Thursday, January 10, 2008 Reflections on Chile

Thursday, January 10, 2008 Reflections on Chile

First, I want to thank all of you who read my blog. Many of you spent hours reading and since coming home, it has been wonderful hearing that you enjoyed my adventures. Oh I wish you could have been there to share them with me. A million thanks for spending your precious time reading and for all your love and support while I was away. I often felt homesick, but I never felt lonely because I knew I had amazing family and friends back home waiting to welcome me into their arms. I know at times my blog was tedious, but I am not apologizing. I'm so glad I journaled such details because I now have those memories forever.

I have meant to sit down and do a nice little reflection on my experiences in Chile, but I’ve realized that trying to shove five months of priceless moments, intense emotion (of every kind), and life changing experiences is not only impossible, but almost belittling. I've noticed that when people ask, "How was Chile?” I generally simply respond, "amazing". What else can I say? At times I hated it, at times I loved it. I felt some of my lowest lows and some of my highest highs. I'm not fluent in Spanish, at least by my standards. But apparently I fake it pretty well because the few times I’ve spoke, everyone is impressed.

I definitely miss Olga and my other friends and at many times I find myself wishing they were around so I could speak Spanglish, laugh at our inside jokes, and be just generally inappropriate. But I’m also glad to be back in a community that understands my faith system and encourages me to live out the faith I’ve professed.

Overall, I take home from Chile the general understanding that I have no idea who I am or what I want. At first that was scary, but I’m slowly becoming accustomed to the idea that I really must depend fully on God, who ultimately will provide. I don't know how or when or where, but all I have to do is keep loving and growing in Him and everything will be fine. Just like my revelation on top of Machu Picchu, "I'm going to be just fine."

What I’m going to echar de menos:

Here is the list I made on the plane ride home of things I would miss Post-Chile. Please excuse the Spanglish (mix of English and Spanish). That is the beauty of the list.

What I’m going to echar de menos:

Fruit y GOLD y cafecito con Olga in the mornings
Pan de la palabra before every meal
Time to think on the metro
Living IN the city
Food vendors every 50 yards
Not seeing/hearing English
Mass at San Joaquin, San Ignacio y San Lazaro
Packed lunch
Hour long almuerzos
Sitting in and working on my computer
Olga “?Tienes hambre?” Me, “No” and 5 minutes later brings me fresh strawberries
Ensaladas con limon y sal
Daily profound revelations por Olga at the dinner table
Getting nervous/excited to speak Spanish on the phone
18 year old drinking age
Not worrying about what to wear or that I have love handles
Si po, ? Gachi hueron?
Cold nights and always needing un chaleco
Constant traveling
Big Time gum
Having my laundry clean, room picked up, bed made, food cooked and dishes done
Olga
Spanglish
Getting excited to overhear a conversation on the metro
Being called Luli
Being Gringa
Having 4 classes, all liberal arts and no labs
Alejandro, Marie, Maria Elena, Nivaldo, Victor, Carlos at Nuestra Casa
Having family in the far corner of the globe
Appreciating good communication
Phonetic spelling
Being fascinated by something new everyday
Carette
TurBus, especialmente SemiCama
Monedas
Vivir tan cerca a la Moneda
Plaza de Armas
Bravisimo
Being ok with just listening
Being ok with no gacho nada
Picking experience over homework
Parque O’Higgins
4 day weekends
Having someone to check all my papers, CriCri
Manjar
Nescafe en cualquier y cada minuto
Metro on gamedays
Running out of minutes on my pre-paid phone
Taking a number everywhere
ALWAYS getting a receipt
No toilet paper = always an adventure
80s music
Ron cola
Olga’s “You’ve been out all night, welcome home” hug and giggle
Unexpected horribly racist comments and no such thing as PC
Tarjeta BIP!