Chilean fashion tip.

Rat tails and mullets, they're in. So, my advice, either get a prompt haircut or start growing your hair pronto.

Pictures to come soon.

Chilean lesson de el dia: Running etiquette.

It could have been any day in my old college town of Iowa City, running along the river on a brisk fall day. Expect, well, for many exceptions. It's mid-winter here in Chile and the river is glacier-fed from the Andes, not pesticide polluted, like the rivers in Iowa. The gravel and stone trails and green parks bordering the river are peppered with Chilean couples, young and old, making out unashamed, every few steps. Perhaps because it is a Catholic nation that still touts abortion as illegal, that they seem to kiss as if that action will soon become outlawed also. Either way, as I gawked at the loving couples, I also collected stares from the Chileans I passed and the clusters I weaved through.

It was while running alone, away from the commercial district area, still along the river path, that I learned my Chilean lesson of the day. Pelegriso. (Meaning Dangerous or Danger.) The police officers on horses informed me that I should hide my ipod. Or so I think.... So I smiled, stuffed my ipod in my pants (slightly uncomfortable) and ran off as I said chow. Chileans will always stop you, no matter what you are doing or where you are, to tell you: be careful. Pelegriso. Chileans are dangerous, although I've tried to be on the lookout for thieves, I feel safe thus far.



About the picture: On our hike around San Cristival, I spotted this couple kissing near the overlook. I wanted to get a natural picture, but my presence was noticed too soon.

Chilean cuisine, we think.

My roommate and I sparked our gas stove and stovetop. We made papas fritas y huevos. Together it's a Chilean dish, or so it seems like it from our observations of the restaurant windows on the streets.

Despues, we attempted the culinary dessert. Chilean vino blanco y helado pina. Perfecto! Muy deliciouso.

RIP MJ

Spotted in Santiago Centro, cerca de metro Barquedano: Official Michael Jackson Fan Club of Chile 2009.

Cloaked in "official MJ apparel" the members displayed black suits and a single sparkly silver glove.

Later, Joe, my roommate, and I happened upon the group in a bar in Provendencia, an outer district of Santiago. Closed, they said. Very un-MJ, if you ask me. Besides shouldn't gringos from Americana get a free pass?

La dia en las montanas de Andes.

If you're living in Santiago, you see the Andes casting a shadow over the city, if you're lucky the smog hasn't blocked the beauties in a resulting haze. On a clear, sunny day, they beckon any snow bunny novicio (novice) or pro to escape the city in exchange for it's powder-rich slopes.

After four days of vivo en el Santiago Centro, I put on my skiing pants. Well, rain pants with spandex underneath because I didn't have room to pack those. The adventure, however, began like any day in a foreign land, with attempting to find our transportation van, Manzuir expediciones. Aughhhh.... I'll save you the pain and misery of half an hour of pained Spanish and broken coversation. Como???

In the magic of travel, we found our pickup location and departed for the lurking mountains. An hour later of winding and twisting on the roads leading up the mountain, I felt sick and we had arrived at the resort, El Colorado. How ironic? I suppose I could have saved myself the flight down south and just hopped two state borders to be in Colorado, USA. But the surrounding scenary was spectacular, not to forget the vistas from the van window. Wild horses roamed the cacti-spotted hillsides and bikers peddled precariously close to the road edge. Muy interesante!

My stomach took the back-burner in my mind as I grabbed my snowboard and stepped on the snow. As someone born and raised in the flat-landscape of Iowa, mountains and sea leave me at awe. My snow skills, however, are terribly lacking. Nevertheless, I'm always up for a challenge, resulting in great embarrassment most times.

After a slow ride down the mountain, my ass was literally being dragged up the mountain on Chile's version of ski lift. Basically it's a pulley system with hooks to hold onto as it's pulls you up the incline. The trick is balancing one's weight while riding on his/her skis or snowboard. I fell two seconds after grabbing my hook. For the remaining ride of 10 minutes, the surrounding Chileans gazed on. Sad gringo.

Finally at the top, I wanted to give up. I was already tired and quite embarrassed, to be honest. But like any motivational book or my parents would tell me: you can't leave the mountain yet and you already paid for the ride so suck it up.

So, there I was, in the Andes and eventually, loving it.

Chile is a very Catholic nation.

Santiago Views.

Perfecto!

(Santiago es muy, muy grande!)

Mi horas en Chile (as of now). Hola!

Your real welcome to Chile comes on the streets of Santiago, late at night. (Don't worry madre, american standards differ greatly from Chile--I mean after sundown around 8 p.m.) Our first night in Santiago, dos otra chicas y yo ventured out of our hotel to practice our espanol. Before I closed my eyes to sleep that night, I knew I had made the right decision to study abroad to learn spanish and more importantly, in Chile. My pronunciation is awful. I can hardly answer a question, let alone carry on a conversation. BUT, the Chileans are so friendly and understanding with helping if you try. Or so they seem, so far. As Bebemos una cervaza, our espanol only got better.

Side note: In Santiago there are a large number of stray dogs wandering the city. Although, the bigger question of the seemingly domesticated perros es whether they are curious mascotas (pets) o (or) runaways o just straight up street doggies. I hope the first. We speed walked from the dog following us for three blocks, just in case.

En la afternoon, mi roomies y yo trollied up a large "hill" in Santiago (in Iowa we would most certainly call this a small mountain.) It was steep and lurched as we craned to see the smog laced vistas of Santiago. I pulsed with excitement for my new home city-- (a true city of 7 million)--and also from my fright of heights. I'm still adjusting.

Only three more dias until we start espanol clases!

Adios (North) America!

Soy en Santiago, Chile!

Chilean Lesson Uno:

Chileans are friendly, but never, ever pack nuts en tu mochilla.  Ever.  

Five steps from the airport exit and into the fresh mountain air, I am stopped by Chile's customs for smuggling goods into the country.  Drugs? Nunca.  What do I have?  Bulk almonds, walnuts, and craisins hand-packed in snack size ziplocs. 

Oh no.

Thirty minutes later I'm dripping sweat because I'm wearing my thick jacket as I thought I would be walking out into the Chile winter air within seconds.  But instead, I'm slumped in a chair pitting out as I'm signing my name to documents stating that I was harboring x ounces of misc. dried nuts.  According to Chilean law, my offense is a felony and punishable up to $4,500 American dollars.  I would be lieing if I said I wasn't panicking a little.  

However, the nice Chilean man smiled gently and carefully spoke English.  You understand?  This is a warning, but never do that again.  Chilean law.  

Si.  (I think I galloped out the doors-as much as I could with a suitcase, pack, bagpack, and a large purse-sans the nuts.)

I think more than ever, my quote on the right rings accurate.

Update: The next girl from our program was fined the minimum, $200 U.S. dineros, for an apple. Ouch.