R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to Me

It's been a long while since my last blog post. Let's see what has happened since the last time I posted: I went to Lollapalooza, the US dollar is incredibly weak against the Chilean peso, a tornado ripped through Northern Alabama, Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, civil disobedience still going on in the Middle East, Blackhawks lost, Bulls are doing well, Gas prices are insane right now in the United States, Obama released his Birth Certificate, Donald Trump is running for President as a Republican, Osama bin Laden has found and killed sending Obama's approval ratings sky high. That is what has been going on since the last time I written the world. Also, My community recently learned the names of the new volunteers that will be joining our community is December (Snaps)!

Work-wise, I have been working with the immigrants off and on since March (I have more volunteers from the States... yay!) and things at my school are kind of crazy right now. Both good and bad. I went on my first school retreat with 1˚ Medio and it went well. When we were at retreat, a majority of 2˚ Medio skipped school, and currently 3˚ Medio is in trouble because something that happened with one of the kids (which involved his book-bag being stolen and later being thrown on top of the roof of the school).

Lately, I have become frustrated with some of my work. Some of the work that I have been doing feels like "dirty work" or work that no one else wants to do. I get it, but I don't want that to be my only work and that I don't want that to be routine. Also, Chileans like to "assume" things. Don't assume, because then you make an ass out of you and me (really, you and yourself). But sometimes, I feel like decisions are made without my knowledge and then people assume that I know what is going on. I don't know what is going on and I am only one person. I cannot do the work of an entire office.

 Another thing that has been going on at work is my relationship with one of the teachers. Let's just say that there is no relationship. I have gone out of my way to avoid this person. I don't acknowledge them. Don't even say "hello," "good-bye," and I don't even ask how they are doing. This person likes to talk behind my back. They makes fun of me for being an American. They talk about the way I ate, the way I speak, the way I sniffle (Recently, I was sick with cold) and they all these things behind my back. They think I don't hear it, but I do. It's ridiculous. This person is old enough to be either my parent or grandparent (and I am going with the latter... my parents are kind of young).

Sometimes, I want to go up to this person and say "WTF?!" but it would only add fuel to the fire. This person is a respected teacher, but I am going to start asking questions to see if this is their personality or if they are just targeting me, because if it is just me, excuse my language here, but I take shit from no one.
I know I am not Chilean (I never said I was and I don't try to be), I know my Spanish is kind of rough (I never said I spoke it perfectly), but I came to this country to work. I don't have to be liked, but I do demand respect. Sigh. I feel better now after ranting. Other than that person, I love the people I work with. I look forward going to work. I love the kids I interact with on a daily basis. Looking at this experience, I am thinking about going into the education field. I think I could probably make as a high school teacher. Elementary and Middle School, not so much, but high school, yes.

Community is good and I am enjoying my time with Catherine and Jake. We do have our differences, but I love them. It is great to come back to my community after a long day of work. I love being American. I love knowing that I am not alone out here. I love getting to share this experience with them and being on this journey with them. I am excited for the new JVs. Although, I am experiencing this rough patch with a colleague and some of my work, I wouldn't change this experience, these next two years for anything else. I trust in God and know with them, I will be okay.

LIVE THE FOURTH!