Junk Food Run

So, I bought a bunch of cookies from Jumbo (the Super Walmart of Chile, remember?) and a FOUR DOLLAR bag of Snyder’s Honey Mustard and Onion Pretzel Pieces.  I couldn’t resist.  Somebody go to any grocery store and do a price check for me…I know they’re like 1.98 at home.

I found out via Facebook that one of my highschool friends got married.  That and the recent news that Pluto has been demoted from planetary status have made me think about what sort of technological age I’m living in.  I think that finding out about Seth’s marriage on Facebook is pretty cutting edge…but I’m going to have to tell my kids that when I was in school, I learned there were 9 planets…  I don’t know, it makes me feel funny.

The other half of my birthday present from Ryan arrived in the mail today, a book of quizzes about Shakespeare!  Or Shock-a-spay-are-ray, as one could humorously say in Spanish.  It’s pretty cool…I have a lot of plays to read yet to be an expert.

Classes are going well.  I’m starting remember my schedule more easily now.  I have a lot of reading at any given time that I should be doing.  Right now I should be reading Juan Rulfo’s lit theory and then one of his short stories…buuuut I’m writing in my blog.  It’s supposed to rain tomorrow but then again, it was supposed to rain today and it didn’t.

New Pictures

I have not been keeping up with my blog very well! I feel like a lot has happened recently…

I turned 21 — that was a good day. Thanks to everyone who made it special.
I passed my six month mark — I think a cultural essay on my observations of Chile is long overdue by now

My friend Erin flew home…to say goodbye to her grandfather, who is dying from cancer. That was emotional.

My friend Paula got a job…in a Thai restaurant and we met the owner, an extremely embittered American from Florida who has some sad and scary stories to tell from 7 years of life in Chile.

Gustavo and I hung out…which has not happened before. He’s the youngest (22) of the bunch where I go for meeting and is studying dentistry. He showed me his school and the hill where it is in Valparaiso and it was a lot of fun. I’m stoked to actually have a Chilean friend.

So, I put up a bunch of pictures on facebook and on Ryan’s website. I’d put a link here, but I don’t know how. Angela and I are going to her grandson, Gregorio’s, flute concert in 15 minutes.

I’m tired. The sun came up too early this morning.

Yesterday was a great day

Yesterday was some Catholic holiday, so everything was shut down and everybody was out in full force enjoying the sunny day.  I wrote an essay for my writing class in the morning and in the afternoon went down to the seashore with my girls, Paula, Erin and Andrea.  We met at my house as nobody had been to the apartment yet nor had met Angela, so that was a first.  Angela said she loved them and that Paula looks like a Barbie…haha.

We rented a four person bike, in the form of a little car and went careening down the street in the midst of normal vehicles, other bike cars, and horse drawn buggies.  We’d pass a horse, screaming and pedaling like maniacs, only to be taken over by somebody in their car, patiently creeping along behind us until they had room to pass.  And the guy that we rented it from was completely drunk at 5:00 in the evening.

We bought some cotton candy and icecream and walked down the board walk, looking at the artesan goods that people were selling on the beach…scarves, sunglasses, jewelry, hair sticks, and the like.  We made it down to the pier where we bought some french fries and were harassed by an obnoxious clown who kissed Erin on the cheek as part of his routine…very ew.  More artesan fair shopping, a hilarious puppet show in time with classical music, a hyperactive and vicious mini poodle…and then we went out for Mexican.  Done Chilean style, and so bland it didn’t deserve to be called Mexican.  And we finished off the evening with more icecream.  Fab-u-lo-so.

I just got back from my Linguistics class and am bored out of my gourd.  I have to get out of that class or I will perish.  I think a nap would rejuvenate me…

Yawn!!

I’m cold and hungry and bored.

The workers were in meeting this morning and my friend Erin came with me.  We were all invited to stay for lunch and it was great.  I don’t think it could have gone any better.  So…that’s good.

I got home around 3 and made myself some tea because it’s cold and rainy.  Getting pretty sick of the cold.  I can’t wait for the summer.  And the beach.  And weather that makes me believe I’m in the southern hemisphere.

Angela has been out for lunch since I got home, so I haven’t seen her yet.  I’ve just been here.  Reading, looking at pictures on facebook, eating chocolate.  I’ve discovered a candy bar that is truly wonderful…Sahne Nuss by Nestle.  Basically chocolate with almonds.  Dangerously delicious.

Maybe I’ll work on my scarf. And make more tea, because I’m freezing.

Doga: Yoga for Dogs

I was helping Ryan shop on Amazon.com and we found a yoga book for dogs!  It made me laugh and then fear for mankind…

It was sunny and beautiful this morning but started to rain in the afternoon.  My beautiful polka dot umbrella malfunctioned miserably.  Not only does it not close correctly, it blows inside out with the slightest breeze.  How embarrassing.  Luckily there are people who hawk umbrellas on the street on a rainy day, so if it keeps up, I’ll be sure to find another.  The bakeries also make alot of sopapillas on rainy days…I don’t know why…but they smell cozy and delicious.

I had two classes today, Textual Linguistics and Latin America in Text and Image.  I really think I’m going to like the latter.  It’s full of gringos but the professor is so adorable in an old bookworm sort of way.  He has enormous bushy eyebrows and wears brown corduroy pants.  The professor for Textual Linguistics is a young chick who graduated last year and keeps her pens and dry erase markers in a Clinique make up bag…  She’s nice but obviously lacks experience.

Hmm…not too much else going on.  I went to the grocery store earlier to get some more cereal (Quaker Oatmeal Squares).  Angela has started making natural yoghurt for me…milk and yoghurt culture pills.  It’s pretty crazy but good.  So, I went to get cereal but ended up getting a bunch of junk food as well and stashing it away in my room.  I miss grocery shopping.

First Impressions of Second Semester

My first week of classes has gone exceedingly well. I have:

• Latin American and Chilean Short Stories
• Textual Linguistics
• Latin America in Text and Image
• Art Theory II
• Urban and Regional History of Valparaiso
• Advanced Spanish Writing

We started on Wednesday and I haven’t had a couple of the classes yet, as they’re on Monday and Tuesday, but the ones I have had, I really like.

I met a few of the new exchange students and they’re all really nice…except for one or two. I’m tired of meeting people, to be honest. I’ve had too many of the same “Where are you from?” conversations in the last week.

Yesterday, Paula, Erin (a new girl) and I went out for sushi and a tour of the thrift stores in Valparaiso. I got three long sleeve tees for 6.00. Yay! The sector where we were has shoe stores and thrift stores liberally sprinkled together so we dawdled along, going from store to store. I’ve come to the conclusion that women bargain hunting are the same all over the world. For supper, we ate at an Indian restaurant, Ganesha. Lamb curry is the best. Yesterday was the tastiest day I’ve had in a while. One night, last week, Angela gave me mashed potatoes with a fried egg on top…and that about sums up how spicy Chilean food is.

Today has been exceedingly relaxed. I called my family this morning, tried out a couple new hairstyles, cleaned my room. I think it’s time to do some homework.