Perfect Timing For Your Best Running via Runner’s World

With Santiago’s Nike 10K coming up in two weeks, I’ve been trying to take better care of what I put on my plate and train more consistently.  The key word is trying.  The other day I had a bowl of Cheerios with milk and a plate of chips before training (with Santiago’s Nike Running Team).  Food choice = bad idea.  After doing crunches, lunges, jumps … etc … and running, my body was left with a huge stomachache!  So, to any of you runners out there, would you kindly like to shed some light on what you snack on before running?  I usually go after work, around 7:30 pm, which means I gotta eat something before ’cause it’ll be close to 10 pm before I’m back home.

And if you’re a newbie like me, or even considering running, you might find Runner’s World a good resource.  Here’s an interesting article I’d read the other day that might inspire you  :)

Running Tips

Perfect Timing

When to train, eat, stretch, and do everything to run your best.

Shop for Shoes
Ideally, you want to purchase a new pair of running shoes before they lose their effectiveness, which is around 400 to 500 miles, says Martyn Shorten, Ph.D., a biomechanist and head of Runner’s World’s shoe-testing program. It’s a big range but that’s because you, not just the shoes, are part of the equation. If you land hard on your heels or are a big runner, you’ll wear down a shoe faster than lighter runners or midstrikers do. So go by feel; if the cushioning feels worn, it likely is. Or look at the sole. If the rubber on the side or bottom is worn, it’s time for a new pair. The onset of more-than-usual aches can also signal that a new pair is in order (overdue, actually).  Read more >>

Welcome to Music!

My music classroom for this year!

I’ve realized that in my two years here in Santiago, Chile I haven’t blogged much, if at all, about my job.  And now that I’m about to leave the country in December (yes, I’ve submitted my resignation letter) I thought that there’s no better time to talk about it than now.  For two years, I’ve been working as the Infant House music teacher in The Grange School, a British-Chilean private preparatory school which is literally a 7 minute walk from my apartment.  The school is located next to a country club, has a big campus with the Andes mountains in its background, and with students from pre-kinder to 4th medio (the equivalent of grade 12 in Ontario).  I teach in the Infant House building, which has six kinder classes and six pre-kinder classes of 24 students each.  I see these children three times a week, twice in during their music lessons and once during the choir period.  Though each class has a teacher and teaching assistant, I am a subject teacher which means I teach these classes alone.  Admittedly, my first year was rather difficult (what with, at the time, being a recent grad therefore first year teacher in a new country learning a new language with children in their first years of school therefore not knowing any school rules and speaking only Spanish).  I’ve since learned the ropes, including the many behaviour management and motivation tactics, the games and songs, and the language.  And you know what?  I’m loving it!   Teaching is a never-ending learning experience, and I know that it can only get better in the years ahead.

This year, I’ve been given a large classroom in the Infant House building which is a big improvement from my first year (when I taught in a separate building).  Being in the same building as the students and teachers has allowed them to know me better and vice versa.  It’s also made me closer to resources, the office (and principal), the staff room (where the tea’s stashed!), and most importantly, the washrooms (NOT to be mistaken as the laundry room as so many people here seem to confuse that word with.  I was baffled when, during my first day at work, they told me that there were no washrooms here.  People here use the words “bathroom” or “toilet” instead).

Haven’t seen my colourful music class?  Well, check it out!

The front of my music class.

In my first year, I was given a music classroom in a separate building from the Infant House, underneath the chapel.  It had a big space, comfortable carpet flooring and risers for children to sit on when singing (for proper posture).  Unfortunately,  it also had a few disadvantages: a) it was far from the Infant House building and which meant leaving me literally alone with 24 students and no one near me to ask for help when needed, and b) there were no bathroom facilities nearby (a necessity for 4-6 year olds).  Check out the difference from this year’s classroom to last year’s (below).

My first music classroom.

Related Articles

• Decorating the Elementary Music Room (brighthub.com)

Running + yoga = my new found loves

Nike Running Team (Santiago, Chile) Can you spot me?

Since August, I’ve been training with the Nike Running Team in Santiago.  Three words:  Peace. Abs. Thrill.  Running has been a surprisingly great time to de-clutter my mind and to think more clearly (e.g. about decisions to be made).  Abs – well, now I actually have some.  Definitely one of the first noticeable changes to my body.  And the thrill that comes with running in city races while team members, friends, and even policemen redirecting traffic cheers you on as you run past them is simply exhilarating.  So far, I’ve ran a couple of races:  5K (29 mins) and 9K (57 mins).  Speed isn’t my main priority at the moment.  My main goal is to build endurance, to do the distance, and never stop.  We train under captains who runs for Chile and we meet together four times a week in two different locations.  I love it!  (Anyone know of any similar running teams/clubs in the Toronto area?)

I’m sure that you’ve probably heard a few similar stories to hers.  But for me, at that campsite after (at least) 8 hours of trekking up and down the mountain and hearing her share a personal story about her willpower to change herself for the better really hit a chord in me.  And so, these people inspired me to try out running when I returned to Santiago, to experience the sport that this teacher and my friends have talked about so enthusiastically.

After our 9K race with Brooks Running Tour 2010. (Vitacura, Santiago, Chile)

And yoga, as it turns out, has been a great running companion.  I’d started yoga in July, mainly because a new yoga studio opened up right across from the school that I work at and they had offered a free trial for all teachers.  I had expected it to be … well, boring and meditative.  And … it’s soo not.  The poses are not always as simple as they may seem.  And it was amazing how inflexible and poor my posture was when I first started.  Ommmmmm!

Here kitty, kitty!

Viña or Valparaiso is the IT place where Santiagoans go to celebrate New Years.  The beach, the food, the 30-minute spectacular fireworks display on the Pacific coast, definitely a great place to welcome the new year.  Thus, this year, Pablo and I were kind of bummed that we had to stay in Santiago to house-sit.  With some friends who shared a great new year together, we awoke on the first morning of 2010 to find 7 little surprises!  Wait … who wanted to go to Viña for New Years again?

Santiago quirks

Have seen some rather interesting things while living here  … here are just a few.  (Please add to the list!)

• Sand is to snow in TO as sawdust is to rain in Santiago.
• It rains a lot in Santiago during its winter months … yet, not one pair of rubber rainboots are sold anywhere.  Leather boots are the in thing.
• It´s pouring outside and you forgot your umbrella?  Don´t fret … people selling umbrellas magically appear at every street corner and metro station when it rains.
• Spring brings beautiful trees blooming with flowers of different sizes and colours. 
• There are more dogs in Santiago streets than there are squirrels in Kingston, ON.
• Unlike the squirrels in Kingston, the dogs in Santiago have street smarts.  They abide by the traffic lights, walk along sidewalks, and can be seen visiting and chatting with neighbouring house dogs through the gate.
• Every house in Santiago is enclosed behind locked gates.
• Public libraries in Santiago are … wait, what public libraries?
• Okay, occasionally one may find a mini-library stand in a metro (subway) station.
• The key to travelling on the bus or metro is the BIP! card, which is rechargeable and scanned at the entrance.  Buses don´t accept change, and if you don´t have a card for the metro a metro ticket can be bought at the booth.
• Santiago takes really good care of their metro system.  The metro trains are faster, cleaner and quieter than the subway trains in TO.  Cleaners can always be seen cleaning the train at the final stop, sweeping the stairs of the station, and shining the hand-rails.  There are even mini-flat screen tvs in their newer trains.
• Some of the newer metro trains in Santiago are just one big train … you can literally get on at the front of the train and walk all the way to the end of the train.  This would be handy in case, you know, you need to look for someone …
• One can always expect to be privately entertained at their car window when stopping at a red light by colourful characters: buskers juggling bricks while standing on giant cylinders; ¨grocers¨ walking up to windows selling bags of beans and strawberries; men/women/children selling all sorts of random things: flowers, chocolates, popsicles, cell phone chargers for automobiles, flags; squeegee boys; beggers (children, mothers holding babies, the old, the blind, the handicapped, the strange … anyone).
• Couples make-out everywhere.  Let me rephrase that, couples can be seen and heard making-out all the time everywhere.  At a bus stop, in the subway train, on the sidewalk, at a park bench, in the mall, etc.  And, all types of couples too: the young, the old, the casual, the office workers …
• Squeezing your partner´s butt cheek in public is considered inappropriate.

Metro de Santiago

Paddle boats!

A few weeks ago, Pablo took me paddle boating at Intercommunal Park in La Reina, Santiago.  It brought back childhood memories of paddle boating at Ontario Place (in Toronto, Canada).  It was great fun!  We fed ducks which ate from our hands, enjoyed the sunshine, and got some leg exercise … well, at least Pablo did as I took quite a few breaks to take pics.  Here’s a video that Pablo made of the weekend to share with you!

Tick attack!

Now, I’m not a bug fan but I have to admit I became rather curious about them when I found out that the jellybean sized bulbs I felt while scratching Pablo’s dogs were not tangled hair balls but little blood-sucking insects living on his pets.  They’re called ticks, and they are quite common here in Chile.  Let me tell you, for those of you who’ve never seen ticks before, they’re not as small as their name may suggest.  Take a look at the picture I took.  See those brown bugs?  Yes, those are ticks.  See the gray and tan bean-like things next to them?  Wish they were beans but, yep, those are ticks too.  They usually live outdoors and are commonly found with it’s head burrowed under the skin of outdoor pets (i.e. dogs).  It seems that the only way to get rid of them (without medicating the dogs) is to groom the dogs regularly and pick the ticks off of their skin with a tweezer and then burn them (the ticks, not the dogs).  Have I said too much?

Pablo giving Patotas and Rosita a shower.

Caminata de los Andes

Hundreds participated in the annual pilgrimage.

On Saturday, October 18, I trekked 27 km over the Andes mountains with Pablo, his uncle and two aunts. This annual pilgrimage is a huge event with hundreds of people coming from cities outside of Santiago. To some people, it’s a religious event that is done with friends, classmates or family. To others, it’s an act of thanksgiving or apology to God. And still to others, it’s a symbol of rededication to their faith. Whatever the reason, the 27 km was not a stroll around the park. Hiking up to the peak took a sweaty and dehydrating 5 hours — and it was worth it all. At the top of the mountain stood a great cross. As we got closer, people began to shouting for joy, running to hug, kiss and touch the cross, and leaving mementos as proof that they were there. Another 3 hour hike down ended at the sanctuary of Santa Teresa de los Andes, the first female saint of Chile. There was mass and worship at the sanctuary welcoming the weary walkers. If asked if I would go again, I would say Yes! in an instant (especially if I’ll be in the good company of my pololo). Yes, I admit I was grumpy, dehydrated, sore and tired after this first walk — but I would do it again because it is an incredible experience.

During the walk, there were 13 rest stops where worship groups were singing about their faith and encouraging us to keep walking.  At each stop, there were reminders of the meaning of Catholic (and Christian) faith:

la humanidad necesita liberación = humanity needs liberation

la humanidad necesita esperanza = humanity needs hope

el Espíritu Santo te impulsa a la misión = the Holy Spirit prompts you to the mission

evangeliza siempre = always evangelize

Canadian Thanksgiving in Chile

A Canadian Thanksgiving meal with friends in Santiago.

Monday was Thanksgiving in Canada.  Despite being a 10 hour flight away from home, some friends organized a Canadian Thanksgiving meal in Santiago on Sunday.  There were carrot casseroles, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, meatloaf, homemade apple pies AND pumpkin pies, cranberries, gravy, mashed potatoes, and of course, a turkey … mmm mmm.  More important than the delicious meal that filled us with goodness, the afternoon was highlighted with moments of thanksgiving that was shared amongst friends (new & old, in English & Spanish).  To all my family and friends — Happy Thanksgiving!

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”   Psalm 69:30

Hello family & friends!

The Andes mountains separates Chile from Argentina.

This is a shout out to my family and friends!  This blog is my attempt to keep you posted with what life in Santiago, Chile is like through my eyes.  Where to begin … I arrived on Sept. 5 to find Santiago surprisingly cold.  It was the end of winter for Chile and, believe it or not, a winter jacket and scarf was necessary!  Since then, the weather has been warming up with the approach of spring  My Spanish has been slowly improving … I can tell that it has by how long I can hold a conversation before my brain gets tired from trying to understand/be understood by everyone.  Speaking of Spanish: my new job offers free Spanish classes to their staff!  I was thankful to get an interview at the first English language institute I visited the second week I was here.  They hired me instantly after my demo lesson.  (Probably because the gov’t is making big efforts to improve the country’s level of English, which makes English native speakers — with qualifications — desirable teachers.)  Nevertheless, the dreaded prospect of job hunting in a foreign country quickly disappeared and was replaced by warm welcomes.  The staff consists of teachers from the U.S., Canada!, Britain, New Zealand, and Chile!  Hurrah!  One final note: Pablo’s family has been very kind.  It has been great getting to know his family and the Chilean way of life  Until my next post, chau chau!