Harto

Buenas noches a todos,

Hope this post finds you well and thanks for checking in. Here in Valparaíso, things have settled in nicely. It is now much easier to find my way around the city, classes are in full swing, and my spanish is showing steady, albeit sometimes frustrating improvement. This opportunity is an absolute privilege, and I want to remember every detail.

So naturally, I filmed my walk to class

We were told that the whirlwind that is a study abroad comes in stages. I'm sure by reading previous posts (you did read them, right?), you can tell that I have definitely had a "honeymoon phase" here in Chile. Everything is shiny, new and inviting, fun and exciting, and I could scarcely believe the opportunities available to me. As the acclimation process continues, I have to admit, I have experienced some unexpected obstacles. Sometimes I struggle to find energy and focus. Sometimes I struggle to pray. Sometimes I'd rather just Skype friends than talk with my Chilean family. Sometimes my brain just can't take any more spanish. Please know that I say all this not to complain, for I am more than happy here. Being content in any situation certainly comes with steadfastness and a bit of perspective. When I started this blog, I told myself and others that I would be honest, and I think I'm doing myself and you all a disservice if I write with a rose-tinted pen. De todos modos, back to the good stuff.

At this point you may be saying: "Yeah that's great Blake, but what do you actually do in Chile?"
My answer, inquisitive reader is:

Harto (ar-toe) (adj.)- a lot.

For the next four weeks, I am taking two classes: Literatura Hispanoamericana y Grammática Avanzada. Class is a bit more relaxed than in the states, and the courses are designed for international students. Being the nerd that I am, the literature course particularly interests me because we will not only be exploring contemporary Hispanic American stories and poetry, but also discovering the motivation behind and emotions infused by the authors that wrote them.

Since I last wrote, I have attended an impressive Chilean military parade, seen a bit of the remarkable architecture and attractions that Viña has to offer, watched a perfect sun set from sand dunes situated right outside of town, and probably eaten one and a half times my body weight in pancito. So a quick review of those:

21 de Mayo in a very important day in Chilean history. It marks the naval battle of Iquique during the War of the Pacific. Every year, the Chilean military hosts a parade downtown in honor of those that fought, including the commander and hero Arturo Prat. The parade took place in Valpo's easily most notable square. La Plaza Sotomayor could be seen as the city center, with the blue military headquarters on one side and the blue Pacific port on the other. Some friends and I went to the parade, which began at 12, and watched the procession of soldiers. Lunch followed at a nearby restaurant, where I devoured a three course meal including "pescado a la pobre," fish on a bed of french fries with two eggs over easy on top. That meal was certainly not lacking in protein. The day's activities concluded with a few games of poker and a short walk back house for a much needed tutito (nap).

Friends in Plaza Sotomayor

Entonces, Sunday was the yearly celebration of national culture in Viña and Valpo. As a result, all cultural activities and government palaces were open and free to the public, and to take advantage of this, Doug and I took a trip to Viña del Mar to see the presidential palace to see what is essentially the second home of La Presidenta Michelle Bachelet. The palace stonework was beautiful, and the images framed in the stain glass windows were spectacular. Set on Cerro Castillo, the palace has one of the premier views of the city, so of course we took advantage of that with some pictures. Doug had to return to spend some time with his family, so I continued exploring. During the afternoon, I also visited the Reloj de Flores, a beautiful garden with a clock made of flowers that was a present from the Swiss government, and Castillo Wulff, a picturesque German castle set on the rocky outcropping of the city's coast. It goes without saying, I don't really need to worry about getting bored during my time here.

An attempt to describe the views from the dunes of Concón might fail miserably, so I think I prefer to leave you with pictures. We went up here for the afternoon to goof around and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Maybe I should change my major to photography?

Once again, thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my ramblings about my time here in Chile. Tune in next time for: Chile vs. Northern Ireland in Valparaíso!

¿Catchai?

It has been almost a whole week here in Chile! Seems that every day is a new adventure here. The trip began with a ten hour flight out of Dallas to the capital city, Santiago. The city is.. como se dice.. amazing. The city of over six million people is situated in the shadow of the Andes mountains, and each morning we had a stunning view of the sunrise over the already bustling megalopolis that is Santiago. After spending three days seeing the sights of the city, getting to know my ISA compañeros and adjusting to the culture and language. The sightseeing and tourist-y feel of the first few days served as a trial period for the next few months, but we were told the immersion begins in Valparaíso.

Santiago from Cerro San Cristóbal

Sunday, we arrived in Valparaíso, our home for the next few months. Walking into Católica (the university) to meet my host family was the most nervous I have been in a while. My life for the next few months depends, at least in part, on the hospitality of these people I have never met! Pero no te preocupes, the members of the Clobares/ Burgos family have been a huge blessing for me. They are some of the most welcoming and accommodating people that I have met, and I already feel a part of the family. Our home is situated on Cerro Larrain, only a ten minute walk from the university. The first night, the whole family took me on the roof of the house, and we began to talk for hours about, well everything. From the roof you can see all parts of Valparaíso, and there David shared with me stories of his work and childhood in Valpo. Here in Chile, it's customary to greet members of one's family with a big hug, and a kiss on the cheek. It seems strange, but to me it is a sign of inclusion into the family. Two days in and I have already met my oldest brother and his seven month old daughter, Sofia, as well as mi abuelita, or grandmother, and each welcomes me with the same warm embrace.

View of Valpo from the roof

The food is fantastic and the city is more beautiful than I had even imagined. Valparaíso is a city rich with art, culture and influence from all parts of the world. The city is separated by Cerros (hills) that divide the city into neighborhoods, each with a unique view of the ocean. Underneath the hills is the city plan, which seems alive with memories and influence of the golden age of Valparaíso. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Valpo was a coastal center of the southern hemisphere, but even today one sees its magnificence in the details of the stonework of the buildings. Thank goodness I have two months to explore the city and its nearby neighbor, Viña del Mar.

¿Catchai? (catch-eye)- a verb meaning "to catch." One says this in conversation meaning "you got it/ you understand?"

I chose this word because of the whirlwind that learning Spanish has been the past few days. Poco a poco, I am learning and becoming accustomed to the speed and nuances of Chilean spanish. Honestly, it has been quite a humbling experience. Being immersed in that language takes so much more energy than I had imagined, but honestly I wouldn't have it any other way. Every moment of the day is an opportunity to learn, engage, and challenge myself. Each conversation is new and interesting; every newspaper and advertisement a chance to "catch" a new word. I suppose it is something that we undervalue in the US, the ability to communicate. It is incredible to learn a new language because it allows communication with a vast group of new people with a different world view from yours. It is something I hope to continue learning and valuing for the rest of my life. Even so, being in such an unfamiliar place is reinforcing to me the words of Proverbios 3:5-6-

"Confía en el Señor de todo corazón, y no en tu propia inteligencia. Reconócelo en todos tus caminos, y él allanará tus sendas."

Somethings I am looking forward to: The start of classes, La Copa Mundial, and traveling through Chile.

Mis amigos de ISA

¡Nos vemos pronto!

¿Cómo stai?

¡Hola y bienvenidos a mi blog! First off, thank you for taking the time to check up on me and to read about my international travels. For me, this blog serves two purposes: primarily, to inform and educate friends and family about the trip, and secondarily, to serve as a personal reflection space and journal to preserve the memories and experiences of this summer. Throughout the summer I hope to post here weekly chronicling the people, places, and events I have experienced during that time. My goal for the summer is to immerse myself in the Chilean culture, as much as is possible for a tall, caucasian gringo anyway. The general outline for the summer includes four weeks of Spanish classes at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, the local university, followed by a four-week internship at the Consultorio Reina Isabel, a leading hospital in the area. My last week in South America will be spent in Cuzco, Peru roaming the Incan ruins and dizzying heights of the Andes before returning to my original home sweet home, Rocky Top.

Hillside in Valpo

In an effort to catalyze the immersion and hopefully impart some spanish language and culture to you all, I will be titling each post after a chilenismo, or Chilean slang word that I have heard, seen, or been impacted by during that week. This week, I will fittingly be starting out simple:

¿Cómo stai? (koh-moe sty)- An informal way of saying "how are you?;" spelling due to Chilean pronunciation

To be honest, I'm not really sure where to start with this. Tomorrow begins the adventure of a lifetime, ten weeks in South America. Tomorrow, only a week removed from the completion of my sophomore year at Tennessee, after wading through a crowd of bittersweet goodbyes, countless last-minute runs to Walgreen's, and attempting to pack essential items for Chilean winter, I leave the comfort and safety of the United States for the unknown and exciting Valparaíso. As you can probably infer, there are many emotions accompanying this experience. What am I feeling? Excitement, elation, joy, nervousness, thankfulness, fear, you name it. Undoubtedly, this trip is exactly what I have hoped and prayed for for years. This summer I have the opportunity to pair my passions for hispanic culture with my interests in healthcare and (hopefully) my future profession. I am looking forward to meeting and forming relationships with my host family, the Clobares's, witnessing the beauty of creation of the Chilean landscape and making Valpo my second home. Traveling is a beautiful thing that opens our eyes to indescribable and humbling beauty, allows us to tell incredible tales, and takes us down avenues of discovery unimaginable, and I am thrilled to begin to experience all of the above. Tomorrow.

I leave you with a quote from Ernest Hemingway:

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end."

Thank you all for continued prayer and support and please stay in touch!

Un abrazo,
Blake