| This July, Annie Santana, a Spanish teacher | | | | |
| at Mission Bay High School, part of the San | | | | Santana chose Chile, because it is more |
| Diego schools, departed the city and headed | | | | economically stable than other Latin American |
| for the island of Robinson Crusoe, Chile. In | | | | countries. To prepare for her trip to Chile, |
| the seventh year of her career, Santana | | | | she read the "House of Spirits", by Chilean |
| joined the Fulbright teacher exchange | | | | author Isabel Allende. The book aptly |
| program. | | | | portrays the culture in Chile, which is |
| | | | largely influenced by the many German |
| For one year, Santana will teach English as a | | | | immigrants over the years. |
| second language at a Chilean school on the | | | | |
| island; but her students will not be losing | | | | Before leaving in July, Santana remarked of |
| her. A Chilean teacher will be replacing | | | | her interest in experiencing the differences |
| Santana at Mission Bay. While both teachers | | | | between the cultures of the U.S. and Chile. |
| are immersing themselves into their new | | | | She also was excited to see how Chile differs |
| cultures, the students in both countries also | | | | from other Latin American cultures, of which |
| will be exposed through their teachers to a | | | | she is familiar from her own Mexican |
| new cultural experience and another country. | | | | heritage. She also was looking forward to |
| | | | seeing how school operations differ from the |
| Both teachers will have many challenges to | | | | San Diego schools, as well as societal norms |
| face, since there are many differences | | | | and the general day-to-day routines. |
| between the cultures. Chilean classrooms, for | | | | |
| example, are smaller in size than those in | | | | Other differences that Santana and her |
| the San Diego schools. The culture-driven | | | | students back in the San Diego schools will |
| relationships between teacher and student are | | | | experience are the Chilean customs and the |
| much closer in Chile, as well. | | | | difference between the Spanish known and |
| | | | taught by Santana and Chilean Spanish, which |
| Santana initiated the contact with the | | | | has a different accent, slang and word usage. |
| Fulbright teacher exchange program. She | | | | |
| believed that she was ready to advance to the | | | | Santana is scheduled to return to the United |
| next level of cross-cultural experiences by | | | | States and the San Diego schools in July |
| teaching abroad. Santana thoroughly | | | | 2007. Until then, she plans to communicate |
| researched the available options. Many did | | | | with her family, friends, the Chilean |
| not meet her needs, since she would have to | | | | teacher, and her San Diego schools' students |
| give up her teaching position with the San | | | | by way of the Internet. She wants everyone, |
| Diego schools. The Fulbright program best fit | | | | especially her San Diego schools' students, |
| her needs, since the exchange is only for one | | | | to enjoy her adventure with her. It is a |
| year and an exchange teacher will take her | | | | great opportunity for them to experience life |
| place, allowing her to retain her position | | | | outside San Diego. |
| with the San Diego schools. | | | | |