New School, Sad Jessie

Due to a series of events that were out of my control/ hindered by my inability to properly speak Chilean (let's be honest, I speak Spanish. Not Chilean), I will no longer be teaching English at my high school. I will still be working with the debate kids, but I will not be teaching classes at Liceo Polivalente San Nicolás. My heart is broken.

It all started last week when my host mom found out the Chinese volunteer was going to be receiving money to teach at my high school. She called up my school director and said, ¨You have to pay my Jessie too.¨ After a series of back and forths, I came to believe that I would be receiving money from the elementary school in town, therefore, I would be teaching at the elementary school AND the high school. I was quite fond of that idea since it meant I would be receiving money and that I would be able to experience both elementary and high school students. Broaden my horizons, you know? But since everything in Chile either happens at the last minute or is miscommunicated, I will be receiving a salary from the elementary school but I will not be teaching at the high school. So today was my last day and I cried on three separate occasions:

1. In my host mom´s car after our meeting with the directora of the elementary school.

2. When I told my co-teachers at the liceo what was up.

3. When I finished teaching 2C, my final liceo class.

When I told Javier, my pal and history teacher at the liceo, that I cried in Wilma´s car he said, ¨Tu eres tan sentimental, Jessie.¨ (You´re so sentimental.) Well...yeah.

I love my kids and I love my co-teachers. One of the reasons I came back is because I finally settled in--I found my rhythm and knew how to be an effective teacher. And I came back after the earthquake because I wanted to give my kids some sense of normalcy. And now, I feel like I´m letting them and my co-teachers down. Although, according to my friend Haley, ¨the earth is letting you and your school down.¨ True fact. Thanks, terremoto.

So tomorrow, I start classes in the básica, grades Kinder through octavo (8th). I'm excited but also sad (obvio, po). As the wise WorldTeach field director Allyson told me today, "Why you cryin'? You get to stay in your town, receive money, AND teach? Stop crying!" Well said, Allyson. Well said.