Hola a Todos!
After 2 weeks of being in Chile, I have broken down and gotten a blog to share with anyone who would like to be on this crazy journey with me, or simply for myself to look back on when I'm at home in MN during a blizzard having Chile withdrawls... :]
So many new experiences occur everyday and I feel like I should be documenting, sharing, discussing.
And here I am, attempting to put this experience into words.
I arrived in Chile on 8/11/11. I flew out of Minneapolis airport and 4:00 in the afternoon, saying goodbye to my parents, brother, and boyfriend. Lucky for me, I have supportive parents who cheered me on, ensuring it would be an experience of a lifetime and a brother who usually sees me as a pain, gave me two hugs in the airport, those of you who know us know that that was quite an accomplishment! As well as a boyfriend that I have left behind, who only smiled and waited until the very last second, until I was through security to really give his last wave goodbye.
Throughout the summer I worked everyday at the coffee shop or at my dad's office, I knew I had to make enough money to support this trip, to work hard and it would pay off. I was still in denial that I was leaving for 5 months and put off packing until the day before, and totally switched suitcases the day of...It is an experience I have been waiting for since I was 17 and chose to attend the College of St. Benedict for it's great study abroad programs, so here I am after months of applications, interviewing, acceptance, meetings, passports, visas, and emails in Viña del Mar, Chile.
I was in denial that I was leaving, and I feel like that followed me all the way here. I haven't been hit with the fact that WOW I am in Chile, it just seems like I fit right in, it's where I want to be, I have been taking on the challenges day by day, as well as the incredible experiences. I don't think I will realize how lucky I am until I am on the plane home. I'll think back and then it will really hit me what an incredible 5 months I had exploring the depths of Chile, speaking a foreign language, and making friends that will last a lifetime.
What I have realized thus far is that there are no boundaries we cannot overcome; discrimination and scapegoating only go so far until the dangers are too great to imagine. Being "The Foreigner" has really opened my eyes, changed my views and made me think back on the times when I should have been more inclusive, more accepting because this is HARD. As luck may have it, I am simply a student, visiting, learning, I have the desire to be here. Unlike so many of the refugees we see in Minnesota who are there, struggling to live, get by, speak the language, receive the services they need in order to adapt to our seclusive culture. Everyone deserves a chance. I have found, much to my relief, some very good Bolivian friends who have been nothing but nice to me and the others in my group. They put up with the language barrier, take us sightseeing around Chile, are interested in our lives and are interested in helping us any way they can. I cannot believe their generosity.
Okay, I am getting ahead of myself, so, I arrived in Chile, and had spoken to my mom Elsa and sister Valentina briefly on Facebook before I arrived. My mom Elsa came and picked me up at Museo Fonck and right away explained to me that we are walking distance to mostly everything, how lucky!! We arrived at our little apartment building which is a block from the beach. It is an old building but she said that it is safe during earthquakes, thank goodness :] I have my own room, which I have yet to have in my college experience, and all the necessities I will ever need. I am so lucky to have them, they have taught me so much, and I feel as if I will forever be in debt to these people who let me into their home and treated me as their own. I owe the world something thanks to these people, not everyone would be so patient, kind hearted and selfless. For the weekend many of us spent time with our families getting to know them and getting to know our surroundings. Not once did I feel uncomfortable. I went on walks with the famous Manchi, our black cockerspaniel, and learned the area and got to have a good relationship with my mom. My sister and I are the coffee drinkers. I brought 1/4 of flavored coffee, 1/4 of Italian dark roast and 1/2 lb of Kodiak blend and it is already gone, along with our other bag of Chilean coffee she bought at Jumbo (a HUGE, hence the name, grocery store).
The first week of school was good, as well as the second week. There are still constant obstacles we hit everyday. For example, the first time we tried going to the gym to a pilates class. There were 4 of us and we went to the lockeroom, got changed and went into the studio. There wasn't anyone there. So we started looking around for mats and an instructor came in, speaking in Spanish and none of us could really tell what she was saying, so we finally left, realizing there wasn't any pilates that day....Classic. Since we are the foreigners, "gringos", around school we constantly get the looks. I know now how it feels. The Chileans just stare, and even when you catch them staring they just continue! It's the strangest thing. It is partially our fault, we always travel in packs, speak English, and wear our classic gringo clothing which just draws attention. I should also bring up the fact that it has been freezing here and I am upset that I didn't take the last group seriously. I thought that I would be fine living in 40's-50's because I was a hearty Minnesotan...NOPE. There is no escaping the cold, its cold outside and cold inside. Needless to say I am always bundled and have 4 blankets on my bed. The unfortunate thing with the extreme climate change is that many people in my group are getting sick and I am starting to get one as well, so let's hope for the best. The remedy around here is "té, limón y miel" tea, lemon and honey.
The attitude toward drinking, going out, "carretes" is totally different around here. I told my mom that our school was putting on a carrete (party) and I didn't know when I would be coming back, her response was well of course! and when I returned around 2:30am she said I got back at a "good hour, relatively early." They are used to being out until 4,5,6am! The bars close at 5am here and they couldn't believe ours close at 2, because that's when everything is "just getting good". It is a different way of life, but I'm embracing it as it comes :] The first week I went out Wednesday through Saturday, meeting new people, exploring different places, and having a blast. That's not typically my cup of tea but it was a such a fun first week, and no worries I made it to all of my classes! Cafe Journal is a little further from my house so it is necessary to take a "micro" which is public transportation that you pay a set fee and they will drop you off at their designated stops, so you have to find the correct one that will take you where you need to go. This is still a challenge for me, but I think I'm getting the hang of it...maybe. But that was for "gringo night" and I met people from another group who are studying at La Universidad Viña del Mar. My friend Brad is studying there so I was able to meet people from his group who range from California, Georgia, France and even Germany. Students from Arizona were there as well and they attend my school, Universidad Adolfo Ibanez. And for the rest of the weekend we explored different places to go with our group and it turned out to be a great weekend. Last weekend our school put on an "asado" BBQ where we got to meet some more "extranjeros" and other students that attend UAI and that is where I met my friend Jaime. He chose me as a "Buddy" and assigned my other friends Buddies as well who were his friends. Thus our good friendship with the Bolivians began. As I said before, they are so kind and would already do anything for us. I am so lucky he chose me and took me under his wing, it is exactly what I needed for this experience to be the best it could be. Him and his 2 friends took 4 of my friends to the next town over, Renaca, to see some really pretty rocks and explore a little. When we had enough of that we went to the grocery store and we made them tacos in their "departamento" and had a little Buddy dinner. There's nothing better than attempting to tell stories in Spanish and pretending you understand exactly what they're saying. Especially when they know you're struggling and switch to English :] After that we invited the rest of our group to come over and they invited their Chilean friends and we talked and danced until some of us went to a club to dance. I am slowly but surely learning to dance Latina, especially since Jaime passed the comment I wasn't a good dancer....I am bound and determined now!
All in all, everything has transitioned smoothly, I am still struggling with the language, still learning, but loving every minute. The view of the endless horizon and sunsets every night will never get old and I am already hating the day I will have to leave.
Until then, everything is going smoothly on this adventure. The best is yet to come, but I feel like I have already experienced so much. It is August 30th already, I have been here for 2 solid weeks and I feel like I have been here for months, besides not being able to speak very well. 10 Norte 2 Poniente is my new home. Chile already has stolen my heart.
My goal for this semester is summed up as this:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust
Sorry this was ridiculously long, had to make up for lost time!
Can't wait to keep updating, pouring my heart out through words, attempting to make words mean exactly what I feel through this experience. Stumble through this experience with me friends, it's gonna be a bumpy ride <3
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