Fifteen!

Today is my 15th day anniversary of being in Chile! Although I miss my friends and family, I am excited to be here and wake up each morning unsure of what the day will hold.

Here are a couple notes I have jotted down over the last couple days.

• Dark chocolate is hard to find, really hard to find. You know finding good chocolate is going to be a challenge when people think 60% cacao is dark chocolate. (For the record, anything less than 85% does not qualify as dark chocolate.)
• I experienced my first Chilean earthquake yesterday! 
• I went to my first Rotary club meeting. The people were simply lovely and I am very fortunate to be working with such a great group of people. 
• I don't think a day goes by here when I don't hear people discussing Pinochet, Allende, the coup, etc. After studying Latin American history, I really enjoy discussing this period of history with the people here. 
• One of my favorite empanada stores is just three houses away from where I live. I think it is a sign that I have ate one too many empanadas there when the owner recognizes me on the street and says hi. 
• Everything moves at a slower pace here. People generally take longer to respond to emails, you are only late if you show up more than an hour after something has started, the buses seem to be on a hidden schedule, people walk slowly, etc. 
• I feel like for every new word I learn, I hear or cannot figure out how to say five other words. 
• I have met some amazing people down here. People have invited me into their homes, out for a drink, to group dinners, and to take trips with them. I feel very welcomed and overwhelmed by the kindness I experience. 
• Summer is in full bloom here and so are the flowers. Here are a couple pictures from my neighborhood-

Much love!

Spanish in the Sand

I realized I cannot study Spanish in confined spaces. So, today I grabbed my Spanish books and a snack (of course) and headed for the beach to do a little studying. One thing I love about living here is the ability  to travel to all kinds of new places using public transportation. With my oversized beach bag in tow, I jumped on a bus and wound up at a new beach just up the coast from where I live. I was able to work on practicing my Spanish, especially when the lifeguard called me out of the ocean to lecture me in Spanish about swimming out too far.

I appreciate having this month or so before classes start to acclimate to my new surroundings. I am feeling settled in and this week am meeting with a Rotary club and a potential NGO that I might volunteer with here.

I always loving hearing from you guys so please feel free to shoot me an email or comment on the blog. :)

Unexpected Adventures!

One of my personal manifestos is, "A person is never lost, just on an unexpected adventures." The last couple days are marked by a series of unexpected adventures. I am really enjoying the opportunity to explore Viña del Mar, the city I live, and the Valparaíso, the neighboring city. Between using my Spanish, navigating the public transportation system, and traversing on winding, hilly roads, I am sometimes amazed I get places! However, people here are super helpful and I am very thankful to be living in such a friendly country. For example, I was on a bus today and was not sure where I was suppose to get off. I asked an older lady next to me where a certain stop was and we talked for a bit. When she realized I was new to Chile, she moved benches and sat next to me on the bus explaining the different building, stores, and sights we were passing. Alas, I was sad when I had to end the tour abruptly to get off the bus and say goodbye to my new friend.

Here are some pictures from the last few days. I hope this is motivating some of you to stop by sometime! :)

Part of my Running Route

Another View

 

An Old Castle in Viña that Is Now the Art Museum 

Sculptures on the Castle Walls

The Castle Lookout 

The Presidents Summer House

Not a Bad Gig

I Snapped This Photo Right Before the Guard Started Coming Over

Valparaíso at the Top of a Hill 

Valparaíso on the Side of the Hill 

One of the Homes of Pablo Neruda, a Famous Chilean Poet 

A Really Neat Bench at the House

Neruda Collected a Bunch of Eclectic Items

The Lookout from the Top of Neruda's House

Pelicans at the Port!

The Port at Valparaíso 

More Port Photos...

The Naval Academy 

One of the Narrow Streets in Valparaíso...No Room for Cars :)

In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien- "Not all those who wander are lost."

Small Moments

The moments that tend to stand out to me the most are the "small moments." These small moments remind me of Pointillism, which (according to Wikipedia) is "the technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image."


Here is one of my favorite examples of Pointillism-

Paul Signac's The Jetty at Cassis, Opus 198

Small moments are like distinct dots. These moments are different from each other and may not seem that breathtaking individually but when they emerge side by side they begin to form images, make sense of experiences, and create masterpieces in which the dots seem to be lost in the magnificence of the creation. Some small moments represent happier times or more challenging moments but together they embed themselves on a canvas and form an image, an experience that neither existed previously nor could exist without the individual dots.I have been here almost a week and experienced a lot of small moments. Everyday brings new experiences and emotions.

Here are some small moments from the last couple days-

• When I was out running yesterday, a stray dog decided to be my running buddy and ran with me for a couple miles. I really enjoyed his company and gave him the only thing I had- the rest of my water. When I was close to the middle of the run, I realized he was running away from me and looked up to see four dogs furiously heading in his direction to attack him. I felt virtually paralyzed in that moment because there was nothing I could do to assist my running buddy. Eventually, he ran away from the other dogs but I will never be sure what happened to him.

• I was out swimming in the ocean and looked up to see a sea lion about 10 yards away from me!

• A Google Maps Street Car passed me today. I am not sure why but I thought it was super cool.

• I started using new Spanish words that I learned since being here. Baby steps...

• I heard from an organization that focuses on human trafficking that I might be able to work with here. I will keep you posted.
  

I am not sure what the final canvas will look like but I am working on living in each dot, each small moment.

I thought I would attach some pictures of my barrio (neighborhood). Enjoy!

Valparaíso

One of the streets I walk up to get to my apartment...It's like a mini-workout everyday.

Another one of my favorite streets

Viña del Mar

The boats start turning their lights on at dusk

Fire hydrant (taller and skinnier here)

How Much Produce = $11?

How Much Produce = $11?

When you go to the Mercado Cardonal en Valparaíso, the answer is quite a bit.

Today, I caught a bus to Valparaíso to go to the market and find some produce. A couple of the Chileans I met here told me about the market and the incredible prices. I was not disappointed.

The market is right off the port and if you walk around towards the back of the market you can see pick-up trucks full of produce being unloaded. I don't think I have ever seen so many onions in one place! Inside and outside the building, vendors line up selling all sorts of produce and trinkets.

The quality and price of the produce ranges but this is what I bought for $11-

I was pretty excited about the trip and being able to find my way around the city (thanks to a little help from the roomies).

Here are some photos of the market that I found online (I didn't have my camera with me to take photos)-

Spanish, Seagulls, and Sand Dunes

Blur. That would be the word I would use to describe the last couple days here. I am unpacked, finding my way around town, working on my Spanish, and meeting new people. I cannot tell if I feel like I have been here a long tome or if I just arrived yesterday. The good news is, besides missing all of you, I am really enjoying being here.

I just got back from an overnight camping trip to the beach. I was able to practice my Spanish, meet new people, and enjoy the climate here. We bused up to the sand dunes, popped up some tents, and had a fabulous time.

Since I am looking out and watching the seagulls, here are some fun facts about the animals here-

 Seagulls can be seen and heard throughout the day here. Swooping in and  Recently, they started serving as my alarm clock. I kid you not, I have not set an alarm since I have been here but every morning like clockwork the gulls awaken me. (Just in case you were about to get jealous, remember, you can sleep in without being awaken by gulls. :)

 Fish, shrimp, and all sorts of varieties seafood are very affordable and accesible here. Often in the mornings when I am out running, I see people fishing for their food for the day or unloading tons of seafood into a store or restaurant. Interestingly, indigenous people who lived in the northern deserts of Chile survived by eating seafood since crops were challenging to cultivate and hence animal were not super common.
 On Friday, I woke up, walked to the kitchen, and almost started brewing tea threw up! Behold a huge dead fish chilling in the sink. One of the people I live with was using it for an archeological experiment. Let's just say each day brings many new surprises.

 Dogs can be seen on every street at all times. Mostly, they are timid, quiet, and scared but sometimes they will follow you or fight with each other. They are almost all nocturnal and can be seen lounging around during the day before a night of food finding, street hopping, and people following adventures.

 Cats must be either lurking in the shadows or running away to join Broadway because I have only seen one. The one I did see though was hissing and scared away a dog the size of a labrador. Afterwards, a Chilean named the cat "the puma of Chile."



Here are some photos! Have a great week!

You can't escape this legend. His name appears throughout the city and weaves its way into conversations. 

The beach we camped at just north of Viña. 

Some of the vegetation at the sand dunes. 

The beach in the evening.

Two ships in the harbor outside my bedroom window. I thought it was super cute. 

On top of a hill overlooking Viña. 

¡Bienvenidos a Chile!

I am sitting at my desk window looking out over new cities in a new county. If I look to the left, I can see the port city of Valparaíso. Then to the right, is Viña del Mar, the beach city. The landscape is hilly with trees, colorful houses, and high-rises dotting the landscape. The beach for the neighborhood where I am staying is about a ten minute walk downhill. This means returning from the beach takes some effort.

Yesterday, I went to el centro (the center) of Viña to buy some food and an adaptor for the computer. I meant to be gone for about an hour and ended up being gone for over three hours- walking, looking around, eating dinner on the beach, and trying to describe the adaptor I needed. El centro is a narrow, one way street lined with cute little shops where people walk around, eat ice cream, ride house drawn carriages, and shop. Since I didn't have my camera with me, I will grab photos another time and post them for your viewing enjoyment.

I arrived less than 24 hours ago but I am already enjoying this city. I am realizing the current limitations of my Spanish and learning about South America.

Here are a few things I have learned so far:

• If the cab driver gets lost , you still pay him for the time it took him to ask for directions (three times), backtrack, and eventually arrive at your destination. 
• Las panaderías (the bakeries) here are fantastic. Yes, leave it to me to find the carb heavens wherever I go. :)
• The common word for beans in Spanish is frijoles. That word really does not exist here. In Chile, beans are referred to as porotos. Yes, leave it to the vegetarian to discover this super quickly. 
• Remember to carry change to pay to go to the bathroom... and to buy a churro. 
• The exchange rate is about 478 Chilean pesos for 1 US dollar. So when something cost 1,000 pesos, no need to freak out. (P.S. Carry a 10,000 peso bill kind of makes you feel like a baller, a word my brothers taught me that means, "very cool, usually requires walking with a swag." I  mean, when else are you going to carry a bill with 10,000 printed on it?!)

Well, that is all I have for now. I will try to post to this blog two or three times a week. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comment section and I will attempt to answer them or at least google them and come up with a good story. :)

Chao!


Below are a few photos I took today. Today is a little cloudy but I will take more photos when the weather clears and post them. 

Valparaíso

Viña del Mar

Looking out off the balcony