Like most Spanish speaking countries, Chile has its own word for "party". In Chile, that word is carrete, and that's what I've spent this weekend doing. Discotheques, asados (bbqs), bars, la vida loca!!! All of you who understand Junior Year Anna would be very proud of me :)
Today my host family barbequed for my birthday. We had carne, empanadas, ensalada, papas, y choripan (sandwiches made with bread, chorizo sausage, and mayo) super delicioso!! And then, I got not one, but TWO delicious cakes!!! One was made of crispy waffle-like stuff, like what rosettes are made of, plus raspberries, custard, manjar (dulce de leche caramel), all covered in merengue. INSANE!!! And the other one was tres leche, YUM :) They sang Cumpleaños Feliz, it was a GREAT birthday celebration!! (One day early, of course, because we all have classes and work tomorrow.
I have met many new friends this weekend from Chile, France, Italy, Sweden, all amazing people! My Chilean adventure has been a bit like a book which takes a few chapters to get into (like 3 weeks) but once you get past the first few chapters you cannot put it down. Well, I'm past those few chapters and now I cannot stop reading!!!!!! So this week is more classes, and next weekend we're going on our first group excursion to Pomaire, an artisan village near Santiago. Today I think I'll head to the beach to try and read, try being the operative word in that sentence. It's a GORGEOUS day! The weather is getting warmer and sunnier every day.
Love to all!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Hitting Home
Well, home came to me in Chile in more ways than one today. First of all, I recieved the very sad news that we had to put our precious puppy, Meeko to sleep after learning that he had a mass on his spleen and was bleeding internally. My darling dog of 11 years will be greatly missed by all of us!!! :( I will miss him SO MUCH when I come home this December.
Secondly, the images and words of the Democratic National Convention have been streaming in from Denver for the past few hours in the lead up to Hillary Clinton's address. It's very amazing to watch this race from a different country, a different hemisphere! I miss the U.S., even more, I miss Minnesota. Our nation is a great one which I'm glad to be representing during these months abroad!
Secondly, the images and words of the Democratic National Convention have been streaming in from Denver for the past few hours in the lead up to Hillary Clinton's address. It's very amazing to watch this race from a different country, a different hemisphere! I miss the U.S., even more, I miss Minnesota. Our nation is a great one which I'm glad to be representing during these months abroad!
Friday, August 22, 2008
My first house call
Well, shortly after my last post, my medical condition worsened and I ended up with the sorest throat I've had in my life! My whole body hurt every time I swallowed. Turns out I have strep throat--too much cold and humid air and too little sleep. Today my host mom called a doctor to pay me a visit. I've never had a house visit, it was amazing, only something I've seen in a movie. Two Chilean doctors came and checked my vitals and left me with a prescription for Cefadroxilo, an oral penicillin. I have to take this twice a day for 7 days.
I feel so blessed by everyone who has been taking care of me. In a weird way, I am glad I got sick. I feel like it is my body's way of shedding all the energy that is holding me back from jumping into this experience, or any reservations I might have. I know I will recover from this infection more aware, present, and attentive to this experience. Everything is a blessing. Some blessings are just hard to swallow.
So I'll stay in my bed for a few more days, drinking tea, and eating soup, yogurt, and flan. Watching cable TV and doing some homework. Then back to classes on Monday!!
Over and out,
Anna
I feel so blessed by everyone who has been taking care of me. In a weird way, I am glad I got sick. I feel like it is my body's way of shedding all the energy that is holding me back from jumping into this experience, or any reservations I might have. I know I will recover from this infection more aware, present, and attentive to this experience. Everything is a blessing. Some blessings are just hard to swallow.
So I'll stay in my bed for a few more days, drinking tea, and eating soup, yogurt, and flan. Watching cable TV and doing some homework. Then back to classes on Monday!!
Over and out,
Anna
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Feelin' Better
I just spent the entire day in bed with a fever. But no worries, my host family has been taking great care of me, especially Nely, who has been bringing me tea and ibuprofen and cookies and soup! Yay :) Anyways, my host mom wanted me to switch rooms, so I've moved upstairs to a warmer room. I swear, this place is like a 5-star hotel and world-class hospital all in one. I've just gotta keep taking Advil for the sore throat and I should be fine in no time.
So last night our class went to Santiago, the capital, for a film premier at the Palacio de la Moneda, which is the Chilean equivalent of the White House. It was pretty incredible. I am very excited to return to Santiago and spend a weekend exploring! It's such a beatiful city. Very European, with enchanting narrow side streets and busy thoroughfares.
Well, I'll have more to tell later. Over and out!
So last night our class went to Santiago, the capital, for a film premier at the Palacio de la Moneda, which is the Chilean equivalent of the White House. It was pretty incredible. I am very excited to return to Santiago and spend a weekend exploring! It's such a beatiful city. Very European, with enchanting narrow side streets and busy thoroughfares.
Well, I'll have more to tell later. Over and out!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
To market to market to...buy mountains of fruits and veggies!!
So, I just had my first experience of a Latin-American market. I went with my host brother Ignacio and our housekeeper, Neli. There, we bought more than 20 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables (lemons, spinach, tomatoes, kiwis, artichokes, cauliflower, lettuce, apples, etc.) for the equivalent of $24 USD. Mom and Charmagne, you two would probably faint at the sight of so much fresh, delicious, cheap produce!!
Today, the sun finally came out after a day of rain which put many rivers over their banks, including the one next to the usual market area (which left the stand owners and their produce to organize themselves along a narrow street). Many people have been asking me for photos. I will surely bring my camera when we go to the feria (market) next week. Once I see everything here with my eyes, I will be better able to capture it with a lens for all of you to see.
On Thursday I finally went out walking through the city. I walked down to the beach, which is a 15 min walk from my house (maybe 20 min.). By the beach there is a boardwalk with artisan stands. I walked along the beach (trying to avoid the waves, but I ended up getting my boots wet). After walking along the beach I went to a yoga center to find information about their classes. I might do yoga while I'm here. We'll see.
Today we had our first group meeting with all the CSB-SJU students and directors at the university. I'm going to try out rowing!! They've got rowing! I was so hoping that I could do rowing here! Yay!
Tonight I'm going out salsa dancing with my host mom tonight. Then maybe out to a club. We'll see. Monday I start classes.
Laters.
Today, the sun finally came out after a day of rain which put many rivers over their banks, including the one next to the usual market area (which left the stand owners and their produce to organize themselves along a narrow street). Many people have been asking me for photos. I will surely bring my camera when we go to the feria (market) next week. Once I see everything here with my eyes, I will be better able to capture it with a lens for all of you to see.
On Thursday I finally went out walking through the city. I walked down to the beach, which is a 15 min walk from my house (maybe 20 min.). By the beach there is a boardwalk with artisan stands. I walked along the beach (trying to avoid the waves, but I ended up getting my boots wet). After walking along the beach I went to a yoga center to find information about their classes. I might do yoga while I'm here. We'll see.
Today we had our first group meeting with all the CSB-SJU students and directors at the university. I'm going to try out rowing!! They've got rowing! I was so hoping that I could do rowing here! Yay!
Tonight I'm going out salsa dancing with my host mom tonight. Then maybe out to a club. We'll see. Monday I start classes.
Laters.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
My first class, and more about Chilean life
Today I had my first class in Chile. The professor seems like an amazing woman. She is as passionate about her subject, ancient civilization, as she is passionate about "metodologia de ensenanza", pedagogy. That always makes for a fantastic professor. I am very excited for this class. She speaks at the speed of a machine gun, but I understood the majority of her 2.5 hour lecture today, so I should be fine.
Tomorrow is my last day "alone" as the only CSBSJU student in Chile. It's going to be odd to welcome the whole group on Friday. I'm excited to see them, of course, but I've very much enjoyed my independence in this new experience and the opportunity to discover this city on my own. Well, I'll have to make the best of tomorrow, then. I have the whole day free before my host sister and I have a movie night :)
One of my favorite Chilean customs so far (or customs of my Chilean family) is that every night at 7 or 8 I eat the evening meal with my host parents. As I said, the third meal of the day is the smallest here. So every night we take our tea and whatever else--tonight I had yogurt, toast, and soup--and retire to my host parents' room to watch the TV or the news and chat about the day while we eat. I've only been here a few days, but I already know this is one of the things I will miss when I leave Chile.
Thanks to all who have sent emails and asked to add people to my blog list. Please, let me know if there's anyone I should add. Hopefully I'll have some pics to put up soon from my life in Chile!
Hasta luego.
Tomorrow is my last day "alone" as the only CSBSJU student in Chile. It's going to be odd to welcome the whole group on Friday. I'm excited to see them, of course, but I've very much enjoyed my independence in this new experience and the opportunity to discover this city on my own. Well, I'll have to make the best of tomorrow, then. I have the whole day free before my host sister and I have a movie night :)
One of my favorite Chilean customs so far (or customs of my Chilean family) is that every night at 7 or 8 I eat the evening meal with my host parents. As I said, the third meal of the day is the smallest here. So every night we take our tea and whatever else--tonight I had yogurt, toast, and soup--and retire to my host parents' room to watch the TV or the news and chat about the day while we eat. I've only been here a few days, but I already know this is one of the things I will miss when I leave Chile.
Thanks to all who have sent emails and asked to add people to my blog list. Please, let me know if there's anyone I should add. Hopefully I'll have some pics to put up soon from my life in Chile!
Hasta luego.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Ya me enamoro (Already in Love)
I woke up to in my new Chilean bed for the first time today. I am already in love with this country and this city! Last night I drove across town with my host mom to play cards with her mom and sister. On the way she showed me the three cities nestled between and sprawling over the hills by the sea. High scale Reñaca lies to the north, urban Valparaíso to the south and my new home, the beautiful Viña del Mar, in the middle. Jon, you would love the five star hotels (two of them) and the Casino de Viña, which looks pretty much like Monte Carlo.
Today we will walk an hour down the boardwalks by artisan stands and parks if the weather is nice. I feel so accepted and loved by my host family. They are such amazing people. I feel so infinitely blessed by this voyage and those I’ve met so far.
My tummy is grumbling, so I think I’ll go into the kitchen to find some breakfast. My host mom told me to make myself at home and explore the cabinets to find what I need. Meals are very different here, but they all include tea. Yummy tea! Mom, you would love that. We eat lunch at 2pm, and dinner at 7 or 8pm. Dinner here (or in my house, at least) is the smallest meal; tea, bread, eggs, and something sweet. I’m falling right into the Chilean routine and loving every bit of it.
Hasta pronto,
Anna
Today we will walk an hour down the boardwalks by artisan stands and parks if the weather is nice. I feel so accepted and loved by my host family. They are such amazing people. I feel so infinitely blessed by this voyage and those I’ve met so far.
My tummy is grumbling, so I think I’ll go into the kitchen to find some breakfast. My host mom told me to make myself at home and explore the cabinets to find what I need. Meals are very different here, but they all include tea. Yummy tea! Mom, you would love that. We eat lunch at 2pm, and dinner at 7 or 8pm. Dinner here (or in my house, at least) is the smallest meal; tea, bread, eggs, and something sweet. I’m falling right into the Chilean routine and loving every bit of it.
Hasta pronto,
Anna
My Unintentional Olypmic Boycott
I always forget that there is no free wireless internet in airports. So I’m here in Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, typing this blog entry into a Word doc. One flight down, one more to go. My flight from MSP was great. I sat next to a kid named Robbie on his way from hockey camp in St. Cloud (small world) to his family’s cottage in Canada. We chatted the whole time.
I’m listening to a new mix from my dear Caitlin. It’s so much fun to listen to a new mix, not knowing what song to next expect!
The only disappointment of my voyage this far is that a bank called HSBC basically owns this airport (there ads are everywhere). And apparently this HSBC feels very strongly that every television in the terminal should show only the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Service) with intermittent commercials and weather reports. On any other night, this would not bother me. However, as I’m sure you are all aware, tonight is 8.8.08!! The opening of the Beijing Olympics! I have been an ardent fan of the Olympics since birth, so this is a small tragedy for me. I was so excited to catch the last part of the opening ceremony from an international location in a crowd of international travelers. Alas, that’s apparently not the Universe’s (or HSBC’s) plan for me tonight.
Well, this is a good encouragement for me to dig into the next chapter of Eat, Pray, Love. Thanks to all (especially Mom, Dad, and Jon) for your encouragement, support, prayers, guidance, love, financial support, etc. as I launch into this adventure!! You are all my strength as I embark on this journey.
Over and out,
Anna
p.s. praying for the people of Georgia and Russia
I’m listening to a new mix from my dear Caitlin. It’s so much fun to listen to a new mix, not knowing what song to next expect!
The only disappointment of my voyage this far is that a bank called HSBC basically owns this airport (there ads are everywhere). And apparently this HSBC feels very strongly that every television in the terminal should show only the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Service) with intermittent commercials and weather reports. On any other night, this would not bother me. However, as I’m sure you are all aware, tonight is 8.8.08!! The opening of the Beijing Olympics! I have been an ardent fan of the Olympics since birth, so this is a small tragedy for me. I was so excited to catch the last part of the opening ceremony from an international location in a crowd of international travelers. Alas, that’s apparently not the Universe’s (or HSBC’s) plan for me tonight.
Well, this is a good encouragement for me to dig into the next chapter of Eat, Pray, Love. Thanks to all (especially Mom, Dad, and Jon) for your encouragement, support, prayers, guidance, love, financial support, etc. as I launch into this adventure!! You are all my strength as I embark on this journey.
Over and out,
Anna
p.s. praying for the people of Georgia and Russia
Day One
Today I arrive in Chile. Today I start a new life (or at least that’s what it feels like). We land in about 30 minutes. This has been the longest flight ever! You’ve gotta love modern technology, though. I’ve watched an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy”, the movie “Definitely, Maybe” (sooo cute!), and I’m just now finishing “The Other Boleyn Girl” (sad, but good—so glad I don’t live in the Middle Ages).
So, how do I feel? I don’t know quite yet. I am stepping into a new world, a new city, new people, a new language, a new family which will host me for my stay, and, surely, new friends. As my darling brother wrote to me: Just remember…HAVE FUN!!
As the sun shines through my window (over the snow-capped Andes to the East), I thank the Universe for this experience.
Life is love, amar es vivir
Live for others
Keep it simple
Live in the questions
Invite divine silence.
So, how do I feel? I don’t know quite yet. I am stepping into a new world, a new city, new people, a new language, a new family which will host me for my stay, and, surely, new friends. As my darling brother wrote to me: Just remember…HAVE FUN!!
As the sun shines through my window (over the snow-capped Andes to the East), I thank the Universe for this experience.
Life is love, amar es vivir
Live for others
Keep it simple
Live in the questions
Invite divine silence.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Una vida nueva
I feel like I am starting a new life on Friday, tomorrow. That is the only sentence I have come up with to capture the magnitude of the adventure I am about to begin. How do you pack for a new life? How do you prepare yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually for a new life?
Tomorrow evening I set off for the biggest adventure of my 19 years to date. I will be spending the next 4 1/2 months in South America, specifically Chile. This whole adventure will not become a reality, surely, until I have been in Chile for about 3 weeks. At that point, I will realize I am not going home anytime soon and that this is for real.
I don't have much to say now, the excitement is all to come: packing, packing, last-minute shopping, packing, packing, unpacking, repacking, farewells, etc. Then I board a plane, and...bam, I'm off. I don't know how I am going to feel in that moment, when I say au revoir to my family in the security line. Okay, don't want to think about it, I will cry.
Thank you to everyone for your support, excitement, and blessings as I prepare for this experience. I will miss you a very much, you are the rock from which I am diving into this enormous adventure. Thank you for the strength you give me.
Let the story begin!
With love,
Anna
Tomorrow evening I set off for the biggest adventure of my 19 years to date. I will be spending the next 4 1/2 months in South America, specifically Chile. This whole adventure will not become a reality, surely, until I have been in Chile for about 3 weeks. At that point, I will realize I am not going home anytime soon and that this is for real.
I don't have much to say now, the excitement is all to come: packing, packing, last-minute shopping, packing, packing, unpacking, repacking, farewells, etc. Then I board a plane, and...bam, I'm off. I don't know how I am going to feel in that moment, when I say au revoir to my family in the security line. Okay, don't want to think about it, I will cry.
Thank you to everyone for your support, excitement, and blessings as I prepare for this experience. I will miss you a very much, you are the rock from which I am diving into this enormous adventure. Thank you for the strength you give me.
Let the story begin!
With love,
Anna
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