I definitely would not live in Linares

Tuesday, 5 January 2010 at 23:10 · Filed under Living in San Antonio

20 de Julio de 2009

I can’t find my pajamas, which is a little strange.  I don’t think I washed them with my other clothes, but perhaps I did and didn’t notice.  Sometimes I come back into my room and everything is rearranged; Diana comes in here and makes my bed after I do, which is a little bothersome, but I guess I shouldn’t complain.

Today was very enjoyable and I am very tired now.  I woke up, took a shower and ate breakfast.  I’m not sure if Jorge works because he was home all day.  But, I left to go to classes with some other girls and their brothers.  Classes today were interesting – about Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Mistrel and Isabel Allende.  And I decided that I am going to talk like a chileno with yo (jo) y allende (ajende).. Por que no? (Why not?)

After the first set of classes, I walked back to my house with another girl and her family.  We had una sopa con frijoles y fideos y (as soup with beans and noodles and) some kind of sausage.  Also, pan, cebollas con vinagre y repollos (cabbage) con aceite y limón y sal (mi favorito).  Then, Diana y yo began to wash my clothes in the washer.  It is somewhat like mine (well, mine at home doesn’t work) but they do not have a dryer, like most chileans.

I went to the second set of classes, which was interesting again – we talked about the differences between Los EEUU and Chile.  And it’s interesting because we decided that the pace of life at least in Linares is very different than in Los EEUU. Although mi familia me dijo que es diferente en Santiago.  But, it does seem very relaxed here.

They ask me if I want to live here, which is funny.  But, I definitely would not live in Linares.  It is very small and muddy and sort of gloomy.  I guess that is because of the winters, but I can’t see myself living here.  And today, I learned that Mapuche, the one group that is the most discriminated against has skin that is lighter than mine!  Therefore, I am really different here.  It is interesting because they do not understand discrimination based on race because it doesn’t exist here; there aren’t many diversities in small town Linares.

ALso, I learned that Las Condes, where I’ll be staying, is filled with rich people because during the reign of Pinochet, the military dictator between 1973 and 1989, they were placed there, while rather poor people were placed in the parts of the capital.  He wanted Chile to be segregated based on people’s economic situation.

También, en Chile, there are no scholarships based on financial situations.  Therefore, if you are smart, but poor, you cannot attend a university because normally you do not attenda  good colegio (in Los EEUU, hay ayuda del gobierno).  ALthough, these children do go to Catholic schools.  Jorge told me Diana was a bad student.  She definitely has a lot of energy, though.

After classes, Diana y Connie (su prima, cousin) picked me up and after stopping at the the store we went to their house for dinner – and it was a lot of fun.  Otra prima, se llama Fransesca, was very excited to talk with me because she is attending the University in Valparaíso (a port city a little north of Santiago) and is studying English there.  She is very passionate about it.  I think we might be going to a discoteque on Saturday.  My family’s family is very nice and very enjoyable.  I visited Veronica’s sister and brother’s houses and they seem to be well off compared to this family.  But, it really doesn’t matter – all are very caring and fun.

SIDE NOTE: Waking up in the middle of the night and having to go to the bathroom downstairs sucks.

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The chilean life en el campo

Tuesday, 5 January 2010 at 21:51 · Filed under Living in San Antonio

19 de Julio de 2009

It was weird waking up here.  Partly because of the dreams I had – of course, I was doing the standard introduction in Spanish to some group and they could not understand me afterwards.  So, I do not think that counts as the profound dream that symbolizes your fluency – not after a week in Chile.

The family is very nice.  Ignacio reminds me of my real brother, Matthew, in Los EEUU (the US).  Pato will be leaving for a bit to stand guard as service in the army.  I really enjoy spending time with the family, just hanging out and relaxing.  I also feel more comfortable today speaking in spanish and understanding them.  we had breakfast, went to mass, had lunch with another cousin and aunt/uncle.  They were nicer and I felt more comfortable with them than the family last night.

We watched a movie and I tried some drink arenasado (wine with something that tasted like peanuts).  I liked the wine, but no tthe other stuff.  Then, two other gringas y yo (and I) with their brothers walked to the Plaza de Linares.  It was rather long, but by randomly talking to Pato y Diana, my spanish somewhat improved (or so I think).  At least, the conversation seemed a little more fluid and I’m getting more familiar with the family, who I love (kind of)..haha.   I like talking ot the father about random serious things.  And tonight I played with Diana and Nacho – some random card game.  She was excited when I understood what was going on – and so was I!  And Nacho is so cute! especially when he smiles.

But after our walk we came back and all had empanadas chilenas con carne de vaca (cow), cebollas (onions), huevos hervidos (boiled eggs), and aceituna (olives).  Then, the gringas y sus hermanos left.  More cousins came over and they were super nice and very excited to be talking to me.  Fransisca, who I believe is only 18, is studying English in a university in Viña del Mar.  And then, Connie, who is also 18, is only in her last year of high school.  I guess tomorrow we are going to their house for dinner.  It is interesting how easy it was to talk to them, not just because of their age, but they seem very intelligent and they know English!

Once they left, I played cards with Nacho and Diana and talked to Jorge.  Pato had to stand guard for the night and left with his uniform on.  It was interesting because he said he was nervous before, but I’m not sure if that was because of the time of or because of what he had to do.

It’s weird.  It’s not like I miss my family, yet, well, perhaps a little.  But, the family dynamic here is a lot different. They seem a lot closer, partly because the parents are different and the culture is different.  I guess I should value my time more when I am with them, change my attitude so that I can enjoy my time with them.

They gave me a flag of Chile to remember them and asked if I would come back and visit.  And its only been the first twenty-four hours!!!  I really like them.

And yes, there house is not much.  I told them it was like mine in that they are both rather small.  I mean, I share a room with my borther still and here the girl sleeps in a very small room while the two boys sleep in another small room; the parents sleep in another, bigger room.  (PIC OF ROOM) Possibly, this room (I’m sleeping in the girl’s room) is suppose to be  a bigger room, but they divided it.  The walls are almost unfinished and so is the door.  There are no knobs on the door nor the dresser.  Everything is small and cozy, but I feel like you do not need much more to live.  I did notice that the parents wore the same thing, however, from yesterday.  Although, they did hang their clothes to dry, so possibly that is why.

I really enjoyed the shower this morning with warm water and no shower shoes.  It is nice to take a break from the other Notre Dame students, as well, just because we were with each other almost all the time for a week.  Therefore, I am glad about the host families, despite the initial awkwardness.

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First Day in San Antonio

Saturday, 22 August 2009 at 23:06 · Filed under Living in San Antonio

I am in San Antonio – in my first host family’s house.  They are very welcoming and glad that I am there, despite my apparent awkwardness and lack of Spanish conversation skills.  There is a mom (Veronica-Veto), dad (Jorge), two brothers (Patricio-Pato is 18 years old and Ignacio-Nacho is 11 years old), and one sister (Diana).  They are very close-knit, talkative, and funny. Jorge works as a Mechanic and Veto is a teacher at the Jardin Infantil (pre-school).  Pato is a soldier in the army.

It is strange, random, awkward that I am living here with them as a gringa stranger.  This whole day has been slightly weird:

I had to wake up early to shower and pack, but the rain woke me up even earlier.  ISo, I took possibly one of the most uncomfortable showers of my life this morning.  First, it was freezing, then extremely hot….

The entire day we spent in our Spanish classes, learning various phrases and words and that combined with being around these same seventeen notre dame people (only one being a guy), made me a little annoyed.  I got to the point where I just could not nor did i want to learn anymore spanish.  Thank goodness we were meeting with our host families that night. Although that in itself was very nerve-wracking.

We arrived at the Parish Center (Parroquia), where all the families were waiting for us and just staring.  I mean, they all looked welcoming, it was just an awkward situation (as are all situations in Chile for a gringa like me).  We found our families..my mom was probably the shortest one there.  Then, we had an awkward onces with even more awkward conversations.  Then, we walked from the Parroquia to my new home – with my two huge suitcases, backpack and Adidas athletic bag.  It was muddy, wet, and cold during our rather long walk.  We stopped somewhere (I think a cousin’s house) to use their truck and drove the rest of the way.  My family doesn’t own a car.

But, my first impressions after hanging out with the family:

• I feel awkward
• my spanish sucks
• the family is nice
• they remind me of my own family a bit

I did try a tipical Chilean alcohol, called pisco – straight up – with my chilean dad…not too bad.

I also met their grandma and cousins (on the dad’s side), which was super awkward.  I could tell they were talking about me a bit, but I had no idea what they said.  I had a kiwi, while no one else ate, and then, we talked about California and parties and bad words.  It was hard for me to understand them with the Chilean vocabulary.  Also, I feel like a giant around my family (and really all of the Chileans here).

Hopefully, my entire time in San Antonio will not be like this.

(18 de julio de 2009)

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