In to the Groove

Sorry its been a while, internet access is not easy to come by in the valley. Right now i am at the Cochiquaz (co-chi-waz) Primary School in the Cochiquaz Valley, neighboring Pisco Valley where I am staying. Most of the fifteen students at this school come from wealthier famlies, unlike children from the other schools in Pisco. The land here is very beautiful, very fertile, and very expensive. As a result, Cochiquaz has become the beverly hills, if you will, of the Andies Mountains. This is my third day teaching and i really have enjoied it. So far I've taught at four schools ranging from ages three to twelve. But i like the five and six year olds best because they can sit still long enough for a picture, and have an interest in colors and shapes (my level of teaching). The other teachers and I do have alot of problems disiplining the children. Many think its ok to talk during a lesson, eat candy, get up and leave the class, wrestle on the floor, or pretend they don´t understand your questions to stall the lesson. Its exhausting but rewarding, kids will be kids i guess.
I forgot to bring the cabel that connects my camera to the computer (I know right?) so i havent been able to upload any of my 200 pictures yet, but im looking for one, and as soon as i can get one from home or here, ill post them all to Picasa.

Yesterday I learned that i can recieve mail here, it takes about 3 weeks, but its better than nothing. Our address is:
Barbra Tamblay
Pisco Elqui s/n
Paihuano, Chile

Thats it...I know, I still doubt it too. Life is simpler here.
God bless.

Estoy aqui

Hello everyone, after an exhausting day of travel I am safely in the valley. I am writing from a computer in my host family´s house. We don´t usually have internet, but we´re ¨borrowing¨ from a local connection. The family i´m staying with is rediculously nice. For my first meal (lunch) we ate large slabs of pork with rice and last night they cooked me fresh noodles with scallops and mushrooms in a cream sauce and and a sort of large leafed lettuce with oil and vinegar. And wine, i had probably four glasses with my meals yesterday. Most of it was grown in this valley, the rest in similar places in Chile. So far, i have seen a few types of drinks: agua (water), jugo de naranga (orange juice like SunnyD), Coke, Sprite, te´(very black tea), cervesas (beer), vino (wine) and pisco (a yellow alcohol that we blended with powdered sugar, lemon juice, and ice). I am happy to say that i have not gotten sick yet, but expect it. Thats all for now. Email me at christian.j.e.turner@gmail.com if you have questions that i could answer on this blog, and i´ll get to answering them when I can . God bless.