“Hey, Dante, leave her alone!” – my almost-3-year-old sister to my host dad, Dante, imitating my one of my mother’s catchphrases, when my dad was mad at Isidora for breaking a cabinet. I laughed out loud. Julieta got lectured that she can only call her father “Papito Dante.” He’s been trying really hard to make “Papito” (Little Papa/Daddy) happen.
I think when you’re studying and traveling abroad, it’s hard to tell people about, or even remember, what your daily life was like. While you’re living it, it’s hard to remember that it’s still something interesting and extraordinary to be living in Santiago, Chile (or Madrid, Spain.) So, this photo album is dedicated to some of my experiences in Santiago. Hopefully some posts soon about my regular life here.
See pictures of my family, the relatively classy parts of my 21st birthday, and Latin American markets here!
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My two travel goals for this trip were to visit Machu Picchu and Patagonia. My Patagonia plans seem to have fallen through, even though I’ll keep trying. But Machu Picchu can still happen! Classes and exams end here on July 1. I don’t come back to the US until July 13. So I’m planning on flying to Peru, visiting Machu Picchu, and then shorter bus rides to towns in Peru and Chile all the way back down to Santiago.
The only thing I’m not sure about is how I should “do” Machu Picchu.” My friend Sara has visited before and says that I have to hike in, it’s just not the same. So, I could hike the Inca Trail for 4 days. This involves: a. getting myself into shape where physical activity is possible in the Andes b. Spending $465
OR, I can do it the traditional tourist way and take up a train, which I expect will still be some great version of “roughing it,” and way less money.
What do you think, adults of whom I trust the judgment?
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This week I’ve been suffering from miserable allergies. Last week I was pretty healthy. The week before that, I had a monstrous cold. I think all of these neti-pot failures are due to the pollution in Santiago. This weekend, specific license plate numbers of cars were banned from driving, and people were told not to exercise because of the poor air quality. Leaving me, wallowing in snot and speaking in a voice like a chipmunk.
It is a great opportunity for some classic Chilean-isms. While my American mom would be telling me to drink a lot of water and sleep whenever I want to, this is what my Chilean mom advises:
• I’m an idiot for thinking it’s the pollution, that makes no sense. My Chilean siblings also have allergies, and they are fine.
• It’s because I’m not wearing enough clothing, (“desabrigada”) for example the day I wore short sleeves this weekend because it was 80 degrees, is now catching up with me.
• She understands that I am hot all of the time, which makes it difficult for me to always wear a jacket.
• Also, I can’t leave the house with wet hair.
I just re-watched Anthony Bourdain No Reservations’ Chile episode. Is it bad that watching Anthony Bourdain in Chile makes me love Chile way more than just living it? So far I’ve eaten a lot of lomito at Fuente Alemana and visited Mercado La Vega. Watch and see what’s to love in Chile.
Five pounds ago, two months ago, and an inch and a half of hair ago, we went to Montevideo, Uruguay. You may remember I was recouping from my black-and-white cookie phase (“all of our problems would be solved…”) in Buenos Aires when we took the posh ferry across the River Plate to the Carnival-celebrating capital of Uruguay: Montevideo. We also made a trip to Punto del Oeste, a rich people getaway for Latin America. Look at my photos and comprehensive narration by clicking on the windy photo below:
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| "My parents forgot my birthday, they're on vacation in MONTEVIDEO" |
For those of you who don’t know, my album title comes from Jenny Lewis gem “Troop Beverly Hills.” On whiny girl’s birthday, her parents are on vacation in Montevideo. I may be confusing this with Monte Carlo. But I’ve visited there, too, so really it’s okay to confuse them and I couldn’t think of another album title that would amuse me as much. If you want to learn more about Uruguay/magical realism in film/racial tension in Latin America/literacy, please watch the film “A Dios Momo.”
