal considering most of the races in the States cost at least $50. Also, I knew the weather was only going to get warmer so I thought it would be perfect to run in the start of spring. On Saturday, Greg, Trisha, Andrew and I went to the race expo to pick up our packets in Las Condes.  It was definitely a hot day and it was even hotter considering we had to take the metro and then a super crowded "micro" bus to get to the mall. We got a really nice Asics running shirt and some other goodies. We were also informed that the time was changing to "summer" hours so we would turn our clocks forward the night before. I frantically changed all my clocks and woke up early the next day to make sure I didn't miss the race. The race started at the Presidential palace (La Moneda) and made a big loop around the city to end back at La Moneda. It was a perfect temperature for running (not too hot and not cold). I hadn't been running as much as I do in the States so I was a bit nervous. I got a mild cramp at the 4km mark and then I drank some Gatorade at the 6km mark and felt GREAT after that. I saw the finish line and looked down at my watch and sprinted to the end. I crossed the finish line at 54:04. I have run the Bolder Boulder 10K 4 times and I have NEVER finished before 58 minutes. So I was THRILLED when I had a new PR. I felt GREAT. It was also great to have some friends cheering us on before, during, and after the race. We got some fruit, Gatorade, water, and a FREE MASSAGE after the race that felt incredible. Then, a few of us went to La Vega Chica market and ate a typical Chilean Chorillana (Fries, Steak, Onions, Eggs) and some Fried Fish. Later on that day, I went to Abby's boyfriends place for an asado with his family. Overall, it was a GREAT way to start springtime in SANTIAGO :)