New Playlist Who Dis
I come to you from Santiago on a rainy Sunday listening to Bohemian Rhapsody because the music tastes of both Maria and Polo the pololo are starting to rub off on me (especially after hearing them on the brand new loud speaker that was purchased for the sole purpose of improving karaoke nights). Happy first week of school to my Bo's back in Medford and happy move in day to my once second formers out in the 01450 who are now 5th FORMERS (!?!?!).
Santiago got a break from the 15 Jumbos this weekend as we headed out to Valparaíso for Friday and Saturday. You may remember this city from previous blogs as we visited during our initial orientation weeks (remember the rooms of the diputados and senadores and their backdrops made from different forms of copper?) But this time we went back with a day of freedom to explore this incredibly colorful city on our own and stay at AN ECO HOSTEL. First compost bin in Chile has officially been seen and used. I was giddy as I popped my pear core in.
But in addition to the time we had on our own, Loreto, our program director, came out to join us on Saturday with her daughter Trini and we had a program-run day with a full guided tour. Jaime was an incredibly informative and vibrant guide who repeatedly reminded us that Valpo is a much better city than Santiago as he took breaks from doing some home videoing of us for a new promo video. Some of his points follow. For one, Santiago is the only main city in the entire country that isn't next to the ocean. Secondly, Valpo had the first fire department and first boat fire department in the whole country. And finally it's 42 hills and colorful houses and street art give it a character lacking in the capital city. I don't know if I'm convinced that it is the best place to live, but it is most certainly one of the coolest cities I have ever visited in my life and definitely is the most unique. I love the narrow winding streets, many of which aren't accessible by any form of vehicle. I love how we walked by a man who plays a special flute that everyone knows signifies that he is a knife sharpener and you can just bring out your knives as he passes by your house and he will sharpen them. I love how almost no wall is bare and that we found a slide that we all took a ride down. Do you remember the park/jungle gyms that were best described as wooden castles with ropes and tires and plenty of little spaces to explore? I felt as though I was playing on one of those for the whole day as we walked around. And those were always my favorite places to play.
As everyone else starts their school years back in the US of A, I've gotten myself stuck in reflecting on my time in the Southern Hemisphere. In three days, we will officially hit the 2 month milestone since arriving in Chile which has sparked lots of feelings deep inside. First, I look ahead to all of the adventures that are coming down the line. We leave for Peru for a week this coming Thursday (get ready to see all the Machu Picchu tourist pictures you could ever desire) and will also be exploring La Serena/Valle del Elqui and Argentina in November. Secondly -- though I honestly think this comes to my mind first -- I am struck with the wild thought that I am nearing the halfway point of my time in Chile. My host mom has already brought up how hard it will be to say goodbye and my professors are starting to lay out final assignment due dates. As much as the past two months have flown by and our time in Barrio Brazil at the Happy House Hostel seems quite distant, as I think back, I immediately think about all of the incredible places we have explored in the relatively short time since being here. I have already been in four different regions of Chile (out of 15) and have plans, as of right now, to explore a minimum of three more. We have been to the mountains and the beach and the desert and the city. We've ridden the famous ascensores of Valparaíso and sat in the flowers of the driest desert in the world. We've been above 14,000 ft using the sulfurous vapor of geysers to warm up our freezing bodies and (some of us, myself not included) have taken a winter dip in the Southern Pacific. We've played around with clay in Pomaire's lush valley and have stuffed our novice wine tasting noses into beautiful De Martino Vineyard glasses before noon. We've eaten more empanadas and avocados than the vast majority of the world will eat in a lifetime while desperately missing peanut butter and leafy greens. And as I think back on these adventures (now with Toto's Africa playing in the background) I can't help but be filled with satisfaction and feel so happy. But even more than that, Chile is finally feeling like home. I think the best way to describe it is that the novelty has worn off, leaving behind the same yet completely brand new city to explore with more mature and observant eyes.
When you first get to a new place everything is overwhelming and bright and bouncing around and hard to absorb. I used to be baffled by the microphone-speaker set ups that all of the performers carry with them as they sneak onto busses and metros right as the doors close. Now, my rides on public transportation feel empty and silent when there isn't a rapper or guitar player in the background singing too quickly for me to pick up on more than a few words. The smog and the thick new-city smell that hit me as I exited the airport for the first time is now the filter that colors my everyday life. The new car smell has warn off leaving nothing recognizably strange. In fact, I only realize when the day is clearer than it normally should be. I have mastered my morning routine and have learned to tune out the symphony of Mario Kart Wii that radiates through my shared wall with my little host brothers. And now I only say cómo estai instead of cómo estás and copy my host mom's intonation when blurting out ¡¿¡en serio?!?
So now I recognize the Chileans that share my morning Monday/Wednesday commute on the bus to Irarrazaval Station. Oscar, my building's door man, calls me Reina and he makes a joke when I receive two letters in one day and when I invite a gaggle of gringos to the apartment and we share a wordless wave when I walk in after a Chile National Team loss (which have been heartbreakingly frequent recently). I have acquired a taste for instant coffee and have added an empanada keychain to my overly filled backpack zippers. So what else am I going to realize in the next 3 months now that tourist eyes have been replaced by resident ones?
I've Had the Time of My Life just came on. Maybe 3 months early, but it still holds true.
Sending my thoughts to everyone going through hurricanes or fires or droughts or any other extreme weather pattern back in the northern hemisphere. We are thinking of you down here.
Don't forget that you can subscribe if you want me to magically appear in your inboxes :)
All the love,
Olivia/Liv/Boo
Santiago got a break from the 15 Jumbos this weekend as we headed out to Valparaíso for Friday and Saturday. You may remember this city from previous blogs as we visited during our initial orientation weeks (remember the rooms of the diputados and senadores and their backdrops made from different forms of copper?) But this time we went back with a day of freedom to explore this incredibly colorful city on our own and stay at AN ECO HOSTEL. First compost bin in Chile has officially been seen and used. I was giddy as I popped my pear core in.
But in addition to the time we had on our own, Loreto, our program director, came out to join us on Saturday with her daughter Trini and we had a program-run day with a full guided tour. Jaime was an incredibly informative and vibrant guide who repeatedly reminded us that Valpo is a much better city than Santiago as he took breaks from doing some home videoing of us for a new promo video. Some of his points follow. For one, Santiago is the only main city in the entire country that isn't next to the ocean. Secondly, Valpo had the first fire department and first boat fire department in the whole country. And finally it's 42 hills and colorful houses and street art give it a character lacking in the capital city. I don't know if I'm convinced that it is the best place to live, but it is most certainly one of the coolest cities I have ever visited in my life and definitely is the most unique. I love the narrow winding streets, many of which aren't accessible by any form of vehicle. I love how we walked by a man who plays a special flute that everyone knows signifies that he is a knife sharpener and you can just bring out your knives as he passes by your house and he will sharpen them. I love how almost no wall is bare and that we found a slide that we all took a ride down. Do you remember the park/jungle gyms that were best described as wooden castles with ropes and tires and plenty of little spaces to explore? I felt as though I was playing on one of those for the whole day as we walked around. And those were always my favorite places to play.
My favorite building in the whole city.
Für Elise anyone?
Ascensores: primary mode of speedy elevation change
As everyone else starts their school years back in the US of A, I've gotten myself stuck in reflecting on my time in the Southern Hemisphere. In three days, we will officially hit the 2 month milestone since arriving in Chile which has sparked lots of feelings deep inside. First, I look ahead to all of the adventures that are coming down the line. We leave for Peru for a week this coming Thursday (get ready to see all the Machu Picchu tourist pictures you could ever desire) and will also be exploring La Serena/Valle del Elqui and Argentina in November. Secondly -- though I honestly think this comes to my mind first -- I am struck with the wild thought that I am nearing the halfway point of my time in Chile. My host mom has already brought up how hard it will be to say goodbye and my professors are starting to lay out final assignment due dates. As much as the past two months have flown by and our time in Barrio Brazil at the Happy House Hostel seems quite distant, as I think back, I immediately think about all of the incredible places we have explored in the relatively short time since being here. I have already been in four different regions of Chile (out of 15) and have plans, as of right now, to explore a minimum of three more. We have been to the mountains and the beach and the desert and the city. We've ridden the famous ascensores of Valparaíso and sat in the flowers of the driest desert in the world. We've been above 14,000 ft using the sulfurous vapor of geysers to warm up our freezing bodies and (some of us, myself not included) have taken a winter dip in the Southern Pacific. We've played around with clay in Pomaire's lush valley and have stuffed our novice wine tasting noses into beautiful De Martino Vineyard glasses before noon. We've eaten more empanadas and avocados than the vast majority of the world will eat in a lifetime while desperately missing peanut butter and leafy greens. And as I think back on these adventures (now with Toto's Africa playing in the background) I can't help but be filled with satisfaction and feel so happy. But even more than that, Chile is finally feeling like home. I think the best way to describe it is that the novelty has worn off, leaving behind the same yet completely brand new city to explore with more mature and observant eyes.
When you first get to a new place everything is overwhelming and bright and bouncing around and hard to absorb. I used to be baffled by the microphone-speaker set ups that all of the performers carry with them as they sneak onto busses and metros right as the doors close. Now, my rides on public transportation feel empty and silent when there isn't a rapper or guitar player in the background singing too quickly for me to pick up on more than a few words. The smog and the thick new-city smell that hit me as I exited the airport for the first time is now the filter that colors my everyday life. The new car smell has warn off leaving nothing recognizably strange. In fact, I only realize when the day is clearer than it normally should be. I have mastered my morning routine and have learned to tune out the symphony of Mario Kart Wii that radiates through my shared wall with my little host brothers. And now I only say cómo estai instead of cómo estás and copy my host mom's intonation when blurting out ¡¿¡en serio?!?
So now I recognize the Chileans that share my morning Monday/Wednesday commute on the bus to Irarrazaval Station. Oscar, my building's door man, calls me Reina and he makes a joke when I receive two letters in one day and when I invite a gaggle of gringos to the apartment and we share a wordless wave when I walk in after a Chile National Team loss (which have been heartbreakingly frequent recently). I have acquired a taste for instant coffee and have added an empanada keychain to my overly filled backpack zippers. So what else am I going to realize in the next 3 months now that tourist eyes have been replaced by resident ones?
I've Had the Time of My Life just came on. Maybe 3 months early, but it still holds true.
Sending my thoughts to everyone going through hurricanes or fires or droughts or any other extreme weather pattern back in the northern hemisphere. We are thinking of you down here.
Don't forget that you can subscribe if you want me to magically appear in your inboxes :)
All the love,
Olivia/Liv/Boo
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