Hello All,
So in my microecon class today we talked about positive and negative externalities. Negative externalities are easy- take any kind of big, polluting operation (power plants, factory farms, etc...) and the price the consumer pays to use these resources. While the consumer "pays" for, say energy or something, they are actually not paying for all of the external costs of that resource such as air and water contamination or elevated cancer rates amongst people who live close to power plants. Things like that. When we send in our energy bill every month, we are only paying for a fraction of the "real" cost of that energy.
Positive externalities are, well, more positive. The example in my book was that of a bee farm and apple orchard situated in or near the same land. The bees are happy because they have tasty apple trees to gather polin from, and the apple trees are happy because their polin is being spread- just how they were supposed to be. On my bike ride home from class (along the coast) I was trying to think of my Own example of a positive externality. I thought of one that works, but only if it is not over-exploited...
Many people who practice the Hindu religion do not eat cows, as they are seen as "beings of un-selfish giving". And this makes sence, because why would you kill something who´s excrement serves as fertilizer to grow your fields? This example stuck out to me as one of a positive externality because the cows give fertilizer, you get healthier grass. duh. BUT WAIT. A Negative externality is painfully and ironicly obvious as well- the waste from Factory Farms (or, CAFO´s Confined Animal Feeding Operations). This waste serves as a HUGE negative impact on the environment due to the extreemly high nitrogen content in the excrement of the thousands of animals being overfed and under-nurished. Hello dead-zone in the Gulf of Mexico! Not to mention all of those icky antibiotics and hormones being leached into there as well-eew.
So this is funny. Here I have thought of the same thing. On one hand, the cows people and land are happy, and on the other, we all suffer. hmmmmm. Humans, COME ON! And with the bees, too- why is their population declining???
Anyway, I titled this blog because I had a great moment looking into the sea today. I was riding my bike home from class, the sun was setting, and I stopped on this plank that looks out over te sea. From my vista I saw two plastic bags floating, swirling, undulating in the waters. Bottle caps littered on the shore, and algae breathing with the waves. Pirched atop the horizon I saw BIG cargo ships, all set to take things all around the world. I realized after some time how calming the sound and sights of the ocean are. Waves on sand is probably one of the most relaxing sounds to humans. Like breath, like a whisper from a good mother.
Oceans regulate the temperature for our Entire planet. They are what keep the cold parts cold and the warm parts warm. They have served as ports for ideas and goods to be transported throughout the world. They harvest as much (or more?) life as us creatures have above her waters, and they are so fun to play in as well. Oceans rule! So, why don´t we honor that? I know most of you reading this are Many many miles from any ocean, but just think tht every drop of water on this planet is the same water that has been and will continue to stay on this planet since Forever! All rivers lead to oceans. Every drop of rain, every snowflake- all part of this incredible self-regulating system we are privelaged enough to have on this life-sustaining planet of ours. So thanks, ocean. For all that you do, and for all you provide. I hereby promise to do everything within my powers to keep you alive and well so that someday I can sit on your shores and watch generations after me enjoy you as well.
That´s all.
Chau Chau
lunes, 23 de noviembre de 2009
domingo, 22 de noviembre de 2009
just another weekend in Chile...
Hello all,
Writing here after a weekend of doing things I love doing. Dancing and cooking for friends.
Friday night I had a party for the folks in my Theatre class. And by party, I mean asado-ing and drinks and Karaoke until about 4am. It was supposed to start around 7 so people could come, enjoy and get off to studying for their tests the next day (some of them had 8 AM Saturday tests... Fome...). And by "7" really meant that people didn´t start showing up until about 10. I think we started eating at around 11:30 or so? But, in any respect, it was a really fun time. I got to really take advantage of my Spanish skills, as I was the Only Gringa at the party (it was at my house, so duh...). But it was really fun, and at somepoint into the night, the people from my class asked me if I would dance for them. They were very curious about what I meant by "danza moderna" and had asked if I wouldn´t mind demonstrating. Well, duh! I love to dance, obvio, and so we turned the music off (because it can sometimes just restrict me), and I Danced in the wonderful space that we had made in my living room. I don´t really know for how long I danced, or how it looked "" or anything, but man it sure felt good. And I think my classmates and Profe were all pretty impressed as well. In all, it was a great night, and at about 4:30 or so, I said my goodbye´s and went to bed.
The next day, I woke up and, as planned, went to Santiago to visit a Chilean friend I had met a while back in Viña. He is from Punta Arenas (really beautiful in the South of Chile), and is studying archiecture in Santiago. So, I gathered my things, walked to the bus terminal and headed off to Santiago. I had told my friend that I would arrive at 2:30, and called him when I did. He said he was on his way, so I waited. And waited. And Waited. Finally at about 3:30, my friend came and got me and we hung out at his apartment ad did some art. His brother is this crazy-good artist, and super nice as well, so we all had a great time. When dinner time rolled around, I was not settled with just pasta, so I went to the market and bought fresh vegetables (almost un heard of to these guys), and cooked a most excellent concoction. Then, the next morning I bought some eggs, and again made a delishous breakfast for us all to enjoy.
I had almost forgotten how much I really love cooking. Some of my greatest memories involve cooking with my mom, listening to music, and the occasional glass of wine. But cooking is more than just food on a plate. It is about the actual food itself and How you chop it, What you add to it, and how you treat it. I believe cooking is one of the rare great gifts we can share with eachother across cultures, and above all else. It comes from the heart and goes to the stomach. What could be better!? So, after my weekend, I am feeling just dandy about everything in life, and am really looking forward to spending another lot of months here, getting deeper into myself, and my artestry as a person, dancer, cook and friend. Chile has treated me very well, and for this I thank it. I went to the beach when I got back to Viña, and ate an ice cream along the way. How wonderful!
Hope you´re all doing well up there. :)
chau chau!
Writing here after a weekend of doing things I love doing. Dancing and cooking for friends.
Friday night I had a party for the folks in my Theatre class. And by party, I mean asado-ing and drinks and Karaoke until about 4am. It was supposed to start around 7 so people could come, enjoy and get off to studying for their tests the next day (some of them had 8 AM Saturday tests... Fome...). And by "7" really meant that people didn´t start showing up until about 10. I think we started eating at around 11:30 or so? But, in any respect, it was a really fun time. I got to really take advantage of my Spanish skills, as I was the Only Gringa at the party (it was at my house, so duh...). But it was really fun, and at somepoint into the night, the people from my class asked me if I would dance for them. They were very curious about what I meant by "danza moderna" and had asked if I wouldn´t mind demonstrating. Well, duh! I love to dance, obvio, and so we turned the music off (because it can sometimes just restrict me), and I Danced in the wonderful space that we had made in my living room. I don´t really know for how long I danced, or how it looked "" or anything, but man it sure felt good. And I think my classmates and Profe were all pretty impressed as well. In all, it was a great night, and at about 4:30 or so, I said my goodbye´s and went to bed.
The next day, I woke up and, as planned, went to Santiago to visit a Chilean friend I had met a while back in Viña. He is from Punta Arenas (really beautiful in the South of Chile), and is studying archiecture in Santiago. So, I gathered my things, walked to the bus terminal and headed off to Santiago. I had told my friend that I would arrive at 2:30, and called him when I did. He said he was on his way, so I waited. And waited. And Waited. Finally at about 3:30, my friend came and got me and we hung out at his apartment ad did some art. His brother is this crazy-good artist, and super nice as well, so we all had a great time. When dinner time rolled around, I was not settled with just pasta, so I went to the market and bought fresh vegetables (almost un heard of to these guys), and cooked a most excellent concoction. Then, the next morning I bought some eggs, and again made a delishous breakfast for us all to enjoy.
I had almost forgotten how much I really love cooking. Some of my greatest memories involve cooking with my mom, listening to music, and the occasional glass of wine. But cooking is more than just food on a plate. It is about the actual food itself and How you chop it, What you add to it, and how you treat it. I believe cooking is one of the rare great gifts we can share with eachother across cultures, and above all else. It comes from the heart and goes to the stomach. What could be better!? So, after my weekend, I am feeling just dandy about everything in life, and am really looking forward to spending another lot of months here, getting deeper into myself, and my artestry as a person, dancer, cook and friend. Chile has treated me very well, and for this I thank it. I went to the beach when I got back to Viña, and ate an ice cream along the way. How wonderful!
Hope you´re all doing well up there. :)
chau chau!
jueves, 19 de noviembre de 2009
summer legs, part 2
Hello all
Again, hello. It has been a while so I thought I´d give a bit of an update on how life has been down here lately... We are entering summer, and (again) it is So beautiful. I walked to the beach the other night after one of my classes to watch the sun set, and it was one of those "oh my god" kind of sunsets. I sat there nearly the whole time thinking to myself "wow, I Cannot Believe I LIVE here! I LIVE HERE!" It was amazing, there I was, just sitting on the beach, watching the sunset and enjoying life. Very tranqilo. (Unlike the other day when my "sunset time" was interrupted by a drunk bum who wanted "nada con nada, mi Amor! No sales mi amooooorrrr!!!!!". ugh...) Life is so funny sometimes, how it just comes and goes. I can´t recall a time in my life where I have been able to so deeply talk to myself. To ask myself the deepest questions of my heart, and to really explore my being. It has been lonley at times, but so fufilling. Sometimes I find myself laughing- to myself and at myself. And I think that´s great. If you can´t laugh at and with yourself, then who can? If you don´t love and cherish and respect yourself, who can? This is where WE come in. Into ourselfs.
I had a final the other day where I had to answer the question of what I think it means to "be human". Damn, there aren´t enough words in any language to describe that... But, I did my best with the time and resources (and my Spanish-English Dictionary, aka best friend) that I had, and think I managed to express all the important things. well, "important things". Meaning the things in that moment I believed were important enough to share... On the school note...
I am having a party tomorrow night for my "final" for my Theatre class. I offered my place, and about 25 folks are going to come and have an asado (BBQ), drinks and maybe some Karaoke as well(?). There will be nothing that even closley pertains to Theatre. Oh Chile...
But, its not all Pisco and Parties... These next few weeks (2) will be pretty rigorous as I will be studying, gathering information for presentations, and getting all of my stuff together to travel! Two weeks from now, I will be on my way to Pucón, Chile; a small town in the South that Amelie said reminds her of the Butte! I am way excited. And after that, I will be traveling around down there with my friend Conor for another week, exploring as much as we can. Then, back to Viña for my host sister´s birthday (the 15) and then sometime late December, to Peru, Ecuador and Colombia! wooooowwwww. Yup, thats Actually going to happen. puuuucha, I can hardly believe it sometimes. Go life! Even when life is shitty, or sad, or lonley or whatever- its Still Good. Its still life. It is not stopping anytime soon (until it does), so... Have fun. Enjoy everything, because that´s what you´ve got. We have what we have, and we give and recieve what we have as well.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about food lately. Food, and how we grow it, and how we get it and where we get it from, is the Future. If we are to survive on this planet for much longer, we MUST start really thinking seriously about the quality (and quantity) of the food we grow and consume.
ok, more on that later, though...
I went to Conor´s sculpture class the other day to check out his bronze sculpture he made, and it was so neat! They made everything from scratch, including the oven which they baked the liquid bronze in. It was really neat, and I got to help him polish some of his piece! Also, I am pretty certian about living in an apartment in Valpo next semeser with other Chileans. :) I think that will be a really great experience. I LOVE and adore my host family So much, but think a little more independence down here would be totally rad...
So, thats just a little update on where I´m at right now.
Oh, and the "summer legs" thing is in reference to how much I love my legs in the summer. They are tanned and toned, not from the gym or tanning beds, but by work and play and sunshine. Three of my favorite things. And much more to come in the next few months as well!
Hope you are all well. Stay warm, stay light, and eat WELL and consciously!
:) Chau chau!
Again, hello. It has been a while so I thought I´d give a bit of an update on how life has been down here lately... We are entering summer, and (again) it is So beautiful. I walked to the beach the other night after one of my classes to watch the sun set, and it was one of those "oh my god" kind of sunsets. I sat there nearly the whole time thinking to myself "wow, I Cannot Believe I LIVE here! I LIVE HERE!" It was amazing, there I was, just sitting on the beach, watching the sunset and enjoying life. Very tranqilo. (Unlike the other day when my "sunset time" was interrupted by a drunk bum who wanted "nada con nada, mi Amor! No sales mi amooooorrrr!!!!!". ugh...) Life is so funny sometimes, how it just comes and goes. I can´t recall a time in my life where I have been able to so deeply talk to myself. To ask myself the deepest questions of my heart, and to really explore my being. It has been lonley at times, but so fufilling. Sometimes I find myself laughing- to myself and at myself. And I think that´s great. If you can´t laugh at and with yourself, then who can? If you don´t love and cherish and respect yourself, who can? This is where WE come in. Into ourselfs.
I had a final the other day where I had to answer the question of what I think it means to "be human". Damn, there aren´t enough words in any language to describe that... But, I did my best with the time and resources (and my Spanish-English Dictionary, aka best friend) that I had, and think I managed to express all the important things. well, "important things". Meaning the things in that moment I believed were important enough to share... On the school note...
I am having a party tomorrow night for my "final" for my Theatre class. I offered my place, and about 25 folks are going to come and have an asado (BBQ), drinks and maybe some Karaoke as well(?). There will be nothing that even closley pertains to Theatre. Oh Chile...
But, its not all Pisco and Parties... These next few weeks (2) will be pretty rigorous as I will be studying, gathering information for presentations, and getting all of my stuff together to travel! Two weeks from now, I will be on my way to Pucón, Chile; a small town in the South that Amelie said reminds her of the Butte! I am way excited. And after that, I will be traveling around down there with my friend Conor for another week, exploring as much as we can. Then, back to Viña for my host sister´s birthday (the 15) and then sometime late December, to Peru, Ecuador and Colombia! wooooowwwww. Yup, thats Actually going to happen. puuuucha, I can hardly believe it sometimes. Go life! Even when life is shitty, or sad, or lonley or whatever- its Still Good. Its still life. It is not stopping anytime soon (until it does), so... Have fun. Enjoy everything, because that´s what you´ve got. We have what we have, and we give and recieve what we have as well.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about food lately. Food, and how we grow it, and how we get it and where we get it from, is the Future. If we are to survive on this planet for much longer, we MUST start really thinking seriously about the quality (and quantity) of the food we grow and consume.
ok, more on that later, though...
I went to Conor´s sculpture class the other day to check out his bronze sculpture he made, and it was so neat! They made everything from scratch, including the oven which they baked the liquid bronze in. It was really neat, and I got to help him polish some of his piece! Also, I am pretty certian about living in an apartment in Valpo next semeser with other Chileans. :) I think that will be a really great experience. I LOVE and adore my host family So much, but think a little more independence down here would be totally rad...
So, thats just a little update on where I´m at right now.
Oh, and the "summer legs" thing is in reference to how much I love my legs in the summer. They are tanned and toned, not from the gym or tanning beds, but by work and play and sunshine. Three of my favorite things. And much more to come in the next few months as well!
Hope you are all well. Stay warm, stay light, and eat WELL and consciously!
:) Chau chau!
jueves, 12 de noviembre de 2009
Gay bars and crying Babies (!?!?!)
Hello all,
I´m a little sleepy while writing this, so pardon the lack of lucid thoughts.... Anyway, the reason I am so tired is because I have gone out for the last two nights and gotten home at about 4 AM. Thus, Chile has provided lots of good times and early mornings! But, nontheless, I have been having a blast and would gladly trade sleep for a fun conversation or dancing till dawn!
Tuesday night, I was sitting in my room (admittedly killing time on Facebook) and Camilo, this guy who lives in my house, popped his head into my room and with a grin said "CELINE! CARRETE!?" It was a Tuesday, and I didnt have much to do the next day (an English lesson at 11 and class at 330) so I said, "yea, po! Al tiro!". So, after some discussion about my dislike for weekly Reggaeton, we decided to go to a gay bar in Valpo where they play fun, danceable pop music. He had a girl friend who wanted to go as well, so we made some Piscolas and went off to Valpo to meet her. After circling Valpo for a while, we finally made it in, and boy was it a sight! Firstly, there were these manicans proped up at the bar, with ambiguous parts, and there were some silly wigs and other strange things as well. But not to be distracted from all of the homo-sexual humans making out and having a good time. I was dancing (obvo) and happened to be near this cute girl. As I was dancing, however, I think her Girlfriend got jelous or something because the next thing I knew they were making out and then fighting! huh, and there I was, just dancing...Anyway, the night passed and it was pretty fun (I met a girl from Argentina that told me that my Gemini and year of the Snake birth order was "dangerously powerful" -hahum).
Its funny how life works sometimes... Earlier on that day I had met up with a group from this class I´m in about Love and Sexuality, and we conversed about everything from homosexuality to porn to sex education. Then later on that night, before going out, Camilo and I had a very interesting conversation about sex vs. sexuality. He was coming from a more a-sexual point of view, and said that he just doesn´t have much interest in persuing SEX. I mean, we have these parts to pro-create, but maybe there are just some people who are not fit for that. Population control? who knows.
Anyway, the other day I was on the Metro and JUST made it, too. phewph. So I sat down, calmed down (it was a sprint to catch it, and the heat of the day made me perspire) and my ears were imediately flooded by this young boy (strapped in a stroler) who was just WAILING! I mean, Screaming and Crying as if something horrible was on its way out of him. At first it made me smile a little, because kids are just so funny in the way that they are constantly testing their vocal limits. So at firstI thought he was just experimenting with his vocal chords, but then after about 10 minutes of it, he just seemed truly miserable. Trying to squirm his way out of his confined situation, and just continuing to cry and cry. And the poor mother, she had seen it all before, just let him cry, let him squirm. After many failed attempts at putting a pasafire in his mouth, she just sort of gave up, like "yup, he´s crying, and will cry for a while...". I must say, I was definately glad to get off at my Recreo stop. Crying babies. hm. I wonder how many babies are crying right now? How funny that of all the crying babies in the world, this one just happened to be on the same metro at the same time as me. Well, there you go. I may have some kind of metaphor or something to draw from this, but it is burried in a pisco-covered fog at the moment. So, thanks for reading.
Chau chau!
I´m a little sleepy while writing this, so pardon the lack of lucid thoughts.... Anyway, the reason I am so tired is because I have gone out for the last two nights and gotten home at about 4 AM. Thus, Chile has provided lots of good times and early mornings! But, nontheless, I have been having a blast and would gladly trade sleep for a fun conversation or dancing till dawn!
Tuesday night, I was sitting in my room (admittedly killing time on Facebook) and Camilo, this guy who lives in my house, popped his head into my room and with a grin said "CELINE! CARRETE!?" It was a Tuesday, and I didnt have much to do the next day (an English lesson at 11 and class at 330) so I said, "yea, po! Al tiro!". So, after some discussion about my dislike for weekly Reggaeton, we decided to go to a gay bar in Valpo where they play fun, danceable pop music. He had a girl friend who wanted to go as well, so we made some Piscolas and went off to Valpo to meet her. After circling Valpo for a while, we finally made it in, and boy was it a sight! Firstly, there were these manicans proped up at the bar, with ambiguous parts, and there were some silly wigs and other strange things as well. But not to be distracted from all of the homo-sexual humans making out and having a good time. I was dancing (obvo) and happened to be near this cute girl. As I was dancing, however, I think her Girlfriend got jelous or something because the next thing I knew they were making out and then fighting! huh, and there I was, just dancing...Anyway, the night passed and it was pretty fun (I met a girl from Argentina that told me that my Gemini and year of the Snake birth order was "dangerously powerful" -hahum).
Its funny how life works sometimes... Earlier on that day I had met up with a group from this class I´m in about Love and Sexuality, and we conversed about everything from homosexuality to porn to sex education. Then later on that night, before going out, Camilo and I had a very interesting conversation about sex vs. sexuality. He was coming from a more a-sexual point of view, and said that he just doesn´t have much interest in persuing SEX. I mean, we have these parts to pro-create, but maybe there are just some people who are not fit for that. Population control? who knows.
Anyway, the other day I was on the Metro and JUST made it, too. phewph. So I sat down, calmed down (it was a sprint to catch it, and the heat of the day made me perspire) and my ears were imediately flooded by this young boy (strapped in a stroler) who was just WAILING! I mean, Screaming and Crying as if something horrible was on its way out of him. At first it made me smile a little, because kids are just so funny in the way that they are constantly testing their vocal limits. So at firstI thought he was just experimenting with his vocal chords, but then after about 10 minutes of it, he just seemed truly miserable. Trying to squirm his way out of his confined situation, and just continuing to cry and cry. And the poor mother, she had seen it all before, just let him cry, let him squirm. After many failed attempts at putting a pasafire in his mouth, she just sort of gave up, like "yup, he´s crying, and will cry for a while...". I must say, I was definately glad to get off at my Recreo stop. Crying babies. hm. I wonder how many babies are crying right now? How funny that of all the crying babies in the world, this one just happened to be on the same metro at the same time as me. Well, there you go. I may have some kind of metaphor or something to draw from this, but it is burried in a pisco-covered fog at the moment. So, thanks for reading.
Chau chau!
lunes, 9 de noviembre de 2009
Chilllllll(e)
Hello All!
Writing here after a really nice weekend to a small town in Chile called Curicó where two friends Amy, Will and I spent time hanging out and looking at some Beautiful waterfalls! We left on Saturday and arrived in the afternoon to walk around and hang out in Curicó. There wasn´t much to do there (not even a movie theatre!) so we just kind of relaxed a bit and went to the mall (where the Supermarket is, of course!) to get food for our hike the next day. We then went to this restaurant because the lady at our hostile didn´t let us use the kitchen, and had a really good meal. Then the next day we got up and went to find a bus to take us to the town from which we would take another bus to get to the National Park. Well, we missed the bus to the National Park, and ended up successfully hitch-hiking the rest of the way to the park. We then hiked and played amongst the rocks of this beautiful, clear, turquoise river and marveled at the Waterfalls. on the way back and got a ride from this Colombian couple that were Really nice, Really cool, and Really stoked about how awesome Colombia is. (Confirming that, yes, I AM going there this summer...). So in all, it was a successful fun trip.
There´s this attitude in Chile that is "work hard, play hard". And seeing as how I don´t really work, per se, I do quite a bit of playing (and by playing I mean relaxing...). The whole concept of time down here is just SO different from that of the US. There isn´t such an obsession with controling it. It is not something to be manipulated or to be used against us. It seems down here as it exists only to enjoy and to be taken advantage of. Being late to something is not as heavily penalized here, because who knows? Maybe you were doing something awesome that ran over a little, and thus caused you to show up "late", or something... There is just this air of mystery concerning the concept of time, and once you get it, and stop trying to control or fight it, it flies by and is passed like the breeze. So many of my days down here have been passed so easily, and I can maybe count on one hand the amount of times I have been or felt STRESSED for any substancial period of time. "Shit, I am running late for class-where is my Metro card, I may miss it and be late, ugggghh..." then"well, I missed the Metro, but wow the clouds look nice today, I wonder if the Professor will be there on time (if at all) hummde dummmm." and that´s it. Stress for one second tops, and then back to enjoying my life. Stress is such a funny thing. It is great that we have an instinct to warn our bodies of over-stimulation, but when we remain in that state (or any state for that matter) for any sustained period of time, it doesn´t serve us. As humans I feel that the Only thing that is constant is that we are constantly changing. (Did someone famous already say that?) Every moment, every thing we see, hear, think about and feel changes us. Even if just for a second, we become different. I could easily write a blog every day about funny things I see here: Dogs going through the trash, a mom helping her little boy Pee on the sidewalk, the guy in the Metro playing Clapton and Bach on the wodden flute.... It is endless, and every day something is different. These things I experience (that we ALL experience) do not necessiarily change us immediately, rather they open up new pathways in our minds as to what ELSE. What else is Possible, probable, acceptable...What else is Out there? What are we thinking!? As individuals, communities, countries, as a planet? Is it just noise, or is there something else. Maybe there is an underlying rythm without language, without Politics, without wars, energy, food, money... Maybe there just is. A pulse, maybe? Can we hear it? Do we have the Time to stop and listen to it? Do we even care??? Because what is it, really? Why do we get up at a certian time every day? Go do our things "on time", get home "on time". What if we just let it be. Sleep until you feel like getting up, do what you feel like doing when you Are up. TAKE time, Enjoy time, have a GOOD time. Because it IS limited. One day we will die. Will "time" exist then???
shit, I don´t know...
Until then, however, I am going to make the best of my time and let it happen. Wherever we are-there we are. Thanks for taking the time to read this. :)
Chau Chau!
Writing here after a really nice weekend to a small town in Chile called Curicó where two friends Amy, Will and I spent time hanging out and looking at some Beautiful waterfalls! We left on Saturday and arrived in the afternoon to walk around and hang out in Curicó. There wasn´t much to do there (not even a movie theatre!) so we just kind of relaxed a bit and went to the mall (where the Supermarket is, of course!) to get food for our hike the next day. We then went to this restaurant because the lady at our hostile didn´t let us use the kitchen, and had a really good meal. Then the next day we got up and went to find a bus to take us to the town from which we would take another bus to get to the National Park. Well, we missed the bus to the National Park, and ended up successfully hitch-hiking the rest of the way to the park. We then hiked and played amongst the rocks of this beautiful, clear, turquoise river and marveled at the Waterfalls. on the way back and got a ride from this Colombian couple that were Really nice, Really cool, and Really stoked about how awesome Colombia is. (Confirming that, yes, I AM going there this summer...). So in all, it was a successful fun trip.
There´s this attitude in Chile that is "work hard, play hard". And seeing as how I don´t really work, per se, I do quite a bit of playing (and by playing I mean relaxing...). The whole concept of time down here is just SO different from that of the US. There isn´t such an obsession with controling it. It is not something to be manipulated or to be used against us. It seems down here as it exists only to enjoy and to be taken advantage of. Being late to something is not as heavily penalized here, because who knows? Maybe you were doing something awesome that ran over a little, and thus caused you to show up "late", or something... There is just this air of mystery concerning the concept of time, and once you get it, and stop trying to control or fight it, it flies by and is passed like the breeze. So many of my days down here have been passed so easily, and I can maybe count on one hand the amount of times I have been or felt STRESSED for any substancial period of time. "Shit, I am running late for class-where is my Metro card, I may miss it and be late, ugggghh..." then"well, I missed the Metro, but wow the clouds look nice today, I wonder if the Professor will be there on time (if at all) hummde dummmm." and that´s it. Stress for one second tops, and then back to enjoying my life. Stress is such a funny thing. It is great that we have an instinct to warn our bodies of over-stimulation, but when we remain in that state (or any state for that matter) for any sustained period of time, it doesn´t serve us. As humans I feel that the Only thing that is constant is that we are constantly changing. (Did someone famous already say that?) Every moment, every thing we see, hear, think about and feel changes us. Even if just for a second, we become different. I could easily write a blog every day about funny things I see here: Dogs going through the trash, a mom helping her little boy Pee on the sidewalk, the guy in the Metro playing Clapton and Bach on the wodden flute.... It is endless, and every day something is different. These things I experience (that we ALL experience) do not necessiarily change us immediately, rather they open up new pathways in our minds as to what ELSE. What else is Possible, probable, acceptable...What else is Out there? What are we thinking!? As individuals, communities, countries, as a planet? Is it just noise, or is there something else. Maybe there is an underlying rythm without language, without Politics, without wars, energy, food, money... Maybe there just is. A pulse, maybe? Can we hear it? Do we have the Time to stop and listen to it? Do we even care??? Because what is it, really? Why do we get up at a certian time every day? Go do our things "on time", get home "on time". What if we just let it be. Sleep until you feel like getting up, do what you feel like doing when you Are up. TAKE time, Enjoy time, have a GOOD time. Because it IS limited. One day we will die. Will "time" exist then???
shit, I don´t know...
Until then, however, I am going to make the best of my time and let it happen. Wherever we are-there we are. Thanks for taking the time to read this. :)
Chau Chau!
lunes, 2 de noviembre de 2009
thoughts...
Hello all (again!),
So, after the day I have been doing some thinking and am ready to share some thoughts...
On the issue of weight: I have shared many experiences with the girls (and guys) about the fact that we´ve ALL gained some weight. But we have gained so much more, no?? So I figure, its not HOW you gain (by eating too much Pan, maybe??), but what you gain it and how you carry it. How you carry yourself no matter what Size you are. I saw on the profile of one of my friends this video about "fat talk" and how (I think it is Delta Delta Delta) has this whole campaign to try and stop it. This "I´m so fat" or, "do I look fat in this?" that kind of stuff. It is so negative and so un-necessiary. Whenever I have gotten a compliment that I "look good" it is because I have FELT good. Inside and out. And weight is such a temporary thing, anyway. Our bodies are such wonderful and delicate tools that OF COURSE what we put into them, we get out of them. Science. Common sence. Being "in-tune". so, thats that. If you feel good, look good, bee good...All is well...
On the issue of light: Today, while walking home from the metro, I realized something. It was within the context of one of those can´t-take-your-eyes-off-it sunsets, setting over the sea... And I realized that I felt, absorbed, radiated and walked in Light. Luz. I wrote this word in my book the other day luzco. And it means "I shine" and I like that. Then I came home and had a wonderful conversation with my host mom about many many things, some pertaining to light and the light you carry within you. (sidenote:My host brother got a tattoo today of a sun on his right shoulder to represent the fact that he has come forth from a darkness and is now into light. yea.) Monica shared many things with me about myhost sister´s father (not the same as my host-Brother), and how he was just "terrible, terrible". He seemed like a dark person, and Monica did an impressive job of describing his soul to me. She also said some really profound things about the improtance of having people in your life to support and be there for you. Now...
On the issue of family: Monica has said so many times, that I am a part of their family here. She is somewhat religous, and shared with me that she believes it was God who put me in this house with them. Although I may not believe in any conventional "GOD" per-se, I do believe there was some wonderful series of events that lead perfectly to my arrival. In more conversing, we talked about how important it is that we have trust in eachother, and she told me that she is ALWAYS going to be there for me, no matter what. The importance of this is bigger than words can hold, and something I can only feel. She said "when people are alone, Celine, and feel sad at the same time- this is when they make mistakes". And I agree. I have comitted many errors in the past, and of course will commit more throughout my life, but after knowing how to Dissapoint my parents (family, friends) I have decided that I like making them Proud better. And this isn´t to say I ´ll Never mess up again (Pretty sure I AM human, after all...). But that I will try to instead seek support over solidarity. Comfort over control, and love over lashing-out (ok, that last one was just for the alliteration, but I think the point stays clear).
On the issue of "Trivial things": I have an ice cream date tomorrow :). I was a little nervous (for some reason) and Monica calmed my nerves. The very WORST thing that could happen is that it is slightly awkward, and we find out that we´re not conversationally compatible. OH WELL. The best, is that I have a new friend to talk to and chat with and hang out with. And Why cover the best of me with nerves? Isn´t it the best of me that I want to show!? Isn´t that the point? Here I am at my Very Best. ¿Ya? Because if not, then that is only less of my best to share with you, and more to share with someone who recieves it and shares back. Another Monica saying "You don´t have to only be pretty after a couple of Beers, Celine" and "It is nice to go to bed with someone, but waking up with them is nice, too. And doing that every day can be even nicer". Oh Monica... Thank you.
So, thats (more-or- less) where I am at this point in my examination of life...Which is what this is, really. Just one big experiment to try, examine, explore, get results, and try again...mmmmm. wow, I am bursting with thoughts at the moment, but may need to let them stew a while longer so they are more savory when shared at last. After all, I need to get rested for tomorrow! haha, sort of kidding :)
Chau chau!
So, after the day I have been doing some thinking and am ready to share some thoughts...
On the issue of weight: I have shared many experiences with the girls (and guys) about the fact that we´ve ALL gained some weight. But we have gained so much more, no?? So I figure, its not HOW you gain (by eating too much Pan, maybe??), but what you gain it and how you carry it. How you carry yourself no matter what Size you are. I saw on the profile of one of my friends this video about "fat talk" and how (I think it is Delta Delta Delta) has this whole campaign to try and stop it. This "I´m so fat" or, "do I look fat in this?" that kind of stuff. It is so negative and so un-necessiary. Whenever I have gotten a compliment that I "look good" it is because I have FELT good. Inside and out. And weight is such a temporary thing, anyway. Our bodies are such wonderful and delicate tools that OF COURSE what we put into them, we get out of them. Science. Common sence. Being "in-tune". so, thats that. If you feel good, look good, bee good...All is well...
On the issue of light: Today, while walking home from the metro, I realized something. It was within the context of one of those can´t-take-your-eyes-off-it sunsets, setting over the sea... And I realized that I felt, absorbed, radiated and walked in Light. Luz. I wrote this word in my book the other day luzco. And it means "I shine" and I like that. Then I came home and had a wonderful conversation with my host mom about many many things, some pertaining to light and the light you carry within you. (sidenote:My host brother got a tattoo today of a sun on his right shoulder to represent the fact that he has come forth from a darkness and is now into light. yea.) Monica shared many things with me about myhost sister´s father (not the same as my host-Brother), and how he was just "terrible, terrible". He seemed like a dark person, and Monica did an impressive job of describing his soul to me. She also said some really profound things about the improtance of having people in your life to support and be there for you. Now...
On the issue of family: Monica has said so many times, that I am a part of their family here. She is somewhat religous, and shared with me that she believes it was God who put me in this house with them. Although I may not believe in any conventional "GOD" per-se, I do believe there was some wonderful series of events that lead perfectly to my arrival. In more conversing, we talked about how important it is that we have trust in eachother, and she told me that she is ALWAYS going to be there for me, no matter what. The importance of this is bigger than words can hold, and something I can only feel. She said "when people are alone, Celine, and feel sad at the same time- this is when they make mistakes". And I agree. I have comitted many errors in the past, and of course will commit more throughout my life, but after knowing how to Dissapoint my parents (family, friends) I have decided that I like making them Proud better. And this isn´t to say I ´ll Never mess up again (Pretty sure I AM human, after all...). But that I will try to instead seek support over solidarity. Comfort over control, and love over lashing-out (ok, that last one was just for the alliteration, but I think the point stays clear).
On the issue of "Trivial things": I have an ice cream date tomorrow :). I was a little nervous (for some reason) and Monica calmed my nerves. The very WORST thing that could happen is that it is slightly awkward, and we find out that we´re not conversationally compatible. OH WELL. The best, is that I have a new friend to talk to and chat with and hang out with. And Why cover the best of me with nerves? Isn´t it the best of me that I want to show!? Isn´t that the point? Here I am at my Very Best. ¿Ya? Because if not, then that is only less of my best to share with you, and more to share with someone who recieves it and shares back. Another Monica saying "You don´t have to only be pretty after a couple of Beers, Celine" and "It is nice to go to bed with someone, but waking up with them is nice, too. And doing that every day can be even nicer". Oh Monica... Thank you.
So, thats (more-or- less) where I am at this point in my examination of life...Which is what this is, really. Just one big experiment to try, examine, explore, get results, and try again...mmmmm. wow, I am bursting with thoughts at the moment, but may need to let them stew a while longer so they are more savory when shared at last. After all, I need to get rested for tomorrow! haha, sort of kidding :)
Chau chau!
Where in the world!?!?!?
Hello all,
Writing again not the day after, but two days after Halloween. The Day after was spent in bed. Sleeping. From about 2PM to 7 I slept, then got up and ate at 7, then went back to bed until about 9 this mornng (with some minor interruptions by my cat at around 2 and 7 AM). But, por fin, here I am alive and well and about to share my first (and hopefully not last) Chilean Halloween experience. The night was pretty long, so I´ll do a timeline of the night- thoughts and events. And when I say "timeline" I mean a VERY rough estimate of what time I think it was (as looking at a clock has become a rare occurance down here...). So all of the"times" are like within a half-hour to hour of what time it Could have been... So, here we go!
9ish:Went trick-or-treating (or, Dulces o travesuras) with my adorable little niece who was here visiting along with my Chilean aunt and uncle. She was dressed in a cape and had little light-up devil horns. Very linda.
10ish: Came home and played dress-up. For my costume, as Carmen Sandiego, I wore...A black trenchcoat with a brown belt, a red hat and some boooots that my host mom let me borrow. And underneath, I wore my strapless black and white dress (that I wore for a fashion show last November) and some shorts with some fishnets. I meshed it all together with some RED lipstick, and Became Carmen. The plan was to go meet up with Amelie and Jeannie at a party in Valpo, and then maybe go to two other parties that I knew of. Well, that was the PLAN at least. But 2 out of 3 isn´t too bad...
10:30 ish: Went to either catch the metro (if it was still running) or take a bus to Valpo which is where I would then take a colectivo to the party where Amelie and Jeannie were. So, went to the metro and it was running, but wouldn´t be at my stop for another 12 minutes! So, I thought for a second, then decided on taking the bus instead. So, took the bus, got off in Valpo, and began the (eventually unsuccessful) search for the colectivo.
11ish: After having wandered a bit around Valpo, and calling Amelie to Make SURE I was waiting in the right place, I still hadn´t found the right colevtivo. I am positive I was in the right place, but after asking several drivers if the knew where the street Ollino (?) was and getting contorted replies, I decided I may just spring for a taxi.
1130ish: Trying not to get in a bad mood about STILL waiting for a colectivo, I did decide to just spend the money on a taxi instead. So I began to walk up (again) to the place where most of the taxis go to see if I could get one that wouldn´t rip me off. On my way, I saw one taxi and for some reason that was more like instinct, I decided not to flag it down. It just didn´t feel right. So, I walked a little more and literally Ran Into my friends Pancho, and Margot (Margot is Pancho´s host sister). It was so great, because I was planning on going to the smae party they were going to later. So, I decded that it was not vale la pena to try and navigate my way up and around Valpo, when I could go to the place I was planning on going to anyway. So, I called Amelie and told her my plan, and went with them.
12ish: Went to the bar in-between Viña and Valpo called Bar Amsterdam, and partied-down with most of my friends from CIEE (my program) and some new and old Chilean friends as well. My Carmen costume was a total hit, and every time I told someone (both from the US and Chile) who I was, they were Thrilled! It was sooo much fun, and people loved it. We stayed there for most of the night, and I had told my Chilean friend Rodrigo that I would be there, and we agreed to meet up.
2ish (?): this is where time gets a little fuzzy... But, at some point we though we were going to leave and go somewhere else, so a bundle of us got ready and went outside to go to the "Theatre" (which was somewhere, and had a cover charge..) but, not all of us were really into that idea, so we decided to stay at Amsterdam instead. But, it was getting a little fome, and because I knew of this other party, we decided to go there instead. It was in Viña close to where we all lived, so it seemed like a good thing to do. After waiting and waiting for a micro, we finally got one that took us to Viña. "Va a calle Ecuador?" "sisisi, venga" ok, so it went to Calle Ecuador (or so we thought). And, nope- it turned about 3 blocks to erly, so we got off and huffed a bit about how the driver lied to us... oh well... So we walked (3am now???) to where the party was. On the way, the two girls (Callie and Maddie) who Connor and I were with decided to go home. So Connor and I contunued walking and ended up running into the party! They had abandoned their house, and were walking to this bar called Journal, which we freequently visit. So, I decided to go with them (what would Carmen do!?) and Connor decided to go home.
330ish (or was it more like 4? They were closing the bar, so maybe more like 4...): Rodrigo called, and was outside, and they wouldn´t let him in (or anybody-again, the bar was closing...) So I went out and met him, got him in (thanks to my friend Sebastian who works at the door!), but ended up only staying for a bit.
430ish: met up with Rodrigo´s friends (I guess they were waiting or something???) and decided to drive around and look for something and maybe stop at the ocean on the way. Turns out, I had what we were looking for at my house, and was able to grab it AND change my clothes as well. (as awesome as the high-heeled boots were, 5am was a little too early for them to be out...). So, with some new ropa, I was ready for the next adventure as Celine.
530ish(???): Well, I thought we were going to go to the beach and enjoy ourselves, but we ended up going to get fast-food instead (eew). Since I did not have any desire to do that, Rodrigo and I waited in the car and talked about life. Finally his friends came back, and we decided to go to Reñaca and chill at his friends house.
6ish (the sun was beginning to rise, so..... 630? maybe???): hung out at a lookout, and I was very pleased by the hilly architecture of Reñaca. It was very pretty. At some point I went to relieve myself and discovered just how much I love the fauna here! There were the prettiest purple and yellow flowers on the hillside, and they looked so lovely in the dawn light.
7ish: Went to Rodrigo´s friend´s house, and by using a (surprisingly sharp tipped) straw, and the end of a match stick, I introduced how to transform an apple into smoke.
730or-so: Finally got to rest my head in a real bed! Que bueeeno. But, was woken up early by- who knew- cartoons! how silly... But, I somehow managed to sleep in until about 12 30, then managed to de-suction myself out of bed, and take a micro home (my host brother was getting Confirmed at church at 4 that day). My head was throbbing, though and by the time I got home (at about 2) All I could do was sleep. And that is what I did. I SLEPT. Forever. And it was so nice...
And now, here I am, alive and well, and with fond memories of a fun holiday in Chile. I don´t think there were too many pictures taken of me in my outfit, but maybe Carmen didn´t want to have anyone know where she REALLY was. (Then they would find her! oh no!) So, I´ve got some memories and laughs... And now it is November! Happy November everyone! :)
chau chau! (more on the "thoughts" of the night later...)
Writing again not the day after, but two days after Halloween. The Day after was spent in bed. Sleeping. From about 2PM to 7 I slept, then got up and ate at 7, then went back to bed until about 9 this mornng (with some minor interruptions by my cat at around 2 and 7 AM). But, por fin, here I am alive and well and about to share my first (and hopefully not last) Chilean Halloween experience. The night was pretty long, so I´ll do a timeline of the night- thoughts and events. And when I say "timeline" I mean a VERY rough estimate of what time I think it was (as looking at a clock has become a rare occurance down here...). So all of the"times" are like within a half-hour to hour of what time it Could have been... So, here we go!
9ish:Went trick-or-treating (or, Dulces o travesuras) with my adorable little niece who was here visiting along with my Chilean aunt and uncle. She was dressed in a cape and had little light-up devil horns. Very linda.
10ish: Came home and played dress-up. For my costume, as Carmen Sandiego, I wore...A black trenchcoat with a brown belt, a red hat and some boooots that my host mom let me borrow. And underneath, I wore my strapless black and white dress (that I wore for a fashion show last November) and some shorts with some fishnets. I meshed it all together with some RED lipstick, and Became Carmen. The plan was to go meet up with Amelie and Jeannie at a party in Valpo, and then maybe go to two other parties that I knew of. Well, that was the PLAN at least. But 2 out of 3 isn´t too bad...
10:30 ish: Went to either catch the metro (if it was still running) or take a bus to Valpo which is where I would then take a colectivo to the party where Amelie and Jeannie were. So, went to the metro and it was running, but wouldn´t be at my stop for another 12 minutes! So, I thought for a second, then decided on taking the bus instead. So, took the bus, got off in Valpo, and began the (eventually unsuccessful) search for the colectivo.
11ish: After having wandered a bit around Valpo, and calling Amelie to Make SURE I was waiting in the right place, I still hadn´t found the right colevtivo. I am positive I was in the right place, but after asking several drivers if the knew where the street Ollino (?) was and getting contorted replies, I decided I may just spring for a taxi.
1130ish: Trying not to get in a bad mood about STILL waiting for a colectivo, I did decide to just spend the money on a taxi instead. So I began to walk up (again) to the place where most of the taxis go to see if I could get one that wouldn´t rip me off. On my way, I saw one taxi and for some reason that was more like instinct, I decided not to flag it down. It just didn´t feel right. So, I walked a little more and literally Ran Into my friends Pancho, and Margot (Margot is Pancho´s host sister). It was so great, because I was planning on going to the smae party they were going to later. So, I decded that it was not vale la pena to try and navigate my way up and around Valpo, when I could go to the place I was planning on going to anyway. So, I called Amelie and told her my plan, and went with them.
12ish: Went to the bar in-between Viña and Valpo called Bar Amsterdam, and partied-down with most of my friends from CIEE (my program) and some new and old Chilean friends as well. My Carmen costume was a total hit, and every time I told someone (both from the US and Chile) who I was, they were Thrilled! It was sooo much fun, and people loved it. We stayed there for most of the night, and I had told my Chilean friend Rodrigo that I would be there, and we agreed to meet up.
2ish (?): this is where time gets a little fuzzy... But, at some point we though we were going to leave and go somewhere else, so a bundle of us got ready and went outside to go to the "Theatre" (which was somewhere, and had a cover charge..) but, not all of us were really into that idea, so we decided to stay at Amsterdam instead. But, it was getting a little fome, and because I knew of this other party, we decided to go there instead. It was in Viña close to where we all lived, so it seemed like a good thing to do. After waiting and waiting for a micro, we finally got one that took us to Viña. "Va a calle Ecuador?" "sisisi, venga" ok, so it went to Calle Ecuador (or so we thought). And, nope- it turned about 3 blocks to erly, so we got off and huffed a bit about how the driver lied to us... oh well... So we walked (3am now???) to where the party was. On the way, the two girls (Callie and Maddie) who Connor and I were with decided to go home. So Connor and I contunued walking and ended up running into the party! They had abandoned their house, and were walking to this bar called Journal, which we freequently visit. So, I decided to go with them (what would Carmen do!?) and Connor decided to go home.
330ish (or was it more like 4? They were closing the bar, so maybe more like 4...): Rodrigo called, and was outside, and they wouldn´t let him in (or anybody-again, the bar was closing...) So I went out and met him, got him in (thanks to my friend Sebastian who works at the door!), but ended up only staying for a bit.
430ish: met up with Rodrigo´s friends (I guess they were waiting or something???) and decided to drive around and look for something and maybe stop at the ocean on the way. Turns out, I had what we were looking for at my house, and was able to grab it AND change my clothes as well. (as awesome as the high-heeled boots were, 5am was a little too early for them to be out...). So, with some new ropa, I was ready for the next adventure as Celine.
530ish(???): Well, I thought we were going to go to the beach and enjoy ourselves, but we ended up going to get fast-food instead (eew). Since I did not have any desire to do that, Rodrigo and I waited in the car and talked about life. Finally his friends came back, and we decided to go to Reñaca and chill at his friends house.
6ish (the sun was beginning to rise, so..... 630? maybe???): hung out at a lookout, and I was very pleased by the hilly architecture of Reñaca. It was very pretty. At some point I went to relieve myself and discovered just how much I love the fauna here! There were the prettiest purple and yellow flowers on the hillside, and they looked so lovely in the dawn light.
7ish: Went to Rodrigo´s friend´s house, and by using a (surprisingly sharp tipped) straw, and the end of a match stick, I introduced how to transform an apple into smoke.
730or-so: Finally got to rest my head in a real bed! Que bueeeno. But, was woken up early by- who knew- cartoons! how silly... But, I somehow managed to sleep in until about 12 30, then managed to de-suction myself out of bed, and take a micro home (my host brother was getting Confirmed at church at 4 that day). My head was throbbing, though and by the time I got home (at about 2) All I could do was sleep. And that is what I did. I SLEPT. Forever. And it was so nice...
And now, here I am, alive and well, and with fond memories of a fun holiday in Chile. I don´t think there were too many pictures taken of me in my outfit, but maybe Carmen didn´t want to have anyone know where she REALLY was. (Then they would find her! oh no!) So, I´ve got some memories and laughs... And now it is November! Happy November everyone! :)
chau chau! (more on the "thoughts" of the night later...)
Suscribirse a:
Comentarios (Atom)