Kids’ Field Note

Create Field Note – Kids Lives

A day in the life of Camila

By Michele Brownell

Vina del Mar, Chile

March 28, 2013 9:24 p.m.

This is a day in the life of my host sister Camilla.  Keep reading to discover the average life of a teenager in Chile!

This is an interview with my sixteen year old host sister Camila.  She is a student at the colegio here and is in the 11th grade.  The children here go to pre-school until the age of five years old. Children who are between six and thirteen years old go to primary school, which is divided into eight grade levels.  Next is secondary school, which is for students between the ages of fourteen and seventeen years old. Secondary school is divided into four grade levels.  So, there are a total of 12 grades here, like in the U.S.

All children have access to a free education here through secondary school, but there are private schools. Sadly, the free schools are not considered the best schools. So, if a family can afford to send their child to a better school, they will pay the money. The colegio that Camila attends costs about one hundred U.S. dollars a month, which is about a thousand a school year. This is not one of the most expensive schools. Other private schools cost three hundred to five hundred a month.

What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

I have a glass of milk for breakfast.  For lunch I eat at the school and we have different things for lunch like lasagna, chicken or meat with vegetables and salad.  I usually drink juice with my lunch.  I eat dinner with my mother and Michele at our apartment.  We have different things for dinner like chicken,  spaghetti, sushi, fish, soup and sandwiches.  Almost every dinner is served with salad.

What is your house like and is this the only place you have ever lived?  If not describe a past house.

The apartment is the only place I have ever lived.  It is four bedrooms and on the fourth floor.

What chores do you have at home?

I do not have chores my mother takes care of all the house work.  I am responsible for making my bed in the morning and helping out around the house and with preparing dinner when needed.

What job did your father have and what does your mother do?

Her father is deceased, but he was a banker.  My mother Patty is a homemaker.

What time does school start and what time do you go home?

School starts at 8 am and ends at 4:15 pm.

How do you get to school? Are you allowed to go to school by yourself?  Since what age?

I take the city bus to school and have been taking the bus alone to school since I was fourteen years old.

Where do you eat lunch?  What is your favorite food?

I eat at lunch at a table at the colegio and my favorite food is spaghetti and chocolate.

What language do you speak at your school?  How do you say “Hello” in your language?

We speak Spanish at school.  “Hola!” is how you say hello in Spanish and “Chao!” is goodbye.

What are some common kids’ names at your school?

Belen, Ademir, Gonzalo(2), Camila (2),  Rocio,  Noemi, Scarlett, Tamara, Francisca, Tomas, Paulina, Catalina, Paola, Luis,  Gabriel, Elias, Natalie, Felipe,  Javiera, Monserrat,  Eduardo, Alonso, Lucas, Nicolas, Constanza,  Matias and Mauro.  These are the kids in her class and the ones with 2 mean there are two students with those names.


English, math, history, grammer, music, art, chemistry, physical education (P.E.), biology, geomerty and religion.  English is my favorite class.

What is your homework like?

Depends on the class and if we have tests or projects due.  Sometimes I have a lot of homework and sometimes not that much, but I always have homework.


I like to use the internet or listen to music after school.  I also like to play basketball with my friends at school.

Who is your favorite famous person?

Justin Bieber

What kinds of music do you listen to?

Justin Bieber, Matt Hunter, Prince Royce, Daddy yankee, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ne-yo, Usher, One Direction, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Michael Jackson, Cher Lloyd, etc

What would you like to be when you grow up?

I would like to be a professional working with languages or a computer engineer.


I would go to America and would like to go to California or Florida.

What do you know or think about the United States?

I think it is pretty and offers a lot of opportunities.

What questions do you have for kids in the United States?

What do you do in your free time?

What would you like to be when you grow up?

What do you think of Chile so far?

How is it different then where you are?



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