Let's be real...

In our Orientational Spanish class-- the same one that has been teaching 15 students who have studied Spanish for at least 4 years how to use the present tense-- we received a booklet. It is called "Dificultades del español para hablantes de inglés."

Translation: Shit white people don't get.

Estas son unas de mis cosas favoritas

The best parts about today:

1. I slept for 13 hours. 'Nuff said.

2. In the afternoon, I set out to meet up with some people in my program to sight see and such. My host mother accompanied me to the spot in which we had decided to meet, so that she could show me around the Metro. We got there about 10 minutes early, and realizing we hadn't decided on an exact spot to meet, waited near the exit. Not knowing that I knew the people we were looking for, she proceeded to point out each person who she identified as a non-Chilean and ask if that was one of my classmates. "I have an eye for picking out gringos," she said. "I can just tell." She pointed to one guy, around my age, and simply made a face. I thought she meant that that could be one of them, so I shook my head. "No," she said. "I know he is not a gringo, but maybe you want to join up with him anyway?" Wink wink. Looks like Cecilia has still got it.

3. After finally finding those I was looking for, we went to el Parque Metropolitano de Santiago -- yes, it's initials are PMS. And yes, it says that one the uniforms there. After taking a ride on the funicular, the lovechild of a ski lift and a trolley, we checked out the breathtaking views of the city (no really, you didn't want to breathe because the layer of smog over the city gave you cancer just looking at it). It was also there that I tried mote con huesillo for the first time; a sweet tea-like drink, with dried peaches (whole) and some kind of oat at the bottom--think bubble tea. Absolutely delicious

4. I saw a local wearing a Red Sox shirt! Granted, Renteria hasn't been on the team in years, but it's the thought that counts! I might have stared at it excitedly just a liiitle too long, which led to...

5. "Aca! aca!" the wearer yelled. "here, here!" Think of it as... a polite cat call. This triggered something in on of the guys I was with, and about 5 minutes later, he said to another girl and I, "You know, I didn't notice it until that guy said something, and now that I'm looking for it, so many people are checking you out." Life is rough as a gringa ;)

6. I HEARD DANZA KUDURO PLAYING IN A STAND AS I WALKED BY. The happiness with which this filled me is inconceivable. Honduras por vida <3

7. This probably isn't one of the best things, it was just bizarre...

8. And of course, knowing that perhaps I am not so far from home, because wherever Hogwarts is, is home.

Santiago: Día Uno.

Day 1 in Santiago: Peculiarities and notable moments.

1. My first flight was from New York to Lima, Peru. We left around midnight and were scheduled to get in around 6 am. Now I'm all for airline hospitality, but dinner at 2 am seems a little unnecessary. At breakfast at 5 am? I'll take a rain check. However, the worst part was not that the attendants insisted on waking me up each time to ask if I wanted anything (no, I am SLEEPING!), but they then expected me to speak Spanish! Excuse me. It is 2 in the morning, you have just woken me up, and you expect me to be coherent enough to whip out even a simple "no, nada para mí, gracias"? rude.

2. After I mumbled some jibberish in no language known to man in response to what I wanted for breakfast (see above scenario), the flight attendant asked me (in Spanish), "what language do you speak, Portuguese?"

1. If I did, would I understand you?

2. NO YOU HAVE JUST WOKEN ME UP. i can't even speak english right now! rude.

However, going through customs (now alive and awake for a good two hours), the man asked where I was coming from. New York, I told him. "Ahh, New Jork," he said. He then told me I spoke beautiful Spanish. Take that, flight attendant lady. Portuguese my ass.

3. On the way home, my host mother told me about her dog, Lupe, and how she is a mix of a few breeds. Upon further examination of said canine, I have determined her race. She is a perfect mix of a chihuahua and Dobby.

4. Why did my computer just change the website into Spanish?! How does it knoooowwwww??

5. The whole purpose of a homestay is to immerse the students in the language, and we are advised to speak Spanish amongst each other as well, to practice, as so as to not attract attention as tourists. So, why is it, that when I was Facebook chatting a friend this morning, did I feel like I was cheating by speaking--no not even speaking, TYPING-- in English? Whenever I talk to the dog, since I have yet to master dog commands in Spanish, I whisper so that no one can hear me speak in English. Overall an odd sentiment.