There are many different ways to live life depending on who you talk to.
Some opt for a secure job, a home with a two-car garage and a family while others fervently argue that to truly live one must go beyond the expected societal norm and out into the vast expanse of the world. Neither is wrong and neither is right.
However, the people who elect one lifestyle over the other typically feel strongly about their choice. Some for necessity, some in the name of what is expected and many just because they can't imagine life any other way.
The grand majority of the people I've met on this South American adventure are openly disgusted with the idea of settling down. Soccer moms -- don't even think about it. PTA -- not a chance. Buying a house -- what kind of tontería is that?
But is it possible to be neither? Or both?
I'm living with an ultimatum. I leave Santiago in four months. In the meantime, our walls will remain bare. Our kitchen will never be fully stocked. I'll have to say goodbye indefinitely to my Chilean friends in December. Life is temporary. Transitory.
This experience makes me realize that I want something permanent. A place I can hang my hat. I want to buy a Seattle condo. I want roots.
I wouldn't have known this about myself unless I had embarked upon this journey. I would have spent life yearning for the unknown; the draw of living in a world so unlike your own you can't even imagine. And I've been there. It's exhilerating, refreshing, exciting, hard at times but oh-so-worth it. Situations like these teach you the most about yourself. And often surprising realizations.
So while I still haven't decided exactly if I'm ready to settle down, I know for a fact that I'm ready to put together my adult life. If you had asked me that six months ago, I wouldn't have been able to give you an answer.
Thanks Santiago. XX Bree
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
... December ... what then??
Why is it that as human beings we are always looking towards the future?
Now that I’ve bought my ticket home (Dec. 23 in Vancouver, B.C. at 10:30 AM), thoughts of Seattle, my family and friends are constantly sneaking into the peripheries of my mind. Where will I work? Where will I live? What hobbies will I pick up? Will it be an easy transition? Por favor, para (stop)! I’m very much looking forward to heading home but also want to fully enjoy my last four months here.
A quick plug: if you are aware of any job opportunities in Seattle (or elsewhere for that matter), I would be VERY grateful if you passed along that information. My e-mail is breanna_bart@yahoo.com. I have a BA in Communication, emphasis in Public Relations and am especially passionate about international education and communication. I am nervous to head home and pray that I find a job without too much difficulty, as I still hear horror stories of the job market. I will also be contacting many of you to ask for tips, advice, wisdom and suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!
On a new endeavor…
I’m picking up a new hobby and am oh so excited about it. Our apartment doesn’t have internet or television and I’m running out of books to devour.
So… I’m going to teach myself to play the guitar! This effort won’t be entirely on my own – I have several friends here that play and the music teacher, Javier, at IOM also said he would help. They have an incredible deal at a music store near my apartment – a starter guitar, a case, two packs of strings and picks for $30,000 CP or about $60 US. I realize that the guitar probably won’t be top-quality but considering that I’m just starting and also that I make less than $600 US a month, it will have to do.
I’m going tomorrow to get the guitar. Yippeeee!
On the debates…
We were eliminated today, Tuesday August 18. Hahah, said with such finality. We made it to the second round and although we were quickly cut today (my team read from their notes too much), I am very proud of what they accomplished. Thinking back to myself in high-school and my level of Spanish, I never would have been able to complete a 3 minute spontaneous dialogue about a technical topic.
Here are some pictures of them:
My team and me
Practicing before their turn
Up at the podium
The debate room layout
Being silly at La Moneda after the debates finished
On Pianorquestra…
We went to the most amazing show two Saturdays ago. One piano, ten hands. Pianorquestra is a group from Brazil. Here's a blurb about them, "Created and directed by Claudio Dauelsberg, the group explores ethnic elements and Brazilian roots in a wonderful new way. They move easily from classical to popular, from Brazilian contemporary composers such as Villa-Lobos, Claudio Santoro, and Milton Nascimento, to rhythms such as samba, coco, maracatu, and ciranda. Claudio Dauelsberg, Gisele Sant’Ana, Masako Tanaka, Marina Spoladore, and Maíra Freitas explore the inside and the bottom of the piano box, inserting objects with different weights and densities—pieces of wood, metal, and rubber—on the strings, and using drumsticks to obtain percussive effects. The timbres range according to the density, weight, and texture of the objects, especially built for obtaining the desired sonorities." (Found at http://www.coastaljazz.ca/concert/pianorquestra).
On friends…
Instead of describing my amazing friends here, I’ll show you a few through pictures. The first is Jacqueline and me. Jacqueline went to Prince Edward Island University in East Coast Canada (random coincidence that Gigi also went there). She is going to be one of my guitar teachers and was also who inspired me to pick it up.
This is Esteban doing what he does best ... cook for us. We are always happy campers. 
Esteban, me and Steph .... two of my best friends here.
All in all, life sigue (continues) in fast forward. It’s hard to believe that August is more than half –way over. Life is good here – full of friends, work, happiness and rainy weather (reminds me of home!). I wish all of you an amazing last bit of summer … soak up that sunshine for me!
Now that I’ve bought my ticket home (Dec. 23 in Vancouver, B.C. at 10:30 AM), thoughts of Seattle, my family and friends are constantly sneaking into the peripheries of my mind. Where will I work? Where will I live? What hobbies will I pick up? Will it be an easy transition? Por favor, para (stop)! I’m very much looking forward to heading home but also want to fully enjoy my last four months here.
A quick plug: if you are aware of any job opportunities in Seattle (or elsewhere for that matter), I would be VERY grateful if you passed along that information. My e-mail is breanna_bart@yahoo.com. I have a BA in Communication, emphasis in Public Relations and am especially passionate about international education and communication. I am nervous to head home and pray that I find a job without too much difficulty, as I still hear horror stories of the job market. I will also be contacting many of you to ask for tips, advice, wisdom and suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!
On a new endeavor…
I’m picking up a new hobby and am oh so excited about it. Our apartment doesn’t have internet or television and I’m running out of books to devour.
So… I’m going to teach myself to play the guitar! This effort won’t be entirely on my own – I have several friends here that play and the music teacher, Javier, at IOM also said he would help. They have an incredible deal at a music store near my apartment – a starter guitar, a case, two packs of strings and picks for $30,000 CP or about $60 US. I realize that the guitar probably won’t be top-quality but considering that I’m just starting and also that I make less than $600 US a month, it will have to do.
I’m going tomorrow to get the guitar. Yippeeee!
On the debates…
We were eliminated today, Tuesday August 18. Hahah, said with such finality. We made it to the second round and although we were quickly cut today (my team read from their notes too much), I am very proud of what they accomplished. Thinking back to myself in high-school and my level of Spanish, I never would have been able to complete a 3 minute spontaneous dialogue about a technical topic.
Here are some pictures of them:
My team and me
Practicing before their turn
Up at the podium
The debate room layout
Being silly at La Moneda after the debates finished
On Pianorquestra…
We went to the most amazing show two Saturdays ago. One piano, ten hands. Pianorquestra is a group from Brazil. Here's a blurb about them, "Created and directed by Claudio Dauelsberg, the group explores ethnic elements and Brazilian roots in a wonderful new way. They move easily from classical to popular, from Brazilian contemporary composers such as Villa-Lobos, Claudio Santoro, and Milton Nascimento, to rhythms such as samba, coco, maracatu, and ciranda. Claudio Dauelsberg, Gisele Sant’Ana, Masako Tanaka, Marina Spoladore, and Maíra Freitas explore the inside and the bottom of the piano box, inserting objects with different weights and densities—pieces of wood, metal, and rubber—on the strings, and using drumsticks to obtain percussive effects. The timbres range according to the density, weight, and texture of the objects, especially built for obtaining the desired sonorities." (Found at http://www.coastaljazz.ca/concert/pianorquestra).
On friends…
Instead of describing my amazing friends here, I’ll show you a few through pictures. The first is Jacqueline and me. Jacqueline went to Prince Edward Island University in East Coast Canada (random coincidence that Gigi also went there). She is going to be one of my guitar teachers and was also who inspired me to pick it up.
Esteban, me and Steph .... two of my best friends here.All in all, life sigue (continues) in fast forward. It’s hard to believe that August is more than half –way over. Life is good here – full of friends, work, happiness and rainy weather (reminds me of home!). I wish all of you an amazing last bit of summer … soak up that sunshine for me!
Monday, August 3, 2009
The not-so-secret lives of teachers
An innocent goodbye kiss with Sergio in downtown Santiago turned into a public display in front of several IOM students two Wednesdays ago.
I didn’t think anything of it. I certainly didn’t imagine I’d come back to school after winter break to, “Miss Breeee…. We saw you in Baquedano. Wooooooo!!” combined with full scene enactments. By two different groups of students (freshman and seniors) that saw me independently of each other. Whaaaaaaaaat?!
After all, Santiago’s a huge city and Maipu is an hour away from the heart of it all. What were my students doing in the same metro station as I was at the same time? Had they been tailing me for awhile, getting a kick out of their gringa pololeando con un chileno? Ohhh the questions I have... and the answers I’d prefer not to know.
When work and personal lives collide, the ensuing results can be interesting. Where are the lines drawn? I certainly have a right to live my life outside of work as I see fit. However, I’d rather not have my dirty laundry aired for all to see.
The bottom of the line: conduct myself as I’d want others to see me. But I want goodbye kisses. I want to live life. I want to make mistakes. I want to live without regrets. And I guess if that’s how my students at IOM see me, it’s not the end of the world.
HORSES:
I’m taking riding lessons again. Por fin. The first time I was on a horse was when I was three-months-old, cradled in my dad's arms as he shared his equine love with me. I was that girl in middle-school – the one who lived, dreamed and breathed horses. I got my own at nine-years-old and spent the next ten years or so living the dream. I was in
Pony Club and spent my youth competing in Eventing (Dressage, stadium jumping and cross country jumping) at Horse Trials across Washington State.
I looked into taking jumping lessons here but then decided to get local. Rodeo style, that is. Chile has a huge rodeo tradition. A while back, I even went to the national rodeo in Rancagua. I didn’t understand a thing that was happening but I recognized beautiful horses when I saw them.
So here I go again. I had my first lesson last Thursday and am eager for this Thursday to come around. Eventually, I plan to get back into Eventing but while in Chile, may as well learn like a Chilean huaso, cierto?
POMAIRE:
This past Sunday was spent trekking an hour and a half outside of the city to Pomaire, a small Chilean mountain town famous for ceramics and native cuisine. We endulged in both. The cobblestone streets are lined with artisan warehouse upon artisan warehouse, each exhibiting the resident craftsman’s speciality. Without fail, each store displayed clay chanchitos (little pigs), which are believed in Pomaire to bring good luck to family members and loved ones. These poor chanchitos to the left where piled on top of each other in a cardboard box in one shop - which I don't think the creators of Pomaire's legend would be so pleased to see.
I didn’t think anything of it. I certainly didn’t imagine I’d come back to school after winter break to, “Miss Breeee…. We saw you in Baquedano. Wooooooo!!” combined with full scene enactments. By two different groups of students (freshman and seniors) that saw me independently of each other. Whaaaaaaaaat?!
After all, Santiago’s a huge city and Maipu is an hour away from the heart of it all. What were my students doing in the same metro station as I was at the same time? Had they been tailing me for awhile, getting a kick out of their gringa pololeando con un chileno? Ohhh the questions I have... and the answers I’d prefer not to know.
When work and personal lives collide, the ensuing results can be interesting. Where are the lines drawn? I certainly have a right to live my life outside of work as I see fit. However, I’d rather not have my dirty laundry aired for all to see.
The bottom of the line: conduct myself as I’d want others to see me. But I want goodbye kisses. I want to live life. I want to make mistakes. I want to live without regrets. And I guess if that’s how my students at IOM see me, it’s not the end of the world.
HORSES:
I’m taking riding lessons again. Por fin. The first time I was on a horse was when I was three-months-old, cradled in my dad's arms as he shared his equine love with me. I was that girl in middle-school – the one who lived, dreamed and breathed horses. I got my own at nine-years-old and spent the next ten years or so living the dream. I was in
Pony Club and spent my youth competing in Eventing (Dressage, stadium jumping and cross country jumping) at Horse Trials across Washington State.I looked into taking jumping lessons here but then decided to get local. Rodeo style, that is. Chile has a huge rodeo tradition. A while back, I even went to the national rodeo in Rancagua. I didn’t understand a thing that was happening but I recognized beautiful horses when I saw them.
So here I go again. I had my first lesson last Thursday and am eager for this Thursday to come around. Eventually, I plan to get back into Eventing but while in Chile, may as well learn like a Chilean huaso, cierto?
POMAIRE:This past Sunday was spent trekking an hour and a half outside of the city to Pomaire, a small Chilean mountain town famous for ceramics and native cuisine. We endulged in both. The cobblestone streets are lined with artisan warehouse upon artisan warehouse, each exhibiting the resident craftsman’s speciality. Without fail, each store displayed clay chanchitos (little pigs), which are believed in Pomaire to bring good luck to family members and loved ones. These poor chanchitos to the left where piled on top of each other in a cardboard box in one shop - which I don't think the creators of Pomaire's legend would be so pleased to see.
The afternoon sun glistened on the white stone cottages while hundreds of families milled throughout the streets perusing the shops for their next household purchase. I found a beautiful clay paila bowl cast inside with a piercing turquoise-green shade for $1,500 CP (about $3 U
S) that I’m going to put my spare change in. The wonderful afternoon finished with a heaping bowl of Pastel de Choclo, a fresh-ground corn pie with meat, onions and basil (a Chilean culinary staple).
S) that I’m going to put my spare change in. The wonderful afternoon finished with a heaping bowl of Pastel de Choclo, a fresh-ground corn pie with meat, onions and basil (a Chilean culinary staple).
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