Siempre en Amor: July 2013

I've been starting to wonder if the true apocalypse has hit Chile. This last week I didn't have classes in la UTA because most of the group traveled to Machu Picchu. I had planned on working in some elementary English classes in the area but all elementary through high school courses were shut down a week early for winter break as a result of an influenza outbreak in the North of Chile. Okay, so I just had to change my plans around a bit and volunteer at la UTA instead since the universities were still having classes!

Then I noticed people starting to get a little nervous around here because we had three temblors within five days, each increasing in intensity. Apparently this part of Chile hasn't suffered a real earthquake in about 10 years, so many people are convinced it's coming soon. For me, these are kinda exciting because they're something new! I don't want to see destruction by any means, but I've enjoyed the sensation of the earth moving beneath my feet!

And then things really started to get interesting when la UTA decided to close down halfway through this week until the beginning of August as a preventative measure! For most of the Chilean students, this is exciting news because they have avoided a slew of finals and such unpleasantry. Not quite so for us Americans! We need to finish our classes in order to earn the credits we came to achieve, so the professors are working hard to figure out what we're going to do since we can't meet in la UTA. Should be interesting to see their creativity! And I will be glad to have quite the stories when I come back to the States =)

Speaking of the States... we had somewhat of a birthday celebration about a week back! It was a pretty fun time; several Chileans sang different songs in English and then the American ladies got up on stage to teach some typical dances! Ya know... Cotton Eyed Joe, The Wobble, Cupid Shuffle... that kind of fun stuff! It was truly a great celebration though it was clear we were not in the U.S. For example: we had hot dogs for sale, but they were consumed with Mayonnaise (a typical Chilean dressing for nearly everything) rather than ketchup and mustard. They also had cups of yogurt treat dealios - which were necessary for me to try, of course - but I have never seen such a mix in the US! These concoctions had yogurt as a base with frosted flakes, bananas, apples, whipped cream and sprinkles on top! Seriously, if you've had this before, and not just because you were running out of food in the cabinets, you should tell me because I am stinkin' curious!

I found a CHILEAN named Jessica! That is a first!

Mt. Molisonyssica

Gettin' some groove on...

In the act of trying to share bits and pieces of America, I thought it would be a good idea to cook pancakes for my family! Now, I'm not such a fan of pancakes, but I was told that Chileans don't have pancakes so it's something exciting for them! Last week I attempted making these for my family and I wish I'd have thought to take a picture of the kitchen while I was in the process! I made the biggest mess and it was nearly a catastrophe! I had to get creative because the cooking supplies are limited and I was also cooking on a gas stove. After all of this, my mom said to me - in Spanish - "Next time I will have to show you how I prepare pancakes without making such a mess!"

Remember how I said they don't eat pancakes here? Welp, I'm still trying to figure out that misunderstanding! If I had only known! Haha I spose I can at least say that I had the experience =) I'm not sure how I feel about trying to cook the brownies...

Although I gave up cooking during my "free week," I kept incredibly busy with other activities! I organized several English conversation hours so that Chileans could have a chance to practice English, I gave a few presentations over Iowa in University English classes and I even helped my primo, Rubén, prepare for his own presentation in an English class! Later in the week, I also had a chance to meet with one of my professors who is a descendant of the native people. It was a beautiful experience to hear about her life and how she has become who she is today. Then to finish out, I volunteered with a group in Chile that provides service for people with disabilities. I was with a group of 4 Chileans and we spent the day building hand railings for staircases which will be installed in particular homes in the area. Strange as it may seem, I'm ready for classes to "start up" again so I can have a chance to relax! But I still enjoyed my week and learned more about Chileans =)

Just to name a couple:

1. Believe it or not, in this country with an abundance of olives, pure olive oil is incredibly more expensive than in the States! I haven't yet figured that one out.

2. It seems like a fairly routine thing for students in other countries to learn quite a bit about the United States in school. What floors me is the realization that I hardly know much at all about any other countries.

3. In classes here, when students are laughing, the professor always asks what's so funny and the students are expected to share with the class! If not, it's pretty well considered rude on the behalf of the students - much reversed from what I've experienced in the States!

Here's to waiting for the new adventures and learning lessons around the turn of the weekend!

This morning I woke at the same time as most every other day, but there was something different. I couldn't place it at first but after I sat down at the arm chair in my room and prepared to spend some time with Jesus, I felt it. It was the brilliance, the reflection, the warmth... the sun. Even though I live in "the city of eternal spring," most mornings lately we have had little if any sunshine. It was just such a perfect moment, feeling the love of my creator in the beam of sunshine. Thanks, Jesus, for that blessed start to my day =)

The last weekend in June I also experienced a bit more sunshine than usual as our group traveled into the altitude of the Andes Mountains! We went to Putre which is about 3,500 km above sea level and the following day to Lago Changurá - an additional 1,000 km elevation! If you read those numbers and cringe because you wither know a bit about altitude sickness or have experienced it yourself, you do so in good reason. Of 22 people on the trip, only 5 managed to avoid all but a dull head pain. The rest suffered from what are flu-like symptoms at one point or another during the 24 hour trip.

One of the best remedies for an upset stomach - or to prevent altitude sickness - is to take coco leaves! Who knew? About half way through our trip on the way up the mountains, we stopped at a little dinner and had a snack for the day (bread with cheese) and cocoa leaf tea. One of our professors told us that it is typical to chew on the leaves but you had better not swallow them! So... as is natural for me to do in such a situation, I decided to try it =) Afterwards, one of the girls studying criminology leaned over to explain to me that chewing cocoa leaves is one of the first known manners of using drugs! The prof left that bit out!!! As it turns out, because the indigenous people had such strenuous living conditions for their bodies, chewing the cocoa leaves allowed them just to get through the day.

Welp. This is my drugged tea ;)

Since we were up so high in the mountains, the intensity of the sun was immensely greater! Unfortunately, that doesn't change the temperature at all. We had some fun sleeping in 30ºF weather without the blessing of heating. The beauty of the different places was well worth it for a one time experience, but I also do not feel the need to revisit in the future! Once is plenty for me =) I still can't wrap my mind around how people live there!

My roommate and I tried to be prepared for the cold! It just didn't work since we were in the very coldest room in the hostel!

The time we spent in the mountains was technically an educational trip; one of our professors went with us who has family that grew up among these indigenous people. It was so neat to see all of the splendor and also learn more about some of the legends all while hanging out with some fun ladies =) Probably one of my favorites was visiting the Termas de Jurasi which are some hot water springs. As the legend goes, there was a beautiful Incan princess who bathed in this spring and never grew old. She outlived three husbands but the fourth caught on that his wife never aged. One day he followed her to the spring and bathed himself! When the princess spotted him, she called out to the waters in anger, commanding them to boil. The husband died from them temperature of the water and eventually everything evaporated so the princess was never again able to bathe in the springs. To this day, the people believe that if you rub the mud from the springs on your face, you will age a year younger. That's only one of the interesting stories!

Like a true indigenous... I went for the full face-over!

I really enjoyed the trip, but I also think I shall never need to experience it again. Seriously! No heating! Zip! Zilch! Nada! I'm glad I made it back alive =)