You all should have heard from your children by now that we are all safe, sound and far away from this terrible earthquake. We were in Hornopiren, and none of the students even awoke from the slight tremors. Our day proceeded as usual, and we didn’t hear about the earthquake until late afternoon. My heart goes out to the victims of this disaster, and part of me wishes that we were closer so we could help provide some kind of disaster relief.

On a brighter note, our time on the ferry went smoothly, as did our journey to the Futaleufu. Jessica, Stephen, Eric and I played a hearts tournament that lasted 6 hours- seriously! The ferry dropped us in Chaiten- another victim of the harsh geography here in Chile. Chaiten used to be a resort town, until a volcano two years ago buried the town in ash. The photo students captured some vivid images of houses and cars absolutely full of ash, becoming part of the earth with plants sprouting  out of them, the bright green marking a sharp contrast against the grey ash. 

Our campsite near the Futa looks even better than the last! We have our own quincho, with a firepit in the middle. We have a woodstove that we can heat if we want hot showers, and a horse stable in the middle of it all! The students are super eager to get out on the Futa today!

During our stay in Hornopirin it was time to take some landscape photos. I as always have the best and would like to show you. Here they are.

En Español 1 lo que hemos venido haciendo en estas clases es aprender las diferentes palabras en español, para las diferentes situaciones (clima, cuerpo, etc.). Al comienzo de las clases los alumnos realizan una completa presentación (en español) de ellos, incluyendo nombre, familia, edad, deportes, gustos, películas favoritas etc.

También estamos aprendiendo los verbos en presente y pasado.

Español 2: lo que hemos venido haciendo en esta asignatura es trabajar en el libro de español 2 pero en el volumen 2.

Cada cinco clases comenzamos un nuevo proyecto, nuestro ultimo proyecto fue crear una presentación (en español de nuestro campamento base en Pucón).

Actualmente estamos traduciendo la obra los tres cerditos al español.

En Español 3 trabajamos con el libro de español tres. Además creamos proyectos de títeres los cuales presentamos a los demás alumnos, nuestro último proyecto fue la caperucita roja.

Los alumnos trabajan diariamente en verbos en pasado presente y futuro.

Cada tres clases utilizamos una solamente para hablar en español, los alumnos se sientan alrededor del profesor y cuentan su estadía en chile (en español).

En Español 4 lo que hemos venido haciendo en esta clase es poner en práctica todo lo aprendido en los niveles anteriores (español 1, 2,3). La manera utilizada para poner en practica es realizando conversaciones acerca de diferentes temas que los alumnos deben estudiar. En todas las clases de español 4 realizamos largas charlas en español para mejorar la pronunciación.

Los proyectos de este nivel son acerca de turismo, cultura y temas más técnicos.

Nuestro ultimo proyecto fue una entrevista a un empresario de turismo de Pucón.

In Spanish I we have been learning the different words for different situations, like words to describe the weather, the body, etc. At the start of classes, students undertook a comprehensive presentation (in Spanish) of themselves, including name, family, age, sports, tastes, favorite movies and so on.We are also learning the verbs in present and past tenses.

My Spanish II classes are doing very well, and have burned through the first book, moving on to a more advanced text. Each of the Spanish classes have started different projects, in Spanish II we are currently translating the play the ¨Three Little Pigs¨ to Spanish.

In Spanish III the class worked on making a puppet show of ¨Little Red Riding Hood¨, which they performed for the whole school when the visiting parents were in town.
Also, students work daily on verbs in past, present and future tenses, and once every three classes, the students sit and talk about their time in Chile, only in Spanish.

What we have been doing in Spanish IV is to put into practice everything learned in previous levels (Spanish 1, 2,3). The way we put this into practice is by discussions on various topics that students must study. Every day, each student makes long talks in Spanish to improve pronunciation. Projects at this level are about tourism, culture and are more technical. Our last project was an interview with a businessman from tourism in Pucón.

Hey Everyone,

The New River Academy Rio Negro down river race went off very well. Results photo’s and video are to come shortly along with a full report!

Tino

Here at New River we get excited by new things, like this slideshow app!! Yay! its awesome and I would just love to show you it. Are you ready? (P.S. these are just a few photos from the Palguin a few days ago)

The Rio Palguin is a classic run just outside of Pucon. Heading towards Currahue you will see a sign saying Palguin Hostal. Turn up this road. Head up this road for a fair ways and on your right will be a large shoulder on the side of the road. This is the put in. Take the trail on the left side, but be aware as there is a bit of a ledge that you need to get down. It is about 6 feet tall but the rocks are usually very slippery. Cross the land bridge and seal slide in. The first rapid of the run is one of the most technical. it is a double drop with shallow little rapid leading into it. On both of the drops stay on the left side and use a right boof stroke. the next drop has two small holes leading into it and ends with a 12 foot boof around a corner. Hug the left wall around the corner and boof off of the middle right side. Now for a nice 20 footer that can be run on both the left and the right with either a boof or plug. After the pool there is a little rapid that, at high water turns into a nasty hole. at low water run on the left. Now the crack. The next section has three little channels the middle is the crack. Run right down the middle holding your paddle like a spear. the left side can also be run, but it feeds into an undercut so be careful. Now you have the option of two different take outs. hug the left shore and get out before the huge horizon line. this is the Portage drop. You can take out here or throw your boat into the pool below, jump in and continue down a little further. There is a rapid with an under cut wall. After eddy out on the right and find the old wooden ladder. Head back to Pucon and share your stories.

Upper Palguin

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