I'm going to Curicó tomorrow with E.
Hopefully it will be relaxing, because next week I start working 43.3 hour weeks.
I think I might go insane.
BUT, happy, joyous, great, wonderful, fantastic, the best EVER NEWS!!
My lovely mother and sister are coming to visit. In two weeks.
I can't wait!!!
So, if posting is sparse in the next few weeks, you'll know why.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Time vs. Money
Yes, it's nice to make money.
But is it worth making tons of money if you never have any time to spend with people?
Ahh, the life of the traveling English teacher.
But is it worth making tons of money if you never have any time to spend with people?
Ahh, the life of the traveling English teacher.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Signs that winter is truly coming
1. A couple of days ago I started closing my window to sleep at night.
2. I've traded in my flip-flops for slippers while walking around the house. (Because god-forbid you walk barefoot. That could mean certain and untimely death by pneumonia.)
3. I've started wearing socks.
4. This morning I looked forward to being sqaushed in the metro (just a little bit) so I could warm up.
5. It only gets to be about 70-75 during the day instead of 80.
6. I've started showering at night so that after the horrifying experience of stepping out of a shower into the unheated bathroom, I can quickly dry off and jump under the covers instead of having to get dressed and go outside with wet hair (because I refuse to blow-dry my spilt-end free locks and wet hair is another recipe for certain and untimely death by pneumonia. You think I kid. Ask any Chilean.)
7. The smog has settled over the city. Ñuñoa has it's vehicular restriction signs out. You can't see the Andes.
8. This morning I could see my breath.
Grab a cup of tea, sit in front of the estufa, fill up your hot water bottles and put on your scarf. Welcome to winter in Chile.
2. I've traded in my flip-flops for slippers while walking around the house. (Because god-forbid you walk barefoot. That could mean certain and untimely death by pneumonia.)
3. I've started wearing socks.
4. This morning I looked forward to being sqaushed in the metro (just a little bit) so I could warm up.
5. It only gets to be about 70-75 during the day instead of 80.
6. I've started showering at night so that after the horrifying experience of stepping out of a shower into the unheated bathroom, I can quickly dry off and jump under the covers instead of having to get dressed and go outside with wet hair (because I refuse to blow-dry my spilt-end free locks and wet hair is another recipe for certain and untimely death by pneumonia. You think I kid. Ask any Chilean.)
7. The smog has settled over the city. Ñuñoa has it's vehicular restriction signs out. You can't see the Andes.
8. This morning I could see my breath.
Grab a cup of tea, sit in front of the estufa, fill up your hot water bottles and put on your scarf. Welcome to winter in Chile.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Temblor anyone?
Did anyone else feel the "tremor" last night? (Is that how you translate temblor?)
I've felt them lots of times before here in Santiago, and many times I've missed ones that are supposedly "big". On Monday my host sister told me there was a strong one, but I was teaching class and didn't notice.
Last night though, I kind of got scared. It was strong enough to knock over a couple of my picture frames. It also lasted what I thought was a long time, but in reality was probably no more than 30 seconds.
I know it wasn't a major one because I searched the main newspapers and there was no news. So probably my mind at 4:05 am was just blowing things out of proportion.
Chile is one of the most seismic countries in the world, because it's where the Nazca plate meets the Continental plate. That means lots of Volcanoes, like Chaitén, that has had some major eruptions in the past year and buried the entire town of Chiatén in ash, displacing the whole population of the small town (except for a few crazies who refused to leave.) Chile was also home to the strongest earthquake ever to be measured on the Richter scale (9.5) happened in the south of Chile in 1960.
In other words, the little tremor I felt last night was nothing.
I've felt them lots of times before here in Santiago, and many times I've missed ones that are supposedly "big". On Monday my host sister told me there was a strong one, but I was teaching class and didn't notice.
Last night though, I kind of got scared. It was strong enough to knock over a couple of my picture frames. It also lasted what I thought was a long time, but in reality was probably no more than 30 seconds.
I know it wasn't a major one because I searched the main newspapers and there was no news. So probably my mind at 4:05 am was just blowing things out of proportion.
Chile is one of the most seismic countries in the world, because it's where the Nazca plate meets the Continental plate. That means lots of Volcanoes, like Chaitén, that has had some major eruptions in the past year and buried the entire town of Chiatén in ash, displacing the whole population of the small town (except for a few crazies who refused to leave.) Chile was also home to the strongest earthquake ever to be measured on the Richter scale (9.5) happened in the south of Chile in 1960.
In other words, the little tremor I felt last night was nothing.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Driving through Canada in 1st Gear
This is part of this week's group blog. To see the rest of the participants, stop by Kyle's blog.
My travel story will tell a tale about when I traveled to the exotic country of......Canada. Yes, Canada. Since I live in Vermont, going to Canada is about as exciting as a trip to Boston. Not very. But I like Montreal as a city, so when my friends asked me if I wanted to go with them to Montreal during a long weekend the fall of my freshmen year of college, I said yes. Now that I think about it, back then one exciting thing about Montreal for a bunch of 18-year olds is that we could go out to the clubs and drink legally. WOOOO!
Anyway, we debated about what car to bring. My car, a 1998 Ford Escort Wagon already had winter tires, but it was less than reliable and my parents said I couldn't drive to Montreal with it. Plus, I wasn't crazy about driving myself so my idea was that someone else could drive my car. My parents said no way to that too (it was technically their car, hence their power in making decisions.) At that time, no one else had a car except our friend M. His car was a REALLY old Volvo Station Wagon, but he promised it was reliable. We asked about snow tires. He said he didn't have them yet, but that it wasn't supposed to snow. We believed him. It was the end of October (in Maine) so there was a distinct possibility of snow, but it wasn't forecast.
We then debated about what route to take. The shortest route was on the secondary roads of Maine, paved but windy and very very rural. The best route (in my opinion, and in the opinion of our wiser, more-traveled parents) was first on the secondary roads of Maine to Vermont, then on interstate to Canada. But since M. was driving, he decided on the route through Maine.
Literally 30 minutes into the drive, the car started making funny noises. We all yelled at M (who was the only guy, by the way) to pull over and check it out. Turns out it was some sort of stick stuck somewhere making a funny noise. Phew.
To pass the time, Em. started teaching us all the words to the Titanic Song (Oh they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue....etc). Then about two hours into the trip, as we are winding our way past Sugarloaf and almost to the Canadian border, it started to snow. We weren't that worried because it wasn't sticking. But then after we crossed the border, it started sticking. We told M. to slow down, but literally as we said that, we started to go off the road. As the navigator, I couldn't help but slam my foot down onto the non-existent break on my side of the car. Luckily, we stopped inches from going down a considerable sized bank.
We decided that M., Em., and R would walk to the nearest town to find help (Em. was the only one who spoke any French) while El. and I would stay with the car. Since El. knew how to drive a stick, she got the lovely job of sitting in the car with her foot on the break because turns out the emergency break was broken.
Our friends were gone a long time and I had to pee really bad, so that's how I found myself peeing on the side of the road in Canada during a snow storm. It was chilly.
Finally our friends arrived with a tow truck. He towed us, we made it to Woburn, Quebec, a little nothing town over the border, and went off the road again. We managed to get back on by ourselves this time, but decided that we had better spend the night in Woburn and wait until the plows went through.
M. and I in our hotel room in Woburn
The next day we awoke bright and early to get started. The plows had gone through but it was still snowing a bit. We drove for 2 hours in 1st gear, because as soon as we started going faster, we started slipping. Things were tense. I was the navigator and super nervous, so I probably snapped at my three friends in the back a few times. M. was nervous too, but I didn't think he was nervous enough and was constantly telling him to slow down. We got excited when we saw black parts of the road, because that meant we were driving on pavement and not snow. We went off the road again, but a nice Quebequois stopped and pulled us silly American college kids out.
Finally, we reached a main highway we all cheered as M. announced, "I'm moving into 2nd gear! Now third!" It was such a relief after being so tense for so long.
The map!
We had a good time in Montreal, although now I can't really remember what we did.
R. and I in some plaza in Montreal
I do remember we learned all the words to all the verses to the Titanic Song, and we took the route through Vermont home.
My travel story will tell a tale about when I traveled to the exotic country of......Canada. Yes, Canada. Since I live in Vermont, going to Canada is about as exciting as a trip to Boston. Not very. But I like Montreal as a city, so when my friends asked me if I wanted to go with them to Montreal during a long weekend the fall of my freshmen year of college, I said yes. Now that I think about it, back then one exciting thing about Montreal for a bunch of 18-year olds is that we could go out to the clubs and drink legally. WOOOO!
Anyway, we debated about what car to bring. My car, a 1998 Ford Escort Wagon already had winter tires, but it was less than reliable and my parents said I couldn't drive to Montreal with it. Plus, I wasn't crazy about driving myself so my idea was that someone else could drive my car. My parents said no way to that too (it was technically their car, hence their power in making decisions.) At that time, no one else had a car except our friend M. His car was a REALLY old Volvo Station Wagon, but he promised it was reliable. We asked about snow tires. He said he didn't have them yet, but that it wasn't supposed to snow. We believed him. It was the end of October (in Maine) so there was a distinct possibility of snow, but it wasn't forecast.
We then debated about what route to take. The shortest route was on the secondary roads of Maine, paved but windy and very very rural. The best route (in my opinion, and in the opinion of our wiser, more-traveled parents) was first on the secondary roads of Maine to Vermont, then on interstate to Canada. But since M. was driving, he decided on the route through Maine.
Literally 30 minutes into the drive, the car started making funny noises. We all yelled at M (who was the only guy, by the way) to pull over and check it out. Turns out it was some sort of stick stuck somewhere making a funny noise. Phew.
To pass the time, Em. started teaching us all the words to the Titanic Song (Oh they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue....etc). Then about two hours into the trip, as we are winding our way past Sugarloaf and almost to the Canadian border, it started to snow. We weren't that worried because it wasn't sticking. But then after we crossed the border, it started sticking. We told M. to slow down, but literally as we said that, we started to go off the road. As the navigator, I couldn't help but slam my foot down onto the non-existent break on my side of the car. Luckily, we stopped inches from going down a considerable sized bank.
We decided that M., Em., and R would walk to the nearest town to find help (Em. was the only one who spoke any French) while El. and I would stay with the car. Since El. knew how to drive a stick, she got the lovely job of sitting in the car with her foot on the break because turns out the emergency break was broken.
Our friends were gone a long time and I had to pee really bad, so that's how I found myself peeing on the side of the road in Canada during a snow storm. It was chilly.
Finally our friends arrived with a tow truck. He towed us, we made it to Woburn, Quebec, a little nothing town over the border, and went off the road again. We managed to get back on by ourselves this time, but decided that we had better spend the night in Woburn and wait until the plows went through.
M. and I in our hotel room in Woburn
The next day we awoke bright and early to get started. The plows had gone through but it was still snowing a bit. We drove for 2 hours in 1st gear, because as soon as we started going faster, we started slipping. Things were tense. I was the navigator and super nervous, so I probably snapped at my three friends in the back a few times. M. was nervous too, but I didn't think he was nervous enough and was constantly telling him to slow down. We got excited when we saw black parts of the road, because that meant we were driving on pavement and not snow. We went off the road again, but a nice Quebequois stopped and pulled us silly American college kids out.
Finally, we reached a main highway we all cheered as M. announced, "I'm moving into 2nd gear! Now third!" It was such a relief after being so tense for so long.
The map!
We had a good time in Montreal, although now I can't really remember what we did.
R. and I in some plaza in Montreal
I do remember we learned all the words to all the verses to the Titanic Song, and we took the route through Vermont home.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Is This Love That I'm Feeling?
One thing I really miss about being at home is driving. Specifically, driving by myself on I-89 blasting music and signing along. I love to be alone so I can listen to all the pop music I want and sing at the top of my lungs without anyone telling me to change the song or stop because their ears are bleeding.
I am a singer. Well, let me rephrase. I like to sing and I'm always humming something. When I hear music that I know, I sing along. Sometimes I have to check myself because I'm in a situation where I shouldn't sing along.
One of these situations is when I'm listening to my iPod in public. As my sister can tell you, it's not pleasant to listen to me (or anyone) sing slightly off-key* to music only they are hearing. Even worse is when I don't know all the words. Anyway, I realize this isn't pleasant for anyone except me so I don't do it.
But the urge is so great that I can't help but mouthing the words. There are some songs in particular that I just want to belt out, but instead I'm stuck kind-of mouthing the words so the general population of Santiago doesn't think I'm insane. On such song that I was listening to on the way back from the grocery store was "Is This Love" by Bob Marley. I dare you all to try to listen to that song without singing along. Heck, I dare you to listen to that song and not dance a little bit! It's such a happy song and it always puts me in such a good mood. It would have been perfect if I could have just dropped my grocery bags, plugged my iPod into some speakers conveniently on the sidewalk and had a spontaneous dance party with everyone around.
But I think that only happens in the movies...
*I would just like to note that I don't normally sing off-key, but when I have my earphones in I don't hear myself as well and alas, it happens.
I am a singer. Well, let me rephrase. I like to sing and I'm always humming something. When I hear music that I know, I sing along. Sometimes I have to check myself because I'm in a situation where I shouldn't sing along.
One of these situations is when I'm listening to my iPod in public. As my sister can tell you, it's not pleasant to listen to me (or anyone) sing slightly off-key* to music only they are hearing. Even worse is when I don't know all the words. Anyway, I realize this isn't pleasant for anyone except me so I don't do it.
But the urge is so great that I can't help but mouthing the words. There are some songs in particular that I just want to belt out, but instead I'm stuck kind-of mouthing the words so the general population of Santiago doesn't think I'm insane. On such song that I was listening to on the way back from the grocery store was "Is This Love" by Bob Marley. I dare you all to try to listen to that song without singing along. Heck, I dare you to listen to that song and not dance a little bit! It's such a happy song and it always puts me in such a good mood. It would have been perfect if I could have just dropped my grocery bags, plugged my iPod into some speakers conveniently on the sidewalk and had a spontaneous dance party with everyone around.
But I think that only happens in the movies...
*I would just like to note that I don't normally sing off-key, but when I have my earphones in I don't hear myself as well and alas, it happens.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Longing for a RUT
In Chile every citizen has a RUT. It's a number printed on a cedula de identidad (ID card) that is commonly referred to as a carné (or carnet, depending on who you ask).
It's pretty freaking important in Chile to have one.
For example, to complete a credit card transaction they ask for your RUT. If you don't have one, they have to get the manager who types in a code for a foreign credit card transaction and then you have to write your passport number on the slip. It takes longer and people behind you in line get frustrated. I once had to restrain myself from punching an little girl in Lider who was complaining about they delay.
You need a RUT to do important things like get a cell phone plan, open a bank account, buy property, get health insurance, etc.
You also need a RUT to do unimportant, silly things like getting an account at Blockbuster.
Luckily you don't need a RUT to cash checks (or else I would be screwed). You can do that with your passport.
Right now I don't have one. It's en trámite (getting processed) and I'm impatient. Right now I'm waiting for word that my visa is ready so I can go wait in a bunch of lines to move the process along. Yesterday I was overjoyed to see the postman deliver a brown envelope that I was sure from the Interior Ministry. I was right, but it was for Sara. Sigh. Just barely I saw the mailman deliver a different looking, but equally thick and promising envelope. So I ran down, only to be disappointed because it was something for my host brother.
It's pretty freaking important in Chile to have one.
For example, to complete a credit card transaction they ask for your RUT. If you don't have one, they have to get the manager who types in a code for a foreign credit card transaction and then you have to write your passport number on the slip. It takes longer and people behind you in line get frustrated. I once had to restrain myself from punching an little girl in Lider who was complaining about they delay.
You need a RUT to do important things like get a cell phone plan, open a bank account, buy property, get health insurance, etc.
You also need a RUT to do unimportant, silly things like getting an account at Blockbuster.
Luckily you don't need a RUT to cash checks (or else I would be screwed). You can do that with your passport.
Right now I don't have one. It's en trámite (getting processed) and I'm impatient. Right now I'm waiting for word that my visa is ready so I can go wait in a bunch of lines to move the process along. Yesterday I was overjoyed to see the postman deliver a brown envelope that I was sure from the Interior Ministry. I was right, but it was for Sara. Sigh. Just barely I saw the mailman deliver a different looking, but equally thick and promising envelope. So I ran down, only to be disappointed because it was something for my host brother.
Monday, April 20, 2009
To Twitter or Not to Twitter
Some of you might want to sit down before reading this: I'm not on Twitter.
I have Facebook, I have a blog (duh!), I have MSN, I have Skype. Do I really need another way to connect with people?
I don't think so, but there is something intriguing about Twitter. But there is also something repulsive. I'm sorry, but I hate that you have to put @ before someone's name when you're replying to them.
Plus, I don't think I could ever update with what I'm really doing. People would die of boredom. These would be my Twitter entries for a day like today:
- Just got up! Eating some toast with peanut butter.
- Surfing the web.
-Planning my class for this afternoon!
-Surfing the web.
-Just wrote a blog entry, check it out! http://tinyurl.blah blah blah
-Surfing the web.
-Lunch time! Tuna fish sandwich, yummy!
- Nap time. It's been a strenuous day!
- Off to class.
- Back from class. Time for bed!
See? Not interesting at all. The only reason I want to be on Twitter is because everyone else is. I know, I know, if everyone jumped off a bridge, would I jump too?
Maybe someday I'll give in. But right now I'm thinking I don't need another distraction on the interwebs.
I have Facebook, I have a blog (duh!), I have MSN, I have Skype. Do I really need another way to connect with people?
I don't think so, but there is something intriguing about Twitter. But there is also something repulsive. I'm sorry, but I hate that you have to put @ before someone's name when you're replying to them.
Plus, I don't think I could ever update with what I'm really doing. People would die of boredom. These would be my Twitter entries for a day like today:
- Just got up! Eating some toast with peanut butter.
- Surfing the web.
-Planning my class for this afternoon!
-Surfing the web.
-Just wrote a blog entry, check it out! http://tinyurl.blah blah blah
-Surfing the web.
-Lunch time! Tuna fish sandwich, yummy!
- Nap time. It's been a strenuous day!
- Off to class.
- Back from class. Time for bed!
See? Not interesting at all. The only reason I want to be on Twitter is because everyone else is. I know, I know, if everyone jumped off a bridge, would I jump too?
Maybe someday I'll give in. But right now I'm thinking I don't need another distraction on the interwebs.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Why am I here?
I was planning on writing about this topic soon, but I stumbled across this ex-pat blog today and this great post inspired me to write about it today. I guess it also kind of relates to the group blogging topic of a few weeks ago as well.
One question I get asked constantly here in Chile is, "Why are you here?" When people find out that I don't have a pololo chileno (Chilean boyfriend) they find it even harder to believe that I would stay.
Friends and family back at home admire me for making such a courageous decision to move overseas and start a life in a place that most people haven't even heard of. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but for me the decision to move to Chile was the easier option. The thought of finding a grown up job in the U.S. (this was even before the economy tanked) or going right from college to grad school was WAY scarier.
Chile is comfortable. I feel at home here. I like the pace of life. For the most part I like the food. I tolerate Transantiago. One of my best friends lives here and it's wonderful to be able to get together with him and not just talk over a webcam. I have found a group of ex-pat gringas who are wonderful and I love our wine nights and just chatting in general. I like my job and someday (once I no longer have to teach children at 8:30 am on Saturdays) I plan on loving it.
Will I stay here forever? I don't know. I'm only 23 years old, I think it's hard to say anything is "forever" when you are 23. I do know that in general I am happy here. I may have some bad days when I miss my family and friends at home, or days where everything about Chile makes me angry, or bad things might happen to me, but when all is said and done, I'm glad I'm here.
One question I get asked constantly here in Chile is, "Why are you here?" When people find out that I don't have a pololo chileno (Chilean boyfriend) they find it even harder to believe that I would stay.
Friends and family back at home admire me for making such a courageous decision to move overseas and start a life in a place that most people haven't even heard of. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but for me the decision to move to Chile was the easier option. The thought of finding a grown up job in the U.S. (this was even before the economy tanked) or going right from college to grad school was WAY scarier.
Chile is comfortable. I feel at home here. I like the pace of life. For the most part I like the food. I tolerate Transantiago. One of my best friends lives here and it's wonderful to be able to get together with him and not just talk over a webcam. I have found a group of ex-pat gringas who are wonderful and I love our wine nights and just chatting in general. I like my job and someday (once I no longer have to teach children at 8:30 am on Saturdays) I plan on loving it.
Will I stay here forever? I don't know. I'm only 23 years old, I think it's hard to say anything is "forever" when you are 23. I do know that in general I am happy here. I may have some bad days when I miss my family and friends at home, or days where everything about Chile makes me angry, or bad things might happen to me, but when all is said and done, I'm glad I'm here.
Friday, April 17, 2009
I hope nobody finds this creepy!
I'm a pretty vivid dreamer. I almost always remember my dreams and they usually affect my emotions. Sometimes I have really happy dreams and they make me feel good the next day. Sometimes I have really scary dreams and they disturb me a lot. I have woken up sobbing from sad dreams that I have had more times than I can count. Sometimes I think things have happened in real life but it was really only a dream because THEY ARE SO REAL.
I don't know if this is normal. Re-reading that paragraph I sound like a crazy person. I hope I'm not.
Anyway, the point of this post is that last night I had a dream and almost all of the Chile-Bloggers were in it! The thing is, I have met very few of you, but I've seen most of your pictures so I at least know what you look like.
So the dream. Emily (from Don't Call Me Gringa) sent out a video-e-mail (very high tech) inviting us all to her house. In my dream, she lived in a HUGE mansion. It was very high class. There were waiters who brought us wine and fancy hors d'ourves. I don't even know why we were all there, but it was some sort of business meeting because we stared at a powerpoint slideshow of everyone's blogs for awhile. The main people I interacted with in the dream were people I already know (Isabel, Sara, Emily from Chilemily) but do I remember everyone commenting on Kyle's haircut (which is great, by the way!) and Renée sang us all a song (I don't know if you sing in real life, but you sure did in my dream!) At the end everyone had to pay $10.000 pesos for something, maybe the wine? Although I find it hard to believe that we all drank $10.000 pesos worth of Chilean wine.
I think I probably dreamed this because I was catching up on the Chile blogs last night right before bed. Maybe someday if one of us strikes it rich we can have a real fancy party with wine and waiters. But for now, I guess I'll just see you all in my crazy vivid dreams!
I don't know if this is normal. Re-reading that paragraph I sound like a crazy person. I hope I'm not.
Anyway, the point of this post is that last night I had a dream and almost all of the Chile-Bloggers were in it! The thing is, I have met very few of you, but I've seen most of your pictures so I at least know what you look like.
So the dream. Emily (from Don't Call Me Gringa) sent out a video-e-mail (very high tech) inviting us all to her house. In my dream, she lived in a HUGE mansion. It was very high class. There were waiters who brought us wine and fancy hors d'ourves. I don't even know why we were all there, but it was some sort of business meeting because we stared at a powerpoint slideshow of everyone's blogs for awhile. The main people I interacted with in the dream were people I already know (Isabel, Sara, Emily from Chilemily) but do I remember everyone commenting on Kyle's haircut (which is great, by the way!) and Renée sang us all a song (I don't know if you sing in real life, but you sure did in my dream!) At the end everyone had to pay $10.000 pesos for something, maybe the wine? Although I find it hard to believe that we all drank $10.000 pesos worth of Chilean wine.
I think I probably dreamed this because I was catching up on the Chile blogs last night right before bed. Maybe someday if one of us strikes it rich we can have a real fancy party with wine and waiters. But for now, I guess I'll just see you all in my crazy vivid dreams!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Piropos Guaranteed
Feeling a little down? Need some healthy encouragement from the male population of Santiago?
Let me tell you, I have found the way!
Roll out of bed. No need to shower. Put your unwashed hair into a messy pony-tail. Put on some old jeans and flip-flops. Then (this is the important part) put on your bright red Chilean National Selection soccer jersey. Then walk a few blocks to the grocery store.
You'll receive many nice verbal gestures, such as: "Chilena de MI corazón" "Viva Chile mi'jita rica!" plus the typical cat-calls and kissing noises. It's the perfect way to pick you up when you're feeling down! For maximum effect, make sure to walk by at least one construction site, and for good measure time it so you're walking by the secuirty-guard training school right when class is letting out.
If there is anything Chilean men like more than gringas, it's soccer, especially the National Team which is doing so well compared to years past. Put the two together, and it's a fatal combination that will guarantee piropos any day!
Let me tell you, I have found the way!
Roll out of bed. No need to shower. Put your unwashed hair into a messy pony-tail. Put on some old jeans and flip-flops. Then (this is the important part) put on your bright red Chilean National Selection soccer jersey. Then walk a few blocks to the grocery store.
You'll receive many nice verbal gestures, such as: "Chilena de MI corazón" "Viva Chile mi'jita rica!" plus the typical cat-calls and kissing noises. It's the perfect way to pick you up when you're feeling down! For maximum effect, make sure to walk by at least one construction site, and for good measure time it so you're walking by the secuirty-guard training school right when class is letting out.
If there is anything Chilean men like more than gringas, it's soccer, especially the National Team which is doing so well compared to years past. Put the two together, and it's a fatal combination that will guarantee piropos any day!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Not so proud to be a Mule today...
Here and here are some links to the story. The first one has a pretty disturbing video. Each represents a differing point of view.
In case you're not into clicking links, three students were arrested early Sunday morning at Colby. Two were allegedly interfering while Security and Colby Emergency Response were helping a student who was sick from alcohol. I don't know to what extent they were "interfering", but if you watch the video, the response by security and the police seems way over the top, especially for a small liberal arts college in sleepy Waterville, ME.
Luckily, my fellow mules are speaking out. I've been following the discussions on Facebook and it looks like they are pretty organized. I just hope that some real change comes from this.
The relationship between Colby students and Security has been crappy for years. The constantly changing draconian alcohol policies are probably to blame for this. When students are reduced to binge drinking in dorm rooms the size of closets and are afraid to seek medical attention for their friends who may need it, something is wrong. And believe me, the solution is not to make tougher rules. I guess the problem stems from the fact that the drinking age in the U.S. is 21, crating legal issues for the college if it openly allows underage drinking. But honestly, other colleges have figured out a balance that both protects students safety but also allows college kids to be college kids.
Was there a huge drinking problem at your college? How did the Administration/Security punish students for underage drinking?
In case you're not into clicking links, three students were arrested early Sunday morning at Colby. Two were allegedly interfering while Security and Colby Emergency Response were helping a student who was sick from alcohol. I don't know to what extent they were "interfering", but if you watch the video, the response by security and the police seems way over the top, especially for a small liberal arts college in sleepy Waterville, ME.
Luckily, my fellow mules are speaking out. I've been following the discussions on Facebook and it looks like they are pretty organized. I just hope that some real change comes from this.
The relationship between Colby students and Security has been crappy for years. The constantly changing draconian alcohol policies are probably to blame for this. When students are reduced to binge drinking in dorm rooms the size of closets and are afraid to seek medical attention for their friends who may need it, something is wrong. And believe me, the solution is not to make tougher rules. I guess the problem stems from the fact that the drinking age in the U.S. is 21, crating legal issues for the college if it openly allows underage drinking. But honestly, other colleges have figured out a balance that both protects students safety but also allows college kids to be college kids.
Was there a huge drinking problem at your college? How did the Administration/Security punish students for underage drinking?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Unfortunately, I think almost everyone in Santiago has a story somewhat like this
About a week and a half ago I was walking up Salvador to the metro when a bus full of la barra de la U (crazy fans of the UChile soccer team) went by. Someone threw a beer can at me. Unpleasant, but I shook it off, crossed the street and kept walking.
Last Wednesday I was heading to a private class not far from El Estadio Nacional, where La U plays. I didn't realize it was game night and as a bus full of la barra went buy and yelled some not so pleasant things at me. At that moment I thought, "I should find out the schedule so I try to avoid the bus route from my house to the stadium on game days." I even told F. about my idea and he thought it was a good one.
There's some sort of saying about "best laid plans..." but I don't remember it right now.
The fact is, I never looked it up.
Yesterday at 4:30 pm in broad daylight I was walking home from F's house. We live about 15-20 blocks away, so it's totally walkable. I considered taking a micro home, just because I was supposed to go to Isabel's house and was running a little late. But I hate waiting for things, and soon got bored at the bus stop and started walking. About six blocks from my house I see a micro approach jam-backed with la barra. In fact, it was so packed that the back doors weren't shut. It stopped at the stoplight. I thought, "Crap. They're going to yell stuff at me." But I clutched my purse a little tighter, put on my "don't mess with me face" and kept briskly walking.
Then, some (insert many swear words here) guy from the bus runs up behind me and starts grabbing at my purse. As I look back on the situation, I should have just started running in the direction I was already heading because it would have been more difficult to grab my purse. But hindsight is always 20-20. Anyway, without letting go of my purse, I whipped around and started playing tug-of-war with the weon for my purse. Last night I was lamenting that perhaps I didn't fight hard enough, but this morning my left arm is killing me, so I guess I put up a good fight. But he got it.
I stood there, dumbfounded, not knowing what to do. About 100 people on the bus stared back without doing anything. I consdiered running to the micro driver and telling him, but I knew he probably wouldn't do anything, and even if he did, the weon could just escape out the door again (and probably miss the game...hmm...perhaps I should have done that). I thought about yelling ugly swear words at him, but there were a LOT of people (mostly men, mostly part of the barra) on that bus and I feared some sort of retaliation. As I stood there, another guy on the bus mockingly said to me, "Camina no mas, no puedes hacer nada." (Keep walking, there's nothing you can do.) And ultimately, that's what I did.
The material losses weren't that big of a deal. The one I'm most upset about is my cell phone, not because it's the latest model or anything (in fact, I can't type that without laughing) but because of all the contacts, and the fact that work has that number. Now I'll have to go in and tell 10 different people and departments my new number. Huge hassle! But Isabel's boyfriend gave me his old phone (thanks guys!!) and so at least I don't have to buy a new one.
The thing is though, I'm kind of freaked out about walking on the street by myself during the day. And obviously I'm going to have to get over that one pretty quickly or I'll turn into a hermit.
The only small consolation I got is that La U lost yesterday. What can I say? Karma's a bitch.
P.S. Here's La U's schedule for anyone else who may live near the Estadio Nacional, or near the recorrido of the 508, 106, 103 (buses that I've noticed are usually packed with wild fans). Of course if you live near Grecia, I'm sure almost all of those busses are packed on game days.
Last Wednesday I was heading to a private class not far from El Estadio Nacional, where La U plays. I didn't realize it was game night and as a bus full of la barra went buy and yelled some not so pleasant things at me. At that moment I thought, "I should find out the schedule so I try to avoid the bus route from my house to the stadium on game days." I even told F. about my idea and he thought it was a good one.
There's some sort of saying about "best laid plans..." but I don't remember it right now.
The fact is, I never looked it up.
Yesterday at 4:30 pm in broad daylight I was walking home from F's house. We live about 15-20 blocks away, so it's totally walkable. I considered taking a micro home, just because I was supposed to go to Isabel's house and was running a little late. But I hate waiting for things, and soon got bored at the bus stop and started walking. About six blocks from my house I see a micro approach jam-backed with la barra. In fact, it was so packed that the back doors weren't shut. It stopped at the stoplight. I thought, "Crap. They're going to yell stuff at me." But I clutched my purse a little tighter, put on my "don't mess with me face" and kept briskly walking.
Then, some (insert many swear words here) guy from the bus runs up behind me and starts grabbing at my purse. As I look back on the situation, I should have just started running in the direction I was already heading because it would have been more difficult to grab my purse. But hindsight is always 20-20. Anyway, without letting go of my purse, I whipped around and started playing tug-of-war with the weon for my purse. Last night I was lamenting that perhaps I didn't fight hard enough, but this morning my left arm is killing me, so I guess I put up a good fight. But he got it.
I stood there, dumbfounded, not knowing what to do. About 100 people on the bus stared back without doing anything. I consdiered running to the micro driver and telling him, but I knew he probably wouldn't do anything, and even if he did, the weon could just escape out the door again (and probably miss the game...hmm...perhaps I should have done that). I thought about yelling ugly swear words at him, but there were a LOT of people (mostly men, mostly part of the barra) on that bus and I feared some sort of retaliation. As I stood there, another guy on the bus mockingly said to me, "Camina no mas, no puedes hacer nada." (Keep walking, there's nothing you can do.) And ultimately, that's what I did.
The material losses weren't that big of a deal. The one I'm most upset about is my cell phone, not because it's the latest model or anything (in fact, I can't type that without laughing) but because of all the contacts, and the fact that work has that number. Now I'll have to go in and tell 10 different people and departments my new number. Huge hassle! But Isabel's boyfriend gave me his old phone (thanks guys!!) and so at least I don't have to buy a new one.
The thing is though, I'm kind of freaked out about walking on the street by myself during the day. And obviously I'm going to have to get over that one pretty quickly or I'll turn into a hermit.
The only small consolation I got is that La U lost yesterday. What can I say? Karma's a bitch.
P.S. Here's La U's schedule for anyone else who may live near the Estadio Nacional, or near the recorrido of the 508, 106, 103 (buses that I've noticed are usually packed with wild fans). Of course if you live near Grecia, I'm sure almost all of those busses are packed on game days.
Friday, April 10, 2009
My "Diet" Secrets
Chileans are blunt when it comes to physical appearances. I should be used to it by now, but it still sometimes comes as a shock.
Last night at F.'s birthday party as we were all waiting for him to arrive, his cousin came up to me and asked how I was doing, I said fine, then she said, very bluntly, "Estai más delgada, no?" (You're thinner, right?) Then she asked what diet I was on.
I had no idea what to say. I didn't know if I was skinnier, but I did know that I had just spent two days in bed with a stomach bug and had eaten about 2 soda crackers and 1 piece of toast. So I told her that was my diet secret. She looked slightly horrified but then replied that I looked good.
F.'s aunt is also after my diet secrets. She is crushed to know that I don't have any. I don't diet. What's true though is that I eat less now than I did in the US. In college, the all-you-can-eat buffet style meal plan was NOT good for my figure. Especially the delicious deserts. All that combined with a pretty sedentary lifestyle had some negative effects. But now that I have to buy my own food, I think about portions and buying economically. Today I had to throw out some food because after not eating for 2+ days, some things in the fridge went bad. It broke my heart! Also, I don't keep snack food in the house, so if I'm hungry between meals I'm pretty much forced to eat something healthy like fruit. And I'm no longer sedentary. I walk A LOT and ocasionally muster up enough will power to schlep around Ines de Suarez Park a few times.
And so far, it's been working to my advantage, especially if you ask the women in F.'s family.
I wouldn't know. We have a fat mirror here in the casita and I don't own a scale.
Last night at F.'s birthday party as we were all waiting for him to arrive, his cousin came up to me and asked how I was doing, I said fine, then she said, very bluntly, "Estai más delgada, no?" (You're thinner, right?) Then she asked what diet I was on.
I had no idea what to say. I didn't know if I was skinnier, but I did know that I had just spent two days in bed with a stomach bug and had eaten about 2 soda crackers and 1 piece of toast. So I told her that was my diet secret. She looked slightly horrified but then replied that I looked good.
F.'s aunt is also after my diet secrets. She is crushed to know that I don't have any. I don't diet. What's true though is that I eat less now than I did in the US. In college, the all-you-can-eat buffet style meal plan was NOT good for my figure. Especially the delicious deserts. All that combined with a pretty sedentary lifestyle had some negative effects. But now that I have to buy my own food, I think about portions and buying economically. Today I had to throw out some food because after not eating for 2+ days, some things in the fridge went bad. It broke my heart! Also, I don't keep snack food in the house, so if I'm hungry between meals I'm pretty much forced to eat something healthy like fruit. And I'm no longer sedentary. I walk A LOT and ocasionally muster up enough will power to schlep around Ines de Suarez Park a few times.
And so far, it's been working to my advantage, especially if you ask the women in F.'s family.
I wouldn't know. We have a fat mirror here in the casita and I don't own a scale.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
I've always loved this movie...
There's Something About Mary has always been one of my favorite movies, but last night this scene had me in stitches.
You only have to watch until about 1:30 to get what I'm talking about. There's an even funnier scene later on. This time fast forward to 2:38.
"Who's been to Santiago Chile twice in one year?" Hahahaha.
On a completely unrelated note, I was trying to finish that translation today, and so I googled "cifras ciruclatorias" in quotation marks. The only site that came up? My own post complaining about the lack of formatting in word. Ha.
You only have to watch until about 1:30 to get what I'm talking about. There's an even funnier scene later on. This time fast forward to 2:38.
"Who's been to Santiago Chile twice in one year?" Hahahaha.
On a completely unrelated note, I was trying to finish that translation today, and so I googled "cifras ciruclatorias" in quotation marks. The only site that came up? My own post complaining about the lack of formatting in word. Ha.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Guide to Chilean Courtesy, Part 2
A while ago I posted a Guide to Chilean Courtesy. Here you have Part 2.
1. Cover your mouth when you yawn. This is similar to how we cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze in the US. Although I think the concern here is not so much about the spreading of germs as the ugly way your mouth looks when it's wide open. I'm especially bad at this one and people often cover my mouth for me.
2. When you bring special food home, like chocolate, cookies or soda, be prepared to share with everyone in the house. Isabel mentioned this one in the comments of my last post and it's dead on. I also think that Lydia has mentioned this before too. Once I figured out that this was the norm here, I've never really had a problem with it. After all, it's way healthier to share a chocolate bar with 4 people than eat the whole thing yourself. But I totally understand that now, as I'm trying to support myself, buying a chocolate bar is a luxury that I might want to savor and not share with everyone.
3. Standing up is awkward. People get uncomfortable here when you are standing while everyone else is sitting. This also happened in El Salvador, and they even had a saying, "Sientete o vas a dejar de crecer." (Sit down or you'll stop growing). Chileans are quick to say "Sit down!" even if there isn't a chair. This happened to me tonight when I went over to say hi to the family. They told me to sit down more than once even though there wasn't an extra chair. I told them I was fine and insisted they didn't go look for a chair. Everyone stared at me like I had two heads.
4. While eating, keep your hands above the table. This doesn't mean putting your elbows on the table, which is considered rude just as it is in the U.S., but rather resting your forearms on the table.
Any more suggestions?
1. Cover your mouth when you yawn. This is similar to how we cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze in the US. Although I think the concern here is not so much about the spreading of germs as the ugly way your mouth looks when it's wide open. I'm especially bad at this one and people often cover my mouth for me.
2. When you bring special food home, like chocolate, cookies or soda, be prepared to share with everyone in the house. Isabel mentioned this one in the comments of my last post and it's dead on. I also think that Lydia has mentioned this before too. Once I figured out that this was the norm here, I've never really had a problem with it. After all, it's way healthier to share a chocolate bar with 4 people than eat the whole thing yourself. But I totally understand that now, as I'm trying to support myself, buying a chocolate bar is a luxury that I might want to savor and not share with everyone.
3. Standing up is awkward. People get uncomfortable here when you are standing while everyone else is sitting. This also happened in El Salvador, and they even had a saying, "Sientete o vas a dejar de crecer." (Sit down or you'll stop growing). Chileans are quick to say "Sit down!" even if there isn't a chair. This happened to me tonight when I went over to say hi to the family. They told me to sit down more than once even though there wasn't an extra chair. I told them I was fine and insisted they didn't go look for a chair. Everyone stared at me like I had two heads.
4. While eating, keep your hands above the table. This doesn't mean putting your elbows on the table, which is considered rude just as it is in the U.S., but rather resting your forearms on the table.
Any more suggestions?
Sick
Yesterday I woke up very sick. I'll spare the gory details, but by around 4:00pm I had developed a fever of 101. I felt like crap. My host sister, who is basically my hero (and a doctor), looked me over and told me I wasn't going to die. What a relief! She gave me some gotas for my stomach ache and told me to drink lots of water and sent me to bed. I actually started to feel better after that, although I didn't sleep the greatest last night.
Now I feel better. Not 100% by any means, but if I had woken up feeling like this yesterday, I would have gone to work. Now I don't know if I should or not. My class isn't until 7:00pm tonight, but if I go that means working until 10:30pm.
I always have this dilemma the day after I'm sick. I'm usually too antsy to stay in bed all day, but if I do too much, I end up back in bed the next day. So I think I'm going to not be so stubborn and call in sick again. I'll just have to have my sister write me a sick note, because in Chile they think everyone is still in 3rd grade and it's required. No such things as sick days here.
Today I think I will watch episodes of TV online, because after watching Chilean TV all day yesterday I'm pretty sick of it. I get like 8 movie channels and none of them were showing something I wanted to watch. I watched the same episodes of Friends and Two and a Half Men in the morning and at night. Also, my remote is semi-broken and the numbers don't work, so you have to use the up-down arrows which gets annoying if you want to bop back and forth between channel 32 and 65.
Now I feel better. Not 100% by any means, but if I had woken up feeling like this yesterday, I would have gone to work. Now I don't know if I should or not. My class isn't until 7:00pm tonight, but if I go that means working until 10:30pm.
I always have this dilemma the day after I'm sick. I'm usually too antsy to stay in bed all day, but if I do too much, I end up back in bed the next day. So I think I'm going to not be so stubborn and call in sick again. I'll just have to have my sister write me a sick note, because in Chile they think everyone is still in 3rd grade and it's required. No such things as sick days here.
Today I think I will watch episodes of TV online, because after watching Chilean TV all day yesterday I'm pretty sick of it. I get like 8 movie channels and none of them were showing something I wanted to watch. I watched the same episodes of Friends and Two and a Half Men in the morning and at night. Also, my remote is semi-broken and the numbers don't work, so you have to use the up-down arrows which gets annoying if you want to bop back and forth between channel 32 and 65.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A Good Birthday
Today I turned 23. According to everyone here, I'm just a "niña" and I guess if you think about it in Chile terms, I am.
Last night I had some friends over for wine and food and conversation. It was fun and thanks to everyone who came!
Today I woke up and spoke with my lovely family, then made pancakes with F. (even though he thought it was a very strange lunch, I told him it was my birthday and I could do what I want...hehehe). Then I took a much needed nap and Isabel came over. My host mom came rushing in about an hour later with empanadas and cake and we chatted for awhile with my host sister U., Sara and J., my gringo host brother.
Now I'm watching some TV and drinking tea because I think I'm getting a cold :(.
Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes and who made my day special! I really appreciate it.
Last night I had some friends over for wine and food and conversation. It was fun and thanks to everyone who came!
Today I woke up and spoke with my lovely family, then made pancakes with F. (even though he thought it was a very strange lunch, I told him it was my birthday and I could do what I want...hehehe). Then I took a much needed nap and Isabel came over. My host mom came rushing in about an hour later with empanadas and cake and we chatted for awhile with my host sister U., Sara and J., my gringo host brother.
Now I'm watching some TV and drinking tea because I think I'm getting a cold :(.
Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes and who made my day special! I really appreciate it.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Photos from the Estadio
The stadium from outside
F. and I(note my Chile jersey!! It was my surprise early Birthday present!)
Father and Son(se nota, no?)
Sitting down before the game starts
Sunset over the stadium while they sing the Chilean National Anthem
The Gallery...next time I want to sit there :)
More of the National AnthemAll photos courtesy of F.'s Dad
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Ways to make me angry
1. Make me wake up at the ungodly hour of 6:00am.
2. Make me spend 45 minutes on the metro, standing up, squished between construction workers and one of two women on the whole train.
3. Make me wait for 40 minutes for a student that isn't going to show up.
4. Tell me "Ooops! I guess I didn't get his e-mail saying he isn't going to show up today!"
5. Make me repeat Step 2.
6. Make me take a stupid color test to make sure I'm not crazy.
2. Make me spend 45 minutes on the metro, standing up, squished between construction workers and one of two women on the whole train.
3. Make me wait for 40 minutes for a student that isn't going to show up.
4. Tell me "Ooops! I guess I didn't get his e-mail saying he isn't going to show up today!"
5. Make me repeat Step 2.
6. Make me take a stupid color test to make sure I'm not crazy.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Chile beats Uruguay 2-0 in Exciting Match at Estadio Nacional!
April Fools!!
Okay, so Chile didn't win. They tied 0-0 with Uruguay yesterday. But I still had a lot of fun my first time at the Estadio Nacional for a game.
I wouldn't call myself a sports fan, but I am a team fan, if you get my drift. For example, I LOVE the Boston Red Sox, and the Celtics and the Patriots. But put on a baseball game between any other two teams and I could care less. Same goes for Basketball or American Football.
Last night, I felt like Chile was my team, even though I'm not Chilean. But I got really into the game and felt like I was going to have a heart attack every time Urugay got close to scoring a goal. I got excited every time Chile got past half field. I was ripped when the stupid Argentinian referee gave the defense player 2 yellow cards and kicked him out of the game.
I sang along to the songs and chants. (Although I couldn't bring myself to yell the swear words...I guess I'm just too much of a lady). I wish I could have whistled every time the small Urugyan section started to chant, but unfortunatelly I can't whistle.
But most of all, I was disappointed not to be able to yell "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!" because Chile didn't score. But alas, that just means I'll have to go back in June when they play again.
Okay, so Chile didn't win. They tied 0-0 with Uruguay yesterday. But I still had a lot of fun my first time at the Estadio Nacional for a game.
I wouldn't call myself a sports fan, but I am a team fan, if you get my drift. For example, I LOVE the Boston Red Sox, and the Celtics and the Patriots. But put on a baseball game between any other two teams and I could care less. Same goes for Basketball or American Football.
Last night, I felt like Chile was my team, even though I'm not Chilean. But I got really into the game and felt like I was going to have a heart attack every time Urugay got close to scoring a goal. I got excited every time Chile got past half field. I was ripped when the stupid Argentinian referee gave the defense player 2 yellow cards and kicked him out of the game.
I sang along to the songs and chants. (Although I couldn't bring myself to yell the swear words...I guess I'm just too much of a lady). I wish I could have whistled every time the small Urugyan section started to chant, but unfortunatelly I can't whistle.
But most of all, I was disappointed not to be able to yell "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!" because Chile didn't score. But alas, that just means I'll have to go back in June when they play again.
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