Which means, un fin de semana. A weekend. Getting the internet Spanish down has been an entirely other aspect of learning this language. Also, my spelling in English is shot. All over emails, facebook, this blog, I just find I make so many errors. I don't know if I'm trying to blame that on being here or just, announcing it. In the entry below, I said "roll" instead of "role." On facebook I said, "balling" instead of "bawling."
This weekend was in a lot of ways totally average, so I wanted to post about it. It technically started Thursday because Friday was a holiday for the Bicentenario down here. But, in the end it started on Wednesday. Had an afternoon soup with Jeanie at this new place we're finding we like to meet at. The soup is SO GOOD. And I went out Wednesday night to this folklore bar I really like with a new friend I made on the volunteer trip. It ended up being a long night, but I was happily wooed by music and conversation and new faces so it made whatever fatigue I had the next day okay. I had a dance class, and the instructor asked me if I've considered dancing professionally so I blushed and smiled and simply said no , but was very flattered by the comment of course.
And I spent the days of this weekend reading reading reading. And yet despite all that reading, distracted so that I feel like not much got done. Mostly towards my thesis, so it was all enjoyable!! And Susana had visitors--I met her brother and his wife (figure) and it was strange because after talking with them for just a bit I realized that they were probably the most intellectual adults I had met in Chile in a social setting like that (ie, not in school). His wifey is French; he lived in France for a long time. I also met a family friend that day, a young guy in his twenties I'd guess, who is from Concepción, right where the earthquake hit. He was the first person I've heard tell stories like he did--he was down there pulling already disintegrating bodies out of the water, watching looting, talking about all the fires, the craze that went on after dusk in the streets, the lack of organization and communication. Heavy as it was, it was good to have heard it personally.
And I had a relaxing couple nights going to hear some American girls I know play live at a bar, and went to see the Alice in Wonderland movie that's out, and cooked soymeat burgers with some new friends + Jeanie. I slept until about 11 both days which is nutty for me. And this morning woke up to a sunny one and chatted with Susana over instant coffee on the balcony about pishposh but also about hopefully traveling together one weekend this semester. And after a slow start and a big lunch and a bit of reading we went to see a play that was selected on a national level and put on for free! It was a simple production with three actors that retold, more or less, the story of Pedro de Valdivia and the conquest of Chile. They used an array of instruments, so that a lot of the show was really a musical perfomance, and overall was so well done! Would have been a great historic play for kids, kind of thing.
Tomorrow, a test! And much reading to do this week. And the usual routine. And more new faces to be with. And a goodbye to a friend that's been around since I've gotten here and is now heading back. Apologies for typos.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Casas, viajes y empanadas
I've been unfortunately slacking, again, with posts. I'm busy! This is good. Below I've got some photos of a couple adventures I've gone on recently with Susana, my host-mom. AmaIzing at is she's got to be my closest friend this semester--in the end, the switch to this house was so great, so important. We talk all the time and about anything and everything and the thought of leaving her makes my stomach turn and will probably be the hardest thing about being back home.
That being said, why haven't I been posting? I got started with an advisor here on my thesis--about constructing the idea of the Chilean nation post-independence, and literature's roll in that--and finally found a way to be dancing four days a week. After a week of studying for tests I spent the following, unlike my usual behavior, trying my best to get out of the house and hang out with people at night. I've made a couple new Chilean friends lately and that's exciting. I haven't been seeing Dennise as much as I'd like to be, and that's frustrating! But, the week goes by quickly with work and activties and during the weekends I've found I want to take it easy and hang alone, or with Susana, or with the various people I didn't have time to hang with during the week. I tend to feel silly that I have this feeling of stress to find social time when on the other hand I feel stress for not having more chilean friends. Goodness!
This weekend I went a few hours south with an organization called Un Techo Para Chile and built an emergency house called a "mediagua" for a family whose home was destroyed by the earthquake. Although there was some disorganization, it was a great experience. We got to know the family a bit; they were so lovely. Many houses got put up, and the organization exceeded its goal of 20,000 mediaguas a couple of weeks ago. I met some interesting people, more americans!, and was lucky to have chosen a weekend that in the end was sunny and beautiful for the work. It was refreshing to travel a bit and be outside. I went by myself which made it great for bouncing around to get to know a bunch of different people. And, ended up alreadying knowing some people on the trip. Too much english was being spoken! Unfortunately, that's just how it is.
The semester is flying by and I'm not sure what to think! I have a growing anxiety about leaving--I'm used to being me HERE now. And then I'll go back and have to wiggle my way into the me that's THERE. But, I also have a growing longing to be back in New York, and Kenyon. I'm so excited for my last year, and so glad I'll have this refreshing approach to it. I'll also have to prepare myself. School down here is totally different, with much more time to live while studying. Whereas over at Kenyon, most of the time spent "living" is paired with "i have 200 pages to read and essay to write what am i doinnggg right now." Hah, but, that has it's own unique charm to it. And I'm looking forward to that. And for the pizza/diner coffee/real coffee/broadway strolls/summer nights/fire island/friends/glam etc. that awaits me in New York. I've found myself thinking this year, maybe I won't end up in New York, and yet I know that if that's the case, it'll be in some time. Because for now, I hate the idea that it's been going on for so long without me.
On Mother's Day in Horcon, a fisherman's town about an hour and half from Valparaíso.
The town, like many coastal towns, has greattt empanadas. Crab and cheese! Yumm.
We ate that this restaurant later in the day. Had a "Paila Marina," a shellfish/fish soup.
Dad, we tried that together!
A view of Horcon during sunset.
A shot of my neighborhood.
A few weeks back Susana and I biked about 12 miles along the coast.
When we passed through Reñaca.
That being said, why haven't I been posting? I got started with an advisor here on my thesis--about constructing the idea of the Chilean nation post-independence, and literature's roll in that--and finally found a way to be dancing four days a week. After a week of studying for tests I spent the following, unlike my usual behavior, trying my best to get out of the house and hang out with people at night. I've made a couple new Chilean friends lately and that's exciting. I haven't been seeing Dennise as much as I'd like to be, and that's frustrating! But, the week goes by quickly with work and activties and during the weekends I've found I want to take it easy and hang alone, or with Susana, or with the various people I didn't have time to hang with during the week. I tend to feel silly that I have this feeling of stress to find social time when on the other hand I feel stress for not having more chilean friends. Goodness!
This weekend I went a few hours south with an organization called Un Techo Para Chile and built an emergency house called a "mediagua" for a family whose home was destroyed by the earthquake. Although there was some disorganization, it was a great experience. We got to know the family a bit; they were so lovely. Many houses got put up, and the organization exceeded its goal of 20,000 mediaguas a couple of weeks ago. I met some interesting people, more americans!, and was lucky to have chosen a weekend that in the end was sunny and beautiful for the work. It was refreshing to travel a bit and be outside. I went by myself which made it great for bouncing around to get to know a bunch of different people. And, ended up alreadying knowing some people on the trip. Too much english was being spoken! Unfortunately, that's just how it is.
The semester is flying by and I'm not sure what to think! I have a growing anxiety about leaving--I'm used to being me HERE now. And then I'll go back and have to wiggle my way into the me that's THERE. But, I also have a growing longing to be back in New York, and Kenyon. I'm so excited for my last year, and so glad I'll have this refreshing approach to it. I'll also have to prepare myself. School down here is totally different, with much more time to live while studying. Whereas over at Kenyon, most of the time spent "living" is paired with "i have 200 pages to read and essay to write what am i doinnggg right now." Hah, but, that has it's own unique charm to it. And I'm looking forward to that. And for the pizza/diner coffee/real coffee/broadway strolls/summer nights/fire island/friends/glam etc. that awaits me in New York. I've found myself thinking this year, maybe I won't end up in New York, and yet I know that if that's the case, it'll be in some time. Because for now, I hate the idea that it's been going on for so long without me.
On Mother's Day in Horcon, a fisherman's town about an hour and half from Valparaíso.
The town, like many coastal towns, has greattt empanadas. Crab and cheese! Yumm.
We ate that this restaurant later in the day. Had a "Paila Marina," a shellfish/fish soup.
Dad, we tried that together!
A view of Horcon during sunset.
A shot of my neighborhood.
A few weeks back Susana and I biked about 12 miles along the coast.
When we passed through Reñaca.
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