Future Volunteers

This post is for the people who may search blogs for a different view on this experience working with the English Open Doors Program in Chile.  I am on my last week, and this has been a great experience.  I have been living in Arica, Chile for almost a year.  The program has 4 month, 6 month and a 9 month program.  I don't know what the future will hold for the program, however they are starting to recruit schools that only have basico students(elementary,5th-8th grade).  The reason for this, is because of the 'tomas' that have been taking place this entire school year, If you don't know what a toma is, it is a take over of the school by the students to bring about change.  In this year's case it is because the students want free college education.  I worked at a semi-private catholic school, but the public school down the street has been in toma for about 5 months now.  So I do not know if the future volunteers will be placed in only basico schools, but it seems like a good idea, since you don't want to do nothing for a month or perhaps 5.  My school was in toma for 2 weeks and it was so boring.

MONEY:   The fee as off 2011, was a 500 dollar insurance fee, and after speaking with some people who got sick(one Canadian had his lung collapse in Santiago) that their experiences have been overall really good and got taken care of.  Obviously the program does not cover the cost of airfare, so that is a bit more money.  But you do live with a host family, so you do not need to pay for food, I did however pay for my PB and J for my mornings, and OJ after nights on the town.  Alcohol and beer is about the same price as the states, and of course it cheaper at the liquor store than at the bar/disco.  [in ARICA] If you do want to get a taste of restaurants/local places, lunches are like 5 dollars.  Dinner is a lot more expensive especially if you want some gringo type food.  Drinks(beer) are always more expensive at restaurants.  All in all I think food and drinks are about the same price in the states.  Also, the exchange rate to the Chilean Peso was around 500 to 1 USD.  So it's weird seeing bills with so many numbers, something that costs 50,000( 50 mil) is around 100 dollars, and a 10 mil bill, which is blue = $20.

HOST FAMILY:  My knowledge of host family problems are this: had a friend in Santiago where his host family was 2 sisters that were 27 and 28, they didn't know how to cook, I guess, so he asked to be placed in another host family.  It worked out in the end.  Other problems I heard of is that a couple that lived together moved into 3 different host families and decided that it wasn't for them and they finally moved into a hostal for the last 2 months(they were in the 4 month program).  I guess some people value their freedom.  You must remember you living with a host family that WILL treat you like a part of the family, so some family rules may be there.  Along with that, you're joining a family, you will be able to see/feel the family dynamic they have.  Think about your family and if someone moved in with you.  They may think some things are odd and outlandish, but there is always history to things and of course all families have their problems... I know they're at least 2 families per volunteer in case problems like this occur.

In my experience, I think I got lucky with my host family.  I wouldn't say I am one of a kind, but I like to go out a lot, it is a part of my personality.  They were fine with it, I got my own key, I didn't get badgered too much when I came home late.  But another volunteer living in the same city as me, never received a key, making her come home at a decent time, another had a curfew(during the week).  Obviously if your a girl, your probably going to get treated different.  My family was afraid of the 'calle' of street.  I lived in a pretty poor neighborhood in college and I guess I was used to the shenanigans that occur in those areas.

VISA:  you do receive a one-year visa in Chile, no matter what program you enroll.  That makes traveling around South America a lot better, but a friend from China could not cross into Peru's border, because of his nationality.  So beware, I was also told you could pass through the border with just you carnet(cedula/national ID card).  I didn't try, I went to Argentina and Peru and brought my passport with me the entire time.

TRAVEL:  I have lived in the north the entire time I was here, but everyone and their mother told me that the south of chile is ABSOLUTELY beautiful.  Can't give you that experience, sorry. However, depending where you are placed you have easy access to Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia.

SKIING/BOARDING:  I went to Portillo for a week, it is AWFULLY expensive, Valle Nevado I heard is a lot cheaper, however if you look at the pictures from my trip to Portillo, try and go on a day trip to Portillo if you can.

RELIGION:  Majority of the country is Catholic, I am catholic so it didn't bother me.  They are not overtly practicing Catholics either.  They were some 'catholic festivals' or like pilgrimages, and that is all and the other volunteer's experienced. My head teacher also told me the volunteer before me at the school did not participate in any religious/catholic things, no problems there.  Also there was a large group of Mormons in Arica, like American Mormons that tried to convert people. 

FOOD:  Chileans eat a huge lunch and eat/drink tea at night, they call it once(yes like the number 11).  They eat bread and butter for breakfast, I couldn't handle that so I went out and bought PB&J's for breakfast.  Other than that, if your a vegetarian, it might hard to find food, especially if you don't eat eggs.  From others experiences I have found that usually a host mom's cooking is wonderful, mine however, wasn't that good.  Perhaps I was spoiled, because my mom(real) is an excellent cook.  They eat a lot of bread and your family will try to get you to gain weight rather than lose it, keep that in mind and the 'pan(bread) bellies'

TEACHING:  Teaching is a great experience, the kids in Chile have a lot less discipline than the kids in the US(from my memory).  I would compare them to the kids in inner-city schools.(at least in the CPS).  Some kids don't want to learn, some kids are awesome.  I have found that usually the majority of the ones that don't want to learn English are the more out going students and are easy to get along with.  I definitely suggest getting your TEFL Certification, it does give you the basics, however some are super expensive so beware.  The English Open Doors program gives an orientation in Santiago for a week, before your classes start, it is nice, but basic level, a little off(IMO).  There are 3 models which you can decide with your head teacher on how you want to teach.  One is teach together you(native speaker) doing most of the talking/speaking in class.  Two is you just taking the best kids in the class, basically conversing with them the entire time.  Three, the one that 'we' chose is take half the class(of 45) teach/do them something that goes along with what the head teacher is teaching for half the time(45 mins) and then switch to the other half of the class.

LANGUAGE:  Chileans speak 'Chilean'.  They do not(running joke there) speak Spanish or Castellano.  The cut off(eat) the half of almost every word. para=pa, mas =ma, they have many strictly Chilean words not used in the world of Spanish speakers such as: flaite, fome, bacan, chachai?, and weon(can be vulgar).  I was talking to a British man I met and we was telling me they(Chileans) can have conversations with two words: Chachai? and weon.  It's true, it's what you hear the majority of the time.  If you know some Spanish, that is great, majority of the teachers will love that you are trying to speak with them, or if you don't know Spanish the teachers(family or friends) will try and use their English, which is always a plus.  Your students will rip you apart on every mispronunciation.  On the other hand, I don't know if I would recommend learning Spanish here from scratch, it really is super different.  However, on the plus side to all of this is that Chileans speak super fast, and once your brain figures it out, you should be able to understand any Spanish speaker(IMO).

That's about it.  If you are seriously interested in going to Chile, buy a culture shock book, they are pretty good and they go more in depth.  I won't go into the culture, that is something you need to read the entire blog for and/or experience for yourself. If you have any questions ask me.

Read this about the Application Process, if you are a bit more interested.