I´m begining to experience a bit of the-end-is-near anxiety. I am so excited to see friends and family but will be devasted to leave Chile. Last Thursday (i think) the sun came out for the first time in a few days and I took advantage of the weather to do my favorite hour long walk between the University and my house in Recreo (Viña). The first thirty minutes or so I walk along boardwalk-like strip along the beach, it has a beautiful view of the city when it is clear and you can also stop and enjoy the sillyness of the lobos marinos: big fat sea lions or i guess literally translated as sea-wolves. On Thursday I spent some time sitting and admiring the view of the city and definitely teared up a bit at the thought of leaving.
Of course I have many exciting things to look forward too in the near future. One test until I am officially done with school and from then on out, this is pure vacation. Parents arrive on Monday which will be wonderful. We are going to spend their first few days in Viña and Valpo before we head off to the south for a few days. We are going to Chiloe, a big supposedly mysteriously unique island in the south of Chile parallel to the big city Puerto Montt. After that we will return here for a few days and after they leave I will do some more traveling in the north of Chile and to Bolivia.
In these last few weeks I am desperately scheming ways in which I can make it back to Latin America as soon as possible. I will have to return either to teach english or work for an NGO. I´ve decided there also has to be all kinds of opporunties to obtain for grants write, take pictures, make documentaries. I will make it happen I´m sure. Besitos and I hope to post more photos later this week (when I actually have some more time to take them!) This will be a crazy few weeks but I intend to take advanage of Chile until the very end.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
rainy days in valpo
One week from tomorrow and I am officially a college graduate. A few months later than my classmates, but I made it (almost). Between now and then I will turn in a 10 page paper (almost done and by far the longest and most complicated paper I have ever written in Spanish), give two presentations, and take a difficult meteorolgy midterm. Right now it is freezing and rainy. I'm sitting in the cafeteria of one of the classroom buildings on campus, bundled up in my coat, hat, gloves and scarves becuase from every angle I can feel the drafty air coming in from the outside. It has not rained here often but when it rains, it RAINS. The streets flood and become small rivers. Children stay home from school and if you dare stand too close to the street curb you WILL get soaking wet.
Yesterday we said goodbye to the kids at the elementary school becuase the class for which we do our volunteer work is ending this week. I personally will at least go visit them before I leave, but regardless it was sad. I feel strange passing in for 8, 9 weeks, creating these bonds and then peaceing out back to the United States so quickly. A few kids wrote me goodbye letters, begging me not to forget them, one asked if I would be her mother. I love these kids, their teachers and I love the elementary school. It will be really hard to say goodbye for good in a few weeks
I'm getting anxious about leaving, full of mixed feelings. I am so excited to see my family and friends again but naturally devasated to be leaving this place. I finish school next week. Parents are here for the following two weeks. After that I will travel for two weeks and then back to the states. I feel between now and when my parents come is my last real time living this life that has become familiar over the past six monts. I started out unsure of Chile, but have grown to love it. More than loving Chile though I have grown to love Valparaíso and the history, culture, politics of Latin America in general that has always been in my heart. I don't think it will be possible to stay away from here for long, I know that I will live more of my life in Latin America, someday, somehow.
Yesterday we said goodbye to the kids at the elementary school becuase the class for which we do our volunteer work is ending this week. I personally will at least go visit them before I leave, but regardless it was sad. I feel strange passing in for 8, 9 weeks, creating these bonds and then peaceing out back to the United States so quickly. A few kids wrote me goodbye letters, begging me not to forget them, one asked if I would be her mother. I love these kids, their teachers and I love the elementary school. It will be really hard to say goodbye for good in a few weeks
I'm getting anxious about leaving, full of mixed feelings. I am so excited to see my family and friends again but naturally devasated to be leaving this place. I finish school next week. Parents are here for the following two weeks. After that I will travel for two weeks and then back to the states. I feel between now and when my parents come is my last real time living this life that has become familiar over the past six monts. I started out unsure of Chile, but have grown to love it. More than loving Chile though I have grown to love Valparaíso and the history, culture, politics of Latin America in general that has always been in my heart. I don't think it will be possible to stay away from here for long, I know that I will live more of my life in Latin America, someday, somehow.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
remembering to be grateful
At 1pm today I was on the verge of tears because I am frustrated with school. I am failing my meteorology class and generally am feeling "done" with school here. Yet, this afternoon I had a well-needed experience that reminded me, things could be worse. Struggling in meteorolgy in Chile with a mean profesor is NOT the end of the world.
This afternoon I went over to the house of Inés, a 58 year old elementary teacher who works at the school at which I have been volunteering. Inés is trying to learn English to better converse with her step-children who live in the states. She asked me to come over to both practice English and to advise her on ways of teaching basic english phrases to her second graders. In the end, Inés seemed to be looking for friendship, someone to listen to her. Inés's life is the following: five years ago her husband had a stroke (he was 70 at the time) and paralyzed him on half his body. He is immobil, incontinent and requires much superivison. On top of that, he has severe alzheimer's or dimentia and does not ever recognize his own wife anymore. He spontaneous swears and acuses her of beating him. During the day, Inés goes to teach and a woman comes to the house to care for him, but evenings and late into the night, it is all her. there is no good care for the elderly here, not if you aren't filthy rich. Beyond that, this woman's parents are still alive, they live in the neighborhood. One has cancer and the other has parkinson's. Inés cares for them as well. She has one son, a 21 year old, who apparently takes no responsibility in helping his family.
In her broken English Inés tells me that her life is very bad, but it is the school children that keep her going. She loves to teach. The children are the future, but the future of Chile concerns this middle-aged, self-proclaimed traditional Chilean. She tells me she feels things are moving too fast for her to handle, that the Chilean identity is threatend by the invasion of American pop culture and economic pressures are turning ciities like Santiago into dangerous and poverty-filled places like she belived only existed in the poorest of countries. She speaks of the cultural threats of globalization as far stronger than any physical threat, "a pacifist invasion" of pop music, mini skirts, and gangs. She is outraged that the new trend is youtube videos of kids beating eachother up.
I learned a lot from this woman, and I also was reminded to be greatful for what I have. I can't always be proud to be an American...but I can personally be thankful for my health, my family, and for people who love me.
This afternoon I went over to the house of Inés, a 58 year old elementary teacher who works at the school at which I have been volunteering. Inés is trying to learn English to better converse with her step-children who live in the states. She asked me to come over to both practice English and to advise her on ways of teaching basic english phrases to her second graders. In the end, Inés seemed to be looking for friendship, someone to listen to her. Inés's life is the following: five years ago her husband had a stroke (he was 70 at the time) and paralyzed him on half his body. He is immobil, incontinent and requires much superivison. On top of that, he has severe alzheimer's or dimentia and does not ever recognize his own wife anymore. He spontaneous swears and acuses her of beating him. During the day, Inés goes to teach and a woman comes to the house to care for him, but evenings and late into the night, it is all her. there is no good care for the elderly here, not if you aren't filthy rich. Beyond that, this woman's parents are still alive, they live in the neighborhood. One has cancer and the other has parkinson's. Inés cares for them as well. She has one son, a 21 year old, who apparently takes no responsibility in helping his family.
In her broken English Inés tells me that her life is very bad, but it is the school children that keep her going. She loves to teach. The children are the future, but the future of Chile concerns this middle-aged, self-proclaimed traditional Chilean. She tells me she feels things are moving too fast for her to handle, that the Chilean identity is threatend by the invasion of American pop culture and economic pressures are turning ciities like Santiago into dangerous and poverty-filled places like she belived only existed in the poorest of countries. She speaks of the cultural threats of globalization as far stronger than any physical threat, "a pacifist invasion" of pop music, mini skirts, and gangs. She is outraged that the new trend is youtube videos of kids beating eachother up.
I learned a lot from this woman, and I also was reminded to be greatful for what I have. I can't always be proud to be an American...but I can personally be thankful for my health, my family, and for people who love me.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Some interesting facts
Here are some random interesting facts about Chile (stuff worth reading more about if you have interest...)
1.) Divorce was just legalized here in 2004 and today Chile remains one of two countries in Latin America (the other being El Salvador) in which abortion is illegal even when the mother's life is in danger.
2.) Chile's economy is based on copper, wood, and a little bit of hydroelectric power. However, it does not have a stable energy supply. Ten years ago Chile began purchasing all of its natural gas from Agrentina, but after the peso crisis in Argentina the demand for gas has surpassed supply. Today Chile finds itself in a big crisis: Aregentina continues to cut its supply to Chile. They predict that by next year Chile will have to impose restrictions on gas which means cold showers and problems cooking.
3.) Trans-Santiago Sucks: In February Santiago completely overhauled its public transportation system and it is a raging disaster. The change was made in order to consolidate the numerous private bus companies under one government subsidized program, but the choas only got worse. Today there are ridiculously long lines, crowded buses and the metro now has to deal with twice as many passengers daily. The central government spends millions and millions but people are complaining the money has not been spent wisely. I read that Chile spends 6x on transportation on Santiago as they spend on the rest of the country as a whole. (To be fair, 1/3 of Chile's population lives in Santiago).
4.) Bolivia and Peru still have horrible relations with Chile stemming from the War of the Pacific in 1870. During this war Chile acquired its northern region, which means Chile took Bolivia's only access to the coast. More than a centurty later, Bolivia still demands its territory back.
5.) Pinochet created a constiution in the 1980 granting far more power to the executive branch. Though it has been amended since, the constitution still remains, further signaling that the skeleton of the dictatorship is still present today.
1.) Divorce was just legalized here in 2004 and today Chile remains one of two countries in Latin America (the other being El Salvador) in which abortion is illegal even when the mother's life is in danger.
2.) Chile's economy is based on copper, wood, and a little bit of hydroelectric power. However, it does not have a stable energy supply. Ten years ago Chile began purchasing all of its natural gas from Agrentina, but after the peso crisis in Argentina the demand for gas has surpassed supply. Today Chile finds itself in a big crisis: Aregentina continues to cut its supply to Chile. They predict that by next year Chile will have to impose restrictions on gas which means cold showers and problems cooking.
3.) Trans-Santiago Sucks: In February Santiago completely overhauled its public transportation system and it is a raging disaster. The change was made in order to consolidate the numerous private bus companies under one government subsidized program, but the choas only got worse. Today there are ridiculously long lines, crowded buses and the metro now has to deal with twice as many passengers daily. The central government spends millions and millions but people are complaining the money has not been spent wisely. I read that Chile spends 6x on transportation on Santiago as they spend on the rest of the country as a whole. (To be fair, 1/3 of Chile's population lives in Santiago).
4.) Bolivia and Peru still have horrible relations with Chile stemming from the War of the Pacific in 1870. During this war Chile acquired its northern region, which means Chile took Bolivia's only access to the coast. More than a centurty later, Bolivia still demands its territory back.
5.) Pinochet created a constiution in the 1980 granting far more power to the executive branch. Though it has been amended since, the constitution still remains, further signaling that the skeleton of the dictatorship is still present today.
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