I should have written the otherday, after I got back from Santiago when everything was fresh. But, writing in my blog takes a certain mood, or extreme boredom. In my case, boredom. I stayed home from school today because I wasn't feeling to well, but I feel great now, let's hope I can get out later. I've got two friend's from out of town, plus one of their host sister's and a friend from in town staying here tonight because tomorrow is RYLA, a Rotary event and we have to be there at 9 in the morning. I am supposed to meet them at the bus station and I think a bunch of us are going to do something tonight, who knows what though, there isn't much around.
Rewind a week. I left for Santiago on the bus Thursday so I could study and rest on Friday. The bus ride was 7 hours, a relaxing 7 hours (I enjoy the bus rides a lot). Then I just waited until the SATs. I spent Friday not really studying like I should have, only a bit, I wanted to relax and calm down before I took them. I realized how much I wanted to take them though, I figured it would be nice to actually do some real intellectual work for once. And it was, the SAT was good. I don't think I did all that well on the writing, but I wasn't surprised, I couldn't think of the words I wanted to use and I couldn't put my thoughts on to the paper very coherently. But the rest I did pretty well I think. Only one math problem that I skipped cause it looked to hard and then came back to and realized it was really easy, only I didn't have enough time. The main problem was that part way through the test I started shaking and had trouble keeping still and writing. I don't have any idea what it was, but when I held my hand up I could barely keep my pencil in my hand, so I just kept it pushed against the desk. The rest of the test went on like that, but I got through it. And I've been shaking a bit here and there now and keeping my hand steady is impossible, I think it was like that before just not as bad.
The rest of the day was fine, some tv, food, and my cousin's hockey game, which he won 29 to 1, kind of depressing to watch. The other team was just slaughtered, I couldn't believe that the coach would let that happen, but people are people.
Sunday was the really cool day. We went to Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. Both beautiful cities on the coast west of Santiago. They are basically connected but Valparaiso is the port side with all the white collar workers and the political significance where most of the lower class lives, and Vina del Mar is the upper class touristy side. The rich live in Vina, but travel over for work. Vina was beautiful, giant, and extravagant, but Valparaiso was amazing. It was old houses, steep streets, and much more authentic, to me at least. I didn't see as much as I would have liked to of either, but I'm going back in January when my brother comes, which I'm pumped for. We walked on the beach for a while, went to some lookouts and could see the whole of both cities, and ate lunch. My aunt and uncle took me, my two cousins, and my cousin's boyfriend to a high end restraunt in Vina. It was delicious, I had a cut of beef with some sauce and I don't remember the name in English, or in Spanish, but it was basically mashed corn instead of mashed potatoes. And then, even better, was my cousin's lasagna. Both of my cousins got lasagna, but neither liked it, so the boyfriend and I got to eat theirs, good decision for me. Then we stoped over at Pizza Hut for my cousins to get something to eat and we all ended up eating a bit of the pizza. A but more sight seeing and then off to home. Sleep, and then another bus ride home.
I got back, not much has happened. I had a soccer game on a field that was packed dirt, some gravel and rocks, and a bunch of glass, not to mention the broken condom I saw. I got to fall quite a few times and get some good cuts which weren't fun to clean out later. But in the mean time I felt pretty tough considering I don't know many people, especially my highschool soccer teammates who ever played someplace like that. We ended up losing though because we didn't have most of our players and had to play some pretty bad players, but whatever, not a big deal, at least to me, some of my team was pissed.
Well, just sitting at home, about to finish season 7 of friends after watching The Time Traveler's Wife. And maybe I'll put some pictures on facebook, one of the most daunting tasks I know because of the monotony of the task and the speed at which facebook can upload photos.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Quick Weekend
It wasn't to quick, but I'm going to tell it quick.
I'll start on Thursday, I went to my friends house where she taught me to make alfahores, amazing cookie treates with chocolate and manjar.
Friday, I went to the gym where I met Alex. He asked me to go to kickboxing...how could I turn that down. Six bucks for an hour, not bad, I might go again. It was a great workout and it was really nice hitting some stuff. Then we went back to the gym for a little before we went back to my house for showers and some rice with milk and sugar, my cousin taught me. It's really simple and I could have done it without him, but it was nice to make it with him, good bonding. From my house we went out and met up with two friends from my school and then with two Rotary friends, Kathrine from here, and Jana from Chillan. We went to the movies and saw Blood and Love in Paris, or something along those lines, with John Travolta. He relived his Pulp Fiction days even with his sandwhich, I don't remember the name, but he eats the same one in each movie and the violence and the lines were just to much. It ended up not being very good, but still fun because Jana and I made fun of the movie the whole time. We all went back to my friends house where I made the alfahores and hung out, ending up with me and the two Chilean girls jumping in the freezing pool for 5 minutes, good cold time.
Next day I didn't do anything until 4 when my family and I went to our friend's camp 40 minutes away. They mainly grow asparagus, and that couldn't be better, we got a bunch of it for free. The friend's sons took me out to the town and we wandered around for a while, I got to skateboard a bit on some little kid's board that they knew, I'm still terrible and should stop trying. We went back, hung out for a but and then went to a birthday party for a 5 year old. It was more of a party for the parents, the daughter was just a good excuse. I ended up eating randomly assorted parts of the intestines of sheep. I don't know what I had from the intestines, but they cooked them really well and it wasn't to bad at all. A bunch of desserts, some other food, and then off to the town again for awhile. We left sort of late and I was supposed to go to the same friend's birthday party who I made alfahores with and went the to movies with. It was at the discotec in Los Angeles. After leaving really late, we ended up running into an accident and got to wait for about 20 minutes while that cleared up. After reaching the party 3 hours late, I paid for my ticket and got it. I was then told by my friend that I didn't need to pay for my ticket, I was free, but at that point I couldn't get my money back. So after a night of dancing and being surrounded by smoke I went home. My dad picked me up and we went to get my brother who was arriving home from a soccer tournament that his team placed second in. We got home around 4 and I took a shower to get the smell of smoke out of my hair and off my body.
The next day I didn't do anything until pretty late when we went out to the mall. I needed new pants because mine were to small in the legs. They started out sort of small, but gaining 10 pounds and riding a bike everyday at the gym made my legs a bit bigger which makes tight pants a problem. I am no officially a faily baggy pants person. Much more comfortable and free. I ended up getting two pairs of pants, one of jeans and another of some rainproof pants that I felt obligated to buy. A whole long story with my mom and a rain jacket she got me for Christmas. I didn't want the pants, though I really like them and am glad I have them, but it would have been rude not to buy them in the situation, you needed to be there, I'll let you slide on not understanding.
Finally on Monday, All Saints Day, we had a big lunch with meat and the delicious sausages and a bunch of asparagus, I couldn't have been happier. I fried some asparagus and my mom boiled some, both great, I couldn't get enough. The downer was that I didn't do much the rest of the day and my Kathrine had texted me but I didn't get it. Her and Jana were in a huge market that I didn't know about not far from my house. First of all, I would have loved to hang out with them, they are both amazing and I don't get to see Jana much, and we get along great, yet another me in girl form, the other being my friend from Mass who is 20 minutes away. And second, it would have been great to see the market, it was a huge holiday with venders of all sorts and apparently the majority of the city goes to it. My parents didn't tell me and I didn't get the message, so instead of going to a huge open air market with two of my best friends, I watched movies and studied, kind of disappointing. But then later my dad, brother, and I went and played soccer for a while which was fun, as tired as I was from the weekend.
And a little more, today I took out Katherine because her birthday is tomorrow. We went to a Chinese restraunt, which I had gone two days before, kind of forgot to mention this, what better time than the present, with my family after the mall. It was a little expensive, but Donner and I split it. Good food, good people, and the AFS exchange student showed up too with his family by coincidence. And tomorrow she is having a small get together at her house too.
This Thursday I'm off to Santiago for my SATs which I didn't study for enough, definantly some, but not enough. That is my next few days. And then after my SATs my aunt and uncle are taking me to Valapariso and Vina del Mar. Both of which are supposed to be amazing, questionable the best places to visit in Chile, look them up for yourself. I get to miss two days of school and see great cities, thank you SATs, maybe I'll thank you by studying for you and tearing you apart.
Well that was more than I planned, but I got going and couldn't stop. Well worth it though. More and more exciting as you scrolled down. And all those typoes (that is probably one right there), aren't changing, just a good reminder of how intensely I wrote this, and all my blogs for that matter.
I'll start on Thursday, I went to my friends house where she taught me to make alfahores, amazing cookie treates with chocolate and manjar.
Friday, I went to the gym where I met Alex. He asked me to go to kickboxing...how could I turn that down. Six bucks for an hour, not bad, I might go again. It was a great workout and it was really nice hitting some stuff. Then we went back to the gym for a little before we went back to my house for showers and some rice with milk and sugar, my cousin taught me. It's really simple and I could have done it without him, but it was nice to make it with him, good bonding. From my house we went out and met up with two friends from my school and then with two Rotary friends, Kathrine from here, and Jana from Chillan. We went to the movies and saw Blood and Love in Paris, or something along those lines, with John Travolta. He relived his Pulp Fiction days even with his sandwhich, I don't remember the name, but he eats the same one in each movie and the violence and the lines were just to much. It ended up not being very good, but still fun because Jana and I made fun of the movie the whole time. We all went back to my friends house where I made the alfahores and hung out, ending up with me and the two Chilean girls jumping in the freezing pool for 5 minutes, good cold time.
Next day I didn't do anything until 4 when my family and I went to our friend's camp 40 minutes away. They mainly grow asparagus, and that couldn't be better, we got a bunch of it for free. The friend's sons took me out to the town and we wandered around for a while, I got to skateboard a bit on some little kid's board that they knew, I'm still terrible and should stop trying. We went back, hung out for a but and then went to a birthday party for a 5 year old. It was more of a party for the parents, the daughter was just a good excuse. I ended up eating randomly assorted parts of the intestines of sheep. I don't know what I had from the intestines, but they cooked them really well and it wasn't to bad at all. A bunch of desserts, some other food, and then off to the town again for awhile. We left sort of late and I was supposed to go to the same friend's birthday party who I made alfahores with and went the to movies with. It was at the discotec in Los Angeles. After leaving really late, we ended up running into an accident and got to wait for about 20 minutes while that cleared up. After reaching the party 3 hours late, I paid for my ticket and got it. I was then told by my friend that I didn't need to pay for my ticket, I was free, but at that point I couldn't get my money back. So after a night of dancing and being surrounded by smoke I went home. My dad picked me up and we went to get my brother who was arriving home from a soccer tournament that his team placed second in. We got home around 4 and I took a shower to get the smell of smoke out of my hair and off my body.
The next day I didn't do anything until pretty late when we went out to the mall. I needed new pants because mine were to small in the legs. They started out sort of small, but gaining 10 pounds and riding a bike everyday at the gym made my legs a bit bigger which makes tight pants a problem. I am no officially a faily baggy pants person. Much more comfortable and free. I ended up getting two pairs of pants, one of jeans and another of some rainproof pants that I felt obligated to buy. A whole long story with my mom and a rain jacket she got me for Christmas. I didn't want the pants, though I really like them and am glad I have them, but it would have been rude not to buy them in the situation, you needed to be there, I'll let you slide on not understanding.
Finally on Monday, All Saints Day, we had a big lunch with meat and the delicious sausages and a bunch of asparagus, I couldn't have been happier. I fried some asparagus and my mom boiled some, both great, I couldn't get enough. The downer was that I didn't do much the rest of the day and my Kathrine had texted me but I didn't get it. Her and Jana were in a huge market that I didn't know about not far from my house. First of all, I would have loved to hang out with them, they are both amazing and I don't get to see Jana much, and we get along great, yet another me in girl form, the other being my friend from Mass who is 20 minutes away. And second, it would have been great to see the market, it was a huge holiday with venders of all sorts and apparently the majority of the city goes to it. My parents didn't tell me and I didn't get the message, so instead of going to a huge open air market with two of my best friends, I watched movies and studied, kind of disappointing. But then later my dad, brother, and I went and played soccer for a while which was fun, as tired as I was from the weekend.
And a little more, today I took out Katherine because her birthday is tomorrow. We went to a Chinese restraunt, which I had gone two days before, kind of forgot to mention this, what better time than the present, with my family after the mall. It was a little expensive, but Donner and I split it. Good food, good people, and the AFS exchange student showed up too with his family by coincidence. And tomorrow she is having a small get together at her house too.
This Thursday I'm off to Santiago for my SATs which I didn't study for enough, definantly some, but not enough. That is my next few days. And then after my SATs my aunt and uncle are taking me to Valapariso and Vina del Mar. Both of which are supposed to be amazing, questionable the best places to visit in Chile, look them up for yourself. I get to miss two days of school and see great cities, thank you SATs, maybe I'll thank you by studying for you and tearing you apart.
Well that was more than I planned, but I got going and couldn't stop. Well worth it though. More and more exciting as you scrolled down. And all those typoes (that is probably one right there), aren't changing, just a good reminder of how intensely I wrote this, and all my blogs for that matter.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Rotary Weekends
Rotary weekends are awesome, and my groups rocks. We went to Chillan for the weekend and stayed near the thermal pools, though we didn't get to go to one because they were to expensive, and the skiing areas. We had two houses, one for the girls and one for the boys. We spent most of the time in the girls because it had a deck that looked out on to a beautiful stream and woods. Even the woods here seem more beautiful, dead gnarled trees with great bunches of moss hanging off, bamboo everywhere, white weathered wood in the stream, it couldn't be much prettier. At one point, the three other Americans and I went on a short hike through the woods and found a bridge made out of a log that had fallen across the stream and climbed part way up the mountain that was close by. Just amazing.
Throughout the weekend we cooked Chilean food, ate Chilean food, took a Spanish test, had a talent show, and a few other things. For my talent, my friend, Donner, and I did a skit that I stole from two of my friends back in the US. During a OMD YAC Conference two girls, known as the Katies, did a skit to Peanut Butter Jelly Time. One Katie stood behind the other with her arms underneath the other's arms and made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fed them to the other Katie, all very messily. So, with no real talents, I stole an idea for a talent to perform with another talentless friend. It turned out well and people enjoyed it.
My Spanish test went really well and I got told that mine was one of the best. That was just a big relief being here knowing that my Spanish is on the right track and I'm doing well. All in all, the weekend was a plus and a much needed break from my everyday life of being an exchange student. And as always, leaving the exchange students was hard. But, I know I'll see them soon enough.
Before the weekend I had a track me, my first since 8th grade, granted it was only running. It took 7 hours and I ran twice, one for my school and once for another school that didn't have enough people. I got a 2nd and a 3rd, and both races were relays. And each time only 5 teams ran, so nothing spectacular. But it was fun and I got to talk a lot the whole day, which was really good for me, I need to talk to more people.
I'm still not doing as much as I should for the SAT's and college applications, this blog is yet more procrastinating. And that tells you how much I don't want to do it, I'm writing a blog. I wish I was more like my brother and I had the ability to sit down and get stuff done more often. When I do sit down it happens, but it's the sitting down and starting that is the problem. I have to get it done though, so it will happen.
Today my class had a nationwide English test that none of the exchange students had to take. So we all sat in the cafeteria all day and talked. And then we missed a class or two on accident. Definantly a good day of school in my books.
Not much else going on as usual, I got some recipies from my parents and I hope I can cook for my family again. The gym as usual, and maybe I'm going to make a special Chilean cookie with my friend on Thursday. And I almost forgot one of the reasons I wanted to write this blog, music once again. A lot of the time we listen to music when we eat, and sometimes some not so appropriate songs come on. And I can't help but laugh, normally I can contol it, at lyics along the lines of "I'm gonna lay you...and something sexual." Or rap songs rapping about getting money and something degrading to women. And the whole time I am the only one who realizes what is going on.
Throughout the weekend we cooked Chilean food, ate Chilean food, took a Spanish test, had a talent show, and a few other things. For my talent, my friend, Donner, and I did a skit that I stole from two of my friends back in the US. During a OMD YAC Conference two girls, known as the Katies, did a skit to Peanut Butter Jelly Time. One Katie stood behind the other with her arms underneath the other's arms and made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fed them to the other Katie, all very messily. So, with no real talents, I stole an idea for a talent to perform with another talentless friend. It turned out well and people enjoyed it.
My Spanish test went really well and I got told that mine was one of the best. That was just a big relief being here knowing that my Spanish is on the right track and I'm doing well. All in all, the weekend was a plus and a much needed break from my everyday life of being an exchange student. And as always, leaving the exchange students was hard. But, I know I'll see them soon enough.
Before the weekend I had a track me, my first since 8th grade, granted it was only running. It took 7 hours and I ran twice, one for my school and once for another school that didn't have enough people. I got a 2nd and a 3rd, and both races were relays. And each time only 5 teams ran, so nothing spectacular. But it was fun and I got to talk a lot the whole day, which was really good for me, I need to talk to more people.
I'm still not doing as much as I should for the SAT's and college applications, this blog is yet more procrastinating. And that tells you how much I don't want to do it, I'm writing a blog. I wish I was more like my brother and I had the ability to sit down and get stuff done more often. When I do sit down it happens, but it's the sitting down and starting that is the problem. I have to get it done though, so it will happen.
Today my class had a nationwide English test that none of the exchange students had to take. So we all sat in the cafeteria all day and talked. And then we missed a class or two on accident. Definantly a good day of school in my books.
Not much else going on as usual, I got some recipies from my parents and I hope I can cook for my family again. The gym as usual, and maybe I'm going to make a special Chilean cookie with my friend on Thursday. And I almost forgot one of the reasons I wanted to write this blog, music once again. A lot of the time we listen to music when we eat, and sometimes some not so appropriate songs come on. And I can't help but laugh, normally I can contol it, at lyics along the lines of "I'm gonna lay you...and something sexual." Or rap songs rapping about getting money and something degrading to women. And the whole time I am the only one who realizes what is going on.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Just Because
I say I don't want more does not mean I don't like it. I just don't want more. Chileans read into actions to much. I have said I don't want more of something quite a few times, and the response I have gotten is either still more of that food, or "You don't like it?" in an offended voice. I feel bad about it, but I have already gained 11 pounds here. I love all the food I have been given, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
On the same note, today was my grandpa's birthday and my teacher's birthday. This of course meant cake for both, not the the regular Chilean cake, but regular cake, just glorified. They were both really good, though normally I don't like regular cake. But, tons of food, and tons of food that was bad for me. All delicious.
I forgot to say too, the other day I went to my grandparents and drove a quad. I now understand why it is so big around me at home and here, it's exciting and fun. I can't wait to do it more. I ended up making my brother ask me to go slower and when he got off he kissed the ground, though I wasn't going more that 20 mph.
This last weekend I went to Concepcion and spend Friday not in school, and just wandering the city. I went to the natural history museum and a few parks, the center and some stores. They have these stores here that sell old American clothes, and of course what do I find, nothing else than a Slipper Rock Lacrosse shirt. Of course I had to buy it. I got a few other things and some awesome earrings. But, I spent more money there than I have anywhere besides the on the gym. In the afternoon, when my dad had a break from his accounting classes he took me to lunch at his favorite place to eat. Just a sandwich and hotdog shot, but definantly the best Chilean sandwiches I've had. They are called Churascos, not so sure about the spelling, but they are beef or pork with toppings on a delicious bun. Toppings include everything, from cheese, advocado, onions, eggs, and mayo, plus the regular ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce, and a few other things. But it was a good day with my dad, plus I found a kind of coffee that I like, not much of coffee, but still, vanilla coffee.
Then that night we went to their friend's house to stay overnight and had a really good dinner. The next morning we ate, and then went for a walk with the dog. We came back, at again, and then went to a waterfall near their house. It was a long walk, but definantly worth it. Oh, and I forgot my camera, so I didn't have it in the city, but my mom brought it and I had it for the waterfalls and the river we walked too. Then it was home on Sunday.
Now back to the usual life at home. My brother and cousins are going to the gym with me tomorrow and this weekend is a Rotary get together and we have a test on our Spanish to see if we can go to RYLA, a youth leadership weekend workshop. And I think if our Spanish is bad enough they send us home. But I don't have to worry, mine is coming along great, I at least won't get sent home. I'm pumped to see all my Rotary friends. Wish me luck!
On the same note, today was my grandpa's birthday and my teacher's birthday. This of course meant cake for both, not the the regular Chilean cake, but regular cake, just glorified. They were both really good, though normally I don't like regular cake. But, tons of food, and tons of food that was bad for me. All delicious.
I forgot to say too, the other day I went to my grandparents and drove a quad. I now understand why it is so big around me at home and here, it's exciting and fun. I can't wait to do it more. I ended up making my brother ask me to go slower and when he got off he kissed the ground, though I wasn't going more that 20 mph.
This last weekend I went to Concepcion and spend Friday not in school, and just wandering the city. I went to the natural history museum and a few parks, the center and some stores. They have these stores here that sell old American clothes, and of course what do I find, nothing else than a Slipper Rock Lacrosse shirt. Of course I had to buy it. I got a few other things and some awesome earrings. But, I spent more money there than I have anywhere besides the on the gym. In the afternoon, when my dad had a break from his accounting classes he took me to lunch at his favorite place to eat. Just a sandwich and hotdog shot, but definantly the best Chilean sandwiches I've had. They are called Churascos, not so sure about the spelling, but they are beef or pork with toppings on a delicious bun. Toppings include everything, from cheese, advocado, onions, eggs, and mayo, plus the regular ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce, and a few other things. But it was a good day with my dad, plus I found a kind of coffee that I like, not much of coffee, but still, vanilla coffee.
Then that night we went to their friend's house to stay overnight and had a really good dinner. The next morning we ate, and then went for a walk with the dog. We came back, at again, and then went to a waterfall near their house. It was a long walk, but definantly worth it. Oh, and I forgot my camera, so I didn't have it in the city, but my mom brought it and I had it for the waterfalls and the river we walked too. Then it was home on Sunday.
Now back to the usual life at home. My brother and cousins are going to the gym with me tomorrow and this weekend is a Rotary get together and we have a test on our Spanish to see if we can go to RYLA, a youth leadership weekend workshop. And I think if our Spanish is bad enough they send us home. But I don't have to worry, mine is coming along great, I at least won't get sent home. I'm pumped to see all my Rotary friends. Wish me luck!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I Guess It's Time For Another
It's been a while since my last post, but not to much has really happened. I've got my basic routine down. I just need to add some stuff to it. Here is how it goes...
1) Get up and 6:30 and make breakfast and watch part of a movie or a tv show while eating. Slowly get dressed and do all the other morning things.
2) Go to school.
3) Be bored at school for 6 hours 5 days a week.
4) Come home and eat.
5) Hang out for a bit with my family and get on the computer.
6) Go to the gym.
7) Go out around town, hang out with friends, or most often come home and chill for the rest of the night.
8) Go to bed way to late.
9) Start over.
Weekends vary obviously. I travel a lot whether it is with my family or now Rotary events are about to pick up for a while. What I am really waiting for is summer though. No more school. And I have a bunch of places I want to go with my family. One of my extended families have 3 houses, one in Santiago, one county house outside of Santiago with a lake and a pool, and their beach house...amazing. Plus I am going to get to go see my Rotary friends, I hope. And I think my brother might be coming to visit.
The past few weeks have been slow as I said. I started soccer and after my first day they asked me to play for their team. We played in a tournament this weekend and got second place. I missed the first of three games because I went my English professor's English class that he teaches at a university close by. I just gave my Rotary presentation and then talked with them in English. There were some other exchange students too. But, back to soccer, it turns out I'm actually pretty good down here. Nothing special, but not bad, which is a relief. I was scared they were going to be amazing. But already I don't know if I want to play anymore. Last year once the season was done I was done too with soccer. I will keep playing here though just to be around people.
I think the time when I am happiest here is when I cook. It is great for some reason, a million things going on at once, smelling great, and looking great. I just wish I had better pans, the ones I have are thing and burn things easily, and not enough variety. But I make do and they still love my food. But with all the food I make comes a lot of excersizing. But I don't mind, I'm an excersize addict. And now my cousins are going to start coming to the gym, I don't know for how long, but they came today. And next week my brother will come too.
Back to school really quickly, I started working in Chemistry and it's not so bad so far. I'm starting to recall stuff. And my math teacher as I said was impressed with me today because I got the farthest on our worksheet, about 6 problems ahead of everyone else out of 18 problems in and hour. So not to bad.
Not much else except the miners are all safe here. All 33. Everyone seems really happy about it. My dad and I watched it last night and then the rest of the family came in gradually after it was over. But my dad asked if people in the US had really heard much about it and I said yeah, it's actually pretty big. He also said that it was pretty big in Denmark too, where is daughter is. He seemed pretty happy that Chile was getting the attention it was, as I think everyone else was. I understood only a little bit of what they were saying on CNN which was frustrating and showed me how far my Spanish has really come. Then again, I wasn't concentrating to hard. I too was really happy for the Chileans to be out and safe, even with some problems here I fell part of the country and I felt with them.
Well, off to Concepcion tomorrow for who knows what, I'm still pretty lost here. But hopefully I will get to see two of my Rotary friends while I am there. Up for a bus at 6. Maybe I'll sleep tonight. Oh yeah, I mentioned that above, I don't sleep well or long. I got to sleep at anywhere from 1:30 to 4:30. I don't know why but it sort of sucks. Then again it is nice because it helps school go faster...though I'm not focusing on Spanish as much. Maybe I'll start sleeping better soon. I can't decide whether is will be good or bad, I know Rotary would say good, but I hate school.
1) Get up and 6:30 and make breakfast and watch part of a movie or a tv show while eating. Slowly get dressed and do all the other morning things.
2) Go to school.
3) Be bored at school for 6 hours 5 days a week.
4) Come home and eat.
5) Hang out for a bit with my family and get on the computer.
6) Go to the gym.
7) Go out around town, hang out with friends, or most often come home and chill for the rest of the night.
8) Go to bed way to late.
9) Start over.
Weekends vary obviously. I travel a lot whether it is with my family or now Rotary events are about to pick up for a while. What I am really waiting for is summer though. No more school. And I have a bunch of places I want to go with my family. One of my extended families have 3 houses, one in Santiago, one county house outside of Santiago with a lake and a pool, and their beach house...amazing. Plus I am going to get to go see my Rotary friends, I hope. And I think my brother might be coming to visit.
The past few weeks have been slow as I said. I started soccer and after my first day they asked me to play for their team. We played in a tournament this weekend and got second place. I missed the first of three games because I went my English professor's English class that he teaches at a university close by. I just gave my Rotary presentation and then talked with them in English. There were some other exchange students too. But, back to soccer, it turns out I'm actually pretty good down here. Nothing special, but not bad, which is a relief. I was scared they were going to be amazing. But already I don't know if I want to play anymore. Last year once the season was done I was done too with soccer. I will keep playing here though just to be around people.
I think the time when I am happiest here is when I cook. It is great for some reason, a million things going on at once, smelling great, and looking great. I just wish I had better pans, the ones I have are thing and burn things easily, and not enough variety. But I make do and they still love my food. But with all the food I make comes a lot of excersizing. But I don't mind, I'm an excersize addict. And now my cousins are going to start coming to the gym, I don't know for how long, but they came today. And next week my brother will come too.
Back to school really quickly, I started working in Chemistry and it's not so bad so far. I'm starting to recall stuff. And my math teacher as I said was impressed with me today because I got the farthest on our worksheet, about 6 problems ahead of everyone else out of 18 problems in and hour. So not to bad.
Not much else except the miners are all safe here. All 33. Everyone seems really happy about it. My dad and I watched it last night and then the rest of the family came in gradually after it was over. But my dad asked if people in the US had really heard much about it and I said yeah, it's actually pretty big. He also said that it was pretty big in Denmark too, where is daughter is. He seemed pretty happy that Chile was getting the attention it was, as I think everyone else was. I understood only a little bit of what they were saying on CNN which was frustrating and showed me how far my Spanish has really come. Then again, I wasn't concentrating to hard. I too was really happy for the Chileans to be out and safe, even with some problems here I fell part of the country and I felt with them.
Well, off to Concepcion tomorrow for who knows what, I'm still pretty lost here. But hopefully I will get to see two of my Rotary friends while I am there. Up for a bus at 6. Maybe I'll sleep tonight. Oh yeah, I mentioned that above, I don't sleep well or long. I got to sleep at anywhere from 1:30 to 4:30. I don't know why but it sort of sucks. Then again it is nice because it helps school go faster...though I'm not focusing on Spanish as much. Maybe I'll start sleeping better soon. I can't decide whether is will be good or bad, I know Rotary would say good, but I hate school.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Frosted Flakes
I've just got a bunch of random stuff with no real correlation in this one, but it's all pretty interesting, or at least entertaining.
So, the Frosted Flakes here, or their verson, rock. The flakes are all big, and they are all a bit thicker than in the US. They are also bowl shaped. This means they are crunchier, and hold milk in them so that when you chew them, they become the perfect consistency. Man, the small things are what I'm going to miss.
I had dream last night, partly in Spanish, I can't really remember much. But it was set on a farm, I'm pretty sure I was a slave. Somehow I was in the main house doing something and talk to people. Numbers and simple words, but mostly just Spanish sounding jibberish. There were a lot of dogs and dead ones, it was sad, but considering how many dogs I see here I'm not surprised they were in my dream. Maybe next time it will be understandable Spanish.
More food. I cooked taco salad and roasted vegtables, and once more they loved my cooking. My brother asked my mom later why she doesn't cook like me. So I guess I can win my family over with food. I also found out where our food comes from since my mom doesn't cook. There is a catering business next door and I guess they have something worked out so they can just get meals for the day and nothing big. And on Mondays and Thursdays our maid cooks food that we sometimes have around for a few days or eat in one. I also cooked frenchfries in oil. Definantly better than in the over.
Ever more cooking, I grilled yet again at a party for Rotary students. Most of us were there with the exception of a few. Awesome food, great people, and a great house. We were up really late just hanging out and having fun. I couldn't ask for a better group of kids. And a new girl from California showed up, something was wrong with her visa. But, she too was great.
I hadn't thought about it before, but unlike at home, people can sell stuff in school. They only sell food and candy, but still, I find it sort of strange. I wish I could have done it at home though. School brings me to another thing, SATs. I am taking the SATs in November on the 6th. I really don't want to, but I need to. It's in Santiago, and my friend is taking them too. I think we are going to take a bus up and crash at her sister's house or I might stay with my family in Santiago, I'll figure all that out later. But as of now I don't have a calculator. I'll start looking for that soon too. But this now means I have to start studying English again, even if it is just vocab, and I'm already studying Spanish vocab. To many words in my life.
At the same time as studying for SATs and learning Spanish I am looking at schools. It's actually really exciting and I'm having fun. I just really wish that I could make some school visits and see the campuses. So far so good, all the colleges I want to go to have swimming and all my majors minus a few things here and there. My SAT's as of now are actually acceptable to the schools too, not they are really all that bad. So who knows, maybe I'll be at Brown, Bucknell, or Davidson next year.
Here is a good story, it was a while ago I just forgot about writing it. I was coming home from the gym with Alex and we stopped to grab a drink, fruit, and other small stuff. Just a small supermarket on the way home. I walked in a woman was washing the floor with a mop. Immediatly, I step on a little packet of something and bright red cream comes out onto my shoe and pantleg. The packet said crema de something, who knows. But of course, I had taste it. It was bright read, said crema, and looked sweet. I was completely wrong. It was soap for washing the floor and had a nice oil taste. I spit it out outside and rinsed my mouth out. I don't know if anyone in the store saw or not, but if they did, that is a good foreigner story.
I just finished The Big Lebowski, a great movie about a deadbeat. And I really want to try a White Russian, The Dude's (the main character) favorite drink. It just looks good, I've been really into milk and milk products lately.
Now just two short things condensed into one, I miss my cats and I said that to my mom, and what does she do? Nothing but goes and gets Toast, and holds him up to the screen for me, waving his arm the whole time. The shirts here are too small and I could use a few new ones. Two of mine I brough got strange stains on them, and a few other's it turns out are too small.
I find it strange the way I am getting on with my Spanish. Unlike anyone else, it is easier for me to speak Spanish than to understand it. I think it is cause I have been teaching myself some stuff and getting a decent amount of practice, while trying to understand Chileano, Chilean Spanish, is impossible unless they slow down. I still need a lot more time.
Off to Santiago this weekend for a presentation my cousin is giving in her class. I'm not really sure what it's about, all I know is that she is giving it because it is her last year in "high school". But I'm happy to go, I love my extended family and maybe I'll get into the center of Santiago again.
So, the Frosted Flakes here, or their verson, rock. The flakes are all big, and they are all a bit thicker than in the US. They are also bowl shaped. This means they are crunchier, and hold milk in them so that when you chew them, they become the perfect consistency. Man, the small things are what I'm going to miss.
I had dream last night, partly in Spanish, I can't really remember much. But it was set on a farm, I'm pretty sure I was a slave. Somehow I was in the main house doing something and talk to people. Numbers and simple words, but mostly just Spanish sounding jibberish. There were a lot of dogs and dead ones, it was sad, but considering how many dogs I see here I'm not surprised they were in my dream. Maybe next time it will be understandable Spanish.
More food. I cooked taco salad and roasted vegtables, and once more they loved my cooking. My brother asked my mom later why she doesn't cook like me. So I guess I can win my family over with food. I also found out where our food comes from since my mom doesn't cook. There is a catering business next door and I guess they have something worked out so they can just get meals for the day and nothing big. And on Mondays and Thursdays our maid cooks food that we sometimes have around for a few days or eat in one. I also cooked frenchfries in oil. Definantly better than in the over.
Ever more cooking, I grilled yet again at a party for Rotary students. Most of us were there with the exception of a few. Awesome food, great people, and a great house. We were up really late just hanging out and having fun. I couldn't ask for a better group of kids. And a new girl from California showed up, something was wrong with her visa. But, she too was great.
I hadn't thought about it before, but unlike at home, people can sell stuff in school. They only sell food and candy, but still, I find it sort of strange. I wish I could have done it at home though. School brings me to another thing, SATs. I am taking the SATs in November on the 6th. I really don't want to, but I need to. It's in Santiago, and my friend is taking them too. I think we are going to take a bus up and crash at her sister's house or I might stay with my family in Santiago, I'll figure all that out later. But as of now I don't have a calculator. I'll start looking for that soon too. But this now means I have to start studying English again, even if it is just vocab, and I'm already studying Spanish vocab. To many words in my life.
At the same time as studying for SATs and learning Spanish I am looking at schools. It's actually really exciting and I'm having fun. I just really wish that I could make some school visits and see the campuses. So far so good, all the colleges I want to go to have swimming and all my majors minus a few things here and there. My SAT's as of now are actually acceptable to the schools too, not they are really all that bad. So who knows, maybe I'll be at Brown, Bucknell, or Davidson next year.
Here is a good story, it was a while ago I just forgot about writing it. I was coming home from the gym with Alex and we stopped to grab a drink, fruit, and other small stuff. Just a small supermarket on the way home. I walked in a woman was washing the floor with a mop. Immediatly, I step on a little packet of something and bright red cream comes out onto my shoe and pantleg. The packet said crema de something, who knows. But of course, I had taste it. It was bright read, said crema, and looked sweet. I was completely wrong. It was soap for washing the floor and had a nice oil taste. I spit it out outside and rinsed my mouth out. I don't know if anyone in the store saw or not, but if they did, that is a good foreigner story.
I just finished The Big Lebowski, a great movie about a deadbeat. And I really want to try a White Russian, The Dude's (the main character) favorite drink. It just looks good, I've been really into milk and milk products lately.
Now just two short things condensed into one, I miss my cats and I said that to my mom, and what does she do? Nothing but goes and gets Toast, and holds him up to the screen for me, waving his arm the whole time. The shirts here are too small and I could use a few new ones. Two of mine I brough got strange stains on them, and a few other's it turns out are too small.
I find it strange the way I am getting on with my Spanish. Unlike anyone else, it is easier for me to speak Spanish than to understand it. I think it is cause I have been teaching myself some stuff and getting a decent amount of practice, while trying to understand Chileano, Chilean Spanish, is impossible unless they slow down. I still need a lot more time.
Off to Santiago this weekend for a presentation my cousin is giving in her class. I'm not really sure what it's about, all I know is that she is giving it because it is her last year in "high school". But I'm happy to go, I love my extended family and maybe I'll get into the center of Santiago again.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Like Usual
I pulled of the impossible. Here you go, it's a lot, and most of it is just so I can remember, but I have a bunch of picture and a few videos. They will be one facebook soon.
Today at the Spirit Week was much better. During the performances I almost died, to crunched together, and a bunch of cheerleading, though, for girls who never have done it before it was probably better than any routines that I have seen at school or anywhere else. Afterwards was great though. There was a school barbeque, and once again I got to cook. I am learning more about barbequing and salting and seasoning as I go, really pretty simple. And all of the food turned out great, I’m happy. Now off to Cauquenes, if I find my parents. They aren’t here and I don’t know where they went.
Got to Cauquenes, outside actually, and had a look around the farm. It’s really pretty and very Chilean, it is what I would picture a Chilean farm to look like, except for some of the destruction. Cauquenes is near Concepcion and the epicenter of the earthquake and the farm was hit with some force, not enough to do major damage luckily. There are chickens, cows, horses, bees, and pigs. One of the two horses is pregnant, I’m not sure how far, but they are both great. And two dogs, each really sweet even though the German Sheppard looks menacing. I went into the main part of Cauquenes last night pretty late and got to see some of the destruction in the city. We picked up my uncle who is living with me and went to a bar. At the bar I learned that my aunt and uncle are leaving in October, which sucks. I really like having them around, they are a lot of fun and help keep me distracted, I will be sad to see them leave.
After the bar we drove back to where we picked up my uncle and got another one. This time the one from Santiago who’s house we stayed in the first week. We got back, my cousin and I both dying for a bathroom and went to bed. As I started to get into bed my cousin told me to check for spiders, which thoroughly freaked me out. I fell asleep and started dreaming.
I have noticed that when I sleep lately, my dreams have become more vivid that ever. People and places seem really and features and details are perfect. But, they are still in English. I hope they change soon enough.
Again I am writing falling asleep, but I doubt I’ll go to bed for a while. I got up at nine thirty ate breakfast and hung around until 11. I called Jessye, my friend in Rotary who lives close to the camp. She ended up coming later in the day. Until then I saw the farm, played soccer and some other game like horseshoes, and cooked some delicious meat as always. The farm is amazing, hills and terraces, a pond to swim in and animals. My cousins, my brother and I herded some cows for a bit and walked around the camp. Really beautiful in all. The meat I cooked was great, I would describe it as bacon chunks. It took a long time to cook, but it was completely worth it. Soon after that I went out into a field, with a book, a shirt to lay on and just read, soaking up the sun. It couldn’t get much better.
Jessye got there a bit later and gave me an easy person to communicate with, not to mention she is great. She is from Germany, the western side, and we talked mainly about Chile and our experiences here and how we felt about the whole situation. I’m supposed to go to another farm with her tomorrow. We had a small fire out aways from the house with my cousin and eventually drew my other younger cousins and brother who made the fire much bigger. It got dark and we went back to the house to have some food. And after having some food we started cooking again. This time on the grill. I got to take over and tend to it like usual, and I couldn’t have been happier yet again. By the end I had delicious meat, a beer, and friends and family all around with some good music and some cheesy music as normal. All in all a great time. We took Jessye home and I got to see some more of the destruction in Cauquenes, whole houses and buildings destroyed. And probably more sights tomorrow.
I just got up a little bit ago and I wanted to write down a dream. It started with me getting on the plane for Chile, and then it went through the first few months. And it went up until last night. I went to bed, and I woke up, getting ready to leave Chile. I just had one last orientation with my Rotary group, only it was a completely different group, and Mr. Griggs was there. I was ecstatic about my whole trip and couldn’t believe that I was going home. I was talking about how great it was that I had learned Spanish and how much better it had made my life in Chile once I learned.
Of cource, I don’t know Spanish now, and I don’t want to wake up and have all of Chile gone. I know that I would like to wake up and know Spanish, but that isn’t going to happen. Anyways, I woke up here and had some breakfast after waiting for the bathroom for way to long with a bladder that was way to full. Today is the Bicentennial and it should be great, last night was good and it wasn’t even the 18th. Out for a run now.
Great run, beautiful landscape, but a terrible shower. I’m not sure whether that shower was worse than my second one at my home. At least at home there was pressure, more than the drizzle that was less that a small faucet. And the temperature was ice cold. Together, I had to stay under the ice cold water for way too long to get the soap off of me. I did it though, and it’s over. I’m never taking a shower here again though.
A little while later we, my mom dad and cousin, left for the beach. We saw a few cities on the way there, saw some damage by the earthquake and tsunami. Then we went to one of the prettiest beaches I have ever been to. I took a bunch of pictures (a first) and wandered the sand for about an hour with my cousin, talking and having fun. She is a huge help with my Spanish. Her boyfriend who had been in the US last year told her not to talk to me in English, only help me if I didn’t know a word, not that her English is amazing, but it works really well and even in two days I have come a long way.
At home we ate, and not much else. I had the most unsatisfying oranges ever. Too much work to peel for not very much orange or good orange even. The other’s have made up for their short comings though, I forgive them. All in all it seemed like a pretty uneventful 200th anniversary of the country.
We ended up going out, a few of us to Cauquenes, the main city and going to a party there. It was put on by the fire department and was really big. Drinks, food, a band and a dance floor, the whole ordeal.
The next day I ended up making empanadas for a long time. It was entertaining to watch everyone make them and laugh and have fun together, and I got to be part of it for some of it, when I understood what was happening. Towards the end of making empanadas I got an idea, desert empanadas. I ended up making 8 or 9 apple empanadas, basically small apple pies, even though I was missing some stuff I would have liked to have. They turned out really well and tasted delicious. I think they were a hit, but who knows, they might now have actually liked them. Maybe they’ll let me make them again.
After the empanada extravaganza I went back to Pellehue, the town along the coast with my cousin and her family to their house. This part of the beach was amazing, probably the prettiest beach I have ever been too. Their house had been hit by the tsunami, but it was pretty much back to normal, I could see where they repaired with new wood. There was even a salt water stain on one of the beds where water had broken the window and gotten in. The crazy thing is that the house is probably 50 or 60 feet higher than the water on a cliff, big tsunami.
My cousin and I walked the beach, stood on some rocks, climbed some rocks, and then climbed a huge rock and watched the sunset over the Pacific Ocean on a beautiful beach. It was incredible, I don’t think I’ve seen very many sunsets like it, and for sure not from the kind of place I was watching it from. I took tons of pictures and a few videos. After sunset we went back to the house and had dinner with my uncle’s family. Crab, muscles or different kinds, and clams. Plus sausage and potatoes. It was all delicious in the process, but afterwards I didn’t feel so good. I’m not sure what, but something made me sick for the rest of the night, though it was completely worth it for the food. We hung around for a while longer, had some delicious dessert pastries and left. Got back and went to sleep.
Today, the last day there I went into Cauquenes to spend time with Jessye again. We wandered the city some and ate lunch with her family. There was still a fair from the 18th so we went and played some games and wandered around. Not a very exciting day, but it was still nice to see Jessye again. Then back to Los Angeles, another six person car ride in the jeep, cold cramped, and long. Back now with no water yet or internet, I’m guessing they’ll turn that on. I’m exhausted from the weekend and need sleep before I get up again tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)