El dia esta Aqui

The day has finally arrived.  I write this as I look over smoke like clouds with the sun setting in the horizon.  The next time it appears, the northern hemisphere will be a thing of the past as opposite flushing restrooms will boggle my mind.  (Note I don’t actually believe this to be the case, this may be another one of those old tales told to cause commotion and create curiosity with children.) I began my journey 24 hours ago (probably a few days by the time this is posted) in Reno before taking quick reprieve in the Bay Area.  From there I headed north to my old stomping grounds in Portland- presumably believing that the earth was flat, and like the game Snake I would reappear over some cute Penguins in the South Pole before finally settling.  But now I fly a mere 120 miles from Dallas: the final stop before Santiago. 

Here are a few thoughts as I leave the comforts of home and the familiarity of--- well everything.

1.  I am fortunate to have wonderful friends and family members in my life who support my unorthodox decisions. 

2. Apparently I already messed up in calling the blog ElChileanDuck- apparently it is Chileno for males and Chilena.

3. Since the winter was fairly mild I made the bright decision that I didn’t get enough and wanted more- and thus will spend another few months with tons of rain.

4. … What am I doing???   Oh well!  Unless I spend the next 5 months in Dallas faking posts and what not, I’m officially

5. “Leaving on a jet plane- don’t know when I’ll be back again” but most likely will return end of August.

6. Come visit if you’d like, I have no idea where I’ll be… if that isn’t in the cards, than at least stay in touch 

The Final Countdown

T-minus 100 hours until I depart to Chile.  Though, like they say, it won't be easy or necessarily fast.  On Monday evening I fly to Reno to San Jose California that is.  Saturday morning I fly San Jose to Portland OR, down to Dallas and Finally down to Santiago on a 10 hour red eye... Apparently 16.66 years of school + kindergarden did not teach me how to read a globe.

The past 10 days have been something... from misplacing vital papers to frantically searching for a return flight lets just say stress levels were elevated a bit.  I neglected to mention that a certain 4.5 hour test important for graduate school also fell during these this.  However, the test is now behind me, and frantic studying helped me remember enough geometry, last studied in 2005, to feel confident to get accepted into some grad school, in some location, on a specific subject, to still be determined.  Like my thesis- I really don't care how well I did as long as I passed.

Sorry for the abrupt ending but like a good tv show I will leave you with a cliff-hanger to keep you enticed and ready for Dr. Dre's "Next Episode" of El Chilean Duck.

2 Weeks and Counting

Welcome to El Chilean Duck!  Unfortunately that appears to be the extent of my spanish knowledge at this point.  As Winter turns into Spring and Spring into... ugh Winter again... I embark on my largest adventure to date: teaching English in Chile.  

The completion of my senior thesis February marks the conclusion to my four and a half years in Eugene.   As one huge weight is lifted off my shoulders, three more important tasks begin their relentless attack on my ability to relax and celebrate.

By March 19th I need to study for and take the GRE for some Grad school that apparently I should go to as a bachelor's degree is not its weight in gold anymore.

2nd- As I have never taught anything but rock-climbing and... thats about it... I am going through the motions of learning to teach.  I forgot to mention, most of the students I will be teaching will not know any english.  In preparation I went to the university to learn some techniques, and my hopes were dashed... English is more difficult than I even imagined... For Example the "ough" spelling can be pronounced 9 different ways.  Say these words to yourself and you'll understand... cough, through, though, plough, rough... and the list goes on.

Finally I need to be ready to live survive in a country where everyone speaks a different language- faster and slangier (making up slang for you) than most others.  In preparation I  have been watching spanish Soap Operas and watched El Rey Leon "The Lion King." Lets just say El mundo sin fin isn't quite as catchy as the Circle of Life.  I just played Cranium so hopefully my charades will be a bit better.

By the way I still don't know where I am teaching.
Oh well thats what this is all about.  If Oregon taught me one thing it was to be prepared for anything.  Never leave home without your sunglasses, rainjacket, gloves, umbrella (for all you Californians) and reusable shopping bags, because you'll need them all.

 Here to the next 14 days... and the beginning to the rest of my life