Clare tagged me, and since I got six hours of sleep last night and have no inspiration to blog about anything else, I guess I'll try out this meme. I'm not tagging anyone because I'm lazy.
1. I sleep with four stuffed animals: two horses and two cows.
2. This fall I lost my stuffed horse Coronel and it made me really sad. In fact it still makes me sad thinking about it.
3. I started working when I was 7 years old to save money to buy a horse. When I was 10, I bought Nutmeg and paid for her all by myself.
4. I grew up on a farm, so it's not scandalous or anything that I started working at age 7. I fed the calves with my grandma every other weekend.
5. When I was in middle school I wanted to be a lawyer after I read almost every single one of John Grisham's books.
6. I changed my mind after traveling to El Salvador for a week with my church. It was then I decided I wanted to be fluent in Spanish.
7. I think I'm fluent in Spanish now, although my accent is still pretty bad. (But some people think it's cute...)
8. I hate mushrooms, olives and venison, but I'll try anything else once.
9. I don't like eating leftovers unless it's Thanksgiving.
10. People tell me I'm a good listener, but I struggle to express my feelings to others.
11. I hate saying goodbye.
12. I'm pretty competitive and like to be right, but I'm trying to work on that.
13. I've never been to Taco Bell.
14. I love Mexican food.
15. When I was little, there was nothing more exciting than staying at a Hotel with a pool.
16. When I was 8-9 years old I used to leave my Mom and Dad notes on their pillows.
17. I had totally forgotten about that until my Mom reminded me right before I left for Chile.
18. I am obsessed with babies and cute small children. I have to restrain myself from smiling at them here in Santiago lest their mothers think I'm deranged.
19. I love snuggling, but not when it's hot out.
20. I often have very vivid dreams that I have trouble separating from reality.
21. I like to send my dad articles from the New York Times. Hopefully he likes to read them.
22. I hate going to the dentist. Teeth really gross me out.
23. I also hate being late, but I'm learning to accept that others will inevitably be late (especially here in Chile!).
24. In the US, I almost never made my bed. Here I make it every day.
25. Peanut butter is the food of the Gods.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Done!
I'm now TEFL Certified!
I think overall, the class was really valuable and worth it. I know it's debatable whether or not it's worth the money/time to get a TEFL Certificate to work in Chile because it's absolutely possible to find work without one.
However, I know myself well and I could not imagine being just thrown into a classroom without some sort of preparation. I mean yes, I speak English. But before this class did I know about the three functions of the present perfect? Nope. The explanation would have gone something like..."Well...sometimes you but have in front of the past participle..umm...yeah. To talk about the past. But it's different from the past simple. Like. I have been to Chile. Yeah." Anyway, now I know a lot about the perfect tenses, and how to elicit and how to concept check and monitor and error correct and drill and much more.
Now it's time to hit the pavement with my resume. This kind of scares the be-jesus out of me because I've never done that before. All the jobs I've had in the past I've either gotten through e-mail or through a friend. But I know I can do it.
I think overall, the class was really valuable and worth it. I know it's debatable whether or not it's worth the money/time to get a TEFL Certificate to work in Chile because it's absolutely possible to find work without one.
However, I know myself well and I could not imagine being just thrown into a classroom without some sort of preparation. I mean yes, I speak English. But before this class did I know about the three functions of the present perfect? Nope. The explanation would have gone something like..."Well...sometimes you but have in front of the past participle..umm...yeah. To talk about the past. But it's different from the past simple. Like. I have been to Chile. Yeah." Anyway, now I know a lot about the perfect tenses, and how to elicit and how to concept check and monitor and error correct and drill and much more.
Now it's time to hit the pavement with my resume. This kind of scares the be-jesus out of me because I've never done that before. All the jobs I've had in the past I've either gotten through e-mail or through a friend. But I know I can do it.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gringo Watching
I have always been a people watcher. I inherited this from my Dad who inherited it from my Grandma. This is why I can be happy for hours waiting in an airport, because I watch the people around me and make up stories about them. In fact, when I was waiting for my flight to Santiago in Toronto, I listened to this entire conversation between these three people. One woman had some sort of accent (French? but not French Canadian...or perhaps Eastern Europe...I'm bad with accents) and the other two were a married couple from Canada. It was obvious that they had traveled a lot together and also that they had LOTS of money. So I made up this whole story about how the lady with the accent was the only daughter of some millionaire and had inherited all of his money. She met this couple on a cruise and had an affair with the husband and became best friends with the woman without the her ever finding out that she was sleeping with her husband. From then on they always went traveling together to exotic places.
So anyway, I like to watch people and yesterday I had some time during lunch so I sat on a bench on Hernando de Aguirre right outside English First and people watched. It's fairly common to see gringos near Tobalaba because there are lots of English institutes there. So I decided to make my people watching a little more interactive and see how many gringos I could spot.
F. and I have talked extensively about how one can spot a gringo here in Santiago. There are obvious things such as having blond hair and blue eyes, but that is more of a stereotype as there are many gringos with brown hair and brown eyes (i.e. me). So besides hair color, what else is there to look for? I think most importantly: shoes. Although flipflops are coming more popular here, the Reef style still hasn't caught on. Neither have Birkenstocks. So I found one gringa yesterday because she was wearing Birkenstocks. Then I looked down and realized I was too...haha. Chileans (especially women) wear heels all the time. And if they aren't wearing heels, they wear fancier flats or flip flops.
Second of all: the type of backpack. Almost all Chileans have either Head or XTreme backpacks. I would say the two most common gringo brands are NorthFace or LLBean. Also, Chileans usually carry their backpacks on one shoulder or out in front, while some gringos are still so naive that they carry them on both shoulders. In fact, on the way to the metro this afternoon I saw a whole group of them (probably exchange students) come out of the metro with their NorthFace backpacks on both shoulders.
After that comes a trickier one: clothes. Apart from the groups of older tourists who flock the city with their safari hats and cargo shorts, there is some typical gringo apparel. For example, hooded sweatshirts, especially if they have the name of a university on them, are a dead giveaway. Also, I have a pair of shorts I call my "gringo shorts"...they are khaki and come down to my knee. I used to think that ribbed tank tops were pretty gringa, but I've seen a lot of them lately, both in the stores and on Chilenas. Chilean men usually don't wear shorts unless they're relaxing around the house or at the beach, so shorts on a man walking down the street usually means gringo.
Anyone else have ideas about how to spot gringos in Santiago? Or maybe I'm the only one who finds this entertaining...
Full disclosure: I wear Reef flip flops and as I mentioned have gringo shorts and Birkenstocks, so please don't take offense to my comments if you are a gringo. Maybe someday you will gringo spot me!
So anyway, I like to watch people and yesterday I had some time during lunch so I sat on a bench on Hernando de Aguirre right outside English First and people watched. It's fairly common to see gringos near Tobalaba because there are lots of English institutes there. So I decided to make my people watching a little more interactive and see how many gringos I could spot.
F. and I have talked extensively about how one can spot a gringo here in Santiago. There are obvious things such as having blond hair and blue eyes, but that is more of a stereotype as there are many gringos with brown hair and brown eyes (i.e. me). So besides hair color, what else is there to look for? I think most importantly: shoes. Although flipflops are coming more popular here, the Reef style still hasn't caught on. Neither have Birkenstocks. So I found one gringa yesterday because she was wearing Birkenstocks. Then I looked down and realized I was too...haha. Chileans (especially women) wear heels all the time. And if they aren't wearing heels, they wear fancier flats or flip flops.
Second of all: the type of backpack. Almost all Chileans have either Head or XTreme backpacks. I would say the two most common gringo brands are NorthFace or LLBean. Also, Chileans usually carry their backpacks on one shoulder or out in front, while some gringos are still so naive that they carry them on both shoulders. In fact, on the way to the metro this afternoon I saw a whole group of them (probably exchange students) come out of the metro with their NorthFace backpacks on both shoulders.
After that comes a trickier one: clothes. Apart from the groups of older tourists who flock the city with their safari hats and cargo shorts, there is some typical gringo apparel. For example, hooded sweatshirts, especially if they have the name of a university on them, are a dead giveaway. Also, I have a pair of shorts I call my "gringo shorts"...they are khaki and come down to my knee. I used to think that ribbed tank tops were pretty gringa, but I've seen a lot of them lately, both in the stores and on Chilenas. Chilean men usually don't wear shorts unless they're relaxing around the house or at the beach, so shorts on a man walking down the street usually means gringo.
Anyone else have ideas about how to spot gringos in Santiago? Or maybe I'm the only one who finds this entertaining...
Full disclosure: I wear Reef flip flops and as I mentioned have gringo shorts and Birkenstocks, so please don't take offense to my comments if you are a gringo. Maybe someday you will gringo spot me!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Rhetorical Thoughts on the Micro Ride Home
Why isn't there more consistency in the placement of the orange buttons that tell the micro driver you want to get off? I swear, on some buses there are like five of them by one door (overkill in my book) and on others there are two, one by the middle door and one by the back door.
How does the lady who sells band aids in the Tobalaba metro station earn a living?
Where do the helados come from that they sell on the micros? How is it that they only cost 32 cents?
What would it be like to drive the metro?
Do thieves practice before they go out and rob someone?
How does the lady who sells band aids in the Tobalaba metro station earn a living?
Where do the helados come from that they sell on the micros? How is it that they only cost 32 cents?
What would it be like to drive the metro?
Do thieves practice before they go out and rob someone?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Writer's Block
I've opened up this "create a post" window approximately 10 times today. Usually when I have some kind of work to do, I can successfully procrastinate by writing a blog entry.
Not today.
It's not that nothing exciting has happened, it's just that I don't feel like writing about it.
Although I guess today I've been in my room all day writing a paper and planning a lesson. Not too thrilling.
Yesterday I went to Parque Arauco and bought a bathing suit. I found out that Chilean two-pieces are too small for me unless I got an XL (and hello, there are bigger people than me...how do they find bathing suits?) so I had to get a one-piece, but it actually looks really good. I also bought two shirts, only to get home and realize that I bought one color in L and the other in XL. It's weird though, because I tried them both on and they fit the same. So I held them up to each other today and they are definitely different sizes.
Now I'm listening to Guns N' Roses and planning my last lesson for my TEFL class! Woo!
Sorry, this post was really lame. But I had to get over this writer's block somehow! More interesting posts to follow soon so get ready....
Not today.
It's not that nothing exciting has happened, it's just that I don't feel like writing about it.
Although I guess today I've been in my room all day writing a paper and planning a lesson. Not too thrilling.
Yesterday I went to Parque Arauco and bought a bathing suit. I found out that Chilean two-pieces are too small for me unless I got an XL (and hello, there are bigger people than me...how do they find bathing suits?) so I had to get a one-piece, but it actually looks really good. I also bought two shirts, only to get home and realize that I bought one color in L and the other in XL. It's weird though, because I tried them both on and they fit the same. So I held them up to each other today and they are definitely different sizes.
Now I'm listening to Guns N' Roses and planning my last lesson for my TEFL class! Woo!
Sorry, this post was really lame. But I had to get over this writer's block somehow! More interesting posts to follow soon so get ready....
Friday, January 23, 2009
A rare occurance
Today I was coming home from class on the metro and a woman asked me if the train we were on went towards Salvador. Someone asking me for directions is not the rare part. This happens all the time despite the fact that I look pretty foreign. Luckily for whoever is asking I am good at maps and directions so I can usually answer them if they choose to listen after first hearing my "thick" gringa accent. But I digress. I told the woman that yes, this train passed the Salvador station, and that in fact I got off there so I would tell her. She thanked me and then commented about how she only rides on Linea 4 and how Linea 1 confuses her. I shared that I only ride on Linea 1 usually and that Linea 4 confused me. We laughed. Then she asked where I was from, I told her the US. She said she had family in New York, I told her I lived near there. It was a very nice, casual conversation with a stranger.
And then I got home and realized she had stolen all of my money.
Just kidding! Haha. That's what's so rare about this whole encounter. Usually when someone is friendly to me in Santiago I think the worst: either they're going to swindle me or they want to find a gringa girlfriend to sponsor their trip to the US. But this lady was just genuinely friendly and it made my day. When we got off the train she even gave me a kiss to say goodbye.
When I'm pissed off at the Santiaguinos, I'll just have to remember this incident and realize that there are some gems out there in this cement jungle.
And then I got home and realized she had stolen all of my money.
Just kidding! Haha. That's what's so rare about this whole encounter. Usually when someone is friendly to me in Santiago I think the worst: either they're going to swindle me or they want to find a gringa girlfriend to sponsor their trip to the US. But this lady was just genuinely friendly and it made my day. When we got off the train she even gave me a kiss to say goodbye.
When I'm pissed off at the Santiaguinos, I'll just have to remember this incident and realize that there are some gems out there in this cement jungle.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Un par de Guatones
While here in Chile, I think I generally eat healthier than in the US. I eat three meals a day with one snack. I hardly eat cookies or chips, I occasionally grab some ice cream at Bravissimo or for 200 pesos on the micro ride home. Now that J. is living here and is a vegetarian, I've been eating more vegetables and less meat. This time around I've also been trying to eat a real meal at night instead of just bread and avocado, despite how much I LOVE once.
That being said, F. and I are little pigs when we get together. He introduced me to a little place to eat called "Donde el Guaton" on Bustamante near metro Irarrazabal. The churrasco italiano (very thinly sliced beef with tomatoes, avocado and mayo) is to die for. And what's even better, it comes on bread the size of a small cake. No, make that a normal sized cake. Here's a picture. (Well, I think this is a lomo italiano, but you get the idea.)
But here's the best part. This cake-sized sandwich (appropriately called the Guaton),can easily feed 3-4 people and only costs $3800 pesos!!! In fact, two normal sized sandwiches (also available there) would put you back $5800.
Donde el Guaton is open until 2 am on weekdays and until really late (or early, depending how you look at it) on weekends.
Today F. and I went but they were out of the huge bread to make the Guaton. I was really sad, but we ordered completos italianos (hot dogs with avocado, mayo and tomatoes) instead which also happen to be gigantic and only cost $1100 each.
I just realized that this post kind of sounds like they're paying me to write it. But I swear they aren't. It's just that good.
That being said, F. and I are little pigs when we get together. He introduced me to a little place to eat called "Donde el Guaton" on Bustamante near metro Irarrazabal. The churrasco italiano (very thinly sliced beef with tomatoes, avocado and mayo) is to die for. And what's even better, it comes on bread the size of a small cake. No, make that a normal sized cake. Here's a picture. (Well, I think this is a lomo italiano, but you get the idea.)
But here's the best part. This cake-sized sandwich (appropriately called the Guaton),can easily feed 3-4 people and only costs $3800 pesos!!! In fact, two normal sized sandwiches (also available there) would put you back $5800.
Donde el Guaton is open until 2 am on weekdays and until really late (or early, depending how you look at it) on weekends.
Today F. and I went but they were out of the huge bread to make the Guaton. I was really sad, but we ordered completos italianos (hot dogs with avocado, mayo and tomatoes) instead which also happen to be gigantic and only cost $1100 each.
I just realized that this post kind of sounds like they're paying me to write it. But I swear they aren't. It's just that good.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Obligatory Inauguration Post
I hope when I grow old and have children the don't ask me, "Mommy, what was Barack Obama's inauguration like?" Because I will have to answer, "I don't know honey. I couldn't watch because I was in class, then on the metro and then in a micro and then teaching a one-to-one lesson for my TEFL certification course."
Oops. It's not that I didn't remember that today was the inauguration. It's just that I didn't really take the time to check when exactly it was, or think about the time difference between here and the US.
I understand that President Obama's inauguration is historical. He's the first black president, he's assuming office after 8 years of Bush's failed policies, he ran an historic campaign, yaddah yaddah yaddah.
But what is more important to me is his performance now that's he's in office. Yes, the pomp and circumstance is nice and fun, but when it comes down to it, the US is in the middle of one of the biggest economic crises EVER, so it seems a little silly to be spending all this time, energy and money for a party. I guess I'm a little cynical, huh? Maybe if I had invested more time and energy myself into getting Obama elected I would feel differently. But being from one of the bluest states in the union, it honestly did not matter whether or not I even placed my vote that day. (Okay, now it's confirmed. I'm cynical).
Anyway, the point is, of course I'm happy that Obama is president and not McCain. I believe that he will make a positive difference for our nation. I'm just more interested in watching how he performs throughout his four years as president than a parade on TV.
Call me an aguasfiestas, but that's how I feel.
Oops. It's not that I didn't remember that today was the inauguration. It's just that I didn't really take the time to check when exactly it was, or think about the time difference between here and the US.
I understand that President Obama's inauguration is historical. He's the first black president, he's assuming office after 8 years of Bush's failed policies, he ran an historic campaign, yaddah yaddah yaddah.
But what is more important to me is his performance now that's he's in office. Yes, the pomp and circumstance is nice and fun, but when it comes down to it, the US is in the middle of one of the biggest economic crises EVER, so it seems a little silly to be spending all this time, energy and money for a party. I guess I'm a little cynical, huh? Maybe if I had invested more time and energy myself into getting Obama elected I would feel differently. But being from one of the bluest states in the union, it honestly did not matter whether or not I even placed my vote that day. (Okay, now it's confirmed. I'm cynical).
Anyway, the point is, of course I'm happy that Obama is president and not McCain. I believe that he will make a positive difference for our nation. I'm just more interested in watching how he performs throughout his four years as president than a parade on TV.
Call me an aguasfiestas, but that's how I feel.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Bad mood
I'm tired and grumpy. It's really hot today. I turned on the air conditioner when I got home but then I felt guilty for having it on for a long time (about 1/2 hour) so I shut it off and took a very hot and sweaty nap. I woke up because J. was screaming about something on the phone. I'm hungry, but don't feel like eating anything because it's too hot.
I have a lot of work to do. I just wasted a good 15 minutes searching for how to insert a stupid bullet point in Word 2007. Then consequently I spent 5 minutes searching for the Help function in Word 2007. I finally found the bullet but not Help. Gah! I need to finish planning my one-one lesson and then finish planning my practice lesson for Wednesday. We just found out today that we're getting two more students. We evaluated them today and one is upper-elementary and the other is upper-intermediate. That's a huge difference, so now all of our lesson plans have to reflect that.
I can't wait for February but I'm starting to freak out about where to stay in La Serena.
Ita just brought me some fruit but one of the clementines was rotten so now I'm afraid to eat the rest.
I'm really craving some toast with peanut butter or some chips and salsa. I can't wait to be able to cook my own food!
I have a lot of work to do. I just wasted a good 15 minutes searching for how to insert a stupid bullet point in Word 2007. Then consequently I spent 5 minutes searching for the Help function in Word 2007. I finally found the bullet but not Help. Gah! I need to finish planning my one-one lesson and then finish planning my practice lesson for Wednesday. We just found out today that we're getting two more students. We evaluated them today and one is upper-elementary and the other is upper-intermediate. That's a huge difference, so now all of our lesson plans have to reflect that.
I can't wait for February but I'm starting to freak out about where to stay in La Serena.
Ita just brought me some fruit but one of the clementines was rotten so now I'm afraid to eat the rest.
I'm really craving some toast with peanut butter or some chips and salsa. I can't wait to be able to cook my own food!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Musings at the Mall
In Vermont we don't have nice malls. The mall closest to where I live is really crappy. It's barely even a mall. I hated going there because it made me depressed. I don't know why...probably because it's small (minuscule)and it smells funny and the lighting is bad and they play really bad musak. There are bigger malls in Burlington, but even so, they are pretty small and only slightly less depressing.
That's why for me Chilean malls are so impressive. Yesterday I went to Florida Center, which supposedly isn't as nice as Parque Arauco or Alto Los Condes. But still, it's enormous, with three floors, three huge department stores, a Jumbo (the closest thing to Wal-Mart that Chile had before Wal-Mart bought Lider), an Easy (think Home Depot), and at least a hundred other small stores. It also has two food courts and a play area for kids with blow-up bouncy toys.
And yesterday, everyone and their mother was there.
I don't really like shopping that much. I don't mind going with someone else who needs to buy something, but I don't like buying things myself because 1) it means I have to spend money and 2) I hate making decisions. But yesterday I desperately needed to buy a backpack and some folders so I trudged over to the mall. I went to Florida Center because it is right off the metro and even has a handy little walk way that connects the metro station to the mall.
After buying my things, I walked around a little bit, people watching. I noticed that the majority of people weren't really buying that much. Maybe they had an ice cream cone, or some bags from Paris or Ripley (both of which are having huge sales right now). Nearer to the Jumbo, of course people had bags full of groceries. I would occasionally see a bag from Zara or Fes or Casa y Ideas. What I don't understand though, is how the hundreds of other stores survive! I mean honestly, who can afford to buy stuff from Columbia or Ralph Lauren or any other up-scale gringo retailer? I didn't go into any of those stores this time mostly because they were empty and I wanted to avoid the awkward situation of leaving without buying anything. So that means I don't exactly know how much things cost, but I'm 99.9% sure that they are super expensive.
Another puzzling thing is that Florida Center is located (logically) in La Florida. La Florida is a solid middle-working class neighborhood (in fact, it is one of the more diverse comunas in Santiago in terms of socio-economic status)but it is not by any means Providencia, Las Condes or even Ñuñoa, which are all upper class comunas. Also, as I mentioned, Florida Center is right near a metro, while Parque Aracuo and Alto Las Condes are most easily accessed by car. Wouldn't it be logical to think that people with less means shop at Florida Center, given it's location and ease of access? Then WHY oh WHY all the cuico stores?
Maybe someday I'll be able to go shopping without thinking about socio-economic conditions, but for now I'll just be puzzled.
That's why for me Chilean malls are so impressive. Yesterday I went to Florida Center, which supposedly isn't as nice as Parque Arauco or Alto Los Condes. But still, it's enormous, with three floors, three huge department stores, a Jumbo (the closest thing to Wal-Mart that Chile had before Wal-Mart bought Lider), an Easy (think Home Depot), and at least a hundred other small stores. It also has two food courts and a play area for kids with blow-up bouncy toys.
And yesterday, everyone and their mother was there.
I don't really like shopping that much. I don't mind going with someone else who needs to buy something, but I don't like buying things myself because 1) it means I have to spend money and 2) I hate making decisions. But yesterday I desperately needed to buy a backpack and some folders so I trudged over to the mall. I went to Florida Center because it is right off the metro and even has a handy little walk way that connects the metro station to the mall.
After buying my things, I walked around a little bit, people watching. I noticed that the majority of people weren't really buying that much. Maybe they had an ice cream cone, or some bags from Paris or Ripley (both of which are having huge sales right now). Nearer to the Jumbo, of course people had bags full of groceries. I would occasionally see a bag from Zara or Fes or Casa y Ideas. What I don't understand though, is how the hundreds of other stores survive! I mean honestly, who can afford to buy stuff from Columbia or Ralph Lauren or any other up-scale gringo retailer? I didn't go into any of those stores this time mostly because they were empty and I wanted to avoid the awkward situation of leaving without buying anything. So that means I don't exactly know how much things cost, but I'm 99.9% sure that they are super expensive.
Another puzzling thing is that Florida Center is located (logically) in La Florida. La Florida is a solid middle-working class neighborhood (in fact, it is one of the more diverse comunas in Santiago in terms of socio-economic status)but it is not by any means Providencia, Las Condes or even Ñuñoa, which are all upper class comunas. Also, as I mentioned, Florida Center is right near a metro, while Parque Aracuo and Alto Las Condes are most easily accessed by car. Wouldn't it be logical to think that people with less means shop at Florida Center, given it's location and ease of access? Then WHY oh WHY all the cuico stores?
Maybe someday I'll be able to go shopping without thinking about socio-economic conditions, but for now I'll just be puzzled.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Where's the company store when I need it?
Yesterday it hurt my soul to have to go to the pharmacy and buy this for almost $3:
I tried my hardest to take a picture of the minuscule "Marca de Unilever" on the back of the bottle, but my camera is stinky and doesn't like taking up-close pictures.
I purposefully bought Shampoo that was not Unliver because I couldn't fathom paying $3.50 for a bottle that I would have paid $1.00 for.
But at least my hair smells good.
I tried my hardest to take a picture of the minuscule "Marca de Unilever" on the back of the bottle, but my camera is stinky and doesn't like taking up-close pictures.
I purposefully bought Shampoo that was not Unliver because I couldn't fathom paying $3.50 for a bottle that I would have paid $1.00 for.
But at least my hair smells good.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Where am I?
Last night I freaked out. I think I've mentioned before that usually I have very vivid dreams. It's a good sign that I've started to dream this way because it means I have finally settled in here and am getting good sleep. However, one of my dreams made me really panicky last night.
In my dream, I had gone back to the US after being in Chile for only 4 months. I was talking with lots of friends and family who were happy to see me when all of a sudden one friend asked, "Abby, why did you come back after only four months?" I realized that I couldn't answer that question. Then I realized that I didn't want to be back in the US yet. I started calling friends here in Chile and saying "I'm sorry I left so soon! I'm coming back. I didn't mean to leave! I swear!"
Then I went and talked to my Mom and she handed me a bunch of Chilean money. She said "Here's your rebate for coming home early." Then I said, "But Mom, I want to go back! I didn't mean to leave early." But by that time the flights back to Chile were too expensive because apparently I only had the money my Mom had just given me which was around 7.000 pesos.
Then I woke up and I thought I was back at home. I jumped out of bed and looked around and realized I was still here. I was so relieved.
By the way, Kyle recently had a similar experience, although our sentiments were reversed.
------
On a completely different topic, has anyone noticed how they ALWAYS announce the station "Manuel Montt" on the metro? I don't get it. It's not a combination or anything. They almost never announce Pedro de Valdivia or Los Leones or Salvador, but without fail, every metro I've ridden on has announced Manuel Mont. I wonder if it's some sort of metro driver's code that we'll never understand. Or maybe it's just fun to say "Manuel Montt."
In my dream, I had gone back to the US after being in Chile for only 4 months. I was talking with lots of friends and family who were happy to see me when all of a sudden one friend asked, "Abby, why did you come back after only four months?" I realized that I couldn't answer that question. Then I realized that I didn't want to be back in the US yet. I started calling friends here in Chile and saying "I'm sorry I left so soon! I'm coming back. I didn't mean to leave! I swear!"
Then I went and talked to my Mom and she handed me a bunch of Chilean money. She said "Here's your rebate for coming home early." Then I said, "But Mom, I want to go back! I didn't mean to leave early." But by that time the flights back to Chile were too expensive because apparently I only had the money my Mom had just given me which was around 7.000 pesos.
Then I woke up and I thought I was back at home. I jumped out of bed and looked around and realized I was still here. I was so relieved.
By the way, Kyle recently had a similar experience, although our sentiments were reversed.
------
On a completely different topic, has anyone noticed how they ALWAYS announce the station "Manuel Montt" on the metro? I don't get it. It's not a combination or anything. They almost never announce Pedro de Valdivia or Los Leones or Salvador, but without fail, every metro I've ridden on has announced Manuel Mont. I wonder if it's some sort of metro driver's code that we'll never understand. Or maybe it's just fun to say "Manuel Montt."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
La Casa sin Fronteras
My host parents have had 14 exchange students live with them over the years. They also have a "casita" (little house) attached to their house where many foreigners (and one Chilean) have lived. There are usually many different nationalities coming and going.
Last night we had a goodbye party for A., a Brazilian student who has been living in the casita for about six months. At her party, various countries were represented, including: Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, India and the US. Incredible, no? At one point in the night my host sister M. commented, "Weón estamos practicamente en la ONU!" (Dude, we are practically at the United Nations!)
We made many toasts, to A. obviously because she was living, to the girl from New Zealand because she's leaving soon too, to the cooks, and finally to the recently arrived. During this last toast, he only talked about the two gringo exchange students that are staying with my family and at M's house. I didn't even realize that he hadn't mentioned me. Then my other host sister said, "Y la Abby?" Everyone started to laugh and my host mom said, "But Abby spends more time here than you!"
And then I realized, I really do feel at home here, even more so than when I was studying abroad. Even though I'm technically paying rent, this family is so incredible that I usually forget that tiny detail. Things will change when I move into the casita, but I know that I will always feel comfortable coming over to the main house to hang out with my Chilean family.
Side note: M.'s sons are so incredibly cute. I wish I had had a video camera to film their "presentation" last night. They told jokes, did "magic tricks", recited poems and sang songs. I almost died because they were so adorable. When we were studying abroad, my friends and I each liked one a little more than the other. F. and I liked Cuca, while J. liked Igorcito. We called each other "Cuca's Team" and "Igor's Team." Now I don't think I can be on either team. They are both equally cute in their own ways.
Last night we had a goodbye party for A., a Brazilian student who has been living in the casita for about six months. At her party, various countries were represented, including: Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, India and the US. Incredible, no? At one point in the night my host sister M. commented, "Weón estamos practicamente en la ONU!" (Dude, we are practically at the United Nations!)
We made many toasts, to A. obviously because she was living, to the girl from New Zealand because she's leaving soon too, to the cooks, and finally to the recently arrived. During this last toast, he only talked about the two gringo exchange students that are staying with my family and at M's house. I didn't even realize that he hadn't mentioned me. Then my other host sister said, "Y la Abby?" Everyone started to laugh and my host mom said, "But Abby spends more time here than you!"
And then I realized, I really do feel at home here, even more so than when I was studying abroad. Even though I'm technically paying rent, this family is so incredible that I usually forget that tiny detail. Things will change when I move into the casita, but I know that I will always feel comfortable coming over to the main house to hang out with my Chilean family.
Side note: M.'s sons are so incredibly cute. I wish I had had a video camera to film their "presentation" last night. They told jokes, did "magic tricks", recited poems and sang songs. I almost died because they were so adorable. When we were studying abroad, my friends and I each liked one a little more than the other. F. and I liked Cuca, while J. liked Igorcito. We called each other "Cuca's Team" and "Igor's Team." Now I don't think I can be on either team. They are both equally cute in their own ways.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
*Cough cough cough cough cough*
So you know how I've been complaining about coughing, etc lately? Well the other day I realized that I'd been coughing for about three weeks. It's not just a dry cough either. I get to hack up all this yummy phlegm as well (aren't you all glad I just wrote that? Hahaha). I'm horrible about going to the doctor because usually I think I will just get better by resting and drinking lots of water. But yesterday one of the girls in my class told me, "You know, you should really see a doctor." She was probably sick of listening to me hack up a lung in the middle of class.
So in the middle of a coughing fit tonight I went down and asked my host sister (who's a doctor! how convenient!) to listen to my lungs.
Diagnosis: bronchitis.
The good thing is that I don't feel bad, that part of the sickness has already passed. Unfortunately that was the few days before I left home and while I was on the airplane. I probably made it worse by taking so many cough suppressants so I would sleep.
Anyway, now I have a diagnosis and I'm going to go to the pharmacy tomorrow morning and get all of my medicines (4 of them!). Then maybe I'll stop sounding like a pack-a-day smoker.
So in the middle of a coughing fit tonight I went down and asked my host sister (who's a doctor! how convenient!) to listen to my lungs.
Diagnosis: bronchitis.
The good thing is that I don't feel bad, that part of the sickness has already passed. Unfortunately that was the few days before I left home and while I was on the airplane. I probably made it worse by taking so many cough suppressants so I would sleep.
Anyway, now I have a diagnosis and I'm going to go to the pharmacy tomorrow morning and get all of my medicines (4 of them!). Then maybe I'll stop sounding like a pack-a-day smoker.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Working in pairs....UGH!!
Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't like to work in groups. I am pretty (very?) competitive by nature. When I'm working in a group I often have the urge just to do all the work for everyone, especially if it's a project that is graded because I want to get a good grade. In sum, I am a brat when it comes to cooperation.
For me this usually just applies to "intellectual" activities. I'm not really like this when it comes to sports because I'm not athletic, so I know I have slim to little chance of winning any sort of game or contest involving running, balls, coordination, rackets or strength. However, when it comes to thinking, solving, writing, reading, planning, etc., I get really intense.
For example, one time F. and I were playing those games they have on Skype. We decided to do a puzzle together. It was supposed to be a cooperative activity. But I of course thought it was a contest and I won because I solved more pieces that him. Oops.
So now I'm struggling with this aspect of my personality in my TEFL class. Tomorrow we have teaching practice and we're paired up with another TEFL student. We each have to give half of a lesson, or at least complimentary lessons that deal with the same grammar/lexis topic. The students we're going to teach are intermediate, but my partner wanted to start out teaching the present simple. I thought that was a little too basic, so I suggested maybe a comparison between the past simple and past continuous. So we agreed on that much. I'm just worried that since she's teaching first, that part of the lesson won't be that good and then the students will be confused when it comes to my part. I'm horrible, aren't I? I'm assuming the worst. I just wish that I could be in control of the whole lesson. When I work as an English teacher, very rarely (or never!) will I have to worry about teaching only half of a lesson. This is so silly.
I think I was absent the day in Kindergarten when they teach you how to cooperate.
For me this usually just applies to "intellectual" activities. I'm not really like this when it comes to sports because I'm not athletic, so I know I have slim to little chance of winning any sort of game or contest involving running, balls, coordination, rackets or strength. However, when it comes to thinking, solving, writing, reading, planning, etc., I get really intense.
For example, one time F. and I were playing those games they have on Skype. We decided to do a puzzle together. It was supposed to be a cooperative activity. But I of course thought it was a contest and I won because I solved more pieces that him. Oops.
So now I'm struggling with this aspect of my personality in my TEFL class. Tomorrow we have teaching practice and we're paired up with another TEFL student. We each have to give half of a lesson, or at least complimentary lessons that deal with the same grammar/lexis topic. The students we're going to teach are intermediate, but my partner wanted to start out teaching the present simple. I thought that was a little too basic, so I suggested maybe a comparison between the past simple and past continuous. So we agreed on that much. I'm just worried that since she's teaching first, that part of the lesson won't be that good and then the students will be confused when it comes to my part. I'm horrible, aren't I? I'm assuming the worst. I just wish that I could be in control of the whole lesson. When I work as an English teacher, very rarely (or never!) will I have to worry about teaching only half of a lesson. This is so silly.
I think I was absent the day in Kindergarten when they teach you how to cooperate.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
And now I'm posting twice in one day!
So here you have it blogosphere...it's either feast or famine over here at Abby's Line. To be fair, I wrote the post that I posted this morning yesterday, but the internet wasn't working so I couldn't technically post it.
Anyway, so here at my house, like in most houses/apartments here in Chile you can hear EVERYTHING the neighbors are saying. I used to get really confused because my neighbors have a son named Felipe who they also call Pipe (just like my host brother). I would hear this woman calling "Pipe!" and think it was my host mom calling my brother, so I would go to his room and say "Hey, Ita's calling you, aren't you going to respond?" and he would say, "No, silly, that's the neighbors."
So if we can hear everything the neighbors are doing, you can imagine how it is inside our own house. The new gringo exchange student arrived on Thursday and today he has been taking advantage of our good internet connection to catch up with family and friends at home. I'm really trying hard not to eavesdrop but I can hear his conversations as clear as a bell. It's funny because he's talking about my host family the same way I talked about them when I first arrived. For example, how Ita always cleans our room even if we have already cleaned it.
I purposefully haven't really told him any of the "tricks to getting along with my host family" because I feel like he should have his own unique experience here. Although there have been times when I have had to bite my tongue in order not to say, for example, "You know, J., it's a good idea that you wake up with an alarm in the morning because Ita really hates to have to drag you out of bed." Maybe I should tell him...but I don't want to lecture him either. He's a smart kid. He'll figure it out.
After a pretty busy weekend I've been enjoying just "flojeando" today (as they say here in Chile), which pretty much translates to "slacking off". I woke up at 11:00, finished my report for my TEFL class, had a nice long lunch with the fam and then took a nap. Now I'm waiting to see if my internet connection is going to hold out to be able to call home.
Anyway, so here at my house, like in most houses/apartments here in Chile you can hear EVERYTHING the neighbors are saying. I used to get really confused because my neighbors have a son named Felipe who they also call Pipe (just like my host brother). I would hear this woman calling "Pipe!" and think it was my host mom calling my brother, so I would go to his room and say "Hey, Ita's calling you, aren't you going to respond?" and he would say, "No, silly, that's the neighbors."
So if we can hear everything the neighbors are doing, you can imagine how it is inside our own house. The new gringo exchange student arrived on Thursday and today he has been taking advantage of our good internet connection to catch up with family and friends at home. I'm really trying hard not to eavesdrop but I can hear his conversations as clear as a bell. It's funny because he's talking about my host family the same way I talked about them when I first arrived. For example, how Ita always cleans our room even if we have already cleaned it.
I purposefully haven't really told him any of the "tricks to getting along with my host family" because I feel like he should have his own unique experience here. Although there have been times when I have had to bite my tongue in order not to say, for example, "You know, J., it's a good idea that you wake up with an alarm in the morning because Ita really hates to have to drag you out of bed." Maybe I should tell him...but I don't want to lecture him either. He's a smart kid. He'll figure it out.
After a pretty busy weekend I've been enjoying just "flojeando" today (as they say here in Chile), which pretty much translates to "slacking off". I woke up at 11:00, finished my report for my TEFL class, had a nice long lunch with the fam and then took a nap. Now I'm waiting to see if my internet connection is going to hold out to be able to call home.
"Oye m'jita rica!"
First of all, sorry about not posting more frequently! My internet has been really spotty. But (hopefully) they'll fix it soon.
It had to come sooner or later: a post about piropos.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
It's all coming back to me...
Before getting here, I was worried about my Spanish. I mean, not worried that I wouldn't be able to communicate, but worried that people would notice that I was rusty. (Silly, I know.) In fact, the second day I was here I had to go put money on my Chilean cell phone. I procrastinated all day, first because it was super hot out, and second because I was nervous about having to speak Spanish to the lady at the pharmacy. I feel like every time I go there, despite the effort I make to roll the first "r" in "recargar" and pronounce everything well, they make me repeat myself thousands of times. That just makes me more nervous. Ugh. Anyway, so I went and she actually understood me the first time! It gave me a huge burst of confidence.
Early this week I went back to the pharmacy to get cough syrup. She (different lady) understood me again! Yay! And she even asked me to help this other gringo who was más perdido que la cresta (really lost).
Actually, now that I think about it, I have a theory. I mean, I understand that my gringo accent is very present (just ask F.). But seriously, I speak good Spanish. So I think that as people who work at pharmacies or restaurants (or anywhere where you have to ask for what you want, i.e. practically every store here) see a foreginer approach, they think "Oh, I'm going to have trouble understanding them." Then they hear us speak and they don't even try to understand...they just ask "Qué?" and look at us like we have five heads. Or, if they can't I.D. us as foreigners from the way we look, they listen to the first word we say, think we're foreign and forget to listen to the rest.
But I digress. The point is that my Spanish is coming back in DROVES. I found myself talking to a classmate today and using vocabulary that I didn't even know I had! It was incredible. I'm also thinking in Spanish which actually makes this blog writing difficult because I keep writing little phrases in Spanish instead of English. The same thing is happening with this paper I have to write for my class.
Speaking of which, I must go finish that now!
Early this week I went back to the pharmacy to get cough syrup. She (different lady) understood me again! Yay! And she even asked me to help this other gringo who was más perdido que la cresta (really lost).
Actually, now that I think about it, I have a theory. I mean, I understand that my gringo accent is very present (just ask F.). But seriously, I speak good Spanish. So I think that as people who work at pharmacies or restaurants (or anywhere where you have to ask for what you want, i.e. practically every store here) see a foreginer approach, they think "Oh, I'm going to have trouble understanding them." Then they hear us speak and they don't even try to understand...they just ask "Qué?" and look at us like we have five heads. Or, if they can't I.D. us as foreigners from the way we look, they listen to the first word we say, think we're foreign and forget to listen to the rest.
But I digress. The point is that my Spanish is coming back in DROVES. I found myself talking to a classmate today and using vocabulary that I didn't even know I had! It was incredible. I'm also thinking in Spanish which actually makes this blog writing difficult because I keep writing little phrases in Spanish instead of English. The same thing is happening with this paper I have to write for my class.
Speaking of which, I must go finish that now!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Random musings while I procrastinate
After seven months of doing "nothing" I am NOT used to doing any kind of academic work. We have to write up a journal-thingy for Monday describing our French classes (yes, they're teaching us French so that we know what it's like to be a foreign language learner). I have been working on one part of it that should have taken me about half an hour to do since 6:30. It's now 9:00.
I'm kind of hungry. The neighbors are having an asado (BBQ) and it smells delish. This is a rare occurrence that I'm ever hungry here because as I've blogged about before, my host mom loves to feed me. On Sunday as we were leaving the house for lunch, she told F. "Fill her up with food!" Her number one worry in life is whether I've had lunch or not. But now I feel awkward because I haven't had once (the night time meal) yet and I'm not used to having to go ask her for food. Usually it is copiously awarded to me without even asking.
I am really trying to help out around the house. I feel awkward being waited on all the time and I honestly don't mind washing dishes and making my bed. She is always telling me not to worry, to just leave it and she'll do it later. Sometimes I give in, but lately I've been insisting that I can wash my own dishes or make my own breakfast. I try to get into the kitchen when she's not there and quickly wash whatever is in the sink. Then she scolds me for being sneaky, but I think deep down she appreciates it.
Not much else to report Chile-wise. It's still hot (in case you were wondering). This week will be pretty calm for me work wise, but the next weeks will be filled as I start having to plan lessons every other day! I'm kind of freaking out about that but I'm sure once I get some practice it will be a piece of cake.
Oh! I just started to smell bread toasting. That means it's time for once.
I'm kind of hungry. The neighbors are having an asado (BBQ) and it smells delish. This is a rare occurrence that I'm ever hungry here because as I've blogged about before, my host mom loves to feed me. On Sunday as we were leaving the house for lunch, she told F. "Fill her up with food!" Her number one worry in life is whether I've had lunch or not. But now I feel awkward because I haven't had once (the night time meal) yet and I'm not used to having to go ask her for food. Usually it is copiously awarded to me without even asking.
I am really trying to help out around the house. I feel awkward being waited on all the time and I honestly don't mind washing dishes and making my bed. She is always telling me not to worry, to just leave it and she'll do it later. Sometimes I give in, but lately I've been insisting that I can wash my own dishes or make my own breakfast. I try to get into the kitchen when she's not there and quickly wash whatever is in the sink. Then she scolds me for being sneaky, but I think deep down she appreciates it.
Not much else to report Chile-wise. It's still hot (in case you were wondering). This week will be pretty calm for me work wise, but the next weeks will be filled as I start having to plan lessons every other day! I'm kind of freaking out about that but I'm sure once I get some practice it will be a piece of cake.
Oh! I just started to smell bread toasting. That means it's time for once.
Monday, January 5, 2009
I'm a little jumpy right now...
Today I had my first day of class for my TEFL-Certification. It went well. There are only four of us in the class and the teacher seems really great so far. I have my first teaching practice next Monday! Scary!
Anyway, what I really wanted to write about happened on my way home from class, which is near metro Tobalaba, for all of you familiar. I had to go buy an adapter thing for my computer because my old one only worked to charge the battery when the computer was turned off, which was slightly inconvient. But I digress. The point is, I ended up walking down 11 de Septiembre (a street) to get to the store, and ended up between two metro stations, so decided to take a micro (bus) instead. I saw an empty seat, so I thought I'd sit down but for some reason decided against it. I was standing against the wall, minding my own business. We had been stopped for awhile waiting for people to get on, but the micro driver forgot to shut the back door (it was one of those super long micros). All of a sudden, I see a flash out of the corner of my eye and this young guy goes running out of the micro. He had grabbed the purse from a lady who was sitting IN THE SEAT I WAS GOING TO SIT IN. I got totally shaken up, and I felt so bad for her as she started to cry. At the same time, I clutched my bag even tighter.
Unfortunately, this is a common occurence in Santiago. I have been on micros before where some kind soul (suprise! they do exist in Santiago) has told me not to go to the back of the bus because someone is back there pickpocketing. When I went to Valparaiso once, a group of teenage guys stole my friend's purse right off her lap (she was even being super cautious and had the strap wrapped around her wrist, but they were so strong it broke.) I've even been robbed before, but it was a pick-pocketing in Chiloe and I didn't realize until afterward when I went to take out my wallet and it wasn't in my purse. Somehow when you see the face of the person who has just stolen from you it's worse.
This, however, was the first time I had actually witnessed someone being ripped off in Santiago. After I got off the bus, I saw this guy and I thought he was coming at me to take my stuff (even though I had a death grip on it) but really he was just getting out of the way of someone else. It makes me not want to trust people, which I don't like.
I'm already really cautious with my things, but this incident will make me even more so.
P.S. Family, don't freak out! I'm fine. Really.
Anyway, what I really wanted to write about happened on my way home from class, which is near metro Tobalaba, for all of you familiar. I had to go buy an adapter thing for my computer because my old one only worked to charge the battery when the computer was turned off, which was slightly inconvient. But I digress. The point is, I ended up walking down 11 de Septiembre (a street) to get to the store, and ended up between two metro stations, so decided to take a micro (bus) instead. I saw an empty seat, so I thought I'd sit down but for some reason decided against it. I was standing against the wall, minding my own business. We had been stopped for awhile waiting for people to get on, but the micro driver forgot to shut the back door (it was one of those super long micros). All of a sudden, I see a flash out of the corner of my eye and this young guy goes running out of the micro. He had grabbed the purse from a lady who was sitting IN THE SEAT I WAS GOING TO SIT IN. I got totally shaken up, and I felt so bad for her as she started to cry. At the same time, I clutched my bag even tighter.
Unfortunately, this is a common occurence in Santiago. I have been on micros before where some kind soul (suprise! they do exist in Santiago) has told me not to go to the back of the bus because someone is back there pickpocketing. When I went to Valparaiso once, a group of teenage guys stole my friend's purse right off her lap (she was even being super cautious and had the strap wrapped around her wrist, but they were so strong it broke.) I've even been robbed before, but it was a pick-pocketing in Chiloe and I didn't realize until afterward when I went to take out my wallet and it wasn't in my purse. Somehow when you see the face of the person who has just stolen from you it's worse.
This, however, was the first time I had actually witnessed someone being ripped off in Santiago. After I got off the bus, I saw this guy and I thought he was coming at me to take my stuff (even though I had a death grip on it) but really he was just getting out of the way of someone else. It makes me not want to trust people, which I don't like.
I'm already really cautious with my things, but this incident will make me even more so.
P.S. Family, don't freak out! I'm fine. Really.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Things to get used to:
- The Chilean schedule. I have no problem sleeping late, but the whole staying up late is really going to take some getting used to. Tonight I was hanging out with some friends and almost falling asleep at around 1:30 am. Then one friend asked me to go to his bar with him and I said no I was too tired and he made fun of me. (And now I'm here writing this post instead of sleeping, but I really am tired. I just felt like writing this before I forgot everything.)
- All the NOISE. Lydia just posted about this and she's so right. It's noisy here. I'm used to living in the middle of nowhere and having the loudest thing being the coyotes occasionally howling at night and my dad letting the dogs out in the morning. And now I have traffic, music, the neighbor kids yelling and screaming (at 1:30 in the morning I may add) and people walking by out on the street. Plus it's so hot right now that I have no choice but to leave the windows open. Noise or boil to death? Noise please. E.T.A: I forgot a lot of noises, but quickly remembered them this morning as I attempted to sleep past 9:30. DOGS BARKING! CHURCH BELLS RINGING! BIRDS CHIRPING! CATS FIGHTING! Ahh..the list goes on and on.
- People commenting openly about my physical appearance. Luckily, it has all been positive so far (everyone thinks I'm skinnier and my host dad thinks I got taller...doubtful but nice of him to say). I didn't even realize I had lost weight, but apparently I have. I wonder if I had gained 40 pounds whether they would tell me "Oh my, you're fatter." Probably.
- Saludar-ing everyone (greeting everyone). I'm sorry, but if there is a room full of people I don't know and probably will never see again in my life, I really don't want to go kiss them all on the cheek. I guess I'm just lazy. Apart from that, I do love the custom of kissing everyone on the cheek instead of frigidly shaking hands. I just wish I didn't have to do it to huge groups of people.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Estoy Aquí!
I arrived, safe and sound!
It's really hot here. I figured out that I went from around 15 to 90 degrees F. That's a HUGE shock. But let me tell you, it's really nice to walk around in flip flops and shorts.
My flight was very long, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. On the flight from Boston to Toronto I sat next to a woman who slept the whole time. On the flight from Toronto to Santiago (10.5 hours, in case any of you weren't familiar) I sat next to Judy, who is from Michigan and going on a cruise and didn't sleep at all. Instead she watched the movies that AirCanada so nicely provided for us on fast forward. Weird, but whatever. I tried to sleep but I had to pee FIVE TIMES. And I had the window seat so poor Judy had to get up every time. Maybe that's why she didn't sleep...
There was a huge long line at immigrations but they let me go in the "Chileans Only" line so it was a little faster. When I got to claim my bags there were crowds of people standing around baggage carousel 1 cheering and whistling. At first I thought there was some sort of performance going on, but then I realized that in Chile, whistling is pretty much equal to booing and concluded that they must have been waiting a very long time for their baggage and got fed up.
Then as I got through customs F. was there waiting for me!!! It was the perfect ending to a REALLY long trip. As some of you know, I've been sick the past few days with a chest cold and therefore the trip really took a lot out of me, but I've since slept and feel a little more recuperated. I'm going to rest up tonight (as in go to bed after I finish writing this) and then tomorrow night I'll have fun.
I'm too tired right now to fully comprehend that I'm really here, and even less so to try to digest how it feels to be back in Santiago. I'll leave that for another day.
It's really hot here. I figured out that I went from around 15 to 90 degrees F. That's a HUGE shock. But let me tell you, it's really nice to walk around in flip flops and shorts.
My flight was very long, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. On the flight from Boston to Toronto I sat next to a woman who slept the whole time. On the flight from Toronto to Santiago (10.5 hours, in case any of you weren't familiar) I sat next to Judy, who is from Michigan and going on a cruise and didn't sleep at all. Instead she watched the movies that AirCanada so nicely provided for us on fast forward. Weird, but whatever. I tried to sleep but I had to pee FIVE TIMES. And I had the window seat so poor Judy had to get up every time. Maybe that's why she didn't sleep...
There was a huge long line at immigrations but they let me go in the "Chileans Only" line so it was a little faster. When I got to claim my bags there were crowds of people standing around baggage carousel 1 cheering and whistling. At first I thought there was some sort of performance going on, but then I realized that in Chile, whistling is pretty much equal to booing and concluded that they must have been waiting a very long time for their baggage and got fed up.
Then as I got through customs F. was there waiting for me!!! It was the perfect ending to a REALLY long trip. As some of you know, I've been sick the past few days with a chest cold and therefore the trip really took a lot out of me, but I've since slept and feel a little more recuperated. I'm going to rest up tonight (as in go to bed after I finish writing this) and then tomorrow night I'll have fun.
I'm too tired right now to fully comprehend that I'm really here, and even less so to try to digest how it feels to be back in Santiago. I'll leave that for another day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)