claro que si!

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.” 

(lewis carroll)

It's mid-week in Chile - and though I love it my life as a volunteer - some things never change, I always await the weekend! For some reason in Chile, I am able to sleep for hours on end. I like to think my brain is working extra hard on processing Spanish, and I simply become overloaded...but let me say - I am a champion napper these days (and I thought I was before... I also am able to have a successful 10-12 hour sleep following my daily nap - something I never could do in the U.S. :) It also helps of course, that I have no vehicle, and very few friends who speak English - ha, but that aside, I truly am getting my rest on the south side of the hemisphere!

The other riveting event I have going for me is the attack of the fleas!. At least I think its fleas, though I have received different evaluations on what my 'picaduras' are...according to my extensive Google research I have fleas. The tricky part, is that NOBODY else has them in my house. Apparently, from other volunteers and Chilenos, they simply prefer "comida blanca" (i.e. white food, or gringas!). For those of you who think I am a total whiner, I have decided to post some photos detailing the havoc these suckers are causing; Enjoy!

Lovely, eh? Pretty AND itchy! Pray for me - Please! So far the only remedy I have is essentially a menthol vapor rub...which somewhat soothes but leaves me smelling like a grandpa with a chest cold. Which is great and everything but...Hopefully the situation resolves sooner rather than later! Okay, now since, that was probably traumatizing...I promise to post some prettier pictures before this blog is finished:)

Besides Fleas, I have had a bit more time to bond with my family, have lazy weekends at home, enjoy our Sunday asados with all my extended family - and really feel like I actually live here. A few funny things happen every single day, and try as I might to document them, I always forget. A few off the top of my head? Lets see...

The plate phenomenon: They don't use plates here. For example, we have pansitos (little sandwiches) quite frequently for meals...and I never get a plate. I am finally starting to adjust to this, but the type A side of me cannot stand all the crumbs! They just pile up on the table and then after the meal, the table cloth is shook out....They always use plates under tea cups however - something I never do.  I still get laughed at for putting a napkin under my bread but I simply have to control the crumb-age! Other food related differences...

The Bag Phenomenon. Many foods in Chile are available in plastic bags.... Here is a short list of foods I have seen available in bags (i.e. half gallon proportions...) - Call me neurotic, but I find it hilarious (albeit totally nasty)!

1-mayo
2-mustard
3-ketchup
4-milk
5-yogurt
6-pickles
7-carrots
8-olives
9-jelly/jam

These little cultural differences make way for endless entertainment - I am sure they think my habits are equally odd! Some examples of this include; My affinity for wheat bread, raw vegetables, and dislike of mayo, ketchup, and hot-dogs; That I enjoy tea, without sugar; That I walk barefoot in the house, and don't mind having my hair wet outside or using a scarf every single day. That I have a "lisp" in Spanish...I saved this one for last because I find it slightly embarrassing! According to my host dad however, I have a lisp in Spanish, particularly with the word 'cinco' and pronunciation of the letter 'd'. He, loves this however, and never ceases to tease me. Speaking of this, the Chilean sense of humor is so outrageous to me. Particularly with mi papa, I am shocked at the things he will say and joke about! Never mal-intentioned, but very bold are their jokes! For example, when Carlos found out my boyfriend's name was Luke....he started calling him Luke Skywalker...and has since nicknamed me, Princesa Fea (i.e. Princess Ugly!) - in light of Princess Leah...real nice eh?! Ha...I just have to laugh. He also found out I take anxiety medication and went chanting around the house, ' La Gringa es loca! La Gringa es Loca!' (i.e. the white girl is crazy, the white girl is crazy! thinking this was a really funny joke! ) - It just cracks me up... because well, they are so loving, and jovial you can't help but crack up, despite their lack of 'political correctness' (trust me...they don't even HAVE that concept in Spanish!)

Let's see, I recently went to Valparaiso for the day again, with my friend Jade - took a few more photos around the city, by the ocean, etc. It's getting cooler here, so clear days by the ocean are less frequent. But I really like this city, and its so much fun to walk around and get lost in the hills! here are some photos:

 atop one of the many Cerras, checking out the view!

 As you can see, the houses vary in 'quality'...many people living in conditions we are not used to in the U.S.

Walking in the Hills of Valpo

 typical scroungers :) Pobrecitos!

 the harbor

As for the week ahead, I have plans to spend time with my family this weekend. Looking at a calender, my time as a volunteer is nearly half way over! WOW! So I like to be with them on the weekend when I can - Ely just received bed rest orders from the doctor for two weeks, so she should be home a lot more now too. (update: the baby is fine, the doctors very often prescribe bed rest here ...as pregnancy seems to be culturally viewed more as a 'sickness', then a natural process of the body). That being said, I will be teaching alone for the next two weeks or so yet again, until Ely can return in June. So I will be very busy! At the end of May, I am finally going to 'el campo' (the country) with friends from Santiago - we are meeting in Santiago and then travelling to Los Andes, a town very close to the border of Argentina and should be very beautiful and fun to reunite!

Friday evening I am heading to a concert with my host dad Carlos and friend Jade in Quilpue - I am excited! Here is a link to the band we are going to see, Inti-Illimani - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5RpuhnymRE . Should be a really great concert!
         And to part, here is one last photo of me, with Leticia...the 2 year old granddaughter of Angelica (the woman who works at our house) - She is at my house every Wednesday, and Leticia is here too, so I usually 'babysit' a bit and play with this little sweetie pie! So cute! She particularly likes my camera, my make-up, and my markers:)

And of course,  I miss you all dearly, fondly, and always. It is never enough to say these things, but I am only able to be here, on this journey, due to the enormous amount of help and strength I receive from all of you back home. More than once I have cried on the phone to one of you - lamenting my fears and my lonliness - and through this you all help me see the bright side, and keep my head up just a bit longer - without you all, I have nothing. And not that I am counting but....only 73 more days till Luke visits:)
Til next time...!
lck