My time here so far has been like a good book. I've been so captivated by life here that I'm not realizing that the book's ending pretty soon. I've got about 2 months left here and it shall be a quick but very busy 2 months. I wish I had updated more frequently, but now I feel like I've gotten to a point where it would be too hard to detail out everything that's been going on here.
So I'm going to ramble and see where this goes.
1) I''m quite shocked at how much I've improved in understanding (and hopefully in speaking/reading/writing as well) Spanish. I came here feel ridiculously stupid and unable to communicate, and now I'm feeling pretty comfortable with my broken Spanish. I have so many moments of delayed understanding, but for the most part, I can understand maybe 85% of what I hear. Of course this depends on the context. But Praise God for this. I 'm really happy that I have this new tool that God's granted me to use ... in life! Language is such a frustrating, but absolutely beautiful thing.
2) The friendships I have made here have been inolvidable (unforgettable). Once again, God's provided people for me to confide in, to share this wonderful experience with, to travel with, to live with, to worship and pray with... I'm so astounded by where I'm at. And I can never never attribute anything I did to this gift so given by God. I can firmly say that I love the people here, both Chileans that I know, and my fellow gringos I know. Although I'm not a very cariñosa person (I think?) I truly appreciate the frienships God's given me. Muchas gracias a Uds. y aun más a Dios.
3) I went "out" dancing for the first time in Santiago. I guess you could call it "carreteando" (sort of means partying). But it was with a great group who didn't get wasted.. nor did we grind to reggaeton. Rather, sino, we grooved to 80's music at a club called Sala Uno. It was.. at least according to Garrett, the wierdet club ever, but it was fun grooving in the not so fun smokey building. There were so ridiculous strobe-light disco-ball action acompanied by a big screen featuring music videos of all the songs people were dancing to. Chileans, at least según what I saw, are funny dancers. They're not too crazy... so I guess me, Garrett, and Mateo stood out a bit. JAJA. Yes all. I can groove. In my own way of course. But I will not groove for you because you will laugh at me. I went out with my new apartmentmate, Paola, quien felt a bit out of place because she's in her 30's, but after Carlitos y others came it wasn't as strange for her. We fueled up with choripan completos (delicious Chilean hotdogs)... and fueled up afterwards with sopaipillas (fried pumpkin dough with salsa!).. and some of the Chileans/Bolivians fueled up on cowstomach-on-a-bun... tasted like fish and had texture like rubber. gag . But in general, street food always tastes delicious. And food always tastes delicious late at night/ morning. So in sum, it was really delicious. =)
4) My internet was going nuts for a long time. I had it installed in the apartment because at first, to my dismay, I found out that there was no internet!! So VTR, the cable company, installed it and all was dandy.. for 30 minutes. Then it started cutting in and out. And finally it completely cut out... I called the VTR help line so many times I'm sure they were familiar with my name and gringo accent. I learned a new trade: talking on the phone. Phone conversations in Spanish always leave me super sweaty and red from embarrassment. Finally the tech man came (after another had come to try to fix it) and we had to get on the roof because thats where the other guy said the problem was it. Turns out the cable needed to be replaced... so the poor cable guy had to walk down to his truck and haul a new cable up again. ( I don't have elevators in my apartment.. even though it's only 4 floors). While he was working hard in what he knew best, I was acting like a little kiddo running around on the rooftops, climbing around, admiring the beautiful view of Santiago and the cerros.. and the melting snow-capped mountains in el fondo. I don't know why, but that was an exhilarating moment for me. I tell you, all my super happy moments have been in the most simplest of times.
5) I got a prueba back Monday. I didn't do that great. But my professor graciously gave me and the other gringa... get this... "points for effort". I nearly burst out laughing in class. I don't know why I thought it was so funny. But I guess it reminds me of elementary school, or times that people always joke about that. But lo and behold, I actually got points for effort for trying to answer in Spanish. Who knew a professor would actually do something like that. That was seriously so kind of her. But I feel a bit aprehensive handing this test to my department asking them to approve of this course... jajaja.
6) I miss people in the U.S. but I feel sad that I'm going to leave soon. So. How does one reconcile such feelings? Idurner.
7) I'm already trying to think of what I'm going to do with this blog when I come back. I think I'm going to convert it into a Spanish blog for Chileans... or gringos that want to read what I'm doing in life.. in the EEUU. Plus, even if no one reads it, it would be good practice for me?
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