CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE

SO I say this everytime...Its been a while. Soz.

Life in La Casa Grande has returned to normal after the quake and we are officially back to school after a long but well deserved break. Been getting the odd tremor through here and there but nout more than usual and nothing unexpected. Its been great to get involved with the relief aid out here and we had THE BEST night ever a couple of weeks back.

Shortly after the quake - the red cross and us guys helped bag up clothing donations and load them on to the back of a truck. Maria then asked us if we could help out at the local disco - they were asking for food donations instead of entry fees and needed us to collect and pack them. Disco time? Sure. We're game. So we head to the red cross to see the huge lorry get packed and go - all jump in cars and parade around calera - lead by the police with sirens blaring. The lorry is honking its horn...and people started filing on to the streets to see what the commotion is. We drive past people who start clapping and cheering. Amazing. We then head to the disco where we boogie whilst collecting food. People are turning up with dry pasta, tins, nappies, oil. Me and kerrianne decide to take a break for a while to throw some shapes and hit the dancefloor. We were suprised with the sight we saw - this disco was rammed, hot and sweaty. So we headed for the middle of it and joined in with the Chi Chi Chi Le Le Le Viva Chile chants. Brilliant. Ive never felt so patriotic in my life. PLUS do chileans do dance training??? These girls can SERIOUSLY shake their hips and my british ones in comparison just werent the same. 4 hours later - we head home with probably the best feeling of accomplishment ive ever experienced in my life and the ongoing promises that we shall and will create a disco appreciation society between the volunteers out here and become regulars whilst teaching our hips to lie.

Its REALLY annoying uploading photos on to here - so if you wanna see pics check out the Gap Chile facebook page and browse away.

The new additions to the house have been a treat for us ladies who were starting to get withdrawal symptoms if we left the group dynamic - is sharing a room wierd despite the space we have at the moment? I hope not because we're not going to change it.

So this year kicked off to a good start and theres an awesome atmosphere in the school - we were all dreading the first couple of weeks because our nursery director (Maribell) told us that the first few weeks will be the hardest for the kids to adapt as for many its the first time they would have been away from their parents BUT 3 weeks in and we still have kids who are crying when their parents arrive to pick them up. Brill.

The kids have warmed to us pretty quickly but the long break in spanish has definately had a toll on my mother and not so mother tongue. The only languages I seem to be speaking at the moment is caveman or jibberish. Aaaah well...I feel for this reason alone I seem to be able to bond with children pretty well. Pointing and general grunting seem to be common ground for us.

We have also decided to do lent this year/compete who is going to break lent. And for some stupid reason we decided to give up bread and chocolate. Bad Choice. Plus my spanish vocabulary doesnt cover why I cant eat bread but can (and will) continue to eat truck loads of pancakes and other doughy assortments.

We've also been bezzying up to the VSP in Chile with a few memorable moments with the boys. We're all picking up the beautiful american accent and every other word that seems to be coming out of our mouths is "sick" or "brochillin". Maybe its time to ween ourselves away from this before we start teaching the chids to speak in this manner - plus its ended in a few tearful moments - throwing up in the sea, getting hit in the face and putting my wetsuit on backwards. I feel ive made a strong impression. Mission completed.

Anyway for now i feel its time for:

Over and Out,

xxx