Vacaciones de Septiembre

La semana pasado, hice mucho de nada. Sin escuela, no hubo mucho de un horario y dormí mucho. El martes, fuimos a decir adios a mi hermana chilena quien salío para los EEUU. Ella está en Ohio ahora y está empezando una experiencia increíble. Despues de este, mi mama chilena fue muy agradable a decir a mí que no estoy aquí en el espacio de la Connie, pero que soy una hija diferente y nueva. Muchas gracias, porque el pensado ha entró mi cabeza pero este me ayudó. Cuando nosotros fuimos en el aeropuerto, había pensado de yendo en el avión tambien pero recordé que eso es más facil pero acá es más divertido y muy importante. Estoy muy feliz que estoy acá y con el desfilos viene tiempos bacanes. No puedo esperar para conocer dos idomas!
The past week, I did a lot of nothing. Without school, there isn't much of a schedule and I slept a lot. On Tuesday, we went to say bye to my Chilean sister who left for the US. She is in Ohio now and is starting an incredible experience. After this, my Chilean mom was very nice to say to me that I am not taking the place of Connie by I am a different and new daughter. Many thanks, because the thought had entered my mind but this helped me. When we went to the airport, I had thought about going on the plane too but I remembered that that is easier but here is more fun and very important. I am very happy I am here and with challenges come awesome times. I can't wait to know two languages!


El lunes, comí la fruta de cactus. Fue muy bien. Saborea como un melón, con una textura de sandía, con semillas de un arándano. Estoy descubriendo que me gusta kiwis. Acá comimos mucho de mariscos, la mayor parte es almejas.
On Monday, I ate the fruit of a cactus. It was very good. It tastes like honey dew, with a texture of watermelon, with seeds of a cranberry. I am discovering that I like kiwis too. Here we eat a lot of sea food, the greater part is clams.

Aprendí un partido nuevo que se llama "Dudo". Se juega este partido en Pirates de la Carribean 2. La pregunta es, "Cuántos de los dados tienen este cara?" Cada jugador empieza con 5 dados. La meta del partido es para estar la persona ultimo con dados. En un circulo, cada jugador adivina cuantos de un cara de dado hay. Cambia la cara o numero de dados. (Hay mas reglas pero no voy a escribirlos) Cuando una persona duda que hay al menos del numero de los dados, dice "dudo" y entonces se contan cuantos dados hay. Si no hay el minimo, la persona que dijo cuantos hay, perde un dado. Si la persona que dijo "dudo" no tiene razon, se perde un dado. Me lo gusto.
I learned a new game called, "Dudo". They play this game in Pirates of the Carribean 2. The question is, "How many of the dice have this face?" Each player starts with 5 die. The goal of the game is to be the last one with die. In a circle, each player gueses how many of a face of die there are. Change the face or the number. (There are more rules but I am not going to write them.) Qhen a person doubts that there are at least that number of die, they say "dudo" ("I doubt") and then they count how many die thier are. If there is not the minimum, the person that says how many there are, loses a die. If the person that says "dudo" is not right, they lose one dice. I like the game.

El sabado, la familia tuvo un fiesta para la familia porque fue el 18 de Septiembre, la independencia de Chile (y la razon para no escuela durante la semana). Este año es muy especial porque es el bicentenario, 200 años! Viva Chile! Hablé con muchas personas y tuve un buen tiempo. Aprendí las basicas de la Cueca, el baile nacional. No puedo expresar como buena la comida es!!
On Saturday, the family had a party for the family because it was the 18th of September, the independence of Chile (and the reason for no school during the week). This year is very special because it is the bicentenial, 200 years! Go Chile! I talked with many people and had a good time. I learned the basics of the Cueca, the national dance. I can't express how good the food is!!

Carne:
Meat:


Decoraciones:
Decorations:


El día despues de 18 del Septiembre es un día para los militares. Hay un desfile de todos los partes en frente del presidente. Muy hermoso. No fuimos pero estuvemos viendo el defile en la televisión.
The day after September 18th is a day for the military. THere is a parade of all the parts in fromt of the president. Very beautiful. We didn't go but we were watching the parade on the tv.

Tuve un sueño donde fui jugando tenís y yo grito, "Careful, there is a ball on the court." Dí cuenta que grité en ingles. Entonces, yo puse el mano sobre mi boca y pensé, ESPAÑOL Hannah, ESPAÑOL. En mis sueños me estoy diciendo que necesito hablar en español. jaja
I had a dream where I was playing tennis and I yelled, "Careful, there is a ball on the court." I realized that I yelled in english. Then, I put my hand over my mouth and thought, SPANISH, Hannah, SPANISH. In my dreams I am telling myself that I need to speak and spanish. haha

Domingo, mi padre chileno, Maka, y yo fuimos a la playa, Pichelimu, para el fin de los vacaciones. Muy muy linda, hermoso, todo! La arena es negro, muy differente de las playas en los EEUU. Las olas tienen mucho fuerzas y el mar es un poquito más azul. Fue fresco porque solamente fue el primer día de la primavera y hace mucho viento allá. Antes del mediodía, nadie está en la playa porque de la cultura y como tarde se duerme. Es muy tranquila y me lo gusto mucho en la mañana. Visitamos La Punta de Los Lobos pero no vimos lobos, aunque muy lindo. Nosotros volvemos a la casa ayer porque hubo mucho trafica el lunes.(No fui a escuela ayer =P )
Sunday, my Chilean dad, Maka, and I went to the beach, Pichelimu, for the end of the vacations. Very very pretty, beautiful, everything! The sand is black, very different than the beaches in the US. The waves were very strong and the sea is a little bit more blue. It was chilly because it was only the first day of spring and very windy there. Before mid-day, nobody is on the beach because of the culture and how late they sleep. It is very calming and I like it a lot in the morning. We visited La Punta de Los LObos but we didn't see any seals, very pretty though. We returned to the house yesterday becuase there was a lot of trafic on Monday. (I didn't go to school Tuesday then =P)

Pichelimu:


La puesta del sol y yo:
The sunset and I:

La Alianza, The Anniversary

Medio del miercoles y todo de jueves y viernes, nosotros tenemos La Alianza. La Alianza es el aniversario del escuela y ocurri cada año. Este año es el decimo año para ellos. Es como un pep ralley, pero sobre 2 1/2 días. Los alumnos (y profes) participan en pruebas y bailes para celebrar. Hay fútbol, volibol, tira el ropa, bailes, pruebas en comiendo y muchas cosas otras.Más en esta en un momento. Half of Wednesday and all of Thursday and Friday, we had La Alianza. La Alianza is the anniversary of the school and occurs each year. This year is the 10th year for them. It's like a pep rally, but over 2 1/2 days. The students (and teachers) participate in challenges and dances to celebrate. There is soccer, volleyball, tug-of-war, dances, eating challenges, and many other things. More on this in a moment.

El martes, mi madre chilena y yo fuimos a Santiago para mi cedula de identidad. Pero en el primer edificio fuimos, se dijo a nosotros que necesitamos a ir a otro lugar para papeles. Despues de manejando por 10 minutos y caminando algunos cuadros, llegamos a la policia international, quien dijo que necesitamos a ir a un differente lugar. Entonces, nosotros dicubrimos el lugar incorrecto! Preguntamos una persona que se vende periodicos y por fin, llegamos al lugar correcto. Allá, obtenimos los papeles pero mi mama chilena necesitó a ir a trabajar y el lunes, iremos para la tarjeta.
On Tuesday, my Chilean mom and I went to Santiago for my identity card. But, in the first buiding we went, they said to us that we need to go to another place for papers. After driving for 10 minutes and walking some blocks, we arrived at the International Police, who said that we need to go to a different place. Then, we fount the wrong place! We asked a person that was selling newspapers and finally, we arrived at the correct place. There, we obtained the papers but my Chilean mom needed to go to work and on Monday, we will go for the card.

El jueves, fue el cumpleaños de Cecilia, nuestros nana. Para una sopresa, damos a ella pastel y un enderezador de pelo. Espero que ella le gusta! =] En la clase de español en los EEUU, nosotros cantamos "Feliz Cumpleaños a ti, feliz cumpleaños a ti, feliz cumpleaños a _____" etc. Pero acá, cantan "Cumpleaños feliz. Te deseamos a ti. Cumpleaños _______, Cumpleaños feliz" Un poquito differente.
On Thursday, it was Cecilia's birthday, our nana. For a suprise, we gave her cake and a hair straightener. I hope she likes it! =] In Spanish class in the US, we sing "Feliz Cumpleaños a ti, feliz cumpleaños a ti, feliz cumpleaños a _____" etc. "But here they sing "Cumpleaños feliz. Te deseamos a ti. Cumpleaños _______, Cumpleaños feliz" A little bit different.

Ahora más en La Alianza. Hay dos equipos con temas. Este año fueron rojo (Rock 'n Roll) y azul (Hippies). Los equipos son differente concursos y III Medio (mi curso) fue rojo. Azul ganó. Yo juegue fútbol (yay!=] me extraño fútbol), volibol, y tira la ropa. Muy divertido! Hoy (viernes) mis piernas me duelen! Aunque, me siento bien. Ádemas, gané un nominación para mujures con músculos, hehe =] Fuerza! Hubo muchos bailes. Acá es un video de algunos. Lo siento que no es muy bueno, pero ya es muy intersante.
Now, more on La Alianza. There are two teams with themes. This year they were red (Rock 'n Roll) y azul (Hippies). The teams are different grades and Juniors (my course) were red. Blue won. I played soccer (yay! =] I miss soccer), volleyball, and tug of war. Very fun! Today, Friday, my legs hurt! Although, I feel good. Additionally, I won a nomination for women with muscules, hehe =] Strength! There were many dances. Here is a video of some. Sorry that it is not very good, but still is very interesting.

VIDEO

La comida acá es rica. No tiene mucho azucar y no es muy dulce. Simplemente, rica! Por ejemplo, no me gusta jugo de manzanas en los EEUU pero acá, es más natural y muy muy muy buena.
The food here is rich. It doesn't have much sugar and isn't very sweet. Simply rich! For example, I don't like apple juice in the US but here, it's more natural and very very very good.

Fotos de la Alianza:
Photos of La Alianza:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165475&id=1388515239&l=e02f5bf2ca

No tenemos escuela la próximo semana! Vacaciones para el día de independencia, el 18 de Septiembre.
We don't have school next week! Vacations for independence day, the 18th of September.

=D

Las Dos Preguntas, The Two Questions (Part 1)

This is best written in English for now till I make my way and figure out saying this in Spanish in the best way. (Then I'll translate it)

The first question: How much of myself do I let go? This is the crossroads that the exchange is all about. It's that moment when you greet someone you never met or a teacher in the hall and there is that moment of hesitation. That moment when you stop and think what to do and how to act. It passes quickly but stands there like a mountain. This is small compared to embracing other mannerisms like the next example. Am I Chilean and openly embracing it? Do I move first and give a kiss on the cheek? Or am I an teenager from the EEUU still stuck in old ways, still working, smiling akwardly and passing by? Sometimes, I'm EEUU, othertimes, I'm a part of the culture. Now, more often that not, but still not completely 100%. Another example is the closeness and sharing. Chileans share everything, from food, drink, lipgloss, you name it. But being brought up in the United States with a good education, I think of germs and their spread, instead of the caring and the friendship this demonstrates. This is the best example of how much to give. I feel like I'm going to forget what it is to work and do chores when I have such a wonderful, caring family and a nana that does them because she is paid to do that. I don't want to become lazy. While I always say thank you and I gave her a gift as well, to compensate for this, I think I'm going to work on other disiplines, like a simple, short ab or plyometric workout that I can do every couple days.

It's a balance I'm working on, and this is what the exchange is about. I'm learning.

The most incredible part of it all, is that one year ago, I still hadn't thought I would be where I am today. If someone had told me 365 days prior to today, Í'd say, "Ha, That's awesome, and I'd love to do it, but it's not me." I am so excited that it could be me and that I'm here, in Chile today.

The world is moving fast, so here is the second question: Ïs the world giving you a run for your money or are gyou giving the world a run for its money? (Remember, "The world was here first. It owes you nothing."-Mark Twain)

But all in all, it's just simply amazing.

El bus de escuela, The School Bus (Part 2)

Well, that was a bit into the psychological side of things...

Anyway, I'm starting to take the bus home from school since my Chilean mother got a job. Yesterday was my first day to take the bus, but it never came! My Chilean brother got a ride home from a friend, and when I didn't show up at home my Chilean sister called a school friend who said I was still at school. Thank goodness for this amiga!! I couldn't survive without her. She took me under her wing and we went to the house of a boy in school and worked on dancing for La Alianza, the anniversery (of the school). I now know part of the dance to Elvis Presley's "Blue Swade Shoes". How exciting! =] These Chileans sure know how to dance...to their own music and to music from other places like the US too, (probably more than most of the US population!) Today, the bus came, a little late, but it came. The ladies were super nice. The "bus" is like a small, yellow, school van with a sign on top that says "escolares".

I'm feeling much better, partially because my cold went away and also because I got a letter from my mom that brightened my day. For the first de since I got here, I can see the mountians really and truly clearly. One day is up, the next is down. It's a roller coaster.