Un mes: una reflexión

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

I cannot believe that, as of yesterday, I've been in Viña for a month. Time is flying by so quickly....

Disclaimer: This is going to be a selfish, boring blog post. I want to have a way to track my thoughts and "progress" while I'm here. So I'm mostly just going to be making of list of what I've learned thus far, and what I have left to accomplish.





Why Chile Still Confuses Me

Chile is a land of contradictions. The people here are liberal yet conservative; the country is religious, but secular. I guess it could be argued that it's similar to the US in this manner. But the thing is... it's different. I wish I could explain better. It's almost as if each person is a bit of both, yet claims to be neither. It's this funny combination of advanced and industrialized, and third-world. People have houses of plywood and cardboard, but with satellite TV reception. The first female president was elected in 2006, two years after a law was passed that legalized divorce. I'm also analyzing all of this from an extremely limited viewpoint, something that I'll readily acknowledge. Regardless, Chile me confunde de vez en cuando.

Another example:

Tobacco kills. If you want to live, quit smoking.
Minister of Health, Government of Chile

Just another example! Compare this cigarette carton to the ones that are in the US, with their small warnings that aren't worded quite so strongly as this. And yet, more people smoke here than I thought was possible... Passing the high schools when they get out, all these incredibly young kids; it never ceases to amaze me! But it shouldn't. It's just part of their culture here.

Example numero dos: Soap and Swine flu. Everyone here is SO SCARED of getting sick. God save you if you happen to cough or sniffle on a crowded bus, because the looks that those old ladies are giving you could honestly kill. There are signs everywhere on what you can do to prevent it. YET! None of the bathrooms have soap (or even soap dispensers). Soap is not a big thing here . . . Ohh, Chile

That's really all that still confuses me. But it's their normal, so I'll have to accept it. Especially when considering the relativity of normality.

Oh, right. And there's that whole language thing, too. But I think it's getting better! I'm able to speak a lot faster in Spanish, and with less thought. I can understand nearly everything that my family says to me (most of the time). I definitely need to speak more. I'm entirely content to just sit at a table and let everyone around me talk. Even if I'm comprehending, I'm not practicing - - which isn't helpful.
Mission: Less English, more Spanish.
(Another quick thing... the way I speak in English is changing, too. I phrase sentences differently and my vowel sounds aren't the same as they used to be. My brain is so confused right now)



I'm frustrated with the US, too. Why in the world is it necessary to use the imperial system instead of the metric? (And isn't it ironic that it's called the imperial system and we're essentially the only country that uses it?!) I'm getting better at converting things in my head (but not height/length...), but it's frustrating that it's even necessary.

Dear United States,
Please adopt the metric system. It'd be easier if we all thought in degrees Celsius, kilometers per hour, and the like.
Love,
Many people.


Okay. It's been a weak reflection, but helpful nonetheless. Hopefully this weekend will be filled with fun adventures and day trips so I can post more pictures!


Ciaaaooo!
-Colleen