Thursday, September 20, 2007 Not the 7th day, but still a day of rest
Since today was my one day between Fiestas Patrias and more traveling, I needed to take advantage of it and get some work done. I spent the morning doing an assignment for my education class. During almuerzo the mailman came by and dropped of a package my mom sent me! It was full of good old American treats: Pop Tarts, animal crackers, Care Bare fruit snacks, a slinky, and letters from home. I was thrilled to get it and had a great time explaining everything to Olga. She had never seen Pop Tarts or animal crackers or a slinky (which apparently they don’t have in Chile).
Afterwards I went to a chapel nearby to pray and came back feeling refreshed. I frantically worked on a 4 page essay that was due the following Monday until 6, when I had once with Olga. She wanted to make sure I was well fed before my trip and insisted that we ate.
We went to mass together at 7 and towards the end of mass I started feeling a little ill. When we got back to the apartment I told Olga that my stomach hurt and within the next 20 minutes or so I felt horrible. Olga of course had tons of remedies that she was sure would help immediately and for the next few hours I laid curled up in bed while she brought me various tea concoctions. I forced them down, but wasn’t feeling any better. I knew that if I got sick I would feel better, but I couldn’t. Olga kept telling me to try and burp or fart and we laughed together whenever I joyfully updated her on my “gas releasing” process. We tried to figure out why I had suddenly gotten so sick and I knew it was something I’d ate or drank. Since that day I’d only eaten with Olga, I figured it was the meat or something. But Olga swore it was because I’d drunk water while I ate my empanada at once. She said that no one ever drinks water when they eat empanadas and she had thought about warning me against it but didn’t say anything. I just smiled and agreed, but I knew it couldn’t be the combination of food and water.
(Post Script: I’m not quite sure what made me so sick, but I think that it was the water. The water from the tap is some of the best in Latin America, but sometimes, like anywhere, it can have impurities. I drank some of the same water later on, which I had brought with me to La Serena in my water bottle and I felt a little sick again. But don’t worry, I’ve been drinking the tap water again and I’ve felt completely fine. I think it was just a freak accident. But the good news from it all: I now have absolutely no desire to ever eat an empanada ever again.)
Since I was getting on another bus at midnight for a 7 hour ride, I was quite anxious to get this issue taken care of. I was slowly getting better, but not quick enough when Olga remembered some root extract or something that she swore would help. The mysterious dark liquid tasted horrible and I still didn’t feel much better but around 10:45 I headed out to meet Sam and Calli at the bus station. While we waited for the bus, I paced the station and prayed I would be better when I got on the bus. At one point I almost did throw up, but unfortunately I wasn’t near a bathroom so I couldn’t. Anyway, I’ll move on. Sorry about the unnecessary details. This is more for my sake so that when I reread it in 20 years I remember my agony!!
So I wasn’t feeling so hot but poor Sam told us that a few hours early she had talked to her mother (her real mom) and found out that her great aunt had a terrible stroke and wasn’t doing very well. They told Sam that she didn’t have long to live and there was really nothing they could do. Her great aunt had been like a grandmother to her and they had been very close, so Sam took the news really hard. I could tell she was really upset and hated that we were starting our trip to La Serena this way. But at midnight we got on the bus and I fell asleep as soon as I could.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 FIESTAS PATRIAS Part II: Día del Ejercicio
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 FIESTAS PATRIAS Part II: Día del Ejercicio (Military Day)
I walked home from Calli’s around 10:45 and on my way home along Alameda I was interrupted by a military parade!! I’m not sure what branch, but I think it was the Marines. Amazingly, I was able to walk right along side them on my way. There were many people watching and others walking along like me. There were well over 300 soldiers (in handsome white uniforms), a band, and horses. I felt like I was being royally escorted home!
I ditched the parade a few blocks from my house. I hung out till about 1:30 when Olga and I began the long trek to Rino’s house for the barbeque. We met up with Mario and when we got to the house, Rino was in the backyard with a grill full of pork chops. I joked that there was enough pork chops to feed 20 people and Rino laughed and pointed to the raw beef steaks on the side waiting to cook. Then he opened a huge pot on the other side full of grilled chicken. Then he laughed again and told me the chorizo was still in the kitchen. So there literally was enough food to feed 20 people! Back in the kitchen, Olga and Evan were busy preparing all the salads: grilled potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, pickled veggies, some type of seafood mussel thing, and probably more that I can’t remember now. All of this for 5 adults and a 6 year old. Basically the Chileans know how to celebrate their Fiestas!!
While we were waiting for all the meat to cook, Mario passes around Pisco Sours. I tried to politely decline but he insisted, so I began slowly sipping the national drink. But I honestly could not drink it, so after about half an hour I sneaked into the kitchen and asked Olga to switch with me. She had almost finished hers and was surprisingly pleased to take my full glass!! Later I went with Mario and Miguel to fly a kite that they had bought and Mario stringed himself. The kites are super popular during Fiestas Patrias and the little park by there house was full of kids and adults flying their kites. But we had a little trouble because the wind was pretty random and we didn’t have much room, so despite our best efforts we couldn’t get the little guy to stay up for long. So we headed back to the house. I ended up playing soccer then tag with Miguel until the food was ready.
When we sat down to eat, both Olga and Evan’s faces were a bit flushed and they were both quite happy. (I think they’d been sipping more pisco while they were cooking, but I loved it!!) Rino began the feast by piling more meat than I could eat in a week on his plate. Over the next hour and a half, we sat around the table laughing, eating, and watching the Military Parade in Parque O’Higgins on the TV. After Rino and Mario finished their mound of meat, they went for a second helping (and more later). I think I might have disappointed them because I didn’t eat much compared to them. But I was stuffed and realized that it isn’t only the Midwest that knows how to barbeque!
The best parts of the meal: 1. When Mario told Olga that she lets her mouth run when she’s had too much to drink. It wasn’t mean, just funny. 2. Someone started telling a story about when Miguel was only 3 years old he somehow memorized the words to the song called “Misioneros”. Apparently one day he started singing it and everyone was very impressed. I asked how the song went and Olga started signing. Turns out that it is one of the songs we sang on our mission trip to Honduras, so I knew it as well!! So while we all digested, we sang hymns and other church songs from a notebook that hand a ton of songs handwritten inside!
Afterwards the men went to nap and Olga, Evan and I sat at the table and talked. Once Miguel got antsy enough, we all went to the park again to try to fly the kite. Eventually Rino made it work, but Olga and I headed back early because it had gotten really cold. Around 7 we ate once, but I don’t know how anyone managed to eat anything. I stuck with tea and a little bread and swore I wouldn’t have to eat for a week! After once we all piled into the car and Rino drove us to the metro station.
We got home a little after 8 and I was torn between wanting to go out and celebrate the last night of Fiestas Patrias and being so exhausted that I just wanted to go to bed. I told Olga my dilemma and she proposed that if my friends call me and have some interesting plans, I should go. But if no one calls, I’ll stay in. It sounded good to me since I didn’t really care either way. So I climbed into bed and started working a little and ended up talking to Trevor till about 3 am. And since, like always, everyone waits for everyone else to initiate the plan making, no one called and I enjoyed my relaxing night.
I walked home from Calli’s around 10:45 and on my way home along Alameda I was interrupted by a military parade!! I’m not sure what branch, but I think it was the Marines. Amazingly, I was able to walk right along side them on my way. There were many people watching and others walking along like me. There were well over 300 soldiers (in handsome white uniforms), a band, and horses. I felt like I was being royally escorted home!
I ditched the parade a few blocks from my house. I hung out till about 1:30 when Olga and I began the long trek to Rino’s house for the barbeque. We met up with Mario and when we got to the house, Rino was in the backyard with a grill full of pork chops. I joked that there was enough pork chops to feed 20 people and Rino laughed and pointed to the raw beef steaks on the side waiting to cook. Then he opened a huge pot on the other side full of grilled chicken. Then he laughed again and told me the chorizo was still in the kitchen. So there literally was enough food to feed 20 people! Back in the kitchen, Olga and Evan were busy preparing all the salads: grilled potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, pickled veggies, some type of seafood mussel thing, and probably more that I can’t remember now. All of this for 5 adults and a 6 year old. Basically the Chileans know how to celebrate their Fiestas!!
While we were waiting for all the meat to cook, Mario passes around Pisco Sours. I tried to politely decline but he insisted, so I began slowly sipping the national drink. But I honestly could not drink it, so after about half an hour I sneaked into the kitchen and asked Olga to switch with me. She had almost finished hers and was surprisingly pleased to take my full glass!! Later I went with Mario and Miguel to fly a kite that they had bought and Mario stringed himself. The kites are super popular during Fiestas Patrias and the little park by there house was full of kids and adults flying their kites. But we had a little trouble because the wind was pretty random and we didn’t have much room, so despite our best efforts we couldn’t get the little guy to stay up for long. So we headed back to the house. I ended up playing soccer then tag with Miguel until the food was ready.
When we sat down to eat, both Olga and Evan’s faces were a bit flushed and they were both quite happy. (I think they’d been sipping more pisco while they were cooking, but I loved it!!) Rino began the feast by piling more meat than I could eat in a week on his plate. Over the next hour and a half, we sat around the table laughing, eating, and watching the Military Parade in Parque O’Higgins on the TV. After Rino and Mario finished their mound of meat, they went for a second helping (and more later). I think I might have disappointed them because I didn’t eat much compared to them. But I was stuffed and realized that it isn’t only the Midwest that knows how to barbeque!
The best parts of the meal: 1. When Mario told Olga that she lets her mouth run when she’s had too much to drink. It wasn’t mean, just funny. 2. Someone started telling a story about when Miguel was only 3 years old he somehow memorized the words to the song called “Misioneros”. Apparently one day he started singing it and everyone was very impressed. I asked how the song went and Olga started signing. Turns out that it is one of the songs we sang on our mission trip to Honduras, so I knew it as well!! So while we all digested, we sang hymns and other church songs from a notebook that hand a ton of songs handwritten inside!
Afterwards the men went to nap and Olga, Evan and I sat at the table and talked. Once Miguel got antsy enough, we all went to the park again to try to fly the kite. Eventually Rino made it work, but Olga and I headed back early because it had gotten really cold. Around 7 we ate once, but I don’t know how anyone managed to eat anything. I stuck with tea and a little bread and swore I wouldn’t have to eat for a week! After once we all piled into the car and Rino drove us to the metro station.
We got home a little after 8 and I was torn between wanting to go out and celebrate the last night of Fiestas Patrias and being so exhausted that I just wanted to go to bed. I told Olga my dilemma and she proposed that if my friends call me and have some interesting plans, I should go. But if no one calls, I’ll stay in. It sounded good to me since I didn’t really care either way. So I climbed into bed and started working a little and ended up talking to Trevor till about 3 am. And since, like always, everyone waits for everyone else to initiate the plan making, no one called and I enjoyed my relaxing night.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 FIESTAS PATRIAS Part I: Día de Independencia
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 FIESTAS PATRIAS Part I: Día de Independencia
(Independence Day)
First of all: Sorry I’ve taken so long to update my blog. I know I’m more than a week behind, but after all this traveling I made the executive decision to catch up on school work before catching up on my journaling. So now I’ve got the weekend (still with a lot of school work) to fill everyone in on the last week.
(Independence Day)
First of all: Sorry I’ve taken so long to update my blog. I know I’m more than a week behind, but after all this traveling I made the executive decision to catch up on school work before catching up on my journaling. So now I’ve got the weekend (still with a lot of school work) to fill everyone in on the last week.
So as you can guess, I woke up Tuesday morning still on the bus. By this point I was super ready to be on solid ground and stay there for a few days. Since we’d had all the problems the night before, we ended up getting to the bus station in Santiago around noon, instead of 10:00 like we should have. I was really antsy and couldn’t wait to get out in the town to celebrate Dieciocho. (It means eighteen and it’s basically like saying The Fourth.)
When I got back to the house, I greeted a patiently waiting Olga, took a shower, and cleaned up. Afterward assuring Olga that I didn’t need lunch, I met Calli at La Moneda (the capital building). They were having concerts and performances in the cultural center all day so we decided to check it out before heading to the Fondas (the huge festivals, I’ll explain later.) We watched a comical, interactive clown performance then a huge group of singers and musicians from the Canary Islands (off the coast of Spain) performed. I thought it was ironic that on Chile’s day of independence from Spain, we listened to traditional Spanish music.
After the concert Calli and I walked about 25 minutes to Parque (Park) O’Higgins, the park by my house where I always go running. As we got closer, I realized that the place had transformed from a quite, peaceful park to a bustling, chaotic festival. The Fonda at Parque O’Higgins is the biggest in Santiago and is free, and I felt like everyone in Santiago was there. Calli and I had a great time walking around admiring the families picnicking, children flying kites, millions of food and drink vendors, teenage couples making out, random music and dance performances, everything. The park is huge and every inch was full. We made sure to try all the traditional Chilean Fiestas Patrias food: empanadas, anticacho (meat kabobs), pineapple juice with pineapple ice cream, candied apples, and churros. It sounds like a lot but we shared almost everything and it only cost each of us $4. Imagine if we’d bought all that at a festival in the states!
After about 2 hours of walking around and stuffing ourselves we found a quiet place it sit and people watch. But we quickly realized that the sun was going down and the park was only getting more and more crowded, so we walked home. I didn’t want to leave because we’d only been there two hours, but I’ve come to learn that I’m not the party animal I thought I was and that I only like huge crowds for short periods of time.
We both went home to regroup and decide what to do next. At 7 we met back up at La Moneda for another concert we wanted to go to. It was a fun hybrid group of Chilean folk music, blues, jazz, and funk. They were great and unfortunately played for only about 35 minutes. But they finished the concert with a great cueca (the national dance) and a young couple from the crowd danced for everyone. It was the best cueca I’d seen: exciting, a little sexy, and much more entertaining than the traditional cuecas.
Calli and I walked back to my house, picking up Hanna at the metro on the way. We all ate once at my apartment with Olga, who was thrilled to entertain and meet my friends. We had Olga’s homemade empanadas, which were honestly the best empanadas I’d eaten. And I’m not just saying that. Then the three of us took the metro to Calli’s empty apartment because her family had all gone to the beach for the Fiestas Patrias. We were going to meet up with friends and go to another Fonda in the city (there is one in every comuna (neighborhood) and the others are supposed to be safer at night than the one at Parque O’Higgins). But our friends took forever to get to the house and by the time they arrived we were all exhausted from the traveling and lack of sleep. So we decided to just hang out and play cards. Luckily it was a good mix of Chileans and gringos, so we spoke in Spanish. We ended up having some great conversations and staying up till 3:30. The boys headed home and the girls spent the night at Calli’s. Yet another night not in my own bed, but well worth it.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007 Puerto Varas, Frutillar, and a sad goodbye to one ofthe most beautiful places on Earth
Monday, September 17, 2007 Puerto Varas, Frutillar, and a sad goodbye to one ofthe most beautiful places on Earth
Again we woke up early and everyone ate breakfast on their own. No one really knew exactly what to do for the day. There is plenty to do but (Climb the volcano, skiing, zip lining through the forests, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, etc. etc.) but it’s all really expensive. We wanted to go kayaking which we heard wasn’t expensive, but we found out that they only do it in the summer. So I talked with the owner of the hostel, a super nice guy, and he showed gave me an awesome map of Puerto Varas and showed me a nice walk around the town. I wanted to go with a small group, but since no one else knew what to do, they all ended up following me. It was fine, but I got a little stressed having to play tour guide and after a while some one started calling me “troop leader” like the girl scouts. I apologized for getting snappy, but everyone told me it was cool because they just appreciated the fact that someone took the initiative to figure out something to do! So we hiked Cerro Philippi, a hill that looks out over the city and gives an incredible view of the volcano and lake. On top of the hill are a huge steel cross and the beginning of the zip line. Instead of walking down the hill on the trail we used to hike up, we found a more exciting old mountain biking trail. We started hiking down and it quickly became much steeper then we’d imagined and we ended up sliding and skidding down. It was quite exciting but we were lucky to not have any broken bones!
After surviving the last of our now habitual trail blazing, we walked around the town, ending up at the well known Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon (Church of the Sacred Heart), a beautiful Catholic church modeled after a famous German church. We wanted to go inside to see, but as the blob of 10 loud gringos approached we realized that something was going on inside. It was only about 11:15 am, so I couldn’t image what. I peaked in while everyone waited out front and saw the church packed with well dressed people and the alter full of very formal looking people including many priests and men in military uniforms. I asked a woman out front what exactly was going on and she told me it was the Te Deaus and that it would only last about 20 more minutes. I didn’t really understand but asked if we could go in and in a surprised tone, said, “Of Course!!”. So a few brave souls went with me while everyone else (not the church going type) decided to wait outside.
Inside, I quickly realized that it was definitely not a normal mass. The church was full of people in military uniforms, so I figured it was something for Fiestas Patrias. They began a long series of prayers for various things in the city and country (the poor, the military, the education system, the churches, etc.) each one presented by an apparently important person in the city and followed by an Alleluias by an incredible choir. They then did a presentation of the offerings, but with leavened bread and a bottle of wine, yet another sign that it wasn’t a normal mass. After an Our Father and Sign of the Peace, there was a procession of various important people. When I figured the priest would begin the Eucharistic Rites, he announced that a group of young teens would be doing a Cueca performance (the national dance)! After the dance, they sang the Chilean national anthem, which I had yet to hear. Finally, everyone processed out of the church. I was completely confused and while we were waiting to leave I asked the family behind us what exactly had just happened. The mother again said it was the Te Deus, which is a ceremony in every city, usually on the 18th of September to celebrate and pray for the country. All the important people go and it’s always quite a show. She said that Puerto Varas always does their Te Deus on the 17th because on the 18th Puerto Montt has their Te Deus and they don’t want to compete. Overall, it was yet another, “I can’t believe I’m seeing and experiencing this! What luck!” We had literally just stumbled onto the church just at the right time! I love it!
After our incredible Chilean experience, Courtney and I decided to skip lunch with the group and head to the big tent set up in the town. We realized later that the tent was the town’s Fonda (the big party in every town to celebrate Fiestas Patrias. It usually includes food vendors, artisans, etc. with concerts and dances the entire week). So we went to the tent and bought anticachos, delicious meat kabobs with steak, chicken, chorizo, onions, etc. For dessert, I ate Mote con Huesillo, a delicious drink type dessert with a peach type fruit in juice with an oatmeal type grain at the bottom. It’s really different but delicious. Courtney bought kuchen, a German strudel cake that is really popular in the South.
While Courtney was buying the kuchen, a woman working there starting talking to us about the lies told about Chile outside of Chile. To summarize:
1. Pinochet was the best thing that ever happened to Chile.
2. Salvador Allende was the worst, most shameful person every to live. (Pretty much a direct quote)
3. Robert Kennedy said that the world needed Democracy in Latin America. But Democracy will never work in Latin America and now we are seeing the repercussions of that grave mistake.
4. The current government steals from the people everyday and there has never been more delinquency in Chile.
5. We must not believe the lies people tell about Pinochet and his regime and we must know that any good, respectable Chilean would support Pinochet with their life.
6. We must spread this news to the entire world and ensure that people know “the truth” about Chile.
Courtney and I just smiled and nodded, while inside I was somewhat frightened. I’ve never seen someone so passionate about what they were saying. In fact, I was afraid she was going to start either crying or screaming. So once we got a chance, we thanked her and quickly walked away. We both just looked at each other with the, “Can you believe what we just heard?” look.
After lunch Courtney and I met up with the rest of the group who had been watching the military parade through the streets. We caught the end of it and I wasn’t too disappointed that I’d missed it. Everyone decided we wanted to try to find a place to go kayaking, but after a few tries and finding everything was closed, we decided to visit a nearby town called Frutillar. It is a tiny German village 30 km north of Puerto Varas also on Lake Llanquihue that is famous for its music and beautiful concert hall that is still under construction. Seven of us took a minibus about 40 minutes to Frutillar and again I immediately fell in love. The beach there is beautiful and has an incredible view of Volcano Osorno. We walked along the beach, stopping at the play ground to swing and climb trees. Then we continued to the Concert Hall. It is out over the water and an incredible piece of architecture. It is still being built, but the part that is finished is open with different art exhibits, a swanky café and a small concert hall. So we walked around and admired the view, the art, and dreamed of one day going to a concert there. At this point my head was about to explode trying to take in everything.
We walked to the edge of town attempting to go to another Natural Reserve run by the University of Chile. We walked about half a mile along a path through a beautiful forest till we reached the Reserve. Unfortunately it was closed, but we enjoyed the excursion anyway. We walked back and jumped on a bus back to Puerto Varas. Along the way we planned the dinner we decided to cook ourselves: Chicken Stir-fry with Kuchen for dessert! We bought the groceries and by the time we left the grocery store it was pouring outside. We ran back to the hostel, dried off and began cooking. I let everyone else cram into the tiny kitchen, knowing I wouldn’t be much help.
While the food was cooking, I talked to a French man staying in our hostel that was on a 7 month tour around the world. For $3000 he had purchased essentially a plane ticket for one year all the way around the globe. As long as he travels one direction (always to the east) he can keep flying. He had started in May, after being fired/quitting his job but receiving a nice severance package, which was apparently enough to fund his adventure! He spoke French, English and Spanish, but he wanted to speak in Spanish since we were in Chile! We invited him to join our feast and after a long but well worth it wait, we all stuffed ourselves. I was quite impressed with the cooks.
When the 7 of us and our French friend had finished, the other group came back from Frutillar. They had bought empanadas and precooked dinners at the grocery store and looked rather envious of our feast. I did the dishes since I hadn’t cooked and afterwards played an intense game of Chinese checkers with pruney hands. I’m proud to say I beat the other 3 boys, including Tom, who goes to an Ivy League. I didn’t have time to rub it in because as soon as I won I had to repack my bag, say a quick goodbye, and run to the bus stop.
I was really sad to leave the south and to say goodbye to by travel buddies. I had fallen in love with the beauty and calm of the south and wasn't quite ready to be back in the hustle and bustle of the city. And my friends were staying for a few more days, but since Calli, Hanna and I had planned be in Santiago for Fiestas Patrias, we took the bus back to Santiago at 9:30. On the bus, I immediately fell into a deep sleep until around 11:30 when the conductor woke us up to tell us we had to get off. Apparently there was a problem with the lights on the bus and we waited about 25 minutes for a different bus. I wasn’t a happy camper knowing the problem cost us almost 2 hours total since we had to go out of the way to change buses. But once we got on the new bus, I fell back asleep.
Again we woke up early and everyone ate breakfast on their own. No one really knew exactly what to do for the day. There is plenty to do but (Climb the volcano, skiing, zip lining through the forests, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, etc. etc.) but it’s all really expensive. We wanted to go kayaking which we heard wasn’t expensive, but we found out that they only do it in the summer. So I talked with the owner of the hostel, a super nice guy, and he showed gave me an awesome map of Puerto Varas and showed me a nice walk around the town. I wanted to go with a small group, but since no one else knew what to do, they all ended up following me. It was fine, but I got a little stressed having to play tour guide and after a while some one started calling me “troop leader” like the girl scouts. I apologized for getting snappy, but everyone told me it was cool because they just appreciated the fact that someone took the initiative to figure out something to do! So we hiked Cerro Philippi, a hill that looks out over the city and gives an incredible view of the volcano and lake. On top of the hill are a huge steel cross and the beginning of the zip line. Instead of walking down the hill on the trail we used to hike up, we found a more exciting old mountain biking trail. We started hiking down and it quickly became much steeper then we’d imagined and we ended up sliding and skidding down. It was quite exciting but we were lucky to not have any broken bones!
After surviving the last of our now habitual trail blazing, we walked around the town, ending up at the well known Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon (Church of the Sacred Heart), a beautiful Catholic church modeled after a famous German church. We wanted to go inside to see, but as the blob of 10 loud gringos approached we realized that something was going on inside. It was only about 11:15 am, so I couldn’t image what. I peaked in while everyone waited out front and saw the church packed with well dressed people and the alter full of very formal looking people including many priests and men in military uniforms. I asked a woman out front what exactly was going on and she told me it was the Te Deaus and that it would only last about 20 more minutes. I didn’t really understand but asked if we could go in and in a surprised tone, said, “Of Course!!”. So a few brave souls went with me while everyone else (not the church going type) decided to wait outside.
Inside, I quickly realized that it was definitely not a normal mass. The church was full of people in military uniforms, so I figured it was something for Fiestas Patrias. They began a long series of prayers for various things in the city and country (the poor, the military, the education system, the churches, etc.) each one presented by an apparently important person in the city and followed by an Alleluias by an incredible choir. They then did a presentation of the offerings, but with leavened bread and a bottle of wine, yet another sign that it wasn’t a normal mass. After an Our Father and Sign of the Peace, there was a procession of various important people. When I figured the priest would begin the Eucharistic Rites, he announced that a group of young teens would be doing a Cueca performance (the national dance)! After the dance, they sang the Chilean national anthem, which I had yet to hear. Finally, everyone processed out of the church. I was completely confused and while we were waiting to leave I asked the family behind us what exactly had just happened. The mother again said it was the Te Deus, which is a ceremony in every city, usually on the 18th of September to celebrate and pray for the country. All the important people go and it’s always quite a show. She said that Puerto Varas always does their Te Deus on the 17th because on the 18th Puerto Montt has their Te Deus and they don’t want to compete. Overall, it was yet another, “I can’t believe I’m seeing and experiencing this! What luck!” We had literally just stumbled onto the church just at the right time! I love it!
After our incredible Chilean experience, Courtney and I decided to skip lunch with the group and head to the big tent set up in the town. We realized later that the tent was the town’s Fonda (the big party in every town to celebrate Fiestas Patrias. It usually includes food vendors, artisans, etc. with concerts and dances the entire week). So we went to the tent and bought anticachos, delicious meat kabobs with steak, chicken, chorizo, onions, etc. For dessert, I ate Mote con Huesillo, a delicious drink type dessert with a peach type fruit in juice with an oatmeal type grain at the bottom. It’s really different but delicious. Courtney bought kuchen, a German strudel cake that is really popular in the South.
While Courtney was buying the kuchen, a woman working there starting talking to us about the lies told about Chile outside of Chile. To summarize:
1. Pinochet was the best thing that ever happened to Chile.
2. Salvador Allende was the worst, most shameful person every to live. (Pretty much a direct quote)
3. Robert Kennedy said that the world needed Democracy in Latin America. But Democracy will never work in Latin America and now we are seeing the repercussions of that grave mistake.
4. The current government steals from the people everyday and there has never been more delinquency in Chile.
5. We must not believe the lies people tell about Pinochet and his regime and we must know that any good, respectable Chilean would support Pinochet with their life.
6. We must spread this news to the entire world and ensure that people know “the truth” about Chile.
Courtney and I just smiled and nodded, while inside I was somewhat frightened. I’ve never seen someone so passionate about what they were saying. In fact, I was afraid she was going to start either crying or screaming. So once we got a chance, we thanked her and quickly walked away. We both just looked at each other with the, “Can you believe what we just heard?” look.
After lunch Courtney and I met up with the rest of the group who had been watching the military parade through the streets. We caught the end of it and I wasn’t too disappointed that I’d missed it. Everyone decided we wanted to try to find a place to go kayaking, but after a few tries and finding everything was closed, we decided to visit a nearby town called Frutillar. It is a tiny German village 30 km north of Puerto Varas also on Lake Llanquihue that is famous for its music and beautiful concert hall that is still under construction. Seven of us took a minibus about 40 minutes to Frutillar and again I immediately fell in love. The beach there is beautiful and has an incredible view of Volcano Osorno. We walked along the beach, stopping at the play ground to swing and climb trees. Then we continued to the Concert Hall. It is out over the water and an incredible piece of architecture. It is still being built, but the part that is finished is open with different art exhibits, a swanky café and a small concert hall. So we walked around and admired the view, the art, and dreamed of one day going to a concert there. At this point my head was about to explode trying to take in everything.
We walked to the edge of town attempting to go to another Natural Reserve run by the University of Chile. We walked about half a mile along a path through a beautiful forest till we reached the Reserve. Unfortunately it was closed, but we enjoyed the excursion anyway. We walked back and jumped on a bus back to Puerto Varas. Along the way we planned the dinner we decided to cook ourselves: Chicken Stir-fry with Kuchen for dessert! We bought the groceries and by the time we left the grocery store it was pouring outside. We ran back to the hostel, dried off and began cooking. I let everyone else cram into the tiny kitchen, knowing I wouldn’t be much help.
While the food was cooking, I talked to a French man staying in our hostel that was on a 7 month tour around the world. For $3000 he had purchased essentially a plane ticket for one year all the way around the globe. As long as he travels one direction (always to the east) he can keep flying. He had started in May, after being fired/quitting his job but receiving a nice severance package, which was apparently enough to fund his adventure! He spoke French, English and Spanish, but he wanted to speak in Spanish since we were in Chile! We invited him to join our feast and after a long but well worth it wait, we all stuffed ourselves. I was quite impressed with the cooks.
When the 7 of us and our French friend had finished, the other group came back from Frutillar. They had bought empanadas and precooked dinners at the grocery store and looked rather envious of our feast. I did the dishes since I hadn’t cooked and afterwards played an intense game of Chinese checkers with pruney hands. I’m proud to say I beat the other 3 boys, including Tom, who goes to an Ivy League. I didn’t have time to rub it in because as soon as I won I had to repack my bag, say a quick goodbye, and run to the bus stop.
I was really sad to leave the south and to say goodbye to by travel buddies. I had fallen in love with the beauty and calm of the south and wasn't quite ready to be back in the hustle and bustle of the city. And my friends were staying for a few more days, but since Calli, Hanna and I had planned be in Santiago for Fiestas Patrias, we took the bus back to Santiago at 9:30. On the bus, I immediately fell into a deep sleep until around 11:30 when the conductor woke us up to tell us we had to get off. Apparently there was a problem with the lights on the bus and we waited about 25 minutes for a different bus. I wasn’t a happy camper knowing the problem cost us almost 2 hours total since we had to go out of the way to change buses. But once we got on the new bus, I fell back asleep.
Sunday, September 16th, 2007- Puerto Varas and more beauty than I can handle
Sunday, September 16th, 2007- Puerto Varas and more beauty than I can handle.
Everyone woke up before 8 am (incredible for a group of 10 college students on vacation1!) and we headed to the bus terminal to catch a bus to Puerto Varas. Puerto Montt is a big port city, but besides the Fish market, there isn’t much to see and we were ready to get away from it. So we headed to the beautiful, tiny, old German town of Puerto Varas that sits on the edge of Lake Llanquiway, (pronounced Yan-Kay-Way) overlooking Vulcan (Volcano) Osorno. It is a huge tourist town in the summer because it is a perfect jumping off point for many of the outdoor adventures surrounding the region, which is a mixture of lakes, waterfalls, national reserves, mountains and 3 huge volcanoes. Heaven on Earth for anyone who likes the outdoors and has some extra cash. Once again, I could try to describe how beautiful it all is, but words can’t do it justice. Unfortunately the pictures don’t either, but it’s a bit closer. So you’ll have to check out the pics.
Back to Saturday: We found a great hostel, called Casa Margouya that a group of exchange students we’d met in Chiloé had recommended to us. It was right downtown Puerto Varas and super close to everything. So we dropped off all our stuff, bought breakfast at the grocery store to share, and headed out to begin our adventure in the great outdoors. We took a bus about 1 hour to Petrohué, the stopping point to Volcán Osorno and Lago Lake Todos Los Santos (All Saints Lake) and Vicente Perez Rozales National Park. Again, words can’t describe, but the most incredible was driving through the only town along the way, Ensenada, which sits in the valley between Volcán Osorno and Volcán Calbuco. Incredible. We made it to Petrohué and after talking with the Park Ranger and getting maps, we headed out on a 2 hour hiking trail towards the volcano. The boys were leading and had a mission of hiking as far up the volcano as possible, hoping to reach snow. This is of course a 12 hour hike and we only had about 4 hours to explore the entire region, so after about 30 minutes of hiking they realized the trail took us along the side of the volcano instead of continuing up towards the snow, and they decided to blaze their own trail. For the next 30 minutes we hiked up the volcano along a path that had been forged by the last eruption about 100 years ago. The ground was covered in soft, fluffy moss that literally felt like walking on marshmallows. It was incredible.
It was raining/misting off and on and there were ominous clouds in the distance and once the boys gave up on reaching snow (which would have taken another 3 hours or so), we sat down on the marshmallow moss and had “lunch”. We had brought bread and cheese and ate our little snack while soaking in the beauty that surrounded us. It was probably one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life.
We hiked back down following our footsteps and easily found where we’d left the trail an hour before. We made it back to the base and found a fisherman/boat guide that offered to take us out on his boat in a 40 minute tour of the lake for $2 a piece. So we piled into his boat and he drove us around the lake. When I say lake, small sea is probably more accurate. It is absolutely huge, surrounded by mountains/volcanoes, and goes 20 km east all the way to the Argentina border. What’s more, the water is absolutely beautiful. A deep, clear blue that you’d wouldn’t believe. When I thought I couldn’t take any more beauty, we got off the boat and started the 3 mile walk to the Saltos de Petrohué (Waterfalls of Petrohué). Matt studied for one year in Chile when he was in High School and had traveled in the south before. So he knew the highlights and kept raving about the Saltos. I didn’t know what to expect but when we got there, I was blown out of the water (pardon the pun!). The Waterfalls were again, one of the most incredible, beautiful things I’ve ever seen. We stayed in the park about 2 hours, hiking the trails and continuing to be amazed at every turn. Around 5:30 they warned us that the last bus back to Puerto Varas was about to leave, so we jumped on and began the hour long journey back. While we drove back, everyone compared pictures on our digital cameras, hoping someone had been able to catch the beauty we had all absorbed throughout the day. Unfortunately my camera battery died on the way back.
When we got back to Puerto Varas, we showered then headed out to dinner. We ate at restaurant that had been recommended in some of the guide books. It was good but over priced and after our ridiculous amounts of bus rides, everyone was running short on cash. So after dinner we decided to do dessert on our own. We went to the grocery store and bought a variety of desserts, including an entire kilo (2.2 POUNDS) of ice cream. We split the kilo between 7 of us and actually finished it! After stuffing ourselves, we decided to have game night. We were basically the only people staying in the hostel, so we hung out in the huge common room and played charades, dinner host (a game from Who’s Line is it Anyway?), and finally a killer game of Spoons. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the relaxation. We went to bed a little past midnight. It was probably one of the most incredible days I’ve ever had in my life.
Everyone woke up before 8 am (incredible for a group of 10 college students on vacation1!) and we headed to the bus terminal to catch a bus to Puerto Varas. Puerto Montt is a big port city, but besides the Fish market, there isn’t much to see and we were ready to get away from it. So we headed to the beautiful, tiny, old German town of Puerto Varas that sits on the edge of Lake Llanquiway, (pronounced Yan-Kay-Way) overlooking Vulcan (Volcano) Osorno. It is a huge tourist town in the summer because it is a perfect jumping off point for many of the outdoor adventures surrounding the region, which is a mixture of lakes, waterfalls, national reserves, mountains and 3 huge volcanoes. Heaven on Earth for anyone who likes the outdoors and has some extra cash. Once again, I could try to describe how beautiful it all is, but words can’t do it justice. Unfortunately the pictures don’t either, but it’s a bit closer. So you’ll have to check out the pics.
Back to Saturday: We found a great hostel, called Casa Margouya that a group of exchange students we’d met in Chiloé had recommended to us. It was right downtown Puerto Varas and super close to everything. So we dropped off all our stuff, bought breakfast at the grocery store to share, and headed out to begin our adventure in the great outdoors. We took a bus about 1 hour to Petrohué, the stopping point to Volcán Osorno and Lago Lake Todos Los Santos (All Saints Lake) and Vicente Perez Rozales National Park. Again, words can’t describe, but the most incredible was driving through the only town along the way, Ensenada, which sits in the valley between Volcán Osorno and Volcán Calbuco. Incredible. We made it to Petrohué and after talking with the Park Ranger and getting maps, we headed out on a 2 hour hiking trail towards the volcano. The boys were leading and had a mission of hiking as far up the volcano as possible, hoping to reach snow. This is of course a 12 hour hike and we only had about 4 hours to explore the entire region, so after about 30 minutes of hiking they realized the trail took us along the side of the volcano instead of continuing up towards the snow, and they decided to blaze their own trail. For the next 30 minutes we hiked up the volcano along a path that had been forged by the last eruption about 100 years ago. The ground was covered in soft, fluffy moss that literally felt like walking on marshmallows. It was incredible.
It was raining/misting off and on and there were ominous clouds in the distance and once the boys gave up on reaching snow (which would have taken another 3 hours or so), we sat down on the marshmallow moss and had “lunch”. We had brought bread and cheese and ate our little snack while soaking in the beauty that surrounded us. It was probably one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life.
We hiked back down following our footsteps and easily found where we’d left the trail an hour before. We made it back to the base and found a fisherman/boat guide that offered to take us out on his boat in a 40 minute tour of the lake for $2 a piece. So we piled into his boat and he drove us around the lake. When I say lake, small sea is probably more accurate. It is absolutely huge, surrounded by mountains/volcanoes, and goes 20 km east all the way to the Argentina border. What’s more, the water is absolutely beautiful. A deep, clear blue that you’d wouldn’t believe. When I thought I couldn’t take any more beauty, we got off the boat and started the 3 mile walk to the Saltos de Petrohué (Waterfalls of Petrohué). Matt studied for one year in Chile when he was in High School and had traveled in the south before. So he knew the highlights and kept raving about the Saltos. I didn’t know what to expect but when we got there, I was blown out of the water (pardon the pun!). The Waterfalls were again, one of the most incredible, beautiful things I’ve ever seen. We stayed in the park about 2 hours, hiking the trails and continuing to be amazed at every turn. Around 5:30 they warned us that the last bus back to Puerto Varas was about to leave, so we jumped on and began the hour long journey back. While we drove back, everyone compared pictures on our digital cameras, hoping someone had been able to catch the beauty we had all absorbed throughout the day. Unfortunately my camera battery died on the way back.
When we got back to Puerto Varas, we showered then headed out to dinner. We ate at restaurant that had been recommended in some of the guide books. It was good but over priced and after our ridiculous amounts of bus rides, everyone was running short on cash. So after dinner we decided to do dessert on our own. We went to the grocery store and bought a variety of desserts, including an entire kilo (2.2 POUNDS) of ice cream. We split the kilo between 7 of us and actually finished it! After stuffing ourselves, we decided to have game night. We were basically the only people staying in the hostel, so we hung out in the huge common room and played charades, dinner host (a game from Who’s Line is it Anyway?), and finally a killer game of Spoons. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the relaxation. We went to bed a little past midnight. It was probably one of the most incredible days I’ve ever had in my life.
Saturday, September 15th, 2007 Chiloé in a Day (It rhymes!)
Saturday, September 15th, 2007 Chiloé in a Day (It rhymes!)
Around 9:30 everyone stumbled out of bed in various stages of hung-over-ness. By the time we all got showered and repacked it was approaching 11 and I was getting anxious to take advantage of our trip. After finding some food, much decision making and a bit of debate (one of the down sides of such a small group), we decided to got to the National Park of Chiloé, about a 2 hour bus ride to the west side of the island. So at 12:30 we got on ANOTHER bus. But once again the view was incredible and it was a wonderful to see the Chilote country side and many small towns along the way. The island is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen with rolling green hills running straight into the sea and tiny towns surrounded by crazing cattle and sheep. We got to the national park around 2:30 and they told us the last bus leaving was at 4. Since we didn’t have much time, we found a short trail that was supposed to lead us to the beach. But as we were walking we saw the beach in the distance and suddenly the trail ended. But the boys didn’t let that stop us. We forged our own way about 15 minutes across rolling sand hills and marshland looking scenery till we reached the beach. Words can’t describe how beautiful it was, so I won’t even try. We played in the water and loved life until we had to head back to make sure we didn’t get stuck at the park. We made it back and got BACK on the bus to head back to Castro. On the way back, the group decided they had seen enough of Chiloé (I could have stayed for the rest of my life) and that they wanted to go to Puerto Varas, the other beautiful stop on our tour of the south. Unfortunately, this required the 4 hour ride back to Puerto Montt then a 30 minute ride to Puerto Varas.
When we got to Castro we got our bus tickets and bought empanadas and fruit for dinner on the way. Right before we left, Sam and Calli and I found a grocery store and bought a birthday cake for Matt and ran to catch the bus. On the ride back we watched the sun set over the mountains then admired the Southern ski from the ferry. The stars were incredible and reminded me of the sky at Young Life camp in the Rockies of Colorado. To pass the last 2 hours of the trip we played silly various get-to-know-you and other random games we had learned at camps etc. We got to Puerto Montt around 10:30 and found out we had just missed the last bus to Puerto Varas. So we found a somewhat shady hostel to crash at in Puerto Montt. Once all 10 of us arrived and settled in, we surprised Matt with his birthday cake which we had somehow managed to hide from him the entire evening. The cake was huge and incredible and all 10 of us couldn’t finish it! We shared with the owner of the hostel and even they couldn’t finish it! After stuffing ourselves with cake, everyone decided to head to bed. Its amazing how sitting on a bus can exhaust you. I shared a room with Sam(antha) and as soon as I hit the pillow, I was out.
Around 9:30 everyone stumbled out of bed in various stages of hung-over-ness. By the time we all got showered and repacked it was approaching 11 and I was getting anxious to take advantage of our trip. After finding some food, much decision making and a bit of debate (one of the down sides of such a small group), we decided to got to the National Park of Chiloé, about a 2 hour bus ride to the west side of the island. So at 12:30 we got on ANOTHER bus. But once again the view was incredible and it was a wonderful to see the Chilote country side and many small towns along the way. The island is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen with rolling green hills running straight into the sea and tiny towns surrounded by crazing cattle and sheep. We got to the national park around 2:30 and they told us the last bus leaving was at 4. Since we didn’t have much time, we found a short trail that was supposed to lead us to the beach. But as we were walking we saw the beach in the distance and suddenly the trail ended. But the boys didn’t let that stop us. We forged our own way about 15 minutes across rolling sand hills and marshland looking scenery till we reached the beach. Words can’t describe how beautiful it was, so I won’t even try. We played in the water and loved life until we had to head back to make sure we didn’t get stuck at the park. We made it back and got BACK on the bus to head back to Castro. On the way back, the group decided they had seen enough of Chiloé (I could have stayed for the rest of my life) and that they wanted to go to Puerto Varas, the other beautiful stop on our tour of the south. Unfortunately, this required the 4 hour ride back to Puerto Montt then a 30 minute ride to Puerto Varas.
When we got to Castro we got our bus tickets and bought empanadas and fruit for dinner on the way. Right before we left, Sam and Calli and I found a grocery store and bought a birthday cake for Matt and ran to catch the bus. On the ride back we watched the sun set over the mountains then admired the Southern ski from the ferry. The stars were incredible and reminded me of the sky at Young Life camp in the Rockies of Colorado. To pass the last 2 hours of the trip we played silly various get-to-know-you and other random games we had learned at camps etc. We got to Puerto Montt around 10:30 and found out we had just missed the last bus to Puerto Varas. So we found a somewhat shady hostel to crash at in Puerto Montt. Once all 10 of us arrived and settled in, we surprised Matt with his birthday cake which we had somehow managed to hide from him the entire evening. The cake was huge and incredible and all 10 of us couldn’t finish it! We shared with the owner of the hostel and even they couldn’t finish it! After stuffing ourselves with cake, everyone decided to head to bed. Its amazing how sitting on a bus can exhaust you. I shared a room with Sam(antha) and as soon as I hit the pillow, I was out.
Friday, September 14, 2007 All of Chile by bus...
Friday, September 14, 2007
I awoke to southern sunlight streaming through the deep blue curtains as the bus peacefully rumbled by sheep grazing the green pastures with a snowcapped volcano in the background. The scenery was really beautiful, but I wasn’t too keen to wake up after a fitful night of sleep on the bus. After a cookies and apples for breakfast, Calli and Sam and I talked and impatiently waited to finally get to Puerto Montt. Around 8:30 (fourteen hours after we left Santiago) we arrived and gleefully got our bags and left the bus station. We decided to wait for our friends that left a few hours after us before getting back on another bus to take us to Chiloé. So while we waited we went to Anglemó, the famous artisan market and fish market. It was just beginning to open while we walked around and we watched the fisherman unload their boats with the freshest fish from the ocean and veggies from the north. My favorite was watching the men clean the fish. In about 15 seconds they went from entire fish that looked like they’d just jumped out of the ocean to beautiful white filets ready for the grill. The men worked like machines while they other guys goofed off and made fun of each other.
At 10:30 the other bus arrived and our group of 10 united. Just imaged a huge blob of gringos with backpacks standing on the corner deciding where to go next. That was us the entire trip! But after a pit of discussion, 7 of us decided to head straight to Chiloé and 3 decided to check out Puerto Montt a bit and follow us later that night. So the 7 of us bought the $8.50 tickets for the 4 hour trip to the beautiful, huge island off the coast of southern Chile. We took a bus about 1 hour to the western coast and to my surprise we boarded a ferry, which took us to the island. While we were on the ferry we got out and walked around and admired the incredible view. The day was absolutely beautiful warm spring day with uncharacteristically clear skies for the south. Once on the island we drove about 2 hours till we reached the capital of Chiloé, Castro. We found a hostel and despite the fact that it was 4:30 pm (a very strange time to eat for Chileans), we were all starving so we found a restaurant to eat dinner. We were the only ones in the restaurant which stood on pillars out over the water with an incredible view of the mountains and we turned our dinner into a seafood feast. Chiloé is famous for its mariscos (any type of seafood other than fish) so we took advantage of that and ate like kings. I ate pastel de loco, which is loco (a huge sea snail that my friend described as something with the flavor of chicken with the texture of a thick tofu) in a casserole type mixture with bread, cheese, onions and other seasonings. It was good but ridiculously rich and after about 5 bites I was full. But everyone had tons of seafood: mussels, clams, scallops, crab, and tons of other stuff that I’d never heard of. It ended up being $20 a person, the most expensive meal I’ve had in South America, but the amount of seafood we consumed was incredible.
After our 2 hour dinner we walked around Castro and through the markets. When the sun went down everyone decided we would celebrate our friend Matt’s 21st birthday, which was the next day, that night. Everyone wanted to start drinking early so we could go to bed early so we could wake up early and explore Chiloé. Way to plan ahead, right? Castro is a small, fishing/tourist town with not much of a night life, but we managed to have fun on our own. We found the grocery store and bought enough alcohol to properly celebrate a 21st birthday. We headed back to the hostel, crammed the 7 of us in one of the double rooms and began celebrating. We played card games, joked around and had some good clean fun (honestly! I’ve found good friends!). Around 10:30 our 3 friends arrived and joined us. By midnight I wished Matt a happy 21st, swore I would never drink again and went to bed.
I awoke to southern sunlight streaming through the deep blue curtains as the bus peacefully rumbled by sheep grazing the green pastures with a snowcapped volcano in the background. The scenery was really beautiful, but I wasn’t too keen to wake up after a fitful night of sleep on the bus. After a cookies and apples for breakfast, Calli and Sam and I talked and impatiently waited to finally get to Puerto Montt. Around 8:30 (fourteen hours after we left Santiago) we arrived and gleefully got our bags and left the bus station. We decided to wait for our friends that left a few hours after us before getting back on another bus to take us to Chiloé. So while we waited we went to Anglemó, the famous artisan market and fish market. It was just beginning to open while we walked around and we watched the fisherman unload their boats with the freshest fish from the ocean and veggies from the north. My favorite was watching the men clean the fish. In about 15 seconds they went from entire fish that looked like they’d just jumped out of the ocean to beautiful white filets ready for the grill. The men worked like machines while they other guys goofed off and made fun of each other.
At 10:30 the other bus arrived and our group of 10 united. Just imaged a huge blob of gringos with backpacks standing on the corner deciding where to go next. That was us the entire trip! But after a pit of discussion, 7 of us decided to head straight to Chiloé and 3 decided to check out Puerto Montt a bit and follow us later that night. So the 7 of us bought the $8.50 tickets for the 4 hour trip to the beautiful, huge island off the coast of southern Chile. We took a bus about 1 hour to the western coast and to my surprise we boarded a ferry, which took us to the island. While we were on the ferry we got out and walked around and admired the incredible view. The day was absolutely beautiful warm spring day with uncharacteristically clear skies for the south. Once on the island we drove about 2 hours till we reached the capital of Chiloé, Castro. We found a hostel and despite the fact that it was 4:30 pm (a very strange time to eat for Chileans), we were all starving so we found a restaurant to eat dinner. We were the only ones in the restaurant which stood on pillars out over the water with an incredible view of the mountains and we turned our dinner into a seafood feast. Chiloé is famous for its mariscos (any type of seafood other than fish) so we took advantage of that and ate like kings. I ate pastel de loco, which is loco (a huge sea snail that my friend described as something with the flavor of chicken with the texture of a thick tofu) in a casserole type mixture with bread, cheese, onions and other seasonings. It was good but ridiculously rich and after about 5 bites I was full. But everyone had tons of seafood: mussels, clams, scallops, crab, and tons of other stuff that I’d never heard of. It ended up being $20 a person, the most expensive meal I’ve had in South America, but the amount of seafood we consumed was incredible.
After our 2 hour dinner we walked around Castro and through the markets. When the sun went down everyone decided we would celebrate our friend Matt’s 21st birthday, which was the next day, that night. Everyone wanted to start drinking early so we could go to bed early so we could wake up early and explore Chiloé. Way to plan ahead, right? Castro is a small, fishing/tourist town with not much of a night life, but we managed to have fun on our own. We found the grocery store and bought enough alcohol to properly celebrate a 21st birthday. We headed back to the hostel, crammed the 7 of us in one of the double rooms and began celebrating. We played card games, joked around and had some good clean fun (honestly! I’ve found good friends!). Around 10:30 our 3 friends arrived and joined us. By midnight I wished Matt a happy 21st, swore I would never drink again and went to bed.
Thursday, September 13, 2007 Off We Go...
Thursday, September 13, 2007 Off We Go…
I woke up at the butt crack of dawn to head over to San Lawrence Colegio to help Senorita Mabel manage a room full of ridiculous high school kids. The first class was fine and I helped them to their homework that they were supposed to have done but no one did. Then the second two classes watch the old British movie Excalibur about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It was the really bad old version but luckily she put on the Spanish subtitles. Otherwise, I would barely have been able to understand it! When the second class started and I realized I was about to watch it over again, I asked her if she didn’t mind if I left since I wasn’t going to be doing anything to help. So I went home, feeling somewhat useless and hoping that doesn’t happen again. I’m sure it won’t, so we’ll see.
When I got home I ate almuerzo then did a little homework/research for our trip to Puerto Montt and the south. I packed up, and then ate again before I left at the insistence of Olga. She was terrified I was going to be hungry on the bus, so she also gave me a little sack dinner with baked turkey and veggies. I met up with Calli and Sam in the bus station around 6:00 and at 6:30 we headed out. The bus was full of people going south for Fiestas Patrias just like us. As I’m sure you can guess, the bus ride wasn’t too exciting, so I won’t ride much about it. I did manage to do a tiny bit of homework before giving up and going to sleep.
I woke up at the butt crack of dawn to head over to San Lawrence Colegio to help Senorita Mabel manage a room full of ridiculous high school kids. The first class was fine and I helped them to their homework that they were supposed to have done but no one did. Then the second two classes watch the old British movie Excalibur about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It was the really bad old version but luckily she put on the Spanish subtitles. Otherwise, I would barely have been able to understand it! When the second class started and I realized I was about to watch it over again, I asked her if she didn’t mind if I left since I wasn’t going to be doing anything to help. So I went home, feeling somewhat useless and hoping that doesn’t happen again. I’m sure it won’t, so we’ll see.
When I got home I ate almuerzo then did a little homework/research for our trip to Puerto Montt and the south. I packed up, and then ate again before I left at the insistence of Olga. She was terrified I was going to be hungry on the bus, so she also gave me a little sack dinner with baked turkey and veggies. I met up with Calli and Sam in the bus station around 6:00 and at 6:30 we headed out. The bus was full of people going south for Fiestas Patrias just like us. As I’m sure you can guess, the bus ride wasn’t too exciting, so I won’t ride much about it. I did manage to do a tiny bit of homework before giving up and going to sleep.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Business as Usual
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I woke up around 9:15 (on my own!) and ate breakfast with Olga. She even mentioned that she was surprised how early I’d woken up! Olga left to go to the business around 10 and I stayed in the apartment reading until I had to leave for class around 10:50. I went to Doctrina Social, then mass, then Educacion like normal. I had lunch with Nick, Ramses (both North Americans) and Silvia, the Chilean in our Educacion class that helps us out so much. We sat outside on the grass and spoke Spanglish and made fun of Silvia’s British/Chilean accent. At 4:00 I took the metro to my Biblia class. After Biblia I headed to the CIEE office for my Pobreza class, the first time we’ve met in almost 1 month! We had class from 6:30-8:30 and by the time it ended I was starving and exhausted. Wednesdays when I have my Pobreza class are ridiculously long. And amazingly, I have almost nothing to write about!
After class I took the metro home, ate dinner with Olga, then started working. I talked with my mom to let her know I’m doing fine and uploaded more pictures from my camera.
P.S. They are on Snapfish if you want to check them out!! They are from my trip to Buenos Aires and our day trip to Pomaire, Chile. There are also a few from last Saturday when Courtney and I went to the Museum. Check out the painting of the boy in the Spiderman costume. He looks like Braden Boll!! I loved it!
I’m heading to Puerto Montt, Chile tomorrow at 6:30, so I won’t be updating my blog for a while. We get back Tuesday morning, just in time for all the 18 of September festivities. Its going to be a beautiful trip, but don’t worry that I haven’t blogged. I probably won’t have much computer access. But I’ll fill you in on all the fun times and hopefully have lots of beautiful pictures! Till then, God bless and much love, Kayla
I woke up around 9:15 (on my own!) and ate breakfast with Olga. She even mentioned that she was surprised how early I’d woken up! Olga left to go to the business around 10 and I stayed in the apartment reading until I had to leave for class around 10:50. I went to Doctrina Social, then mass, then Educacion like normal. I had lunch with Nick, Ramses (both North Americans) and Silvia, the Chilean in our Educacion class that helps us out so much. We sat outside on the grass and spoke Spanglish and made fun of Silvia’s British/Chilean accent. At 4:00 I took the metro to my Biblia class. After Biblia I headed to the CIEE office for my Pobreza class, the first time we’ve met in almost 1 month! We had class from 6:30-8:30 and by the time it ended I was starving and exhausted. Wednesdays when I have my Pobreza class are ridiculously long. And amazingly, I have almost nothing to write about!
After class I took the metro home, ate dinner with Olga, then started working. I talked with my mom to let her know I’m doing fine and uploaded more pictures from my camera.
P.S. They are on Snapfish if you want to check them out!! They are from my trip to Buenos Aires and our day trip to Pomaire, Chile. There are also a few from last Saturday when Courtney and I went to the Museum. Check out the painting of the boy in the Spiderman costume. He looks like Braden Boll!! I loved it!
I’m heading to Puerto Montt, Chile tomorrow at 6:30, so I won’t be updating my blog for a while. We get back Tuesday morning, just in time for all the 18 of September festivities. Its going to be a beautiful trip, but don’t worry that I haven’t blogged. I probably won’t have much computer access. But I’ll fill you in on all the fun times and hopefully have lots of beautiful pictures! Till then, God bless and much love, Kayla
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 Happy Birthday Sara!! And the rest of the world is falling apart.
Not only is it my big sister’s 22nd birthday, but it is also the anniversary of probably the most historically influential event in the United States in our generation, AND the anniversary of the absolutely most important event in Chilean modern history. Wow, what a day!
So as I explained a little yesterday, September 11th, 1973 was the day military leader Augusto Pinochet with the Chilean military attacked the Moneda (Chilean White House) and killed the Chilean socialist president Salvador Allende. Pinochet had the backing (unofficial of course) of the US CIA and was supposed overthrow the Socialist Party and act as temporary head of state until an official government came to power. Unfortunately, he started a 17 year long military dictatorship dominated by brutal tortures, kidnappings and murders of thousands of Chilean communists, socialists, and anyone who spoke out against the dictatorship. Needless to say, there are lots of Chileans who really don’t like Pinochet. And since Chileans are Chilean, they love any excuse to cause a fuss (according to Olga). So September 11th every year is known for being somewhat dangerous on the outskirts of the city and there is usually a little fuss downtown near La Moneda.
So Olga assured me that it was ok to go running early in the day if I went to Parque O’Higgins where I usually go. So I headed out and before going to the park and I made a slight detour and ran to the end of Bulnes, the pedestrian street that runs perpendicular to Alameda, directly across from La Moneda. Knowing I would stay far away and that Bulnes would be safe in case anything happened, I walked down Bulnes towards La Moneda. There wasn’t much going on and there were plenty of people out on the streets. At La Moneda a crowd had gathered and they were chanting, but I didn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying. All I know is that they are Allende supports. So after getting my fill watching from afar, I decided to continue my run. I turned around and coming down the street towards me were about 60 people in a little march. They had 3 banners and were chanting something. The banners said something about La Voz (The Voice) and they were obviously Socialists/Communists. Everything was tranquila and no one bothered any body, but it was still exciting to see a little march. Later in the evening I even saw this group on the news, so that was exciting!
I finished my run around the park and headed back to shower and almuerzo con Olga. I didn’t tell her I’d gone to La Moneda because I knew she’d worry. I spent the afternoon reading a little and otherwise doing nothing until Calli called and said they were going up to the Cemeterio General of Santiago. So I jumped down to the metro and met up with her and Sam. We rode up to the cemetery and after asking the guard where it was, we went to Salvador Allende’s tomb. It is a huge beautiful monument surrounded by other beautiful huge monuments, but his was covered in roses, signs, and pictures of people who had been kidnapped and/or killed during Pinochet’s reign of terror.
Feeling like patriotic young Chileans, we headed back to the metro and met Christian (my Chilean friend) and Courtney and we all went and saw the new Chilean film Malta con Huevo (Malt (Beer) with Egg). The movie was about as weird as the title. It started out has a comedy then suddenly turned to very dark comedy. It was a good movie, just not what I was expecting. But amazingly, and surprisingly, I followed along quite well. To be honest it didn’t have too much dialogue and luckily was easy to follow without understanding everything. The best part was sitting in the theater and knowing that if I had watched this movie two months ago, I would have had no idea what they were saying.
After the movie we headed straight back home like I’d promised Olga. The theater was in a nice part of town and since we stayed on the metro the whole time, it was totally safe. When I got home around 8:15 Olga seemed a bit relieved and told me she was glad I’d made it back early. We ate dinner and then I headed to my room to finally start the readings that I had for tomorrow. I called Sara to wish her a Happy Birthday, but she didn’t answer. Tear… I fell asleep reading around midnight and at some point my computer fell off my bed and woke me up. But it was fine and I went back to sleep.
So as I explained a little yesterday, September 11th, 1973 was the day military leader Augusto Pinochet with the Chilean military attacked the Moneda (Chilean White House) and killed the Chilean socialist president Salvador Allende. Pinochet had the backing (unofficial of course) of the US CIA and was supposed overthrow the Socialist Party and act as temporary head of state until an official government came to power. Unfortunately, he started a 17 year long military dictatorship dominated by brutal tortures, kidnappings and murders of thousands of Chilean communists, socialists, and anyone who spoke out against the dictatorship. Needless to say, there are lots of Chileans who really don’t like Pinochet. And since Chileans are Chilean, they love any excuse to cause a fuss (according to Olga). So September 11th every year is known for being somewhat dangerous on the outskirts of the city and there is usually a little fuss downtown near La Moneda.
So Olga assured me that it was ok to go running early in the day if I went to Parque O’Higgins where I usually go. So I headed out and before going to the park and I made a slight detour and ran to the end of Bulnes, the pedestrian street that runs perpendicular to Alameda, directly across from La Moneda. Knowing I would stay far away and that Bulnes would be safe in case anything happened, I walked down Bulnes towards La Moneda. There wasn’t much going on and there were plenty of people out on the streets. At La Moneda a crowd had gathered and they were chanting, but I didn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying. All I know is that they are Allende supports. So after getting my fill watching from afar, I decided to continue my run. I turned around and coming down the street towards me were about 60 people in a little march. They had 3 banners and were chanting something. The banners said something about La Voz (The Voice) and they were obviously Socialists/Communists. Everything was tranquila and no one bothered any body, but it was still exciting to see a little march. Later in the evening I even saw this group on the news, so that was exciting!
I finished my run around the park and headed back to shower and almuerzo con Olga. I didn’t tell her I’d gone to La Moneda because I knew she’d worry. I spent the afternoon reading a little and otherwise doing nothing until Calli called and said they were going up to the Cemeterio General of Santiago. So I jumped down to the metro and met up with her and Sam. We rode up to the cemetery and after asking the guard where it was, we went to Salvador Allende’s tomb. It is a huge beautiful monument surrounded by other beautiful huge monuments, but his was covered in roses, signs, and pictures of people who had been kidnapped and/or killed during Pinochet’s reign of terror.
Feeling like patriotic young Chileans, we headed back to the metro and met Christian (my Chilean friend) and Courtney and we all went and saw the new Chilean film Malta con Huevo (Malt (Beer) with Egg). The movie was about as weird as the title. It started out has a comedy then suddenly turned to very dark comedy. It was a good movie, just not what I was expecting. But amazingly, and surprisingly, I followed along quite well. To be honest it didn’t have too much dialogue and luckily was easy to follow without understanding everything. The best part was sitting in the theater and knowing that if I had watched this movie two months ago, I would have had no idea what they were saying.
After the movie we headed straight back home like I’d promised Olga. The theater was in a nice part of town and since we stayed on the metro the whole time, it was totally safe. When I got home around 8:15 Olga seemed a bit relieved and told me she was glad I’d made it back early. We ate dinner and then I headed to my room to finally start the readings that I had for tomorrow. I called Sara to wish her a Happy Birthday, but she didn’t answer. Tear… I fell asleep reading around midnight and at some point my computer fell off my bed and woke me up. But it was fine and I went back to sleep.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007 2 months down, 3 months left
Monday, September 10, 2007 2 months down, 3 months left
I woke up this morning around 9:30 after hitting my snooze 3 times. (Yes, I got 9 hours of sleep. I don’t know the last time I got 9 hours of sleep.) Around 10:30 I headed out to campus. I had my Doctrina Social class, then met up with my group to work on our Education presentation. We had class at 1:30 and I found out I got a 4.1 out of 7 on my test. That is actually a really bad grade (something like a C- in the US) but the class average was a 3.9, so I guess I didn’t do that bad!! I even beat the two Chilean girls in my group, one of which, Silvia, basically taught us all the material the night before! For the presentation, I had to speak about Gramsci, the Italian Communist and his views on Education in front of the entire class. It was not as nerve racking as I thought it’d be. I definitely stumbled a bit and I think I saw a few, “What the crap are you saying?” faces, but people told me they understood me and that I did a good job.
After class I had lunch with Christian, then headed to my Biblia class. I again had read the readings for the class, so I was definitely able to follow along much easier. After class I took the metro close to the Nuestra Casa house to help out with their Fiestas Patrias party. Before I went I stopped in a pharmacy and bought deodorant and toothpaste. It went smoother than last time (when I bought tampons), but when the woman checked me out, she offered the usual, “Would you like a points rewards card?” then looked at me again, chuckled, and replied “No” for me! I guess she knew I wouldn’t be around long enough to make it worth it.
So I’m not going to post this on my blog to avoid a mini panic attack amongst my mom, grandmother, and other female family members, but on my way to the Nuestra Casa house, I saw a woman nearly get her purse stolen. I had just walked around the corner and I suddenly hear a woman scream and saw her fall violently to the ground in the street. She screamed again and clutched her purse and I saw man stand over her, hesitating. There were many people around an a bigger guy from across the street started heading towards them, yelling at the guy. The man looked down at the woman, then over at the man approaching, and took off running. The woman picked herself up and dazedly but quickly walked towards Alameda. Everyone around had kind of froze, not knowing what to do. I was only about 10 yards away and probably the closest person to the woman, and I just thank God it was still light outside and there were lots of other people around. I of course had to keep walking in the direction the want-to-be robber ran, so I grabbed my rosary and made sure I was always near other people. What amazes me was that it happened in plane daylight, on a busy street. Arrrggggghhh… why does Chile have to be so full of stupid robbers? I just pray nothing like that happens to me. My family would freak.
Anyway, I made it to the residencia safe and sound. I asked what I could do to help and they put me to work in the kitchen. First I folded napkins with Harrison, the staff sociologist, then I cut bread for the choripans with Raul, a resident. Then I helped stuff the chorizo sausages into the bread and when it was finally all ready, I helped serve. Throughout the night I saw lots of people I’d met at the Taller, including Alejandro, and Alberto from Jueves Solidario. Daniel, Renaldo, and Javiera were of course there, so it was great to see them again.
After all the food was served they had a “show”, including singing and dancing by the volunteers, then a folk music performance, then cueca. After a real cueca couple danced, they had a cueca competition. We (2 other volunteers and I) were about to leave since it was getting late when suddenly Renaldo grabbed me and handed me to a guy and said, “Here’s your partner!” I had no idea what was going on until Renaldo grabbed the mike and announced that we now had our 3 couples and they would begin the cueca competition! So the next thing I know I’m “dancing” the cueca in front of 35+ complete strangers. I really had no idea what I was doing, but luckily it was really laid back and everyone had a good laugh. It wasn’t that embarrassing because I knew I would suck, so I just went with it. After the 2 dance, we were thankfully “eliminated”. After the winner was picked, they gave out prizes and I got a little red, white, and blue ribbon, perfect for Fiestas Patrias! Renaldo was sure to tell everyone that I was North America and had never before danced the cueca and everyone cheered. My partner made many jokes about taking the beautiful blonde North American home but was actually very respectful and really helped me out.
When they finally decided to stop torturing me, we headed out to walk to the metro. I went with Lorin, another volunteer in my program, Ursula, a Peruvian who studies at University of San Francisco, in CA but is studying abroad in Chile for a year (crazy right?) and an employee of Nuestra Casa. While we were walking to the metro, we stumbled upon a fire! The street was filled with people and firemen were running around pulling hoses, climbing up and down ladders, yelling orders at each other, everything. The building was still in flames and there was tons of smoke. Again, how I run into such exciting, random things, I have no idea! After enough rubber necking, we made it to the metro. I came home and told Olga that I didn’t need to eat because I’d had empanadas and choripan and the party. She giggled and told me that after Fiestas Patrias, we are going to eat only fruits and vegetables. No more pan, rice, spaghetti, nothing! So hopefully we’ll stick to it, but I’m sure Olga will enjoy the new culinary challenge! And since Chilean summer is coming, I need it!
I have nothing to do tomorrow since it is September 11th. It’s the anniversary of Pinochet’s coup d'état and apparently everything shuts down early and the streets can be dangerous. Olga said I shouldn’t leave the house after 3ish. So I have no idea what I’m going to do all day! But I’ll just enjoy it and get ready for my trip on Thursday. Alright, good night!
I woke up this morning around 9:30 after hitting my snooze 3 times. (Yes, I got 9 hours of sleep. I don’t know the last time I got 9 hours of sleep.) Around 10:30 I headed out to campus. I had my Doctrina Social class, then met up with my group to work on our Education presentation. We had class at 1:30 and I found out I got a 4.1 out of 7 on my test. That is actually a really bad grade (something like a C- in the US) but the class average was a 3.9, so I guess I didn’t do that bad!! I even beat the two Chilean girls in my group, one of which, Silvia, basically taught us all the material the night before! For the presentation, I had to speak about Gramsci, the Italian Communist and his views on Education in front of the entire class. It was not as nerve racking as I thought it’d be. I definitely stumbled a bit and I think I saw a few, “What the crap are you saying?” faces, but people told me they understood me and that I did a good job.
After class I had lunch with Christian, then headed to my Biblia class. I again had read the readings for the class, so I was definitely able to follow along much easier. After class I took the metro close to the Nuestra Casa house to help out with their Fiestas Patrias party. Before I went I stopped in a pharmacy and bought deodorant and toothpaste. It went smoother than last time (when I bought tampons), but when the woman checked me out, she offered the usual, “Would you like a points rewards card?” then looked at me again, chuckled, and replied “No” for me! I guess she knew I wouldn’t be around long enough to make it worth it.
So I’m not going to post this on my blog to avoid a mini panic attack amongst my mom, grandmother, and other female family members, but on my way to the Nuestra Casa house, I saw a woman nearly get her purse stolen. I had just walked around the corner and I suddenly hear a woman scream and saw her fall violently to the ground in the street. She screamed again and clutched her purse and I saw man stand over her, hesitating. There were many people around an a bigger guy from across the street started heading towards them, yelling at the guy. The man looked down at the woman, then over at the man approaching, and took off running. The woman picked herself up and dazedly but quickly walked towards Alameda. Everyone around had kind of froze, not knowing what to do. I was only about 10 yards away and probably the closest person to the woman, and I just thank God it was still light outside and there were lots of other people around. I of course had to keep walking in the direction the want-to-be robber ran, so I grabbed my rosary and made sure I was always near other people. What amazes me was that it happened in plane daylight, on a busy street. Arrrggggghhh… why does Chile have to be so full of stupid robbers? I just pray nothing like that happens to me. My family would freak.
Anyway, I made it to the residencia safe and sound. I asked what I could do to help and they put me to work in the kitchen. First I folded napkins with Harrison, the staff sociologist, then I cut bread for the choripans with Raul, a resident. Then I helped stuff the chorizo sausages into the bread and when it was finally all ready, I helped serve. Throughout the night I saw lots of people I’d met at the Taller, including Alejandro, and Alberto from Jueves Solidario. Daniel, Renaldo, and Javiera were of course there, so it was great to see them again.
After all the food was served they had a “show”, including singing and dancing by the volunteers, then a folk music performance, then cueca. After a real cueca couple danced, they had a cueca competition. We (2 other volunteers and I) were about to leave since it was getting late when suddenly Renaldo grabbed me and handed me to a guy and said, “Here’s your partner!” I had no idea what was going on until Renaldo grabbed the mike and announced that we now had our 3 couples and they would begin the cueca competition! So the next thing I know I’m “dancing” the cueca in front of 35+ complete strangers. I really had no idea what I was doing, but luckily it was really laid back and everyone had a good laugh. It wasn’t that embarrassing because I knew I would suck, so I just went with it. After the 2 dance, we were thankfully “eliminated”. After the winner was picked, they gave out prizes and I got a little red, white, and blue ribbon, perfect for Fiestas Patrias! Renaldo was sure to tell everyone that I was North America and had never before danced the cueca and everyone cheered. My partner made many jokes about taking the beautiful blonde North American home but was actually very respectful and really helped me out.
When they finally decided to stop torturing me, we headed out to walk to the metro. I went with Lorin, another volunteer in my program, Ursula, a Peruvian who studies at University of San Francisco, in CA but is studying abroad in Chile for a year (crazy right?) and an employee of Nuestra Casa. While we were walking to the metro, we stumbled upon a fire! The street was filled with people and firemen were running around pulling hoses, climbing up and down ladders, yelling orders at each other, everything. The building was still in flames and there was tons of smoke. Again, how I run into such exciting, random things, I have no idea! After enough rubber necking, we made it to the metro. I came home and told Olga that I didn’t need to eat because I’d had empanadas and choripan and the party. She giggled and told me that after Fiestas Patrias, we are going to eat only fruits and vegetables. No more pan, rice, spaghetti, nothing! So hopefully we’ll stick to it, but I’m sure Olga will enjoy the new culinary challenge! And since Chilean summer is coming, I need it!
I have nothing to do tomorrow since it is September 11th. It’s the anniversary of Pinochet’s coup d'état and apparently everything shuts down early and the streets can be dangerous. Olga said I shouldn’t leave the house after 3ish. So I have no idea what I’m going to do all day! But I’ll just enjoy it and get ready for my trip on Thursday. Alright, good night!
Sunday, September 9, 2007 How do I get so lucky??
Sunday, September 09, 2007
I swear, everyday I am here I find myself asking myself, “Is this really happening? How do I get so lucky?” Today was yet another one of those sweet happen stance findings. Read on…
So today started out as usual. I slept in late, excercised a little, then took a shower. Olga and I ate almuerzo around 1 and after lunch I called Courtney to see if she wanted to check out some museums today. She agreed, but needed to eat with her family then make the long trek to downtown, so we decided to meet up at 4. I read for my Biblia class, then took the metro to meet up with Courtney.
We decided to go to the Museo de Artes Contemporeanos or MAC (Museum of Contempory Arts) first and if we had time go to the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) after. We walked into MAC and paid the $.80 student fee and spent the next 2 hours checking out the 4 exhibits. Courtney is an Art major (plus Biology plus Spanish, yes, that is a triple major), so I really enjoyed going to the museum with her. The 4 exhibits were 1) Mineral, a sculture exhibit, 2) a restored art from the mid 1900s, 3) Super Heroes, a series of incredible paintings of little kids in super hero costumes, and 4) a Costa Rican artist exhibit with all types of art. Each one was incredible and I really enjoyed taking my time and really admiring each piece.
When we finally finished in MAC, Bellas Artes was about to close. We decided that if we could spend 2 hours looking at only 4 exhibits, then we would need half a day to go through Bellas Artes. But we are going to do it together soon. So when we walked out of MAC, the plaza and park out front had converted into a mini circus/street market/festival! There were probably over 400 people walking around admiring the jugglers, break dancers, ribbon dancers, drummers circles, people climbing a skinny curtain looking thing hanging from a tree (like acrobats), and more. All around were people selling some very interesting things, other very sketchy purses and second hand clothes. At one point while Courtney and I were walking around a strong wind came and blew away some posters for sale. Courtney and I picked them up and the man told us to keep one of them as a gift. So the only one Courtney still had in her hand was a Bob Marley poster, so she kept it. But she goes to school in Boulder, CO so she told me she has lots of friends that will love it!
After having our fill of the festivities and figuring we should leave before we got pick pocketed, we started walking to Plaza de Armas, the awesome Plaza downtown I’ve written about before. Just as we left the MAC plaza, we came across and large crowd gathered around a cross walk. A group of performers/actors who called themselves PARE Theatro (STOP Theater) was doing hilarious one acts and skits during red lights! So we stopped and watched for about 20 while the actors ran off and on the streets, rapidly changing their outfits and getting ready for the next red light. They had music, props, and hilarious costumes and had the timing down perfectly so that they never impeded traffic. Between the impromptu festival outside of MAC and the random street performances, I again found myself once again thanking God for blessing me with so many random pleasures.
We walked to Plaza de Arrmas and meandered through the little market set up for Fiestas Patrias. We then walked down Paseo Ahumadas, the pedestrian street and bought warm, sugared peanuts to share. Around 7:30 we’d had our fill of the hustle and bustle and decided to head home, so we walked to Alameda. Courtney had to run to catch her bus, but she made it, and I walked back to the apartment.
Olga and I had once while I filled her in on the day’s adventures then I headed to my room to work. I talked to Sara on the phone for the second time in 2 months and it was great to hear from her. Then I talked to Trevor and finished up a presentation for my education class. Around 12:30 I fell asleep, exhausted after a full, exciting day.
I swear, everyday I am here I find myself asking myself, “Is this really happening? How do I get so lucky?” Today was yet another one of those sweet happen stance findings. Read on…
So today started out as usual. I slept in late, excercised a little, then took a shower. Olga and I ate almuerzo around 1 and after lunch I called Courtney to see if she wanted to check out some museums today. She agreed, but needed to eat with her family then make the long trek to downtown, so we decided to meet up at 4. I read for my Biblia class, then took the metro to meet up with Courtney.
We decided to go to the Museo de Artes Contemporeanos or MAC (Museum of Contempory Arts) first and if we had time go to the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) after. We walked into MAC and paid the $.80 student fee and spent the next 2 hours checking out the 4 exhibits. Courtney is an Art major (plus Biology plus Spanish, yes, that is a triple major), so I really enjoyed going to the museum with her. The 4 exhibits were 1) Mineral, a sculture exhibit, 2) a restored art from the mid 1900s, 3) Super Heroes, a series of incredible paintings of little kids in super hero costumes, and 4) a Costa Rican artist exhibit with all types of art. Each one was incredible and I really enjoyed taking my time and really admiring each piece.
When we finally finished in MAC, Bellas Artes was about to close. We decided that if we could spend 2 hours looking at only 4 exhibits, then we would need half a day to go through Bellas Artes. But we are going to do it together soon. So when we walked out of MAC, the plaza and park out front had converted into a mini circus/street market/festival! There were probably over 400 people walking around admiring the jugglers, break dancers, ribbon dancers, drummers circles, people climbing a skinny curtain looking thing hanging from a tree (like acrobats), and more. All around were people selling some very interesting things, other very sketchy purses and second hand clothes. At one point while Courtney and I were walking around a strong wind came and blew away some posters for sale. Courtney and I picked them up and the man told us to keep one of them as a gift. So the only one Courtney still had in her hand was a Bob Marley poster, so she kept it. But she goes to school in Boulder, CO so she told me she has lots of friends that will love it!
After having our fill of the festivities and figuring we should leave before we got pick pocketed, we started walking to Plaza de Armas, the awesome Plaza downtown I’ve written about before. Just as we left the MAC plaza, we came across and large crowd gathered around a cross walk. A group of performers/actors who called themselves PARE Theatro (STOP Theater) was doing hilarious one acts and skits during red lights! So we stopped and watched for about 20 while the actors ran off and on the streets, rapidly changing their outfits and getting ready for the next red light. They had music, props, and hilarious costumes and had the timing down perfectly so that they never impeded traffic. Between the impromptu festival outside of MAC and the random street performances, I again found myself once again thanking God for blessing me with so many random pleasures.
We walked to Plaza de Arrmas and meandered through the little market set up for Fiestas Patrias. We then walked down Paseo Ahumadas, the pedestrian street and bought warm, sugared peanuts to share. Around 7:30 we’d had our fill of the hustle and bustle and decided to head home, so we walked to Alameda. Courtney had to run to catch her bus, but she made it, and I walked back to the apartment.
Olga and I had once while I filled her in on the day’s adventures then I headed to my room to work. I talked to Sara on the phone for the second time in 2 months and it was great to hear from her. Then I talked to Trevor and finished up a presentation for my education class. Around 12:30 I fell asleep, exhausted after a full, exciting day.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007 Adventures with Olga
Saturday, September 8, 2007
I slept in till noon and woke up to discover my voice was nearly gone. I’m not surprised since I’ve been sick and I stayed up last night laughing and singing HOLD ON TO WHAT WE’VE GOT… at the top of my longs. Olga and ate breakfast(?) and she laughed while I filled her in on everything I did yesterday. After eating I did the little homework I had and caught up on my journal. We had almuerzo around 3 and Olga told me that I’ve been good for her because she’s lost weight! I hadn’t noticed before, but in 2 months, she is actually quite a bit skinnier! She said she feels lighter and healthier and her husband even made a comment! She seemed quite pleased with herself but told me its because I’m here and help her eat healthier. I told her congratulations but that I think I’m the opposite. So she told me she won’t buy anymore desserts and will start buying less bread.
After almuerzo Olga and I took the metro to Quinta Normal, a beautiful park on the west side of town. While we were walking around, Olga told me she used to come here when she was younger because it reminded her of the south where she grew up. It really is like an oasis in the middle of the city full of huge trees, a laguna, flowers, and people everywhere having picnics, playing soccer, riding bikes, flying kites. I loved it and really made me miss Audubon Park in New Orleans. There are a couple museums in the park but they were closing right as we got there. But we did manage to sneak in one museum before it closed. It is a beautiful old building that they’ve converted into an Art center. On the first floor are copies probably 50 of the most famous works of art in the world. They had all my favorite Spanish painters, including Velazquez and Picasso, and even a Georgia Okeefe and a few other US painters. On the second floor was an amazing interactive art education area. It was all the things you learn in art class about color and perspective and light etc. in a great interactive set up. They even had a workshop on the side. I absolutely loved it and I’m going to bring Courtney because she studies art and can tell me all about the paintings I didn’t know about!
When we finished walking around the park I asked Olga if she wanted to go to mass. She was very excited and after discussing where to go, we decided on San Lazaro, the one closest to the apartment. So we took the metro and when we got to the church we saw that there was a wedding. I assumed we would just go to the other mass that is at 7:30, but Olga insisted it was fine! So thinking back to the funeral we had attended about a week again, I again followed Olga into the church, praying that no one would notice that we definitely did not belong! I was just glad I was wearing a black jacket instead of the bright pink sweater like I wore to the funeral! We sat over to the side but right in front with a few other people who were also there just for mass.
Before mass started Olga and I laughed about the fact that of the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church, I’d now witnessed 4! I’ve seen a wedding (holy matrimony), a funeral (last rites), and holy orders and I’ve gone to communion! All I’m lacking is baptism, confirmation, and confession. Olga teaches a baptism class to parents, so we decided I would go to mass with her when the babies are baptized and she is going to find out when the confirmation mass is at her church. Then she explained to me how to do confession in Chile and assured me that once the priest noticed my accident, (right away, of course) he would help me out! So I’m thinking by the time I leave Chile, I’ll have all 7!
The wedding was quite elegant and the church was packed. There was great live music which I think it was actually Scottish music. They had a flute, a Peter Pan type flute, drums, a bag pipe and singers. I didn’t notice, but Olga said she saw they were wearing kilts! One interesting difference between Chilean weddings and US weddings: instead of having bridesmaids and groomsmen, they have Padrinos or Godparents. So the husband and the wife each choose one godmother and one godfather (can be their parents, cousins, siblings, friends, etc.). The godparents then sit on the side, where the bridesmaids or groomsmen would sit. It reminded me a lot of watching my parents wedding tape: most of the people had no idea what was going on during the mass, the women were crying, and about 15% went to communion.
One big difference was that the bride and groom looked nervous and somewhat uncomfortable the whole time. I kind of felt bad for them.
While Olga and I walked home, she kept saying how she couldn’t believe the odds of us deciding to go to a Saturday evening mass and there being such an elegant wedding. We had a great laugh and she kept telling me how special we are together and how much God is blessing us! We ate once and again recounted how great a day we’d had and I decided to lay low tonight and stay in. I’d had enough excitement in the past few days and I really tired/still trying to kick this cold/flu thing. So I called Jamie and my mom and they filled me in on the car situation back home. Everything is worked out with the insurance and they amazingly bought a car for Jamie today! Its incredible how these things work out! Now it’s almost 1 am on Saturday night and I’m warm in my bed, ready for the sandman to bring me a dream…
I slept in till noon and woke up to discover my voice was nearly gone. I’m not surprised since I’ve been sick and I stayed up last night laughing and singing HOLD ON TO WHAT WE’VE GOT… at the top of my longs. Olga and ate breakfast(?) and she laughed while I filled her in on everything I did yesterday. After eating I did the little homework I had and caught up on my journal. We had almuerzo around 3 and Olga told me that I’ve been good for her because she’s lost weight! I hadn’t noticed before, but in 2 months, she is actually quite a bit skinnier! She said she feels lighter and healthier and her husband even made a comment! She seemed quite pleased with herself but told me its because I’m here and help her eat healthier. I told her congratulations but that I think I’m the opposite. So she told me she won’t buy anymore desserts and will start buying less bread.
After almuerzo Olga and I took the metro to Quinta Normal, a beautiful park on the west side of town. While we were walking around, Olga told me she used to come here when she was younger because it reminded her of the south where she grew up. It really is like an oasis in the middle of the city full of huge trees, a laguna, flowers, and people everywhere having picnics, playing soccer, riding bikes, flying kites. I loved it and really made me miss Audubon Park in New Orleans. There are a couple museums in the park but they were closing right as we got there. But we did manage to sneak in one museum before it closed. It is a beautiful old building that they’ve converted into an Art center. On the first floor are copies probably 50 of the most famous works of art in the world. They had all my favorite Spanish painters, including Velazquez and Picasso, and even a Georgia Okeefe and a few other US painters. On the second floor was an amazing interactive art education area. It was all the things you learn in art class about color and perspective and light etc. in a great interactive set up. They even had a workshop on the side. I absolutely loved it and I’m going to bring Courtney because she studies art and can tell me all about the paintings I didn’t know about!
When we finished walking around the park I asked Olga if she wanted to go to mass. She was very excited and after discussing where to go, we decided on San Lazaro, the one closest to the apartment. So we took the metro and when we got to the church we saw that there was a wedding. I assumed we would just go to the other mass that is at 7:30, but Olga insisted it was fine! So thinking back to the funeral we had attended about a week again, I again followed Olga into the church, praying that no one would notice that we definitely did not belong! I was just glad I was wearing a black jacket instead of the bright pink sweater like I wore to the funeral! We sat over to the side but right in front with a few other people who were also there just for mass.
Before mass started Olga and I laughed about the fact that of the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church, I’d now witnessed 4! I’ve seen a wedding (holy matrimony), a funeral (last rites), and holy orders and I’ve gone to communion! All I’m lacking is baptism, confirmation, and confession. Olga teaches a baptism class to parents, so we decided I would go to mass with her when the babies are baptized and she is going to find out when the confirmation mass is at her church. Then she explained to me how to do confession in Chile and assured me that once the priest noticed my accident, (right away, of course) he would help me out! So I’m thinking by the time I leave Chile, I’ll have all 7!
The wedding was quite elegant and the church was packed. There was great live music which I think it was actually Scottish music. They had a flute, a Peter Pan type flute, drums, a bag pipe and singers. I didn’t notice, but Olga said she saw they were wearing kilts! One interesting difference between Chilean weddings and US weddings: instead of having bridesmaids and groomsmen, they have Padrinos or Godparents. So the husband and the wife each choose one godmother and one godfather (can be their parents, cousins, siblings, friends, etc.). The godparents then sit on the side, where the bridesmaids or groomsmen would sit. It reminded me a lot of watching my parents wedding tape: most of the people had no idea what was going on during the mass, the women were crying, and about 15% went to communion.
One big difference was that the bride and groom looked nervous and somewhat uncomfortable the whole time. I kind of felt bad for them.
While Olga and I walked home, she kept saying how she couldn’t believe the odds of us deciding to go to a Saturday evening mass and there being such an elegant wedding. We had a great laugh and she kept telling me how special we are together and how much God is blessing us! We ate once and again recounted how great a day we’d had and I decided to lay low tonight and stay in. I’d had enough excitement in the past few days and I really tired/still trying to kick this cold/flu thing. So I called Jamie and my mom and they filled me in on the car situation back home. Everything is worked out with the insurance and they amazingly bought a car for Jamie today! Its incredible how these things work out! Now it’s almost 1 am on Saturday night and I’m warm in my bed, ready for the sandman to bring me a dream…
Friday, September 7, 2007 How can you not love Chile?
Friday, September 7, 2007
I woke up at Courtney’s around 9:30 and we got dressed and had breakfast. I met her adopted parents and they were surprised that I was a gringa! I guess when Courtney asked if she could have a friend spend the night they were expecting a Chilean! But they were very nice and welcoming. I began the long trek home from her house around 10:15 and after a 20 minute walk and a 30 minute metro ride, I got home. I took a quick shower and at noon I went to the bus stop to meet up with Calli and Courtney (again!) to check out some markets and museums in the northern part of down town. Two Chileans that we had met a few times and we saw last night joined us. They names are Rodrigo and Ignacio. It worked out really well because they knew how to get around plus it forced us to speak in Spanish!
First we walked to a street market where they sell all kinds of clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. Then we went to the Vega where they sell fruits and vegetables. We bought apples and grapes. The lady that sold us the apples gave us an orange for free! Then Courtney and I each bought a Chilean flag. I’d wanted one to hang in my room and I figured it would be good to have for Fiestas Patrias!
For lunch we all ate at Schopdog, a Chilean chain restaurant. The girls all wanted to eat at one of the little restaurants that sell seafood straight from the market that is there but the Chileans said that they can be unhygienic. I didn’t really mind a little extra protein in my food, but the boys were being sissies, so we at fast food. Calli and I both had a huge, delicious salad. The boys didn’t understand how we could eat just that. We told them it was a lot of food but they insisted that it was only vegetables and that we would be hungry soon. Honestly, that is the Chilean perspective on salads: its not food, its just vegetables!
After lunch the boys headed out and Calli and Courtney and I went to Estacion Mapocho, Santiago’s old Union Station. It is a beautiful, huge building and reminded me a lot of KC, MO’s Union Station. They have what seems to be a really amazing dinosaur exhibit with fossils from Mongolia and I had been wanting to go. So I was really excited about it until we found out it costs about $8. That and we only had about an hour, so we decided against it. So instead we check out two photography exhibits they had (one about Chilean birds and another artsy fartsy naked woman photography). After we’d had enough wild life (note the double meaning), we sat outside on the steps and ate the grapes we’d bought at the market (after washing them of course!).
Around 4 we walked about 30 minutes to Alameda (the main street downtown that runs close to my house). We sat in front of the La Moneda (the Chilean Government Capital) and ate our apples. It will probably go on the list as one of the best apples I’ve ever eaten. It was literally sweeter that honey and about half the size of my face. Unfortunately for Calli, about half way through her apple she set it down and said she didn’t want anymore. She told us her lips were tingling, which is what happens when she eats avocado and certain other fruits (which she is allergic to). About 3 minutes later, she could barely talk and couldn’t take deep breaths. She said she felt like she had something stuck in her through and she sounded like a 80 woman who’d smoked all her life. She assured us she was fine and that it would pass, but we could tell she was scared. Apparently she’s never had an allergic reaction that bad and never with apples. Her theory is that she is allergic to the peal of many fruits and that this particular apple had something that her body didn’t like. Anyway, she ended up being fine and after about an hour was back to normal. I think she is just going to stick to Granny Smiths and Fujis from now on!
At 5 we went to a Cueca class with CIEE (our exchange program). Cueca is the national dance of Chile and huge during September and Fiestas Patrias. Our program coordinators organized the class for us and it was quite a blast. I had seen the cueca a few times before and totally didn’t understand it. It seemed completely random. But in the class we learned the steps and the passes and now I definitely understand! I not claiming to be good at the cueca, but I think if I had to, I could handle my own. We’ll see if I’ll have the opportunity to dance it for real. After the class we had empanadas and hung out. It was good to see kids that I hadn’t really seen since we’ve got here and everyone seems to be doing great.
After the class Calli, Courtney and I ate the chocolate we’d bought at a little fair and then Courtney and I took the metro to meet up with Christian. He picked us up and drove us to his house. Until about 10, Courtney, Christian, Emanuel (Christian’s twin brother) and I sat in their room talking and cracking up. At 10 their mom got home and was thrilled to see me. She sat and talked with us and when she realized it, started griping at the boys for not offering us anything to eat or drink. In true Chilean mother fashion, “These lovely young ladies have been here almost two hours and you haven’t offered them tea or coffee or even a little juice? You boys should know better!” Courtney and I had a great laugh while Christian and Emanuel jumped to their feet and ran to the kitchen.
They had once and I drank some coffee after firmly reassuring their mom that I’d eaten empanadas and was quite full. While we were eating Christian’s older brother Emilio came home with his girlfriend Maria Paz and 3 guy friends. One of the friends I hadn’t met but one was Marcelo, the guy from the beach that was at their house last time I was there and the other was Juan, who we’d also hung out with at the beach but who I hadn’t seen since then. They had all been at a party at the University and Emilio had had more than a few. He walked in and despite his best attempts to play it off, immediately their mom knew. The exchange was quite funny: Emilio trying to convince his mother he was fine and Mom assuring him she knew better because she had carried him in her womb. We died laughing.
After once Christian and I set up their ping pong table and I proceeded to school him. It was actually a really really close game and I was nervous at a few points. But I showed him up in the end and in true Bronder fashion, even managed a little trash talk in Spanish. Juan decided to try next but he had had a little too much to drink and after 11-2 gave up. I think sober he could give me a good game, so hopefully we play again. Then Juan and Marcelo challenged Christian and I to a doubles game and after a fierce battle, Christian and I emerged victorious. Marcelo was actually really good and could probably beat me one on one, but I didn’t give him the chance! After three intense games I was spent and decided to go out on a good note.
Next we decided to try to play Texas Hold’em, but it ended up being too complicated to try to explain and we didn’t have chips, so after about 30 minutes we switched to karaoke (Chilean Gin Rummy). But as soon as the cards were dealt everyone started talking and singing and not paying attention, so that didn’t happen either! Courtney and I spent the rest of the night dieing of laughter while the boys spoke English, sang American songs at the top of their lungs, and asked us which one of them looked most Latin. They even brought out the guitar! I’m convinced Juan knows more American songs, movies, and TV shows than I do. We helped them with their English pronunciation, for example the differences between her and hair, beach and bitch, can’t and CENSORED, and fact and $#*$ed. I honestly had never thought about it, but those words are quite similar. Its amazing what you take for granted in your native tongue! Despite the fact that half of us were sober (Maria Paz, Christian, Courtney and I) we all had a great time. I literally have not laughed that hard in so long.
Around 3 Christian drove Courtney and I home, despite the boys begging us to stay and hang out. By the time I got home, in bed and fell asleep, it was around 4:30!
I woke up at Courtney’s around 9:30 and we got dressed and had breakfast. I met her adopted parents and they were surprised that I was a gringa! I guess when Courtney asked if she could have a friend spend the night they were expecting a Chilean! But they were very nice and welcoming. I began the long trek home from her house around 10:15 and after a 20 minute walk and a 30 minute metro ride, I got home. I took a quick shower and at noon I went to the bus stop to meet up with Calli and Courtney (again!) to check out some markets and museums in the northern part of down town. Two Chileans that we had met a few times and we saw last night joined us. They names are Rodrigo and Ignacio. It worked out really well because they knew how to get around plus it forced us to speak in Spanish!
First we walked to a street market where they sell all kinds of clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. Then we went to the Vega where they sell fruits and vegetables. We bought apples and grapes. The lady that sold us the apples gave us an orange for free! Then Courtney and I each bought a Chilean flag. I’d wanted one to hang in my room and I figured it would be good to have for Fiestas Patrias!
For lunch we all ate at Schopdog, a Chilean chain restaurant. The girls all wanted to eat at one of the little restaurants that sell seafood straight from the market that is there but the Chileans said that they can be unhygienic. I didn’t really mind a little extra protein in my food, but the boys were being sissies, so we at fast food. Calli and I both had a huge, delicious salad. The boys didn’t understand how we could eat just that. We told them it was a lot of food but they insisted that it was only vegetables and that we would be hungry soon. Honestly, that is the Chilean perspective on salads: its not food, its just vegetables!
After lunch the boys headed out and Calli and Courtney and I went to Estacion Mapocho, Santiago’s old Union Station. It is a beautiful, huge building and reminded me a lot of KC, MO’s Union Station. They have what seems to be a really amazing dinosaur exhibit with fossils from Mongolia and I had been wanting to go. So I was really excited about it until we found out it costs about $8. That and we only had about an hour, so we decided against it. So instead we check out two photography exhibits they had (one about Chilean birds and another artsy fartsy naked woman photography). After we’d had enough wild life (note the double meaning), we sat outside on the steps and ate the grapes we’d bought at the market (after washing them of course!).
Around 4 we walked about 30 minutes to Alameda (the main street downtown that runs close to my house). We sat in front of the La Moneda (the Chilean Government Capital) and ate our apples. It will probably go on the list as one of the best apples I’ve ever eaten. It was literally sweeter that honey and about half the size of my face. Unfortunately for Calli, about half way through her apple she set it down and said she didn’t want anymore. She told us her lips were tingling, which is what happens when she eats avocado and certain other fruits (which she is allergic to). About 3 minutes later, she could barely talk and couldn’t take deep breaths. She said she felt like she had something stuck in her through and she sounded like a 80 woman who’d smoked all her life. She assured us she was fine and that it would pass, but we could tell she was scared. Apparently she’s never had an allergic reaction that bad and never with apples. Her theory is that she is allergic to the peal of many fruits and that this particular apple had something that her body didn’t like. Anyway, she ended up being fine and after about an hour was back to normal. I think she is just going to stick to Granny Smiths and Fujis from now on!
At 5 we went to a Cueca class with CIEE (our exchange program). Cueca is the national dance of Chile and huge during September and Fiestas Patrias. Our program coordinators organized the class for us and it was quite a blast. I had seen the cueca a few times before and totally didn’t understand it. It seemed completely random. But in the class we learned the steps and the passes and now I definitely understand! I not claiming to be good at the cueca, but I think if I had to, I could handle my own. We’ll see if I’ll have the opportunity to dance it for real. After the class we had empanadas and hung out. It was good to see kids that I hadn’t really seen since we’ve got here and everyone seems to be doing great.
After the class Calli, Courtney and I ate the chocolate we’d bought at a little fair and then Courtney and I took the metro to meet up with Christian. He picked us up and drove us to his house. Until about 10, Courtney, Christian, Emanuel (Christian’s twin brother) and I sat in their room talking and cracking up. At 10 their mom got home and was thrilled to see me. She sat and talked with us and when she realized it, started griping at the boys for not offering us anything to eat or drink. In true Chilean mother fashion, “These lovely young ladies have been here almost two hours and you haven’t offered them tea or coffee or even a little juice? You boys should know better!” Courtney and I had a great laugh while Christian and Emanuel jumped to their feet and ran to the kitchen.
They had once and I drank some coffee after firmly reassuring their mom that I’d eaten empanadas and was quite full. While we were eating Christian’s older brother Emilio came home with his girlfriend Maria Paz and 3 guy friends. One of the friends I hadn’t met but one was Marcelo, the guy from the beach that was at their house last time I was there and the other was Juan, who we’d also hung out with at the beach but who I hadn’t seen since then. They had all been at a party at the University and Emilio had had more than a few. He walked in and despite his best attempts to play it off, immediately their mom knew. The exchange was quite funny: Emilio trying to convince his mother he was fine and Mom assuring him she knew better because she had carried him in her womb. We died laughing.
After once Christian and I set up their ping pong table and I proceeded to school him. It was actually a really really close game and I was nervous at a few points. But I showed him up in the end and in true Bronder fashion, even managed a little trash talk in Spanish. Juan decided to try next but he had had a little too much to drink and after 11-2 gave up. I think sober he could give me a good game, so hopefully we play again. Then Juan and Marcelo challenged Christian and I to a doubles game and after a fierce battle, Christian and I emerged victorious. Marcelo was actually really good and could probably beat me one on one, but I didn’t give him the chance! After three intense games I was spent and decided to go out on a good note.
Next we decided to try to play Texas Hold’em, but it ended up being too complicated to try to explain and we didn’t have chips, so after about 30 minutes we switched to karaoke (Chilean Gin Rummy). But as soon as the cards were dealt everyone started talking and singing and not paying attention, so that didn’t happen either! Courtney and I spent the rest of the night dieing of laughter while the boys spoke English, sang American songs at the top of their lungs, and asked us which one of them looked most Latin. They even brought out the guitar! I’m convinced Juan knows more American songs, movies, and TV shows than I do. We helped them with their English pronunciation, for example the differences between her and hair, beach and bitch, can’t and CENSORED, and fact and $#*$ed. I honestly had never thought about it, but those words are quite similar. Its amazing what you take for granted in your native tongue! Despite the fact that half of us were sober (Maria Paz, Christian, Courtney and I) we all had a great time. I literally have not laughed that hard in so long.
Around 3 Christian drove Courtney and I home, despite the boys begging us to stay and hang out. By the time I got home, in bed and fell asleep, it was around 4:30!
Thursday, September 6, 2007 Happy 17th Birthday Jammer!
Thursday, September 6, 2007 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE!!
I woke up at 6:15 AM, wondering why on earth I agreed to volunteer so stinking early in the morning. I left the house at 6:50 and took the metro to the High School where I’ll be helping out with the English class. I met the teacher, Mabel, at 7:30 and as we walked to class, she turned and said, “Welcome to hell”. It is her first year teaching and she is way in over her head. I think she will be ok eventually, but she definitely needs some help.
I spent from 7:30 to 12:00 in three different classes telling kids to sit down, keep working, put their MP3 players away, and trying to help them with their English. Some of them haven’t learned anything beyond, “Hello, my name is…” but they are pretty receptive and respectful to me. I think I will be able to really make an impact and it is great to feel useful. They ask me funny questions, especially about my boyfriend in the United States.
At one point I was helping a group of girls with their King Arthur story and worksheet. The 4 of them had a look of complete desperation and I could tell they were about to give up. I decided to break the English only rule and got down on their level (literally and figuratively. I was on my knees.) and spoke Spanish with them. I told them that I’ve been studying Spanish for 7 years and I still have a lot to learn. I told them that I know how hard it is to learn a foreign language in a classroom and that it seems nearly impossible. But if they want to learn English and if they are willing to study and work, they can. We talked for a while and after the little bit of motivation, they kept working and ended up finishing the entire worksheet! I was very excited and honestly, if that is the best thing I do down here, I’ll be happy.
There are plenty of more funny, interesting, sad, and hopefull stories of my 4.5 hours in San Lawrence Colegio and I’m sure I’ll have thousands more by the end of the semester, so I’ll spare you. But as I was leaving, Mabel thanked me profusely and asked if I wanted to get together and have a beer this weekend. I told her I’d love to and that we can work on lesson plans! She seemed relieved and excited and I left exhausted but happy. Its great to feel useful and needed and its worth waking up at the butt crack of dawn (literally!)
I came home and had almuerzo with Olga, then laid down to take a quick nap. I wanted to finish my homework on Thursday so I wouldn’t have to worry about it all weekend, but I ended up sleeping from 2 to 4:45! So much for getting my work done! At 5:15 I walked to a meeting for the English Opens Doors program (what I’m doing in the High School) about how to help in the classroom. It was very informative and they gave up lots of great worksheets and ideas. The best part was that afterwards they had sushi, pisco sours, and a cueca dance! I passed on the pisco sour, but enjoyed some sushi and cueca.
I walked home and about an hour later headed out to meet some friends in Providencia. We went to a really nice bar, but I had no desire to drink (and I’ve been taking cold medicine) so my friend Hanna and I shared a dessert! Around 10:45 we took a cab to La Católica. They had a huge party called Noche de las Naciones or Night of the Nations. Its basically a big cultural exchange event where Chilean students that have studied abroad in the past or current exchange students can have booths about their country with food, music, activities etc. It kind of reminded me of a Girl Scout event at first, but with college students, music, and alcohol! Around 11:45 there was a Chilean music and dance show with live Cueca, then dancers from Easter Island (it looked like the hula from Hawaii), then a meringue couple, then a Brazilian drumming group. Everyone was dancing and singing; it was a blast! When the show/dance fest ended, they had a DJ that played until about 3 am.
But I was tired, still a little sick, and ready to head out around 2 am. I didn’t want to pay to take a Taxi home by myself and Courtney was going to walk home by herself, so we decided that I would just walk home with Courtney and spend the night at her house! So Courtney and I walked together and had a slumber party! We laid in bed talking and giggling until about 4 in the morning until we finally crashed. Wow, what a great day!
I woke up at 6:15 AM, wondering why on earth I agreed to volunteer so stinking early in the morning. I left the house at 6:50 and took the metro to the High School where I’ll be helping out with the English class. I met the teacher, Mabel, at 7:30 and as we walked to class, she turned and said, “Welcome to hell”. It is her first year teaching and she is way in over her head. I think she will be ok eventually, but she definitely needs some help.
I spent from 7:30 to 12:00 in three different classes telling kids to sit down, keep working, put their MP3 players away, and trying to help them with their English. Some of them haven’t learned anything beyond, “Hello, my name is…” but they are pretty receptive and respectful to me. I think I will be able to really make an impact and it is great to feel useful. They ask me funny questions, especially about my boyfriend in the United States.
At one point I was helping a group of girls with their King Arthur story and worksheet. The 4 of them had a look of complete desperation and I could tell they were about to give up. I decided to break the English only rule and got down on their level (literally and figuratively. I was on my knees.) and spoke Spanish with them. I told them that I’ve been studying Spanish for 7 years and I still have a lot to learn. I told them that I know how hard it is to learn a foreign language in a classroom and that it seems nearly impossible. But if they want to learn English and if they are willing to study and work, they can. We talked for a while and after the little bit of motivation, they kept working and ended up finishing the entire worksheet! I was very excited and honestly, if that is the best thing I do down here, I’ll be happy.
There are plenty of more funny, interesting, sad, and hopefull stories of my 4.5 hours in San Lawrence Colegio and I’m sure I’ll have thousands more by the end of the semester, so I’ll spare you. But as I was leaving, Mabel thanked me profusely and asked if I wanted to get together and have a beer this weekend. I told her I’d love to and that we can work on lesson plans! She seemed relieved and excited and I left exhausted but happy. Its great to feel useful and needed and its worth waking up at the butt crack of dawn (literally!)
I came home and had almuerzo with Olga, then laid down to take a quick nap. I wanted to finish my homework on Thursday so I wouldn’t have to worry about it all weekend, but I ended up sleeping from 2 to 4:45! So much for getting my work done! At 5:15 I walked to a meeting for the English Opens Doors program (what I’m doing in the High School) about how to help in the classroom. It was very informative and they gave up lots of great worksheets and ideas. The best part was that afterwards they had sushi, pisco sours, and a cueca dance! I passed on the pisco sour, but enjoyed some sushi and cueca.
I walked home and about an hour later headed out to meet some friends in Providencia. We went to a really nice bar, but I had no desire to drink (and I’ve been taking cold medicine) so my friend Hanna and I shared a dessert! Around 10:45 we took a cab to La Católica. They had a huge party called Noche de las Naciones or Night of the Nations. Its basically a big cultural exchange event where Chilean students that have studied abroad in the past or current exchange students can have booths about their country with food, music, activities etc. It kind of reminded me of a Girl Scout event at first, but with college students, music, and alcohol! Around 11:45 there was a Chilean music and dance show with live Cueca, then dancers from Easter Island (it looked like the hula from Hawaii), then a meringue couple, then a Brazilian drumming group. Everyone was dancing and singing; it was a blast! When the show/dance fest ended, they had a DJ that played until about 3 am.
But I was tired, still a little sick, and ready to head out around 2 am. I didn’t want to pay to take a Taxi home by myself and Courtney was going to walk home by herself, so we decided that I would just walk home with Courtney and spend the night at her house! So Courtney and I walked together and had a slumber party! We laid in bed talking and giggling until about 4 in the morning until we finally crashed. Wow, what a great day!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 Goodbye Hi Ho Silver...
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 Goodbye Hi Ho Silver…
Thank goodness, but I got a good night sleep last night and woke up feeling still a little sick but much better than yesterday. My Doctrina Social class was canceled since we had the test Monday, so I slept in and went to campus around 12:30. I laid outside in the sun (yeah, its getting warm!!!) and read for my Education class, then went to mass at 1. In my Education class the professor said she hasn’t been very happy about the test results so far and then went on to say that 70% of test results depend on the teacher, so I guess that is one benefit of an Education professor! After class I had lunch with Christian then we printed off my essay, which he had corrected. He told me that my writing and grammar is getting much better and that he was quite impressed. I still mess up the gender a lot, which is understandable because there is no gender in English!
(Gender as in el (masculine) versus la (feminine) for every object or idea. Ex: el gato – the cat. Cat is masculine, so it needs el. If you say la gato, it’s incorrect. There is your mini Spanish lesson for today.)
After Biblia class, I took the bus home. On the way I made a stop and re-charged my pay as you go cell phone. Grrr…its getting expensive! I was home for just a bit and I had to convince Olga to only feed me a little bit because I wasn’t that hungry. At 7:45 I met Tom in the metro and we walked to Nuestra Casa for our volunteer Induction. When we got to the house we were greeted by Guillermo, Daniel, and Renaldo, three of the full time volunteers/workers who I’d met on Saturday. I really enjoyed greeting people I knew instead of being introduced. The feeling of familiarity is something I hadn’t noticed, but really missed! We met the other new volunteers: two University freshman who are studying social work and a Chilean woman. The Chilean woman spoke to us in absolutely perfect English with literally no accent. I of course asked her how she spoke English so well and told me that moved to the United States when she was 3 and lived there for 20 years! That explains it! She was gracious enough to talk to me in Spanish and I noticed that she was easier to understand than other Chileans. She told me that she doesn’t have an accent in English but since she spent so much time out of Chile, she now has an accent in Chilean. I told her not to worry because I could understand her much better.
Later 3 high school girls, a nun and a teacher showed up. I had met all the girls on Thursday when I went with them to bring coffee and bread to the homeless people, so again the feeling of familiarity was wonderful! Anyway, the induction was fun and we got to know each other really well. They did a great job of explaining more about the organization and talking about bringing down the social barriers. After lots of laughing and bonding, we headed out. Everyone there is so wonderful and I look forward to every opportunity I have to be there. I don’t feel like I’m volunteering, more like I’m hanging out!
A bunch of us walked back to the metro together and I talked to the Chilean woman who had lived in the States. She told me that her family moved to the States because in 1973, when Pinochet (and the US) killed Allende and took over the Chilean government, her family was exiled because her father was Communist. Her father was a Physics professor and her mother studied Political Science, so they moved to Indiana and they worked and studied at Purdue. She lived in the States until 1993 when she moved back to Chile. I am still amazed to hear these stories and to think how recent and alive the history is in this country.
I got home around 10:30 and called Jamie to wish her an early Happy Birthday. I woke her up but we talked for a while. She seemed to be doing great and I was about to tell her I was going to go to bed (I was exhausted and still felt a little sick and had to wake up super early to go volunteer at the high school) when she told me she needed to tell me something. To make a long, dramatic, painful, yet somewhat funny story short, she was driving my car to school and a friend of hers rear ended her. Really hard. And my car died.
Thank God Jamie and her other friend who was in the car with her were ok (despite being sore and quite shaken up). But they were hit so hard that she hit the truck in front of her. I told Jamie not to worry about it because it was absolutely not her fault, but she still felt really bad. I kind of feel like I lost a friend; I firmly believe that there is a special bond between you and your first car. But everything will be fine and it was only a car. But today will always be remember as the day Hi Ho Silver met its match.
So I tearfully say,
Thank You Silver, it’s been a good ride.
I’ll miss you and all the fun times we’ve had.
You were a kind and faithful friend and I’ll never forget you…
…excuse me while I wipe away a tear…
Goodbye Hi Ho Silver.
May you rest in piece(s).
Thank goodness, but I got a good night sleep last night and woke up feeling still a little sick but much better than yesterday. My Doctrina Social class was canceled since we had the test Monday, so I slept in and went to campus around 12:30. I laid outside in the sun (yeah, its getting warm!!!) and read for my Education class, then went to mass at 1. In my Education class the professor said she hasn’t been very happy about the test results so far and then went on to say that 70% of test results depend on the teacher, so I guess that is one benefit of an Education professor! After class I had lunch with Christian then we printed off my essay, which he had corrected. He told me that my writing and grammar is getting much better and that he was quite impressed. I still mess up the gender a lot, which is understandable because there is no gender in English!
(Gender as in el (masculine) versus la (feminine) for every object or idea. Ex: el gato – the cat. Cat is masculine, so it needs el. If you say la gato, it’s incorrect. There is your mini Spanish lesson for today.)
After Biblia class, I took the bus home. On the way I made a stop and re-charged my pay as you go cell phone. Grrr…its getting expensive! I was home for just a bit and I had to convince Olga to only feed me a little bit because I wasn’t that hungry. At 7:45 I met Tom in the metro and we walked to Nuestra Casa for our volunteer Induction. When we got to the house we were greeted by Guillermo, Daniel, and Renaldo, three of the full time volunteers/workers who I’d met on Saturday. I really enjoyed greeting people I knew instead of being introduced. The feeling of familiarity is something I hadn’t noticed, but really missed! We met the other new volunteers: two University freshman who are studying social work and a Chilean woman. The Chilean woman spoke to us in absolutely perfect English with literally no accent. I of course asked her how she spoke English so well and told me that moved to the United States when she was 3 and lived there for 20 years! That explains it! She was gracious enough to talk to me in Spanish and I noticed that she was easier to understand than other Chileans. She told me that she doesn’t have an accent in English but since she spent so much time out of Chile, she now has an accent in Chilean. I told her not to worry because I could understand her much better.
Later 3 high school girls, a nun and a teacher showed up. I had met all the girls on Thursday when I went with them to bring coffee and bread to the homeless people, so again the feeling of familiarity was wonderful! Anyway, the induction was fun and we got to know each other really well. They did a great job of explaining more about the organization and talking about bringing down the social barriers. After lots of laughing and bonding, we headed out. Everyone there is so wonderful and I look forward to every opportunity I have to be there. I don’t feel like I’m volunteering, more like I’m hanging out!
A bunch of us walked back to the metro together and I talked to the Chilean woman who had lived in the States. She told me that her family moved to the States because in 1973, when Pinochet (and the US) killed Allende and took over the Chilean government, her family was exiled because her father was Communist. Her father was a Physics professor and her mother studied Political Science, so they moved to Indiana and they worked and studied at Purdue. She lived in the States until 1993 when she moved back to Chile. I am still amazed to hear these stories and to think how recent and alive the history is in this country.
I got home around 10:30 and called Jamie to wish her an early Happy Birthday. I woke her up but we talked for a while. She seemed to be doing great and I was about to tell her I was going to go to bed (I was exhausted and still felt a little sick and had to wake up super early to go volunteer at the high school) when she told me she needed to tell me something. To make a long, dramatic, painful, yet somewhat funny story short, she was driving my car to school and a friend of hers rear ended her. Really hard. And my car died.
Thank God Jamie and her other friend who was in the car with her were ok (despite being sore and quite shaken up). But they were hit so hard that she hit the truck in front of her. I told Jamie not to worry about it because it was absolutely not her fault, but she still felt really bad. I kind of feel like I lost a friend; I firmly believe that there is a special bond between you and your first car. But everything will be fine and it was only a car. But today will always be remember as the day Hi Ho Silver met its match.
So I tearfully say,
Thank You Silver, it’s been a good ride.
I’ll miss you and all the fun times we’ve had.
You were a kind and faithful friend and I’ll never forget you…
…excuse me while I wipe away a tear…
Goodbye Hi Ho Silver.
May you rest in piece(s).
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 La enfermita
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANAMARIE!
So unfortunately one good night of excessive sleep did not cure my tiredness. Actually, I guess I wouldn’t know; I didn’t sleep much at all last night. I woke up every few hours sweating and miserable. Finally around 6 am I took 2 Extra Strength Tylenol and slept till about 10:30. So it ends up that I am just sick. I woke up this morning pale, and achy, with a little bit of a headache and a sore throat. If I had classes, I could probably go and if I’d been at Tulane I would have convinced myself that I was fine. But Olga spotted me out and after a quick breakfast she sent me back to bed. She told me I was to stay in bed and recover before I got worse.
It worked out well because I had to write an essay for my Biblia class and I hadn’t done any of the readings. I laid in bed from about 11:00 am till 8:00 pm reading, sleeping, drinking strange teas and Olga bringing me food and checking on me. Rino, Evan, and Miquel came to the apartment to hang out in the afternoon and I felt really bad that I had to be antisocial. I wanted to get out of bed and talk for a while, but Olga would have none of it. Around 8 I finally started writing my essay which I finished around 11:00 pm. So a boring but very necessary day. I felt much better in the evening and appreciated a day to literally do nothing (besides read and write an essay, which really isn’t nothing, but the fact that I stayed in bed all day was strange.)
La enfermita: Little Sick One.
So unfortunately one good night of excessive sleep did not cure my tiredness. Actually, I guess I wouldn’t know; I didn’t sleep much at all last night. I woke up every few hours sweating and miserable. Finally around 6 am I took 2 Extra Strength Tylenol and slept till about 10:30. So it ends up that I am just sick. I woke up this morning pale, and achy, with a little bit of a headache and a sore throat. If I had classes, I could probably go and if I’d been at Tulane I would have convinced myself that I was fine. But Olga spotted me out and after a quick breakfast she sent me back to bed. She told me I was to stay in bed and recover before I got worse.
It worked out well because I had to write an essay for my Biblia class and I hadn’t done any of the readings. I laid in bed from about 11:00 am till 8:00 pm reading, sleeping, drinking strange teas and Olga bringing me food and checking on me. Rino, Evan, and Miquel came to the apartment to hang out in the afternoon and I felt really bad that I had to be antisocial. I wanted to get out of bed and talk for a while, but Olga would have none of it. Around 8 I finally started writing my essay which I finished around 11:00 pm. So a boring but very necessary day. I felt much better in the evening and appreciated a day to literally do nothing (besides read and write an essay, which really isn’t nothing, but the fact that I stayed in bed all day was strange.)
La enfermita: Little Sick One.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Monday, September 3, 2007 Exhaustion sets in.
Monday, September 03, 2007
So I’m finally caught up journaling. I’m going to try to start journaling every night what I did the day before so I don’t get behind. Anyway, I woke up early around 8:15 to study and head to campus early. I left around 9:40 after frantically rereading all the readings and my notes. I almost fell asleep on the metro on the way and realized just how tired I was. At 10:30 I met up with Andres, who is my Tandem partner. This is a program to match up gringos with Chileans to help each other learn each other’s languages. Andres is 19, studies Civil Construction, and learned English in High School. I felt really bad because I was so tired I had a really hard time talking and listening. But seemed to understand and after about 45 minutes I headed out to cram a little more studying in before the test.
The test wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I did a good job of just repeating verbatim the definitions he gave us in class and certain things from the text. I’m hoping he doesn’t mind that it might now flow too well or that there might be tons of grammar mistakes during the transitions and recognizes that I worked really hard to memorize. Its kind of an old school way of learning and definitely against the whole: think critically, put it in your own words and apply what you’ve learned to real life. But it’s in another language and I was exhausted. We’ll see.
I went to mass then to my Education class. The teacher told us she hasn’t been to thrilled with the test results we took last week so that wasn’t too uplifting. But I’m really enjoying the class and she is a great teacher (she should be right. It’s about Education!) I had lunch with Christian and again could barely carry on a conversation. After we ate I helped him set up a facebook account. Its pretty excited about it and asked me if he could friend Trevor and my sisters! I told him of course.
Finally I headed back downtown for my Biblia class. I know my Spanish is getting a little better because despite my exhaustion, I followed along pretty well. Or actually, I just realized that I for once did the readings BEFORE class like we are supposed to, so maybe that’s why I understood more! After class I walked home. Olga wasn’t there, but I crawled into bed and started catching up on my journal. She got home around 7 and made us dinner. We finished around 8 and now I’m back in bed ready to go to sleep.
I don’t know what it is, but I haven’t been this tired in months. I got more sleep this weekend than usual. Olga has a theory that it is because I did so much with Nuestra Casa and it is very taxing. Plus she thinks I was very stressed about this test today. I didn’t feel more stressed than usual. I know working with Nuestra Casa was difficult, but I still shouldn’t be this tired. I’m hoping one night of excessive sleep (i.e. tonight) will cure it.
One other observation: sometimes I want to give up learning Spanish. I think it's a symptom of lack of sleep and it is usually only fleeting. But I definitely experienced it today. The scary thing is that it would be incredibly easy to quit trying to learn. I'd come back to the states not much better than when I left it! But don't worry. I'll be fine tomorrow and ready to dive back in.
So I’m finally caught up journaling. I’m going to try to start journaling every night what I did the day before so I don’t get behind. Anyway, I woke up early around 8:15 to study and head to campus early. I left around 9:40 after frantically rereading all the readings and my notes. I almost fell asleep on the metro on the way and realized just how tired I was. At 10:30 I met up with Andres, who is my Tandem partner. This is a program to match up gringos with Chileans to help each other learn each other’s languages. Andres is 19, studies Civil Construction, and learned English in High School. I felt really bad because I was so tired I had a really hard time talking and listening. But seemed to understand and after about 45 minutes I headed out to cram a little more studying in before the test.
The test wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I did a good job of just repeating verbatim the definitions he gave us in class and certain things from the text. I’m hoping he doesn’t mind that it might now flow too well or that there might be tons of grammar mistakes during the transitions and recognizes that I worked really hard to memorize. Its kind of an old school way of learning and definitely against the whole: think critically, put it in your own words and apply what you’ve learned to real life. But it’s in another language and I was exhausted. We’ll see.
I went to mass then to my Education class. The teacher told us she hasn’t been to thrilled with the test results we took last week so that wasn’t too uplifting. But I’m really enjoying the class and she is a great teacher (she should be right. It’s about Education!) I had lunch with Christian and again could barely carry on a conversation. After we ate I helped him set up a facebook account. Its pretty excited about it and asked me if he could friend Trevor and my sisters! I told him of course.
Finally I headed back downtown for my Biblia class. I know my Spanish is getting a little better because despite my exhaustion, I followed along pretty well. Or actually, I just realized that I for once did the readings BEFORE class like we are supposed to, so maybe that’s why I understood more! After class I walked home. Olga wasn’t there, but I crawled into bed and started catching up on my journal. She got home around 7 and made us dinner. We finished around 8 and now I’m back in bed ready to go to sleep.
I don’t know what it is, but I haven’t been this tired in months. I got more sleep this weekend than usual. Olga has a theory that it is because I did so much with Nuestra Casa and it is very taxing. Plus she thinks I was very stressed about this test today. I didn’t feel more stressed than usual. I know working with Nuestra Casa was difficult, but I still shouldn’t be this tired. I’m hoping one night of excessive sleep (i.e. tonight) will cure it.
One other observation: sometimes I want to give up learning Spanish. I think it's a symptom of lack of sleep and it is usually only fleeting. But I definitely experienced it today. The scary thing is that it would be incredibly easy to quit trying to learn. I'd come back to the states not much better than when I left it! But don't worry. I'll be fine tomorrow and ready to dive back in.
Sunday, September 2, 2007 Study Party!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
I woke up around 10:15, went running, and then showered before mass. On my way out to mass, I met the neighbor who lives across the hall. I could barely understand her, but was very sweet and I from what I understood, her name is Maria Teresa and she was happy to finally meet me. She went to mass at St. Ignatius, but I went over to St. Lazaro. While I was walking over, I thought I should have changed plans and gone to mass with Maria Teresa. But as soon as I got to the church I was glad I hadn’t changed my mind. There was a group of musicians, 4 singers, 2 violins, a viola, a cello, a flute, and an organ and they played the entire mass. It was absolutely beautiful. After mass the priest walked out and they continued playing/singing. They sang Ave Maria, then for the last song they sang the Alleluia. I was listening and it wasn’t until the second verse that I realized it was in English! Its amazing when you realize things you’ve always taken for granted can actually completely foreign for some people. They sang it perfectly and I had goose bumps when they finish. And just when I thought mass couldn’t get more perfect, a bagpiper walked in the front door. He walked all the way down the isle, played a song at the front of the church, and then walked back down. I don’t know how many people knew that was going to happen, but everyone looked pleasantly surprised.
After mass I walked home and again ran into Maria Teresa and another neighbor Patricia. Patricia immediately asked me how old I was and mumbled something to Maria Teresa about the same age as Juanito. We continued talking and Patricia asked me how I like Chileans. I told her they are all very nice and I’ve had a wonderful time so far. She then told me that she hopes the Chileans treat me very well and hopefully I can find a Chilean boyfriend! I told her I had a boyfriend back home and she couldn’t hide a slight look of disappointment on her face.
Olga had almuerzo waiting and after eating I took a little nap. I was really tired and knew that although I have to study for the test on Monday, it would be worthless to study now. So I slept for a while, and then studied/slept till 4:30. Then two gringos in my class, Christine (who came to the book fair Friday) and Mike came over to study. At 7 Mike left to go to mass nearby and when he got back at 8, Olga pulled all the stops and fed us enough for a small army. Both Christine and Mike were super appreciative and seemed to love it. Christine’s family never really eats together and Mike was just happy to eat, so we had a great time sharing stories and laughing. They headed out after nine and we continued studying. I gave up around midnight and fell asleep.
I woke up around 10:15, went running, and then showered before mass. On my way out to mass, I met the neighbor who lives across the hall. I could barely understand her, but was very sweet and I from what I understood, her name is Maria Teresa and she was happy to finally meet me. She went to mass at St. Ignatius, but I went over to St. Lazaro. While I was walking over, I thought I should have changed plans and gone to mass with Maria Teresa. But as soon as I got to the church I was glad I hadn’t changed my mind. There was a group of musicians, 4 singers, 2 violins, a viola, a cello, a flute, and an organ and they played the entire mass. It was absolutely beautiful. After mass the priest walked out and they continued playing/singing. They sang Ave Maria, then for the last song they sang the Alleluia. I was listening and it wasn’t until the second verse that I realized it was in English! Its amazing when you realize things you’ve always taken for granted can actually completely foreign for some people. They sang it perfectly and I had goose bumps when they finish. And just when I thought mass couldn’t get more perfect, a bagpiper walked in the front door. He walked all the way down the isle, played a song at the front of the church, and then walked back down. I don’t know how many people knew that was going to happen, but everyone looked pleasantly surprised.
After mass I walked home and again ran into Maria Teresa and another neighbor Patricia. Patricia immediately asked me how old I was and mumbled something to Maria Teresa about the same age as Juanito. We continued talking and Patricia asked me how I like Chileans. I told her they are all very nice and I’ve had a wonderful time so far. She then told me that she hopes the Chileans treat me very well and hopefully I can find a Chilean boyfriend! I told her I had a boyfriend back home and she couldn’t hide a slight look of disappointment on her face.
Olga had almuerzo waiting and after eating I took a little nap. I was really tired and knew that although I have to study for the test on Monday, it would be worthless to study now. So I slept for a while, and then studied/slept till 4:30. Then two gringos in my class, Christine (who came to the book fair Friday) and Mike came over to study. At 7 Mike left to go to mass nearby and when he got back at 8, Olga pulled all the stops and fed us enough for a small army. Both Christine and Mike were super appreciative and seemed to love it. Christine’s family never really eats together and Mike was just happy to eat, so we had a great time sharing stories and laughing. They headed out after nine and we continued studying. I gave up around midnight and fell asleep.
Saturday, September 1, 2007 Happy Birthday Trevor!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
After a quick breakfast, I walked about 25 minutes to the Nuestra Casa house for the Taller (workshop). I got there at about 10:26 and Daniel, one of the volunteers, gave me a surprised look and told me I was early! The taller was supposed to start around 10:30, so I didn’t think it was that big a deal. An hour when the workshop finally started, I understood! The workshop, titled Amor: Encuentro Verdadero (Love: a True Encounter) was two Saturdays and this was the second week. I was thinking it would be about loving all types of people, especially people who live on the streets and people who are difficult to love. Before starting, the facilitator Guillermo gave me a quick update of what I’d miss last week. He basically told me that love doesn’t exist, only the capacity to love. Although I wasn’t exactly sure if I agreed, I went with it. And although it didn’t really go with what I thought the workshop would be about, I figured the second week would tie it back into working with people in the streets.
The workshop started out talking about identity, relationships with others, and communication. When then started talking about intimacy and what interferes with intimacy. We split up into groups and I was with a volunteer worker from Viña del Mar (rich, touristy costal city) and three men who live on the streets. Two of the men have a pareja (basically a wive but they aren’t official married) who they live with on the streets and who were also at the workshop. The other man, Alejandro, used to be a bodyguard for the government and only recently started living on the streets. It was great to talk with them and I felt incredibly comfortable. They all helped me with the language and everyone had great things to share.
We all ate almuerzo together and in the afternoon the second half of the workshop started. Once again, I was expecting it to all tie in to working with people on the streets, but Guillermo opened up the afternoon discussion talking about sex! We amazingly spent the next 2 hours talking about sexuality vs. sensuality, the different perspectives between males and females, and how ultimately, it is all about love! I was definitely the youngest person in the room (the average age was probably about 45) and the only extranjera, but the afternoon was incredibly interesting, eye opening and not nearly as awkward as I’d feared. By the end of the day, I felt comfortable and connected with many of the people in the workshop and excited to keep working with Nuestra Casa. I also had some great notes and interesting things to think about!
I walked home around 5:30 and again realized how exhausted I was. The immensity of the Spanish and the experience was overwhelming. But of course, I talked to Calli and she told me about a Festivo de Vino that I couldn’t pass up. We met up around 8 in Providnecia, a swanky uptown comuna. We found the huge white tent, lights, music, and stylish looking people and marched right in. We paid about $8 for the wine glass and 5 tokens, which converted to 5 classes of wine. For the next 3 hours, we sat, ate appetizers, drank fancy wine, and talked with our friends that we ran into. I couldn’t finish all 5 glasses, so after the 2nd, I drank the first half and Calli finished off the second half for me. The wine was amazing and it was great talking to the people at the booths about how it’s made, where the grapes are from, everything.
Around 12:30 all the wine was gone and the group of gringos that had congregated headed out to get empanadas (the Chilean drunk food). I hadn’t had that much, but everyone was raving about this place they had found not too far away that we had to go to. So we got empanadas from the Iranian man and Peruvian woman who own the shop. They were both really nice and I could understand everything the Peruvian woman said, once again cursing Chileans and their horrible Spanish. I took the bus home around 1:30 (super early for a Saturday) and fell asleep. Trevor was at a camp out for his bible study so I didn’t get to wish him a happy birthday, but his birthday present is waiting for him at the UNL bookstore.
After a quick breakfast, I walked about 25 minutes to the Nuestra Casa house for the Taller (workshop). I got there at about 10:26 and Daniel, one of the volunteers, gave me a surprised look and told me I was early! The taller was supposed to start around 10:30, so I didn’t think it was that big a deal. An hour when the workshop finally started, I understood! The workshop, titled Amor: Encuentro Verdadero (Love: a True Encounter) was two Saturdays and this was the second week. I was thinking it would be about loving all types of people, especially people who live on the streets and people who are difficult to love. Before starting, the facilitator Guillermo gave me a quick update of what I’d miss last week. He basically told me that love doesn’t exist, only the capacity to love. Although I wasn’t exactly sure if I agreed, I went with it. And although it didn’t really go with what I thought the workshop would be about, I figured the second week would tie it back into working with people in the streets.
The workshop started out talking about identity, relationships with others, and communication. When then started talking about intimacy and what interferes with intimacy. We split up into groups and I was with a volunteer worker from Viña del Mar (rich, touristy costal city) and three men who live on the streets. Two of the men have a pareja (basically a wive but they aren’t official married) who they live with on the streets and who were also at the workshop. The other man, Alejandro, used to be a bodyguard for the government and only recently started living on the streets. It was great to talk with them and I felt incredibly comfortable. They all helped me with the language and everyone had great things to share.
We all ate almuerzo together and in the afternoon the second half of the workshop started. Once again, I was expecting it to all tie in to working with people on the streets, but Guillermo opened up the afternoon discussion talking about sex! We amazingly spent the next 2 hours talking about sexuality vs. sensuality, the different perspectives between males and females, and how ultimately, it is all about love! I was definitely the youngest person in the room (the average age was probably about 45) and the only extranjera, but the afternoon was incredibly interesting, eye opening and not nearly as awkward as I’d feared. By the end of the day, I felt comfortable and connected with many of the people in the workshop and excited to keep working with Nuestra Casa. I also had some great notes and interesting things to think about!
I walked home around 5:30 and again realized how exhausted I was. The immensity of the Spanish and the experience was overwhelming. But of course, I talked to Calli and she told me about a Festivo de Vino that I couldn’t pass up. We met up around 8 in Providnecia, a swanky uptown comuna. We found the huge white tent, lights, music, and stylish looking people and marched right in. We paid about $8 for the wine glass and 5 tokens, which converted to 5 classes of wine. For the next 3 hours, we sat, ate appetizers, drank fancy wine, and talked with our friends that we ran into. I couldn’t finish all 5 glasses, so after the 2nd, I drank the first half and Calli finished off the second half for me. The wine was amazing and it was great talking to the people at the booths about how it’s made, where the grapes are from, everything.
Around 12:30 all the wine was gone and the group of gringos that had congregated headed out to get empanadas (the Chilean drunk food). I hadn’t had that much, but everyone was raving about this place they had found not too far away that we had to go to. So we got empanadas from the Iranian man and Peruvian woman who own the shop. They were both really nice and I could understand everything the Peruvian woman said, once again cursing Chileans and their horrible Spanish. I took the bus home around 1:30 (super early for a Saturday) and fell asleep. Trevor was at a camp out for his bible study so I didn’t get to wish him a happy birthday, but his birthday present is waiting for him at the UNL bookstore.
Friday, August 31st, 2007 Yet another Chilean cultural experience...
Friday, August 31st, 2007
I had a wonderfully relaxing day with absolutely nothing to do. I exercised after breakfast and at noon, Olga and I walked to the near by church, hoping they had mass. Neither of us were sure and when we got there, the sign said they only had mass in the morning and evenings. There were people standing out front and a man walked in carrying flowers, but since the sign said there was no noon mass, I figured we would head back home. But Olga decided that since there were people and flowers, something had to be going on. So we went inside and right in front of the alter was a beautiful coffin. I was mortified, but Olga insisted that a funeral mass was mass and that God never turns away anyone. So she marched right up and sat down in the pew, while I embarrassedly followed. The worst was that I was wearing a bright pink and red stripped sweater! The family members definitely looked at us, but after a while, it wasn’t so awkward. So my incredible event for today was that I attended a funeral! We left quickly at the end to avoid any more awkwardness and had a good laugh about it on the way home.
Rino, Olga’s son came over for almuerzo and we enjoyed Fantshops with lunch. Afterwards I studied and relaxed until around 6:30. I took a bus for almost one hour to meet up with my friends Courtney and Alea (both gringas) in Nuñoa, a comuna in the south east part of the city. We got gelato, then walked to the Feria de Libros (Book Fair!) in the Nuñoa Cultural Center. There was a great live Chilean folkmusic band and we mingled while scanning the various books. Its was really relaxing and a fun change for a Friday night. A friend of mine named Christine in my Doctrina Social class and Tom (the kid who had fish at my house) met up with us later. When they kicked us out of the bookfair, we walked around Plaza Nuñoa while we told jokes and funny stories.
Sidenote:At one point we found a big spot light and tried to do shadow figures, which brought us to talking about the youtube video about the incredible shadow figure show (THANKS POPPA!!) Tom and I then found out that both our grandfathers sent it to us, along with many other funny joke and interesting anecdotes.
Around 10:30 a Community group of young kids did a Cueca performance. Cueca is the national dance of Chile and very popular in September, during the Fiestas Patrias. They were all dressed up in the traditional outfits and were quite impressive. After the performance I decided to head home since I had a long day Saturday. So around 11:15 Courtney and I got to the bus stop and she was nice enough to wait with me. Unfortunatly we waited 40 minutes for the bus, the whole timing missing my good old suburbia and Nissan Sentra! Now I understand why everyone complains about TransSantiago! Once the bus finally got there, 2 Chileans guys started speaking to me in English. Neither of them spoke too well and when they realized I spoke Spanish, we chatted all the way downtown. One of the guys gave me his email address and I politely thanked him, figuring it wasn’t worth the hassle explaining I have a boyfriend in the States. They always claim they just want to practice their English. Right. I got home around 1 am and called Trevor to wish him a Happy 21st Birthday.
I had a wonderfully relaxing day with absolutely nothing to do. I exercised after breakfast and at noon, Olga and I walked to the near by church, hoping they had mass. Neither of us were sure and when we got there, the sign said they only had mass in the morning and evenings. There were people standing out front and a man walked in carrying flowers, but since the sign said there was no noon mass, I figured we would head back home. But Olga decided that since there were people and flowers, something had to be going on. So we went inside and right in front of the alter was a beautiful coffin. I was mortified, but Olga insisted that a funeral mass was mass and that God never turns away anyone. So she marched right up and sat down in the pew, while I embarrassedly followed. The worst was that I was wearing a bright pink and red stripped sweater! The family members definitely looked at us, but after a while, it wasn’t so awkward. So my incredible event for today was that I attended a funeral! We left quickly at the end to avoid any more awkwardness and had a good laugh about it on the way home.
Rino, Olga’s son came over for almuerzo and we enjoyed Fantshops with lunch. Afterwards I studied and relaxed until around 6:30. I took a bus for almost one hour to meet up with my friends Courtney and Alea (both gringas) in Nuñoa, a comuna in the south east part of the city. We got gelato, then walked to the Feria de Libros (Book Fair!) in the Nuñoa Cultural Center. There was a great live Chilean folkmusic band and we mingled while scanning the various books. Its was really relaxing and a fun change for a Friday night. A friend of mine named Christine in my Doctrina Social class and Tom (the kid who had fish at my house) met up with us later. When they kicked us out of the bookfair, we walked around Plaza Nuñoa while we told jokes and funny stories.
Sidenote:At one point we found a big spot light and tried to do shadow figures, which brought us to talking about the youtube video about the incredible shadow figure show (THANKS POPPA!!) Tom and I then found out that both our grandfathers sent it to us, along with many other funny joke and interesting anecdotes.
Around 10:30 a Community group of young kids did a Cueca performance. Cueca is the national dance of Chile and very popular in September, during the Fiestas Patrias. They were all dressed up in the traditional outfits and were quite impressive. After the performance I decided to head home since I had a long day Saturday. So around 11:15 Courtney and I got to the bus stop and she was nice enough to wait with me. Unfortunatly we waited 40 minutes for the bus, the whole timing missing my good old suburbia and Nissan Sentra! Now I understand why everyone complains about TransSantiago! Once the bus finally got there, 2 Chileans guys started speaking to me in English. Neither of them spoke too well and when they realized I spoke Spanish, we chatted all the way downtown. One of the guys gave me his email address and I politely thanked him, figuring it wasn’t worth the hassle explaining I have a boyfriend in the States. They always claim they just want to practice their English. Right. I got home around 1 am and called Trevor to wish him a Happy 21st Birthday.
Thursday, August 30th, 2007 Alright Kayla, Its time to get off your butt and do something good for someone else!!
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
I woke up early (at 9:30) to go meet with the Directora of a High School (Colegio San Lawarence) about my volunteer job with the English Opens Doors program. This is an iniative of the chilena Governtment to help teach students English. They coordinate native English speakers with Chilean English teachers in high schools and some elementary schools. The idea is to motivate the students and help them hear a native accent. I’m not supposed to be doing a volunteer job outside of Nuestra Casa, but its only 4 hours a week and I think it should be interesting. So I met with the Direcotra and decided I would work every Thursday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. Ouch. That’s going to hurt. Then she called the teacher down to meet me. The teacher I’m going to work with is probably only 25 years old and her English is about as good as my Spanish. So that is telling you something about the quality of the education system in Chile.
At first the teacher wasn’t too excited about me working with her on Thursday mornings. She told me that one of her classes is out of control (“Tey aur monstars”) and claim that they never learn anything. I immediately had flashbacks to my high school Spanish classes and I totally understood. Nevertheless, the Directora decided to go have a word with the class to put them in line before they introduced me. So after a good talking too, they called me in and introduced me. They want me to pretend that I don’t speak Spanish so the students are forced to speak in English to me. So I went in and she had me tell them about my life. Then they repeat back what they understood. Highlight: I told them I had a 17 year old sister. They asked me if she lived in Chile.
After assuring the teacher that I would love to help her make lessons plans (she really needs the help), I headed home. I got back and went for a quick run before showering and almuerzo. I “studied” all afternoon until I went to meet Calli, Sam, and Niki at the Bus Station to buy our tickets for our trip. After a funny adventure trying to find the best deals, we ended buying 4 tickets, 2 round trips, to Puerto Montt before Fiestas Patrias and to La Serena after. We are traveling with TurBus, the biggest and most well known bus company, so don’t worry. It should be a crazy, exhausting, amazing, and very safe (that’s for you mom) week. I can’t wait.
I had to be at the Nuestra Casa residnecia at 7:30 for Jueves Solidario (I’ll explain in a minute). But we got done early so I bought a Diet Coke, found a park in front of a church, and sat for about 45 minutes. I thought and prayed while watched the sun go down (I couldn’t see it set because I was in the middle of the city), the children play on the playground, and the people walk home from work. It was really relaxing and a great way to prepare myself for the next few hours.
Around 7:15 I walked to the residencía of Nuestra Casa. Remember Nuestra Casa is the group I’ll be volunteering with for my Poverty class that works with homeless people. Every Thursday night they take sandwhichs and coffee to people living in the streets (its called Jueves Solidario which means Solidarity Thursdays). I didn’t know what to expect, but I was excited. I helped them finish making the sandwhichs while meeting many of the men who live in the residencia and talking to other volunteers. A group of about 15 high schools students came and all together there was a group of about 25 people.
We drove to a huge market where during the day they sell vegetables and fruits. Apparently its one of the most important markets in all of Chile and produce from all over the country (and probably South America) goes through this market. There a ton of people who work there during the day and sleep there at night. When we got there, they automatically lined up and a high school girl and I passed out the sandwiches while the others gave them hot chocolate and coffee. Once we had passed out all the sandwiches, we started walking around and talking to the people. Eduardo, a volunteer of 3 years, took me under his wing and showed me around. We ended up talking to many different people, but mostly to an incredibly drunk, dirty, and smelly but incredibly interesting man, probably in his early 30s. He had a palta (avocado) and was telling us that this avocado was love. And that it wasn’t quite ripe yet, but come back in a week and it will be perfect. Then he told us a joke about David and Goliath (it’s a pun, so it wouldn’t work in English) and then he started talking about God and Jesus and all kinds of things. I definitely didn’t understand most of it and Eduardo had to clarify things for me, especially when the man told him to tell the German girl (he was quite insistent that I wasn’t North American, but German). The thing that struck me most was when he said, “Jesus had suffered and died for us. And he looks out for us. But who looks out for these people [the people living in the street]. I do. I do”
The other thing that struck me was seeing the children and babies. There were two young girls, one probably 7 and the other probably almost 4. they were absolutely adorable, especially the 4 year old. They talked and played with me and the high school kids the whole time and absolutely broke my heart. We were there for over 2 hours and I never saw their parents. I asked Eduardo where the parents were and he told me that they are probably around somewhere. I asked why the state doesn’t take them and place them in foster homes. He said that there is technically a program to help do that, but it’s very inefficient and complicated. Then he said he doesn’t think its right because you can’t just take children from their mothers. When he said that, I realized how different the culture, government, and social support systems are here. For them, no matter how desperate the situation, they couldn’t imagine taking a child from their mother. As opposed to the US where children are taken by Child Protective Services.
Around 10:15 we headed out and all met up in a parking lot to have a closing. Since there were so many new people, they made all of us speak. Of course, I was next to the speaker, so I had to go first! Before starting, I told them to forgive the language, then told them that I really enjoyed the experience but was very surprised by the amount of people and the fact that there were so many children. And I said that I loved taking to the men because despite the fact that most of them were drunk and said some crazy things, they were very kind and just wanted someone to talk to.
I went home and Olga was waiting for me. I started telling her how it went and as I spoke, it started sinking in. I slowly processed everything I had seen and became very somber. A bunch of my friends were going out Salsa dancing, but I was so drained I didn’t want to go. I went to bed around 1, the earliest in a long time.
I woke up early (at 9:30) to go meet with the Directora of a High School (Colegio San Lawarence) about my volunteer job with the English Opens Doors program. This is an iniative of the chilena Governtment to help teach students English. They coordinate native English speakers with Chilean English teachers in high schools and some elementary schools. The idea is to motivate the students and help them hear a native accent. I’m not supposed to be doing a volunteer job outside of Nuestra Casa, but its only 4 hours a week and I think it should be interesting. So I met with the Direcotra and decided I would work every Thursday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. Ouch. That’s going to hurt. Then she called the teacher down to meet me. The teacher I’m going to work with is probably only 25 years old and her English is about as good as my Spanish. So that is telling you something about the quality of the education system in Chile.
At first the teacher wasn’t too excited about me working with her on Thursday mornings. She told me that one of her classes is out of control (“Tey aur monstars”) and claim that they never learn anything. I immediately had flashbacks to my high school Spanish classes and I totally understood. Nevertheless, the Directora decided to go have a word with the class to put them in line before they introduced me. So after a good talking too, they called me in and introduced me. They want me to pretend that I don’t speak Spanish so the students are forced to speak in English to me. So I went in and she had me tell them about my life. Then they repeat back what they understood. Highlight: I told them I had a 17 year old sister. They asked me if she lived in Chile.
After assuring the teacher that I would love to help her make lessons plans (she really needs the help), I headed home. I got back and went for a quick run before showering and almuerzo. I “studied” all afternoon until I went to meet Calli, Sam, and Niki at the Bus Station to buy our tickets for our trip. After a funny adventure trying to find the best deals, we ended buying 4 tickets, 2 round trips, to Puerto Montt before Fiestas Patrias and to La Serena after. We are traveling with TurBus, the biggest and most well known bus company, so don’t worry. It should be a crazy, exhausting, amazing, and very safe (that’s for you mom) week. I can’t wait.
I had to be at the Nuestra Casa residnecia at 7:30 for Jueves Solidario (I’ll explain in a minute). But we got done early so I bought a Diet Coke, found a park in front of a church, and sat for about 45 minutes. I thought and prayed while watched the sun go down (I couldn’t see it set because I was in the middle of the city), the children play on the playground, and the people walk home from work. It was really relaxing and a great way to prepare myself for the next few hours.
Around 7:15 I walked to the residencía of Nuestra Casa. Remember Nuestra Casa is the group I’ll be volunteering with for my Poverty class that works with homeless people. Every Thursday night they take sandwhichs and coffee to people living in the streets (its called Jueves Solidario which means Solidarity Thursdays). I didn’t know what to expect, but I was excited. I helped them finish making the sandwhichs while meeting many of the men who live in the residencia and talking to other volunteers. A group of about 15 high schools students came and all together there was a group of about 25 people.
We drove to a huge market where during the day they sell vegetables and fruits. Apparently its one of the most important markets in all of Chile and produce from all over the country (and probably South America) goes through this market. There a ton of people who work there during the day and sleep there at night. When we got there, they automatically lined up and a high school girl and I passed out the sandwiches while the others gave them hot chocolate and coffee. Once we had passed out all the sandwiches, we started walking around and talking to the people. Eduardo, a volunteer of 3 years, took me under his wing and showed me around. We ended up talking to many different people, but mostly to an incredibly drunk, dirty, and smelly but incredibly interesting man, probably in his early 30s. He had a palta (avocado) and was telling us that this avocado was love. And that it wasn’t quite ripe yet, but come back in a week and it will be perfect. Then he told us a joke about David and Goliath (it’s a pun, so it wouldn’t work in English) and then he started talking about God and Jesus and all kinds of things. I definitely didn’t understand most of it and Eduardo had to clarify things for me, especially when the man told him to tell the German girl (he was quite insistent that I wasn’t North American, but German). The thing that struck me most was when he said, “Jesus had suffered and died for us. And he looks out for us. But who looks out for these people [the people living in the street]. I do. I do”
The other thing that struck me was seeing the children and babies. There were two young girls, one probably 7 and the other probably almost 4. they were absolutely adorable, especially the 4 year old. They talked and played with me and the high school kids the whole time and absolutely broke my heart. We were there for over 2 hours and I never saw their parents. I asked Eduardo where the parents were and he told me that they are probably around somewhere. I asked why the state doesn’t take them and place them in foster homes. He said that there is technically a program to help do that, but it’s very inefficient and complicated. Then he said he doesn’t think its right because you can’t just take children from their mothers. When he said that, I realized how different the culture, government, and social support systems are here. For them, no matter how desperate the situation, they couldn’t imagine taking a child from their mother. As opposed to the US where children are taken by Child Protective Services.
Around 10:15 we headed out and all met up in a parking lot to have a closing. Since there were so many new people, they made all of us speak. Of course, I was next to the speaker, so I had to go first! Before starting, I told them to forgive the language, then told them that I really enjoyed the experience but was very surprised by the amount of people and the fact that there were so many children. And I said that I loved taking to the men because despite the fact that most of them were drunk and said some crazy things, they were very kind and just wanted someone to talk to.
I went home and Olga was waiting for me. I started telling her how it went and as I spoke, it started sinking in. I slowly processed everything I had seen and became very somber. A bunch of my friends were going out Salsa dancing, but I was so drained I didn’t want to go. I went to bed around 1, the earliest in a long time.
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