Warning: if you like cats you might want to stop reading this entry.
It is quite possible that I live with a cat killer. Host mom has a lot of cats. And Pintufa, her pride and joy, just had kittens. But every time Jane and I ask about the kittens, we get weird ambiguous answers. Jane did see one kitten ONCE this weekend when Pintufa put it in my closet. But then host mom chased her and the kitten out and we have yet to see the little guys.
Jane and I just had a deep discussion about the location of the missing kittens because honestly, where are they!?! They are little tikes, they can't get away that fast! So we're about 99.9% sure host mom tossed them over the fence in the backyard and into the river. I seriously wouldn't put it past her. She's got the crazy eyes.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
"We're gonna make a cow"
The title of this blog has nothing to do with its contents. I just really enjoy the Chilenismo "hacer una vaca" for when you and your friends are going to split the bill. And I enjoy its English translation. Your fun fact for the day.
Ooooooooooookkkkkaaaaaaaaay. This is going to be a legitimate blog post. This is going to be a blog post in which you see all the blood, sweat, and tears that has poured out of my body and onto your computer screen. This is going to be a blog post in which you step back, shaken, and say, “Wow. This is why I got into this in the first place.” I'm going to remind you why you follow my blog.
In reality, I'm just going to give you a decent life update. So hold on tight.
Anecdote One: I climbed a volcano! This was serious business, friends. Last weekend, I went to Pucón with Jane, the German*, and My New Favorite German (Jana. Who is 100% German with an adorable British-German accent.) We didn't really plan this trip. We just checked the weather forecast, found out we weren't going to have classes on Thursday afternoon/ Friday, and decided, hey, let's get out of here!
So Pucón is an outdoorsy person's paradise. It's in the Andes (six hours south by bus from my dear, sweet, little San Nicolas) and it has a volcano you can climb. It's also rife with other activities such as canopying (zip-lining), rafting, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, etc. It looked a lot like Lake Tahoe and it was definitely designed for tourists. But I liked it a lot.
We stayed at this cute hostel called the Tree House...and it literally had a tree house. It also had two dogs that were CLEAN and therefore could be cuddled. The dogs on the street here are 100% untouchable (shaaaame) so the fact that I could pet a husky sent me over the edge. Yeah, this guy right here was pretty stoked. EVIDENCE:
On Friday, we headed to the bosque where we went canopying! We hadn't really thought this through (theme of the weekend!) so as we were climbing the first ladder to get to the first platform from which we would depart across the forest, we finally realized oh yeahhhh...this is kind of dangerous. In the end, I'm so glad we did it. It was so much fun! We zip-lined across a river, made friends with the guides (who were all ugly except for one). We also made friends with two other American tourists. But we forgot to get their last names so now we can't be Facebook friends. So Kristin and Catherine (?) if you read this, check us out on Facebook!
As for Saturday, we climbed the volcano. It took us 9.5 hours to climb the active 9,300ish foot beast known as Vulcan Villarica. We didn't see any lava, but yeah, hands down the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. So much harder than college, math, or common sense (in my case, at least). We were the last group to come down, my heels are bloody and hate me, but it was worth it. It was mostly worth it because once we got to the top, the German-American and I had this really romantic moment where we looked at each other and said, “I love you.” It was very sincere. I don't take it back, Jess. And I never will.
I also got to witness the German-American cry. Seriously. These kinds of physical challenges can really change a person. Jess is so much nicer now. She should climb volcanoes more often.
But in all honesty, I don't think I can top that experience. It was so effing painful, it almost broke me the way my first UC Berkeley upper division midterm on the history of international relations almost broke me. Luckily, I'm not so good at quitting (untrue, I'm good at quitting extracurricular activities, jobs, and volunteer work). But when it comes to bragging rights and school, I take that shit seriously.
I climbed a volcano! EVIDENCE:
Next life challenge: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for the German-American's 30th birthday. My heels have five years to heal. Ha! Unintentional, I swear.
The weekend before Pucón, I went to Valdivia. It's about 6ish hours south of my dear, sweet little San Nicolas as well. It's close to the coast and it was where a lot of the German immigrants from the 19th century settled. The Kunstman (did I spell that right?) brewery is there. And it also has a bunch of old Spanish forts. The forts were unbelievable. Valdivia was absolutely beautiful and it's a place I'm definitely going to go back to. I'm planning on taking my dad there for a few days in January when he comes. Seriously, the forts, so cool.
As for school updates, things are going. There are still so many disruptions, but it's whatever. I've gotten used to it. There is one class that Jess and I both have that is really difficult. They are indifferent to learning, loud, disrespectful, etc. But sometimes for me they can be good. And this past week, they were so good! They were hands down my best class. I've noticed that I just have to get my mood in sync with them because they are the one class that always gets my jokes. They love it when I do silly things. So when I bring the funny, they pay attention. I guess it was more like I was on my A-game this week.
And side note: So the other day Jane and I were alone in our house for lunch for the first time ever. We totally loved it of course, but Jane REALLY loved it. She was so excited, she went into the kitchen and started investigating. We had been curious for a while about what was in the fridge/ freezer and various other parts of the kitchen we had never really been able to go, so we took advantage of the freedom. Jane got super into it. I dubbed it, her most adorable moment in Chile. She was like a kid on Christmas. Also, I'm fairly certain a giant cow head is in our freezer.
Gypsy update: they haven't returned but a circus is being set up in the vacant lot where the gypsies once resided. Odd, don't you think?
Lastly, traveling plans. So Concepcion this weekend with the German-American, probably another weekend out in Chillan, and then I'm not sure. I have to fill about two more weekends I think before I head back to Santiago for closing ceremonies/ farewells. I have to say good bye to Jess at the end of November which is going to be so hard. Confession: she arrived to dear, sweet little San Nicolas one week after me. I was afraid she was going to suck, but Jane was like, chill out, she'll probably be your new best friend. True that. The German-American rocks (you're welcome). But she also totally sucks too. She's moving to London...wow, thanks, Jess. Chile is already expensive enough for me, how am I going to afford a plane ticket to London?
Alright, more on traveling plans. Torres del Paine is still happening in early December, Christmas in San Nicolas with the German-American's host family, Santiago/ Chillan/ San Nicolas/ Valdivia with real dad in January, then, it is quite possible that I am going to do the Atacama/ Macchu Picchu/ Uruguay/ Bolivia/ Argentina circuit with my Chilean friend Rebeca (yes, only one 'c'. That's how they roll down here). We need to discuss more and budget, but hey, I've got time, let's do it!
So thanks for reading this hodge-podge of a blog. I have another one in progress about things I'm planning to bring back from Chile to the United States. It's going to be a good one, so stay tuned. Also, keep your eyes open for another forthcoming blog entitled “Beaches vs. Bitches” in which I make fun of non-native English speakers for having trouble differentiating those two words.
Until next time!
Ooooooooooookkkkkaaaaaaaaay. This is going to be a legitimate blog post. This is going to be a blog post in which you see all the blood, sweat, and tears that has poured out of my body and onto your computer screen. This is going to be a blog post in which you step back, shaken, and say, “Wow. This is why I got into this in the first place.” I'm going to remind you why you follow my blog.
In reality, I'm just going to give you a decent life update. So hold on tight.
Anecdote One: I climbed a volcano! This was serious business, friends. Last weekend, I went to Pucón with Jane, the German*, and My New Favorite German (Jana. Who is 100% German with an adorable British-German accent.) We didn't really plan this trip. We just checked the weather forecast, found out we weren't going to have classes on Thursday afternoon/ Friday, and decided, hey, let's get out of here!
So Pucón is an outdoorsy person's paradise. It's in the Andes (six hours south by bus from my dear, sweet, little San Nicolas) and it has a volcano you can climb. It's also rife with other activities such as canopying (zip-lining), rafting, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, etc. It looked a lot like Lake Tahoe and it was definitely designed for tourists. But I liked it a lot.
We stayed at this cute hostel called the Tree House...and it literally had a tree house. It also had two dogs that were CLEAN and therefore could be cuddled. The dogs on the street here are 100% untouchable (shaaaame) so the fact that I could pet a husky sent me over the edge. Yeah, this guy right here was pretty stoked. EVIDENCE:
On Friday, we headed to the bosque where we went canopying! We hadn't really thought this through (theme of the weekend!) so as we were climbing the first ladder to get to the first platform from which we would depart across the forest, we finally realized oh yeahhhh...this is kind of dangerous. In the end, I'm so glad we did it. It was so much fun! We zip-lined across a river, made friends with the guides (who were all ugly except for one). We also made friends with two other American tourists. But we forgot to get their last names so now we can't be Facebook friends. So Kristin and Catherine (?) if you read this, check us out on Facebook!
As for Saturday, we climbed the volcano. It took us 9.5 hours to climb the active 9,300ish foot beast known as Vulcan Villarica. We didn't see any lava, but yeah, hands down the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. So much harder than college, math, or common sense (in my case, at least). We were the last group to come down, my heels are bloody and hate me, but it was worth it. It was mostly worth it because once we got to the top, the German-American and I had this really romantic moment where we looked at each other and said, “I love you.” It was very sincere. I don't take it back, Jess. And I never will.
I also got to witness the German-American cry. Seriously. These kinds of physical challenges can really change a person. Jess is so much nicer now. She should climb volcanoes more often.
But in all honesty, I don't think I can top that experience. It was so effing painful, it almost broke me the way my first UC Berkeley upper division midterm on the history of international relations almost broke me. Luckily, I'm not so good at quitting (untrue, I'm good at quitting extracurricular activities, jobs, and volunteer work). But when it comes to bragging rights and school, I take that shit seriously.
I climbed a volcano! EVIDENCE:
Next life challenge: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for the German-American's 30th birthday. My heels have five years to heal. Ha! Unintentional, I swear.
The weekend before Pucón, I went to Valdivia. It's about 6ish hours south of my dear, sweet little San Nicolas as well. It's close to the coast and it was where a lot of the German immigrants from the 19th century settled. The Kunstman (did I spell that right?) brewery is there. And it also has a bunch of old Spanish forts. The forts were unbelievable. Valdivia was absolutely beautiful and it's a place I'm definitely going to go back to. I'm planning on taking my dad there for a few days in January when he comes. Seriously, the forts, so cool.
As for school updates, things are going. There are still so many disruptions, but it's whatever. I've gotten used to it. There is one class that Jess and I both have that is really difficult. They are indifferent to learning, loud, disrespectful, etc. But sometimes for me they can be good. And this past week, they were so good! They were hands down my best class. I've noticed that I just have to get my mood in sync with them because they are the one class that always gets my jokes. They love it when I do silly things. So when I bring the funny, they pay attention. I guess it was more like I was on my A-game this week.
And side note: So the other day Jane and I were alone in our house for lunch for the first time ever. We totally loved it of course, but Jane REALLY loved it. She was so excited, she went into the kitchen and started investigating. We had been curious for a while about what was in the fridge/ freezer and various other parts of the kitchen we had never really been able to go, so we took advantage of the freedom. Jane got super into it. I dubbed it, her most adorable moment in Chile. She was like a kid on Christmas. Also, I'm fairly certain a giant cow head is in our freezer.
Gypsy update: they haven't returned but a circus is being set up in the vacant lot where the gypsies once resided. Odd, don't you think?
Lastly, traveling plans. So Concepcion this weekend with the German-American, probably another weekend out in Chillan, and then I'm not sure. I have to fill about two more weekends I think before I head back to Santiago for closing ceremonies/ farewells. I have to say good bye to Jess at the end of November which is going to be so hard. Confession: she arrived to dear, sweet little San Nicolas one week after me. I was afraid she was going to suck, but Jane was like, chill out, she'll probably be your new best friend. True that. The German-American rocks (you're welcome). But she also totally sucks too. She's moving to London...wow, thanks, Jess. Chile is already expensive enough for me, how am I going to afford a plane ticket to London?
Alright, more on traveling plans. Torres del Paine is still happening in early December, Christmas in San Nicolas with the German-American's host family, Santiago/ Chillan/ San Nicolas/ Valdivia with real dad in January, then, it is quite possible that I am going to do the Atacama/ Macchu Picchu/ Uruguay/ Bolivia/ Argentina circuit with my Chilean friend Rebeca (yes, only one 'c'. That's how they roll down here). We need to discuss more and budget, but hey, I've got time, let's do it!
So thanks for reading this hodge-podge of a blog. I have another one in progress about things I'm planning to bring back from Chile to the United States. It's going to be a good one, so stay tuned. Also, keep your eyes open for another forthcoming blog entitled “Beaches vs. Bitches” in which I make fun of non-native English speakers for having trouble differentiating those two words.
Until next time!
(*from here on in, I shall refer to the German as the German-American. Because well, she is German-American. Jess, consider this my olive branch haha.)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The German is a better blogger than I
Jess just told me she's linking my blog to her blog. So I'd just like to take the time to say to all my new, forthcoming readers: I really suck at blogging. Apologies.
You win, German. You always do...
In other news, I'm going to Concepcion this weekend (finally!) And I'm going with, who else, but...the German!
I promise though, volcano/ Valdivia/ gypsies update coming soon! (Los gitanos...ellos se fueron. SAD FACE.)
In the mean time, enjoy this picture from Valdivia:
You win, German. You always do...
In other news, I'm going to Concepcion this weekend (finally!) And I'm going with, who else, but...the German!
I promise though, volcano/ Valdivia/ gypsies update coming soon! (Los gitanos...ellos se fueron. SAD FACE.)
In the mean time, enjoy this picture from Valdivia:
Monday, October 19, 2009
I climbed a volcano, and I liked it (post-climb)
This past weekend I went to Pucon and I climbed the volcano. More on that later. But in the mean time...I climbed an effing volcano! Height: 2,847 meters (9,340 feet)
I wanted to die.
I promise, I'll update this soon!
I wanted to die.
I promise, I'll update this soon!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Sorry, German.
The German just pointed out that I suck and forgot to put in the link for her blog.
The German's Blog: http://micasadeinhaus.wordpress.com/
Better?
The German's Blog: http://micasadeinhaus.wordpress.com/
Better?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Scary, Chilean Revelations
(Notice that I am bringing back my blog. I felt threatened by the German's prolificness with her blog. This country has made me more reckless, more easy going, más floja, and way more competitive. So suck it, German!) Let's get started.
Since I have been in Chile, I have only had one terrifying experience (el partido de futbol). Wait, I take that back. Every time I get into a car I am always afraid of imminent death (for more on why I feel this way, check out the German's blog: ). Anyway, in general (excluding cars, buses, and football games) I feel pretty safe here in Chile. And as it turns out, Chile's violent crime rate is much lower than the United States and considering Berkeley was just rated the 41st most dangerous city in the United States, I feel coddled and protected in my tiny little Chilean town. But that being said, this past week, I have had two very scary facts reveled to me. They are as follows:
1.Poisonous, murderous, spiders live in every Chilean house.
So I was with my Chilean Thursday night when he told me about the Chilean recluse spider. Luckily, my limited Spanish spared me some of the gruesome details but basically, there is a tiny brown spider that can kill you. And it probably lives in your house. So shake out your clothes before you put them on.
2.Gypsies just moved to my town
Tonight (tonight being Saturday, October 3rd at 11:30 pm), I went to the German's house to celebrate the birthday of the maisas (fraternal twins in Spanish. I have no idea if I have spelled that correctly.) As usual, it was awesome. I love that family. I ate too many completos and cake and drank too much Canada Dry with lemon (delicious, by the way). All in all, a fantastic evening.
UNLESS, you count the terrifying story of the gypsies. I don't even remember how we came upon the subject, but first, let me describe the German's house. So I live in the campo but I live like two feet away from the plaza. I like to tell myself that this makes me a little bit more “cosmopolitan”. The German lives very close to me, but every time I am at her house I feel like I am in the middle of nowhere. It's only one street away from me, but she lives at the end of her street, very close to a cerro (hill) which makes the campo-feeling that much more...campo. It also doesn't help that there are two huge empty lots close to her house. Murdered people are probably buried there.
So we're sitting at the dinner table when the German's family reveals to me that gypsies have moved to town and they've set up a tent in one of the empty lots. I don't know how I didn't notice on my walk there this evening, but I was instantly petrified. Gypsies? In my town? Gyspies are so scary! They throw fake babies at you in Rome, they hand you cards with a sob story to distract you as they rob you, they are...nomadic. Gyspsies scare me. I think it goes back to the days when I was afraid of clowns. Clowns are nomadic too. And also scary.
Then of course, the story has to get much worse. Turns out that not only do the carabineros not care that the gypsies have set up shop in town and are stealing TV, BUT the gypsies in Chile traffic children! That's right, they steal babies! And do you know why they steal babies? They steal babies to sell off to circuses! I know, it seems crazy, but it's true!
Needless to say, on my walk home tonight, as I silently crept past the gypsy tent and saw the light from their TV, I felt like running.
It didn't help either that as I was shutting the gate to their house, the German and her host sister said, “Watch out for the gypsies...”
Gypsies are scary.
Since I have been in Chile, I have only had one terrifying experience (el partido de futbol). Wait, I take that back. Every time I get into a car I am always afraid of imminent death (for more on why I feel this way, check out the German's blog: ). Anyway, in general (excluding cars, buses, and football games) I feel pretty safe here in Chile. And as it turns out, Chile's violent crime rate is much lower than the United States and considering Berkeley was just rated the 41st most dangerous city in the United States, I feel coddled and protected in my tiny little Chilean town. But that being said, this past week, I have had two very scary facts reveled to me. They are as follows:
1.Poisonous, murderous, spiders live in every Chilean house.
So I was with my Chilean Thursday night when he told me about the Chilean recluse spider. Luckily, my limited Spanish spared me some of the gruesome details but basically, there is a tiny brown spider that can kill you. And it probably lives in your house. So shake out your clothes before you put them on.
2.Gypsies just moved to my town
Tonight (tonight being Saturday, October 3rd at 11:30 pm), I went to the German's house to celebrate the birthday of the maisas (fraternal twins in Spanish. I have no idea if I have spelled that correctly.) As usual, it was awesome. I love that family. I ate too many completos and cake and drank too much Canada Dry with lemon (delicious, by the way). All in all, a fantastic evening.
UNLESS, you count the terrifying story of the gypsies. I don't even remember how we came upon the subject, but first, let me describe the German's house. So I live in the campo but I live like two feet away from the plaza. I like to tell myself that this makes me a little bit more “cosmopolitan”. The German lives very close to me, but every time I am at her house I feel like I am in the middle of nowhere. It's only one street away from me, but she lives at the end of her street, very close to a cerro (hill) which makes the campo-feeling that much more...campo. It also doesn't help that there are two huge empty lots close to her house. Murdered people are probably buried there.
So we're sitting at the dinner table when the German's family reveals to me that gypsies have moved to town and they've set up a tent in one of the empty lots. I don't know how I didn't notice on my walk there this evening, but I was instantly petrified. Gypsies? In my town? Gyspies are so scary! They throw fake babies at you in Rome, they hand you cards with a sob story to distract you as they rob you, they are...nomadic. Gyspsies scare me. I think it goes back to the days when I was afraid of clowns. Clowns are nomadic too. And also scary.
Then of course, the story has to get much worse. Turns out that not only do the carabineros not care that the gypsies have set up shop in town and are stealing TV, BUT the gypsies in Chile traffic children! That's right, they steal babies! And do you know why they steal babies? They steal babies to sell off to circuses! I know, it seems crazy, but it's true!
Needless to say, on my walk home tonight, as I silently crept past the gypsy tent and saw the light from their TV, I felt like running.
It didn't help either that as I was shutting the gate to their house, the German and her host sister said, “Watch out for the gypsies...”
Gypsies are scary.
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