Parties and Funerals

Hi all, I'm sitting at the kitchen table, after eating almuerzo, the biggest meal of the day here. We had alcachofa con mayonesa and pasta with bolognese sauce. In Chile, you need to let go of your former conceptions about Latin food. Meals here consist of a light breakfast (usually consisting of pan tostado), a big almuerzo, and once (tea, coffee, and more pan tostado). Food is not spicy, and mayonesa is bought in giant squeeze bags, because it is used so often. My first thought: um, no. But after giving things a chance (and applying hot sauce as often as possible), I have been pleasantly surprised with the food. It helps that Tia Rosita is an excellent cook. I also drink about 5 cups of tea a day here, leading to my family informing me that I was probably mistaken about being American, and am in fact, English.

We are about to head to the funeral of Pancho's grandfather. The family invited me but made very clear that coming was not obligatory. After vacillating for quite a while, I decided to come. Although Pancho doesn't seem upset, I still just felt as if it was the right thing to do. From a slightly more selfish angle, this whole situation (Chilean catholic churches and funerals) is brand new to me, and could be quite interesting. I'll update you on the event once I return...

We did go out the other night- Brenna, Pancho, Carlos, Ferdinand, Romina, and I. We drank and hung out with quite a few people, I got told that I looked like Nicole Kidman, but prettier (um, no), and we eventually headed out (at around 2am, standard going out time here) to Journal, a bar that my family frequents. The whole night was a bit of a hot mess, beginning with me forgetting my ID, and getting away with it by feigning incomprehension at the front door. Throughout the night, several Chilean men made their (often rude and always annoyingly persistent) attempts to talk and dance with me. Note to self: learn how to insult men in Spanish, pronto. As per usual, several of my family members were extremely drunk, and we didn't manage to get home until after 5am.

We did take it easy last night, but tonight we plan to go out again, with Pancho. Don't worry, though. Although I'm on vacation, I will always take care of myself. Not to mention, I prefer to avoid having a caña the next morning! Chau for now!

Bienvenidos a Viña!

I am now at my pensíon in Viña del Mar, Chile. After a few hours of anxiety, a few days of gringos, and a few weeks of hostels, I could not be happier to be here. You truly underestimate how wonderful it is to unpack until you've been living out of your backpack for over a month. Better yet, I have a room all to myself, and I cannot imagine a more simpático y choro* Chilean family.

I suppose I have a few days of catching up to do. I am terrible at blogging when I'm tired.

The night before we left, a bunch of kids from ISA went out to carretear. I hung out with mi amigas en Santiago antes de meeting them at a bar. Due to this, I showed up without having eaten dinner, or stopping at the hotel to get money. My hangry attitude was not entirely appropriate for a discoteque, or for the Chileans constantly grabbing my arm or asking me to bailas. Oh well, you live and you learn (to get drunk before going out).

I arrived at my pensión on Sunday, and immediately loved the house and the dynamic between the 60 something year old Rosa, her two 20 something sons, and the 4 other Chilean students. Although my Spanish is not super bueno, they really do try to explain things to me, slow down when they talk to me, and listen when I manage to say a few jumbly spanish palabras. I've already had a heart to heart (in Spanish) with Romina, the 22 year old architecture student, and another (in English) with Pancho, the 2(3?) year old business tourism student.

School is bueno too. I took a diagnostic exam yesterday that put me into an intermediate Chilean Culture and Conversation and Grammar class. The teachers seem nice, and speak very slowly. Not to mention, I'm only too excited to learn how not to sound like a 3 year old child all the time.

We had a tour of Valparaíso, which was lovely, and actually reminded me quite a bit of San Francisco. I forgot to take my camera, but I'm sure I'll have plenty more opportunities to take pictures. Now, I have some homework to get to, some once (basically bread with various toppings and tea) to eat con mi familia, and some sleep to catch up on before I go out with Paco for a carrete mañana!

*I apologize for the random spanish phrases, especially those in Chilean slang. Hint: if it's not on google translate, try http://cachandochile.wordpress.com/glossary-glosario-chilenismos/

Blogging in Chile

Blogging is a ridiculous word (try saying it aloud). Yet here I am, blogging, and rather than making excuses for why I'm writing a blog (I'm in Chile, I'm a bit lonely, I want to recuerdo this experience), I'll just do it.

Friday, June 18th, 2:55 pm, Hotel Rent a Home in Santiago, Chile

I'm lying in my bed in the living room, listening to the omnipresent sounds of construction. Santiago is a city, as full of brand new buildings, monuments to a rich cultural heritage, and graffiti. The metro is amazing ($450 pesos to go anywhere in Santiago, cars coming every couple minutes, and easy to navigate) the people are warm and friendly (sometimes a bit too friendly)...

We have an orientation in an hour...wah wah wah. How Not To Be A Gringo 101, taught by the perfectly lovely Lizette. Sitting in a room of 25 gringos, being told about how to use common sense, drives me a little crazy. But I do need to get over myself, because I will be getting orientated for the next few days.

The people on the program are mostly quite nice, although I don't talk to everyone. My roommates are like 3 characters from a sitcom. There's Laura, the party-hard sorority girl from Boulder, Brenna, the much chiller girl from Boulder, and Colleen, the no nonsense mommy/English teacher. I was forewarned by Jane about cliques, and she was undoubtedly right. They form quickly, and while I was originally standing back and judging them, I have let go a bit and tried to befriend a few people, with limited degrees of success... To be honest I do not see the point of coming to Chile to befriend a bunch of white, college aged Americans. That said, it's always nice to have a few people you like who will be living in your area.

Today we went to the Presidential Palace, saw the changing of the guards, visited a beautiful cathedral in Plaza de Armas, and had lunch in Mercado Central. Then we chartered a bus to take us back to our hotel, gringo style.

Before this post gets too rambly, I'm going to sign off. It was nice meeting you blog! Hasta pronto!