Rosalia

My favorite person in Chile is leaving.

Rosalia, the "nana" who works in my house, is returning home to Lima, Peru this Friday.  She has been living in Chile illegally for the past four months.  Throughout the past two weeks, she has gone through an extensive process trying to apply to work here legally.  She visited office after office, tirelessly filled out paperwork, and paid a huge fine for being here illegally ($100 US dollars...a huge sum for her).  

She was approaching the final steps in becoming legal.  All she needed to do was make an appointment with the government office of immigration within five days of receiving this one document.  The only time she was allowed to call the office to make the appointment was Monday through Friday, from 1 PM until 2 PM.  Just one wretched hour.  It was difficult for her to call because she had to prepare the family's lunch during this time.  And, to make matters worse, the line was always busy.  The past week, I tried to help her call.  I called over and over again.  373412.  I have the number memorized I called it so much.  But every time I tried, it 

was busy.

Because she wasn't able to make an appointment within five days (which wasn't her fault), she has to return home, and she will never be able to return to Chile again.

I am heartbroken.  Rosalia has been my saving grace in Chile.  I truly feel like God put her in my life for a reason.  She was my strength, my joy, and at times my only real friend.  The richest part of my Chilean experience is leaving me.  My little Peruvian diamond is going home.

In other news, my illness escalated yesterday.  I won't go into details, but I experienced "stomach issues" that I had never before experienced in my life.  I ended up going to a clinic today to get some tests done.  Hopefully by tomorrow I'll know what's wrong with me.  As for now, I'm under a microscope with my family.  Every person is carefully monitoring everything that I eat.  "Only soup and crackers, Kristen."  "Make sure you don't drink water from the tap." "Remember to not eat any milk or cheese products."  "Don't eat any raw vegetables.  Everything must be cooked!"  It's very nice that everyone wants to take care of me, but I feel like I'm being treated like I'm five.  Every time I walked into the kitchen today, every move I made was tracked.   But don't worry, I know how to take care of myself thank you very much.

I hope to return to school tomorrow, but I heard something today in mumbled high-speed Chilean Spanish that alluded to me having to return to the clinic tomorrow for more tests?  I'm not sure.

**BREAKING NEWS**

While I was writing this post, Rosalia came into my room and told me that the other nana, Esperanza, quit!  She told my host mom that she is no longer working for her, and her last day is Friday.  For the record, there have been a total of five different nanas that have worked here in a three month span.  Just a symptom of this dysfunctional household.

I just exchanged email addresses and phone numbers with Rosalia so we can stay in contact when she leaves.  It doesn't even feel real that my best friend is leaving me.  But it's good for her.  She hasn't seen her husband and two children for four months.  Although they desperately need her to work here to make money for their family, I pray that they can find other ways to get by with her in Peru.  I'll miss her.  Her smile.  Her helpful words of encouragement.  Our late night talks about God and the bible, and life, and family, and marriage.  Our exercise at 6:30 AM, walking on the beach...exercise that eventually turns into a gossip session.  I'll miss her singing along with the radio in the kitchen.  Singing so loudly and just loving the life God gave her in that moment.  So faithful and loving.  I'll never forget her.  She was my guardian angel.  My dear, sweet Rosalia.

La enferma

I am sick (again) in Chile.  I think this is this fourth or fifth time in three months that I've been sick.  I've lost count.  I had a classic cold the first week I was here, followed by a sinus infection that lasted two weeks, then some nice stomach issues for two weeks after I returned home from Peru, another cold, and now the flu.  Yes! 

This most recent illness struck last Wednesday morning.  I woke up at 6 AM, feeling like I had been repeatedly run over by a truck in my sleep.  Body aches, fever, head ache.  It was lovely.  I somehow managed to make it to school.  After my classes ended, I crawled in my bed and didn't leave for the next 30 hours.  It was a dark period in my time here in Chile, and I don't like to talk about it.  All I remember that happened was that I would have an incredibly high fever, take some tylenol-like medicine, eventually break my fever, and sleep for a few hours until the fever returned.  This joyous cycle was on repeat until Friday afternoon, when I finally started to feel normal again.  I managed to leave my room, shower, and eat lunch.  And then, right when I thought I was healthy again, the virus in my system decided it wasn't finished with me yet.  And so commenced my most recent "stomach issues."  It's so bad that Cata jokes that maybe I should just borrow one of Juanito's diapers.  (Pardon me for being so straightforward).  

That's where I'm at now.  I'm still sick and in bed.  I've been watching a lot of TV and listening to a lot of music (I'd rather be outside enjoying the beaches of Iquique...).  And now, I'm at the point where I don't even need any entertainment or music.  I've turned off my TV and muted my iTunes, and I'm simply listening to the beautiful gurgles of my stomach.  

I forgot to say that while I was sick a few days ago, I was seriously considering coming home early.  I researched how much it would be to change my plane ticket, and I even contacted the headquarters of my program in Santiago letting them know that I was thinking about leaving.  I was tentatively planning to return home on November 1st.  But, I decided to hang in.  I've made it three months...and there's only 5 weeks more.  I know I don't want to force myself to be here if I'm not happy (nor healthy), but I feel like I'd regret leaving early.  I guess I'm in it until the end.

Looking forward to the future, I'm going to Santiago next week (4th-7th) for the national debate competition with my debate team.  I'm super excited about that!  I love my students, and it'll be a good break from Iquique.  Side note--Iquique can be very, very isolating.  It sometimes feels like I'm imprisoned here.  There's the vast ocean on one side, and tall sand hills on the other.  Very claustrophobic.  Santiago will be a good break. 

Alright...that's all the typing my body can handle for now.  I hope to update again soon!

Hold Steady

I had one of the most difficult weeks of my life.  I had an explosive Chilean showdown with my family on Monday afternoon, followed by an evening of tears and a pounding headache.  I then spent the next two days trying to figure out whether or not I should switch host families or just come home early.  I had never been so emotionally disturbed.  I was gloomy, disappointed, fuming, miserable, frustrated, and all other similar adjectives.

I want to describe what happened in my blog, but I'm afraid that it might be ready by certain people in Chile, and that it would exacerbate the already uncomfortable and awkward situation.  I'll just have to revert back to the traditional pen and paper to journal about this.  If you're interested in the details...skype me...or email me, and I'll fill you in...

What I can do in my blog is talk about my decision.  After everything that's happened, I've decided to stay in Chile and stay with this family.  Although everything isn't peachy-keen now, I'm not coming home.  I do fill, though, that there's still a gaping wound, and that we've just covered it up with a band-aid that will soon fall off.  Or, as popularly said, we've merely swept it all under the rug.  The real source of my problems with my host family hasn't been resolved...but things are okay for now.

But I still doubt my decision.  I'm like a pendulum...swaying...indecisive...

Today before my freshman girls' class, I sat down at my computer, opened up a blank Word document, and wrote: "Pros and Cons of Staying in Chile" and "Pros and Cons of Going Home."  Since I am a list-making, Rory Gilmore-like freak, I started to write the classic Kristen Pros and Cons lis.  But, before I could get too far, the bell rang signaling the start of my day.  I simply closed the document, pushed aside my emotional turmoil, put a smile on my face, and started teaching my lesson.

My lesson this morning was about music, and I started the class by sharing some of my favorite English music.  The first son I put on for the girls was called "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colby Caillat.  This was not the best song for me to listen to this morning.  The chorus says, "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend, Lucky to have been where I have been, Lucky to be coming home again."  And then earlier in the song it says, "Boy I hear you in my dreams, I feel you whisper across the sea, Keep you with me in my heart, you make it easier when life gets hard."  It was very difficult to not be affected by the lyrics when I heard this song.  After "Lucky," I promptly changed it to "Good Morning Life" by Dean Martin to lighten up the mood and to distract my thoughts.

Needless to say, after an hour and a half of teaching (which is exhausting in itself), and with my subconscious still racing, I felt emotionally exhausted and distraught.  The bell rang, and all the students left my class except for one girl.  She's that one student in class that is always paying attention, always giving me little affirmative nods showing that she's following the lesson and listening, always smiling.  I thank God every day for this type of student.  Well, she came up to me in the front of the classroom and handed me a book.  She simply said, "This is for you, Ms. Kristen."  She then gave me the traditional Chilean kiss of the cheek, and skipped away.  I looked down at the book, and it was titled, "38 Values to Live By."  I thought it was so sweet that my little student gave me this book in English.  I opened it up to a random page, and read it.  The passage was titled, "Hold Steady" and it said, "If you're going through difficult times, hold steady.  It will change soon.  If you're experiencing smooth sailing and easy times now, brace yourself.  It will change soon.  The only thing you can be certain of is change."

That passage knocked me off my feet.  I read it, and just stood in the same spot for a few minutes.  I read it again and again...Hold steady...hold steady...

I stayed in my classroom a few minutes longer until the tears in my eyes dried, and then gathered my things and came to the teacher's office to write this blog.  I'm unsure of how I feel now...but what I do know is that God is watching out for me, and He may just have sent me a little angel this morning in the form of my student to show me that I'm not alone in this.

A much needed update

Emotionally unstable!  That's me!

I've been procrastinating writing in my blog because I knew that the moment I'd start to write, I'd launch myself into a roller coaster of emotions...Ups and downs, zig-zags and flips...unsure whether I should laugh or cry, scream or hold my breath...

A roller coaster is an overused analogy for crazy times in life, but it's oh-so appropriate for me right now.  Please pardon the predictability; it just fits.  

Before beginning my Chilean adventure, I was equally terrified and excited.  It was the same mix of emotions that we've all experienced while standing in a line for a roller coaster.  Even though questions like, "Why the heck am I doing this to myself?" or "What am I thinking?"race through your mind, you're still psyched and ready to take on the challenge.  There were many times before coming to South America where I almost cancelled all my plans and stayed home.  The idea of living in a foreign country, working as a high school English teacher, constantly speaking a language other than my own, and being away from the people I love the most was absolutely frightening.  Why would I even intentionally throw myself into a situation like that?  Why would I knowingly remove myself from the comfort and stability of home?  I constantly questioned my reasons for going abroad.  But at the same time, I also questioned why I questioned my desire to live abroad.  Why wouldn't I go abroad?  It's the perfect time in my life to do it, and I've always wanted to immerse myself another culture and speak Spanish 24/7.  

And so has commenced the roller coaster of emotions!

That's what the past month of Chile has been like for me.  A constant questioning of my reasons to be here.  Why am I here?  I started questioning my intentions for living here the moment I realized I had begun to count down my time until I returned home.  About a month ago, I started looking at my calender more...I started thinking thoughts like, "Okay, only two and a half more months until I can go home!"  But then I thought, why the heck am I here if I'm only thinking about leaving?  Why am I hoping for the future, and not content in the present?  The past few weeks, I've been re-evaluating my life in Chile.  I've realized many things.  

Month 1: Survival Mode

The first month of my life in Chile was spent in "survival mode."  All I did was survive.  Literally.  Emotionally and physically.  I lived day-to-day.  Some days, I lived hour-to-hour.  It was the only way to get through.  I didn't know the customs, I didn't understand the Spanish (despite my nine years of studying Spanish), I didn't know how to teach, and some days I didn't even know when I was going to eat my next meal.  I just survived. 

Month 2: Introduction to Chile (aka, Chile 101)

The second month in Chile, I moved from "survival mode" into a more stable routine.  I started to settle in.  And while I still often didn't understand the Spanish nor the culture, I at least established a routine.  My routine.  I started to make my life in Chile truly mine.  I also spent this second month bonding with the other six American volunteers.  I hung out with them more often, went out to some Chilean discos, got to know their Chilean families, and then went to Peru with everyone half way through September.  I went from understanding only about 20% of a normal Chilean conversation to about 40%.  And even though I still didn't have a full grasp on Chilean culture, at least I knew more about the world of completos, asados, carretes, pololeando, discos, pisco, cachai, Colo-Colo, flaite, "poh," and pan.

Month 3: ???

Now as I'm entering my third month in Chile (I still can't believe it's October), I've begun a period of deep reflection.  The initial shock of living here has worn off.  The disappointment, depression, and grief I felt in September after realizing that this experience (ex: my family here, the school, Chilean Spanish, my Spanish) is much different than I expected has finally ended.  I now know that I'm going to have to make the experience for myself...and this applies to many areas of my life here.  I'm going to have to actively seek out Chilean friendships...they're not going to just come find me like I hoped would happen when I first got here.  I'm going to have to actively and intentionally work on my Spanish...I'm not going to become fluent by just sitting at home or hanging out with Americans all the time.  And I'm going to have to seek out time to reflect on my experience...it's not going to just come to me.  I've realized that I need to put aside time every single day to reflect...organize everything that's going on inside of me.  I'm like a jumbled ball of yarn...

I feel the same way spiritually.  A jumbled ball of spiritual yarn.  It's been really hard not having Mass in English.  I mean, I totally understand the Mass in Spanish now after two months of Spanish Masses.  I know the prayers and responses.  But, I think I'm only understanding about 80% of the homilies.  I've felt disconnected.  But then I wonder, why am I feeling disconnected in Spanish?  I mean, I feel like my spirituality and my relationship with God transcend language...so why am I feeling disconnected?  What am I getting from a Mass in English that's not present in the Mass in Spanish?  Why can't I pray without words?  I've been praying about that a lot.  I've been praying for God to help me connect with Him without language.  I've been working on my spiritual language skills, I guess.  Wow.  This doesn't even make sense.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that I could use your prayers.  Please pray for me...for me to be able to understand why my relationship with God and my faith and prayer life are more difficult here...why is it inconsistent for me?  And is it really the English-Spanish language barrier that's making it difficult for me, or rather something much deeper than I never realized when I was living back at home?  

In other news...

Okay, that's enough self-reflection, emotional roller coaster stuff.  I could go on-and-on, but that's all I can take for now...

I'm running out of time to write between classes (I start another class in 15 minutes), so I'll just give some "headlines" of all the other fun current events of my life:

*After a month of intense preparation, the English debate team that I co-coach participated in the Regional Finals last Friday and WON!  This means that me, the other English teacher coach, and my little babies (students) get to go to the NATIONAL COMPETITION in SANTIAGO in NOVEMBER (I'm not excited about it at all, as you can tell)!!!  We'll be there from November 5-7!  WOO!!!

*I can actually understand this freaky Chilean Spanish now!  When two Chileans having a normal Chilean conversation at a normal Chilean speed (aka, wickedly fast), I can UNDERSTAND!  I've even been told that I'm starting to speak like a Chilean.  Yesterday, my friend Candela laughed at me because I was watching TV, and I asked the question, "Quien es?" (Who is that?) but I pronounced it, "Quien eh?" which is very Chilean.  Okay, I realize it doesn't sound like a big deal, but IT WAS!  The main point is that I'm finally able to communicate at a somewhat fluent level.  Hablar el espanol no me cuesta tanto ahora, gracias a Dios.  Cachai, poh?

*This past Saturday I got a haircut!  My first Chilean haircut!  I only trimmed the ends, but it feels WONDERFUL!  It was probably the best hair cut I've ever had in my life!  I've decided that it was so good probably because the hairstylist was used to my type of hair (thick, coarse, kind of curly, difficult to deal with).  She was amazing.  And, to make it even better, it was HALF the price as in the US.  

*My mom sent me a care package from the US a few weeks ago!  It was filled with gum, Starbucks coffee, a French press, chocolate, Cliff Bars, Luna Bars, People magazines, slippers, a sweatshirt, The Sound of Music DVD, a DVD about Obama, tennis balls (because they smell good), toothpaste (I started crying when I saw the toothpaste...there's no Crest in Chile), and much LOVE!  It was the BEST!

*Anita, mi mejor amiga, also sent me a care package of love that was equally AMAZING!!!

*I bought new running shoes last week (the man who worked at the department store said he recognized me from the news...), so I've started to run more.  Mackenzie, one of the other American volunteers here in Iquique (also from Colorado!), is my personal trainer (even though I'm pretty sure she's not aware of the agreement).  She's helping me learn how to run, and she and her cousin, Annie, have been working out with me three times a week.  Every Tuesday, Thursday, and one weekend day we've agreed to come over to my house after our individual runs to do my intense Jackie workout video that I brought from the US.  We want to balance all the bread we eat her with something healthy for our bodies.

*Speaking of being healthy, I've successfully made chocolate chip cookies here in Chile five times!  I absolutely love sharing my favorite thing about American culture (chocolate chip cookies) with South America.  The most recent cookie-making-fest was yesterday when I prepared cookies to take over to Bree's house to share with her family as we watched the Colo-Colo vs. Universidad de Chile soccer game.

Uh oh!  The bell just rang!  I have to go teach some little 7th grade angels now (yeah, right).  WISH ME LUCK!!!

Xau Xau!

I'm still alive!

Even though I haven't written for ONE month, I promise I'm still alive!  One week ago I returned from a 6-day adventure to Peru.  I'll retell the tails of my Peruvian excursion in my next blog.  I might need to write several posts to fully describe its rich depth.  I'll have to put aside a solid chunk of time to update my blog (time I don't have right now...I'm actually sitting in the English room about to start a meeting for my English debate team), but I'll for sure update soon.

I do have to write one thing quickly.  Today must have been "Give-presents-to-Ms.-Kristen-Day."  I received THREE gifts today for no reason.  A bracelet and home-made chalkboard eraser pillow thing from a 5th grade girl.  It was so sweet!  And, a freshman boy found a picture of me online that was in "La Estrella de Iquique" (the local newspaper), printed it, and then framed it in a pink picture frame!  He wrapped it in pink heart wrapping paper, and then presented it to me this morning.  He approached me timidly, and then using his best English said, "This is for you, Ms. Kristen."  Precious.  These three little teacher love gifts really helped my spirits.  Recently I've been struggling with "Why the heck am I here" Syndrome mixed with "Am I really making a difference" Disease.  

But now, as I sit at my computer after a full day of teaching and gift-receiving, drinking a Coca-Cola Light, I feel rejuvenated and re-inspired to take on this Chilean challenge.

A few pictures from my Peru trip (I took 500 pictures!)...

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2312557&l=98be0&id=10206224

Bathroom blues

I don't have much time to write, but I wanted to highlight the main points of my weekend

1) I went to see WALL-E yesterday.  It was great!

2) Today at lunch, my dad Juan told me that he thinks I'm depressed.

3) Right before church, I got locked into the church's bathroom.  The door was kind of broken.  There was no handle.  And I got locked in.  I called for help, and two moms along with an entire catechesis class ran to help me.  They tried to open the door, but because there was no handle (only a hole) and the lock was stuck, they couldn't open it.  One by one, a line of 10-year-old girls took their turn to peek through the door hole to watch me stuck in the bathroom.  After we realized that the door was definitely not going to open, we turned to plan B.  There was a 2 ft x 2 ft window about 6 feet off the ground.  I had to pass my purse and shoes through the window to a woman named Violeta, and then climb up on the sink and climb through the window.  I almost broke my neck, but at least I made it to Mass on time and I'm not still stuck in the bathroom.

That's all for now...

Tuna pizza, Pica, and choir

I feel like I'm finally starting to settle into my life here in Chile.  Consequently, I'm slowly feeling the minor aches and pains of homesickness...Nothing too severe for now, but there are certain things I miss about home...

I really miss the napkins back at home.  They just don't make napkins like in the good ol' US of A.  So soft, so big, so absorbant.  Here, the napkins are thin and small.  I go through three or four napkins every meal (I tend to spill things often, no shocker, I'm sure).  I might as well rip out a piece of paper from my notebook and use it as a napkin. 

Another thing: I miss having toilet paper available whenever I may desire to use it.  Every time I go to a public bathroom here, it's a gamble.  I hesitantly enter the stall.  My heart rate begins to increase...my palms become clammy.  Adrenaline rushes through my body as I think, "Will there be toilet paper?"  But don't worry, Kristen, I say to myself.  If there's no TP, you can simply open your purse and pull out your own roll.  Yes.  It's true.  I've started to carry around a secret stash of the good stuff in my purse just in case.  Right next to my cell phone and my wallet, I have a teddy bear covered roll of TP (I stole it from Cata and my bathroom).

In addition to quality napkins and available toilet paper, I also miss Subway.  And Panera.  And Sonic ice.  Oh what I'd give for a Large Diet Coke with extra ice from Sonic.  Speaking of missable beverages, I also

 miss non-instant coffee.  I haven't seen one household with a coffee maker here.  It's not a matter of a lack of money (my parents here have plenty but still no coffee maker).  It's just cultural, I think.  All the coffee I've had in someone's house has been instant.  There is espresso

though.  My favorite restaurant here in Iquique, Cioccolata, has amazing espresso.  And the best torta (cake).  I've already been there three times

in the two weeks I've been here.  Eesh!

I actually visited Cioccolata last weekend to buy some cake for a fellow volunteer's birthday.  John, volunteering in a desert town called Calama about 5 hours away from Iquique, came to Iquique last weekend to visit (along with three other Calama volunteers).  On Friday, I met up with John and Cat in the plaza in the center of the city.  We all went back to my house for an asado (b-b-q) with my family.  We hung out with my family for awhile, ate tons of food, and then went for a walk on Cavancha beach (the best and most popular beach in Iquique).  Around 10 PM, we went to the center of town to eat pizza at a place called Telepizza (a few of my students recommended it).  At this point, we were pretty hungry.  We decided on a large pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, and olives.  I stepped up to the counter and confidently ordered a pizza pizza with pepperoni, champinones (mushroo-

ms), and atun (olives...or so I thought).  You see, the words for olives (aceituna) and tuna (atun, with an accent over the "u") are pretty similar.  So, half way through our first piece of pizza, when we realized that our olives were missing and in their place was tuna, we were quite surprised.  Actually, what my friends didn't know at the time was that I ordered tuna pizza on purpose.  It was merely a Spanish lesson in disguise.  Now they will always remember that olives are not "atun" but rather "aceituna."  I'm such a giving person...  ;)

Then, as the clock struck midnight, we celebrated John's birthday at Telepizza.  He turned 24!  There's nothing like pepperoni-mushroom-tuna-pizza indigestion to ring in a year of life.  After the mini-birthday celebration, I went home, slept for less than 6 hours, and then met up with the same friends in the plaza the next morning at 8 AM.  We hopped on a 2-hour bus ride to Pica, a nearby desert oasis town filled with fresh fruit, warm springs, and a cute old church.  Four other volunteers from Calama, me, and a German dude named Yenz (we picked him up at the bus station in Iquique) enjoyed an afternoon in Pica.  We ate lunch, swam in the natural warm springs, and then returned back to Iquique around 8 PM.  In Iquique, we bought wine and cake (from Cioccolata) and had another birthday party for John in their hostel.  You can only imagine how exhausted I was after two adventure-filled days in Chile.  I got home Saturday night late...around midnight...and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.  

Sunday, I went to Mass with my family (no Mickey Mouse this time).  After church, we went to this awesome Peruvian-style fancy schmancy restaurant for lunch.  I ate fish, this bean/rice stuff, and some peas.  After lunch we went to 

Pinguinos again for ice cream.  It was perfect.  Rejuvenating.  Exactly what I needed...

<-- My host family above (Catalina, Yannett, Juan)

That brings me to the start of this week...

Monday was one of the hardest days of my life.  My students were unmotivated, rambunctious, and disrespectful.  The worst class I had was a class of sophomore boys.  Can you imagine?  Me trying to teach a class of only boys...boys who were more interested in whispering, "I love you teacher," or "You're so beautiful teacher," than paying attention to my lesson.  They were awful.  Absolutely awful.  I took them back to their teacher before the class period was over.  I felt defeated and disrespected.  I almost started to cry.  Yesterday afternoon, I came home and plopped on my bed...completely drained.  I medicated the bad day with a good dose of chocolate and Gilmore Girls.  I felt much better after that, so Cata and I decided to work out.  I ran on Yannett's treadmill.  A solid 30-minute run.  The best exercise I've had since I arrived in Chile.  I exercised away my frustration from the day.  When I was done, I felt like a new person.

Today was better than yesterday.  My classes ran a little smoother, and I went to CHOIR practice after school!  Yes, I joined the high school choir!  We have practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6.  Practice was so fun!  We're learning this song in French.  It was surreal standing in a Chilean choir, singing a song in French, getting instruction from the teacher in Spanish.  

I'm also going to be helping out the with English debate team here.  The students are juniors and are very motivated.  That will be refreshing.

So, that's about all the updates for now.  I hope life back in the USA is wonderful!  Please let me know how you are!

OH!  If you want to write me a letter, here's my address:

Kristen Mascarenas

Avenida Arturo Prat #3582

Iquique

Chile

Bye for now!

PS:  If you're interested in viewing more of my pictures from Chile, just go to the links below (copy and paste in a new window).  I have 3 albums on facebook so far.  More pictures to come...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2295855&l=1e7c0&id=10206224

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2298479&l=86d02&id=10206224

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2300371&l=d9ef9&id=10206224

Lunch time!

I have a break now between classes, so I thought I'd update my little bloggy blog.

So, where should I start?

I guess I'll start with last night.  After watching a wonderful episode of Gilmore Girls season 6 with Spanish subtitles, Cata and I decided that we wanted to do something fun!  The day before we played Littlest Pet Shop.  The day before that we played Barbies.  And the day before that we played Monopoly, so we wanted to do something different!  Mix it up a bit.  I was kind of in the mood for chocolate (heck!  I'm always in the mood for chocolate), so Cata and I decided to walk to the nearby supermercado to buy supplies for chocolate chip cookies!  (Cata had never tried homemade chocolate chip cookies).  It was interesting looking for the ingredients at the store.  There were no chocolate chips (kind of an essential ingredient), the baking soda was different than the US, and we had to search high and low for brown sugar.  We ended up buy a big block of milk chocolate and cutting it up into little cubes.

Cata was SO excited to make cookies.  When we got home, we threw our cookie supplies down in the kitchen, flipped on some Gloria Estefan (Christmas edition...), and started whipping up las galletas!  It was so fun!  We danced...we baked...we sang...we ate cookie dough.  It was the perfect evening!  And I have to admit, I was pretty proud of myself because I made the cookies without a recipe.  I guess that's not to impressive since I bake chocolate chip cookies back at home almost once a month...

Our cookies turned out wonderful with only a few modifications to the recipe.  Oh.  I forgot to say that I also bought some PEANUT BUTTER at the store because Cata had never tried peanut butter before.  I also bought some low sugar strawberry jelly and American-style wheat bread.  I made Cata and me an American dinner...peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, banana with peanut butter, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert!  (Basically a kid's lunch in the US).  She really like everything, but she said that all the sugar made her head hurt (this coming from a little girl who eats dulces every day...).

That's all the time I have for now.  I'm headed to lunch in the fancy, exclusive teachers' lunch room.  ;)

Will write more later...

Ice!

I totally forgot to talk about ICE in my last post...

Today I learned that it's totally weird to put ice in your drinks.  Ice, I guess, is only commonly used in the summer. So, today when I put some crushed ice in my water, Cata and Yannet looked at me like I was CRAZY.  No joke.  They both seriously stopped what they were doing and just stared at me.  And I said, "Que?"  And Cata said in Spanish (don't worry, I'll be so kind to translate for you), "What the heck are you doing freaky American woman?  Why the heck would you put that crazy ice in your perfectly normal water, you wack0?!"  

So, maybe Cata didn't freak out that much.  But she definitely did say something like, "Ice in your water?  That's weird."  And I said, "Yeah!  I love, love, love ice.  I love ice more than I love the drink."  And then they explained to me that ice is only used in the summer.  

But, it was just kind of hilarious how they both stopped and stared at me when I put ice in my cup like I was some crazy person.

Okay...now it's laundry time.

El dia de los ninos!

Hello!

I just ate the most amazing chocolate ice cream cone in my entire life.  Don't worry.  I took a million picture of me eating it.  It was super rico.  Super super super rico!

Today is el dia de los ninos (kid's day) in Chile.  Just as we (along with Chile) have Mother's Day and Father's Day, they also decided to throw Kid's Day into the mix.  Today in Chile, children are the center of attention...they receive presents and get to celebrate their youth!

For me, the day started off by piling into my host parents' bed with their two children to open up presents.  They even got me one!  They bought me some really nice chocolates!  I've lived here less than one week, and they already know that I'm a chocoholic.  Nice.  They bought Cata (my host sisters) a couple stuffed animals, a new outfit, a bracelet...and, oh yeah, A FLAT SCREEN TV!  Holy cannoli.  Then, after we opened presents, we sat in bed and watched Fernando Gonzalez (Chilean tennis stud) play some dude from China in Olympic tennis match.  It was a great game!  Then, one by one, the family left the room.  The mom got up to go downstairs to make breakfast...Juanito (my 2-year-old host brother) left to follow mama...Cata went to the computer.  And then before I could comprehend the awkwardness, it was just me and my host papa, Juan, sitting in bed watching TV  (Kristen sits in front of the computer while making the "awkward turtle" action with her hands).  Upon realizing the weirdness of me sitting in bed with my new Chilean daddy, I quickly made some excuse as to why I needed to leave...I think I said I was going to play with Cata on the computer.  

Anyhoo, after the gift-opening-tennis-watching-awkward-session, the family and I ate a DELICIOUS breakfast!  My host mom, Yannet (pronounced like Janet, except the "j" sound is a little softer), made panqueques (Karli...it sounds just like I'd expect you to pronounce "pancakes" if you're being goofy), omelets with cheese and ham, bread, juice, and coffee.  Panqueques and basically crepes.  Not at all like our pancakes.  They're thin and rolled up...and there was this like dulce de leche (kind of like caramel) on the inside.  It was decadent.  By this point, it was about 10:30 AM.  We all were going to go to Mass at 12:30, so I had time for a quick run!  I asked Juan if it was safe for me to run outside (or if I should just run on their treadmill...yes, they have a treadmill.  Crazy!).  Juan told me that it was totally safe to run outside.  He said I should go run on the beach.  That sounded great to me!  So Cata and I went for a short run/walk down to the beach!  I decided I'm going to go running every afternoon after school on the beach by my house.  Running every day on the beach.  You can beat that.  Wow.  My life is unreal...

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a dream.  I live on the beach.  I'm surrounded by this crazy foreign language.  I have a swimming pool in my backyard.  I feel like I'm a celebrity at school.  I get served breakfast in bed (seriously, Yannet brought be breakfast in bed yesterday...and then Cata and I played Monopoly while eating our breakfasts!).  Surreal.

So, after breakfast, we went to Mass at the Cathedral.  It was a beautiful church.  The Mass was kind of weird though because it was special for el dia de los ninos.  All the kids sat in the first 10 rows.  There was super loud and intense music.  A lot of clapping.  A lot of shouting.  It was definitely geared towards kiddos.  Then, at the end of Mass, right before the priest blessed everyone, there was a little skit thing.  I'm still trying to comprehend what happened...all of a sudden, four adult women ran into the church from a side door dressed up as little kids with pig-tails and kiddy clothes.  They ran to the front of the church near the priest and started talking about how Jesus is our best friend and all that great stuff.  And the priest was a part of the skit too!  And then when I thought the women-dressed-as-children-madness was over, Mickey Mouse ran in from the side door (this sounds like I'm joking, but I'm serious).  Some dude dressed as Mickey Mouse busted through the side doors and ran to the front of the church.  Then, as Mickey Mouse reached the front, the priest said a blessing over everyone...

If that last story just confused you, don't worry.  I'm still pretty confused about what exactly just happened at church.  And, if you think I'm lying, I have proof that it happened!  I took tons of pictures of the chaos.

So, after church, my little Chilean family (including the grandparents) and I went to a Chinese restaurant.  I was really excited to see what Chinese food was like in Chile...I wanted to know if it was different than the Chinese food in the US.  The restaurant was completely packed.  Tons and tons of people...probaby because it was Sunday AND el dia de los ninos.  The food was good...the wontons and the chicken were a little different than in the US, but the beef stuff was the same.  Also, the fried rice had ham in it (is it like that in the US?).  Oh!  Another thing!  People here in Chile drink Coke like it's going out of style.  Juanito (my little bro) drinks coke in his sippy cup!  That's my only problem here.  I hate, hate, hate drinking regular coke, and it's really my only option.  Well, I drink tons of water at home, but when we go out I have to drink Coke.  We didn't order individual drinks...they just ordered 2 big bottles (one Coke and one Fanta) for the table.  

After lunch we went and got ice cream...and that's when I had the most delicious chocolate ice cream in my entire life.  Awww...what a dream.

Now we're back at the house for a descansito (little rest).  I'm kind of tired...it's already been a long day and it's only 5 PM.  I'm starting to understand why people siesta around here.  

In other news, I just bought the new Juanes CD on iTunes.  I'm very excited about it.  I have a couple Juanes CDs already (and have the songs memorized by heart), and I felt like part of the culture here when I heard a Juanes CD at the movie theater last Friday, and I was able to sing along!  :)

Okay, that's all for now.  It's laundry time...

Kung Fu Panda and 16-year-old boys

I don't even know where to start.  There is so much to write.  So much has happened in the past few days...it's crazy.

I guess I'll start by talking about my sick day.  Yesterday I had to go home at 1 because I was sick.  What a great first impression, right?  Going home early on the second day of work.  Oh well.  I really felt awful...like death.  I had a terrible headache, I was dizzy, I had the worst cough I've ever had, and I was exhausted.  I was running on empty.  So, I went home and slept all afternoon...ate dinner...and then slept all night.

I set my alarm on my cell phone for 6 AM, but somehow my cell turned off in the middle of the night.  I miraculously woke up at 6:45 without an alarm...but I had to get ready by 7:15 to eat breakfast.  I have never moved so quickly.  I was a little late, but no big deal.

The first thing I did this morning was observe a 4th grade English class.  The kids were so cute, and they loved me!  They asked me question after question after question.  "What's your name?"  "Where are you from?"  "Do you like High School Musical?"  We really connected thanks to High School Musical.  The little 4th graders all have iPods, so we listened to High School Musical together, and I sang along to every song...they were very impressed.  

Then, after class, the kids asked me if I wanted to go to a movie with them.  I asked them what time the movie was at, and they said 9:30.  I was thinking that 9:30 was pretty late for little kiddos, but then I quickly found out that they were going at 9:30 in the morning...A FIELD TRIP TO THE MOVIES!  Before I had time to comprehend what was happening, I was sitting in the back of a bus on my way to see Kung Fu Panda with all the 4th graders.  And, Catalina, the little girl I live with, is a 4th grader, so I was able to sit with her!  It was so fun.  Gotta love Kung Fu Panda in Spanish.

So, I came back to school, checked my email because I couldn't find my co-teacher, Raquel, and then another English teacher took me to lunch.  Lunch here was pretty fancy.  It was in a special room for teachers...we ate empanadas, salad, and dessert.  I felt pretty special privileged to eat lunch in the special teachers room!  :)

And then after lunch I observed two English classes...one sophomore year (they call it 2nd grade...aka, 2nd year of high school)...and one junior year (they call it 3rd grade).  The sophomore class was all boys.  They were pretty rowdy.  They whistled at and gawked at me when I came into the class (boys are like that here in Chile).  I think they paid more attention to Ms. Kristen from the "states" that their English lesson.  I have no clue how I'm going to teach a class of 16-year-old boys.  Maybe I'll talk to Raquel and tell her that I feel more comfortable with the little ones...

Now it's 4:45.  School ended 45 minutes ago, and I've been waiting for my co-teacher to get back from lunch.  We're supposed to be making my class schedule now...I'm kind of getting tired of waiting around all day for her.  I can't wait for next week when I have my own classes and I can just go teach and then leave when I'm done.  No waiting around.  People say that Academia Iquique (my school) is the best school in Chile, but the least organized.  I can totally see how that's true...

Oh!  I just found out that they're going to let me have Fridays off!  NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY FOR KRISTEN!  That means I'll have a 3-day weekend every week...which will allow me to travel and sleep and hang out and get to know Chile!!!

Okay...that's all I have for now.  Hopefully Raquel will show up soon so I can get this meeting over with and go home.

Wish me luck with the high school boys...I'll need it.

-Kristen

...

This experience is going to be quite different from what I expected...

My new host family...

Let´s just put this bluntly...I live in a MANSION!

I live on the ocean.

I have a maid (a live in-maid)

My room looks over the ocean and their swimming pool...and I have a balcony.

Hardwood floors.

Flat screen plasma TV in the 9 year old daughter´s room.

Huge TV in my room.

Queen sized bed.

2 huge closets in my room.

Unbelieveable.

AND...I was on TV again today...on channel 9 and 11. Channel 11 interviewed my friend Annie, and I was interviewed my channel 9.

Am I dreaming?

My school is semi-private, new, fancy, demanding of the students, and always wins every competition. There are 7 other English teachers. I meet them all tomorrow.

My dad OWNS several pharmacies here.

Is this real?

PS...

By the way, just FYI, I'm really sick.  

Now don't you worry.  It's just a little cold.  It's called "living-in-a-hostel-with-80-other-people-incubator-syndrome."  No big deal.

I do I have to say that it was quite exciting buying medicine at the Chilean farmacias (pharmacy) today.  She wrote me a prescription write over the counter.  How exciting.  (Medicine is good, but I probably shouldn't be sacrificing sleep to stay up to upload pictures...oh well).

One last thought...I'm super excited to meet my host family tomorrow!  I move into my house tomorrow, thanks be to God!

-K

More pictures...

A few pictures...

American Celebrities in Iquique!

I was on Chilean TV!  Yes…the news is true.  Yours truly…Kristen Dawn Mascarenas…was on CHILEAN TELEVISION!  Unreal.  A dream. 

Where the heck am I?  That’s the question that continually runs through my mind.  Is this real?  Am I really in Chile?  Do I really live in Iquique?  Am I really being interviewed for Chilean television?  What is happening? 

This past week has been surreal to say the least. 

Now, I’m sitting in a hotel in Iquique called Bella Vista.  It’s 11:30 PM.  I have to be up and ready by 9.  But I’m staying up extra late to download pictures and write about my amazing day.  I want to get it down “on paper” before it escapes my mind…

So, we (7 volunteers including me) arrived in Iquique yesterday.  We were picked up at the tiny Iquique airport by our regional director, Juan, who is about 60 years old, his daughter Pamela, and her son (we call him “Chucky”…long story).  Juan took us to our hotel, and informed us that we were going to be staying at the hotel until Tuesday afternoon.  On Monday and part of Tuesday, we’d go through some orientation type meetings in Iquique and get to know the city a little beter.  Well, there was more to it than just “orientation type meetings.” 

Today, we started the morning by meeting Juan’s boss in the office of Education in Iquique.  She seemed very professional and respected.  She was a big shot in the office.  Just when we thought that our meetings with the big dogs were over, we walked over to the regional government building (right next to the ocean, by the way).  We marched up the second floor of this building, and sat in a waiting room for 20 minutes to meet this random lady (well, at the time we didn’t really exactly know who we were meeting…we were just being led around the city like sheep…we had really no idea what was going on…and this wasn’t because of any language barrier.  I could completely communicate with Juan…Juan just didn’t really inform us well about everything we were doing…silly Juanito).  So, after waiting in the office for 20 minutes, we’re told that we can enter this woman’s office.  And boy, was it fancy!  Fancy chairs.  Fancy carpet.  Big windows with views of the ocean.  And this woman just seemed regal.  Elegant.  Poised.  I had no idea who she was, but the air about her seemed important.  I soon found out that she was like the governor type person of the Iquique region, and we were meeting with her so she could welcome us to Iquique!  It was crazy.  This man was documenting the meeting by taking pictures of all of us…we were sitting at this conference table in her office.  And someone was taking video of our meeting.  And her assistant man went and got us all drinks.  It was quite fancy.

At the end of the meeting, we all got up and took a group picture with her!  And then Juan told her that we were going to be on TV later that day.  And all 7 of us looked around at each other like, “What the heck???  TV?”  And Juan wasn’t lying.  Later that meeting, crew showed up with cameras, microphones, and a man to interview us and Juan.  We were standing in front of the education building.  And the man interviewed Juan…and then Juan pointed at me (because I speak Spanish).  So the interviewer man came over and interviewed me for TV!!!  He asked me in Spanish why I wanted to come to Chile and teach English.  And then he asked me what I studied in college.  It was absolutely unreal.  Hilarious.

Well, long story short…our interview was going to be on TV at 9:30.  But then it wasn’t…so we kept watching…and then asked a local for what time the program usually comes on, and she said 10:30…so I turned the TV on at exactly 10:30, and I caught the last 3 seconds of the segment!!!  GRRRRR!  I was SO bummed!  My roommate in the hotel, Kristen, has a video camera, and she was planning to record the segment…but we missed it!  I can’t believe we missed in by only a few minutes!  We were so bummed that we really didn’t talk much after that.  We were sad for a while.  L  But the important thing is that it happened, and now I have some amazing memories.

To switch gears a little…my crew here with me in Iquique from the US (the other volunteers) are so great!  Their names are Kristen (from Atlanta, my roommate here), Bree, Annie, MacKenzie, Andy, and Collin.  They’re all hilarious.  I already love them all.

Well, I better go to bed now.  It’s almost midnight and I still want to upload some pix.

Goodnight and God bless!

Besos…

Kristen

Pay day!

Today I received my first Chilean paycheck (don´t worry, i took several pictures before I cashed it!). I can confidently say that I make quite the pretty penny here in Chile. My check was written for 85,000!!! I´m rich!!!

Well, actually, 85,000 chilean pesos translates roughly to 170 US dollars. But it was still very, very excited to get some cash!!!

Now i´m sitting in an internet café, checking my email, catching up on life the US (aka, checking facebook)...and then i´ll have a spanish class this afternoon...and then i´m going out tonight with my volunteers for one last hoorah before we leave for our designated locations.

Just to let you know, I will be LEAVING FOR IQUIQUE THIS SUNDAY AT 9AM. My flight leaves at 9AM...so this Sunday I will officially be in Iquique! Hopefully then my life will begin to settle down a bit...and I´ll get into a routine.

That´s life for now. I went to bed at 10:30 last night, and then got up at 7 and went running with my friend Kim (she went to CSU but she´s originally from California). People looked at us like we were crazy (Chileans don´t really work out...).

Anyhoo...that´s it for now.

Much love,
Kristen

1:30 AM

I went to bed too late last night!

After getting home from going out with friends, I decided to take a shower at 12:30, and I didn't hop into bed (more like "climb" into bed since I'm on the top bunk) until 1:30 AM.  Then, I woke up at 6:45!  I didn't want to get up so early, but people in the hostel were starting to wake up and make noise, so I woke up.  

I love Chile...and I want you all to come visit me!  I think I've caught the travel bug, and I'm not sure I'll ever get rid of it.  Don't be surprised if I force Garrett to come do something like this again with me in a few years (there is a married couple here together, by the way!).

It's almost 1o here and I'm being the lame one and going to bed early.  I don't think I can handle another day of training with less than 6 hours of sleep.  

Oh!  I went to this HUGE department store called Paris tonight and bought 2 scarves (EVERYONE, even men, wear scarves here...I guess it is winter), tights, and a sweater. Brrr...it's cold!

Okay...will write more later.

--Kristina--

Luñch break

Hi!

I´m on a lunch break, sitting in an internet cafe. Just writing quickly to tell eveyrone that I´m happy and healthy (just a little cold and tired, but that´s okay!)

Will write more later...
K

Brrrr...Chile is Chile!

I thought I'd be happy to leave 95 degree Colorado weather.  I thought it would be refreshing to experience a South American winter.  WRONG!

I'm absolutely FREEZING.  It's cloudy.  Cold.  About 40 degrees.  And I don't have a heavy coat here!  But don't worry.  I'll only be in this freezer for another 5 or 6 days and then I'm moving to Iquique, Chile!  It's a consistent 60 degrees in Iquique.  On the coast.  Beautiful.  I've only hearing AMAZING things about my town-to-be.  I can't wait!  And, get this.  I google earthed my address in Iquique yesterday, and the avenue my house is on is ON THE COAST!  I'm not sure if it's correct, but it directed me to a street on the ocean.  I would be soooo lucky to live there.  Google-earth it for yourself!

My address is:

Avenida Aruro Prat 3582.

I'm not sure how you send stuff to the address in the mail yet, but I'll update my blog when I find out.

I'll be living in a house with a dad named Juan.  He's 51 and a Pharmacist.  My host-mom's name is Yannett.  She's 37 and a Comercial Manager.  I have a host sister named Catalina.  She's nine.  And my little host brother, Juan, is 2.  My house has 5 bedrooms (HUGE FOR CHILE), 2 bathrooms, hot water, potable water, and INTERNET!  Yeah!!!  It sounds like I'll be living really, really well.

Training has be incredibly tiring.  I don't know if I've fully recovered from my 24 hours of traveling.  Today we started training at 9...and we finished up around 6.  This afternoon around 4 (my most tired time of the afternoon), they sprung a 2 hour written Spanish test on us.  We're going to take the same test we when finish the program in November to see how much we've improved.  The test was REALLY hard.  One of my roommates (Elisa--she's actually from CU!) was born in Uruguay, and she said the test was really hard...and she's FLUENT!  

The other people in the program with me are AWESOME.  We're all here for the same reason.  We're either delaying the start of our "real" lives, or postponing working in the corporate, adult world.  We love Spanish, travel, kids, and want a Latin American adventure.  I've really clicked with several people.  My bunk-mate, Molly Malone from rural Minnesota, is really awesome.  She's spunky, fun, smart...we've hung out a lot so far.  And there's another girl named Kristen (Kristen Daniel) going to Iquique with me.  We've clicked.  She's from Atlanta.  Or North Carolina?  Or Cincinnati?  One of those.  We joke that our nickname is "Run DMK" (like Run DMC) because she's Kristen D. and I'm Kristen M.  We also found out today that her middle name is like DawNay or something, and mine's obviously Dawn.  We laughed about it for awhile (I think we were really tired and giddy).  But we're already telling people that we're going to be BFFs (best friends forever) after this experience.  And she wants to join a gym and be healthy in Iquique...so we'll support eachother. 

And I'm kind of doing amazing with everyone's name.  There 72 volunteers here (we're taking up the entire hostel...or almost the entire hostel).  Let me tell you about some people.  I'll list them:

My roommates:

Molly Malone

Michelle Baptista (remind me of Michelle Stavros like crazy!)

Elisa Garcia

 

Other cool folks

Bri (she's going to Iquique)

Andy (going to Iquique)

Colin (going to Iquique)

Kristen (going to Iquique)

Charlie (fun guy)

Cheryl (from Trinidad and Tobego)

Annie and McKensie (from CO, going to Iquique with me)

Anthony

Katie (from England)

Oh man...I can't remember more now.  But, I promise I know a lot more people than that.  There's someone from South Africa!  And a dude named Richard from New Zealand...I asked him if he knew Flight of The Conchords, and he just laughed at me.  I think he gets asked that a lot.

Anyway...that's the update for now.  The people here are great.  Oh!  The hostel food is kind of gross.  We all get our trays and file in line.  The cafeteria lady schlopps a bowl of watery soup on our tray, and a plate of rice or potato and some chicken.  And we have this orange drink made from goo and water (seriously...I saw them mix it the other day...they dumped orange goo in a jar, added water, and shloshed it around until it became orange liquid sugar water.  Yum.).  And then we have bread.  And we all eat until our plates are wiped clean.  We're kind of starving.  So, I'm probably losing weight since I don't eat much and I've been walking like a million miles a day.  I think I'm going to go find some real food tomorrow...and empanada or something.  Yum!

And!  I went to church at Santa Ana on Sunday.  It was a BEAUTIFUL mass...and the priest was really nice...and young.  And I understood everything!  I love Spanish.

Oh...also, this is random...but I had a dream two nights ago that Father Peter (my priest from St. Tom's) was teaching me how to make this mixed drink that you had to put Tropical Skittles in.  I was like, "Father Peter...Tropical skittles in a drink?  Really?"  And he was like, "Yeah, it's delicious."  And then I woke up.  What's the significance of that?

Okay...I'm leaving now.

Ciao...adios...Amor...besos...

Kristina