Usted no puede dejar su hijo acá. Saca la vuelta

Buenas!

Greetings from Arica, Chile. A semi-large city with a great calidad de vida (quality of life). I'm in the north of Chile on an excursion with my program and have learned soooo much that it's quite overwhelming if you ask me.

 I should actually be in Putre, Chile (3600msnm-meters above sea level), but me apuné (I got altitude sickness) and had to climb down from the mountain. Though sharing the minute details would tickle my (now calm) estomago, it might make you sick. But if you were wondering about Putre, I'll tell you:
 

(This foto isn't mine. I left my memory card in Arica....2 hours away)   

 The pueblo is home to mainly immigrants from Bolivia or Peru and also of the Aymara culture. Interestingly, there are a good handful of hotels and hostels because it's a happenin' spot for turists from Europe (Germany, France, España etc.) and for Chileans who want a change of scenery. Jimmy, a very kind hotel personnel, informed me that people come here before heading north and that he enjoys working in the hotel with his family because the hostels no son como eso. I personally ran into 2 Spanish men travelling north in S.America. They thought Putre was nice and quaint. :)
 
         It is possible to walk through the pueblo in about 30 minutes, but my heart struggled to keep up so it took me a whole lot longer. Lucky I, the clinic was 5 min away from our hotel and, unfortunately, I was there 2 times for about 45 min. each time receiving oxygen. I did get a chance to check out the murals that told leyendas andinas (legends from the Andes region) and do some star gazing with others in our sleeping bags. It's quite cold at night and very warm during the day since it is more or less a desert. To find out more, visit Chile or your local world wide web!

(Mi foto desde mi casa de Arica-My photo of Arica from my house)

Arica, on the other hand, is a city of about 190,000 fab. people who haven't been exposed to much in life (from my point of view). I'll tell you about the port city and then contar (recount) my experience here. The city how two "centers". A center of commerce and the actual center. It is a mixture of cerros (hills), playas (beaches) and a bit of desert. It doesn't rain a whole lot here-if ever (as you might be able to tell because the roofs are flat instead of steeple like and some of the homes don't have "roofs"). I live in Cerro La Cruz and can get to the center of commerce in about 15 minutes. The center of commerce is mas o menos (more or less) one long calle (street) named 21 de mayo. You can find McDs, banks, shopping stores, pharmacies, and streets that lead you to artesanal 'tienditas' -little stores where you can find lots of great (and kind of inexpensive) gifts and clothes made from alpacas or llamas. The rest of the city gets more spaced out the further away you get from the center of commerce. Along the playas are other markets and plazas/playgrounds. The life here is very tranquil, so much so that I forget what day it is here because it seems that no one ever goes anywhere. Is it still Saturday?

    
      I can't compare Arica to Valparaíso, so I'm not going to, but I will say that because Arica is smaller, the people (and their stares, glares) are more pronounced. I'm not generalizing the people who live in Arica by any means, but I felt more out of place here than I do in Valpo. Although no one has "done" anything to me, the discomfort I sometimes feel is bothersome. From really weirded out stares to "be carefuls" to people shoving their kids to the side as I pass got me thinking about where I am. I realize that I'm one of 10 people who look like me in Arica (not a real fact) and that my features are super interesting (at least I think so), however, me molesta que I feel like I'm part of a museum exhibit 16/7. I cease to be a person when someone grabs my hand/hair to see how it feels. If you ask me, sure I'll take a picture with you, but snipping pictures is not cool. -I know I snipe pictures, but I at least ask permission if I can or only snipe when I know it's something performed/is part of a group or activity.- I also don't think I've been feared before, but here I am...On the other hand, I've gotten a lot of "I would like to stand next to the negrita" ie. me. We were taking a group photo with an group that performed typical Aymara dance and a (nice lady...I'm sure) dancer said this. I'm shaking it off, but I know that they just want to remember having a black person around. Whatevs.


I don't want to rant and rave (because I could keep going) because I know that it's part of the experience and I can't do anything about it, except for vive la vida (live the life) I've been given and love the people in it. En serio, I hope you all got something from this blog.

To end on a good note, I'm not sick and have met some genial (nice, great, kind, etc) people here.
P.S. Here's a video that explains the title: Chocolate cake made me late

Until next time,

Mucho amor, ife, amore, love, houb, amour, sayang,

<--I went sand boarding!

Ife 'Quipayan' S.

Parting is such sweet sweet sorrow

(So I'm not really going anywhere, but I am parting from my life here in Valparaiso for two weeks).

 

Hola familia y amigos!

 

How is everyone this fabulous day? I figured I'd write today because I leave tomorrow at 8:15am for Arica, Chile for 2 weeks and don't know how regularly I'll have Internet access. Something I realized, even here in the city, isn't as reliable as I'd like, but oh wells. It's not the end of the world.

 

The past few weeks went well. All my papers got in on time and my presentation was good (I think) because my professor didn't have any questions for me (is that a good thing?). I am more sure on my topic for my project and even have a permanent adviser in the anthropology department! It's all rather exciting. She already wants me to show her all the work I've done so far! Let's go!

 

I've said lots of goodbyes recently.

 

First to our Spanish professors. Our last day of Spanish classes was last week Wednesday so we had an all American desayuno- breakfast- (omelets and breakfast potatoes) en la casa de nuestra profesora (in the house of our profesor). It was delicioso!! Soo good. I love huevos-eggs- in general so I was really happy. Unfortunately, she, the next day, said goodbye to her cuñado-brother in law- who died of a brain tumor.

We then had another mini desayuno with our other Spanish professor. It was bittersweet. They are both lovely people who have truly been helpful and open to our views, questions about Chile, and thoughts. Each student represented a unique person and they took it as so.

 Because there are more profs, we had an afternoon of bailes, empanadas and bebidas-dances, a meat pie, and drinks- celebrating the end of Spanish classes. This was more sweet than sorrow. I lovvvve empanadas because they remind me of the meat pies I eat in the States. Deliciosas! 

 

Second to my church family. I have gotten to know a small amount of the youth and the people in my church, Kingdom Vision. Mi iglesia-church- is kind of far from my house, but I don't mind. The people are really friendly and kind. A woman invited me to lunch one Sunday and a little girl asked to touch my skin to see what would happen. It was really funny. Lives shared is truly enjoyable. I realized that if I didn't start going up to people and introducing myself, I'd never meet anyone. So, I meet new people every week. This last Sunday, I said goodbye to some of my brothers and sisters in Christ until Nov. 7th. They wished me well and until next time.....

 

Thirdly to my friends in the program. Because half of us are going to Arica en el norte and the other half a Temuco en el sur, it had to be done. We all went to a nice restaurant in Limache (45 min. north of Valpo, where I live). Spent un dia piola -a nice day- tomando sol y hablando -getting some sun and talking-. It was super rico. Empanadas for a snack and bistec, arroz, y papas fritas para almuerzo-steak, rice and french fries for lunch. We took some hilarious photos and said our goodbyes.

 

Ultimately, to my family. We had an all family almuerzo-lunch- on Sunday with lots of people so that we could share one last collective lunch together. This indeed was bittersweet, I even almost shed a tear (for those of you who really know me, you know that I rarely cry. Imagine me almost shedding a tear. I'm making progress, no?) The shared highlights of our experience so far and the family expressed their appreciation and their thoughts about having us in their families. It was genial-nice.

 

    There are three of us (students) that pertain to the same family but live in different houses, so we, the students, decided to cook something for our family for las onces-tea time. It's usually in the place of dinner (I know...no dinner. It took some getting used to) and is something light: crackers, bread, tea, cookies, sandwiches. Nothing too big. But esta vez-this time- we wanted to say thanks to our families for all they do and putting up with us.  

It's been one month and 3 weeks. It'll be a two months next week and then 1.5 months left. I'm not counting down. Just really aware of my time left.

 

I talked to one of my friends in the States the other day and realized how much I am enjoying myself here (even though I'm a bit fome-boring- sometimes because I don't do as much touring as others). I thought about my highlights and it dawned how life changing being in another culture can be. I'm truly happy and blessed to be here. My encounters with the people are indeed precious and unique.  

 

The weathers getting hoooottttt. Thank God. Pulling out the summer clothes! Woot Woot.

 

Okay ya'll, until next time, cuidense y que les vayan bien! Abrazo grandisimo!

Oh how the days go by.

Que tal?

    Hope everyone is doing well and doing big things these days. A whole month and a week has passed since my arrival in Chile and it feels (sometimes) like a big blur and (othertimes) like forever.

REASON NUMBER ONE

     One reason why time has started flashing in my brain is because in 1.5 weeks, our program will be splitting up into two groups: half going to the north to stay with the Aymara population in Arica/Putre and the other half to the south to stay with the Mapuche in Temuco. I'll be trading in my leisure Saturdays for community service and community work. I'll be giving up my view of the mar (sea) for a view of the desert. I'm going to the north to spend 2 weeks working and learning from the indigenous tribe of the Aymara. I'll have terribly cold mornings, extremely hot afternoons and dangerously freezing nights. A small population of people who take things slowly and work while the sun is up, eat yummy empanadas, and live in homes they built themselves. Their respect for mother earth is seen in their festivities and their work habits. This is the life I'll have for 2 weeks.

REASON NUMBER TWO

    Another reason is that on December 5th, 2010 I'll have to turn in a 22 page proyecto de investigación (investigation project). "What are you investigating, Ife?" Well, I'm glad you asked. Music.Identity.Culture. -La influencia de la cultura indígena en la músic de la juventud (The influence of the indigenous culture in music of the youth)- I've got to achicar (make smaller) my ideas/investigation by Tuesday so that I can start on this. The program dedicates a whole month, after Nov. 5, 2010, to do this proyecto. No classes. No seminarios. Nada. Just me, mi computador, mi journal, ideas y preguntas. We also have the option of living anywhere for that month, so long that it is conducive to our investigation (ie. studying the miners in the north, investigating the immigrant population in Santiago, undertanding the environmental issues near a salmon farm). I, dear family and friends, will be staying right here, in Valparaíso with my host family. Though I'll be working with the indigenous population, I still need access to technology at all times and a large base of young people, which I can find here in the city. I could live in Santiago, but I think I'd have greater success somewhere I'm comfortable (P.S. I'm not ready to say goodbye to my family here yet. Not yet).

CLASSES

    As classes are coming to an end, projects, large assignments, presentations and orals are amounting. This week was one of those. I have a final Spanish exam this coming up week, a presentation and 2 papers to work on. Thank God for 3 days weekend though! We're celebrating "Día de las razas" -Day of the races- (Races as in ethnic race). It's Christopher Columbus Day, but not a whole lot of South Americas appreciate what came along with Columbus's expedition nor what followed, so we skip Columbus and celebrate who we are as a race...I think. They don't really do anything here, just no classes/no work (for most people). I'm sure the buses keep running.

RESUMEN (SUMMARY)

Okay, so a resumen (summary) of my life since we've talked: It's October. There was a terremoto (earthquake), but, thank God, everyone is okay. I didn't feel it and heard about it from my family in the States before I realized it here. They have reached the mineros (miners) and hope to take them out before the end of next week. So much excitement. Our program went to Parque por la Paz-Villa Grimaldi: former detention, death, and torture camp during the dictator, Pinochet. It was almost impossible to believe that this took place less than 50 years ago, 1973 onward, but remember how many human rights are being violated as we speak. The injustice that goes on in our day and age. Our group volunteered in an ignored community in the larger region of Valparaíso. El Salto. It was a fantastic experience because I got to give back to the community and spend time working WITH the community in creating a playground for the kids. If you didn't know that I am a big fan of working with kids, now you know. I love it. I played camp games (!!!) in Spanish and the director asked me to come back and spend more time with the community's children. Imagine your favorite celebrity/famous person/politician. Go on...imagine, it's good for you. Now imagine him/her asking you to have dinner with him/her. How would you feel? I don't know what your answer was, but I was thrillllled!! <--Can you tell?

Well, thanks for reading and have a grand day!

Besitos y abrazitos,

Ife 'Quipayan' S.