October 4, 2002
Hi All!
Thought I’d sit down and say hello to everyone since it’s been a little while. I’m enjoying myself here in Chile more every day and my Spanish is improving pretty rapidly. Actually I’m proud of myself because I’m able to carry on a conversation more or less. I can understand just about everything said to me as long as it’s not too too fast, so really my only big problems are in vocabulary when I’m trying to say something. And I’m still working on this subjunctive tense; I think it’s easier than I’m making it out to be...
I’ve been going to school since my first full week here. It’s been interesting...I’m in the junior class here because they’re already half way through the year (their summer break is opposite from ours) and this way I’ll be able to stay with the same class next year when they’re seniors. So, I’m the oldest person in our class...actually I think I’m probably one of the oldest in the school. My classmates are all extremely friendly (everyone here is). Even when I feel like I don’t know exactly what’s going on, someone is always there looking over their shoulder for me...making sure I remember to change classrooms for the right electives or that I have a group to stand around with during breaks. So I’m slowly making some friends, although as a whole I really like my whole class...and I think they like me too. It took the boys awhile to decide I was ok and not totally weird or alien, but now they talk to me. The girls took me in pretty much right away.
Besides being a place to make friends, school is boring...I’ve taken all the subjects they’re learning (aren’t any fun electives like at good old WHS). In the classes that I haven’t taken (Religion and Psychology), I don’t understand the teachers. I wish I could understand my psychology teacher, usually I take some notes but inevitably she gets talking too fast. Religion...no I’m not baptized, they don’t get this at all. And I’ve decided just to answer yes when asked if I believe in Jesus Christ. It’s not that I don’t...Also, the classes work backwards here. We stay in one classroom all day and the teachers rotate, except for a few advanced electives. My favorite classes are History (I can understand that in any language!) and Spanish. I actually know more grammatical Spanish than my classmates, verb forms and what not. I wear a uniform everyday, which is easy in the morning but means I have to bare my legs. I hate skirts! I made my mom here hem it as close to my knee as possible, needless to say all the other girls wear theirs as far from the knee as possible.
I visited Josh in La Serena for Chile’s independence week (surrounding Sept. 18). That was 6 hours up the coast by bus. But I made it alive and had a great time. Two of the days I was there we went to asados (bbq) with his host family in the valley. One in a little town nestled in a really steep valley and another more in the open valley-we just drove off the road in our SUV like we were in the middle of a commercial, crossing stream beds and all! Asados rock my world, of course there’s no bbq sauce but the way Chileans grill you don’t need any! I ate the best chicken ever that first day in the valley (well I guess it was second to the chicken my dad and Uncle Paul grilled up...) Josh and I climbed this huge hill in the valley and we could see Andes! And then we herded goats from one side of the hill to the other. Probably weren’t supposed to do that, but how can you resist running after goats?! By night we checked out the Pampilla which is basically like the fair but without animals and with more drinking...mmm chicha!-a special sweet wine sorta stuff made specially for the 18th. Also went dancing at a club called pi=3.14. All I can say is I’m not a great dancer in the US but compared to the swinging of hips that goes on in South America, I might as well just sit out all together! Also, they dance like back street boys. There’s one group from Brazil that is extremely popular here. They have a bunch of songs, all with specific and different choreography (and lots of swinging of hips in ways I have never imagined hips could swing!) So when one of those songs comes on (about every other song...) the whole club is doing the exact same moves. So weird...I’m learning though and it’s pretty comical. I did learn this other type of dancing though that I really like...but I can’t spell it. Anyways, the last day in La Serena was an accident because I actually missed my bus and couldn’t get another until midnight. So Josh and I spent the day bumming around downtown and just hanging out. It was a great trip, got of my city for awhile, saw some more of Chile and hung out with my fellow gringo. Josh friends said I’m more gringo of the two of us because I’m paler and my accent is more noticeable because I enunciate clearly (as opposed to Josh who mumbles like all the Chileans...). Also, it was determined that I look like Susan Sarandon and Drew Barrymore. I think that was pretty much solely based on the fact that I have buggy eyes like Susan and really pale skin like Drew. Whatever...
I finally made it home to Villa Alemana after the bus fiasco was figured out. Since then I also traveled to Santiago with my family for a day to see a cultural far there. And there I learned that Converse All-Stars have an even greater following in Chile than in the US! Woohoo! There’s a big punk population in the cities it seems and they have elected good old Chuck Taylors as their representative! I found a store at the mall with ém too. I’m thinking purple...
So, in recent news I cut my hair. I have no patience and long hair just wasn’t me. This provoked a positive reaction from the boys who seemed to think I looked ok, but the girls had more trouble comprehending this move. Granted, they all have hair half way down their backs. I’m somewhat of a freak since shoulder length is considered short and only women over fifty are allowed to have anything shorter. Now that I’ve gotten over the initial shock of the change, I’m glad to be back to no-hassle hair.
Everything with my family is great. Natalia and I get along wonderfully; she lends me children’s books to read! And Tomas enjoys chanting my name over and over and over to a certain rhythm that is so catchy I can’t help joining in by chanting his name right back, so we’re good too.
I’m joining a karate class and taking painting after school three days a week. Need something to keep me busy. And I’ve been reading like it’s my job. Send me books!!! haha...Also took up crocheting! I’m like a little old Chilean woman, aside from the karate.
This email has gotten extremely long and will probably only be interesting to my parents but I’m going to send it anyways. I hope all of you are well. I’m in constant amazement of all of you in college right now, because I am so lazy and you all are always studying...I’m so proud of you!!!! hehe Well, take care all and keep writing! I love to hear from you...Miss everyone so much! Closing words-try mashed potatoes with an egg over easy on top...oh so good! Much love,
Heather