Friday, March 11, 2011

Delivering Signs and Dusting from Their Eyes

So, it has been forever and a day since I last posted. Well, okay, not forever and a day, but you know it has been awhile. Life can just get so crazy and hectic sometimes and sometimes there isn't much to write about. Since the last time I posted, we moved from the house Jake, Cati, and I were staying in (Casa Pudahuel) and moved into the new JV House (located in Estacion Central). It still is in its beginning stages, but it definitely looks livable now (Jake and Cati washed their bedroom floors by hand; same with the bathrooms and I have swept like I have never swept before). Santiago is quite a dusty city and no matter how much you think you may have cleaned your house, there is still more work to done. We washed and painted walls and had to ordered gas tanks (gas lines installed in homes is a luxury). Also, we now stand in solidarity with the other international communities (like we weren't in solidarity with them already) in the sense that we are now an internet-free house! I will now be mooching wifi from local cafes and from work (Work will be an entirely different paragraph in this very post). 
After living in the house for a couple of days (this was at the beginning of the month), we went on holiday to the South of Chile. It was a 10-day adventure and every moment of it was an experience. Let's start off with the bus trip down. The first city on our trip was Valdavia. Valdavia is about 12 hours south of Chile. Those who know me well know that I get motion sickness. I bought 7.000 chilean pesos worth of medication to put me off of my misery on the way down. It did its job (it put me out for 6-8 hours) and when I awoke, we were an hour outside of Valdavia. We arrived at the bis terminal, had some tea and coffee, and then got a micro to go to our hostel. When we arrived at our hostel, we told the workers there that we had made reservations online. They did not have our reservations. After a brief squabble with them, they gave us our room. It was decent and quite cozy. Our first night there, we met a ex-patriate from Great Britain who was now living in Spain. She was doing a tour of Chile before returning to Europe. 
That night, I wanted to shower. The last time I had showered was two and a half days before arriving in Valdavia. When preparing to shower, I was greeted to a bathroom with no curtains or blinds and with a floor that had more water on it than the bathtub had in it. I took a quick shower, dressed, and then went to bed. When I woke up the next morning, I wasn't feeling too hot. I got dress and went down to the basement to use the computer. I was greeted by two Chileans and an Argentine. I could not, for the life of me, understand the Chileans (Chilean Spanish is one of the most difficult to understand), but the Argentine was definitely easier understand. The men had been drinking homemade hard cider while talking with the Argentine. One of the Chileans then turned his attention to me and offered me a drink. I figured "Why not? When in Rome."The drink had an interesting aroma with a hint of fermented fruit. It was more bitter than it was sweet. All in all, it was definitely better than having to drink PBR or High Life. 
As the day went on, my community mates and I traveled outside Valdivia to visit Kunstmann brewery, a Valdavian staple, and a must-do recommended by our ICC. When we arrived, we learned the brewery had been turned into a museum, but the restaurant portion still was in order order. Jake and I ordered two massive beer steins while Cati had a Coca Light (We were a little disappointed in her, but who are we to judge?) and top our massive meals that followed, we shared kutchen. It was fun and afterwards, we headed back to the hostel. When we returned to our room, the Brit ex-patriate was gone and now in her place was the Argentine and two Swiss backpackers. While I continued to talk with the Argentine, Jake and Cati introduced themselves to the Swiss. I hung out with the Argentine for most of the night and learned about each other's backgrounds. She told me the reason why she doesn't get close to farm animals (the reason being because you might eat them one day). There was also a pow-wow outside. We met up with one of the Chileans again and found out that he actually works at the hostel. He handed us some more of his homemade brew (this wine and fruit). After awhile, both the Argentine and I were tired  so we decided to go to bed. 
When I awoke the next morning, I was feeling worse than I did the day before. I could no longer deny that I had a cold. If that wasn't bad enough, that day, the very same day, I was going a 5-hour boat tour with Cati and Jake. A cold + motion sickness = misery. I did my best to put on a brave face, but it wasn't enough. I was feeling nauseous because of the rockiness of the water and I felt feverish. How I regretted the boat trip only two hours in (Upside: the meal I had on the trip was one of the most delicious I have had while in Chile). After the boat tour, we headed back to the hostel and shared a meal with the Swiss and one o f the hostel workers (a German... I feel so worldly). The next morning, we were on a 3-hour bus ride down south to Puerto Montt. We waited there for a friend and while we waited, we tried to look for a place that had internet). We couldn't find one and at this point I just wanted to rest. I didn't care where, but as long as I could sit down and not be bothered. 
It was a hole-in-the-wall type of place. Their menu was limited and it seemed like the kind of place that you would expect to see at the beginning of a horror film that would foreshadow what it is to come. As Cati and Jake were discussing what would be our next move, I just zoned out. Morale was definitely at its lowest point. They asked me what I felt like doing and I told them “I could give two [expletives] about what we do. I’m just miserable right now.” I guess I kind of freaked them out, but long story short. I think after a few days of rest and more medication, I was feeling better. Once we returned to Santiago, things definitely felt a whole lot better. I love nature and all, but not when I am sick. I was glad to return to the smog, head, and noise that is Santiago.
So, I began writing this post almost two weeks ago (today is the 11th of March) and I began work at my school. I love it. The teachers and staff are amazing and I am looking forward to the year. I have been given so much work and it seems overwhelming (which it is), but I am excited. In addition to putting liturgies together and being in charge of the catechism classes, I have been also put in charge of teaching kids Church doctrine and during faculty meetings, teaching the adults more about Ignatian Spirituality and Jesuit philosophy. I am probably going to go on a power trip because here the kids do not call their teachers “maestro” but they call them “profesor.” I don’t need my Master’s here to be considered a professor. Currently, I am sitting in my office making sure I have the things I need for my first “encuentro” with the catechists. I figured going to the Vatican’s website would make life easier rather than just googling “confirmation.” 
Also, the country of Chile is on tsunami watch. When I walked into the faculty lounge this morning, the news was on. The breaking news story of the day was that there was an earthquake in Japan followed by a tsunami. Today happens to be the one-year anniversary of PiƱera’s inauguration which was rocked by a 7.2 aftershock (Chile was devastated by an 8.8 earthquake on the 27th of February of 2010). Chileans have very fond memories of that and they feel for the people in Japan. We all feel for the people in Japan and they are in our thoughts and prayers. Not only are the people of Japan in our prayers, but so are the JVs who are in Micronesia right now (they too are under a tsunami warning). 
Well, I must return to my work. I just wanted to get this post out there before another month passes me by. Peace and love to everyone out there and please keep those who were affected by the earthquake in your thoughts and prayers.