So as you who is reading this knows...I am here in Chile for a semester abroad. While here I am studying Spanish and getting to know the Chilean culture while I am at it. But getting to know all the different modismos from Chile I am having a fun time ordering things and asking questions in stores.
I am pretty sure that there is not more than one day gap when I don't get asked where I am from. It is definitely a let down when I feel as though I am not able to communicate and I have already been here for a sufficient amount of time. The fact that I do speak quite a lot of English is what is getting me. It is so comfortable that it is hard to throw away. Also when alone with friends it is more easy to do it also. But these are the things that get to me quite often. I am here to learn Spanish and all I speak is English. So when I get the chance to walk around alone or with a few people and have to talk to spanish speakers I like it. It gives me the opportunity to practice.
Like when we go to the grocery store, the cashier asks if you have like a card....to put like points on (how much you spend)...and we say no...then when you don't know where something is you need to ask people and they don't speak English. So it is an experience. Cuanto vale...cuanto cuesta...donde esta...those are the key phrases that are used. But yes when I go into a store my idea is to speak spanish...and when they speak English it is kind of a let down saying...oh well this is easier so I should do it. As for getting asked where I am from that happens everytime I get starbucks, buy a book, go to the tourist office and much other stuff.
But the fact that I am slowly getting used to the questions is ok and by the time I am done this will all be worth it. Coming to a different country has its purpose, mine is to study the language. Also when we are girls walking in towns that are in different countries then our home ones...English is a sign to those that live there that we are foreigners...and that kind of scares me. I don't want to stick out more than I do without doing anything...so it must be changed. We will see.
Ciao from La Serena Chile
Kim
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Penguins in the Sun?
Well I have been slacking a little bit on this but the last week I actually did something everyday, so therefore was busy. ;) We finished our spanish course one week ago on Friday and we had a nice little going away fiesta, with cocktails and hours derves....not juice and make your own sandwiches. But it was fun to have accomplished something already, having been in Chile for one month already and feeling pretty accustomed to. So when I moved into my new apartment it was not too hard to say goodbye to my family, because they live about 25 minutes away and I know my way back home.
At the end of last week I completed the course, went to Cerro San Cristobal with one of my friends, went to Bravissimo...amazing ice cream, moved into my place, went shopping, and somewhere in the mix we had a Sex and the City movie night and catching up on some good old Biggest Loser. Other than that...I have had a seminar for the new extranjeros, exchange students, at our University. We spent time going through presentations, the advice on what to do and not to do in Santiago, along with getting to know a few new people, outside our intensive spanish course group. I have meet two girls from Mexico and they are very sweet, Ana and Beatriz.
This past friday, yesterday, my friend Colleen and I came to La Serena where we will spend the next 5 days. We arrived this morning at about 6:50, waited for our hostal to open, had a breakfast, put luggage away because rooms weren't done, so we decided to walk around to kill time. As we started walking towards the center we decided to head down to the beach, 20-25 minute walk from our hostal. As we retraced our steps we found ourselves in the mix of about grand total of 8 stray dogs. After hearing the stories of our classmates and their bad run in with dogs and that these dogs were kind of sketchy, it creeped me out. I mean I freaking love dogs...miss my Dozey...but these ones I was soooo not fond of. Well they followed us for so long...almost got rid of them twice...but still had a few dogs now and then. After we finally escaped them and went to the grocery store we returned to our hostal to eat some sannies and rest before heading back to the beach.
The beach was gorgeous. It was nice and warm there and hopefully got a tan. Met some new flatmates in our hostal, who are travelling/working around the world. It has been a relaxing day and tomorrow we are going to head out and sight see/ few things to buy and get our excursions ready for this week. I believe that we are going to Isla Damas---AKA---PENGUINOS...on monday or so, and then going to tour the Elqui Valley, where the famous Pisco is brewed.
Other than these few excursions we are just relaxing before we go back to Santiago and begin our semester here. We have meetings with our tutors, who I will be corresponding with via email, about our classes and just getting ready to start a school year here in Santiago. I will hopefully try to write tomorrow about daily activities...suggestion was what happens when I go to a store? Do I speak Spanish? That and some more.
Until later...and sometime spent at the beach
Ciao de Chile
At the end of last week I completed the course, went to Cerro San Cristobal with one of my friends, went to Bravissimo...amazing ice cream, moved into my place, went shopping, and somewhere in the mix we had a Sex and the City movie night and catching up on some good old Biggest Loser. Other than that...I have had a seminar for the new extranjeros, exchange students, at our University. We spent time going through presentations, the advice on what to do and not to do in Santiago, along with getting to know a few new people, outside our intensive spanish course group. I have meet two girls from Mexico and they are very sweet, Ana and Beatriz.
This past friday, yesterday, my friend Colleen and I came to La Serena where we will spend the next 5 days. We arrived this morning at about 6:50, waited for our hostal to open, had a breakfast, put luggage away because rooms weren't done, so we decided to walk around to kill time. As we started walking towards the center we decided to head down to the beach, 20-25 minute walk from our hostal. As we retraced our steps we found ourselves in the mix of about grand total of 8 stray dogs. After hearing the stories of our classmates and their bad run in with dogs and that these dogs were kind of sketchy, it creeped me out. I mean I freaking love dogs...miss my Dozey...but these ones I was soooo not fond of. Well they followed us for so long...almost got rid of them twice...but still had a few dogs now and then. After we finally escaped them and went to the grocery store we returned to our hostal to eat some sannies and rest before heading back to the beach.
The beach was gorgeous. It was nice and warm there and hopefully got a tan. Met some new flatmates in our hostal, who are travelling/working around the world. It has been a relaxing day and tomorrow we are going to head out and sight see/ few things to buy and get our excursions ready for this week. I believe that we are going to Isla Damas---AKA---PENGUINOS...on monday or so, and then going to tour the Elqui Valley, where the famous Pisco is brewed.
Other than these few excursions we are just relaxing before we go back to Santiago and begin our semester here. We have meetings with our tutors, who I will be corresponding with via email, about our classes and just getting ready to start a school year here in Santiago. I will hopefully try to write tomorrow about daily activities...suggestion was what happens when I go to a store? Do I speak Spanish? That and some more.
Until later...and sometime spent at the beach
Ciao de Chile
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Boring?
Ahh now this seems to be the hard part of the trip. Seems like I have gotten adjusted for the most part here and have gone through most of the first great impressions of Chile, but what do I do now. After having talked about my trip and what I have done so far, it seems like I have nothing left to say. I don't know how many times I can talk about the same thing, which is very interesting, but feel as though there is so much to do and why am I in a rut. Every couple days I talk to someone from home, but feel as though my daily routine gets quite uneventful, when not sightseeing, and there is not much new information to share. But also there is nothing new from back home. Ahh this is the hard part, how to you keep talking and incorporating new topics into conversation while continuing on a daily routine? Because I can't go out to new sights everyday, because then there will be nothing left to see for the first time, or look forward to. So what now. How do people do it everyday when we do it every couple days to once a week and still come up empty-handed?
That doesn't keep me from experiencing Santiago, but just unsure of what to share, when to share it and when to stop and start anew. I know that my next trip, next Friday (26), my friend and I will be in La Serena for 6 days to relax and pretty much do nothing. This trip is exciting because of the things that it has to offer: beach, observatory, japanese garden, and PENGUINS. This way with pictures and memories I will be able to talk for a few times about different things. I just get so excited that I want to share everything. But I would like to know if a person gets bored of hearing of my adventures while they do the same thing all the time; listening while I experience the world and they stay home.
Its just a little hard thinking about this a few times more than I should. I have been homesick a few times and return to be a little each time I talk to someone from home. But I would be worse if I never had gone on this trip, because I would be thinking that I need to do something with my life but what. There is a lot to do here, but I haven't found many things that are to my liking to do each day. I need to be filling my time up with activities that distract me from these thoughts and keep my intrigued here. I move into my apartment on monday and will be able to set my own schedule and be able to do things without worrying about a certain time to return, not that it is a big problem now, and just do whatever whenever.
This move will be a good change, because I will be with students who hopefully speak spanish at home which will help me so much. If I want to be the best at Spanish to teach it, but only speak english here for the most part, let me say that the improvements are coming a lot slower than expected. My main reason was to come here to study, learn, speak and live Spanish and I have yet to do all of those things or most at one time. If I can acheive that, wow I think I will be set.
This next trip will get me out of the city and into another city, but WAY smaller: 6.1 million vs. ~160,000: and nothing but a calm and relaxing atmosphere,like the country. Being free to do nothing, kind of what I do here, and be near the beach, sun and much more is going to improve my mood so much!!! I just like having time to myself, space to myself, and being able to just think or not think about everything on my own.
So there are things yet to see, but I want to take my time to enjoy the moment, but still find stuff to fill my time and distract some of these things called, emotions. This is the best thing for me now and that is what I need to think about. So action and excitement need to come my way...so what you say Chile?
Ciao de Chile
That doesn't keep me from experiencing Santiago, but just unsure of what to share, when to share it and when to stop and start anew. I know that my next trip, next Friday (26), my friend and I will be in La Serena for 6 days to relax and pretty much do nothing. This trip is exciting because of the things that it has to offer: beach, observatory, japanese garden, and PENGUINS. This way with pictures and memories I will be able to talk for a few times about different things. I just get so excited that I want to share everything. But I would like to know if a person gets bored of hearing of my adventures while they do the same thing all the time; listening while I experience the world and they stay home.
Its just a little hard thinking about this a few times more than I should. I have been homesick a few times and return to be a little each time I talk to someone from home. But I would be worse if I never had gone on this trip, because I would be thinking that I need to do something with my life but what. There is a lot to do here, but I haven't found many things that are to my liking to do each day. I need to be filling my time up with activities that distract me from these thoughts and keep my intrigued here. I move into my apartment on monday and will be able to set my own schedule and be able to do things without worrying about a certain time to return, not that it is a big problem now, and just do whatever whenever.
This move will be a good change, because I will be with students who hopefully speak spanish at home which will help me so much. If I want to be the best at Spanish to teach it, but only speak english here for the most part, let me say that the improvements are coming a lot slower than expected. My main reason was to come here to study, learn, speak and live Spanish and I have yet to do all of those things or most at one time. If I can acheive that, wow I think I will be set.
This next trip will get me out of the city and into another city, but WAY smaller: 6.1 million vs. ~160,000: and nothing but a calm and relaxing atmosphere,like the country. Being free to do nothing, kind of what I do here, and be near the beach, sun and much more is going to improve my mood so much!!! I just like having time to myself, space to myself, and being able to just think or not think about everything on my own.
So there are things yet to see, but I want to take my time to enjoy the moment, but still find stuff to fill my time and distract some of these things called, emotions. This is the best thing for me now and that is what I need to think about. So action and excitement need to come my way...so what you say Chile?
Ciao de Chile
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Rain Rain Go Away
Well for the first time that I have been here, it rained!! I actually didn't mind it, but I don't want it here for the weekend. Some friends and I are planning on going to a place that has rafting, ziplining, horseback riding, and hiking, (massages :)) on saturday so no rain!! I am pretty excited for that! Went shopping today and had to buy some flip flops, adidas, because my feet aren't used to walking all day in like sandals for dress and I packed all my comfy ones into storage. :(
I have not felt so American before today. I wore what I normally do in the states, but that is not the same here. The wear clothes that are somewhat 'dressier' than what I wear on a normal day. So today when I walked to school and was wearing baseball athletic shorts, tshirt, twins sweatshirt and a nike mesh bag jamming to my ipod...wow I felt right at home in the states. Too funny. All of my friends said today..."wow I can tell you are from America." Great. It is the same when I wear like running shorts or so with my nike sneaks...a little out of place, but oh so comfy to me. Dude I don't want to dress up when I am just going to sweat because I walk outside in the 80 degree weather everyday...no.
There is a special day that is creeping up...what could that be?...oh ya 2/14 Valentine's day, and a friends 21!, and let me tell you I feel like the people here are expressing their love to their 'others' everyday. As some of my friends say, Santiago is the City of Love. I know for a fact this does not happen in the states and I would not be caught doing it, sure a peck is ok but not the groping and tonguing in public. Yes, I said it. People on the streets just make out in plain daylight, today I saw a guy tounging his gf? with his eyes open and a girl looking around at the people while she makes out...so strange. I guess they just really love each other or something. I hope that it doesn't get worse on monday...??...Other than that and the constant stares because I do not appear to be from Chile :) and constant remarks from all the guys towards any girl...I love this city.
Every city has a few bugs...but the most part is awesome. I am just excited to travel and see Chile. This weekend I am not going to La Serena because there was not really a way to get back if I wanted to be back at class on monday. But a group of us are going to go rafting and have fun in a natural pool!! Next week is the last week of the intensive spanish course and then I got to get ready to travel and then hit the books with the semester. 3 weeks already down....won't believe it when my time is up.
Today at dinner my family and I talked about a movie I watched in class about a war in Chile during time of Pinochet...and then the comparison to our Civil war. Then we started talking about how a comedian, C. Willie Miles, believes that the people in the south are still practicing because they think that they are going to win the next civil war. ha. But ya just a conversation about the states and how it is different from other countries. Also the person that I had to talk to about our trip on Saturday was from New Jersey and she could tell I was from Minnesota!! Ahh do I have that bad of an accent?? Too funny.
Well that is all so far this week, just a lot of homework, anohter presentation next week and then done. Time to sleep and recuperate for Friday!! Talk soon
Ciao de Chile
I have not felt so American before today. I wore what I normally do in the states, but that is not the same here. The wear clothes that are somewhat 'dressier' than what I wear on a normal day. So today when I walked to school and was wearing baseball athletic shorts, tshirt, twins sweatshirt and a nike mesh bag jamming to my ipod...wow I felt right at home in the states. Too funny. All of my friends said today..."wow I can tell you are from America." Great. It is the same when I wear like running shorts or so with my nike sneaks...a little out of place, but oh so comfy to me. Dude I don't want to dress up when I am just going to sweat because I walk outside in the 80 degree weather everyday...no.
There is a special day that is creeping up...what could that be?...oh ya 2/14 Valentine's day, and a friends 21!, and let me tell you I feel like the people here are expressing their love to their 'others' everyday. As some of my friends say, Santiago is the City of Love. I know for a fact this does not happen in the states and I would not be caught doing it, sure a peck is ok but not the groping and tonguing in public. Yes, I said it. People on the streets just make out in plain daylight, today I saw a guy tounging his gf? with his eyes open and a girl looking around at the people while she makes out...so strange. I guess they just really love each other or something. I hope that it doesn't get worse on monday...??...Other than that and the constant stares because I do not appear to be from Chile :) and constant remarks from all the guys towards any girl...I love this city.
Every city has a few bugs...but the most part is awesome. I am just excited to travel and see Chile. This weekend I am not going to La Serena because there was not really a way to get back if I wanted to be back at class on monday. But a group of us are going to go rafting and have fun in a natural pool!! Next week is the last week of the intensive spanish course and then I got to get ready to travel and then hit the books with the semester. 3 weeks already down....won't believe it when my time is up.
Today at dinner my family and I talked about a movie I watched in class about a war in Chile during time of Pinochet...and then the comparison to our Civil war. Then we started talking about how a comedian, C. Willie Miles, believes that the people in the south are still practicing because they think that they are going to win the next civil war. ha. But ya just a conversation about the states and how it is different from other countries. Also the person that I had to talk to about our trip on Saturday was from New Jersey and she could tell I was from Minnesota!! Ahh do I have that bad of an accent?? Too funny.
Well that is all so far this week, just a lot of homework, anohter presentation next week and then done. Time to sleep and recuperate for Friday!! Talk soon
Ciao de Chile
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Try, Try, Try again is the only way
So today was my day for making videos to upload about my week, let me tell you it has been a long day with that. Woke up this morning and it was cloudy outside, but refreshing and I was loving it. I just chilled in my room working on a presentation and some other homework for class. Later decided to go to the parque to read and just relax in the refreshing weather.
Well first it got warmer when I went to the park, ok, then I was recording a video of mine and it told me I didn't have enough time left. So I deleted some photos and past videos and re-recorded, but then my camera died on me. While trying to upload my video later my internet connection would go in and out causing upload failure. So I thought well I should just record it on the viewing site, nope two tries later another failure. The second to last attempt was in my room, so not as creative as park, and got interrupted so had to cut video short and couldn't go back to where I ended. Finally I got it recorded, but I look exhausted and just gross, but whatever it is done. But other than having to retry it plenty of times I was not that upset. I had to think oh well I can't really control it so just try again. I definitely tried my patience today, which I have a record for not holding.
But the rest of the day was pretty well. I went out with friends on friday night and did not feel well all day saturday. Pati made homemade chicken noodle soup, the bomb, and just helped me all day, laughing now and then. But today was a pretty busy day with homework, videos and then tonight we went and saw Cerro San Cristobal. It was so gorgeous and we went when the sun was down, for the most part, so it was a cool breeze. Santiago is a really pretty city and it has so much to offer.
Tomorrow we are supposed to be making a decision on whether or not we are going to La Serena. I would love to so I hope we do. I hope to really begin improving because my intensive course is half over. I really want to come back home with no regrets. Speaking of home, I have gotten homesick a few times and have talked to people about it, but I am trying to stay busy so I don't really think of missing home as often.
Other than that it was a pretty laid back weekend at 'home.' My video is uploading so hopefully it works, cause I have class at 8:30 my time all week and maybe a test tomorrow...ahh. So I wish myself luck for tomorrow and thanks to my perseverence today. Oh and dang...too bad I missed the SuperBowl today, good thing I do not care one bit about either team. P.S. 7 days until Valentine's Day!! Yay
Ciao desde Chile
Well first it got warmer when I went to the park, ok, then I was recording a video of mine and it told me I didn't have enough time left. So I deleted some photos and past videos and re-recorded, but then my camera died on me. While trying to upload my video later my internet connection would go in and out causing upload failure. So I thought well I should just record it on the viewing site, nope two tries later another failure. The second to last attempt was in my room, so not as creative as park, and got interrupted so had to cut video short and couldn't go back to where I ended. Finally I got it recorded, but I look exhausted and just gross, but whatever it is done. But other than having to retry it plenty of times I was not that upset. I had to think oh well I can't really control it so just try again. I definitely tried my patience today, which I have a record for not holding.
But the rest of the day was pretty well. I went out with friends on friday night and did not feel well all day saturday. Pati made homemade chicken noodle soup, the bomb, and just helped me all day, laughing now and then. But today was a pretty busy day with homework, videos and then tonight we went and saw Cerro San Cristobal. It was so gorgeous and we went when the sun was down, for the most part, so it was a cool breeze. Santiago is a really pretty city and it has so much to offer.
Tomorrow we are supposed to be making a decision on whether or not we are going to La Serena. I would love to so I hope we do. I hope to really begin improving because my intensive course is half over. I really want to come back home with no regrets. Speaking of home, I have gotten homesick a few times and have talked to people about it, but I am trying to stay busy so I don't really think of missing home as often.
Other than that it was a pretty laid back weekend at 'home.' My video is uploading so hopefully it works, cause I have class at 8:30 my time all week and maybe a test tomorrow...ahh. So I wish myself luck for tomorrow and thanks to my perseverence today. Oh and dang...too bad I missed the SuperBowl today, good thing I do not care one bit about either team. P.S. 7 days until Valentine's Day!! Yay
Ciao desde Chile
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Play time
Wow so this weather here is pretty amazing to get used to. As I continue to enjoy the weather the suffering back home continues. With the nice help of the wind chill the temperature gets near -50 degrees. These are the days that I am glad I missed out on winter, but then again when it is 90 degrees here almost everyday and it is dry with no chance of precipitation that is when I wouldn't mind being back home in the cold...but for only a moment or two.
This week has been pretty laid back. There has not been a lot of homework, but we have been busy hanging out that there has not been enough time for everything. After our trip to Valparaiso last week we have been preparing to go on another trip next weekend, La Serena. Nothing but coast and there are penguins near by!! I am so excited because I never thought that I would see a penguin unless I went to Antarctica!!
The only downfall is that it is spendy, but its because it is 5 hours away and we would spend like 3 days there. Also we payed 700USD for this course plus homestay and airport fee that if we missed classes for this trip, it is not worth the money that I paid for the course. Because sadly a lot of us are prone to speaking English while all of us are here and want to learn spanish, so this is a reason for wanting to stay in class where we will be learning and practicing our spanish. So we will see, but I am sure that I will go no matter who does or not because I want to share my experiences with those who are stuck at home in the cold and make them feel warm with pictures of the sun. :)
My host family is like the bomb. The food is great, eventhough I have eaten things here that I don't ever eat in the states, and we play games and spend time together a lot!! Pati, host mom, loves to shop so that is AWESOME, Alvaro, host dad, likes to help me with my spanish and always asks how my day was and such and Diego, host bro, is full of energy and a ball of joy. Playing cards almost every night, shopping, watching movies what more can I ask for.
Their neice came over today and we went to the park, super upset that I didn't bring my camera, and saw lots of interesting things. Played ping pong with a 6 year old, so funny and entertaining, people feeding the pigeons, guy doing crunches in the middle of the park, a dog with a diaper on, a dachsaun chasing a lil bigger dog and a futbol game. And for lunch um we had homemade turkey burgers..yum!!.. and cake cake, homemade by gma!! Let me tell you I will not go hungry here.
Along with today, the girls and I hung out yesterday, went to the Black Swan, tickets cost 3.50USD and 2 extra for popcorn (kettle corn...eww) and a drink, but sadly only 7 tickets for us 7 when 2 more were almost on there way. But it was a awkward but good movie. Before movie, Colleen and I went to our friends, Annika and Laura, house to chill by the pool. Oh btw got sun burned but it doesn't hurt and turns to tan so fast. :)
So busy week, but I don't have a lot of interesting things to talk about. The empanadas are freekin awesome. Happy hour is every night, but we have to time when we go out because people don't eat dinner until like 9 and party until like 2 here!!! Tomorrow I get to sleep in and perhaps shopping before class. Then it is girls night out.
But if something interesting happens this weekend, beach?? ;), will be sure to share.
Ciao de Chile
This week has been pretty laid back. There has not been a lot of homework, but we have been busy hanging out that there has not been enough time for everything. After our trip to Valparaiso last week we have been preparing to go on another trip next weekend, La Serena. Nothing but coast and there are penguins near by!! I am so excited because I never thought that I would see a penguin unless I went to Antarctica!!
The only downfall is that it is spendy, but its because it is 5 hours away and we would spend like 3 days there. Also we payed 700USD for this course plus homestay and airport fee that if we missed classes for this trip, it is not worth the money that I paid for the course. Because sadly a lot of us are prone to speaking English while all of us are here and want to learn spanish, so this is a reason for wanting to stay in class where we will be learning and practicing our spanish. So we will see, but I am sure that I will go no matter who does or not because I want to share my experiences with those who are stuck at home in the cold and make them feel warm with pictures of the sun. :)
My host family is like the bomb. The food is great, eventhough I have eaten things here that I don't ever eat in the states, and we play games and spend time together a lot!! Pati, host mom, loves to shop so that is AWESOME, Alvaro, host dad, likes to help me with my spanish and always asks how my day was and such and Diego, host bro, is full of energy and a ball of joy. Playing cards almost every night, shopping, watching movies what more can I ask for.
Their neice came over today and we went to the park, super upset that I didn't bring my camera, and saw lots of interesting things. Played ping pong with a 6 year old, so funny and entertaining, people feeding the pigeons, guy doing crunches in the middle of the park, a dog with a diaper on, a dachsaun chasing a lil bigger dog and a futbol game. And for lunch um we had homemade turkey burgers..yum!!.. and cake cake, homemade by gma!! Let me tell you I will not go hungry here.
Along with today, the girls and I hung out yesterday, went to the Black Swan, tickets cost 3.50USD and 2 extra for popcorn (kettle corn...eww) and a drink, but sadly only 7 tickets for us 7 when 2 more were almost on there way. But it was a awkward but good movie. Before movie, Colleen and I went to our friends, Annika and Laura, house to chill by the pool. Oh btw got sun burned but it doesn't hurt and turns to tan so fast. :)
So busy week, but I don't have a lot of interesting things to talk about. The empanadas are freekin awesome. Happy hour is every night, but we have to time when we go out because people don't eat dinner until like 9 and party until like 2 here!!! Tomorrow I get to sleep in and perhaps shopping before class. Then it is girls night out.
But if something interesting happens this weekend, beach?? ;), will be sure to share.
Ciao de Chile
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