Diez

Diez: n. "dee-ace" Ten.

1. August 20th marked my one month anniversary of living here in Viña del Mar/Valparaíso, Chile!!
The time has flown by more quickly than I could have ever imagined. While it is still winter freezing, the temperature is no longer the only thing on my mind. I've met some great people through my program. I've had many conversations with kids that are amazingly well-educated and opinionated about their interests, sports, hometowns, and their experiences in other countries (one of my friends actually did a several week journey along the slave route in Africa, experiencing some of what the African slaves went through...with my minor in African Diaspora Studies it sounded like such an eye-opening, heartwrenching, important experience that I may look into it myself).
2. I've gotten to play some more Ultimate Frisbee here.
There is actually a club team here organized by Chileans that many gringas and gringos like myself join during their time abroad to play some pickup Ultimate every Sunday afternoon in the "Sporting Club de Valparaíso" which is actually a horse track and a bunch of futbol fields behind it where you are guaranteed to see people playing at any time. Playing here is lighthearted yet competitive--perfect and free of the stress and pressure of the Tulane Ultimate team that I once was a member of (and quickly dropped after only one semester of constant low self-esteem in the face of a clique of BEASTLY good players).
3. I participated in an "autodescenso en rappel" last Sunday
"Ow-toe-dee-sen-so N rappel": self descent by rappelling from a tall surface toward the ground.

A few of the people in my program woke up bright and early last Sunday morning to make the journey over to Playa Salinas in order to sneak up the big Rocas on the coast. What was apparently once boulders completely free of human influence turned out to be blocked off by a barbed-wire fence and a tattered, illegible banner on one face of the largest rock. Once we hopped some fences and climbed many stairs (followed all the way up miraculously by the pack of friendly stray dogs that are a near-constant presence in Valparaíso), the view was breathtaking. We had a perfect, sunny, clear day so clear you could see the lazy sea lions ("lobos del mar") swimming in the ocean directly below and out in the distance (some of us say they were whales, as 98% of all species of whale must pass by Valparaíso in their migrations). I did two different descents, which consist of belaying yourself down the rock from a rope connected at the top. I love this part of rock climbing, so it was perfect for me as I didn't have to actually climb UP the rock (complete lack of upper body strength...Irish Dancers Represent.).
4. My host brother and I TRIED to go see "Violeta se fue al cielo" (Violet went to the heavens) an independent yet incredibly popular film about the life of Violeta Luna, a very famous musician here in Chile (look her up!). Valparaíso actually has a huge festival in her honor called "mil tambores," or "one thousand drums" in October, and the parental unit will be here to see it so note to them- look up this movie with subtitles online- ask your son how to do it *cough* illegally, online. Unfortunately due to our DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME CHANGE (yes East coast, we are now an hour ahead of you, and Central time we are two hours apart now) last Sunday, we missed the movie, but we're going to try and see it tonight!
5. I went to my first asado and had my first choripan! (this is very odd that it's taken me until yesterday to accomplish these things...)
Asado: Ah-sah-do n. barbeque
Choripan: chore-ee-pahn n. chorizo sausage hot off the grill on a fresh slice of baguette bread
Asados are incredibly popular and common here, basically the same potato salad, grill, chips scenario as any barbeque in the United States. Food here is pretty normal and not spicy or obscure at all. In fact, several of my friends have gone to the huge Walmart-esque store here called "Jumbo" in order to buy $8 Tobasco sauce for their food.
6. I am signed up to volunteer at the girls "hogar" next door to my house!
Tulane requires all students to complete two tiers of 20 or 40 hour service projects, and I am going to complete mine at the girls home where youngsters are awaiting adoption (shoutout to momma) and need help with homework and other activities after school or preschool. With the national strike now spread to elementary schools and even transportation workers (there has been a national strike of transportation and government workers for the past two days in order to participate in demonstrations in the capital, the idea being that the entire nation be frozen and feel what its like to be out of work or without school)
7. I'm DONE with my first big assignment
I had to write a 10 page paper that counts for 15% of two of my classes and finally turned it in today. We'll see how it goes!
8. My Dad called me on my Chilean cell phone
Somehow, Mark has pulled it off folks. While he could never seem to figure out Skype in my past two years in New Orleans, he has figured out a program that only costs $0.19/min in order to call me...and all incoming calls in Chile are free so props to papa. And props to the momma for putting up with him...and my incessent vacilation about which classes to take (yes, that little issue is still not quite solved...)
9. I'm going to Santiago tomorrow for the first time (outside of the airport area, that is)
Though only for one night and with my program, I'm excited to finally see the capital and what it has to offer
10. I'm beginning to make plans. Lots of plans.
I have several things brewing. Including Machu Piccu (I would look up how to spell this but my internet is so moody I do not currently have the good fortunate to perform this action). Possibly Argentina and the Atacama Desert (the driest in the world) as well...we'll see how quickly the bank account dries up as well.

Until next time-
Lorena