Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

I began my day without class with a nice long, slow run around Parque O’Higgins. It was definitely a different place since the last time I was there for the Fonda on the 18th. There were men still cleaning up, over a week later, but the whole park looked good. I ran home, showered, and had almuerzo with Olga, then worked until around 4:30, when I met up with Tom to go to back to Nuestra Casa. This time we went to Trampoline, the house that is open for anyone to come and hang out, cook, etc. There wasn’t much going on, so I ended up watching V for Vendetta (again!) with the men in the TV room until we all at once together. During once I talked with a well dressed (i.e. he didn’t look homeless man) in English. He’d learned English a long time ago from his sister I think and was thrilled to have someone to practice with. He told me that he was diagnosed with depression and neurosis and that his doctors told him he needed more social interaction, so that is why he comes to Trampoline. Apparently he’s been coming for over a year. Yet another interesting and thought provoking experience.

After once I realized I could get back to the apartment in time for olga and I to walk to mass together if I hurried. So I said a quick goodbye and rushed home. We hustled the 15 minute walk through the heart of the city to go to mass at San Francisco, one of the oldest structures in all of Santiago, literally right down town. It’s a beautiful old stone church that has survived many earthquakes and is a beautiful monument in the midst of the modernity of the city. Every Tuesday they do a mass for San Antonio, patron saint of lost causes. At the end of mass we were able to kiss a medal of San Antonio’s, which was probably a 2nd class relic. The most interesting part was when after mass when we went to kiss the relic, they handed everyone bread. I had no idea why, but I kindly took my piece. Olga just giggled, knowing I had no idea what was going on. While we walked home, she explained that every morning bakeries and other people bring bread to the church, which the church hands out to homeless and other hungry people. But the people bring so much bread that if there is any left over, they give it to the people after mass. Olga was quite pleased with our sack full of bread, but laughed at the fact that I wouldn’t eat any! ( I guess I haven’t written about this, but beginning this week, I’m not eating any more bread! We are eating much healthier: lots of veggies, no oil on the salads, smaller portions, scrabbled instead of fried eggs, and most of all: NO BREAD! Olga still eats a little, but I just cut it out.) After mass we had once then I headed to my bed to work till I fell asleep.