I blinked and two weeks passed.
Honestly, I felt like I wrote in this blog just the other day, and then people started asking me what I'd been doing lately...I told them to check my blog and then realized that I was directing people to something that hardly reflects my experiences anymore. Granted, I will always be a foreigner here, but I feel like instead of a constant influx of adjustment, I've settled into more of a routine...as much of a routine as you can have in Chile, that is.
So, in answer to the question of what I've been doing these past two weeks...here are the highlights:
Mama Cecilia's Birthday:
My "sisters" Miriam and Claudia and their kids came to our little apartment to celebrate. Octavio made sopapillas, we had several types of pastries, champagne and pisco sour, and of course, cake. Definitely a LOT of food for a typical "once"...I think I must have been getting used to the meal schedule here because you all know how much I can eat if I put my mind to it, but I had a hard time eating everything! The celebration was a lot of fun, everyone was laughing together and making jokes (sometimes I had a hard time following...this was only a few days after I'd arrived). But playing the dumb gringa came in handy when they started joking about me being the future "cunada" (daughter-in-law). Sometimes, ignorance is truly bliss. Aside from that, it was one of my favorite experiences of Chile so far. My family is so welcoming, warm, and inviting, and I feel truly blessed to be living with them. Another thing I really loved about the celebration was when everyone went around the table and told Mama Cecilia how much they love her and what she means to them. I'm not sure if this is a traditional Chilean custom or if it's just my family, but it was definitely special.
Beach Adventures:
I am incredibly spoiled. The beach is a mere 30 minute walk from my house. After linguistics one day, a group of us walked down to the playa (beach) to take in the gorgeous view (there are some pictures on Facebook). We ended up exploring an old dock which was absolutely covered in graffiti. Though I am not a proponent of defacing of public property, I have to say that I love the graffiti here. Perhaps this is my inner Olympia speaking, but it is so artistic and some pieces are particularly impressive and expressive. We ended up crossing a very narrow ledge that no one felt like crossing again to go back, so we piled up some rocks and just climbed over the barrier next to the sidewalk...crazy gringos.
Another day, we walked down to the beach to watch the sunset, which was absolutely amazing because you can watch the sun sink all the way down into the water.
Concierto de Musica Andina:
My art prof has connections. He got us tickets to attend a concert of Andean music at the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater). Before the show, he gave us a personal tour of the theater and even got us seated so we could watch the student group rehearse their entrance. Two groups performed, one was university students from Santiago who played more traditional Andean music. Second was a more contemporary artist named Elizabeth Morris. Then the two groups performed together, and it was absolutely incredible. The final song "Pescador" was so upbeat and joyful, all the musicians just looked like they were having the time of their lives onstage. Needless to say, we gave them a standing ovation and demanded an encore. However, they hadn't rehearsed another song together, so they ended up playing "Feliz Cumpleanos." Actually, they re-played one of the songs they played before, but it would have been hilarious if they'd played "Feliz Cumpleanos" instead.
Skiing at Portillo:
Perhaps one of the best bragging rights I will ever have in life is that I went skiing in the Andes (and I didn't fall once). I wish that I could fully express to you all how amazingly gorgeous it was. I know that there are some pictures circulating on Facebook because everyone was snapping a million pictures a minute (I'll get mine up eventually...updating one thing at a time haha) but pictures don't really do justice to the actual experience because you aren't completely surrounded by towering mountains, a postcard-perfect blue sky, and sparkling snow. It wasn't cold, either...quite the contrary--underneath my snowpants and jacket all I had on was a tank top and shorts. A lot of people got sunburnt, too (not me though--thank you 70+ Spf!!!)
So there I was, all ready to go...but having not skiied in 3 years. And the blue runs in the Andes are a little different than the blue runs at White Pass. I remember pausing as I looked down a lot steeper than I'd expected...like a LOT steeper...rather petrified. But then I was flying down the mountain, completely exhilarated...I forgot how much I love skiing. Really, words fail to describe what an awesome experience it was.
Discoteca Goose:
Saturday night was a blast. Almost everyone in the group went to a dance club called Goose, and we had a ton of fun together. Chile is absolutely wonderful and I can already tell that this will be one of the best experiences of my life; in all, I'm having an amazing time. But it can also be stressful trying to figure out an entirely different language, culture, and way of doing things--Goose gave us a chance to cut loose and, as Lady Gaga would say, Just Dance.
Those are the highlights, and I'm super stoked that I've had all these experiences...and this is only Week 3. But being immersed in Chilean culture also means having a regular life here, too. I have my daily schedule of classes and service learning (will blog about those later), the typical spots where I hang out like Bravvisimo (BEST helado/ice cream) and Enjoy Cafe, the same walking routes (I spend 1-2 hours a day walking from place to place), eating meals with the family, and doing homework. Speaking of which, I should probably make my way down to a new cafe we're trying today and start cracking down on my homework.
Please keep me updated on your lives, too--I always read e-mails even if I don't respond right away or only a quick reply. And remember, as always, I love love love you all!
Honestly, I felt like I wrote in this blog just the other day, and then people started asking me what I'd been doing lately...I told them to check my blog and then realized that I was directing people to something that hardly reflects my experiences anymore. Granted, I will always be a foreigner here, but I feel like instead of a constant influx of adjustment, I've settled into more of a routine...as much of a routine as you can have in Chile, that is.
So, in answer to the question of what I've been doing these past two weeks...here are the highlights:
Mama Cecilia's Birthday:
My "sisters" Miriam and Claudia and their kids came to our little apartment to celebrate. Octavio made sopapillas, we had several types of pastries, champagne and pisco sour, and of course, cake. Definitely a LOT of food for a typical "once"...I think I must have been getting used to the meal schedule here because you all know how much I can eat if I put my mind to it, but I had a hard time eating everything! The celebration was a lot of fun, everyone was laughing together and making jokes (sometimes I had a hard time following...this was only a few days after I'd arrived). But playing the dumb gringa came in handy when they started joking about me being the future "cunada" (daughter-in-law). Sometimes, ignorance is truly bliss. Aside from that, it was one of my favorite experiences of Chile so far. My family is so welcoming, warm, and inviting, and I feel truly blessed to be living with them. Another thing I really loved about the celebration was when everyone went around the table and told Mama Cecilia how much they love her and what she means to them. I'm not sure if this is a traditional Chilean custom or if it's just my family, but it was definitely special.Beach Adventures:
I am incredibly spoiled. The beach is a mere 30 minute walk from my house. After linguistics one day, a group of us walked down to the playa (beach) to take in the gorgeous view (there are some pictures on Facebook). We ended up exploring an old dock which was absolutely covered in graffiti. Though I am not a proponent of defacing of public property, I have to say that I love the graffiti here. Perhaps this is my inner Olympia speaking, but it is so artistic and some pieces are particularly impressive and expressive. We ended up crossing a very narrow ledge that no one felt like crossing again to go back, so we piled up some rocks and just climbed over the barrier next to the sidewalk...crazy gringos.
Another day, we walked down to the beach to watch the sunset, which was absolutely amazing because you can watch the sun sink all the way down into the water.
Concierto de Musica Andina:
My art prof has connections. He got us tickets to attend a concert of Andean music at the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater). Before the show, he gave us a personal tour of the theater and even got us seated so we could watch the student group rehearse their entrance. Two groups performed, one was university students from Santiago who played more traditional Andean music. Second was a more contemporary artist named Elizabeth Morris. Then the two groups performed together, and it was absolutely incredible. The final song "Pescador" was so upbeat and joyful, all the musicians just looked like they were having the time of their lives onstage. Needless to say, we gave them a standing ovation and demanded an encore. However, they hadn't rehearsed another song together, so they ended up playing "Feliz Cumpleanos." Actually, they re-played one of the songs they played before, but it would have been hilarious if they'd played "Feliz Cumpleanos" instead.
Skiing at Portillo:
Perhaps one of the best bragging rights I will ever have in life is that I went skiing in the Andes (and I didn't fall once). I wish that I could fully express to you all how amazingly gorgeous it was. I know that there are some pictures circulating on Facebook because everyone was snapping a million pictures a minute (I'll get mine up eventually...updating one thing at a time haha) but pictures don't really do justice to the actual experience because you aren't completely surrounded by towering mountains, a postcard-perfect blue sky, and sparkling snow. It wasn't cold, either...quite the contrary--underneath my snowpants and jacket all I had on was a tank top and shorts. A lot of people got sunburnt, too (not me though--thank you 70+ Spf!!!)So there I was, all ready to go...but having not skiied in 3 years. And the blue runs in the Andes are a little different than the blue runs at White Pass. I remember pausing as I looked down a lot steeper than I'd expected...like a LOT steeper...rather petrified. But then I was flying down the mountain, completely exhilarated...I forgot how much I love skiing. Really, words fail to describe what an awesome experience it was.
Discoteca Goose:
Saturday night was a blast. Almost everyone in the group went to a dance club called Goose, and we had a ton of fun together. Chile is absolutely wonderful and I can already tell that this will be one of the best experiences of my life; in all, I'm having an amazing time. But it can also be stressful trying to figure out an entirely different language, culture, and way of doing things--Goose gave us a chance to cut loose and, as Lady Gaga would say, Just Dance.
Those are the highlights, and I'm super stoked that I've had all these experiences...and this is only Week 3. But being immersed in Chilean culture also means having a regular life here, too. I have my daily schedule of classes and service learning (will blog about those later), the typical spots where I hang out like Bravvisimo (BEST helado/ice cream) and Enjoy Cafe, the same walking routes (I spend 1-2 hours a day walking from place to place), eating meals with the family, and doing homework. Speaking of which, I should probably make my way down to a new cafe we're trying today and start cracking down on my homework.
Please keep me updated on your lives, too--I always read e-mails even if I don't respond right away or only a quick reply. And remember, as always, I love love love you all!
Oh, Angela, it sounds like you're having so much FUN! the skiing is just...awesome. I'm not a skier myself, but man, that just sounds cool, to say you skiied the Andes. I leave for Ireland in eight days and celebrated birthday number twenty today.
ReplyDelete