Se viene, se viene ...
What's coming, you may ask?
Everything, my friends, everything.
Life and everything in between.
First of all, my parents - beginning with my mom - are coming in just a week and a half. Second, I'm coming home. In December.
The queen of indecision has done it again!
No, I'm not going to Buenos Aires after my Santiago stint. I could play dumb and say it's because I have no money (that wouldn't be far from the truth) but really - I'm ready. Ready to come home.
My mind is already beginning to split time between thinking about my life here in Chile and daydreaming about being home and surrounded by all my loved ones... certainly not what should be happening but understandable a la vez (at the same time).
Hoever; this incredible phenomenon is in no way, shape, or form going to hinder my remaining time. I am here to enjoy; to breath in the fresh Santiago spring air; to laugh; to dance; to live.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
VIVA CHILE
Just another example of American culture gone awry:
Conversation groups at IOM are often an opportunity to shout out whatever phrases the students know; often gleaned from American popular culture.
Last Thursday afternoon, Alejandra (IOM’s high-school English teacher) walked into the sala de ingles and Alejandro (a sophomore) shouted, “What’s up nig*er??”
I immediately went over and firmly told him that nig*er is not a word one uses in their daily, monthly or yearly vocabulary.
Alejandro responded by saying, “But I hear it in my music all the time.”
He didn't have the context or background knowledge to know better. It makes me wonder how many other extranjeros have listened to rap songs and taken what they hear at face value...
Futbol (soccer) in South America is a religion. An addictive religion at that. Saturday night brought on the World Cup qualifying match for Chile. They took on and conquered Colombia 4-2.
Our friends Trish, Ben and Melissa live in Plaza Italia, which is at the heart of Santiago and the central meeting point for all post-victory futbol celebrations. We're talking thousands of people, enough to shut down traffic in all four directions as well as bring police in full riot gear to the scene.
After Chile sealed the deal, we took to Plaza Italia to join Chilean masses in singing, dancing, shouting, jumping and all 'round chaos. Not ten minutes after we became part of the hoard did we happen upon a reporter and his camera man. He was surrounded by a crowd of excitable, screaming futbol fans. As soon as he noticed me (perhaps because I am a gringa), he wheeled around on his heels and thrust the microphone in my face. After a momentary second of confusion (probably apparent in my face), I shouted, "Woooo! VIVA CHILE!"
I thought nothing more of the experience until I received a call about ten minutes later from a fellow profe de ingles at IOM, Fransisco, excitedly telling me he had just seen me on Mega, a Chilean television channel.
The night went on. We made new friends. Laughed a lot. The fun really began, however; when we left the plaza and went to Trish's first floor balcony that overlooks the plaza. Each time a group of guys went by, we started cheering. They would all look up in surprise, notice a group of young, fresh ladies and drop likes flies. We probably re-enacted Romeo and Juliet at least 100 times. I received hundreds of air kisses. And because we were a balcony up, I felt free to tease those boys as much as I pleased. A no-risk situation. It was quite hilarious.
At one point, a young man with a steel drum and attached symbol started playing in honor of us while his friends danced around. A crowd of about 40 gathered to watch and join in while we waved and alluringly beckoned to the group below.
Monday was a holiday here so we reveled in a three-day weekend. Today, Tuesday, I heard from probably a hundred different students that they saw me on TV. A group of about 15 sixth graders went running up to me exclaiming, "Miss!! (pronounced 'Meeee-s') You're famous!!"
Too funny. I told Alejandra about it and she said, "Ohhhh. What a gringa thing to say!"
VIVA CHILE!!!!
Conversation groups at IOM are often an opportunity to shout out whatever phrases the students know; often gleaned from American popular culture.
Last Thursday afternoon, Alejandra (IOM’s high-school English teacher) walked into the sala de ingles and Alejandro (a sophomore) shouted, “What’s up nig*er??”
I immediately went over and firmly told him that nig*er is not a word one uses in their daily, monthly or yearly vocabulary.
Alejandro responded by saying, “But I hear it in my music all the time.”
He didn't have the context or background knowledge to know better. It makes me wonder how many other extranjeros have listened to rap songs and taken what they hear at face value...
Futbol (soccer) in South America is a religion. An addictive religion at that. Saturday night brought on the World Cup qualifying match for Chile. They took on and conquered Colombia 4-2.
Our friends Trish, Ben and Melissa live in Plaza Italia, which is at the heart of Santiago and the central meeting point for all post-victory futbol celebrations. We're talking thousands of people, enough to shut down traffic in all four directions as well as bring police in full riot gear to the scene.
After Chile sealed the deal, we took to Plaza Italia to join Chilean masses in singing, dancing, shouting, jumping and all 'round chaos. Not ten minutes after we became part of the hoard did we happen upon a reporter and his camera man. He was surrounded by a crowd of excitable, screaming futbol fans. As soon as he noticed me (perhaps because I am a gringa), he wheeled around on his heels and thrust the microphone in my face. After a momentary second of confusion (probably apparent in my face), I shouted, "Woooo! VIVA CHILE!"
I thought nothing more of the experience until I received a call about ten minutes later from a fellow profe de ingles at IOM, Fransisco, excitedly telling me he had just seen me on Mega, a Chilean television channel.
The night went on. We made new friends. Laughed a lot. The fun really began, however; when we left the plaza and went to Trish's first floor balcony that overlooks the plaza. Each time a group of guys went by, we started cheering. They would all look up in surprise, notice a group of young, fresh ladies and drop likes flies. We probably re-enacted Romeo and Juliet at least 100 times. I received hundreds of air kisses. And because we were a balcony up, I felt free to tease those boys as much as I pleased. A no-risk situation. It was quite hilarious.
At one point, a young man with a steel drum and attached symbol started playing in honor of us while his friends danced around. A crowd of about 40 gathered to watch and join in while we waved and alluringly beckoned to the group below.
Monday was a holiday here so we reveled in a three-day weekend. Today, Tuesday, I heard from probably a hundred different students that they saw me on TV. A group of about 15 sixth graders went running up to me exclaiming, "Miss!! (pronounced 'Meeee-s') You're famous!!"
Too funny. I told Alejandra about it and she said, "Ohhhh. What a gringa thing to say!"
VIVA CHILE!!!!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Salado
Salty in Spanish is "salado".
When my students ask if something is salty or state their food preferences, they say, "I like salad foods." or "Is that salad?"
It´s too precious.
Guess what Stephanie and I are up to today?
RODEO. REAL CHILEAN RODEO.
En serio. We are actually taking part in the real deal. I never thought the day would come and never even had an interest in taking part in something so... savage. But, alas the opportunity has presented itself after several months of rodeo lessons. And I want to try everything once. So... here we go.
Not to mention, Chilean rodeo actually is a lot less brutal than rodeo in other countries. The cows aren´t tied up and dragged by their hind-legs with rope. They don´t fight till their death nor till they are fatally injured.
Instead they are herded around a medialuna (Chilean arena) by two riders and strategically pushed into a bumper. The riders earn points depending on where the cow makes contact with the padded barrier.
Fin de semana!
This weekend we are headed to Lago Rapel. It´s Alessandra (from Brazil) and Omar (from Mexico)´s birthdays and we are celebrating by renting a house on a lake about an hour from Santiago. The weather is finally tranforming from winter to summer (there is no fall nor spring in Chile) and we are ready to enjoy it outside. The house supposedly has a pool and volleyball net. I predict bathing suits, BBQs, laughter and fun in the sun.
There is also a costume party on Saturday night. Anyone famous. My clan is dressing up as characters from the boardgame Clue. Do I want to be Miss Scarlet? Or perharps Colonel Mustard? Ohhh the possibilities...
All in all ... it looks to be a good weekend. I hope yours is the same.
When my students ask if something is salty or state their food preferences, they say, "I like salad foods." or "Is that salad?"
It´s too precious.
Guess what Stephanie and I are up to today?
RODEO. REAL CHILEAN RODEO.
En serio. We are actually taking part in the real deal. I never thought the day would come and never even had an interest in taking part in something so... savage. But, alas the opportunity has presented itself after several months of rodeo lessons. And I want to try everything once. So... here we go.
Not to mention, Chilean rodeo actually is a lot less brutal than rodeo in other countries. The cows aren´t tied up and dragged by their hind-legs with rope. They don´t fight till their death nor till they are fatally injured.
Instead they are herded around a medialuna (Chilean arena) by two riders and strategically pushed into a bumper. The riders earn points depending on where the cow makes contact with the padded barrier.
Fin de semana!
This weekend we are headed to Lago Rapel. It´s Alessandra (from Brazil) and Omar (from Mexico)´s birthdays and we are celebrating by renting a house on a lake about an hour from Santiago. The weather is finally tranforming from winter to summer (there is no fall nor spring in Chile) and we are ready to enjoy it outside. The house supposedly has a pool and volleyball net. I predict bathing suits, BBQs, laughter and fun in the sun.
There is also a costume party on Saturday night. Anyone famous. My clan is dressing up as characters from the boardgame Clue. Do I want to be Miss Scarlet? Or perharps Colonel Mustard? Ohhh the possibilities...
All in all ... it looks to be a good weekend. I hope yours is the same.
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