Forgive the spanish, its just hard to let go. How do you end a part of your life? Chile has become that for me. This was not a trip, a vacation, I lived here, for better or worse for an entire semester. "Home", in Inman, SC or at 429 N. Church St., will not feel quite the same. I am so completely excited about going back, but things are not going to be the same right away. Or maybe ever. People have changed, and I certainly have. I would like to think that everyone's lives stopped when I left on July 20, but they didn't.
I am excited to see my family, and have Thanksgiving. I can't wait to hang out with old friends and catch up. It is Christmastime, and I want to embrace every tradition possible to enjoy the season.
As I look back on the last several months, it surprises me how much I have done and experienced. Its overwhelming to recall it all. I have done things here I would never have the guts to do in the States. I feel as though I could do almost anything. Santiago has taught me to trust in God like never before. Its unbelievable the things that can be accomplished when you let the control go. Almost nothing in this country has been controllable, and that has taught me invaluable lessons of patience and flexibility.
Some things I have learned and experienced here are hard to quantify, and it will take some time and reflection to figure it all out. Things I have learned about chilean culture and values, and differences in cultures in general, even within the US are never-ending.
Tomorrow, I will find a way to say goodbye to this place. I am thankful to my God, my parents, Wofford, IES, my host family, and the people of Santiago, Chile for giving me this experience and teaching me so much. I cannot wait to enjoy a nice hot shower, great food, and my lovely lovely bed, but I hope I won't stay in my comfort zone long. Que te vaya bien a todos! Cuidense y nos vemos pronto! (That it goes well for all of you. Take care and see you soon...)
Much love,
Alyse
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Returning to the USA
As I finish up my experience in Chile and think about returning home, I am excited about viewing the United States with fresh eyes. As much as they love or hate us, most people around the world admire the principles our country was founded on. Freedom, opportunity, possibility, and equality are what makes my country special. At the end of the day, with all its faults, I am proud to say that I live in the US. But we are certainly not perfect, and have much to do. I'd like to share this Langston Hughes poem, "Let America Be America Again". A lot has changed since it was published in 1938, but a lot hasn't. Hughes points out the injustice in society, but doesn't lose hope that it can and must be changed.
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")
Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?
I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!
I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean--
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.
Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."
The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay--
Except the dream that's almost dead today.
O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!
Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")
Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?
I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!
I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean--
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today--O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.
Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."
The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay--
Except the dream that's almost dead today.
O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!
Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Highlights of the final weeks
My time here is dwindling, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I know that I'm excited to come home, see everyone, and enjoy the holidays, but its quite strange that my time here is finally coming to an end. July seems like an eternity away, and its really cool to see how far I've come this semester.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a ballet (Sleeping Beauty) in the Teatro Municipal. The theater is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm glad I went just to experience it. But the ballet was really good to. I didn't have the best seat, unfortunately I was squeezed in the corner in the balcony so I had to lean over on the lady beside me to see, but it was all worth it. Afterward the girls and I (Nichell, Monica, and Laura) had some great peruvian food. Here's the theater...
This past Thursday, we had our goodbye dinner/early Thanksgiving at IES. At that point, it definitely felt strange saying goodbye since I still had a week with these people, but it was pretty fun and the food was great. And my chocolate no bake cookies were a hit! I even had a good time at a pub afterward where most of the students went to spend some time. Though I may not be best friends with the students in my program, and most of us are very different, I appreciate the fact that we can occasionally get together and have a good time free of drama. My family at the dinner:
The next day, Friday the 21st, I headed out with 11 other students to a vineyard one of us has worked at this semester. It is outside of Santiago, and the scenery was beautiful. The 80-year-old owner lives with his wife in a historic colonial house that belonged to Jose Miguel Carrera, one of the founding fathers of Chile. We were treated like royalty, and shared beer, soda, wine, empanadas, and later a full lunch spread plus dessert with our generous hosts. All this for 12 students! But don't worry, they have hired help that answer to a bell. I'm not kidding. It was a great, relaxing, absolutely beautiful way to spend a day. I am pretty sure I'll never have a vineyard tour to match it!
I'm anxious to see where Wofford will be playing football next weekend and against whom. Hope to see you all very very soon!
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a ballet (Sleeping Beauty) in the Teatro Municipal. The theater is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm glad I went just to experience it. But the ballet was really good to. I didn't have the best seat, unfortunately I was squeezed in the corner in the balcony so I had to lean over on the lady beside me to see, but it was all worth it. Afterward the girls and I (Nichell, Monica, and Laura) had some great peruvian food. Here's the theater...
This past Thursday, we had our goodbye dinner/early Thanksgiving at IES. At that point, it definitely felt strange saying goodbye since I still had a week with these people, but it was pretty fun and the food was great. And my chocolate no bake cookies were a hit! I even had a good time at a pub afterward where most of the students went to spend some time. Though I may not be best friends with the students in my program, and most of us are very different, I appreciate the fact that we can occasionally get together and have a good time free of drama. My family at the dinner:
The next day, Friday the 21st, I headed out with 11 other students to a vineyard one of us has worked at this semester. It is outside of Santiago, and the scenery was beautiful. The 80-year-old owner lives with his wife in a historic colonial house that belonged to Jose Miguel Carrera, one of the founding fathers of Chile. We were treated like royalty, and shared beer, soda, wine, empanadas, and later a full lunch spread plus dessert with our generous hosts. All this for 12 students! But don't worry, they have hired help that answer to a bell. I'm not kidding. It was a great, relaxing, absolutely beautiful way to spend a day. I am pretty sure I'll never have a vineyard tour to match it!
I'm anxious to see where Wofford will be playing football next weekend and against whom. Hope to see you all very very soon!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Me encanta la primavera
The past 2 weekends have been beautiful, and I've been able to enjoy Chile's natural beauty outside Santiago for both of them!
Last weekend it was rafting in the beautiful Cajon de Maipo. The water in the river come from snow melt off the Andes, so it is rather cold. But with all of the clothing they give you (wetsuit, windbreaker, shorts, neoprene socks) its not too bad. And it was beautiful and sunny the whole time! Here's a picture of my friends and I getting ready to raft:
This weekend, after seeing the new Bond movie Quantum of Solace (before the US, be jealous), one of my university classes had a field trip all day Saturday. The Colchagua Valley, about 200 km south of Santiago, is famous for its wine. Our first stop was the town of Santa Cruz, where we toured a really neat and diverse museum, with artifacts from South American indigenous cultures (such as shrunken heads), Spanish conquest and early Chilean independance era items, old typewrites, gramophones, and film projectors, a Samarai armor, carraiges, antique cars, and a lot more. Here's some of us in front of one of the antique vineyard trucks at the museum:
After the museum, I had a nice greasy lunch and we looked through a artisan fair they had for the weekend in the main plaza. It was for rich tourists, though and I sadly couldn't afford a thing. But our next stop was the Vina Santa Cruz!
This place was huge and GORGEOUS. Everything is blooming and green. We took a cable car to the top of a hill for a lookout and to learn about 3 Chilean indigenous cultures from their exhibitions: Mapuche from the south, Aymara in the north, and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the Pacific. We ended the tour with an explanation of how their wine is made and a gustacion (tasting). I am not a wine fan, but I have to say it wasn't terrible! Here's me enjoying the perfect weather at the vineyard:
Only 2 more weekends left to enjoy in Chile! I now have less than 20 days and the countdown has begun. Make your requests now for gifts and I hope to see you soon! :)
Oh and if you don't have facebook, view the rest of my pictures from Santa Cruz at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017074&l=58202&id=54001690 !
Last weekend it was rafting in the beautiful Cajon de Maipo. The water in the river come from snow melt off the Andes, so it is rather cold. But with all of the clothing they give you (wetsuit, windbreaker, shorts, neoprene socks) its not too bad. And it was beautiful and sunny the whole time! Here's a picture of my friends and I getting ready to raft:
This weekend, after seeing the new Bond movie Quantum of Solace (before the US, be jealous), one of my university classes had a field trip all day Saturday. The Colchagua Valley, about 200 km south of Santiago, is famous for its wine. Our first stop was the town of Santa Cruz, where we toured a really neat and diverse museum, with artifacts from South American indigenous cultures (such as shrunken heads), Spanish conquest and early Chilean independance era items, old typewrites, gramophones, and film projectors, a Samarai armor, carraiges, antique cars, and a lot more. Here's some of us in front of one of the antique vineyard trucks at the museum:
After the museum, I had a nice greasy lunch and we looked through a artisan fair they had for the weekend in the main plaza. It was for rich tourists, though and I sadly couldn't afford a thing. But our next stop was the Vina Santa Cruz!This place was huge and GORGEOUS. Everything is blooming and green. We took a cable car to the top of a hill for a lookout and to learn about 3 Chilean indigenous cultures from their exhibitions: Mapuche from the south, Aymara in the north, and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the Pacific. We ended the tour with an explanation of how their wine is made and a gustacion (tasting). I am not a wine fan, but I have to say it wasn't terrible! Here's me enjoying the perfect weather at the vineyard:
Only 2 more weekends left to enjoy in Chile! I now have less than 20 days and the countdown has begun. Make your requests now for gifts and I hope to see you soon! :)Oh and if you don't have facebook, view the rest of my pictures from Santa Cruz at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017074&l=58202&id=54001690 !
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
History has been made
Its been exciting to be in Chile last night and today, watching the results showing the landslide victory of President-elect Barack Obama. While I regret not being in the US and being able to stand in line to vote there, I recognize the unique perspective I have witnessed being in Santiago as a new US president was elected. Most chileans overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama, hoping his administration will improve relations with Chile, though they are nervous about what democratic protectionist policies with respect to the economy might mean for them.
For a country like Chile, the election of a man of color is a BIG deal. I bought a copy of a Santiago newspaper La Tercera today, where 2 whole pages are filled with detailing things like the history of slavery, the civil rights movement, and the discrimination that remains against minorities in our country. The election of a black man is hard for Chileans to fathom, and many of them still view the US as a place of hate and division, though from my perspective they are much more rascist than I have ever seen in the US. My friend's host mom even made the comment that while watching Obama's party in Chicago she was surprised to see so many white people in the crowd!
I didn't fully grasp the historical significance of Obama's election until it happened last night, and I know I still don't fully understand it because I was fortunate enough to live after the civil rights movement and the height of rascism and discrimination in the South. My hope is that we can now move forward, improve our image in the world, and come together to fix our troubled economy, solve our broken system of health care, and carefully withdraw our troops from Iraq.
Even if you don't agree with President (elect) Obama, I hope you can appreciate the significance of his election and be energized by the excitement that was seen with the record turnout of voters on Election Day. I am extremely proud of my generation and its involvement in America's democracy. We have broken stereotypes about our apathy and are providing an example for the rest of the world.
For a country like Chile, the election of a man of color is a BIG deal. I bought a copy of a Santiago newspaper La Tercera today, where 2 whole pages are filled with detailing things like the history of slavery, the civil rights movement, and the discrimination that remains against minorities in our country. The election of a black man is hard for Chileans to fathom, and many of them still view the US as a place of hate and division, though from my perspective they are much more rascist than I have ever seen in the US. My friend's host mom even made the comment that while watching Obama's party in Chicago she was surprised to see so many white people in the crowd!
I didn't fully grasp the historical significance of Obama's election until it happened last night, and I know I still don't fully understand it because I was fortunate enough to live after the civil rights movement and the height of rascism and discrimination in the South. My hope is that we can now move forward, improve our image in the world, and come together to fix our troubled economy, solve our broken system of health care, and carefully withdraw our troops from Iraq.
Even if you don't agree with President (elect) Obama, I hope you can appreciate the significance of his election and be energized by the excitement that was seen with the record turnout of voters on Election Day. I am extremely proud of my generation and its involvement in America's democracy. We have broken stereotypes about our apathy and are providing an example for the rest of the world.
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