It's really easy to lose track of time after awhile amidst the never-ending English lessons, continued exploration, and life in general. I have recently realized that I haven't written in my blog for quite awhile now, yet the days seemed to have just slipped by me without me noticing.
In the past few weeks, I have been working like a crazy gal. Due to to the crazy hours of English teaching, I find that I am running around all day with only a few hours of rest in between my classes, in which I am usually preparing for the upcoming class. Although I love it, I am getting worn out fairly easily, and I am feeling more and more disconnected from everyone back at home due to lack of time to stay in contact. However, I know that this experience requires a lot of my time and I know that I will do as much as possible to keep in contact with everyone. Forgive me, though, if I seem to disappear for a week or two at a time.
As for my life in Chile, I recently bought a bike from some old men who work at a metal shop next door to my house, and I've officially fallen in love with it. It is worn down, old, rusty, squeaky, and has one gear, but it is my baby. I am planning to clean it, strip it, oil it and paint it so that I can revive the soul that I know once lived in it's spokes. I ride my bike all over the city which allows me to avoid the insane public transportation, but I've recently realized that the sidewalks are just as full of people as the noisy buses and metro. Luckily after practicing a few times, you learn to dodge people with finesse and ease, though you sometimes encounter a grumpy old woman who wants nothing to do with bikes on the sidewalk.
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to get away from the city for a little while to go to a little place called Laguna Verde. A Chilean friend of mine invited me to go with her and a friend to her house hidden on the coast of Chile. I didn't realize how beautiful it could possibly be until I arrived. The ride out there wasn't bad at all since we blasted music, ate fresh fruit from the market, and had tons of conversation, and once we arrived I felt like I'd already taken a small vacation just being in the car and escaping from the city. At some point, the road ended and turned to dirt, and we made our way over rocks and potholes that made up the "road". After a little while of trying to secure the fruit, the dog and ourselves, we finally arrived at a small little house on the coast.
I stood for a moment in awe of how something in the world could be so beautiful.
The weekend briefly brought me back to calm New England nights of listening to nature and cooking dinner with a roaring fire in the background. We spent the weekend relaxing, breathing fresh air, staring at the stars, cooking, visiting the beach and roaming the hills/cliffs where the house rested. I'd forgotten how quiet things can get in the middle of nowhere and I'd forgotten how much I need that tranquility in my life. Although the city life offers me a lot of excitement and new experiences, I've realized how important it is to be able to see the stars and hear the wind. I've realized how much it calms me to sit in silence for a moment and stare at a beautiful landscape. I'd forgotten how to get in touch with myself and explore my thoughts, and it eased me to know that it's still quite possible.
The weekend went by fast and Sunday night hurried us home. Since then, I've been working working working and trying to get my new schedule (even more classes) settled and organized. Luckily, I won't be adding anymore classes in the next few weeks, so I'll have a chance to catch up on my organization.
The days pass really quickly here. I get lost in the hours that I'm moving throughout the city and keeping myself busy, and I notice that it weighs on me to be out of contact with the ones I love. Luckily, I am making a rather large group of friends here who comfort me and keep my spirits up when I'm feeling down, but the distance has started to become more and more apparent. I am thinking of you all...all the time.
This weekend holds a little bit relaxation from the busy work week, but I'll be staying in the city to take advantage of the city culture. Tonight, I'm off to a Radiohead concert to which I don't have tickets, but I'll be joining many others outside the stadium to enjoy the vibe and the music (and maybe hopefully buy a cheap ticket from someone).
I miss you all dearly. I think about what you are all doing in your lives, and I wish I could jump on my cell phone and quickly check in with people. Please know that I am sending many hugs and much love from down here in Chile.
Keep the hugs overflowing.
Send some to me and I'll be sending them back.
LOVE. LOVE. Y AMOR.
Growing up, my mom always told me a good way to remember the change of hour during daylight savings time: "Fall back, spring forward" she would say. That way, I always knew whether to change the clock back one hour or to push it forward. Daylights savings time just recently crept up on us in Chile as well, and I assumed to push the clock forward because everyone in the States just did so. However, upon investigating the "fall back, spring forward" saying, I learned that the same rule applies here. I simply forgot that instead of entering spring, we will soon be entering fall. Needless to say, that means we changed the clocks back, and I am now on the same hour as the United States. Sweeeeeet :)
Things have been moving very quickly here in Santiago, and it feels like there is not enough time in each day. Lately, now that I am settled and working, I have started to feel how far away I actually am from home. The reality of my change is starting to become more noticeable, and therefore has started to take a slight toll on me. I just keep reminding myself that it's all part of the process.
My work schedule has been starting to come together, and I'm quickly realizing how exhausting the life of an English teacher may actually be. Although I am completely content to have a job with as many hours as I can get, it's become evident that the schedule will soon run my life. Because I am teaching business people, they schedule the classes around their set work schedule, which means I am running from 8AM to 9PM with a few hours in-between to pass out on my sofa. English teaching is an interesting profession down here. After getting settled into the schedule more and more each week, I have realized that for the most part I really like my job. It's really fulfilling to see a student surpass their own expectations of their speaking abilities, and in addition to teaching them English, I have found that I am learning quite a bit as well. Each one of my students offers me so many new perspectives about the city, work, and life in general.
The language barrier is quickly crumbling, and I've noticed that my English speaking abilities have been as well. I find that when I'm speaking English, I have to work harder to express myself and find the words that once came so easily to me. In fact, it often takes many attempts to write certain emails, journal entries, and letters. Therefore, I must apologize for any stupid punctuation mistakes, run-on sentences or incoherent thoughts that will soon start to appear in every blog entry. I am currently living in a language limbo that sometimes frustrates me, and sometimes fascinates me.
I wish I could give a more detailed update of how I'm doing, however, my travels have not yet begun, and my English has ceased to flow as it once did. I am enjoying everyday that I am here, though I have not forgotten how much I love the comfort of what I left behind. I wake up some days with a huge desire to step out of the house and breathe deeply the springtime air that chases the cold away from New England, and I miss the mornings when I can hear the birds coming out of hibernation to sing us a new song.
I miss you all and I continue to think about you all the time.
I'll update more when I have some more time, some more stories, and some more ease with explaining what I am trying to say.
Keep the hugs flowing.
Send some to me.
I'll be sending them back.
Much much love.
I left the house one morning before most of Santiago had woken. I was on my way to a really early English class about 30 minutes away from my house, and the chilly mountain air was still settled over the city. On my way, I noticed that no one was smiling. I realized that no one ever really smiles when they walk from one place to another (no one is frowning either, though I have seen a grimace or two along the way). I wondered how people would react if I smiled the whole way to work, so I did just that.
I thought about many things of my past that will always put a smile on my face, such as wonderful conversations I've had, my many travels to different places in the world, and all the people I have been lucky enough to love along the way. It didn't take long to think of some things that had me beaming with smiles. So there I was...I was walking down the street with a huge grin on my face looking like some sort of doofus, but I was determined to continue it the whole way to work. I figured that smiling shouldn't take so much effort and shouldn't be so odd, so I kept my grin gleaming in many different shades of happy.
Some people looked at me as if I was crazy, some people awkwardly smiled back, and some people saw me and looked away immediately (they probably thought I was a crazy lady...). I was very interested in all of the different reactions I was getting, but one reaction has stayed with me for days.
I had stopped at a crosswalk where we were all waiting for the little electronic man to turn green, and I noticed an older man, about 65-years-old, across the street waiting to come my way. I noticed him because he was staring at me without subtlety and I could tell he was rather curious as to why I had a huge grin on my face. The little electronic man turned green and we all started to cross. The man came my way and I went his, and we would soon pass each other. He was still staring at me and at this point a small smile had formed on his face. He walked more slowly than the rush of people that were racing to their offices or to a meeting, and his smile kept getting bigger. Right when we crossed paths, he smiled a huge smile, looked me straight in the eye and said "gracias" (thank you). I said "de nada" (your welcome) and kept on my way.
I couldn't believe it. Someone thanked me for simply smiling as I walked down the street.
I guess we never really realize how much a smile can affect someone. I guess we never really know how the small things we do can make an impact on other people's days, no matter how small that impact may be.
I try to smile whenever I walk now.
You are all often the reason for many of my smiles. So, as the old man said to me, "gracias".
Keep the hugs flowing.
Send some to me.
Smile when you go somewhere today.
Much love.
:)
