Maybe it's because I just got back from a carrete, maybe it's because I'm a budding English teacher that has to deal with false cognates, but I found this freaking hilarious. Hope you do to!
www.marriedtothesea.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thought this was funny...
I read Married to the Sea every day, but have never found something SO funny as to post it here.
Maybe it's because I just got back from a carrete, maybe it's because I'm a budding English teacher that has to deal with false cognates, but I found this freaking hilarious. Hope you do to!
www.marriedtothesea.com
Maybe it's because I just got back from a carrete, maybe it's because I'm a budding English teacher that has to deal with false cognates, but I found this freaking hilarious. Hope you do to!
www.marriedtothesea.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
Decisions, Decisions
I hate making decisions. I think this stems from insecurity. I'm afraid that my decision won't be the best one, or that whoever I'm making the decision with won't like what I've decided.
Right now I have to make two very difficult decisions, one to do with my personal life and one to do with my professional life.
I really wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me which option is better.
For the professional decision, I would really like to make a list of pros and cons. But the problem is, I am lacking A LOT of information about one of the options, and the person who can give me this information is on vacation until Monday. And she's a very scatter-brained and busy person who will probably not answer her phone or her e-mail. I'm going to have to insist that she does, or just not take that option I guess, even though the compensation is quite a bit higher than option number two.
Regarding my personal life decision, I think I'm pretty much decided. It's probably one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made in my life, but I think it's the right one. Hopefully all those involved will understand.
Sorry to be so vague. But this is the internet.
Right now I have to make two very difficult decisions, one to do with my personal life and one to do with my professional life.
I really wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me which option is better.
For the professional decision, I would really like to make a list of pros and cons. But the problem is, I am lacking A LOT of information about one of the options, and the person who can give me this information is on vacation until Monday. And she's a very scatter-brained and busy person who will probably not answer her phone or her e-mail. I'm going to have to insist that she does, or just not take that option I guess, even though the compensation is quite a bit higher than option number two.
Regarding my personal life decision, I think I'm pretty much decided. It's probably one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made in my life, but I think it's the right one. Hopefully all those involved will understand.
Sorry to be so vague. But this is the internet.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Cooking in Chile
In the US, I liked to cook. I didn't love it, but I did like it. I'm realizing that one of the reasons I liked it was because I didn't have to buy the food. Well, I actually went grocery shopping quite often for my parents, but it was always with their debit card. I was always a bargain hunter though. One time I saved $21 on a bill of around $80 (Yay Shaws cards!).
And there was always a good variety of food in my house. I was often in charge of making dinner, and I would simply open the freezer and have three to four options. We sometimes planned meals and then went shopping specifically for those ingredients, but a lot of the times I would just buy the basics and then think of a meal to make.
Here, it's totally different. First of all, it's my hard earned money that I'm spending to buy food, so I'm even MORE of a bargain hunter. In the states I would buy the cheapest option, but would almost always buy it. Here, if even the cheapest option isn't cheap enough, I won't buy it. Second of all, the variety is almost non-existent. The closest grocery store to me is a little Ekono, which is good if you need to pop in to buy bread or juice or even a bottle of wine. Also, everything is really cheap. But they have NO variety. To get that, I have to go to either the Unimarc, which has okay variety, or the HiperLider, which is about a 10 minute micro ride away. Carrying tons of groceries home on the micro isn't fun, and I refuse to take a taxi.
This means that I have to carefully plan my meals and my shopping trips. I haven't yet done this really, and so I've been living off what I can get at Ekono. I'm already sick of spaghetti and tuna so I need to start planning. Anyone have any favorite meal suggestions?
Oh, I almost forgot to add...I don't have an oven. So everything must be stove top or microwave friendly.
And there was always a good variety of food in my house. I was often in charge of making dinner, and I would simply open the freezer and have three to four options. We sometimes planned meals and then went shopping specifically for those ingredients, but a lot of the times I would just buy the basics and then think of a meal to make.
Here, it's totally different. First of all, it's my hard earned money that I'm spending to buy food, so I'm even MORE of a bargain hunter. In the states I would buy the cheapest option, but would almost always buy it. Here, if even the cheapest option isn't cheap enough, I won't buy it. Second of all, the variety is almost non-existent. The closest grocery store to me is a little Ekono, which is good if you need to pop in to buy bread or juice or even a bottle of wine. Also, everything is really cheap. But they have NO variety. To get that, I have to go to either the Unimarc, which has okay variety, or the HiperLider, which is about a 10 minute micro ride away. Carrying tons of groceries home on the micro isn't fun, and I refuse to take a taxi.
This means that I have to carefully plan my meals and my shopping trips. I haven't yet done this really, and so I've been living off what I can get at Ekono. I'm already sick of spaghetti and tuna so I need to start planning. Anyone have any favorite meal suggestions?
Oh, I almost forgot to add...I don't have an oven. So everything must be stove top or microwave friendly.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Pesado
I have always thought that in Chilean Spanish, "pesado" roughly translated to "mean". As in, "No seas pesado." = "Don't be mean." But mean in a bratty way, not a cruel way. Maybe "bratty" would be a better translation. But I think that "bratty" is sometimes too light for the word "pesado." (Haha, that was an unintentional pun).
Is that how you all understand the word? Because tonight a certain chileno made me think that perhaps I have been mis-interpreting this word for the past two years.
Is that how you all understand the word? Because tonight a certain chileno made me think that perhaps I have been mis-interpreting this word for the past two years.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
I want to cry
Before I left for vacation, I found myself with a large quantity of milk and eggs that I could not finish. I knew that the Germans who have been on and off living in the casita were going to return, so I left them a note telling them to help themselves to the eggs and milk and whatever food they found.
I should have been more specific.
I just realized they ate all my maple syrup. ALL OF IT!
Either that or the woman who was taking care of the house took it.
But it's gone.
And now I'm eating oatmeal with white sugar and milk and it does not taste as good.
Does anyone want to send me a care package with maple syurp? I promised Jessica that we would make pancakes.
I should have been more specific.
I just realized they ate all my maple syrup. ALL OF IT!
Either that or the woman who was taking care of the house took it.
But it's gone.
And now I'm eating oatmeal with white sugar and milk and it does not taste as good.
Does anyone want to send me a care package with maple syurp? I promised Jessica that we would make pancakes.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Total Relaxation, February 2009
I've been attempting to write a post about my vacation all day. For some reason, the creative juices just weren't flowing. Then I realized...I'm having trouble writing about what I did because I didn't do much of anything.
I spent eight days in La Serena, which is a city located around 6 hours north of Santiago on the coast. It is Chile's second oldest city, founded by Fransisco de Aguirre. Serena is known as the beach town, while it's neighboring city, Coquimbo, is known as the port. Kind of like Viña and Valparaiso, if you're familiar with those cities. Serena is known as being somewhat expensive, and popular with foreign tourists, especially Argentinians. However, F. and I were on a budget, and we were able to find inexpensive lodging in the city center. We stayed at a Hostel for $7.000 pesos/night. No, it wasn't right next to the beach, and we had a shared bathroom, but it was fine and only took us about 10 minutes and $350 pesos to take a micro to 4 Esquinas, one of the most popular beaches.
I spent most of my time either: sleeping, eating or lying on the beach. Not too exciting, but VERY relaxing. We also watched Jazz at the Serena Jazz Festival, went out to La Biblioteca, a bar known for its Terremotos (white wine with ice cream), visited my friend D's VERY NICE recinto privado, where she works for Cerro Tololo and took a day trip to Valle Elqui. Of course we also visited La Recova, which is a market place in the centro, as well as many other ferias artesenales (craft fairs).
I think one of the best things about Serena is the weather. Sometimes it was cloudy in the morning, but by 2:00 the sun came out and it was the perfect temperature, not hot like Santiago. At night it cooled down and it was such a nice break from the heat of the city. Right now I'm sitting in my stuffy bedroom with the fan blasting, wishing I was back in Serena.
The day trip to Valle Elqui was great. It's so beautiful there. Valle Elqui is known for pisco (hard alcohol made from grapes), papayas (not the papaya you're thinking of, something way better), Gabriela Mistral, and UFOs. We of course visited a pisquera, where they make pisco. We visited one that only makes pisco for export, and the bottles sell for around $60 in France. It was called Pisco Aba, and you can only buy it in the airport in Santiago (or in France, of course). I won't bore you with the pisco making process, mostly because our guides weren't that great (let me just say that the Ben and Jerry's factory tour is way more informative!).
The papayas that I am talking about is not the tropical fruit that is kind of orangey-pinkish and (in my opinion) gross. It is a small fruit that looks like this. And delicious. It also has many great qualities, and is even used in the medicine for some sort of disease (sorry I can't be more specific...my memory is failing me).
Gabriela Mistral was the first woman from Latin America to win the Nobel Prize for literature. She was a poet born in Montegrande, a small village in the Valle Elqui. We visited her tomb as well as the school where she was educated and the church where she was baptised.
You're probably wondering about the UFOs. Acording to Marcelo, our guide, scientists say that Valle Elqui has an unusually strong magnetic force. Esoterics believe it is because here is where "Cosmic Energy" enters the earth and then leaves through the Himalayas in Tibet. For this reason, there have been many UFO spottings here. In fact, Chile is one of the countries with the most sightings of UFOs in the world. For this reason, there are a lot of "hippies" (Marcelo's word) that inhabit the Valle and many centers of meditation, yoga and healing.
Oh, I forgot one. In addition to UFOs, you can see another thing from space pretty well in the Elqui Valley. As in the stars. Cerro Tololo is located there, and my friend D. is analyzing data colleged from that telescope. There are also a lot of observatories for tourists, but we didn't go to any of those.
So, that was my vacation. Very relaxing, kind of educational. Overall, a great time. Now I'm back in Santaigo and trying to figure out where to work. I guess it's better to have three options than zero, but it's still causing me to stress out a little!
PS. If you want to see more photos, they are on facebook.
I spent eight days in La Serena, which is a city located around 6 hours north of Santiago on the coast. It is Chile's second oldest city, founded by Fransisco de Aguirre. Serena is known as the beach town, while it's neighboring city, Coquimbo, is known as the port. Kind of like Viña and Valparaiso, if you're familiar with those cities. Serena is known as being somewhat expensive, and popular with foreign tourists, especially Argentinians. However, F. and I were on a budget, and we were able to find inexpensive lodging in the city center. We stayed at a Hostel for $7.000 pesos/night. No, it wasn't right next to the beach, and we had a shared bathroom, but it was fine and only took us about 10 minutes and $350 pesos to take a micro to 4 Esquinas, one of the most popular beaches.
I spent most of my time either: sleeping, eating or lying on the beach. Not too exciting, but VERY relaxing. We also watched Jazz at the Serena Jazz Festival, went out to La Biblioteca, a bar known for its Terremotos (white wine with ice cream), visited my friend D's VERY NICE recinto privado, where she works for Cerro Tololo and took a day trip to Valle Elqui. Of course we also visited La Recova, which is a market place in the centro, as well as many other ferias artesenales (craft fairs).
I think one of the best things about Serena is the weather. Sometimes it was cloudy in the morning, but by 2:00 the sun came out and it was the perfect temperature, not hot like Santiago. At night it cooled down and it was such a nice break from the heat of the city. Right now I'm sitting in my stuffy bedroom with the fan blasting, wishing I was back in Serena.
The day trip to Valle Elqui was great. It's so beautiful there. Valle Elqui is known for pisco (hard alcohol made from grapes), papayas (not the papaya you're thinking of, something way better), Gabriela Mistral, and UFOs. We of course visited a pisquera, where they make pisco. We visited one that only makes pisco for export, and the bottles sell for around $60 in France. It was called Pisco Aba, and you can only buy it in the airport in Santiago (or in France, of course). I won't bore you with the pisco making process, mostly because our guides weren't that great (let me just say that the Ben and Jerry's factory tour is way more informative!).
The papayas that I am talking about is not the tropical fruit that is kind of orangey-pinkish and (in my opinion) gross. It is a small fruit that looks like this. And delicious. It also has many great qualities, and is even used in the medicine for some sort of disease (sorry I can't be more specific...my memory is failing me).
Gabriela Mistral was the first woman from Latin America to win the Nobel Prize for literature. She was a poet born in Montegrande, a small village in the Valle Elqui. We visited her tomb as well as the school where she was educated and the church where she was baptised.
You're probably wondering about the UFOs. Acording to Marcelo, our guide, scientists say that Valle Elqui has an unusually strong magnetic force. Esoterics believe it is because here is where "Cosmic Energy" enters the earth and then leaves through the Himalayas in Tibet. For this reason, there have been many UFO spottings here. In fact, Chile is one of the countries with the most sightings of UFOs in the world. For this reason, there are a lot of "hippies" (Marcelo's word) that inhabit the Valle and many centers of meditation, yoga and healing.
Oh, I forgot one. In addition to UFOs, you can see another thing from space pretty well in the Elqui Valley. As in the stars. Cerro Tololo is located there, and my friend D. is analyzing data colleged from that telescope. There are also a lot of observatories for tourists, but we didn't go to any of those.
So, that was my vacation. Very relaxing, kind of educational. Overall, a great time. Now I'm back in Santaigo and trying to figure out where to work. I guess it's better to have three options than zero, but it's still causing me to stress out a little!
PS. If you want to see more photos, they are on facebook.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Vacation!
I'll be MIA for about a week or so, unless I feel really inspired by something in Serena.
Try not to feel too bad for me as I lay on the beach....;)
Try not to feel too bad for me as I lay on the beach....;)
Common sense and Milk
The other night at my house I had a few gringas over (Isabel, Shannon and Jessica were among them, plus Emily who doesn't have a blog but should get one ASAP!). One of the topics of conversation was Chileans and common sense. I myself haven't really noticed that Chileans in general lack common sense, but some gringas thought so.
However, today I was face to face with a great example. My Chilean mom's best friend has been coming to the house to take care of things while she is gone. Even though she knows that she doesn't have to do my laundry, wash my dishes or cook me lunch, she does anyway. And she buys me chocolates and other sweets (I think she's trying to fatten me up!) The other day she pointed out to me that there were two open cartons of milk in the main refridgerator, and informed me that I would need to drink them because she does not drink milk and I do.
First of all, yes, I drink milk in the US because it tastes good. I also grew up on a Dairy Farm, so it would be kind of a travesty if I didn't drink milk. Also, milk in the US doesn't come in a box and sit on a shelf unopened for months/weeks before it's put in the fridge like it does here. So no, I do not drink milk here. I put it on my cereal (when I eat ceral, which is rare), pour some into my coffee (when I drink coffee, which is rare), and use it to make scrambled eggs. Needless to say, it was going to be difficult for me to drink two cartons of milk (plus one I had in my fridge already open, making it three!) in a little under four days.
But to please her, I took the cartons of milk to my fridge and slowly started to "drink" them. As in, I made myself eat cereal in the morning (Chocapic, none the less...I feel like a 7 year old) and drink Nescafe (shudder). I also have made eggs a lot this week.
Then today, as I was taking some Chocapic from the main kitchen to eat with my milk, she comes in and says, "Look, Abby, there are three more cartons of unopened milk here in the cupboard! Open one and use it!"
WHAT??? That makes NO SENSE. Does she honestly think I've gone through three cartons of disgusting milk in four days? Does she not realize that unopened milk here in Chile can sit on the shelf for weeks without going bad? In fact, I looked at the expiration dates, and they are all in April or May.
So I told her, "Tia, I have three almost full cartons of milk in my fridge. I'm going to attempt to drink those before I leave, but probably won't be able to, so I think it's silly to open a new one."
She said, "Okay, but in case you run out, there's more down here."
GAHHHH!
Also, she is insisting on making me something new for lunch today, even though we have left over pasta, potato salad and salmon in the fridge. I told her, "Tia, I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't want this food to go bad. So I'll eat the left overs so you don't have to cook anything." She told me, "No! I want to make something fresh for you. I don't want you to have to eat left overs." Why is she so worried about milk on a shelf going bad, and not food in the fridge?
Now that just doesn't make any (common) sense.
However, today I was face to face with a great example. My Chilean mom's best friend has been coming to the house to take care of things while she is gone. Even though she knows that she doesn't have to do my laundry, wash my dishes or cook me lunch, she does anyway. And she buys me chocolates and other sweets (I think she's trying to fatten me up!) The other day she pointed out to me that there were two open cartons of milk in the main refridgerator, and informed me that I would need to drink them because she does not drink milk and I do.
First of all, yes, I drink milk in the US because it tastes good. I also grew up on a Dairy Farm, so it would be kind of a travesty if I didn't drink milk. Also, milk in the US doesn't come in a box and sit on a shelf unopened for months/weeks before it's put in the fridge like it does here. So no, I do not drink milk here. I put it on my cereal (when I eat ceral, which is rare), pour some into my coffee (when I drink coffee, which is rare), and use it to make scrambled eggs. Needless to say, it was going to be difficult for me to drink two cartons of milk (plus one I had in my fridge already open, making it three!) in a little under four days.
But to please her, I took the cartons of milk to my fridge and slowly started to "drink" them. As in, I made myself eat cereal in the morning (Chocapic, none the less...I feel like a 7 year old) and drink Nescafe (shudder). I also have made eggs a lot this week.
Then today, as I was taking some Chocapic from the main kitchen to eat with my milk, she comes in and says, "Look, Abby, there are three more cartons of unopened milk here in the cupboard! Open one and use it!"
WHAT??? That makes NO SENSE. Does she honestly think I've gone through three cartons of disgusting milk in four days? Does she not realize that unopened milk here in Chile can sit on the shelf for weeks without going bad? In fact, I looked at the expiration dates, and they are all in April or May.
So I told her, "Tia, I have three almost full cartons of milk in my fridge. I'm going to attempt to drink those before I leave, but probably won't be able to, so I think it's silly to open a new one."
She said, "Okay, but in case you run out, there's more down here."
GAHHHH!
Also, she is insisting on making me something new for lunch today, even though we have left over pasta, potato salad and salmon in the fridge. I told her, "Tia, I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't want this food to go bad. So I'll eat the left overs so you don't have to cook anything." She told me, "No! I want to make something fresh for you. I don't want you to have to eat left overs." Why is she so worried about milk on a shelf going bad, and not food in the fridge?
Now that just doesn't make any (common) sense.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Someone special is turning 8 today....
Happy Birthday Isabel! This is one of the main streets near where I live. Every day when I walk past it I think of you.
(I know your mom reads this, so hopefully she will show it to you!)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Souvenir
In Chile, they aren't really big on souvenirs. At least not to the extent that we are in the US, where it seems like at any touristy spot you go to they try to sell you tee-shirts, key-chains, spoons, hats, etc. with the name of the place plastered all over it. Here in Chile, not so much. That's why, every time F. and I go somewhere he gives me the boleto (receipt) as a "souvenir".
Today we went bike riding. Well, we wanted to rent a movie and had no car to get there so we went by bike. Despite my complaints (I haven't ridden a bike in 5 years and never in a city), it was actually quite enjoyable. We didn't buy tee-shirts that said, "I went bike riding and all I got was this silly tee-shirt", but I did get a souvenir:
It happened as I was getting off the bike back at F.'s house. I think I hit it on the seat, I can't really remember. At the time, it didn't even hurt that much. But once I got inside and started watching the movie, I realized my leg was throbbing and swolen. At the end of the movie, it had already turned purple!
At least I will always (well, for a few days anyway) have a constant reminder of that night we went bike-riding.
Today we went bike riding. Well, we wanted to rent a movie and had no car to get there so we went by bike. Despite my complaints (I haven't ridden a bike in 5 years and never in a city), it was actually quite enjoyable. We didn't buy tee-shirts that said, "I went bike riding and all I got was this silly tee-shirt", but I did get a souvenir:
It happened as I was getting off the bike back at F.'s house. I think I hit it on the seat, I can't really remember. At the time, it didn't even hurt that much. But once I got inside and started watching the movie, I realized my leg was throbbing and swolen. At the end of the movie, it had already turned purple!
At least I will always (well, for a few days anyway) have a constant reminder of that night we went bike-riding.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Watch out! A post full of technology.
So first, a video greeting for you all! This took about five billion tries (okay, maybe really only 10). I get really awkward in front of the camera, and I speak too fast. In fact, I'm trying to speak slowly in this one, can you believe it? Also, I had to take it with my crappy point and shoot camera because my webcam makes the file too large. Oh, technology.
Greetings from Chile! from Abby Hall on Vimeo.
And now, some photos of the Casita! (Captions are above)
The sometimes scary spiral staircase
The kitchen
The bathroom (you really wanted to see this, right?)
Greetings from Chile! from Abby Hall on Vimeo.
And now, some photos of the Casita! (Captions are above)
My bedroom
The other bedroom
The sometimes scary spiral staircase
The kitchen
The bathroom (you really wanted to see this, right?)
Get ready...
Tomorrow a really fun post full of video and pictures is coming! I was trying to get it done tonight, but the video part is not cooperating like I hope it would. It probably doesn't help that I'm not the most technically savvy person out there.
Also, as a side note, was anyone else disappointed by the Grammy's? I guess I just love Coldplay a little too much...sigh. There are rumors that they are coming in March...does anyone know if that's actually true?
Also, as a side note, was anyone else disappointed by the Grammy's? I guess I just love Coldplay a little too much...sigh. There are rumors that they are coming in March...does anyone know if that's actually true?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Every day I wash the clothes...
When I was in First Grade, I played The Mother in the (very politically incorrect) play Tikki-Tikki Tembo. My main claim to fame was that I got to sing a song all by myself about washing clothes in the river. In fact, I can still sing it to this day. If you're really lucky, maybe I'll sing it for you someday (preferably after a few drinks.)
Fast forward approximately 13 years and the summer after my sophomore year in college I spent in El Salvador. I lived in the campo, about an hour's busride away from the nearest washing machine. So I had to wash my clothes by hand. Luckily my host family had a special place to do this, called the "pila". It kind of resembled a water trough, but had a little sink where you could wash, scrub and squeeze your clothes. The squeezing was the hardest part. Then I had to go up and hang them on the line, where the red ants lived. They invariably bit my feet and left huge red welts. After washing my clothes myself the first time, my abuelita decided that I wasn't good at it. She was kind of right. Somehow my shirts still smelled like deodorant no matter how much I scrubbed. So she decided that she would wash my clothes. And she did a great job.
Fast foward approximately 8 months and I found myself here in Chile, where my host mom not only washed my clothes but also IRONED them...everything...even my socks. I felt so spoiled. Luckily she had a special place to do this, called a washing machine. No dryer, but the Chilean sun in the summer dried the clothes in no time.
Fast forward a year and half and here I am, back in Chile. While my family is gone, I have to do my own laundry (I sound like such a spoiled brat.) Luckily, I also have access to that wonderful machine as well. No more hand washing for me (or so I thought). Today I woke up kind of early (okay that's a total lie...I got up at 11:30) and put my clothes in the washing machine, added the detergent, turned it on. Everything was going swimmingly. I returned to my room and starting working. I went down about an hour later and opened up the machine, expecting to find my clothes nicely washed, rinced and spun.
Nope. The machine was still filled with water and detergent. I tried to turn it on again. Nada. I unplugged it and plugged it back in again. Nada. I switched all the settings. Nada.
So I asked my host brother to look at it. He didn't know what was wrong.
So today I had to finish washing my clothes by hand, except this time I didn't have a pila. But I did find myself humming that song from back in 1st grade.
Fast forward approximately 13 years and the summer after my sophomore year in college I spent in El Salvador. I lived in the campo, about an hour's busride away from the nearest washing machine. So I had to wash my clothes by hand. Luckily my host family had a special place to do this, called the "pila". It kind of resembled a water trough, but had a little sink where you could wash, scrub and squeeze your clothes. The squeezing was the hardest part. Then I had to go up and hang them on the line, where the red ants lived. They invariably bit my feet and left huge red welts. After washing my clothes myself the first time, my abuelita decided that I wasn't good at it. She was kind of right. Somehow my shirts still smelled like deodorant no matter how much I scrubbed. So she decided that she would wash my clothes. And she did a great job.
Fast foward approximately 8 months and I found myself here in Chile, where my host mom not only washed my clothes but also IRONED them...everything...even my socks. I felt so spoiled. Luckily she had a special place to do this, called a washing machine. No dryer, but the Chilean sun in the summer dried the clothes in no time.
Fast forward a year and half and here I am, back in Chile. While my family is gone, I have to do my own laundry (I sound like such a spoiled brat.) Luckily, I also have access to that wonderful machine as well. No more hand washing for me (or so I thought). Today I woke up kind of early (okay that's a total lie...I got up at 11:30) and put my clothes in the washing machine, added the detergent, turned it on. Everything was going swimmingly. I returned to my room and starting working. I went down about an hour later and opened up the machine, expecting to find my clothes nicely washed, rinced and spun.
Nope. The machine was still filled with water and detergent. I tried to turn it on again. Nada. I unplugged it and plugged it back in again. Nada. I switched all the settings. Nada.
So I asked my host brother to look at it. He didn't know what was wrong.
So today I had to finish washing my clothes by hand, except this time I didn't have a pila. But I did find myself humming that song from back in 1st grade.
Every day I wash the clothes
My sons get dirty from head to toe
There's mud on their pants
Food on their shirt
This mother gets tired of washing out dirt!
I wash and scrub and squeeze
Always on my knees
More rhetorical questions...this time not on the micro
Have you ever met someone and known right off that you weren't going to like them (or that they weren't going to like you) without even knowing them at all?
Have you ever gotten on a bus or a train and felt like there was someone there with bad energy and wanted to get off right away?
This happens to me all the time. Well, the second more than the first. I feel really bad about the first because a lot of times I feel as if I'm not giving them a chance. Then I usually try to give them a chance, try to strike up some sort of conversation, but more often than not this backfires and they turn out to be just the way I thought they would.
Maybe some people just aren't compatible with others. For example, "Jenny" might do something that really annoys the hell out of me. And then "Maggie" does the same thing but it doesn't bother me at all. Why is that?
Have you ever gotten on a bus or a train and felt like there was someone there with bad energy and wanted to get off right away?
This happens to me all the time. Well, the second more than the first. I feel really bad about the first because a lot of times I feel as if I'm not giving them a chance. Then I usually try to give them a chance, try to strike up some sort of conversation, but more often than not this backfires and they turn out to be just the way I thought they would.
Maybe some people just aren't compatible with others. For example, "Jenny" might do something that really annoys the hell out of me. And then "Maggie" does the same thing but it doesn't bother me at all. Why is that?
Friday, February 6, 2009
My love/hate relationship with Transantiago
Outside of major cities or places that I've never visited, public transportation is the pits in the US. I have never taken public transportation in my hometown because it doens't exist. In the capital of Vermont, there are buses, but they run on a very limited schedule and only have a few stops. In fact, I didn't even realize they existed until about two years ago.
This is probably why, when I first came to Santiago in 2007, I was FASCINATED with the public transportation system here (it didn't officially become Transantiago until one month after I arrived). It amazed me that I could go out my door, walk less than 1 block and hop on a bus that would take me where I wanted to go (or if not, to the metro station at least). When Transantiago was implemented in February, I became fascinated with the transantiagoinforma.cl website. I always got excited when I had to go to a new place because that meant I could look it up online and I would be able to take a micro I'd never taken before! (This paragraph makes me sound like a huge dork. Oh well. I guess I am!)
My host family used to ask me, the newly arrived gringa, how to get places in the city.
My friend J. and I developed a strange kind of affection for the 505 (back then it was the only micro that passed on Salvador, now we have the 508, 513 and 514!).
Although some of the "newness" of having a public transportation system wore off as I spent more time here, I still really do appreciate the convience of it. Luckily, where I live, the micros pass often and because it's summer, they're usually not too full.
That being said, there are some things that I absolutely HATE about riding a bus or the metro.
First of all, the metro is DISGUSTING during the summer. I feel as if I'm breathing other people's air and it grosses me out. I actually try to avoid it as much as I can. I would much rather spend a little more time on a micro than not breathing on the metro.
Secondly, some micro drivers are horrendous. Today I had to stand for 50 minutes on the 421, all the way from San Carlos de Apoquindo to Salvador with Providencia. The driver was so crazy...he didn't slow down at all before the stops and then SLAMMED on his brakes, sending me and anyone else who was standing flying all over the place.
Which brings me to another point. I don't mind standing on the micros as long as it's a short little trip up Salvador. But when I have to stand for almost an hour, no thank you. Today, whenever a seat would free up I sat down, only to have a little old lady get on. No one else around me would give up their seats! And I'm talking about strapping young men and women my age. So I got up for the poor old lady and assumed my position clutching the pole for dear life as the bus driver attempted to dislodge me with his driving skills.
When it comes down to it though, a $200 peso ice cream will make any ride on Transantiago more enjoyable.
This is probably why, when I first came to Santiago in 2007, I was FASCINATED with the public transportation system here (it didn't officially become Transantiago until one month after I arrived). It amazed me that I could go out my door, walk less than 1 block and hop on a bus that would take me where I wanted to go (or if not, to the metro station at least). When Transantiago was implemented in February, I became fascinated with the transantiagoinforma.cl website. I always got excited when I had to go to a new place because that meant I could look it up online and I would be able to take a micro I'd never taken before! (This paragraph makes me sound like a huge dork. Oh well. I guess I am!)
My host family used to ask me, the newly arrived gringa, how to get places in the city.
My friend J. and I developed a strange kind of affection for the 505 (back then it was the only micro that passed on Salvador, now we have the 508, 513 and 514!).
Although some of the "newness" of having a public transportation system wore off as I spent more time here, I still really do appreciate the convience of it. Luckily, where I live, the micros pass often and because it's summer, they're usually not too full.
That being said, there are some things that I absolutely HATE about riding a bus or the metro.
First of all, the metro is DISGUSTING during the summer. I feel as if I'm breathing other people's air and it grosses me out. I actually try to avoid it as much as I can. I would much rather spend a little more time on a micro than not breathing on the metro.
Secondly, some micro drivers are horrendous. Today I had to stand for 50 minutes on the 421, all the way from San Carlos de Apoquindo to Salvador with Providencia. The driver was so crazy...he didn't slow down at all before the stops and then SLAMMED on his brakes, sending me and anyone else who was standing flying all over the place.
Which brings me to another point. I don't mind standing on the micros as long as it's a short little trip up Salvador. But when I have to stand for almost an hour, no thank you. Today, whenever a seat would free up I sat down, only to have a little old lady get on. No one else around me would give up their seats! And I'm talking about strapping young men and women my age. So I got up for the poor old lady and assumed my position clutching the pole for dear life as the bus driver attempted to dislodge me with his driving skills.
When it comes down to it though, a $200 peso ice cream will make any ride on Transantiago more enjoyable.
Moved in!
I'm moved into what is affectionately called "la casita" here at my house. It is a tiny guest house that shares a patio with my host family's house. It has two bedrooms up a very windy metal staircase and downstairs there is a kitchen and bathroom. But it is perfect. I love it.
Right now I'm relaxing on my double (queen? I can never tell the difference) bed, watching Ugly Betty and putting some finishing touches on my lesson plan for tomorrow.
I really need to go grocery shopping because the only things in my refrigerator are: a small jar of Vermont Maple Syrup, a half bottle of Kem, one quarter of a Guaton, and a can of Escudo.
Right now I'm relaxing on my double (queen? I can never tell the difference) bed, watching Ugly Betty and putting some finishing touches on my lesson plan for tomorrow.
I really need to go grocery shopping because the only things in my refrigerator are: a small jar of Vermont Maple Syrup, a half bottle of Kem, one quarter of a Guaton, and a can of Escudo.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Just saying...
Sometimes on facebook, a picture of Barack Obama appears on the left hand side. Underneath it says, "Do you know about Barack Obama?"
It never fails to crack me up, because the only way someone could not know about Barack Obama is if they were born yesterday or just woke up from a coma. And I'm pretty sure babies don't use the internet and people who just got out of a coma have better things to do than surf the internet...like for example talk to their loved ones.
I gander that not one person has learned about Barack Obama's existence through facebook.
It never fails to crack me up, because the only way someone could not know about Barack Obama is if they were born yesterday or just woke up from a coma. And I'm pretty sure babies don't use the internet and people who just got out of a coma have better things to do than surf the internet...like for example talk to their loved ones.
I gander that not one person has learned about Barack Obama's existence through facebook.
Mushrooms are not my friend
I'm not a picky eater. I like lots of different kinds of food and love trying new things. That being said, there are three things that I don't like: mushrooms, olives and venison. (Okay, also I don't like sushi, but I would eat the kind that doesn't have raw fish if necessary).
My host family left for Pucon on Sunday. Since then, my host mom's best friend has been coming to the house during the day to water the sidewalk (okay and the garden too) so that the thieves will think that there are people here and won't come in and steal stuff. Yesterday, as I was lazing in bed around 12, she came in and asked me if I wanted almuerzo (lunch). In a moment of weakness, I said okay. Normally, I make my own lunch or warm up something that my host mom has made. I don't need anyone to wait on me. She asked what I like to eat, and I said "Como de todo." (I eat whatever). Which is (almost) true.
But today that meant that I had to eat mushrooms. Just thinking about the fact that I just choked down about 6 whole mushrooms makes me want to vomit. There is something abut their texture that just skeeves me out. I'm not a huge fan of their taste either, but it's the texture that really puts me over the edge. I tried to make it better by cutting them up into tiny pieces and eating them together with a bite of hot dog. But then I ran out of hot dog. So I did the same with my rice. But then I ran out of rice. So then I took the tiniest bite of mushroom (trying not to chew it at all) and washed it down with juice.
I really hope she didn't notice, because she's the sweetest lady ever, and I'm really appreciative of the fact that she made me lunch.
Today while I was facing down the mushrooms (before I had actually eaten one) I thought that maybe, just maybe, my taste buds would have changed and I would be able to tolerate them. Nope. I still hate mushrooms.
My host family left for Pucon on Sunday. Since then, my host mom's best friend has been coming to the house during the day to water the sidewalk (okay and the garden too) so that the thieves will think that there are people here and won't come in and steal stuff. Yesterday, as I was lazing in bed around 12, she came in and asked me if I wanted almuerzo (lunch). In a moment of weakness, I said okay. Normally, I make my own lunch or warm up something that my host mom has made. I don't need anyone to wait on me. She asked what I like to eat, and I said "Como de todo." (I eat whatever). Which is (almost) true.
But today that meant that I had to eat mushrooms. Just thinking about the fact that I just choked down about 6 whole mushrooms makes me want to vomit. There is something abut their texture that just skeeves me out. I'm not a huge fan of their taste either, but it's the texture that really puts me over the edge. I tried to make it better by cutting them up into tiny pieces and eating them together with a bite of hot dog. But then I ran out of hot dog. So I did the same with my rice. But then I ran out of rice. So then I took the tiniest bite of mushroom (trying not to chew it at all) and washed it down with juice.
I really hope she didn't notice, because she's the sweetest lady ever, and I'm really appreciative of the fact that she made me lunch.
Today while I was facing down the mushrooms (before I had actually eaten one) I thought that maybe, just maybe, my taste buds would have changed and I would be able to tolerate them. Nope. I still hate mushrooms.
Monday, February 2, 2009
My how time flies...
Happy One Month In Chile Anniversary to Me!
Today my student asked me how long I had been in Chile for and I almost said my standard "about three weeks" when I realized. No, ma'am. I've been here a month!
I seriously feel as if I got here yesterday.
On the one hand, lots of things have happened.
On the other hand, I feel like I haven't done much.
Because I'm in Chile for I don't know how long, I also don't feel much pressure to do do do do do right away. That being said, I would like to accomplish some things that I wrote about here.
One of them was to explore more outside the comunas that I know best (Providencia, Ñuñoa and El Centro). When I wrote that, I didn't really have in mind Las Condes, mainly because socio-economic wise it's on par or one step up from Providencia--more of the same (or so I thought). I've been to the Escuela Militar part of Las Condes which does indeed resemble Providencia. And to be fair, I once went to the DUOC all the way out in San Carlos de Apoquindo, but that day I was not really paying attention to anything at all, just worried about finding my bus stop.
Well, today I got a pretty good introduction to Las Condes through a 45 minute bus ride that took me up (yes up) into the north eastern part of the city. I'm talking about suburbia here. Houses, not apartments, with yards/. Call me naive, but I had no idea. The streets are tranquil and shaded. It's almost quiet. But the weird thing is (maybe this is because it was a Monday in February at 3:30 in the afternoon) there was no one on the streets. (Actually that's a lie, when I went to leave my student's house, I saw a horse drawn cart go by...but don't get the wrong idea. It looked very out of place!)
To me, this is not the Santiago that I know. I'm sure that's why it's so expensive to live there and coveted by the upper-middle and upper classes.
My awe with this part of Las Condes soon came crashing down when it took me 2 micros, one VERY crowded metro and 1 1/2 hours to get home.
So yeah, Las Condes is nice and tranquil. If you have a car. I can't imagine what it's like to live in Lo Barnachea...
Today my student asked me how long I had been in Chile for and I almost said my standard "about three weeks" when I realized. No, ma'am. I've been here a month!
I seriously feel as if I got here yesterday.
On the one hand, lots of things have happened.
On the other hand, I feel like I haven't done much.
Because I'm in Chile for I don't know how long, I also don't feel much pressure to do do do do do right away. That being said, I would like to accomplish some things that I wrote about here.
One of them was to explore more outside the comunas that I know best (Providencia, Ñuñoa and El Centro). When I wrote that, I didn't really have in mind Las Condes, mainly because socio-economic wise it's on par or one step up from Providencia--more of the same (or so I thought). I've been to the Escuela Militar part of Las Condes which does indeed resemble Providencia. And to be fair, I once went to the DUOC all the way out in San Carlos de Apoquindo, but that day I was not really paying attention to anything at all, just worried about finding my bus stop.
Well, today I got a pretty good introduction to Las Condes through a 45 minute bus ride that took me up (yes up) into the north eastern part of the city. I'm talking about suburbia here. Houses, not apartments, with yards/. Call me naive, but I had no idea. The streets are tranquil and shaded. It's almost quiet. But the weird thing is (maybe this is because it was a Monday in February at 3:30 in the afternoon) there was no one on the streets. (Actually that's a lie, when I went to leave my student's house, I saw a horse drawn cart go by...but don't get the wrong idea. It looked very out of place!)
To me, this is not the Santiago that I know. I'm sure that's why it's so expensive to live there and coveted by the upper-middle and upper classes.
My awe with this part of Las Condes soon came crashing down when it took me 2 micros, one VERY crowded metro and 1 1/2 hours to get home.
So yeah, Las Condes is nice and tranquil. If you have a car. I can't imagine what it's like to live in Lo Barnachea...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Living and learning in Santiago
I'm not sure if this happens in other cities in the world. I've never lived in another city besides Santiago (Waterville, Maine, although technically a city, in no way qualifies). Here, during rush hour, some roads change direction. For example, from 7am-10am the road is a one way road with all traffic heading north. From 10am-5am it is a two way road and then from 5am-9pm it is a one way road with all traffic heading south. I live off Avenida Salvador, which is one such road. Usually I'm going in the direction that the traffic is, so I'm all set. For example when I went to class in the morning, I had to go north, and all the traffic was going north, and in the afternoon it was the opposite.
However, there are some times, especially in the evening, when I need to go north to Providencia, and all the traffic is coming south. The nearest street with buses that go north is either 6 blocks to the west or 9 blocks to the east. I guess I shouldn't complain because that makes me sound really lazy, but the problem is I always forget about the change in direction, especially around 8:30pm. In my gringa mind, it shouldn't be rush hour at 8:30 pm. Rush hour is around 5-6 to me. But here, everyone works a lot later (48 hour work week) and hence Rush hour lasts a lot longer.
So the point of my story is that the other night I left my house at 8:42, in plenty of time to arrive at Manuel Montt with Providencia around 9. But all the traffic was going the wrong way! I should have just waited the 18 minutes at the bus stop until the street changed to two-way again, but I'm stubborn and thought, I'll walk 9 blocks to Antonio Varas and get a bus there. Why didn't I just walk 6 blocks in the other direction you may ask? Well for many reasons that are not interesting, but mostly because the walk on Santa Isabel towards Antonio Varas is prettier than in the other direction. I know, I know. Silly.
Little did I know that the micros NEVER COME on Antonio Varas. What the heck. I waited 25 minutes, and by this time it was already 9:15. As I mentioned in my previous post, I hate being late, so I texted the people I was going to meet up with and got in a cab. $1,390 pesos and 10 minutes later I was at Manuel Montt. If I had just waited on Salvador I would have arrived at the same time if not earlier, and only spent $380 pesos.
You live and learn, I guess. I just wish gaining experience didn't have to be so expensive.
Or maybe, just to make it easier on me, Salvador should always be a two-way street. That's not too much to ask, right?
However, there are some times, especially in the evening, when I need to go north to Providencia, and all the traffic is coming south. The nearest street with buses that go north is either 6 blocks to the west or 9 blocks to the east. I guess I shouldn't complain because that makes me sound really lazy, but the problem is I always forget about the change in direction, especially around 8:30pm. In my gringa mind, it shouldn't be rush hour at 8:30 pm. Rush hour is around 5-6 to me. But here, everyone works a lot later (48 hour work week) and hence Rush hour lasts a lot longer.
So the point of my story is that the other night I left my house at 8:42, in plenty of time to arrive at Manuel Montt with Providencia around 9. But all the traffic was going the wrong way! I should have just waited the 18 minutes at the bus stop until the street changed to two-way again, but I'm stubborn and thought, I'll walk 9 blocks to Antonio Varas and get a bus there. Why didn't I just walk 6 blocks in the other direction you may ask? Well for many reasons that are not interesting, but mostly because the walk on Santa Isabel towards Antonio Varas is prettier than in the other direction. I know, I know. Silly.
Little did I know that the micros NEVER COME on Antonio Varas. What the heck. I waited 25 minutes, and by this time it was already 9:15. As I mentioned in my previous post, I hate being late, so I texted the people I was going to meet up with and got in a cab. $1,390 pesos and 10 minutes later I was at Manuel Montt. If I had just waited on Salvador I would have arrived at the same time if not earlier, and only spent $380 pesos.
You live and learn, I guess. I just wish gaining experience didn't have to be so expensive.
Or maybe, just to make it easier on me, Salvador should always be a two-way street. That's not too much to ask, right?
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