Too Much of it Could Get You Sick...

Glad to see followers list is growing, i it really encouraging that i have this much support. This past weekend was odd. Ive been sick with a head cold so ive been kind of out of it, its no fun being sick when youre not with you family and friends.im just getting over it, but just have that detached feeling still. Theyre haveing a festival this whole week in honor of Mother Marry, everyone gets dressed up as her and theres a parade, its like holoween but bible style. The poeple wore rediculous clothes like pirates mixed with samauri, and theres a big light up icon of the vergin that they cary in the procession. I took pictures, but this is the fourth computer now that will not allow me to uploadmyu photos, luckily i still have plenty of room on my memory card, im getting so frustrated with error code 4. you don't even know! Daniel, the now voulenteer got in two nights ago, i think were going to be good friends. there is a mountain above the valley that i think we can climb in one day.i convincedhim and the other girls were going to do it. theres a huge flag on top so i think it only propper that we leave a mark of our own. There are alot of people in town this weekend because of the parade so ive been treated alot like a tourist. I guess i kind of am. oh i completely forgot! Abbie, Louraine,(two other voulenteers) and i were on the local radio, we wereinterviewed about our experiences as teachers in the schools. it was part of english month here in Chile. God bless.

Getting Down to Buisness

Wow, i have little time for this one, im now using the computer at the Municipalidad in Paiguano. This is the only computer ive found thus far that has relatively fast internet, but unfortunately I´m not allowed to upload my pictures. It really is getting frustrating, my photos are sitting on the desktops of two computers who arenen´t fast enough to upload them... this trip is a lesson in pacience. I continually find myself in seemingly trying situations with little information and energy to wait for my ride or what ever it may be. I have made a few new friends, other voulenteers. Abbie from Michigan, Holly and Louraine form the UK, and next week a guy my age named Daniel is also coming from England. We´ve got a nice little crew started. Things have started to settle down, but each day is no less of an adventure. All the schools in the valley are putting on a concert in English and since im workig at 6 school, the teacher and I have to put together 6 songs with the kids. Unfortunately, some children are being less than cooperative. They love it when I siing the songs for them, but I haven´t gotten it through to them that I don´t need the practice. (maybe i do) America my now three month old baby sister is becoming much the center of the family. In the afternoons I sing her Regina and a couple of times she has tried to sing with me. She likes jazz too, sometimes we dance to Jaco. I´ve never seen a cuter thing. The other day when we were singing and she saw her mom and said ¨mama¨in my arms. Those were her first words and I was holding her!
I have to go, write me.
God Bless.

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.

Like Clockwork

Like Clockwork

So much has happened in such a short amount of time. Its strange how much takes place everyday with regards to prayers being answered for my trip. Three days ago I went in to the Long Beach Health Department for for a consultation about traveling abroad. I had a hunch there were some new vaccines I would need before my trip. The physician I talked to was so kind as to save me a return trip to the department; I walked out with 5 little band-aids on my arms and nausea in my stomach. Needless to say i am up to snuff with the physical requirements for traveling abroad and my helper-T's will vouch for that.

My dad also helped me buy travelers insurance and book my flight yesterday. 22 hours from LAX to Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile to La Serena, Chile (Anna Karenina's going down). Though on the bright side, I am a few hundred dollars away from my monetary goal thanks to you! It goes without saying that if you haven't contributed and would like to, I am still happy to receive anything you have to offer (travelers checks, books, clothes, stationary supplies, a pillow case with your face on it).

Thanks for your constant interest in my trip and I look forward to hearing from a few of you soon. Tell your peeps about this blog. God bless.

Thanks for the encouragement

Thanks for the encouragement

Ah, its so encouraging to see that so many of my friends are following this blog. I do have a few updates though. Firstly, i now know my departure date, September 14. (less than a month i know!). Talking to one of the team members i'm in contact with, we finalized my plans which are as follows: i will be spending 3 months in Chile (Sep14 through Dec 18), and upon the conclusion of those three months i have the options of either coming back to the states, staying on for another 2-3 months doing an inter-mural program of sorts with the kids during their summer vacation, or traveling to Ecuador to in a similar situation at a local school there.
I still need to raise about 2 thousand dollars if i want to be able to stay any longer than three months, but if its part of the plan, God will provide. Thank you for your prayers and support thus far. Everywhere i go i get a smile and a hug from a person who cares about my life and wants to hear more about my trip. Its the best. Please continue to tell your friends about this blog! God Bless.

Hola éste es el principio! (Hello, this is just the beginning!)

Hola family and friends, this is the first official blog for my Chilean trip! With this blog, i hope to keep you informed of my day to day experiences throughout my stay in South America. I'm told i will have weekly access to a computer while there so i plan to leave a message here every so often and maybe even a few pictures!

I'm now in the process of raising money for the trip, waiting for my passport in the mail, getting vaccines (Hepatitis and Malaria and Typhoid oh my!) and booking a flight to La Serena, Chile. Once all these pieces are in place i will post more information about my exact departure date and the like.

I ask that you pray my transition from white middle class suburbia to the Elqui valley will be smooth and more importantly, safe. Thank you for your continued support, and tell your friends about this blog! God bless.