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Posts Tagged ‘gap year abroad’
Final project photo essay
Friday, May 14th, 2010Student Report
Friday, May 7th, 2010The past week and a bit spent on the Ottawa River was pretty great. Garb came in which was a real treat, but is kind of strange for the spring. Baby face, corner wave, and push button were also great practice. The week though was pretty hard academically as most of us were and still are preparing for the AP exams that we we do this week here at Tino’s house. It was also a little hard as Lorenzo was not in the country so his classes had to communicate over webcam. We took a field trip also to the Canadian Technology and Science Museum, and I am sure you have all read the essays that we had to do for homework. The week weather wise was not preferable as there was some rain and there were a few days that were a little cold. We closed the time out with a trip to Niagara Falls where there were helicopters ridden, attractions visited, and falls scouted. That was our time spent.
Its imperative that you work with your captors. A story in the imperative.
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010“Turn that light on.”
“Wake up!”
“Now tell me where you have hidden the gold!”
“Speak up!”
“Now tell me again and DON’T F****** MUMBLE!”
“Shock him.”
“Now tell me if there are traps.”
“Don’t talk to me like that!”
“Now tell me the right answer.”
“Get the bucket and drown him.”
“Let him up.”
“Now tell me about the traps.”
“Give me the right answers and get out of here quicker.”
“Now tell me how to disarm the traps.”
“I said speak up!”
“Now tell me again or things will get a lot worse.”
“Get me some pliers.”
“Now tell me what to do when I get into the cave.”
“Pull out his teeth.”
“Stop struggling or the pliers might slip.”
“Clean up that blood and tell me how to reach the gold.”
“DON’T F****** LIE TO ME!”
“Now tell me, was that so hard?”
“Untie him and throw him over board.”
“Don’t talk back to me. Understand that he is no longer useful to us.”
“Return to your posts and get this ship moving.”
“Understand that we will find that gold.”
Canada is a country too, eh?
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010The other day we took a field trip. We went to Ottawa, our nations proud capitol. Everyone was all excited because they wanted to see our parliament building that was made out of ice. They were however mad too though because they thought that Canada did not have roads yet so that it may take us a while to get there. They also were wondering about the lack of dog sleds in summer. Nothing Jess or I said or did would convince them of the fact that Canada is a well functioning country with advanced modern infrastructure and a nice list of achievements. We arrived at the Canadian Technologic and Science Museum. Every one was shocked at how every thing here was as nice or nicer, more like nicer than in the States. The museum itself was pretty sweet as there were many cool exhibits on Canadian achievements. I liked the trains. They were big. There were also sections on things like Canadian Space travel, the Canoe, and the first nuclear reactor in Canada, which I believe we had before the States. I enjoyed the exhibit on all the things that we invented, like the snowmobile, basket ball and a way to effectively produce insulin for diabetics. Every one seemed to become more accepting of how Canada was actually a country and they became less ignorant. However I think that most everyone thought of it as a joke. I don’t think that that is how you should treat your neighbor. Do you? Mostly I think it is from jealousy or something else along those lines. All that I have to say to them is: Stop making fun of us, eh? We know all aboot stuff, Ok, buddy? So stop. Please?
God save the Queen! And I will see you on the water!
Abstract Attack
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010The recent photo project by Matt Hill about abstract photography. I think these images are pretty sweet.
See you on the water!
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Rio Negro, Hornopiren
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Lorenzo en el Rio Negro
Katie Kowalski
hanging out in camp
Every morning, the students emerge from their cozy tents, tucked away in the security of the mossy trees. Our campsite here in Hornopiren is perched atop a grassy knoll that slopes gently downward into a craggy ravine, directly to a gorgeously turquoise 10-foot waterfall. This waterfall makes up one of three that we have been running on the Rio Negro, whose tantalizing whitewater is so close to our tents that we can hear it in our dreams. We are enjoying the wonderful countryside hospitality of our host, Dona Tato, who has been serving up three delicious meals a day- she is even spoiling us with homemade pastries for breakfast. Nights are rolling away while we congregate around the campfire, singing along to Tino and Matti’s guitar and Andy’s fiddle. Lorenzo’s ghost stories have us all convinced that his family’s home is haunted.
Weather has been delightful- sunny, warm, perfect, and has allowed for our classes to cluster around the funky, hand-made wooden tables in the yard. My AP English students had a fun project this week, where they learned the importance of being familiar with both sides of an arguement before taking a stance on it. I had them prepare to write a persuasive essay on a controversial topic, repeatedly warning them to investigate the opposition’s viewpoint as well. When the day of the in-class essay arrived, the looks of horror on their faces revealed my sneaky plan. That’s right, they had one hour to write an essay that was exactly the opposite of the thesis they had planned. Matt’s photo classes have been utilizing the gorgeous sunsets and surrounding countryside to explore the world of landscape photography. Taylor and Eric made slideshows showcasing Al Capone and the Flapper era for Tino’s history class.
Today we had a race down the Rio Negro, on a small section beginning with a 25-foot waterfall and ending with a bang as the students landed that boof from the top of the 10-footer. What a great way to end our time in Hornopiren. I left the students back at camp, packing up their tents and gear bags, preparing to rise and shine at 5:30 am tomorrow. We will get on an eight hour ferry to Chaiten, where we will be about two hours away from the town of Futaleafu. I’m sure everyone shares my excitement in experiencing this legendary river!
Charming Chosuenco and the Furious Fuy
Saturday, February 6th, 2010We are about 3/4 of the way through our stay in quaint little Choshuenco. New to this year is a paved main street as well as paved sections of road on the way into the town. We are staying at La Posada a small hostel right in the middle of town. There is a large beach here lake side and a pretty frickin sweet rusted up old boat. We have however not only brought the party to this town, but also the rain. It has rained here non-stop since day two and there are no signs of it lightening up.
The Fuy is definitely a highlight of this little venture. There are three sections to this river. The upper is a mixture of steep rapids and waterfalls highlighted by the park and huck 25 footer. The middle and lower are both boulder garden type drops. The middle and lower sections can be run one to the other however to run the upper into everything else may be a bit of a venture.
Yesterday we took a small break from the river and went to Huilo-Huilo private park or something like that, I don’t think it was a national park. There was 2 huge waterfalls one a 130 footer and the other a 90 footer called Salto de Puma.
See you on the water!
Immersion Research Update | Kayak School in Chile
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Over Christmas break I decided to stay in Chile with alumni, Jake Greenbaum. Here is a video presented by IR of 2 month vacation.
IR Update in Chile from stephen forster on Vimeo.
Rio Petrohue
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010This was mapped by Matt Smink while I was on break in the states. To get to the Rio Petrohue from Puerto Varas drive east around Lago Llanquihue. After reaching Ensenada, continue east 16 km into the park and the outlet to Lago Todos los Santos. Most of the Petrohue run is roadside. There is one section that is a national park, and is illegal to boat.
Petrohue Shuttle
First Week in Pucon! | New River Academy
Sunday, January 31st, 2010Dear Parents,
Wow, I can’t believe that we are already finishing the first week of school down here in Pucon! Through ironing out the schedule, getting bodies ready for the river and minds ready for class, I have managed to get acquainted with all of my new students!! My name is Callie, and I am the new Literature teacher and Public Relations Coordinator. I will be keeping you updated on the happenings throughout our time in Chile, and am happy to chat with any of you at any time. You can read a more detailed account of my life on the staff web page, but here’s a quick summary: I grew up in Southern California, studied literature and international relations at the University of Salamanca, in Spain, and at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. International travel and playing outside are my passions. I am super excited about joining NRA, and know from the first week that I am going to love this job!
Also joining us this semester is Lorenzo, our new Spanish teacher and native Chilean. Lorenzo loves all sports, and is a member of the Chilean National Rafting Team, which took him to the World Cup in Bosnia, where his team placed second. He has been involved with whitewater his whole life; his family owns a prominent rafting and eco-tourism company on the Rio Maipo. He also obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in eco-tourism. We are all excited about the kids learning Spanish from a native speaker.
Four days ago, I went with Dave to collect the kids from the airport, and knew that I would soon fall in love with this program. Even after a long flight, the kids all eagerly introduced themselves and welcomed me. Four days into the quarter, I already feel like we have become friends, and can’t wait to gain their confidence further.
To some students’ dismay, today is rainy; Andy has lured them out from the cover of the quincho to collect firewood to finish cooking our traditional Chilean lunch, pastel de choclo. The fire is growing and we are all preparing to enjoy a tasty lunch, tucked away in the comfort of the fire-warmed quincho. I’m in love with this place already. In a couple days, we leave for Choshuenco, to run the Rio Fuy, where I will update you again of our explorations here in Chile!
Callie
New River Academy
Rt. 2 Box 245
Fayetteville, WV 25484
(304)- 574-0403
Fax: (304) 513-2247
New River
Academy
