Very quick addition before I head out for another salsa class...
The family breaks out in song! (there are 2 movies here)
8.30.2005
Learning more than just Spanish
Started my second set of classes this week (new teacher: Leo) and we learned the past tense. Yippeee! Although it was novel to speak and think only about present and future, it's been darn inconvenient when trying to answer complex questions such as "how was your day?" and "what did you eat for dinner?"
In the afternoon today, Samanta (my tutor) showed me photos of various famous people and then asked me to talk about them, what they've done, etc., to practice making sentences and speaking in the past tense. One of the photos was of Nelson Mandela and one was of Paris Hilton. I had a lot to say about Mandela (of course) and I didn't even recognize Paris Hilton. Samanta said that her students by and large fall into two categories: those who can talk about Mandela and those who can talk about Paris Hilton. Then we talked about how she thought it was strange and sad that everyone in Chile recognizes Paris Hilton and know a lot about her -- even though neither of us could answer the question: "What have been her significant achievements?" I decided that it was simply being able to get her name so well known without having done much of anything.
Then we fell back into talking about culture, politics and poetry. I love my afternoon classes. I'm going to have the most esoteric Spanish...
In the afternoon today, Samanta (my tutor) showed me photos of various famous people and then asked me to talk about them, what they've done, etc., to practice making sentences and speaking in the past tense. One of the photos was of Nelson Mandela and one was of Paris Hilton. I had a lot to say about Mandela (of course) and I didn't even recognize Paris Hilton. Samanta said that her students by and large fall into two categories: those who can talk about Mandela and those who can talk about Paris Hilton. Then we talked about how she thought it was strange and sad that everyone in Chile recognizes Paris Hilton and know a lot about her -- even though neither of us could answer the question: "What have been her significant achievements?" I decided that it was simply being able to get her name so well known without having done much of anything.
Then we fell back into talking about culture, politics and poetry. I love my afternoon classes. I'm going to have the most esoteric Spanish...
8.22.2005
Snowboarding in the Andes!
Not too much energy to write after a major individual tutoring session... For practice reading, my tutor brought in some information about the state of the HIV epidemic and the prevention/treatment efforts in various countries throughout Latin America. It was cool, but a little tiring.
My whole body aches a bit from the boarding on Saturday. Achy in a good way. Now I can say I've boarded in the Andes which is very cool. I even almost managed to pull off a few turns without falling over!
Yesterday I went to Pablo Neruda's third house, the one here in Santiago. That man was eccentric and fabulous. The house was great. I'd love to live in a house designed to feel like a ship. I bought a book of his "essential" poems that's in both English and Spanish and am excited to read them. I'll write more about him in the future.
I'm loving the fact that this is so much more than just a language course. I'm learning quite a bit about Chile through my classes and am loving this country even more as a result!
If you want to see more photos, just click on the pic.
My whole body aches a bit from the boarding on Saturday. Achy in a good way. Now I can say I've boarded in the Andes which is very cool. I even almost managed to pull off a few turns without falling over!
Yesterday I went to Pablo Neruda's third house, the one here in Santiago. That man was eccentric and fabulous. The house was great. I'd love to live in a house designed to feel like a ship. I bought a book of his "essential" poems that's in both English and Spanish and am excited to read them. I'll write more about him in the future.
I'm loving the fact that this is so much more than just a language course. I'm learning quite a bit about Chile through my classes and am loving this country even more as a result!
If you want to see more photos, just click on the pic.
8.20.2005
Today we skiied & boarded. Very fun -- although I managed to break my binding so I spent the second half of the day entirely on my heelside and now my calves are insanely tight. We're really spoiled in California with the quality of our mountains for skiing. I knew this, but to have a very good snowboarder from Boston be so completely amazed with this resort was a good reminder; he'd never seen a mountain before. Any. Ever. Our lives have been different...
I came home to much conversation con mi familia aca, some homework and red wine with dinner. I fully intended to upload some photos for you all, but it's not going to happen. Estoy tuto (it's a Chileno term for "passing out" used for over tired children). Mañana voy a poner las fotografias aqui.
I came home to much conversation con mi familia aca, some homework and red wine with dinner. I fully intended to upload some photos for you all, but it's not going to happen. Estoy tuto (it's a Chileno term for "passing out" used for over tired children). Mañana voy a poner las fotografias aqui.
8.19.2005
Today I learned the future tense, but not the past. This is a problem for a blog, where nearly everything is in the past... but this is my lesson for today. The past is inaccessible so I have to look to the future.
Este noche, mis companeros y yo vamos a los bars, y en la manana vamos a esquiar. Whoo hoo!
Este noche, mis companeros y yo vamos a los bars, y en la manana vamos a esquiar. Whoo hoo!
8.18.2005
I have to second one of Bert's posts: If you're feeling unpopular or unfeminine (por ejemplo, if your boyfriend dumps you saying that you're just a buddy), then you should go salsa dancing where there are more guys than gals. Even more, you should get your butt on a plane and go dancing in Latin America. Last night bailo mucho y felt muy bonita! But boy did it work me. Today my legs are sore... It's been a long time since I've danced... That will change. I think I'm going to reclaim my dancing self. I liked her.
The warmth of the people here is astonishing. I feel as if I've been adopted by my family here and every Chileno I've met is friendly. I met two boys from France who've been here for over a month and they say that's how Chilenos are; I'm not having an unusual experience.
My classes are going well and my family is complimenting me with how well I'm doing. I have to stop speaking English (and writing it), but 1) most of you can't read Spanish, and 2) I'm frustrated with only knowing the present tense. I'm starting to communicate better, but I know that it's still such an odd way of speaking. Ah well. Only 3 days so far. Let's see what happens.
Hoy, it's clear & warming up. It's probably temporary, but it's nice since I don't have too much in the way of warm clothing here. I was trying to look nice, but my only non-sandal shoes are hiking boots or my nice boots which are not really comfy enough for all day (although they were ok for salsa!) It was also beautiful walking to school today. I could see the snow-topped mountains that ring this city. Hoy dia es muy lista.
The warmth of the people here is astonishing. I feel as if I've been adopted by my family here and every Chileno I've met is friendly. I met two boys from France who've been here for over a month and they say that's how Chilenos are; I'm not having an unusual experience.
My classes are going well and my family is complimenting me with how well I'm doing. I have to stop speaking English (and writing it), but 1) most of you can't read Spanish, and 2) I'm frustrated with only knowing the present tense. I'm starting to communicate better, but I know that it's still such an odd way of speaking. Ah well. Only 3 days so far. Let's see what happens.
Hoy, it's clear & warming up. It's probably temporary, but it's nice since I don't have too much in the way of warm clothing here. I was trying to look nice, but my only non-sandal shoes are hiking boots or my nice boots which are not really comfy enough for all day (although they were ok for salsa!) It was also beautiful walking to school today. I could see the snow-topped mountains that ring this city. Hoy dia es muy lista.
8.17.2005
Mi clase in Espanol es muy bueno. Aprendo mucho cada dia. Pero, uh... I´m stuck in the present tense y no tengo multos palabras. I know it´s only day 2, but I´m impatient.
In general, this is a great thing for me to do right now. Something positive for myself and also very absorbing. Only bummer is when we were practicing out loud today and el profesor asked me two questions in a row: "In what city is your house?" and "How many boyfriends do you have?"
I considered making up a story before I came here and not talk about reality with anyone, but that seemed like so much work. I´m weak. I've decided instead to only reveal a little and appear more like a slacker than anything. "no, I have no job, no house, no boyfriend, never been married, no kids. No real plans. Don´t know what I´m doing next." Leave it at that. Maybe someone will think I´m some rich spoiled kid...
Tonight: Baile! I´m excited for that. Dancing is always a release for me and I haven´t danced in too too long.
In general, this is a great thing for me to do right now. Something positive for myself and also very absorbing. Only bummer is when we were practicing out loud today and el profesor asked me two questions in a row: "In what city is your house?" and "How many boyfriends do you have?"
I considered making up a story before I came here and not talk about reality with anyone, but that seemed like so much work. I´m weak. I've decided instead to only reveal a little and appear more like a slacker than anything. "no, I have no job, no house, no boyfriend, never been married, no kids. No real plans. Don´t know what I´m doing next." Leave it at that. Maybe someone will think I´m some rich spoiled kid...
Tonight: Baile! I´m excited for that. Dancing is always a release for me and I haven´t danced in too too long.
8.15.2005
Now I´m in Chile and I´m loving it. I´m staying with a family here and only one speaks English well so I´m having to learn quickly -- which is what I¨m here for. They´re so warm and loving. It´s fantastic. Mom and Grandma just finished teaching me how to cook a Chilean specialty, Papas Rellenos. I tried to make one myself and it was tough. But all fun since I was speaking only in Spanish with them.
The city of Santiago is much larger than I thought: 5.6 million people. Yesterday I hiked to the top of San Cristobal and had great views of the city all the way up. It´s ringed by mountains, many of which still have snow on them. Good skiing is only 1 hour away from the heart of the city and ít´s not too pricey by U.S. standards. Everyone I meet here is so friendly! It already feels like a great place for me to be, and I´ve only been here for a day!
The city of Santiago is much larger than I thought: 5.6 million people. Yesterday I hiked to the top of San Cristobal and had great views of the city all the way up. It´s ringed by mountains, many of which still have snow on them. Good skiing is only 1 hour away from the heart of the city and ít´s not too pricey by U.S. standards. Everyone I meet here is so friendly! It already feels like a great place for me to be, and I´ve only been here for a day!
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