Wednesday, November 14, 2007 The sorrows and beauties of public transportation
Today started out like any other normal Wednesday: Class (found out that when our professor told us a 10 page group paper, which is nothing, he meant single space, which is something. But oh well, it’s a group paper and it replaces the fina1), mass, Education class, and then lunch with Christian, his brother Emilio, Sam and Niki. Christian took pictures because he keeps talking about how little time we have left and gets all sappy on us. After lunch we all headed to the metro to go our respective ways but while we were inside the shut it down and kicked everyone out. I had no idea why (it’s really hard to understand what’s going on in big crowds) but we eventually found out that they shut down the entire Line 5 for at least one hour. This is still not confirmed, but I heard rumors that someone committed suicide by jumping in front of a train about 3 stations in front of us.
We waited around at the bus stop (which was really just a crowd of well over a hundred people) for a while and when we realized that 1. a bus still had not passed and 2. that even when one does pass, there are so many people we are never going to get on, we decided to skip whatever we each were supposed to do and go hang out a at bar/restaurant across from campus. So the 5 of us headed over and shared a couple pitchers of beer until about 6 pm when we knew the metro would finally be open. Look at me: skipping class to drinking beer with my friends on a Wednesday afternoon!! It sounds horrible when you put it that way. But hey, relying on public transportation, what are you going to do?
When I got home I told Olga what had happened with the metro being shut down and she said that unfortunately it’s actually quite common. But when I told her what we did instead, she laughed and said “Me parece bien!” “Sounds good to me!”. I know it sounds a little harsh that i spend the afternoon taking advantage of a tragedy and in all honestly I felt bad all afternoon. I hate to think about all the people suffering while i am relaxing and having fun. Please know that I prayed for the famliy and friends of the victim and that I would have much rather have gone to class and been boring if the tragedy could have been avoided.
I spent the evening working and talking with Trevor. I found out that I was offered an RA job in the honors dorm back at Tulane for the spring semester, which is good news. And I also decided that I would apply for a senior staff position called Housing and Services Coordinator, which is basically like the Desk and Building Manager. If I get the job, I will be taking my good friend Ben’s place in Wall, the building I lived in my freshman year.
I have a lot of homework for the coming week and wanted to get a jump start on it, so I decided to skip my volunteer job in the morning. I emailed the principle letting her know and joyfully turned off my alarm. Olga seemed pleased as well when I told her I wouldn’t be waking up at 6:15!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 4 Months down, one month to go!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 4 Months down, one month to go!
I slept in later than I’d expected so I had to spend all morning finishing the Drugs and Alcohol workshop/presentation I was supposed to give at Nuestra Casa this afternoon. Preparing these presentations has made me realize how difficult it must be to be a good teacher. It’s so much prep work! I met up with Tamara, my volunteer friend from Nuestra Casa at 1:30 to have lunch. We’d been talking about doing it all semester so when she called me yesterday to see if I’d want to go today, I was excited. We ate at a little salad bar place in Providencia, one of the “your basically back in the states” parts of down town. I think I’ve realized that she just loves being able to speak English with me and I don’t mind because she is really interesting to talk to. After lunch we took the metro and walked to Nuestra Casa together. When I got there and finally had to start speaking Spanish, I realized that it just wasn’t working today. I had a really hard time speaking to the people and quickly felt discouraged, which doesn’t help at all. But Tamara helped me edit my presentation again and told me it looked good then I talked with Alejandro about how he broke up with his girlfriend (of 11 years off and on) that is married to another man. He was obviously still emotional about it but kept saying that it was the right thing to do and that he couldn’t live like that. He never ceases to surprise nor amaze me. Plus I can understand him and doesn’t expect me to speak back, so it’s perfect!
The rest of the afternoon I just worthlessly sat around Nuestra Casa. I wanted to do the Drugs and Alcohol workshop but no one seemed interested (it’s a tough topic since much of them are alcoholics and drug addicts) plus the guys had a soccer game at 7 and where obviously distracted. So we decided to skip the workshop for today and do it next week. I ended up watching a pirated Spanish dubbed version of Ratatouille and we left early, around 6:30 when most everyone else left for the soccer game.
I decided to go to mass at 7:30 and instead of walking home then turning right back around I went and sat on a bench in a park and read for my Education class. Looking back, it really was a beautiful moment. The park was full of kids screaming and playing, moms and dads sitting on benches watching, old women walking to the grocery store on the corner. Just lovely. I think I just people watched more than I actually read. At 7:15 I walked to the church and found Olga sitting in the 2nd row where she always sits. She was thrilled to see me and I saw her smiling next to me while we prayed before mass. From November 8th to December 8th (The Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is Mes de Maria or “Mary Month” in Chile. There is an opening and closing prayer about Mary at every mass and at San Lazaro (where I was) says a rosary at the end of every mass. So instead of the usual 40 minute mass, it was well over an hour. But I didn’t have too much homework and enjoyed the time to think and pray. When I told Olga I didn’t have my rosary with me, immediately handed me hers and told me not to worry because she really didn’t need it. After mass they handed out little sown bags filled with flower seeds and told us to plant them and give the plant to someone who needs it. There were extras, so I got two! I’m going to wait till I get home to plant them so I don’t have to worry about transporting them! After mass we had once then I headed to my room to work until I fell asleep.
I slept in later than I’d expected so I had to spend all morning finishing the Drugs and Alcohol workshop/presentation I was supposed to give at Nuestra Casa this afternoon. Preparing these presentations has made me realize how difficult it must be to be a good teacher. It’s so much prep work! I met up with Tamara, my volunteer friend from Nuestra Casa at 1:30 to have lunch. We’d been talking about doing it all semester so when she called me yesterday to see if I’d want to go today, I was excited. We ate at a little salad bar place in Providencia, one of the “your basically back in the states” parts of down town. I think I’ve realized that she just loves being able to speak English with me and I don’t mind because she is really interesting to talk to. After lunch we took the metro and walked to Nuestra Casa together. When I got there and finally had to start speaking Spanish, I realized that it just wasn’t working today. I had a really hard time speaking to the people and quickly felt discouraged, which doesn’t help at all. But Tamara helped me edit my presentation again and told me it looked good then I talked with Alejandro about how he broke up with his girlfriend (of 11 years off and on) that is married to another man. He was obviously still emotional about it but kept saying that it was the right thing to do and that he couldn’t live like that. He never ceases to surprise nor amaze me. Plus I can understand him and doesn’t expect me to speak back, so it’s perfect!
The rest of the afternoon I just worthlessly sat around Nuestra Casa. I wanted to do the Drugs and Alcohol workshop but no one seemed interested (it’s a tough topic since much of them are alcoholics and drug addicts) plus the guys had a soccer game at 7 and where obviously distracted. So we decided to skip the workshop for today and do it next week. I ended up watching a pirated Spanish dubbed version of Ratatouille and we left early, around 6:30 when most everyone else left for the soccer game.
I decided to go to mass at 7:30 and instead of walking home then turning right back around I went and sat on a bench in a park and read for my Education class. Looking back, it really was a beautiful moment. The park was full of kids screaming and playing, moms and dads sitting on benches watching, old women walking to the grocery store on the corner. Just lovely. I think I just people watched more than I actually read. At 7:15 I walked to the church and found Olga sitting in the 2nd row where she always sits. She was thrilled to see me and I saw her smiling next to me while we prayed before mass. From November 8th to December 8th (The Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is Mes de Maria or “Mary Month” in Chile. There is an opening and closing prayer about Mary at every mass and at San Lazaro (where I was) says a rosary at the end of every mass. So instead of the usual 40 minute mass, it was well over an hour. But I didn’t have too much homework and enjoyed the time to think and pray. When I told Olga I didn’t have my rosary with me, immediately handed me hers and told me not to worry because she really didn’t need it. After mass they handed out little sown bags filled with flower seeds and told us to plant them and give the plant to someone who needs it. There were extras, so I got two! I’m going to wait till I get home to plant them so I don’t have to worry about transporting them! After mass we had once then I headed to my room to work until I fell asleep.
Monday, November 12, 2007 Work, work, work
Monday, November 12, 2007 Work, work, work
It was a normal Monday today. I woke up early to talk with Trevor (who woke up even earlier i.e. 6:30) before class since we hadn’t been able to talk in a long time. Then I headed to my normal day on campus: Class, mass, class, lunch with Christian and a bunch of my gringo friends, then class, then home. It was really hot so I wore the sundress I’d worn to church yesterday and I was still sweating all day long. After class I took a bus home and Rino, Evon and Miguel came over for once. Miguel had been sick and stayed home from school, which is why they were able to come into town. He didn’t want to eat much or drink his tea and the funniest part of the evening was when Olga got up and started spooning the tea into his mouth so he would drink it. It made me realize how many Chilean mothers and grandmothers do for their children. It’s a little scary sometimes.
Miguel played games on my computer after eating and we “adults” sat around and talked. I can actually understand most of what Rino says now, so I know I’ve definitely improved my understanding. They headed out and I told Olga I wanted to do the dishes. She gave me the, “aww, how cute, she has no idea what she is doing but wants to help” laugh and said go ahead, but stayed in the kitchen and talked with me the whole time. I’ve just realized that it’s really hard for her to let other people do things because it takes away her job as mother/caregiver.
After I did the dishes (it felt great), I started on my homework. I went to bed relatively early and got a good night sleep.
It was a normal Monday today. I woke up early to talk with Trevor (who woke up even earlier i.e. 6:30) before class since we hadn’t been able to talk in a long time. Then I headed to my normal day on campus: Class, mass, class, lunch with Christian and a bunch of my gringo friends, then class, then home. It was really hot so I wore the sundress I’d worn to church yesterday and I was still sweating all day long. After class I took a bus home and Rino, Evon and Miguel came over for once. Miguel had been sick and stayed home from school, which is why they were able to come into town. He didn’t want to eat much or drink his tea and the funniest part of the evening was when Olga got up and started spooning the tea into his mouth so he would drink it. It made me realize how many Chilean mothers and grandmothers do for their children. It’s a little scary sometimes.
Miguel played games on my computer after eating and we “adults” sat around and talked. I can actually understand most of what Rino says now, so I know I’ve definitely improved my understanding. They headed out and I told Olga I wanted to do the dishes. She gave me the, “aww, how cute, she has no idea what she is doing but wants to help” laugh and said go ahead, but stayed in the kitchen and talked with me the whole time. I’ve just realized that it’s really hard for her to let other people do things because it takes away her job as mother/caregiver.
After I did the dishes (it felt great), I started on my homework. I went to bed relatively early and got a good night sleep.
Sunday, November 11, 2007 A day out on the town
Sunday, November 11, 2007 A day out on the town
I slept in late and had another piece of pie Olga had left me for breakfast (Why did she make so much pie?!?). I went to mass at the Jesuit church nearby at noon and wore a cute sundress to celebrate the beautiful weather. After mass I came home and changed clothes because I realized the sundress was just a bit too cute to wear walking around in the street. I met Tom and Courtney at 2 pm to have lunch in Mercado Central, the famous Seafood Market down town. (Side note: Amazingly, Courtney and I ran into each other in the metro station on the way!) They had both had a birthday in the last month and for their gift I promised them a delicious seafood lunch at the market. Of course, they were thrilled.
Before eating we wondered around the market a bit to check out the millions of fish, octopus, shell fish, everything. I am still amazed at seafood markets because there is always something that looks incredibly disgusting yet ends up being the most expensive meal on the menu. We ate at the restaurant Olga had recommended called Joya del Pacifico. I had swordfish which I decided is like the steak of fish. It was thick and meaty and I enjoyed it but I don’t think I’d order it again.
After our lovely meal we wondered around the market then meandered our way to the Plaza de Armas. Since it was a Sunday the place was packed with vendors and performers and there were workers building the huge Christmas tree in the center of the plaza. We kept walking and eventually gave into the temptation and all split a scoop of chocolate ice cream (literally, about 50% of the people walking around were eating ice cream. Welcome to Chile in the summer). There was a random puppet show on the corner and we stopped and watched a while before Tom got on the metro to head home.
Courtney and I walked another 30 minutes or so to Plaza Italia and she caught her bus home. I met up with a Chilean friend of mine to hang out at the park and speak English so he can practice, and afterwards walked home around 8 pm. Olga made me once and we chatted for a while before I headed to my room to finally do some homework for the week.
I slept in late and had another piece of pie Olga had left me for breakfast (Why did she make so much pie?!?). I went to mass at the Jesuit church nearby at noon and wore a cute sundress to celebrate the beautiful weather. After mass I came home and changed clothes because I realized the sundress was just a bit too cute to wear walking around in the street. I met Tom and Courtney at 2 pm to have lunch in Mercado Central, the famous Seafood Market down town. (Side note: Amazingly, Courtney and I ran into each other in the metro station on the way!) They had both had a birthday in the last month and for their gift I promised them a delicious seafood lunch at the market. Of course, they were thrilled.
Before eating we wondered around the market a bit to check out the millions of fish, octopus, shell fish, everything. I am still amazed at seafood markets because there is always something that looks incredibly disgusting yet ends up being the most expensive meal on the menu. We ate at the restaurant Olga had recommended called Joya del Pacifico. I had swordfish which I decided is like the steak of fish. It was thick and meaty and I enjoyed it but I don’t think I’d order it again.
After our lovely meal we wondered around the market then meandered our way to the Plaza de Armas. Since it was a Sunday the place was packed with vendors and performers and there were workers building the huge Christmas tree in the center of the plaza. We kept walking and eventually gave into the temptation and all split a scoop of chocolate ice cream (literally, about 50% of the people walking around were eating ice cream. Welcome to Chile in the summer). There was a random puppet show on the corner and we stopped and watched a while before Tom got on the metro to head home.
Courtney and I walked another 30 minutes or so to Plaza Italia and she caught her bus home. I met up with a Chilean friend of mine to hang out at the park and speak English so he can practice, and afterwards walked home around 8 pm. Olga made me once and we chatted for a while before I headed to my room to finally do some homework for the week.
Saturday, November 10th, 2007 Fiesta de las Frutillas!
Saturday, November 10th, 2007 Fiesta de las Frutillas!
I spent all day working on homework and relaxing. When I woke up Olga brought me coffee and a piece of the lemon cream meringue pie she had made for the party. Later I went on a run and helped Olga a little bit preparing for our Fiesta de las Frutillas. She bought a HUGE carton of strawberries from the market. I couldn’t believe how many nor how incredible they were! So red they were nearly black and all huge and not a single one bad. Around 6 pm the fiesta started in the metro where I met up with Courtney, Sara, Lorin and Natalie at the metro and we all walked to my house together. When we got there Olga was cooking away in the kitchen but stopped to give each of them a huge hug and smile. I can tell Olga loves having people over and I honestly believe she couldn’t have been happier!
The girls chatted and hung out while Olga finished up cooking. Sara had brought a bag of chocolate chips (which Olga had never seen before!) and we melted them on the stove to make chocolate dip (also which Olga had never seen!). Courtney and I set the table and once everything was ready, Olga brought out the huge tray of the best strawberries, the chocolate dip and home made cream and we immediately began stuffing ourselves with the most delicious strawberries I’ve ever eaten. Olga was absolutely thrilled with the chocolate dip and kept saying how much she loved it. I’ve been really good here in Chile about eating healthy, but I’ll admit, I was a bit glutton with the strawberries and cream and chocolate. But we all were and we loved it!
After we ate all the strawberries we could (there were still a lot left!), Olga brought out the little baked cheese sandwiches, avocado, lemon meringue pie and coffee or tea. We couldn’t believe there was more, but it was so yummy we kept eating! My four friends, Olga and I sat around laughing, chatting and occasionally snacking on another strawberry until quarter till 11 when they all headed out to take the metro home. Courtney had to take a bus to her house so I walked with her to the bus stop and we ended up having a heart to heart until almost midnight. I called Olga while I was walking back to the apartment and she laughed and said she knew the two of us would be chatting away! When I got back everything was picked up and put away and I apologized for not helping. But of course Olga wouldn’t have let me do much anyway! I went to bed early, looking forward to a good night’s sleep and dreams of strawberries.
I spent all day working on homework and relaxing. When I woke up Olga brought me coffee and a piece of the lemon cream meringue pie she had made for the party. Later I went on a run and helped Olga a little bit preparing for our Fiesta de las Frutillas. She bought a HUGE carton of strawberries from the market. I couldn’t believe how many nor how incredible they were! So red they were nearly black and all huge and not a single one bad. Around 6 pm the fiesta started in the metro where I met up with Courtney, Sara, Lorin and Natalie at the metro and we all walked to my house together. When we got there Olga was cooking away in the kitchen but stopped to give each of them a huge hug and smile. I can tell Olga loves having people over and I honestly believe she couldn’t have been happier!
The girls chatted and hung out while Olga finished up cooking. Sara had brought a bag of chocolate chips (which Olga had never seen before!) and we melted them on the stove to make chocolate dip (also which Olga had never seen!). Courtney and I set the table and once everything was ready, Olga brought out the huge tray of the best strawberries, the chocolate dip and home made cream and we immediately began stuffing ourselves with the most delicious strawberries I’ve ever eaten. Olga was absolutely thrilled with the chocolate dip and kept saying how much she loved it. I’ve been really good here in Chile about eating healthy, but I’ll admit, I was a bit glutton with the strawberries and cream and chocolate. But we all were and we loved it!
After we ate all the strawberries we could (there were still a lot left!), Olga brought out the little baked cheese sandwiches, avocado, lemon meringue pie and coffee or tea. We couldn’t believe there was more, but it was so yummy we kept eating! My four friends, Olga and I sat around laughing, chatting and occasionally snacking on another strawberry until quarter till 11 when they all headed out to take the metro home. Courtney had to take a bus to her house so I walked with her to the bus stop and we ended up having a heart to heart until almost midnight. I called Olga while I was walking back to the apartment and she laughed and said she knew the two of us would be chatting away! When I got back everything was picked up and put away and I apologized for not helping. But of course Olga wouldn’t have let me do much anyway! I went to bed early, looking forward to a good night’s sleep and dreams of strawberries.
Friday, November 9th, 2007 Gringos vs. Chilenos: the epic battle
Friday, November 9th, 2007 Gringos vs. Chilenos: the epic battle
I had my Poverty class this morning at 10:30 and before and I met up with a volunteer from Nuestra Casa in the metro so she could give me tickets to sell for their upcoming fundraiser. Every year they have an Avant Premier, where they premier a movie in Chile and have desserts, coffee etc. They are showing La Pasion de Beethoven (The Passion of Beethoven) with Ed Harris at a really fancy movie theater in the richest part of town. It should be a fun event and I just hope I can sell all of my 10 tickets. They are $12 a piece, so it makes it kind of hard with my poor college friends.
After class I was supposed to meet up with the 3 other gringos in my Doctrina Social class to work on our final group essay. But the 2 boys didn’t show, so Christine, Courtney and I went and got lunch at this cute restaurant down town. The food was really good and it was only $5, including dessert and coffee. Since I never eat out in Santiago, I forget how cheap food is (the only thing that is cheap in Santiago). After lunch Mike finally made it down town to work with us so we went to the library at La Católica and got a good outline for the essay.
At 3:30 I headed to the other La Católica campus to meet up with everyone for our epic Gringos vs. Chileans soccer match. Christian and I organized the whole thing (which really only included making sure each team had enough players) and it worked out perfectly. The Chileans only had guys and they ahd about 12. The Gringos had 9 players, including 4 girls. But we actually kept up really well and it was a great game. All the Chileans were really impressed with how well we girls played because apparently Chilean girls aren’t quite as good. I was the worst girl out of all of them, but it was still really fun. We ended up losing 4-2, but that includes the 2 goals we made on ourselves on accident, one of which was by me. (I know, I know).
After our glorious defeat most of the Gringos and Christian went to a bar across campus and shared a couple pitchers of beer. I felt very college-ish; it was fun. Around 8 pm I headed home, took a quick shower and had dinner with Olga. Then I headed out again to meet up with friends to hang out and celebrate my friend Sam’s birthday. While we were waiting in the metro we ran into Emilio, Christian’s older brother who had also played soccer today. He told us that his friend Juan, who I’ve hung out with a few times before, was having a party at his house later that night and invited us to go. Before we went to Juan’s some of us headed to La Chile’s Fiesta de la Primavera (Spring Party) which had been going all day long. Obviously by the time we got there it was a mess. The closest thing to a Frat party that I’ve seen in Chile, but in the University! While at La Chile we ran into Juan a bunch of other Chileans I’ve met/hung out with before. When the party shut down at 11 we all walked to Juan’s apartment.
Funny side story: The elevator going up to Juan’s apartment got stuck between two floors for about 10 minutes. We were crammed in and a little nervous for a while until we finally got a hold of the security people with the little emergency button. A little while later it lowered us town to the 2nd floor and we took the stairs the rest of the way!!
At Juan’s it was about half gringos, half Chileans and everyone got along great. I realized that 4 months ago I never would have been able to carry on as many conversations as I did tonight. It was really fun and much better then the typical club scene in Santiago. Around 3 am someone put on Salsa music and we all started dancing in his little apartment living room and by 3:30 we were exhausted and shared a cab home.
I had my Poverty class this morning at 10:30 and before and I met up with a volunteer from Nuestra Casa in the metro so she could give me tickets to sell for their upcoming fundraiser. Every year they have an Avant Premier, where they premier a movie in Chile and have desserts, coffee etc. They are showing La Pasion de Beethoven (The Passion of Beethoven) with Ed Harris at a really fancy movie theater in the richest part of town. It should be a fun event and I just hope I can sell all of my 10 tickets. They are $12 a piece, so it makes it kind of hard with my poor college friends.
After class I was supposed to meet up with the 3 other gringos in my Doctrina Social class to work on our final group essay. But the 2 boys didn’t show, so Christine, Courtney and I went and got lunch at this cute restaurant down town. The food was really good and it was only $5, including dessert and coffee. Since I never eat out in Santiago, I forget how cheap food is (the only thing that is cheap in Santiago). After lunch Mike finally made it down town to work with us so we went to the library at La Católica and got a good outline for the essay.
At 3:30 I headed to the other La Católica campus to meet up with everyone for our epic Gringos vs. Chileans soccer match. Christian and I organized the whole thing (which really only included making sure each team had enough players) and it worked out perfectly. The Chileans only had guys and they ahd about 12. The Gringos had 9 players, including 4 girls. But we actually kept up really well and it was a great game. All the Chileans were really impressed with how well we girls played because apparently Chilean girls aren’t quite as good. I was the worst girl out of all of them, but it was still really fun. We ended up losing 4-2, but that includes the 2 goals we made on ourselves on accident, one of which was by me. (I know, I know).
After our glorious defeat most of the Gringos and Christian went to a bar across campus and shared a couple pitchers of beer. I felt very college-ish; it was fun. Around 8 pm I headed home, took a quick shower and had dinner with Olga. Then I headed out again to meet up with friends to hang out and celebrate my friend Sam’s birthday. While we were waiting in the metro we ran into Emilio, Christian’s older brother who had also played soccer today. He told us that his friend Juan, who I’ve hung out with a few times before, was having a party at his house later that night and invited us to go. Before we went to Juan’s some of us headed to La Chile’s Fiesta de la Primavera (Spring Party) which had been going all day long. Obviously by the time we got there it was a mess. The closest thing to a Frat party that I’ve seen in Chile, but in the University! While at La Chile we ran into Juan a bunch of other Chileans I’ve met/hung out with before. When the party shut down at 11 we all walked to Juan’s apartment.
Funny side story: The elevator going up to Juan’s apartment got stuck between two floors for about 10 minutes. We were crammed in and a little nervous for a while until we finally got a hold of the security people with the little emergency button. A little while later it lowered us town to the 2nd floor and we took the stairs the rest of the way!!
At Juan’s it was about half gringos, half Chileans and everyone got along great. I realized that 4 months ago I never would have been able to carry on as many conversations as I did tonight. It was really fun and much better then the typical club scene in Santiago. Around 3 am someone put on Salsa music and we all started dancing in his little apartment living room and by 3:30 we were exhausted and shared a cab home.
Thursday, November 8th, 2007 Soccer game with Nuestra Casa
Thursday, November 8th, 2007 Soccer game with Nuestra Casa
I went to the high school as usual and this morning Miss Mabel had a song in English planned for the kids. It is a great idea in theory but it wasn’t a very good song. It was the 3 Little Pigs hard rock style. I had never even heard it. So the kids didn’t understand anything and were really bored. With about 30 minutes left in each class she just gave up, or rather told me to just give up. Luckily the 3rd class didn’t meet because they were going to watch a play or something, so I came home early.
I’d was planning on going to my friends Natalie and Nick’s Salsa performance for their Salsa class at 12:30 and since I got home at 11 I figured I could go for a quick run, shower, and get there. I actually almost did it and got there at 12:35 figuring it would be in typical Chilean style and start really late. But for once they were on time and I walked in while they were still sweating and breathing hard. I was totally bummed I missed it, but they still appreciated that I tried to make it. We hung out for a while then I took a bus home. Olga and I had lunch then I worked on some homework. Around 4:00 Olga decided to make us coffee which was a good think because I was falling asleep reading and she gave me a little more cake that we’d had the day before. Then I headed to Nuestra Casa at 5:30 to meet up and go to their soccer game.
Nuestra Casa organized a homeless men’s soccer league and tonight was the inaugural match. I thought it would just be a quick 45 minute soccer game against another team but it ended up being a huge event with lots of important people, journalists and cameras. 3 soccer players from La Católica (the professional team, not the University team) were there and stole the show. Plus all the Nuestra Casa employees were there and a lot of the people that hang out at the trampoline. I spent most of the evening with Magdalena, the really quick woman who loves my jewelry. After starting almost an hour late, they had an opening ceremony and we heard some motivational words etc. and finally they started playing around 8. We watched the first 3 games(about 20 minutes each) , then we were so cold Maria Alana and I decided to walk back to the metro together and head home. Two of the guys that had just finished playing, Victor and Sebastian, told us to wait while they changed and they would walk us back. So the 4 of us walked to the metro in the cold, dark Santiago summer night.
I got home much later than expected (around 9:30) and Olga made me dinner. After eating I headed to my room to do some homework and about 20 minutes later Olga brought me a cup of coffee. I spent the rest of the night working on homework until I fell asleep at 3 am.
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007
After purposely ignoring my alarm this morning, I woke up late and had to rush through breakfast and my homework before leaving for class. I got there 20 minutes late, but it didn’t matter. After class I went to mass and without realizing it I was in the line to go to Confession. So I just went with it and ended up having a very nice confession with the priest. He listened attentively and when I told him sometimes I say “garabatos” or bad words, he interrupted and questioned, “¿Garabatos Chilenos?” “Chilean bad words?”. This made me chuckle. Afterwards he asked me where I was from and if Chile had been treating me well. It was overall a very nice experience.
After mass I went to my education class where we are learning about the role of family in the education of their children. Basically it’s been, “how to be a good parent, i.e. how to not seriously screw up your kids”. I’ve learned a lot, mostly I’ve realized how wonderful my parents were and are. *tear*.
After class, Nick, Natalie and I reserved our spots on the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. We are going on December 4th, only for the day. But it should be a wonderful experience and I’m really looking forward to it. One of the coolest parts is that we will be riding on the Orient Express. Except that it is called the Backpackers train, which means no frills (although it still costs $73 round trip!). Afterwards I had lunch with Christian, then headed to the CIEE office to have a meeting about my research paper with our professor/director Hector. After a lot of help from Hector, I think I will be investigating the accessibility of health services for the people at Nuestra Casa (i.e. homeless people in Santiago). Should be interesting, but right now I’m feeling really overwhelmed!
I went to my Biblia class 20 minutes late because my meeting with Hector ran long and they changed class rooms on me so I had to ask a bunch of people before I finally found it. Then of course I had my poverty class, which went as usual. I took the metro home and walked in to the delicious smell of garlic and fresh fish. So my dinner was delicious and afterwards Olga surprised me with a delicious sliver of Black Forest cake she bought from the market. I then spent the rest of the night checking emails and sending out invitations to the soccer game on Friday, the Nuestra Casa Movie Premier fundraiser on next Thursday and Olga and my upcoming Fiesta de las Frutillas that we are having on Saturday. Again, it’s almost midnight and I have yet to start homework…
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Wow, I am really far behind. Again. That is what you get traveling every weekend and spending the weeks catching up on homework!! Anyway, I’m going to stay up to date day to day and catch up the last week and a half when I can. The next three weeks are going to be busy with the end of classes and everything being due and I won’t be traveling, which means boring which means easy to blog!
Anyway, I woke up today after a nice 9.5 hours of sleep still red as a lobster. I had no desire to eat and still felt a little achy, so I’m thinking I had a touch of sun poisoning. From about 11 am to 2 pm I worked on the Tuberculosis presentation I had to give at Nuestra Casa while Olga took care of me. She was convinced I was sick, again, and brought me some fruit for breakfast, then cold towels to place on my stomach, then after advice from her husband, she brought me a slice of tomato to rub on my stomach! She placed a towel underneath me, telling me it had a lot of history. While she rubbed the tomato on my stomach nearly the same color, she told me that the towel is 44 years old that she used it at the beach when she and her husband were dating!
I had some veggies for lunch because I couldn’t stomach anything heavier, despite Olga’s encouragement to eat something more substantial. Around 3:30 I headed out to Nuestra Casa and was again warmly welcomed. Tamara, another volunteer who I’ve written about before, helped me edit my presentation and then I hung out and talked with everyone. Magdalena, Alberto, Maluca and his wife, Maria and everyone else was there as usual. Alejandro and Christian (I think that is his name) showed up later. At 5 I finally did the Tuberculosis workshop. 5 people came, plus Lauren and Tamara to help me out. This one didn’t go quite as well as the AIDS/HIV workshop because no one knows anything about tuberculosis so they couldn’t participate as much. They said they understood me, but I’m not sure how much. At the end they all said they learned a little, so I figure it was some what successful.
Lauren did an English workshop on how to give/get directions (turn right/left, go straight, subway, bus stop, etc.) and had little game to go along with it. I don’t know how much they actually learned but we had fun and joked around. Most of what they asked us was song lyrics that they didn’t understand. One new kid I met name Christian, who is only 22, asked me about song lyrics from ABBA and other 80s music. He laughed and told me that even though he doesn’t understand the words, he loves the songs! Oh Chile and their obsession with the 80s.
When the Trampolín closed I walked back to the metro with Lauren then home. Olga and I had dinner and chatted for a long time. We decided we are going to have our “Fiestas de las Frutillas” (Strawberry Party) on Saturday. I’m going to invite 5 or 6 friends and we are going to have once and strawberries and Olga is really excited! After dinner I started on my homework/catching up on emails. It’s almost midnight and I still haven’t actually started my homework for tomorrow. Boo…
Wow, I am really far behind. Again. That is what you get traveling every weekend and spending the weeks catching up on homework!! Anyway, I’m going to stay up to date day to day and catch up the last week and a half when I can. The next three weeks are going to be busy with the end of classes and everything being due and I won’t be traveling, which means boring which means easy to blog!
Anyway, I woke up today after a nice 9.5 hours of sleep still red as a lobster. I had no desire to eat and still felt a little achy, so I’m thinking I had a touch of sun poisoning. From about 11 am to 2 pm I worked on the Tuberculosis presentation I had to give at Nuestra Casa while Olga took care of me. She was convinced I was sick, again, and brought me some fruit for breakfast, then cold towels to place on my stomach, then after advice from her husband, she brought me a slice of tomato to rub on my stomach! She placed a towel underneath me, telling me it had a lot of history. While she rubbed the tomato on my stomach nearly the same color, she told me that the towel is 44 years old that she used it at the beach when she and her husband were dating!
I had some veggies for lunch because I couldn’t stomach anything heavier, despite Olga’s encouragement to eat something more substantial. Around 3:30 I headed out to Nuestra Casa and was again warmly welcomed. Tamara, another volunteer who I’ve written about before, helped me edit my presentation and then I hung out and talked with everyone. Magdalena, Alberto, Maluca and his wife, Maria and everyone else was there as usual. Alejandro and Christian (I think that is his name) showed up later. At 5 I finally did the Tuberculosis workshop. 5 people came, plus Lauren and Tamara to help me out. This one didn’t go quite as well as the AIDS/HIV workshop because no one knows anything about tuberculosis so they couldn’t participate as much. They said they understood me, but I’m not sure how much. At the end they all said they learned a little, so I figure it was some what successful.
Lauren did an English workshop on how to give/get directions (turn right/left, go straight, subway, bus stop, etc.) and had little game to go along with it. I don’t know how much they actually learned but we had fun and joked around. Most of what they asked us was song lyrics that they didn’t understand. One new kid I met name Christian, who is only 22, asked me about song lyrics from ABBA and other 80s music. He laughed and told me that even though he doesn’t understand the words, he loves the songs! Oh Chile and their obsession with the 80s.
When the Trampolín closed I walked back to the metro with Lauren then home. Olga and I had dinner and chatted for a long time. We decided we are going to have our “Fiestas de las Frutillas” (Strawberry Party) on Saturday. I’m going to invite 5 or 6 friends and we are going to have once and strawberries and Olga is really excited! After dinner I started on my homework/catching up on emails. It’s almost midnight and I still haven’t actually started my homework for tomorrow. Boo…
Monday, November 5, 2007 This is why they tell you to wear sunscreen…
Monday, November 5, 2007 This is why they tell you to wear sunscreen…
Got to Santiago around 7 am. Took metro home, put aloe on my stomach, slept
Class, mass, class felt sick probably b/c of sun poisoning
Skipped my biblia class and went home to eat lunch and work
Worked, ate a little dinner but felt sick, Olga worried about me, went to bed early
Got to Santiago around 7 am. Took metro home, put aloe on my stomach, slept
Class, mass, class felt sick probably b/c of sun poisoning
Skipped my biblia class and went home to eat lunch and work
Worked, ate a little dinner but felt sick, Olga worried about me, went to bed early
Sunday, November 4th, 2007 Hot Springs and way too much sun..
Sunday, November 4th, 2007 Hot Springs and way too much sun..
Bus to Hotsprings, alone and loving it
Laid out, read, a little sunscreen, 45, in thermals about 10 minutes
Realized I was getting dark, went to shade, did some homework
Ate sandwich, back to sun to read a little, planning on getting in thermals then showering and cleaning up
Argentineans start talking to me. Talked about 1.5 hours.
Finally they left, went to take shower, realized I was pretty burned
Bus ride home
Tea and chatting with Peter, hostel owner
Met gringos, had chocolate
Dinner at La Florencia again! With same waiter
To bus stop, on bus next to 49 year old woman studying Spanish, uncomfortable because of my sunburn
At the border for 3 freakin hours, saw Laura again!, back to sleep
Bus to Hotsprings, alone and loving it
Laid out, read, a little sunscreen, 45, in thermals about 10 minutes
Realized I was getting dark, went to shade, did some homework
Ate sandwich, back to sun to read a little, planning on getting in thermals then showering and cleaning up
Argentineans start talking to me. Talked about 1.5 hours.
Finally they left, went to take shower, realized I was pretty burned
Bus ride home
Tea and chatting with Peter, hostel owner
Met gringos, had chocolate
Dinner at La Florencia again! With same waiter
To bus stop, on bus next to 49 year old woman studying Spanish, uncomfortable because of my sunburn
At the border for 3 freakin hours, saw Laura again!, back to sleep
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 Hanging out in Argentina
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 Hanging out in Argentina
Slept in, around 11 headed out to check out Mendoza
Spent day walking through town, alfajor and coffee at HAVANNA, various plazas and markets, window shopping, lunch at steak dive
Walked to park tried to get to hill, but getting dark and security guard said dangerous, headed back, walked to other side of lake, sat in rose garden. Read my book, watched the sun go down behind the trees= incredible
Took cab to mass at San Fransisco Basilica
Dinner at Don Pepe = Tenedor Libre but not like in Buenos Aires. Steak not great, but pasta yummy and DESSERT! Pancaques con manjar y helado!
Walked home after midnight beyond stuffed
Slept in, around 11 headed out to check out Mendoza
Spent day walking through town, alfajor and coffee at HAVANNA, various plazas and markets, window shopping, lunch at steak dive
Walked to park tried to get to hill, but getting dark and security guard said dangerous, headed back, walked to other side of lake, sat in rose garden. Read my book, watched the sun go down behind the trees= incredible
Took cab to mass at San Fransisco Basilica
Dinner at Don Pepe = Tenedor Libre but not like in Buenos Aires. Steak not great, but pasta yummy and DESSERT! Pancaques con manjar y helado!
Walked home after midnight beyond stuffed
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 Mendoza, Argentina Day 1, Wine and Bike Tour and Soccer Game. i.e. best day ever.
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 Mendoza, Argentina Day 1, Wine and Bike Tour and Soccer Game. i.e. best day ever.
Got in at 5:30, still dark, my friends at hostel asleep, Laura can’t check into her hotel, so we got breakfast, delicious cappuccinos and croissants at only restaurant open in entire bus terminal. One hour later we finally leave but it only cost 4 bucks for both of us.
Shared cab, got to hotel little after 8, mike and Marissa already up
No spots on Wine and Bike Tour
Met French girls in my hostel room, decided to go with them for the bikes
Finally got on bus, hour later dropped off in random, dusty looking city
Found bikes for the whole day $3
La Rural
Bike broke, switched
Lunch from Gas Station
Lunch, Chocolate Factory
45 minute ride
Carinae
Olive Oil Factory
45 minute ride back with sun slowly going down over the wineries.
Bus back around 7, had fracturas for a snack
Met Swiss girl Stephanie and Gringa Sara, going to Soccer game, last minute decided I wanted to go, invited Mike and Marissa so we all went in taxi
I Convinced them to buy more expensive tickets in safer zone, (after the game in Chile, i didn't want to risk it!) girls ended up being only $3, boys $6
Great game, our section not packed at all, crazy section standing room only, flares, huge signs, banners, flags, drummers, constant jumping and cheering like in Chile but no rocks
GREAT game, great soccer, ended up winning 2-1
Long walk out of park
Marissa saw restaurant and decided she wanted to eat there, money from ATM at Casino
Dinner at midnight at restaurant, they got steak (best they’ve ever had, Mike’s only 8 bucks for 1 pound), I stuck with salad, afterwards had to get ice cream=delicious
Walked back to hostel, got there around 3 am
Got in at 5:30, still dark, my friends at hostel asleep, Laura can’t check into her hotel, so we got breakfast, delicious cappuccinos and croissants at only restaurant open in entire bus terminal. One hour later we finally leave but it only cost 4 bucks for both of us.
Shared cab, got to hotel little after 8, mike and Marissa already up
No spots on Wine and Bike Tour
Met French girls in my hostel room, decided to go with them for the bikes
Finally got on bus, hour later dropped off in random, dusty looking city
Found bikes for the whole day $3
La Rural
Bike broke, switched
Lunch from Gas Station
Lunch, Chocolate Factory
45 minute ride
Carinae
Olive Oil Factory
45 minute ride back with sun slowly going down over the wineries.
Bus back around 7, had fracturas for a snack
Met Swiss girl Stephanie and Gringa Sara, going to Soccer game, last minute decided I wanted to go, invited Mike and Marissa so we all went in taxi
I Convinced them to buy more expensive tickets in safer zone, (after the game in Chile, i didn't want to risk it!) girls ended up being only $3, boys $6
Great game, our section not packed at all, crazy section standing room only, flares, huge signs, banners, flags, drummers, constant jumping and cheering like in Chile but no rocks
GREAT game, great soccer, ended up winning 2-1
Long walk out of park
Marissa saw restaurant and decided she wanted to eat there, money from ATM at Casino
Dinner at midnight at restaurant, they got steak (best they’ve ever had, Mike’s only 8 bucks for 1 pound), I stuck with salad, afterwards had to get ice cream=delicious
Walked back to hostel, got there around 3 am
Thursday, November 1st, 2007 All Saints Day and Federal Holiday in Chile!
Thursday, November 1st, 2007 All Saints Day and Federal Holiday in Chile!
Woke up, delicious breakfast by Courtney’s mom, took bus home around 10:00, and on the way called Mike to see about Mendoza. He was on his way to the bus stop!
While waiting, quick shower then ran to mass
After 4 hours of back and forth, Mike and friend Marissa bought tickets to leave at 5 but he couldn’t buy mine b/c you need documentation to go internationally, I went to the bus station to buy mine but they were sold out. I ended up finding a TurBus (the company we’ve used every other trip) that left at 10:30 pm and I got the second to last ticket.
Home, homework, pack, dinner, head to bus stop
Meet gringos from Minnesota
Sat alone, started talking to lady next to me
Laura, formerly famous TV celebrity, chatted the whole way: http://www.youtube.com/user/djmissfreechile
Border, Sleep
Woke up, delicious breakfast by Courtney’s mom, took bus home around 10:00, and on the way called Mike to see about Mendoza. He was on his way to the bus stop!
While waiting, quick shower then ran to mass
After 4 hours of back and forth, Mike and friend Marissa bought tickets to leave at 5 but he couldn’t buy mine b/c you need documentation to go internationally, I went to the bus station to buy mine but they were sold out. I ended up finding a TurBus (the company we’ve used every other trip) that left at 10:30 pm and I got the second to last ticket.
Home, homework, pack, dinner, head to bus stop
Meet gringos from Minnesota
Sat alone, started talking to lady next to me
Laura, formerly famous TV celebrity, chatted the whole way: http://www.youtube.com/user/djmissfreechile
Border, Sleep
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 Happy Halloween!
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 Happy Halloween!
Kind of accidentally skipping my Doctrina Social class again to finish my Biblia paper, but I went at end to get my test back, Another 7!! Told Mike we weren’t going to Mendoza and he was upset and tried to convince me to go, told him I’d think about it.
Mass, afterwards ran into Christian and Emilio, convinced me to skip Edu class so I could 1. help Emilio translate something for his job at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans from December to March and 2. have Christian edit my Biblia paper.
Went to last 20 minutes of Edu, then hung out with gringo friends (dispute about Rochester NY)
Biblia
Poverty
Home with Courtney, hung out, friend never called but had once, hung with brothers, watched Nightmare Before Christmas but fell asleep before the end.
Kind of accidentally skipping my Doctrina Social class again to finish my Biblia paper, but I went at end to get my test back, Another 7!! Told Mike we weren’t going to Mendoza and he was upset and tried to convince me to go, told him I’d think about it.
Mass, afterwards ran into Christian and Emilio, convinced me to skip Edu class so I could 1. help Emilio translate something for his job at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans from December to March and 2. have Christian edit my Biblia paper.
Went to last 20 minutes of Edu, then hung out with gringo friends (dispute about Rochester NY)
Biblia
Poverty
Home with Courtney, hung out, friend never called but had once, hung with brothers, watched Nightmare Before Christmas but fell asleep before the end.
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 Please don't cry...
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 Please don't cry...
Woke up at 8:30 am
Run, shower, work, almuerzo, Nuestra Casa, decided not to go to Mendoza this weekend b/c I was so tired
HIV/SIDA presentation
Alejandro crying when talking about his son and his polola (girlfriend) who happens to be married to another man
Ran, literally, to mass, made it right on time before the homily!
Dinner with Olga, she cried when started talking about me leaving (that’s two in one day!)
Evening homework
Woke up at 8:30 am
Run, shower, work, almuerzo, Nuestra Casa, decided not to go to Mendoza this weekend b/c I was so tired
HIV/SIDA presentation
Alejandro crying when talking about his son and his polola (girlfriend) who happens to be married to another man
Ran, literally, to mass, made it right on time before the homily!
Dinner with Olga, she cried when started talking about me leaving (that’s two in one day!)
Evening homework
Monday, October 29th, 2007 Back to Reality
Monday, October 29th, 2007 Back to Reality
Arriving at 6:30 am
Writing Inconvenient Truth reflection paper that ended up not being due
Skipping Doc Soc, saw Mike and invited him to Mendoza
Edu
Biblia
Little homework, then Nap at 8 pm
Arriving at 6:30 am
Writing Inconvenient Truth reflection paper that ended up not being due
Skipping Doc Soc, saw Mike and invited him to Mendoza
Edu
Biblia
Little homework, then Nap at 8 pm
Sunday, October 28th, 2007 White Water Rafting in Pucon
Sunday, October 28th, 2007 White Water Rafting in Pucon
Natalie and my attempt to go to mass followed by lovely tour of Pucon and Lago Villarica
Rafting
Hot tub/sauna, chatting with Nick about the beauties of the Missouri life
BBQ
Bus ride home, matt and will and I decided to go to Mendoza
Natalie and my attempt to go to mass followed by lovely tour of Pucon and Lago Villarica
Rafting
Hot tub/sauna, chatting with Nick about the beauties of the Missouri life
BBQ
Bus ride home, matt and will and I decided to go to Mendoza
Saturday, October 27, 2007 Volcan Villarica: There are no words to describe you darn Volcano
Saturday, October 27, 2007 Volcan Villarica: There are no words to describe you darn Volcano
We woke up around 6:00 am to eat breakfast (which was brought to our cabin, including them setting the table (with linen) for us) and get ready. We got on the bus at 6:45 and headed to the tour company. We got everything we’d need for the climb, which includes pants, a coat, boots, crampons (teeth like things you attach to the bottom of your feet to keep you from sliding), an ice pick, a helmet, a face warmer, gloves, and sunglasses. We brought our own water and food, which we put in the huge hiking backpacks that they also gave us.
We climbed on the bus and drove about 30 minutes to the jump off point. There was snow along the road and when we got to the base of the volcano I realized why the hike is 5 hours up and 3 hours down. I also understood why we have so much equipment. We piled out and they passed out ski poles and once everyone had their backpacks on, we started hiking. The first 20 minutes was pretty easy and we talked and laughed as we climbed up. We rested a minute to let the rest catch up and I realized that we still had a long way to go. We started again and the group, about 25 people, slowly started spreading out. I stayed pretty close to the front but after about another 15 minutes it got a lot steeper and I slowed down. There was a group of about 10 in front, then me and one other girl, Chelsea a little further behind, then the rest of the group pretty far back. 45 minutes into the hike the group up front stopped and Chelsea and I caught up. The guide at the front told us that at this point we were going to start breaking into groups and that Chelsea and I should wait for the other group to catch up to form the middle group. I was already pretty tired but I figured I could keep up with them but I really didn’t mind since we were all going to meet up eventually. So we waited for the rest to catch up while the fast group sped on ahead.
But when the slow group finally got there the main guide said that we weren’t going to split up any more and we would stay in only two groups. I was disappointed because I knew that meant we’d have to wait for the slowest people, but again I figured we’d all make it anyway so it wouldn’t matter. Since we were going a lot slower I felt great and wasn’t very tired.
Mike and I wanting to go on, but eventually deciding to turn around
Sliding down, guides turning cool
Hot tub/sauna
Dinner
PARTY!!
We woke up around 6:00 am to eat breakfast (which was brought to our cabin, including them setting the table (with linen) for us) and get ready. We got on the bus at 6:45 and headed to the tour company. We got everything we’d need for the climb, which includes pants, a coat, boots, crampons (teeth like things you attach to the bottom of your feet to keep you from sliding), an ice pick, a helmet, a face warmer, gloves, and sunglasses. We brought our own water and food, which we put in the huge hiking backpacks that they also gave us.
We climbed on the bus and drove about 30 minutes to the jump off point. There was snow along the road and when we got to the base of the volcano I realized why the hike is 5 hours up and 3 hours down. I also understood why we have so much equipment. We piled out and they passed out ski poles and once everyone had their backpacks on, we started hiking. The first 20 minutes was pretty easy and we talked and laughed as we climbed up. We rested a minute to let the rest catch up and I realized that we still had a long way to go. We started again and the group, about 25 people, slowly started spreading out. I stayed pretty close to the front but after about another 15 minutes it got a lot steeper and I slowed down. There was a group of about 10 in front, then me and one other girl, Chelsea a little further behind, then the rest of the group pretty far back. 45 minutes into the hike the group up front stopped and Chelsea and I caught up. The guide at the front told us that at this point we were going to start breaking into groups and that Chelsea and I should wait for the other group to catch up to form the middle group. I was already pretty tired but I figured I could keep up with them but I really didn’t mind since we were all going to meet up eventually. So we waited for the rest to catch up while the fast group sped on ahead.
But when the slow group finally got there the main guide said that we weren’t going to split up any more and we would stay in only two groups. I was disappointed because I knew that meant we’d have to wait for the slowest people, but again I figured we’d all make it anyway so it wouldn’t matter. Since we were going a lot slower I felt great and wasn’t very tired.
Mike and I wanting to go on, but eventually deciding to turn around
Sliding down, guides turning cool
Hot tub/sauna
Dinner
PARTY!!
Friday, October 26, 2007 5 Star Cabins and our tour of Pucon
Friday, October 26, 2007 5 Star Cabins and our tour of Pucon
We got to Pucon around 7 am and the bus took us to our Cabañas, or Cabins. Cabañas are really popular to stay in and usually they are pretty basic. But our Cabañas were seriously 5 Star! The place, called El Dorado, is incredible. It has a pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, soccer field, play ground, and a Hall that looks like a castle, surrounded by a mote/stream with black necked swans. The cabins were beautiful wood cabins with a full kitchen with tile floors, a huge dining room table, fancy bathrooms, leather furniture and a huge flat screen TV. We had about an hour to get settled then went to the Hall/Castle for breakfast. Of course breakfast was delicious with white linens and juice in wine glasses. After breakfast we had a little introduction to the activities we could do from a good looking guy who works at the tour office Politur. At 11 we left for our tour of Pucon and the surrounding region.
Pucon is a beautiful, lush mountain city that looks ridiculously like it was plucked right out of Colorado. It isn’t very big, I think about 40,000 permant residents, but it is a huge tourist spot because of all the stuff to do. Volcan (Volcano) Villarica is about 20 minutes away and looms over the city like a smoking snow capped giant. It is the most active volcano in all of South America and smoke pours out the top all day long. Unfortunately it is often rainy in Pucon (actually in all of southern Chile) and all day Friday was pretty cloudy.
To be honest I don’t remember many details about the places we went because I was having too much fun hanging out and goofing off with everyone in the group. But I know first we went to a beautiful waterfall where I gave Matt my camera to take artistic pictures. Then we went to a lake that sits next to the volcano. Then we went to another waterfall and hiked up it. There were three different levels and we hiked about 20 minutes to get to the top level. After the hike we had a sack lunch, then headed out to the Thermals, or hot springs. We spent the afternoon lounging in the natural hot spring pools while it sprinkled. The thermals sit along a beautiful fast flowing river and at one point a bunch of us went and jumped in. We only lasted about .2 seconds because it was incredibly freezing and we ran back to the warmth of the hot springs. We also tried making a whirlpool in one of the smaller pools but it didn’t work too well. People kept smacking their feet on the rocks and after a while we gave up.
Once everyone was nice and pruny we had to head back to Pucon. We had a little bit of time to clean up before we left for dinner and we a bunch of us decided to climb the volcano the next day. It cost almost $80 but how often do you get the chance to climb an active snow capped volcano? Plus it comes with one guide every 6 people and all the equipment you would need. I didn’t understand why we needed so much equipment till we got there, but now I understand. Before dinner everyone going on the volcano went and got their boots fitted and all the equipment ready.
We had dinner at a restaurant in Villarica, the city on the other side of the lake. At the end of dinner we had live music by two Chilean men. After they played for a while Hector, our director played then we convinced Courtney to play. Sallyann sang with her and they played a couple well known US songs. I was incredibly impressed and all the gringos loved it. Unfortunately the Chileans didn’t know the songs since they weren’t from the 80s, so they all looked a little bored. After Courtney played the two Chileans started playing again and by that point we were all really tired and ready to get back. We wanted to go to bed early since we had to leave for the volcano at 6:30 am. Finally Hector announced that we had to go and we eagerly got back on the bus.
There were 7 girls staying in our 3 room cabin. I was tired and a little irritable so after Natalie found two huge cockroaches on her bag and flipped the crap out, I couldn’t take it. Luckily Courtney didn’t mind them so she got them out of the cabin but everyone was shrieking and making it into a huge deal. There was just way too much girliness, and as soon as we could, Courtney and I just went to bed.
Thursday, October 25, 2007 Off to Pucon!
Thursday, October 25, 2007 Off to Pucon!
I went and volunteered as usual but today the teacher decided to show a film. Part of me was relieved that I wouldn’t have to deal with the kids but another part of me was a little disappointed because I was pretty much useless. The movie was a 20 minute short film in English made by a famous rock group that I can’t remember now. Maybe the Smashing Pumpkins or something. She told me that they would understand it because it was slow and had good images, so figured it would be a cool video. Come to find out it is about a drug addicted couple who lives on the street. The woman, who is pregnant, narrates the story basically talking about her past, her hopes for the futures, and the vicious cycle of drug addiction. There was no lack of f-bombs, alcohol and drug use, prostitution, violence, and basically all the things that you should NEVER show to a class of high school kids. I couldn’t believe it! The worst part is that the kids didn’t understand anything and just watched the craziness.
And what’s worse is that the kids convinced her to let them watch it twice so they “could understand more”. So after the 2nd class I asked her if I could just leave because I wasn’t doing anything. I was honestly starting to feel nausea and she didn’t seem to care, so I came home early.
I went for a run, showered, and then had lunch with Olga. In the afternoon I went to pick up a letter of admission to the Universidad Católica so I could get a Student Transportation Pass for the Metro. A friend of mine heard how foreign students could finally get a pass which was a new thing, so I jumped on the band wagon. The student passes are 1/3 the price of the regular passes, so with it I will save almost 70 bucks over the next month and a half. So I got my letter, went to the office, got my pass and came home. About 2 hours after I got back we got an email from our program director saying that the new “program” to allow foreign students to get a Student Pass was actually a loophole in the system and we shouldn’t really be able to get them. But darn, I already got mine!!
I spent the rest of the afternoon doing homework and getting ready to leave for Pucon with our program. We were supposed to meet up at the office at 9 pm but Courtney was going to come by to eat a quick once on her way since she didn’t have time to go home between her volunteer job and getting to the office. But she didn’t get to my house till about 8:30, so we ate super quick and left right at 9 pm. We are apparently slowly becoming Chilean: always late. When we finally got to the office everyone was on the bus and they were waiting for us.
Thursday evening consisted of hanging out with some of the coolest kids I’ve ever met on our way to Pucon. Basically all my favorite people from my program went on the trip so I was super excited. We watched a stupid/funny Adam Sandler movie “I Now Pronounce You Ted and Larry” or something like that. Around 1 am everyone fell asleep, knowing we’d need some rest for tomorrow.
I went and volunteered as usual but today the teacher decided to show a film. Part of me was relieved that I wouldn’t have to deal with the kids but another part of me was a little disappointed because I was pretty much useless. The movie was a 20 minute short film in English made by a famous rock group that I can’t remember now. Maybe the Smashing Pumpkins or something. She told me that they would understand it because it was slow and had good images, so figured it would be a cool video. Come to find out it is about a drug addicted couple who lives on the street. The woman, who is pregnant, narrates the story basically talking about her past, her hopes for the futures, and the vicious cycle of drug addiction. There was no lack of f-bombs, alcohol and drug use, prostitution, violence, and basically all the things that you should NEVER show to a class of high school kids. I couldn’t believe it! The worst part is that the kids didn’t understand anything and just watched the craziness.
And what’s worse is that the kids convinced her to let them watch it twice so they “could understand more”. So after the 2nd class I asked her if I could just leave because I wasn’t doing anything. I was honestly starting to feel nausea and she didn’t seem to care, so I came home early.
I went for a run, showered, and then had lunch with Olga. In the afternoon I went to pick up a letter of admission to the Universidad Católica so I could get a Student Transportation Pass for the Metro. A friend of mine heard how foreign students could finally get a pass which was a new thing, so I jumped on the band wagon. The student passes are 1/3 the price of the regular passes, so with it I will save almost 70 bucks over the next month and a half. So I got my letter, went to the office, got my pass and came home. About 2 hours after I got back we got an email from our program director saying that the new “program” to allow foreign students to get a Student Pass was actually a loophole in the system and we shouldn’t really be able to get them. But darn, I already got mine!!
I spent the rest of the afternoon doing homework and getting ready to leave for Pucon with our program. We were supposed to meet up at the office at 9 pm but Courtney was going to come by to eat a quick once on her way since she didn’t have time to go home between her volunteer job and getting to the office. But she didn’t get to my house till about 8:30, so we ate super quick and left right at 9 pm. We are apparently slowly becoming Chilean: always late. When we finally got to the office everyone was on the bus and they were waiting for us.
Thursday evening consisted of hanging out with some of the coolest kids I’ve ever met on our way to Pucon. Basically all my favorite people from my program went on the trip so I was super excited. We watched a stupid/funny Adam Sandler movie “I Now Pronounce You Ted and Larry” or something like that. Around 1 am everyone fell asleep, knowing we’d need some rest for tomorrow.
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