Odds and Ends

So I a couple of people have pointed out that I really haven't talked about how I am doing here in Chile. Which reading back on my past posts is definitely true. 

I think the best description of my state of being is that I'm doing better than surviving but not thriving. I've managed to establish a weekly routine. During the mornings and afternoons of weekdays I teach, surf the Internet and plan lessons/grade tests. Occasionally, I am able to spend the afternoon at the beach.

Monday Night - Spanish classes

Tuesday Night - Rugby practice

Wednesday Night - Free Night (though I'm going to try to start showing English movies for the students every other Wednesday night

Thursday Night - Rugby Practice

Saturday - Salsa classes

Rugby practice is with some students at school who have a coach and everything. I don't play at their games on Saturday because I'm too old to participate, but I go to practices because it was a really really good work that leaves me exhausted. 

I've also been becoming closer with the other volunteers in Antofagasta who are fun to hang out with. Last week, I also hung out with the brother of one of the rugby players who speaks a little bit of English (because I am in Chile hanging out of course meant that I didn't get back to my house until 5:30).

My Spanish has been improving slowly. I can say a decent amount of things in Spanish (my top 5 list of things I say is si, no, por supesto, lo que sea, y no te preocupe .... the Chilean equivalent of baby has not made the list and I actually don't know how to say it) but my ability to understand what other people say is still fairly limited (it doesn't help that Chileans are considered by other Spanish speakers to have a tendency to mumble). Often though I am able to make out 90% of the words that they say, but am unable to put the words together.

Its a little weird that I was definitely feeling restless in DC, but now that I'm here I'm counting the months until I return to DC.

I'm expecting the next couple of months to be better .... more volunteers are coming to the area, the English debates are going to start soon which will be interesting, and I've got a two week winter break in July.

I've also been trying to figure out what I will being doing for the next couple of years. I'm debating between pursuing a Masters or a PhD in either economics of international development, international development or public policy with a focus on international development. However, I have been having a hard time gaining good information that would help me choose what type of program is best for me. If anyone has any advice for me I would appreciate it.

Last year, I applied to Master programs at SAIS, American University, and at the University of Maryland. I got into American and Maryland and waitlisted at SAIS. I decided to defer from UMD for a year. So what I really trying to figure out is there program that is significantly better for me than UMD's (note: I would qualify as an in-state resident making UMD relatively cheap for me).