So, on my friend's facebook page he posted a site which lists all earthquakes all over the world over the past few days....
In Chile, alone there were 3 earthquakes ranging from 4.7-5.5 just this morning...
I am posting the link here to give you the same amazed thought process as I had when you realize how frequently there are quakes and that the Earth does not stop changing.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php
PS, I leave for Peru in 5 hours (Eh! Eh! Eh!)
Besos desde Chile!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
A catch up of the last few weeks
I am procrastinating from completing the last 2 pages of my final exam which is a 6 page paper on Latin American Cinema (Films "Whisky" and "Obreras Saliendo de la Fábrica). I am nearly done, but as we all know, those last few pages gives us the idea that we have plenty of time.... I have until Wednesday around noon when I am on my way to the Airport to fly to Perú... Within the next 2 days I must finish packing my bags, clean my room and bathroom, move to my cousin's home, and say goodbye to my exchange friends...
Over the past few weeks my friends and I have been celebrating friends' birthdays with lovely picnics on San Joaquin's campus. The weather (with great luck!) was always gorgeous during these get togethers so many of us would just sit and enjoy the sun after eating and just talk about our travel plans after our exams are finished.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13343040
And to end today's session, here are a few pictures of the scenic skies of Santiago after there has been rain. This city is located in between mountains, which -like LA- keeps all the smog inside the city, making it hard to see the majestic mountains most of the time...
Besos desde Chile!! And soon, from Perú!
Over the past few weeks my friends and I have been celebrating friends' birthdays with lovely picnics on San Joaquin's campus. The weather (with great luck!) was always gorgeous during these get togethers so many of us would just sit and enjoy the sun after eating and just talk about our travel plans after our exams are finished.
This past weekend we celebrated Christmas (Yes... I know it is June). It was hosted by some friends from Finland and England who are obviously as used to cold weather Christmases as I am... and in Santiago, Chile, which has opposite seasons to Europe and the USA, they celebrated the real Christmas during summertime in December. So, we celebrated a real Christmas this past Friday evening in their apartment building. Everyone brought delicious plates to represent their home countries, there were loads of bottles of wine, beer, Gluhwein, Eggnogg....One friend made a Mojito con Aji "Lacromojito" which is a spiced up Mojito with chili peppers. He and I seemed to be the only ones who actually could handle the spiciness and the taste.
Saturday was Karaoke night with a large group of friends. We went to Mistica a karaoke bar in Bellavista. It was a lovely night of singing and saying more goodbyes. As we were leaving and paying for the group's drinks, the bar tried to charge us for an extra bottle of vodka which no one had ordered. I, being self-nicknamed Abuelita Kate "Grandmother Kate" had not drank anything as I was already tired and knew someone had to make sure everything went smoothly, watched in awe as my friend who is Californian by birth but Guatamalan by blood argue with the bartender, the doormen (they refused to let us leave) for a good 15 minutes. When we finally were allowed to walk outside, we just decided to continue walking, as we had truly done nothing wrong. The doormen and bartender were persistent and found the nearest policeman to assess the situation. After another 20 minutes of arguing back and forth, and a Policeman merely standing there, these 2 random Chileans decided to interrupt and "argue our side"... so we took this opportunity to walk away. I made eye contact with the police officer who literally shrugged at me and made no move to stop us. So, as eventful as it was, we all ended up free and safely arrive to our respective homes just fine.
My mother mentioned that there have been a few people asking about the riots, marches, protests which have been going on here in Chile. There is currently a strike for education which is in hope to lower the costs and allow education to be accessible to all in Chile
Another protest which has had multiple marches and a few riots is in protest of allowing a Hydroelectric company from Europe to build a dam in Patagonia. Here is a BBC new report in English regarding this situation...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13343040
And to end today's session, here are a few pictures of the scenic skies of Santiago after there has been rain. This city is located in between mountains, which -like LA- keeps all the smog inside the city, making it hard to see the majestic mountains most of the time...
Besos desde Chile!! And soon, from Perú!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Who let the dogs out? (Who? Who? Who? Who?)
So, my heart is on the verge of being shattered...
For each dog I see homeless, starving, begging, fighting in the streets, my heart breaks a little. It's a horrid sight that 4 months in Chile still is sufficient enough time for me to become accustomed to seeing.
There are dogs roaming every street, every metro station, the University campus... The list continues. I asked my cousin upon my arrival to Chile as to why this was such a usual occurance, and his explanation was merely that people lack responsibility. Anyone can have a dog, but it takes too much responsibility to actually care for the pet, so they just throw the poor creature out into the streets.
As you walk down the street you will see little bowls with dogfood or water placed otuside of shops... This makes me smile just slightly to see that these kind persons do not want to see the dogs suffering quite so much and are trying to help in their own way...
On a more positive sunny note, the month of June has been filled with birthdays and get togethers. We have thrown surprise parties and picnics, had themed birthdays, and just random Asadas (Grill outs).
Carmen and Pollo opened their home to 10 of us exchange students for a lovely and delicious lunch and afternoon at the very end of May. The food was Chilean and prepared by Carmen (I helped a little) and my friends were able to experience a home cooked meal. It was a great evening.
We are all realizing that we have about 2.5 weeks left together, and everyone is trying to cope with the emotions of returning to "reality" and trying to fit in the final weeks worth of travelling within South America before returning home.
At the very end of June I will be flying to Perú and travelling within the country for about 25 days. It is exciting to realize that I will be able to see Macchu Pichu, Lima, Arequipa, and hopefully Lake Titicaca and the Floating Islands. I might even roll across the border into Bolivia. Within this travelling I will be spending quality time with my dear friend Melissa who has been a big part of my life since she studied on exchange to UNCC my freshman year. She is from England (I visited with her during my Eurotrip this past Christmas) and is volunteering in Lima at a daycare for the next 2 months. She is learning Spanish as she goes (So proud of her!!)
I will also have the opportunity to meet up with my friend Martin who also studied at UNCC my freshman year. He always told me about his home country and Arequipa. It will be wonderful to see it through his eyes!
I have been so lucky to be in personal contact with so many wonderful people who are native Peruvians and who are willing to help show me around in their home country. As an Anthropologists, a lover of culture and travelling, my dream was always to be able to travel as though I lived in the city/country rather than as though I were a tourist. I cannot wait for Perú! (Not to mention the flavorful meals and INCA COLA!!)
Well, that is all for now! back to the books and preparing for my finals in 2.5 weeks!
Mucho cariño de Chile! Besos!!xx
For each dog I see homeless, starving, begging, fighting in the streets, my heart breaks a little. It's a horrid sight that 4 months in Chile still is sufficient enough time for me to become accustomed to seeing.
There are dogs roaming every street, every metro station, the University campus... The list continues. I asked my cousin upon my arrival to Chile as to why this was such a usual occurance, and his explanation was merely that people lack responsibility. Anyone can have a dog, but it takes too much responsibility to actually care for the pet, so they just throw the poor creature out into the streets.
As you walk down the street you will see little bowls with dogfood or water placed otuside of shops... This makes me smile just slightly to see that these kind persons do not want to see the dogs suffering quite so much and are trying to help in their own way...
On a more positive sunny note, the month of June has been filled with birthdays and get togethers. We have thrown surprise parties and picnics, had themed birthdays, and just random Asadas (Grill outs).
Carmen and Pollo opened their home to 10 of us exchange students for a lovely and delicious lunch and afternoon at the very end of May. The food was Chilean and prepared by Carmen (I helped a little) and my friends were able to experience a home cooked meal. It was a great evening.
We are all realizing that we have about 2.5 weeks left together, and everyone is trying to cope with the emotions of returning to "reality" and trying to fit in the final weeks worth of travelling within South America before returning home.
At the very end of June I will be flying to Perú and travelling within the country for about 25 days. It is exciting to realize that I will be able to see Macchu Pichu, Lima, Arequipa, and hopefully Lake Titicaca and the Floating Islands. I might even roll across the border into Bolivia. Within this travelling I will be spending quality time with my dear friend Melissa who has been a big part of my life since she studied on exchange to UNCC my freshman year. She is from England (I visited with her during my Eurotrip this past Christmas) and is volunteering in Lima at a daycare for the next 2 months. She is learning Spanish as she goes (So proud of her!!)
I will also have the opportunity to meet up with my friend Martin who also studied at UNCC my freshman year. He always told me about his home country and Arequipa. It will be wonderful to see it through his eyes!
I have been so lucky to be in personal contact with so many wonderful people who are native Peruvians and who are willing to help show me around in their home country. As an Anthropologists, a lover of culture and travelling, my dream was always to be able to travel as though I lived in the city/country rather than as though I were a tourist. I cannot wait for Perú! (Not to mention the flavorful meals and INCA COLA!!)
Well, that is all for now! back to the books and preparing for my finals in 2.5 weeks!
Mucho cariño de Chile! Besos!!xx
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