Chilenismos

First, I would like to share this commercial, which is played at least five times per hour on every kids station in Chile. Since I'm usually the only person in the room laughing hysterically at this, I won't be offended if it isn't the best thing ever to everyone else...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo4axx5zX5g


Aside from playing about 40 rounds of UNO Attack and "Cuatro en Linea" (Connect Four), with Carlitos, who is 9 and way smarter than me, I decided to take a bus to Viña del Mar/Valparaiso this weekend.

I was able to catch a bus with Pablo, my host's brother, who goes to school in Valparaiso. On the ride over, Pablo taught me some "chilenismos," and all the bad words I will need to know to interact with the "jovenes" (young people), as a VERY large percentage of Chilean Spanish is slang. My favorite is "cachai," which means "ok/I understand" and "bacan" (accent on the a...hating my PC), which is like "cool." I really don't think Spanish teachers in the US want American students to be cool to any degree in Spanish speaking countries. I have run across numerous situations where the vocabulary I learned is either unheard of, or sounds really awkward. It's basically impossible at this point to not be the awkward foreigner who thinks its cool to say "this is totally groovy friends!"

I am not a very choosy or "picky" person, so when someone asks me what I want to eat, I have been struggling with a way to express that whatever I'm given is fine with me. So, while preparing "almuerzo" (lunch), I was trying to describe the word "picky" to Pablo by using a metaphor of picking berries. (In Spanish) "Some people pick only the good ones, but me...I will eat ALL the berries." Then I thought for a while and asked if it was correct to say "Soy fácil" (I'm easy...). Judging by the shocked look I was given, I am assuming its not ok to say that...wrong translation. In addition, I have explained to too many people why "quizás" is funny to English speakers, so I can't use it anymore without saying QueesAss and snickering a little...shame on me.

I didn't spend too much time in Valpo as I was solo again--just wanted to take some touristy pictures and say I had been there. However...I had just enough time to run into a totally unlikely situation. Valparaiso is known for its Bohemian atmosphere of street performers and other charismatic people...as my travel guide quotes Neruda: "Valparaiso,/how absurd/you are...you haven't combed/ your hair,/you've never/ had/ time to get dressed,/life/ has always/surprised you." Its really a great place, but somehow, I didn't feel that way as I walked towards one of the main plazas, surrounded by a stagnant population of -not very nice looking- people...all the store fronts are closed, police on every corner...I clutched my sling purse a little tighter. Just as I realized I was walking the wrong way, I turned around only to see two men running at me with pistols.

(...just enjoying this brief pause knowing my parents are reading this. Love yas!)

As they pass me and I hear a commotion behind me, I walked quickly to the "ascensor" elevator station, which would take me to the top of the "Cerro Concepcion." I asked the operator, who looked way too calm "Qué pasó?" and she told me I had just walked straight through the filming of some Chilean action movie. I wish I knew the name of the movie, but I was way too relieved that no one was on a rampage to kill "gringas" that day to ask. Who knows, maybe I'm an accidental extra...I bet I'm a great "actress."

So I took the elevator to the top of Cerro Concepcion, and guess what I found?! A bunch of other gringos! After my last incident, I was really relieved to see the group of North Face backpacks and hear the Spanish with a hint of US drawl. I gingerly approached in English with a "...where are you guys from," only to confirm my suspicions. And what a great group of estudiantes, all studying in Valparaiso, living in Viña del Mar, I was able to catch a ride back to Viña on the Microbus with one of the girls.

Monday I met up with one of the girls from my program, Sam, who is no better at reading maps than I am :) :) We got lost a few times together before we finally made our way to Barrio Bellavista, where we had lunch and some more Pisco sours. After checking out San Cristobal hill (see left for gringa tourists), where some gift shop employees tried to teach us some of the Chilean national dance, the "Cueca," we had to try a "terremoto," which is a bunch of wine mixed together with a glob of ice cream in the middle. It was tasty, but after one glass I quickly felt how rightfully named the drink was. *[terremoto=earthquake]



I arrived in Arica Tuesday, ~2,300 miles north of Santiago (this country is really really long...) and met up with my travel weary peers. We are in orientation this week, in a sweet hotel with a great view of El Morro (left). We've mostly been learning about how not to offend people, but today a group of "jovenes" came in to give a presentation on all of the best clubs that "jovenes" go to, including a picture representation of why we should not go on Wednesday night...for "Sexo en vivo."

In the short time we've been here, I have managed to break our air conditioner during a fight with the sliding door, and the neighbors have already complained about the loud American students...good start I guess!


In conclusion...which would you order...normal, or gigante?