I was having a chat with my host mom, Neva, last night about how the world needs to take a step back and reevaluate its direction, specifically, the speed it is going in that direction. I told her about a lecture I went to which was the first of a series of 3. It was about technology and the environment and was given a National Nobel Prize winner. The next will be another National Nobel Prize winner but of history. The last one will be given by an Ex-President Ricardo Lagos. I can't even hold in my excitement. (Political Science nerd to the max). Anyway, Neva made the point that everyone is so occupied with weas/cosas/things that they don't stop to breath. They have all this stress about things that aren't actually a big deal in the scheme of things. Like a test, or a job, or money, or drama, or whatever you may think is important until you take a step back and really look. With a frown on her face she told me how during the terremoto/earthquake of February 2010 she met all of her neighbors for the first time. The country was shut down for 3 days and people banned together to help one another. People traveled hours to help clean up wreckage, to feed others, to build houses. And like we all say, but never learn, why is it that every time after a disaster people see what really matters, people love each other more than before and then go right back to their busy lives as soon as the crisis is over?
I was pretty sad after this conversation. That day I had not only seen one person on the streets in tears, but 2. The first was a kid from one of my classes in the University, the class where only my one friend Vicente talks to me because everyone else assumes I don't understand anything. I was leaving my house to catch the metro when I see him walking towards me. I can't be sure he was crying by his eyes were red and he looked really sad. I walked right past him. The second was a young girl who had to have been about my age. She was walking and clearly balling. I knew the second I saw her that I should have asked her if she was okay, if she wanted to go get a coffee or a beer and talk about something, or just have some company. Of course I didn't; I had to cash my travelers check and then meet up with Felipe for the futbol game. ¿How can I be so heartless? I think I am not the only one though. Everyone else walked right past them, most probably didn't even look into those sad eyes. I wish I would have done something. All I can do now is pray that God will give me the strength to say something next time.
Other than all that mishmash of what ifs I guess I will fill ya'll in on my life as of now. I have bought my ticket home. I leave Santiago, Chile July 11th at 9pm and arrive at Seattle-Tacoma Airport at 1240pm. (Thats for all of you who plan to rush to the airport... ;) ) Hahah. It is something bitter sweet. I am so excited to go home. I miss my friends, my family, my dogs, even our cat Nikki. I miss driving, I miss Tacoma, I miss warm weather... I miss the United States in a weird way. It could be because about 6 weeks after Gideon, my roommate, got home from China, I talked to him and he says, "Marissa, America is awesome." Lol. Technically I am in America, just the southern part. But I understood what he meant. There are privileges there you cannot find in South America.
On the other hand there is so much I don't want to leave behind. I can't imagine not hearing "si po'h" or "¿cachai?" every day. I don't know how I will live without an empanada in my belly every day. I'll miss having a piece-of-you-know-what phone that is so far removed from anything material. Soccer games and the energy they stir up. My host families. Always knowing which way is north, south, east, and west because the Andes are to the east and the ocean is to the west. Seeing stray dogs on the street that just want some love. Sometimes not understanding what the crap is going on. Telanovelas. The best bar ever, La Piojera...oh and the drinking age. Being hit on and asked out all the time and therefore feeling beautiful daily. Avoiding the real meeting of someone who frightens me in the best way via skype.
There are ups and downs for going home. I am confident in my ability to readjust, I just don't know how long it will take.
So about 2 weeks ago I went to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is my Paris. Its exciting and full of feelings of love. Great food, cheap EVERYTHING, busy streets, beautiful accent, and gorgeous people. I loved it. I was lucky enough to stay free at my friend Gloria's house. She really surprises me. She for some reason has this unconditional love for me. We had only met twice before she invited me to sleep on her couch but she fed me, she bought me a book, she treated me as if she had known me forever. One of the sweetest women I have ever met. Very intelligent and self taught.
I spent a lot of time at this hostel I stayed at when I was there in February. I knew the 2 people that were on shift every time I was there and it was nice to see them again. MartÃn called me "Nena" and it literally melted my heart. It means baby. That'll get me every time. I went to a antique fair in San Telmo. Bought some cool stuff. Started a new collection down here. Wine flasks, you know the old leather ones like those below. Except mine are used and have cool pictures on them. One has a bull fighter and the other has two people dancing. I have never collected anything and i thought these were original. The first one I bought, with the bull fighter, I was going to give to a friend, but then I found the other one in Buenos Aires and decided to be selfish. Lol.
Also, about 4 days ago Neva and I received two new students. Two girls out of the 43 from the Summer program. Emily and Ashley. Its nice to have some company in the house and more people to hang out with. My group sort of does the same thing every week. Galpon 9. PLEASE. I am headed to the coast tomorrow to visit the fam and friends. Bestie Kirsty gets here saturday and I can barely keep my shorts dry.
Why is there Christmas music playing in this cafe?
Signing off,
Mari
I was pretty sad after this conversation. That day I had not only seen one person on the streets in tears, but 2. The first was a kid from one of my classes in the University, the class where only my one friend Vicente talks to me because everyone else assumes I don't understand anything. I was leaving my house to catch the metro when I see him walking towards me. I can't be sure he was crying by his eyes were red and he looked really sad. I walked right past him. The second was a young girl who had to have been about my age. She was walking and clearly balling. I knew the second I saw her that I should have asked her if she was okay, if she wanted to go get a coffee or a beer and talk about something, or just have some company. Of course I didn't; I had to cash my travelers check and then meet up with Felipe for the futbol game. ¿How can I be so heartless? I think I am not the only one though. Everyone else walked right past them, most probably didn't even look into those sad eyes. I wish I would have done something. All I can do now is pray that God will give me the strength to say something next time.
Other than all that mishmash of what ifs I guess I will fill ya'll in on my life as of now. I have bought my ticket home. I leave Santiago, Chile July 11th at 9pm and arrive at Seattle-Tacoma Airport at 1240pm. (Thats for all of you who plan to rush to the airport... ;) ) Hahah. It is something bitter sweet. I am so excited to go home. I miss my friends, my family, my dogs, even our cat Nikki. I miss driving, I miss Tacoma, I miss warm weather... I miss the United States in a weird way. It could be because about 6 weeks after Gideon, my roommate, got home from China, I talked to him and he says, "Marissa, America is awesome." Lol. Technically I am in America, just the southern part. But I understood what he meant. There are privileges there you cannot find in South America.
On the other hand there is so much I don't want to leave behind. I can't imagine not hearing "si po'h" or "¿cachai?" every day. I don't know how I will live without an empanada in my belly every day. I'll miss having a piece-of-you-know-what phone that is so far removed from anything material. Soccer games and the energy they stir up. My host families. Always knowing which way is north, south, east, and west because the Andes are to the east and the ocean is to the west. Seeing stray dogs on the street that just want some love. Sometimes not understanding what the crap is going on. Telanovelas. The best bar ever, La Piojera...oh and the drinking age. Being hit on and asked out all the time and therefore feeling beautiful daily. Avoiding the real meeting of someone who frightens me in the best way via skype.
There are ups and downs for going home. I am confident in my ability to readjust, I just don't know how long it will take.
So about 2 weeks ago I went to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is my Paris. Its exciting and full of feelings of love. Great food, cheap EVERYTHING, busy streets, beautiful accent, and gorgeous people. I loved it. I was lucky enough to stay free at my friend Gloria's house. She really surprises me. She for some reason has this unconditional love for me. We had only met twice before she invited me to sleep on her couch but she fed me, she bought me a book, she treated me as if she had known me forever. One of the sweetest women I have ever met. Very intelligent and self taught.
I spent a lot of time at this hostel I stayed at when I was there in February. I knew the 2 people that were on shift every time I was there and it was nice to see them again. MartÃn called me "Nena" and it literally melted my heart. It means baby. That'll get me every time. I went to a antique fair in San Telmo. Bought some cool stuff. Started a new collection down here. Wine flasks, you know the old leather ones like those below. Except mine are used and have cool pictures on them. One has a bull fighter and the other has two people dancing. I have never collected anything and i thought these were original. The first one I bought, with the bull fighter, I was going to give to a friend, but then I found the other one in Buenos Aires and decided to be selfish. Lol.
Also, about 4 days ago Neva and I received two new students. Two girls out of the 43 from the Summer program. Emily and Ashley. Its nice to have some company in the house and more people to hang out with. My group sort of does the same thing every week. Galpon 9. PLEASE. I am headed to the coast tomorrow to visit the fam and friends. Bestie Kirsty gets here saturday and I can barely keep my shorts dry.
Why is there Christmas music playing in this cafe?
Signing off,
Mari
