Blue Crush

I did it! I went surfing and I got up, a few times. I don't actually have any pictures of it because I was, you know, riding some gnarly waves. The Ministry of Education has plenty of evidence though, they even have a video of me in my wet suit doing some crazy stretches, running, and pretending that the sand was my surfboard. I am convinced that the Ministry will use all this against me someday in a very public extortion case, but I think I will come out the winner.
We went to Pichilemu, a really cool beach town about three hours from Santiago. It was gorgeous and quite a bit cooler than the sauna that is Santiago. I loved it. We really had no problem adapting to the lifestyle and I am convinced I could be a surfer girl, my sore body is not as convinced, but I think it might just take a few more times and I'll be blogging about the life of a surfer.
We had an amazing asado (barbeque) that consisted of lots and lots of alcohol and a plethora of meat and avocado. I can honestly say I have never seen so much meat or so many avocados, I can also honestly say I have never tasted more delicious pork. I apologize to pigs everywhere for all the smack I have ever talked about you, you are deluxe.
My tired, sore, sunburned body is off to sleep. I hope you all had a good weekend.
Included is a photo of a cute couple who held hands the entire bus ride. While most of the public displays of affection are offensive in the country, this was endearing and precious. It is also the only picture I have of the trip.

Pasa 10! Hang ten!

I am going surfing this weekend! Oh my gosh, how crazy. If I get eaten by a shark, all my love. I had a good life. More likely, I will just feel extremely sore and tired, but so happy because I will have crossed yet another thing off my list. Also, I will be able to feel the sweet relief of the cool water during this hot summer. I know all of you in Montana are rolling your eyes, because of course I am mentioning how warm it is, but I will have you know, it's no picnic. I am hot all the time from sun up to sun down and in between. It's ridiculous. According to my host family, this is the hottest summer they can remember. Yikes.
I made some Chilean friends and they are rocking my world.
The one on the left, Coke I met through Couchsurfing and he is one of the most interesting and interested people I have ever met. He is incredibly kind. He makes maps for a living and has given me heaps of information on Chile and hiking. Mauricio, on the right is my friend Kendra's host. He is very nice and incredibly helpful. Neither speak English very well so it is a challenge to communicate with them, but also really amazing to see how far my Spanish has come and also how sometimes words are not necessary. I will brag and say that I do get their jokes in Spanish, so I think I am improving.
That being said, class is fun, but also a challenge. I took the test that all interpreters are required to take today and that was the biggest blow to my self esteem I have experienced since 7th grade. Who knew that I needed to know things like stocks and how to describe hypothetical businesses in Spain? I sure didn't.
I must go prepare for class and also pack for the beach! Enjoy the snow!!!
Besos y abrazos (hugs and kisses).

Ghost: Starring Yours Truly

Today I lived out a dream, I was a potter. It was only for a few fleeting hours, but nevertheless I was one (and I've got the pictures to prove it)! One time my amazing friend Kristin (hi!) allowed me to use her wheel during college, so it wasn't the first time, but today I actually made something. I had a few intense moments where I wanted to sing Unchained Melody and get really into it. We created for a few hours and then I had the most incredible empanada these lips have ever tasted. An empanada is a pastry full of meat, onion, hardboiled eggs, and one olive (I could do without the olive, but they are very popular here). It was divine. I could probably write about it for a few hours, but I will save it for my journal. They are also incredibly cheap, $1 gets you the luxury of a lifetime.

Bowl by Hannah (it's on ebay, check it!)

I was concentrating very hard. Also, don't I look like Demi without the short hair?

This one is for Caleb, I impressed them with my stegosaurus skills.

Welcome to my photo album, I won't bore you with too many stories.

The men of the mine.

Apparently, this is not just a cultural thing, it happens all over the world. The country code is 56 if you are interested.

This was on a locker in the men's locker room (Don't worry Lady KJ, I had permission to be there).

I love this sign, it reminds me of South Koreans.

Somehow, I didn't feel like this would do the job had I needed it.

This has nothing to do with my adventures, but my host father has turned me onto this website
http://www.pixdaus.com
It is incredible and has some amazing photos. You should check it out and silently thank Juan. He rules.
Disfruta (enjoy)!

Mining....

A quick history lesson: The backbone of Chile's economy is its copper industry. I know it's surprising since it seems like all of the fruit and vegetables in the United States, especially Montana, are from here, but that isn't what allows them to be such a wealthy (by comparison) country down here. It's all in their mountains.
Today we went to Sewell an abandoned mining town that still has a fully functioning mine. I went deep inside of The Devil's Mountain, which was alarming considering I had signed my life away twice earlier that morning. Chile is not only the strongest (economically) country in South America, I think it might also be the most protected. I have signed more waivers for my life here than I have ever signed before. At first I thought I should be alarmed that I have to sign a waiver whenever I ride a bus or take a tour, but I have decided to admire this attention to detail.
After signing my life away I was told I needed to wear a large orange coat, a hard hat, a gas mask, and carry around an emergency kit from the sixties in case I was to be stuck inside the mine. This was all in Spanish, so I was slightly alarmed. After getting all decked out in our gear we entered the mine by bus. It was completely dark and felt exactly like the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland (but without the assurance that Walt had your back). After driving in pitch black for at least ten minutes we were dropped off and left at the mercy of the miners, the rats, and God.
After the rocky start we had an awesome tour of the mine. It was insane to be wandering around the inside of a mountain. There are more than six levels to the mine and if I'm not mistaken (which I easily could be) there are more than 2000 kilometers of roads. We saw a quartz room and got to tour the locker rooms of the men who actually live in the mine. Inside this I was also alarmed because there were many Mary's and Jesus posters. It was incredible and like nothing I have ever seen before. I couldn't imagine living inside of a mine and seeing the sun only every few weeks. The good news was that I didn't feel so pale in there, so maybe I would like it more than I think.

A little piece of Montana, if only they had thought to bring pasties.

I'm telling you, these suits are irresistible.

The mine, this picture fails greatly.

We were working those suits and heeding all safety advice.

Here we are clearly not heeding any safety advice, I guess you could say we were acting Chilean.

Lincoln is popular all over

The view from the finicular (which is basically the lovechild of an escalator and an elevator).

The beginning of a series of photos of me. I am self obsessed.

Here I am writing very deep things in my journal.

Me at La Chascona (Neruda's house). La Chascona means bed head, I was trying to be funny, please laugh.

A mural outside of Neruda's house.

Another mural outside of Neruda's house

These are all over Neruda's house. Ojo (eye) in Spanish also means be careful. What a jokester!

I saw Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the city whilst on a walk. I think I laughed a lot harder than most people who see this fine figure. Apparently, Chile can appreciate great leaders.
Today while I was sick I watched "La Ruleta de Suerte" better known as Wheel of Fortune. It was hilarious and a great way to practice my spanish. My host family gets really into it and there is quite a bit of yelling and laughing involved. They all appreciate a good laugh, so I feel like I was placed in the right home.
More about my host family: My host brother is part of a band here called Bys-Revolution that goes on tour. Most of their venues are Anime Festivals. I have their music on my computer and now I can totally show off and say that I live with a guy in this band. I am living every girl's high school fantasy. My host sister made me a very special lunch today to calm my stomach. She taught English in the UK so her accent is this really sweet English accent. She is adorable. They are incredibly kind to me. I am lucky because most of the people here have been placed with a 30 something professional who is never home. Chileans have the longest work week in the world, something may have been lost in the translation, but I do know that the average work week is 45 hours. I feel lucky because my family is home to talk to me and they want to help me as much as possible.
I hope you all enjoy the photos. Sometimes I take the photos and look at them and can't believe I am really here. It's crazy.

Eric, The Food Won

I got food poisoning. When? I'm not sure, but I do know that it is unpleasant in South America too. I will be a lot more cautious in my food choices from now on, which probably just means until Saturday. Thankfully, I have lots of people looking out for me in this country so I have been well taken care of. I will never again underestimate the power of a fan.

Yesterday, before the attack of the food poisoning, we went to La Chascona, the house that Pablo Neruda built for his paramour and eventually 3rd wife. The house itself is incredible. He loved the sea and incorporated it beautifully into his home. In his library he created a room that feels as though you are on a boat and it creaks just like an old boat would.

He had a penchant for artwork and was friends with some of the great artists of the time. Diego Rivera, Frida's husband, painted this incredible picture of Neruda's wife Matilde. Picasso also painted pictures for him. His art collection is brilliant. He wasn't all serious dramatic melancholic poet though it appears as though he loved to party because he had bars all over, 3 in one house. He clearly was a true Chilean because he made his glasses colored to hide the wine and make the water less boring. He died of a broken heart 12 days after the Pinochet regime took over. I highly recommend visiting his home if you are ever in Santiago. He has two more throughout Chile which I hope to get to.

We then made our way to San Cristobal, the home of the Virgin Mary. It was lovely and hot and full of stray dogs. It provides a great view though, so it is well worth the heat.

Pictures to follow.

The Andes=Obsession

I am obsessed with these mountains. They are extraordinarily beautiful. If I had to describe them in three words: Breathtaking, Hypnotic, Marvelous.

Apologies

My sincerest apologies, I have made some definite mistakes in my posts. I know some of you reading this are English majors or teachers and are probably so disgusted by my writing. My apologies, in my defense the computer is different, I am constantly translating into Spanish and/or English, and I want you to judge me.
I think that payback is going to be hilarious when I am a teacher. I fully expect to get a lot of ridiculous excuses for lack of homework, etc. I will listen to them all and probably use them at a later date because who knows when I will be stuck in a Chilean taco (traffic jam) next? Probably on my way to church, Mom.

Being Sunaware

Hello all!
I am back from a lovely weekend in Mendoza, Argentina.
To put you all at ease, I will have you know that I have been very sunaware down here so I shall not come home a leathered weathered lady, but hopefully a spry young thing. Also, I want my mom to know that even out of her watchful eye I care about my skin and take all the necessary steps to protect it. I also look very stylish in the 100 degree weather.



I went to Mendoza with two other people from English Opens All Doors. They are really fun. We left Friday afternoon and what was supposed to be a 6 hour bus ride turned into a 9 hour affair due to Customs. We drove up this crazy road through the Andes and in the middle of absolutely nowhere at the top of a mountain there is a border crossing. Thus far I have found that South America is not concerned with efficiency and therefore everything takes much longer than it needs to. We spent close to two hours trying to get through Customs. I thought that was long, but today on the bus ride home at 2 a.m. our crossing took even longer. We did not leave the Customs office until 6 a.m. this morning. We were supposed to be in Santiago at 5:45. We arrived three hours later at 8:45 and had to go straight to Spanish class. No guns were pointed at our heads and we had minimal problems, so I consider it a success.
Here we are entering Argentina!

A lovely landscape. This country is gorgeous and the Andes are incredibly beautiful. I was so inspired I painted a picture. I won't subject you to that, but I will share some photos.

Clearly this next photo is not me, but it is the road. It is insane and this picture does not do it justice. Also, the drivers do not heed the do not pass signs, they just do whatever they think is best.
While in Mendoza we went whitewater rafting and enjoyed some great wine and food. The food was classy, as you can see.

Yes, those are fries on there. There was also mayonnaise and lots of other things, I don't know what they are and I don't care, because darn they tasted good!

Take care! Email me, I love getting them. Hanweb2@hotmail.com

Food.

I ate stomach and seaweed for one meal. No lie.
It was from a cow (the stomach) and they refer to it as the guts. They are slimy and gross and I would not eat it again.
The seaweed just tastes like it is from the sea, but not in a good way.
I am off to Mendoza and apparently they have ridiculously good food. Thank God.

The wise words of Pablo Neruda

There is no insurmountable solitude. All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are. And we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence in order to reach forth to the enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song - but in this dance or in this song there are fulfilled the most ancient rites of our conscience in the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny.
-Pablo Neruda
No hay soledad inexpugnable. Todos los caminos llevan al mismo punto: a la comunicación de lo que somos. Y es preciso atravesar la soledad y la aspereza, la incomunicación y el silencio para llegar al recinto mágico en que podemos danzar torpemente o cantar con melancolía: mas en esa danza o en esa canción están consumados los más antiguos ritos de la conciencia: de la conciencia de ser hombres y creer en un destino común.

Reality has come

Hello all!
I started school. My brain is constantly trying to wrap itself around this new language and my head hurts, but it is really fun.
I am now in a ridiculous Amazing Race knock off, Chilean style.
We had a challenge to go around the three of the plazas of Santiago and ask people in the city about the history of the city. I don't know how this happened, but the camera crew chose my group to follow, keep in mind there were six groups of us, all in matching shirts, and they chose mine. It was ridiculous. They would run ahead and film us and we had to run and act very serious. My group got mad at me because I spent too long chatting with the people who were answering our questions, even the director told me I needed to pick up the pace.
Him: "What's your name again?"
Me: "Hannah"
Him: "You need to be faster, quit talking so much."
Even in a foreign language I am too chatty. I must be my mother's daughter.
The video will be posted sometime in the next 6 months and I am sure I will be getting calls from all over, move over Kate Gosselin, I am going to make it huge on TLC.
All the other people in the program are really nice. Tomorrow we are going to an English summer camp to provide our expertise.
Here comes the interactive part of the blog: What should I do this weekend?
Options:
1. Go to Mendoza with a few of the folks. This option includes a bus ride through the Andes and a wine tour, I'm just saying.
2. Stay in Santiago and bum around here. There is the presidential election on Sunday so everything will be closed Sunday.
3. Join a guerrilla party in Bolivia and fight for their rights.

Here is a picture of the group at La Moneda which is the Chilean equivalent of The White House. It is also where Salvador Allende was killed.
The other picture is of me at the top of Santa Lucia which is a park in the middle of town. Charles Darwin described the view as "certainly most striking" and in this case, he definitely is not lying. From there you have the most beautiful panoramic view of the city and the Andes. It is awesome.

This is one of many murals throughout Valparaiso. It is really lovely and intricate. This one is my favorite, it is hard to see. Blame me, not the artist.

I spent some time in the cemetery in Valparaiso because it is awesome. They have two, one for Catholics, with a gorgeous view of the ocean and huge lots and one for nonbelievers that is not quite as picturesque. This is a picture of one of the walkways lined with graves, it is really quite spooky.

This was in the National Naval Museum. I don't understand why they tried to hide their cannon as a bird. They must be very clever, just like me in this picture.
A sidenote, featured in this museum was a glass window of Neal Armstrong, Chile is funny.

This one is for you, Kelsey!


The view from a hike


Fruta in the Market Vega.
There are dogs and cats everywhere, so this picture is bit deceptive, but the fruit is worth it, if you're willing to risk it.

Fotos aqui aqui!

Hola family and friends!
I am going to post some photos now, enjoy and my apologies for not being able to explain each in detail, but really, do you want to be bored?
I am with my host family now. They are extremely kind and welcoming.
My host father Juan, is an anesthesiologist and my host mother is a nurse. I will forever be surrounded by nurses, perhaps it is a sign. My host brother Jota is very helpful and really kind. I haven't met my host sister yet, but she has a lot of clothes and loves to shop so I have a feeling we will get along quite well. We live across from a mall and around the corner from the metro. The area is quite busy and really hip and bohemian. I feel like I am living every poet's dream.
I am already tired of my clothes. I packed lightly, which is quite the feat for me and while I am happy I am traveling lightly, I would love some shoes.
Before I came to my host family I went to the beach in Mirasol and then I went to a real Chilean club. The clubs here are really interesting because all ages go, there were people in their sixties getting their groove on. It was awesome.
A Chilean kiss on the cheek to you all.

Feliz Cumpleanos a Ben!

Not to brag, but it was 90 here today and I get to go to the beach tomorrow. My life is rough. I have been emailing my host brother here in Santiago and his name is Jota (it sounds so Star Wars, I know I will put my hair in braids). He is super nice via email and uses phrases like omg and a nitro hug, I'm not sure what that means, but I like the sound of it. I think we may become the best of friends. Maybe he can even teach me to use the internet from my computer which would mean you all can see pictures! Lucky you.
Continue on the path to righteousness and please contain your excitement at my impending picture posting!

I live in Sanhattan, no lie.

I have been living the lifestyle of the rich and famous. That may be a lie, but I certainly have been having a pretty fly time. I don't have internet access on my computer so I can't download pictures yet, but I can give you a taste of my life.
Today I wandered around the city on a double decker bus like a true tourist. I asked the waiter at lunch for a recommendation and thought he recommended some type of casserole, unfortunately it was a pot roast. Yikes. This country loves itself some meat and cheese. I have never seen so much meat served at one time. We ate almost an entire cow at lunch between four of us. Peta would have been so disgusted by our lunch.
Yesterday Mike and I went wandering around the city and found the hostel and the new land that I shall soon be entering. It is a pretty cool area, hip, a bit dodgy, but that's what adventures are made of. We happened upon a Chilean Cultural Exhibition and really got in touch with our artistic sides. I nearly got my eyebrow pierced and a few tattoos so I would fit in. We also managed to get ourselves into the large Saturday market and we were the only tourists. I really stood out because I am so pale and I was wearing shorts. Apparently, this is a faux pas because I have never been stared at so much or had so many catcalls. I even got honked at. I know what Carrie Bradshaw feels like now. I just need to start wearing a few more tutus.

Sidenote:Angela, no one has offered me mayo yet and I am terribly sad about it.

A trip to Neruda's paradise

Hello!
I arrived in Santiago on Saturday morning after a long flight. The upside was I had the whole row to myself, the downside it was long and I am without any stories of strange neighbors. Darn it. I hate to rub it in, but it was 85 and sunny here.
I arrived here and was greeted by the Hanley's and about 15 Chilean men who were very eager to help me. Once we stopped by the Hanley's apartment and picked up the crew we headed to Valparaiso, where Pablo Neruda spent his youth. Valpo (I'm totally a local so I can use the slang) was awesome. It is a college kids paradise, rich in history, turmoil, and politics, yet somehow manages to be hip and trendy. The people were friendly. They have these crazy elevators in the town that take you up the steep streets. They remind me of the mining town in Disneyland, only without the security that Walt wants to keep you safe and free himself of lawsuits. There is also graffiti all over the town, some is beautiful and some makes me think I could be an artist if this is the competition.
While in Valpo we checked out the Naval Museum and the cemetery. It must have been a romantic place because there was a young couple making out right in the middle of it.

Pictures to come...

Here I go again on my own...

To quote Whitesnake, "like a drifter I was born to walk alone."
Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a great one and does something fabulous to celebrate 2010.
I am headed south for Santiago in one hour. I am in the Atlanta airport and never before has four hours seemed so long and so short. I shall be out of communication via my cell phone in one hour and I am still unsure of how I will survive without constant texts.
I've received a few emails from some people in Santiago who want to be my friend already. Maybe I will encounter a new breed of humans who cannot wait to be my friend, this could be the beginning of something beautiful.
Much love to you all and thanks for being a part of my adventure and being so encouraging.
Lady KJ, I love you. Thanks for worrying about me.