anecdotes

It's a long weekend, for el día de la raza, so basically everyone I know (gringos) left for the weekend! Cata era sola! But it was...good! I've spent basically the entire weekend with chileans! Puro español. I thought I'd share some details, because it was a beautiful weekend with weather and company and all.

Last week I made the bold move of asking a Chilean for his number, just to be able to chat more because we managed to have something to say in a span of 10 minutes. He's from Punto Arenas--basically the most southern city in Chile. We went on a bike ride to the botanical gardens--it's crazy getting to know someone in a DIFFERENT language. I wonder if i come off as different in the spanish speaking world. It was a really nice day, good conversation. He was pretty quick to get to asking what i thought about the united states being considered "imperial" hah. usual, huh? Later he felt bad he had jumped to offend my country like that, but it was fine--it's so interesting to hear what people have to say, let alone its not a surprising question. especially interesting because a lot of people only really know about the US's particular involvement in certain things. But also i like to be able to show we don't walk around thinking we're the greatest thing in the world...yeah that subject is all just so complex.

And i spent last night with Dennise and her friend. More chileans! More spanish! We went and got sushi, had a "Chardonnay sour"--yum! chardonnay with lemon juice and sugar more or less. I was telling Henry earlier how in awe i find i feel, how concious i am, of being with "puros chilenos." During our sushi dinner we had nice conversation--its so exciting to be out with some ladies, just like i'm used to, but in the speaking spanish form. And then we went to share some more wine at another place--once there, and once more chileans came, the music was loud enough that i could barely hear people let alone understand them. But every minute is good for my spanish.

But it also leaves ya feeling kinda beat up and worn out. After coming back from the gardens the other day i was so worn out, hoping to find Sarah Lana on facebook or something but couldnt, and its then that you get that slap of gahh-im-far-away-and-alone! and i just had this conversation with Vero (mi mama chilena) about independence and all that, and how she always was independent like me but had god. and what's never been clearer is how much easier it can be when you have something to turn to and know is "with you." so that i wouldn't really be in this romaing around sola part of my life. but, for now at least, i dont have that or see that in sight---having god to turn to. and that gives me this mixed feeling of something really great and something real..heavy. So when no other gringos are around, here and over there in the states, and only spanish is to be spoken, its this crazy mix of amazing and scary feelings.

But then you wake up and have days like I did today! I've started getting responses from some of the granjas (farms) that I wrote emails to about WWOOFing with this summer with sarahlans! Thats so great because finally I know I have something to do come verano (summer)! And I had a cup of coffee and talked with one of my sisters and mama. And I read some more of A Confederacy of Dunces--the characters are so frustrating sometimes its hard to pick up! And relaxed until lunch. And then went to meet Dennise and we headed into to Valparasio to go to a feria (fair, of lots of used stuff and all that). The day was gorrggeouuss. Sunny and breezy, yum. We had a beer, with orange soda! And walked along the boardwalk and had nice conversation. So nice.

And then i came home and went on a run and read some livejournal (world's most wanted blog of the stories of the lives of my girl friends from home) and broke out the vino and had a nice healthy dinner. ooo just the best! and i'm hoping to get my way into the daddy yankee concert that's in viña tonight. that would be just rediculous huh.