I have never (nunca) been one who has been lacking for practicality, as I am inherently searching for something that I can use in my life (en mi vida), not merely think about, but apply in a practical way that will help me to learn (aprender) and to grow (crecer). When I teach my classes at the university, many of my students often comment that they have learned (ha aprendido) practical applications that they can immediately implement in the classroom (en el aula), and this is an important goal for me as well, that they have useful materials that are not solely based on theory, but on practice (en practica) as well.
I am also a constructivist by nature, in that I like to have (tener) an experience first and then look to understand (comprender) the content. I have certainly applied that here in Chile, as I literally jumped in with both feet (con dos pies), landing here in Santiago, not unprepared, but somehow hoping that by effort and presence, I might be able to make (hacer) sense of things, even in Spanish. I was at times unprepared for the reality (la realidad) of the content, but did find that in time, with more experience, the information all around me, that was in many ways constant (constante), suddenly began to make sense, whether it was in my professional life at UMCE or on the streets (en las calles) of Santiago and elsewhere in Chile.
As I am preparing to get ready to go (ir) home, to head back to the US, to get back (regresar) to my home university at UTEP and to see (ver) my family and friends, I am reminded that I am still wholeheartedly in Chile at this very moment (en este momento). Sure, I am allowing myself to think (pensar) about my life back in El Paso, about returning to my house, about greeting my dogs (mis perros), which hopefully will not bite me or run away, about seeing my neighbors (mis vecinos) and about getting ready for the Christmas holiday (la Navidad). I mean, I may have begun to plan to get home, maybe even daydream (un sueno del día) about what I will do when I am home, but I have to remember (recordar) that at this point, I am not home, I am still physically here in Chile.
A friend (un amigo) recently asked me if I had 1 foot in Chile and 1 foot (un pie) back home, implying that I was neither here nor there (ni aquí ni allí), but somewhere in between. I had to reply that I am firmly here in Chile, with 2 feet on the ground (dos pies en la tierra), growing where I am planted. I was not trying to be confrontational or even less than truthful (verdadero), as I really feel that way, I am here and when I leave for home, I will not be here. In other words (en otras palabras), I still have opportunities to impact my learning, my life and the situations all around me today (hoy), right where I am, here in Ñuñoa, in Santiago, in Chile.
People talk about living in the moment (el momento), but in reality, living in the moment is at times very difficult (muy difícil), especially if the moment is hard or a more attractive moment is looming close (cerca) on the horizon. I think the big message for me to that you have to grow (crecer) where you are planted, and that your 2 feet on the ground signals your place to be (su lugar para ser). In that regard, I hope to grow a bit more today in Santiago, so that I can live better (vivo mejor) and grow better once I am firmly planted back home (en casa).
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