I have posted pictures of my first 2 weeks. Check them out at :
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015359&l=668a9&id=54001690
I'm heading to La Serena, a city in the north of Chile, this afternoon with IES! I return Sunday and start classes next week!
Chau!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Diferencias Culturales
Since I’m now in the culture shock period of my study abroad experience, I thought it would be appropriate to share my observations about cultural differences between the US and Chile:
COMIDA (food): This is of course an important area of concern. Chilean food is quite different in most cases than what I’m used to, and I have already eaten many things here that I would surely pass up in the US. We have lots and lots of pan (bread). I’m talking lots. Like with every meal. And then some. The Chileans also like their meat. Chicken, turkey, beef… whatever works. Not a whole lot of vegetables. Their salad is very plain, iceberg lettuce with maybe some cucumber or tomato and a vinegar-y dressing. Guacamole is big, chilenos like it on bread, but I’m not so much a fan.
For breakfast, I always have some yogurt and bread. The yogurt is chunky, because they don’t refrigerate their milk. Its really not as gross as it sounds, especially when you add some honey. As for drinks, there is always offered coffee (café) or tea (te), but their coffee is instant Nescafe, which stands for “no es (is) café”. So I have been preferring tea around here. J There is usually some fruit juice available. They think its weird that I actually like to drink water. Sorry to take so much time on the food!
BEING AN “AMERICANA” IN CHILE and CARRETEAR (going out): So we have some free time this weekend, and I went out last night for the first time. It was me, my Chilean sister Angelina, and a few other girls. Let me just say, we attract a lot of attention. Chilenos just know we’re American, and even with my brown hair, here I am pretty much considered blonde. So we ended up on a street with a lot of discoteques (dance clubs) and restaurants, and everyone wanted us to come to their club. There are men that stand outside advertising their establishments, and everyone wants to give us free drinks and whatever we want. They also start to speak English to us when they figure out who we are, and it doesn’t matter how many times we say “No hablo ingles” (I don’t speak English). It was a very interesting night. We did learn some things though. Like 11pm is way too early for the chilenos, you have to wait until 2am or so for a full dance floor. Crazy. Oh and by the way, I did try the famous pisco sour last night. It was definitely sour and strong. And I tried the lighter version. The first sip seems ok, and then the aftertaste gets you.
Well there you go. For an update, we went to Isla Negra (home of poet Pablo Neruda) and Pomaire (traditional Chilean town) yesterday for an IES field trip. It was a lot of fun. The home is on the Pacific Ocean, which is beautiful. We had LOTS of traditional Chilean food in Pomaire and had the chance to shop. Today, I’m being an American and going to the mall for some things. We’re also going to Bodies the Exhibition today! Check it out: http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/
Hope everyone is well. I love and miss you! Besitos!!
Alyse
COMIDA (food): This is of course an important area of concern. Chilean food is quite different in most cases than what I’m used to, and I have already eaten many things here that I would surely pass up in the US. We have lots and lots of pan (bread). I’m talking lots. Like with every meal. And then some. The Chileans also like their meat. Chicken, turkey, beef… whatever works. Not a whole lot of vegetables. Their salad is very plain, iceberg lettuce with maybe some cucumber or tomato and a vinegar-y dressing. Guacamole is big, chilenos like it on bread, but I’m not so much a fan.
For breakfast, I always have some yogurt and bread. The yogurt is chunky, because they don’t refrigerate their milk. Its really not as gross as it sounds, especially when you add some honey. As for drinks, there is always offered coffee (café) or tea (te), but their coffee is instant Nescafe, which stands for “no es (is) café”. So I have been preferring tea around here. J There is usually some fruit juice available. They think its weird that I actually like to drink water. Sorry to take so much time on the food!
BEING AN “AMERICANA” IN CHILE and CARRETEAR (going out): So we have some free time this weekend, and I went out last night for the first time. It was me, my Chilean sister Angelina, and a few other girls. Let me just say, we attract a lot of attention. Chilenos just know we’re American, and even with my brown hair, here I am pretty much considered blonde. So we ended up on a street with a lot of discoteques (dance clubs) and restaurants, and everyone wanted us to come to their club. There are men that stand outside advertising their establishments, and everyone wants to give us free drinks and whatever we want. They also start to speak English to us when they figure out who we are, and it doesn’t matter how many times we say “No hablo ingles” (I don’t speak English). It was a very interesting night. We did learn some things though. Like 11pm is way too early for the chilenos, you have to wait until 2am or so for a full dance floor. Crazy. Oh and by the way, I did try the famous pisco sour last night. It was definitely sour and strong. And I tried the lighter version. The first sip seems ok, and then the aftertaste gets you.
Well there you go. For an update, we went to Isla Negra (home of poet Pablo Neruda) and Pomaire (traditional Chilean town) yesterday for an IES field trip. It was a lot of fun. The home is on the Pacific Ocean, which is beautiful. We had LOTS of traditional Chilean food in Pomaire and had the chance to shop. Today, I’m being an American and going to the mall for some things. We’re also going to Bodies the Exhibition today! Check it out: http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/
Hope everyone is well. I love and miss you! Besitos!!
Alyse
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hola de Chile!
Hola de Chile!
I arrived early yesterday morning and navigated the crazy Santiago airport. It was a shock to feel the cold air as I stepped off the plane. It´s freezing here. 40s and 50s, sort of like a SC winter, but there is no central heating. People wear coats inside and my bed has like 5 blankets!
We were immediately dropped off with our host families, which was a little overwhelming because we were forced to use Spanish right away. My family lives in an apartment right off a busy main road. My room is roomy enough and I have my own small bathroom. It is 3 metro stops away from IES, not a bad commute at all. I have a grandmother Lela, mom Tatiana, and 2 sisters, Romina and Angelina, both teenagers. They were all very welcoming, but the first day was hard because I was in a strange place away from home, and everythings started to sink in. I asked myself many times what I was doing here! But I know it will get better, and it was reassuring to talk to the summer students that night at IES.
We had a pizza dinner Monday night at IES, and I returned home to a party for Angelina´s birthday. Her cousin, friends, boyfriend and Romina´s boyfriend were all there. We had a special treat of HOT DOGS! Weiners inside small loaves of bread and topped with guacamole, mayo, and ketchup! Very strange. I fortunately got to bed early last night and slept very well. We have been at IES all day doing orientation stuff.
I´m safe, well, and can´t wait to talk to everyone. Hopefully I can connect to the internet tonight and talk on Skype.
I hope everyone is well. I love and miss you all!
Chau! Alyse
I arrived early yesterday morning and navigated the crazy Santiago airport. It was a shock to feel the cold air as I stepped off the plane. It´s freezing here. 40s and 50s, sort of like a SC winter, but there is no central heating. People wear coats inside and my bed has like 5 blankets!
We were immediately dropped off with our host families, which was a little overwhelming because we were forced to use Spanish right away. My family lives in an apartment right off a busy main road. My room is roomy enough and I have my own small bathroom. It is 3 metro stops away from IES, not a bad commute at all. I have a grandmother Lela, mom Tatiana, and 2 sisters, Romina and Angelina, both teenagers. They were all very welcoming, but the first day was hard because I was in a strange place away from home, and everythings started to sink in. I asked myself many times what I was doing here! But I know it will get better, and it was reassuring to talk to the summer students that night at IES.
We had a pizza dinner Monday night at IES, and I returned home to a party for Angelina´s birthday. Her cousin, friends, boyfriend and Romina´s boyfriend were all there. We had a special treat of HOT DOGS! Weiners inside small loaves of bread and topped with guacamole, mayo, and ketchup! Very strange. I fortunately got to bed early last night and slept very well. We have been at IES all day doing orientation stuff.
I´m safe, well, and can´t wait to talk to everyone. Hopefully I can connect to the internet tonight and talk on Skype.
I hope everyone is well. I love and miss you all!
Chau! Alyse
Friday, July 18, 2008
Bienvenidos!
Bienvenidos! (Welcome!)
In a few days, Sunday, June 20, I leave for Santiago, Chile to study with IES until early December. Arriving on Monday, June 21, I will be picked up by IES staff and taken to my homestay family. I will be staying with Jennifer Rook’s (Wofford student) family from last year, and I am so excited! The family includes a mom, grandmother, and 2 teenage daughters. Jennifer has told me so many great things about them, and I cannot wait to meet them!
I will have about 2 weeks of orientation, including a trip to the northern desert region of Chile, and classes start at the beginning of August. I am very excited and a little nervous about what awaits me in this foreign place. I know without a doubt I will learn and grow a great deal intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. I covet your prayers as I deal with a new place, a new culture, and being away from home, my family, and friends for so long.
I hope to keep this blog updated as often as possible and add pictures as I go. Feel free to email, facebook, and SKYPE me. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Skype.com is a free online video messaging site.
My address in Santiago (I love mail!):
Alyse Line
IES Santiago Center
Barros Borgoño 159
Providencia, Santiago, CHILE
750-0513
I can’t wait to let you know more about my new home for the next couple months! Now to the daunting task of packing…
By His grace,
Alyse
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
In a few days, Sunday, June 20, I leave for Santiago, Chile to study with IES until early December. Arriving on Monday, June 21, I will be picked up by IES staff and taken to my homestay family. I will be staying with Jennifer Rook’s (Wofford student) family from last year, and I am so excited! The family includes a mom, grandmother, and 2 teenage daughters. Jennifer has told me so many great things about them, and I cannot wait to meet them!
I will have about 2 weeks of orientation, including a trip to the northern desert region of Chile, and classes start at the beginning of August. I am very excited and a little nervous about what awaits me in this foreign place. I know without a doubt I will learn and grow a great deal intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. I covet your prayers as I deal with a new place, a new culture, and being away from home, my family, and friends for so long.
I hope to keep this blog updated as often as possible and add pictures as I go. Feel free to email, facebook, and SKYPE me. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Skype.com is a free online video messaging site.
My address in Santiago (I love mail!):
Alyse Line
IES Santiago Center
Barros Borgoño 159
Providencia, Santiago, CHILE
750-0513
I can’t wait to let you know more about my new home for the next couple months! Now to the daunting task of packing…
By His grace,
Alyse
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
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