Chile Guac Steak

What If They Ever Make an Artifical Heart out of Cheese?

2010-09-16T23:17:00.006-04:00

Lately I have had trouble sleeping because I am so nervous about moving back to Philadelphia without a job or a home. But tonight I can't sleep for a different reason. Tomorrow morning around 5am, Dustin and I are leaving Kentucky for here!

My favorite place in the whole world, Monroe, Wisconsin. Home of Cheese Days. Ten years ago, I met Dustin at college and he told me about this magical festival in his home day, 1,000 miles away. Not thinking about being 19 and not having a car, I said I had to go. So a bunch of us went and Dustin was right; it was magical. I fell in love with the place. So much that I kept going back, even on off Cheese Days years. Finally I moved there after college.

Land of my first apartment, first job out of college, where I moved to become an adult. All because of a cheese festival. I was confident at 22 that I would probably never leave.

Look how well that turned out. Of course things didn't go as planned. I only lived there for two-ish years but five years later, the only thing I would change about that time is that I would have eaten meat. Monroe is that magical to me.

This is the first year that it's just Dustin and I going to Cheese Days and I'm okay with that. All the years having tons of friends come along, polkaing in the streets in our Cheese Days outfit contest outfits was great. And this year will be great as well. So long as I have a book to read on the porch during the parade. I really don't like parades.

Who Are You Going to Listen To?

2010-08-21T21:14:00.009-04:00

"The reason you haven't felt it is because it doesn't exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons" -Don Draper. Sheesh Don, you tell us this in the pilot, what else do we have to look forward to? It's a good thing I am watching Mad Men backwards.

"Wouldn't this be more of a cultural experience if I had a local boyfriend? Maaa pass the wine" -me one year ago tonight in Chile, two hours before I went to the bar in a taxi thus meeting said local boyfriend five minutes before he planned to leave. Maaa indeed. Six months of up and down maaaing.

"I've been taking on a new direction"- Tina Turner. And me. I just need to get more hairspray.

I Think I've Got Your Number

2010-08-03T19:09:00.005-04:00

This is Gloria. She's fun and blue and has a tail like a bottle brush. She's named after the You Tube sensation Glowpinkstah. I think they would get along well.

Also on the subject of numbers, I got some emails today from a long lost relation in the Deepest South regarding my old cell phone. They made me laugh so hard and were an excellent reminder about recent decisions I have made. Despite the 20 hours I spent in the car this weekend and the speeding ticket from West Virginia, my life is so nice right now, it's like an ABBA song.

Calling Anne Shirley

2010-07-19T21:31:00.005-04:00

What would she say to these?

"Look at the puffs!"

All you need is the above ingredients and the mixer below.

Some patience to let the potential puffs gel, some clean scissors, and a lot of sugar to dredge. You don't even need an oven!

They are so light and fluffy and sugary. And they pass the roasting and strangers enjoying them tests. No more store bought marshmallows for Mocabee Creek!

What would this guy say to that?

"Don't eat me!"

This Is What I Do

2010-07-18T18:25:00.003-04:00

Hang out with boys at truck stops.

These are the fellas in my life right now.

I am trying to be a good influence on the little one, and not just because he's the cutest and I work for him.

Photos courtesy of lovely Laura Rucker. Baby courtesy of lucky Leah Rucker.

The Day This Turned into a Food Blog

2010-07-12T21:46:00.006-04:00

Somebody got stung by a wasp yesterday...I told him to come back when he got stung by five more through two fences and a up a steep hill from the house and didn't lose any blackberries, then we could talk.

In attempts at ignoring the puffy hand, we made dinner. Local sausage from the Sausage Fairy who lives down the street, squash from the garden, corn from a friend in Ohio and cheese and noodles from Kroger. And plenty of sweet potato bread.

We aren't sure what kind of squash this is and thought it might not ripen until the fall but it tastes good now.

The friend from Ohio who sent the corn also supplied dessert: rich buttermilk cookies.

Look at the puffs! If the swelling doesn't go down by tomorrow, we are going to make a short horror movie. Hopefully there will be fog!

Cow Crossing

2010-07-11T17:45:00.003-04:00

This morning we moved all of the cows except the milking one and her baby to the pasture across the street. You would think that herd animals would just follow each other easily.

They may not be smart but they sure are pretty. These are the boys, Frank and Tank. There were three girls, Blondie, Pepper, and Kenya. Pepper and Tank are the two without horns. I led Kenya because she was supposed to be the gentlest. She only scrapped her horn against Rob and stepped on my foot once!
I love Tank because I think he looks like a woolly mammoth muppet.

Then I made some sweet potato bread.

Who knew that making food that actually looks like the food it is supposed to look like could be so satisfying? More people should make bread. I think if everyone kneaded dough two or three times a week, there would be no war. And we'd all have toned arms.

Just Another Reminder About How Nice My Life Is

2010-07-06T20:34:00.003-04:00

I miss these guys...

...so now I hang out with a kid who looks just like Oscar from Ghostbusters 2, only 23 times cuter.

I am having such a good summer I don't even care that it's 91 degrees at 8:45pm.

Girls Part Two

2010-07-01T08:58:00.005-04:00

Maaaa Bears

2010-06-29T11:05:00.007-04:00

Have you seen Kentucky's Natural Bridge in real life?

Neither have I!

The Wisconsin gang tried to go yesterday but at the Nada Tunnel in the Red River Gorge area, we found out about a bear attack in the area. All the parks in the Daniel Boone National Forest were closed. At least the attacked man was able to get a good picture of the bear with his cellphone first. Great. Thanks for ruining our day, pal.

I don't think Daniel Boone would have approved.

So we ate some wild raspberries, ran across a swinging bridge a few times and went shopping for Kentucky gear. Who knew middle/high school aged girls from Wisconsin could be so into Wildcat Wear. Don't tell Bucky Badger.

He will find out soon enough.

A Different Kind of Busy...

2010-06-23T12:50:00.002-04:00

Who needs farm chores when I can spend all day watching all of Skins with Joscelin while eating all the orange wrapped things in the house?

This picture is four years old. Maybe we can get a new one sometime this week. Minus Jason Speich of course.

Today is a little more productive. There is bread rising, book reading, and popcorn eating.

Yosemite Finally

2010-06-16T10:39:00.005-04:00

I would not suggest climbing this while drunk. That would be dangerous.

The best tour guide ever. I strongly suggest visiting national parks with people who grew up with said national park in their backyards.

Now that would be an excellent barrel ride.

With all these folks cheering you on.

A nice place to eat lunch, so long as the squirrels leave you alone. The animals in this joint are way to people friendly. I almost made a bike riding, deer petting kid cry when I told her it's not a good thing that the animals are so friendly. Hopefully she wasn't with the adults who were chasing bears for a good photo.

It's always nice to have proof that you've been somewhere.

So Disappointing

2010-06-15T21:42:00.004-04:00

http://www.batterblaster.com/

Do we really need to be blasting our pancakes? I saw this during my weekly trip to town on Sunday (that's farm life, kid!) and all but died over the frozen food area. I thought I laughed hard at the Shelley Duval/me lookalike photo but this took the (pan)cake.

Please don't eat this. I will make you real pancakes, and real mashed potatoes while I am at it. But visit the website because it's funny. http://www.batterblaster.com/

Girls...

2010-06-14T21:31:00.003-04:00

Pokerface and I are not friends.

If this is how girls treat me on the farm...

I'll just keep hanging out with the boys.

Especially since they like my first attempt at french bread so much.

So Busy...

2010-06-14T12:48:00.006-04:00

I have some many things to do on the farm, if only it would stop raining! It has been raining on and off almost all week. So I have to stay inside and...

...try to make cheese. This was my third attempt and it failed. Now I'll never find a husband.

The results of the first attempt were squeaky curds, which isn't really mozzarella but still tastes good on homemade pizza dough. Maybe those curds could get me at least a boyfriend.

Ha! I'll stick to friends who partake in contour line drawing portraits. I think that looks just like Dustin.

Cuidado! Caution!

2010-06-07T23:34:00.003-04:00

On Friday, a Walt Whitman bridge tollbooth worker stalled giving me my change. When he finally handed me my dollar, he said "Sissy Spacek!" I asked if he meant me and he said yes and asked if I got that a lot. I said no but was pleased and said thank you. He was a nice guy and who better to be compared to on the day you leave for Kentucky?

But now that I am settling in Kentucky, survey says I look more like Shelley Duval...

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.

Lost and Found

2010-05-26T00:37:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite things-eating popcorn in Ian's basement watching everyone cry over Lost.
Photo by Ian.

I am so happy to be back on the East coast. After a few days in DC, almost two weeks in Philadelphia, I am ready for a summer in Kentucky and then spending a long time in the Delaware Valley. It only took 29 years minus two weeks plus a year in South America to figure that out but at least now I know where I belong= where almost everyone I love is.

Stanley, Really!

2010-05-20T00:11:00.005-04:00

What would you do if you were at the rim of the world?

Take hair tossing pictures of course.

And then analyze why I have more freckles than ever, even in the dark. Are they the reason everyone at my last job thought I was only 22?

Or is it because I dress like a 14 year old, as once told to me by a fome guy? Who cares!

Coming soon...watch me yuk it up in Yosemite.

Up on the Roof

2010-05-18T03:14:00.003-04:00

Another reason why my friend Colleen is so awesome is because she has a roof garden. You just climb out her kitchen window and there you are.

Talk about resourcefulness!

The other great view. You can almost see the old movie theater sign through the trees.

Do you think it's easy to be graceful climbing in and out of that window? No way.

On the Lookout for Tom, Huck, and Becky...

2010-05-17T21:44:00.005-04:00

I went to visit my favorite friend from Chile, Colleen, in her Eastern California homeland of Calaveras County. I got there just in time for the county fair that was complete with jumping frog contests, Mark Twain look alikes and of course, an all country songs Calaveras Idol. It was a great way to get ready for Kentucky living.

Ode to Erin

2010-05-12T02:07:00.003-04:00

How much do I love my cousin Erin?

You don't know?

FDR doesn't even know???

Is that a lightbulb going off, indicating that you do know?

Yeaaaaa!!

Erin is not only my favorite cousin, she is one of my favorite people on the planet. She is thoughtful, funny, smart as a whip, and has excellent taste. If I had to pick out bridesmaids tomorrow, she would be at the top of the list. If she needed a kidney, she wouldn't need one, because she would already have mine (I wonder if we have the same blood type...) I would travel anywhere in the world to see her, and not just because she made my time in South America extra special by coming to see me. And after our deplorable behavior at Evita's final resting place, it is possible we could be spending eternity together in a very warm place...and we would have a blast.

Feliz cumpleanos mi prima favorita! See you next week!

Moving Right Along!

2010-05-05T15:40:00.004-04:00

Trying to follow the advice of these guys:

But right now I feel kind of like this:

But at least my only regret of leaving Natales, besides the kids, is that I didn't get to see any penguins.

But that's okay because I can always go back to see them, and the kids, and anything else I want. And if I have any trouble from anyone, I will just channel her:

Everything is going to be okay, starting right now. No more crying on hikes, or at least not over guys.

Pinnacles National Monument

2010-04-29T23:48:00.004-04:00

Today we went here...

It made me think of here...

I am sure I was a ...

We went past this movie theater in King City on the way home. But it's not my picture.

...to be around. Que fome x 37,000,000 = me. Who knew hiking up a beautiful mountain could make someone feel so down?

I Bought...

2010-04-28T15:26:00.005-04:00

a ticket to the States! I leave in a few weeks for a beautiful place called...Arlington! Too bad I don't have a cute British accent to wow the fellas with in DC. I guess I will just have to hang out with mi prima favorita...

before heading to...

dear old Philadelphia. But only for a few weeks because then I am going here http://mocabeemills.blogspot.com/ for the summer. Oh dear indeed!

Melt My Heart

2010-04-26T18:22:00.003-04:00

Zooey and Jenny-not my real friends.

It's better that I am not in Southern California because I would just stare at the ceiling at night wishing I was hanging out with these neighbors.

Service with a Spanish Accented Smile

2010-04-25T02:34:00.008-04:00

Dear Lady,

If a hotel agrees to make you two baked potatos and two hard boiled eggs, even though they are not offered anywhere on the menu, be grateful and wait for them in your room. Do not call several times, do not pretend to be my mother so the manager will let you into the kitchen, and certainly do not think I was ignoring you as I ran up and down a flight of stairs with other guests' food in my hands. Guests that were waiting properly in their rooms for their proper, off the menu meals. And please when you finally leave in a huff and call back two more times in an even bigger huff telling me to just give you some cold potatos that you could "nuke" yourself in the morning before the big marathon, think about how you are making yourself look. Maybe like these guys...

Good luck at your marathon tomorrow. If I had the time, money, or even the slightest interest in getting out of bed before noon, I would meet you at the finish line wearing this:

De mi amiga Pandora,

2010-04-24T17:08:00.003-04:00

whom I love but wish would give me more than 40 hours a month of free music. If only I could get the radio in my room to tune into the Santa Cruz college station; those kids are a riot. I'm glad it's the only station that I can get on the mountaintop at work.

And anyone that says music died in the 90s did not listen to enough Mazzy Star. Maybe I will put harmonica learning on my summer to do list. Right after renewed sewing machine love and perfecting my handstand.

Oh Oil Rig...

2010-04-22T18:31:00.003-04:00

You couldn't have waited to sink until after Earth Day? Talk about fueling the flames for environmentalists

For Elizabeth at E-Tells-Tales

2010-04-22T14:44:00.002-04:00

Just a few reasons why you might want to come to Monterey County on your father/daughter vacation!

This post was approved by John Steinbeck who wants you to visit his childhood house!

Bored?

2010-04-15T20:44:00.005-04:00

Like rice?

Want to brush up on your chemistry?

Or maybe your times tables?

Check this out: www.freerice.com

I use it to practice my Spanish vocab but there is so much more! And it helps people eat rice. Who doesn't love rice? I had a swell time just looking for images of rice.

Room Service

2010-04-15T15:23:00.002-04:00

Rooster: ...Lily St. Regis
Lily: Named for the hotel!
Miss Hannigan: Room Service...

My brother and I always called her "Hotel" when we were kids. If we saw Bernadette Peters on something else, we would look at each other in amazement and say "Hotel!" Now that I work in a hotel, in room service, this scene runs through my head about 50 times a shift, even though it's supposed to be called "in-room dining". Too bad half the people calling get confused when I say "in-room dining" and want to know if they can be connected to "room service".

I was told the other day that if Mr. Redford comes by, I need to treat him like any other normal guest. Luckily no one asked me how I deal with celeberities during the interview, although I do think I handled my Moesha encounter at Barnes and Noble a million years ago decently enough. But greeting a guy who was married to Barbra Steisand (in the movies) normally? Yeah right!

Espangles?

2010-04-11T01:28:00.003-04:00

I started reading this book on my first day at work, because my new boss was an hour late. I didn't mind because it's a great book and takes place in Venezuela so there is Spanish in it. Enough Spanish that when the cook at work offered me some coffee, I said "Cafe? No gracias...uhh no thanks!" I wasn't going to mention Chile to my new co-workers but I said something else in Spanish to one guy, and he spread the word. Lucky for me, most of my co-workers are from Mexico or central America and their Spanish is nice and clear. So of course I told someone to be careful in Spanish and it turns out the guy is from Russia. No importa!

Another super thing about my job is that I get to run up and down steps a lot. Not only is this exercise but it's a perfect excuse not to wear heels to work. Que bueno!

New View

2010-04-01T23:05:00.004-04:00

So I got a job out here, a proper one, like Helen says in Sliding Doors.
I've never had a blog in a country where employers might actually care, so just know it's proper. Like business casual proper, which means skirts. Yes! And I get to see ocean and rocks and cypress trees from it.
Not bad for a week of job hunting, eh?

P.S. One of my super cousins, whose name rhymes with my brother's, said I might need a new blog name. Any ideas?

Now What?

2010-03-29T13:36:00.006-04:00

Almost exactly a year ago.

When I started this blog a year ago, I never thought I would end up in my parents' spare bedroom applying for jobs at the Tollhouse Cookie Store on Cannery Row. I was too busy taking a plane to the bottom of the world to move in with complete strangers and guzzling sugary Coca Cola to think of anything else. Even a month ago I didn't think that would ever be an option. I was too busy buying sugary Coca Cola for the US vs. Canada gold medal game and thinking about earthquakes. Now I have all the time in the world to think and no sugary Coca Cola to drink. Que fome.

If I'm not living in Chile, I don't know if I can keep writing on this thing. Who cares about what I'm not doing in California? I could write my thoughts on missing Chile but that would be so depressing. I could post a link to the live webcam in Puerto Natales but that would be so weird.

Last picture of me in South America before my camera was ganked.

California...

2010-03-19T17:02:00.005-04:00

looks just like Chile. I guess it will really hit me that I am home when I get back to Philadelphia.

La Playa

2010-03-13T18:16:00.002-05:00

I finally found another place in Argentina besides Buenos Aires that I could easily move to. Patagonia Argentina has nothing on Patagonia Chile, so all those cities down south were pretty ugly to me. But not Mar del Plata! It´s even making me think of moving to Miami, so I can live in a city near the beach and still speak Spanish. Maybe I should visit Miami first.

I bet these folks have retired in Miami, so I could hang out with them. Although why they would leave Mar del Plata makes no sense to me.

On Monday I am taking the train to Buenos Aires. The train! It doesn´t go along the coast but that´s okay because I am going to stare at the ocean all day tomorrow, so who needs it on a train?

From the Mountains to the Ocean...

2010-03-12T09:11:00.002-05:00

I am leaving Bariloche today. Tomorrow I will be at the beach!

I would love to show you my own photos but my camera disappeared somewhere around the Chile/Argentina border...oh well. I got to hang out with some nice British guys and eat a really good chicken sandwich and see some wicked mountains that I will just have to remember on my own.
This time next week I´ll be in California!

McDonalds Mejor

2010-03-07T17:58:00.003-05:00

So I finally got out of bed, got on the bus to Puerto Montt, and went straight to a happy place-the southern most McDonald´s in Chile. While there, the song ¨Young Folks¨ by Peter Bjorn and John came on, which was amazing because I have never heard that song in public before. Yesterday I heard ¨Tender¨by Blur and ¨Silver Lining¨by Rilo Kiley on sound systems within ten minutes of each other. I think this is Chile´s way of saying that I can always come back. I really do like it here. How can you not like a place that stops in the middle of the highway to pick people up?

On Tuesday I´m taking a bus to Bariloche (I already bought the ticket) and then from there I think I will go straight across Argentina to the beach and then up to Buenos Aires to come home. I need to take advantage of this unexpected time to travel because who knows when I´ll have it again and most people would kill for it.

Proof I Got Out of Bed in Puerto Varas

2010-03-07T10:14:00.003-05:00

My plans to go to Coyhaique are kaput, so I think I will be in Puerto Varas for a few days. It's pouring rain now, which is a wonderful reason to stay in bed at the hostel. I just wish this place had ALF stuffed animals to hug...come on Hostel Melmac!

That's Puerto Varas.

That's a volcano. I stared at it for awhile, kind of hoping it would erupt. That's okay, because it didn't happen, right?

That's a boat that looks like a fancy pirate ship.

Those are my feet in the lake, not freezing. I can't wait to be back in a place where I can actually go swimming.

This was my new friend for a minute. He was nice enough to shake off not near me.

Safe with ALF

2010-03-06T07:12:00.003-05:00

I am in Puerto Varas until tomorrow when the bus leaves for Coyhaique. The hostel I am staying in is called Melmac, for the planet ALF comes from. Did you know that Chileans loved ALF? It´s really nice and clean and the bed was so comfortable and the windows could stay open and I only needed one blanket. I think some places are going to be too hot for me now. Ha!

This city looks so beautiful but I don´t think I can enjoy it at all. I never understood why tourists looked so miserable in Puerto Natales and now I am one of those tourists. And I never thought I would lose interest in traveling but its just not that much fun anymore. Maybe because I am lugging my life around in four bags but mostly because it just feels so lonely. Hopefully things will be better in Coyhaique with Alley.

Tomorrow...

2010-03-04T13:07:00.004-05:00

I am flying to Puerto Montt and then from there taking a bus to Coyhaique and my friend Alley. After a few days I will take another bus forever to Buenos Aires. And then on the 16th of March, get on a plane to California. Once Dave Roberts can guarantee that there will be no more snow on the east coast, I'll head back there.

Last night I went by my school to meet up with Andrea. There was a teacher meeting and they asked me to come in and say hi. So I had to tell them I was leaving Natales and they asked when I would come back and I said not anytime soon, and of course started to cry. Everyone felt so bad, so they clapped and then set up a group picture. I'm surprised someone didn't run out and buy a cake. It was really nice to see everyone and have them wish me well with smiles and kisses and all other nice Chilean things. Andrea and I went for a long walk along the beach like we used to and it was just right. Hopefully I will see her again.

Now I am giving some stuff away and trying to make sure the cat gets taken care of. Luckily cats are rational creatures (thanks Craig!) and as long as she gets fed and bounced around, she'll be fine.

I had lunch with Nacho's parents for the last time and we talked about what I will say about the earthquake when I get home. We laughed so hard thinking of all the ridic things I could say, like I was the only survivor in Natales, saved by a penguin and a flamingo but the U.S. can still send plasma TVs and new cars to Patagonia, just in case. It was a good time. They have been so good to me these past few days; I am really going to miss them.

Okay! Vamos!

Coming Home

2010-03-03T10:31:00.003-05:00

It looks like it's time for me to head back north. Things just didn't work out as planned and sooner or later, that will be okay. I wish things were different but...I know not to try to change people but now also that people won't/can't change for you.

I am so lucky because I got to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth for a year. And now I will get to see other beautiful places. And I have so many people who love me. It's about time I spent real time with them.

Almost a year ago!

Almost a week ago!

Estoy Bien. I'm Okay

2010-02-27T10:13:00.002-05:00

There was a big earthquake in Chile this morning further north than me. Luckily Magallanes is on a different techtonic plate than the rest of Chile and we didn't feel a thing. But things are a mess for the rest of the country and I haven't heard from some friends yet. Please throw some good thoughts our way. Gracias amigos y besitos.

Erratic Fiesta

2010-02-23T13:19:00.003-05:00

There was a party at Nacho`s work, Erratic Rock, last week, to celebrate all the climbers who made it up the towers in the park. There was lamb, beer, and a lot of music.

Who wouldn`t want to work in a place with a skeleton of a kayak on the ceiling?

Timmy O`Neill on the drums!

Oh Gabi I miss you even if you just left yesterday!

Tadeo!
And then the best part of the night, besides when someone called my chocolate peanut butter cookies the best in the world. Nacho got on Owen`s shoulders and sang the blues. And then demanded that people catch him.

I`m dating a Patagonian rock star.

And who doesn`t love a kid who can sleep through all of this? I was that kid once.

How Would You Explain a Pretzel to Someone?

2010-02-23T13:11:00.002-05:00

I have the same problem explaining bagels to folks down here. The other night I had to try to explain bagels to Nacho`s little cousin and everyone listening. I don`t even know how to really describe bagels or pretzels in English besides ¨they taste good¨. What would you do?

Oh and my pretzels were so well received, I didn`t get a chance to take a picture of the finished product. So you get a funny picture of me instead!

For You, Dad!

2010-02-23T12:50:00.003-05:00

I went with Nacho`s family to Rio Gallegos, Argentina this weekend to meet his dad`s family. Of course there was an asado and of course Luis, Nacho`s dad, said I needed to take a picture for Barry.
We stayed with Nacho`s cousin Julio ( the one holding the beer) and his wife Nicole, who is from Paraguay! They have two beautiful, tranquilo children who didn`t bother anyone the day after we all stayed out until 9am. I would have been more than happy to go home at 6am but I was outnumbered. At least I got to see the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.

And this is the daughter of Nacho`s cousin Marta. She changed her name on me so many times I can`t remember what it actually is. She was full of energy and drove everyone else crazy. She also kept asking me where my boyfriend was. I didn`t blame her.

A Sky So Big, You Can Almost See the Hole in the Ozone Layer

2010-02-17T14:59:00.004-05:00

I love this dog. He and a few of his dog friends like to keep watch this way and make you think they are going to jump over the fence. They never do.

Yesterday was another beautiful day in Natales, so I went for a long walk. I started at my school and walked along the coast even when it went out of town onto the highway. Then up a hill and finally headed back to town through the country. But I underestimated how far that would be and was more than thrilled to take a ride when offered. Turns out I had been walking for three and a half hours and have the blisters to prove it.

The highlight of the walk, besides the exercise in the beautiful, cloudless weather, was the kid who yelled ¨HAAAHAAA¨at me from a taxi. It made me laugh so hard, imagining his family pointing out the ¨tonta¨walking along the side of the road in this heat and this boy telling me what he thought.

Vertical Valentine

2010-02-15T12:56:00.003-05:00

In the summer of 2008, mi mejor amiga, Diana, and I were watching this PBS special on dancing in America's National Parks (we were also probably reading and I was shoving popcorn into my mouth...). The first segment was of people dancing on the sides of a mountain in Yosemite with bungee cords. It was really cool. So of course I remembered it when I met Nacho a year later and he mentioned knowing someone who dances on the sides of mountains in Yosemite. Of course the woman is here in Natales and yesterday danced on the side of a hotel for a few minutes. It wasn't as good as the piece in Yosemite but it was still fun to see.

Waiting for the show to start. Gabi is from Poland and the coolest person in Natales right now. Too bad she is leaving on Wednesday.

Getting ready to ascend one of the nicest hotels in town.

I hope the hotel let their guests now that Heather would be doing this. You should have seen the people driving by trying to watch what was happening. You should check more of this out at www.projectbandaloop.org or watch the show Diana and I watched at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/dance-in-america-wolf-traps-face-of-america/introduction/150/

Then we went to get food. I'm so lucky to have a boyfriend who remembers its Valentine's Day when he puts ketchup on his pizza.

Clearance Clarence

2010-02-15T11:56:00.005-05:00

For all you folks just in from shoveling the snow, several reasons why you should have skipped winter with me in the southest of South America. Love me and the Milodon!

Another Good Thing About Living in a Touristy Mountain Town

2010-02-13T12:06:00.004-05:00

Besides hang out with these guys...

You don't have to go to Banff to go to the Banff Film Festival. They bring it right to Natales, in the gym of the nicest elementary school for three nights. It only costs 1.500 CLP ($3) a night and last night was great. People brought their babies and let them run around while everyone else watched movies that made you (or at least me!) want to go home and do some pushups.

Tonight, Timmy, the guy next to Nacho in the top picture, is speaking at the festival and tomorrow a movie about he and his brother climbing in Alaska is being shown. Timmy lives in California now, but grew up in Delaware County and went to Bonner. Of course!

Caso Cerrado! Case Closed!

2010-02-11T13:11:00.003-05:00

You know this guy right?

This is the Judge Judy/Judge Wapner of Chile, except she dresses like a snazzy businesswoman. Sometimes she comes from behind the bench to get in peoples' faces. But only if they've been told to stop hitting each other five times. It's funny that this is a popular show here, because Chile doesn't seem to be a "Something went wrong? Lets sue!" kind of country. Wait, at the height of TV judge shows, is that when people in the U.S. started suing each other more? Did they all aspire to be on People's Court? Judge Wapner, what did you do?!

Tempranoooo...

2010-02-10T11:56:00.003-05:00

Guess who came home on Friday, three days early? I was outside looking for the kitten and heard a car pull up. I assumed it was my neighbor giving me a hard time for not stopping by for once the other night and instead I heard someone yelling to "la gringa". Ha. That's me! That's my pololo!

Since Nacho was three days early, the house wasn't clean, the cookies weren't made, and the pisco was not yet purchased. But it didn't matter. His client, Juliette from France, stayed with us for a few days and it was really nice to have her around. Especially since it has been raining for over a week now. But now we have a TV and a DVD player and plenty of episodes of MacGyver to watch. Now I just need to convince Nacho that MacGyver is still cool...

I Ain't Afraid of No...

2010-02-04T13:34:00.004-05:00

...cat. I had a dream the other night that I got attacked by a puma and another kind of bigcat at the same time. I saw the puma and as I ran away, the puma got me from behind and the other gatito grande got me from the front. Somehow I managed to stick both of my hands in both of their mouths and get them to attack each other while I sought refuge in one of my 4th graders' house. Weird.

Molotova may be a puma in training, but she would never try to really eat me. But to be on the safe side, I'm not letting her have any cat friends.

Maybe I should go hike up Dorotea while I wait for my mejor pololo to get back. I have so many things to do, like clean and make cookies, but I can't do those things until just before he walks in the door. Who wants four day old cookies and a not so clean kitchen when he gets home?

This picture is dark but so fun. Look at those hands! They are burning to go hiking for 8 days.

What Does Maria Say the Mother Superior Says?

2010-02-02T13:38:00.006-05:00

Hey this kind of what my backyard looks like...now I just need a postulant type dress...

In The Sound of Music, about when God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window? Well for me, it was walking home alone at 11:30 pm and being approached by a guy in a taxi as I crossed a dimly-lit playground. Of course he just wanted to offer me a job teaching English at his English school, not scare the life out of me. I just got back from the school/his house now and we are all set to begin in March.

This is really good because I would hate to have to ask these kids for money, or if Nacho and I could move into their playhouse.

I hope this is me in March...no, I hope this is both of us in March.

Did you know...

2010-02-01T15:33:00.002-05:00

that I am really, really pale? Look I'm almost blue.

my super pololo is away for eight days on a trip?

my cat is absolutely crazy?

and I changed my hair? I am having a good time telling folks in Spanish that I had white hairs, so I needed to dye it.

Also, that I only run in the dark? Which makes me happy that my landlady is a night owl and I can only drop the rent off after 11:00 pm.

Awesome

2010-01-29T12:52:00.004-05:00

This picture was taken on our last full day together in Natales. We had to wait an hour to eat cake. It makes me laugh everytime I look at it.

A Question...

2010-01-26T14:08:00.003-05:00

If I look like so much like Sloth...

...why doesn't Maxi look like Chunk in this picture? HEY YOU GUYS!!!

Much better. I am not mad at Coni for taking the first picture, just at Alejandro for posting it on Facebook. Gracias gracias. You couldn't have labeled me in this one.

Or this one, taken right before Cata and I embarked on a two hour session of Chilean Hangman. What you do is draw the person hanging and then a line to a fire. Everytime you guess the wrong letter, you scribble on the line as if it is fire, until the fire reaches the hanging person. So the hanging person not only gets hanged, he or she gets burned as well. I love Chile. Cata was awesome to play with. For me, she chose words in Spanish and for her, I did easy English words.
And by the end of the game we stopped drawing generic stick figure hanging men and moved onto elephants and Molotova. Why can't everyone be 10 forever?

Wanna Look at My Bagels?

2010-01-21T11:59:00.003-05:00

I've been working on my breakfast making abilities. I made pancakes for mi familia chilena last week and they went over okay. I made regular old pancakes and banana ones. Of course I thought the regular ones were better, so everyone ate all of the banana ones.

Anyway, I'm on to other things. Until I locate a waffle iron with the proper voltage, the focus is on bagels. Because no one in this town knows what a bagel is and I can't think of the words to describe a bagel in any language, so what am I waiting for?

Raw bagels sure are gross looking and my bagel form needs a lot of practice. But check out my awesome, free geese measuring cups!

I halfed the recipie so I wouldn't waste too much. Luckily I have a carb-loving cat, so no worries there. I am going to keep practicing and maybe the next time Nacho has a trip, I can send him out with bagels. I can't think of a better business card than a really good bagel!

Ella No Entienda Nada-A Look at Culture vs. Manners

2010-01-19T11:18:00.003-05:00

What Molotova thinks of my Spanish...

I know I am choosing to live in another country, so I have to follow the rules here. Overall, people here are the same as in the States. I’ve come to the conclusion, much to the chagrin of Nationalists, people are the same everywhere you go. In a good way. Of course, I have definitely clashed with the local culture, sometimes hilariously and sometimes painfully.

I like telling my friends and family about the culture in Chile. Like the great (kissing everyone hello and goodbye), the interesting (stray dogs coming into school), the hard to get used to (everything closing at lunchtime and nothing ever starting on time), the thanks, but no thanks (putting mayonnaise on everything), the bummer (opposite sex friendships are not really encouraged), and the sad (no bagels).

There is one thing I haven’t been able to get used to/accept and it’s this. A few people have taken it upon themselves to tell me that I need to practice Spanish more. When I am speaking English. To someone else. After speaking Spanish for two hours straight or that someone else asked me a question in English. And the people who tell me this are not people I have ever talked to in any language.

Considering my position...

I know I need to practice my Spanish more. I would love for my Spanish to be better. I know I should encourage/insist that Nacho speak only Spanish with me, but that’s hard, because I have a lot to say and not enough verb tense understanding. I also know I would never, ever walk up to a very distant acquaintance (or in the case of the other night, a complete stranger) at a party and tell him or her what language to speak and that he or she is lazy for not speaking locally. I really don’t think this is a helpful way to encourage any beginner.

Tell me, do you think this is a cultural thing or just plain rudeness? I think it’s the latter. Most people try to speak Spanish with me and I try back. I actually get pretty defensive if a stranger assumes I can’t speak any Spanish. If they can speak English and they ask what language I would prefer, and I always say Spanish. If the other person wants to switch to English, I’ll try to hold onto the Spanish for a bit longer before succumbing to my native tongue. And maybe that makes me a wimp but I look at it as more of “time for you to practice your second language and time for me to stop butchering your native one” moment. And most of these people will tell me that my Spanish is good, especially for Chile, and especially for Natales.

I am really glad there are so many bi-lingual+ people down here, but apparently for me, new languages are hard. Follow me around town for a day and you’ll know, despite my lack of proper verb conjugation, that I am trying and improving. I don’t speak any real English to anyone unless it’s one of my old students or someone who speaks English to me first. So, if you really want me to practice my Spanish, try talking to me in Spanish. Just not about my Spanish. Thanks. I mean, gracias!

And deciding that we should all just speak like pirates and parrots. What a good cat.

The Long Walk to Town

2010-01-14T16:58:00.006-05:00

Since moving to the Wonda house, my walk into town has gone from five minutes to 15. Lucky for me, it's the prettiest walk not on along the sea in town. Or at least the most athletic. Can you see the roller coaste-esque hill back there? Oh and can you guess what time the above picture was taken?

That's a cow. She lives in this yard, feasting on grass all day long.

The cow's view from her front yard. Lucky girl. Do you think milk tastes better when it comes from happier cows? Are cows happier when they have a good view? If so, this cow's milk would be off the chart in tasting like happy.

I love this little house. I wish I lived in an octagon.

This is the view towards my neighborhood. So if it was really windy, you would look at this as you walked to town backwards.

My new favorite house in Natales. It's so pretty and blue and has an awesome breakfast nook area and a small porch. It's the big sister of the blue octagon house.

The valley. Sometimes this whole part of town looks and feels like it's on an angle. And that's without any pisco.

What a pretty bridge, you might be thinking. Well stop. This is the bridge where you would be most likely to run into either a passed out drunk man at 2 in the afternoon or a few of my 7th graders and their terrible role models at 2 in the morning.

You can turn left here and go up the super steep hill or go straight for the more forgiving hill. But only during the daytime. Once it's dark, lots of dogs prevent you (or at least me!) from going straight. Taxi!

My favorite house in Natales based on it's front yard that doesn't have a lot of flowers in it. Does that make sense? This house makes me think of what I think Prince Edward Island could look like. A congested PEI but still...

Almost there! Just walk backwards up this hill while taking pictures of Dorotea and the other surrounding mountains and you're on Baquedano, one of the main streets. Just watch out for traffic, because those collectivos don't stop for anyone!

The Best Things...

2010-01-13T18:42:00.005-05:00

about my house.

First, the view from the end of my street.

This doghouse kills me every time I see it, which is every time I come and go from the house. Who is Wonda and where is she? Before I left for Santiago and Nacho moved into the house, he mentioned that Wonda would be the first thing to go during his clean up. I told him that if he got rid of Wonda, he was essentially getting rid of me. So he added the "Hostal" and I'm so glad Wonda got to stay.

I think this is the prettiest old sink ever. Sure its super deep and the faucets spray water everywhere, but look at it. People would pay a lot of money for this, right?

Oh, my kitchen table. It even has a secret compartment where you can keep rum and pisco. And it's so good at holding my stuff on top of it. I also love that the owners of the house obviously had a can of green paint to use up. Too bad they didn't enough left over to paint the house. The real house, not Wonda.

See, I'm not the only one in our house who enjoys Wonda.

What a Day-A Two Part Tale of Yesterday

2010-01-13T14:05:00.003-05:00

Part Two

I’m almost at the house (and lunch!) when my cell phone starts ringing. Normally I would have ignored it but something told me to put the box down on a bench, take off my backpack and answer the phone, so I did. It was Nacho’s papa, asking if Nacho went out in the kayak this morning. I said yes, almost saying “I think so” but decided against it because I didn’t think so, I knew so. He asked again and I told him that he left the house at 8:30 this morning. He sounded relieved and asked where I was. I told him I would see him in less than five.

Finally at the house, I showed off my box and tried to tell my story of the postal worker who delivers to you anywhere in town but my Spanish is…Anyway, I sit at the table while Luis, Nacho’s papa, finishes up lunch and he tells me why he called. Earlier, a friend of Nacho’s stopped into the store and asked Nacho’s mama, Edith, how Nacho was. Edith said he was fine and the friend said he was asking because of the bad car accident last night and was Nacho really okay because he had heard otherwise. Well both Luis and Edith just about had heart attacks thinking their son was involved in an accident and this is how they were finding out. Then they tried to call Nacho but he left his phone at home because it wouldn’t do him any good in the kayak. So they were more than thrilled to hear from me that he left the house this morning, completely unscathed, despite the pretty harrowing taxi ride we took the night before.

A hour later, I’m on my second bowl of soup and trying to explain the lack of geography in public schools in the United States to Luis (yes, this is what I talk about when I want to improve on my second language) and Nacho walks in the door, six hours early. He says the trip had been cancelled halfway through because his kayak flipped over in the sound, thanks to the awful winds. He was okay, just freezing and soaking wet and super upset and scared. When his folks were telling me the accident story, I remember thinking that he was safe in his kayak and then wondering how safe anyone ever really is in a kayak.

The most important thing is that he’s okay. He had his life jacket on, knew how to get himself out of the kayak and of the near freezing water in time, because he is really good at his job. I hate that it happened to him but it could have been much worse had it been one of the unprepared clients. I spent all day thinking about what could have happened and how I was too lazy to get out of bed to make him coffee. But none of that matters now. I don’t think he’ll get in the water anytime soon so maybe he could look for a safer job, like breaking wild horses or glacier climbing…

What a Day-A Two Part Tale of Yesterday

2010-01-13T13:57:00.004-05:00

Part One

Yesterday started out normal enough. Nacho woke up early for an all day trip in the kayaks. He peeked out the window before he left and thought the weather looked good. Molotova joined me in sleeping longer, ignoring the dishes until later, and around lunchtime I headed to Nacho’s parents’ house. Why has that phrase gotten so much easier to say in Spanish? La casa de los padres de Nacho? Maybe it’s the lack of apostrophes. Maybe I am getting better at thinking in Spanish.

I was almost at the house when man approached me. I returned his hola and kept walking and he followed. Finally he handed me a piece of paper asking if the name on it was mine. I looked, saw my name, and said yes. On a harder look I saw that it was from the post office and realized this was probably the knock I heard when I was in the shower. Most mid-day knocks on my door come from the neighborhood kids so I don’t normally worry about knocks I can’t/ don’t answer. I was expecting a package so I wasn’t too surprised about the paper, but I sure was shocked as to how this man, who I had never seen before despite my frequent and obvious outings to the post office, knew who I was and where to find me. I was a good 15-minute walk from my house and right now Natales is filled with reddy-brown haired gringas with orange backpacks.

I tried to ask him how he knew/found me but he responded to quickly and we were crossing the second busiest street in town so it didn’t really matter. He showed me the box from my folks (thanks Mom! Thanks Dad!) and asked if I wanted it now. How’s that for service? He would have been willing to drive the package, which weighed all of two kilos, to my house later if I didn’t feel like carrying it. It probably helped that I mentioned I was in the shower when he knocked. Oh Chile.

So how do you think the mailman found me? And why do you think he made such an effort to do so? During lunchtime, a sacred time for all Chileans who don't work in tourism or the supermarket?

Up next-the day gets...more complicated.

Oh You Know Down Here...

2010-01-11T17:47:00.005-05:00

It's windy...

It's pretty...

And it's a long way from everywhere else.

Does This Mean I'm Staying Forever?

2010-01-06T12:25:00.003-05:00

The other night, we had an asado at our house for the two California mountain climbers hanging out in Natales right now. They are really nice guys who made a super stuffed beef thing and a nice old mess in my kitchen. But the beef was so good, who cares?

Also along for the party was Marcos, his two brothers Victor and Corto (which is a nickname for something I don't know), Valeria, the new girl working in Marcos' office, Juan Jo, Paolito, his lady friend, and Silvana, who is the best dancer in all of Region 12. We hung out in the front yard by the grill, eating chorripan (sausage and bread!) while waiting for the stuffed meat to come along. And this kid turned up. I shushed her away a few times, because someone (my boyfriend!) doesn't like cats but she kept coming back. Finally Valeria starting playing with her and somehow she ended up in the house.

And someone (my boyfriend!) fell in love. He decided we need a pet and wouldn't she be a good one, after we check with Valeria that she didn't want her? Victor, the coolest 18 year old vegetarian in all of Chile who can speak English, suggested naming her Knife. I said no way, what about Snowflake or Princessa, just to see if he would understand. He did, laughed and then, being 18, cool, and from the region of Chile that sees the most violence, he suggested Molotov. As in cocktail. But she's a girl cat, so we threw an "a" on the end of it and were settled.

So this is Molotova Cattail, bilingual kitty, future puma. She loves backpacks, hoods, and Nacho.

But she knows I'm the one who feeds her, so she loves me too.

Argghhhhhhh how can anything be this cute?

The After Party...

2010-01-03T15:05:00.006-05:00

I should be home, cleaning before mi pololo gets back from work (guy gets to spend two days in a kayak-how do you get that job?) but instead I'm using the free internet at his parents' house while digesting the free lunch they fed me a bit ago. So I am giving myself a half hour more before I head home where I will be magically whipped into a cleaning frenzy. Right?

Since my time in the United States was short, my favorite (girl) cousin Erin organized a bowling extravaganza after Christmas. This is why it's awesome to have Christmas on the 26th, because then the bowling alleys are open.

We left Aunt Mary Ellen's, where I was almost left behind, and headed to Sproul Lanes, where Erin, Ryan, and I were lucky enough to rent the ugliest shoes in the world. Steve and the others all had their own shoes. Whoa!

There's nothing better than hearing your uncles call each other brothers. As in "Come on, brother, you can do it!"

Our lovely aunts. It was such a fun day. I hadn't been bowling with these guys in almost six years.

No one actually uses their real names when they go bowling do they? Can you guess what our theme was?

What? You find our bowling names offensive? The other team was Scandals of 2009. What do you think the rest of the bowling alley thought of us yelling "Go Rhianna! Be strong! You can't be beat!"? I think one little boy really wanted to join our team.

I love his shirt.

Always a lady! Just like Farrah Fawcett, minus the wings.

The best way to end a night exercising together...pizza! Especially when it's right next door to the bowling alley. Hey we might have even walked to the place if it wasn't raining so much.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Aunt Mare remembered to give us all our Christmas lottery tickets. She even included a penny on each card!

So the eight of us (EIGHT) excitedy and expectantly scratched away at our lottery tickets. Maybe a little expectantly...

...because out of eight lottery tickets (EIGHT!!), none of us won. Not even the $2 prize. Not a magical reindeer among us.

But that's okay! We still have each other. We just might like each other more if we were lottery winners. We would absolutely see each other more!

Keep Christmas With You...

2010-01-03T11:40:00.003-05:00

A few years ago, our Christmas moved from Collingdale to Morton and instead of just raw vegetables and potato chips, there are also hoagies and a super Mexican bean dip. But you still get greeted with several really loud, really excited hellos when you walk in the door and there are still several coolers of beer you need to search through before you find the soda. So the O'Shea Christmas really hasn't changed that much...

Except that there's more room at Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Bob's house. Room for new cousins and new babies!

And the smartest seven year old on the planet tries scare you with a rubber cockroach. That's why Ryan stayed behind Evan the whole day.

The men still hang out in the kitchen and talk about sports...

Aunt Pat still takes care of the little kids...

These two are always up to something. They used to rig the pollyanna to make sure they got each other. I wonder if they still exchange ridiculous Christmas presents?

Cousin Sarah told me that she is studying South America in school and a girl from Panama sits at her lunch table. Why didn't I get to study South America and sit with a girl from Panama at lunch in the 6th grade? Kids today have all the luck.

Old cousins! Dawn, Kev, Kim, Bri, Lorraine, Lynne, Kelly, Cait and Pat, we missed you!

The lucky little kids who still get presents from all the aunts and uncles. Erin wishes she was still one of these kids. Wait, so do I!

My Italian Christmas

2010-01-02T12:07:00.005-05:00

For the first ten years of my life, Christmas Day was spent going to my grandmother's and reaping the rewards of having a mother with eight brothers and sisters. After awhile, the adults realized how obscene this was and switched us kids to a more adult-like, wallet friendly and trunk managable pollyanna.

One thing that never changed was that after the big gift exchange in Collingdale, us Kohlers would head to Springfield with the Italian O'Sheas and have ourselves a merry little rigattoni Christmas. Then Ryan got married, the folks moved to California, I started to visit them...

But not anymore! This year I braved the dreaded "holiday schedule"** on PATCO and SEPTA to get from Haddonfield to Delaware County and all of these guys. And it was great.

Uncle Micahel having his first taste of pisco.

The most O'Shea of all the O'Sheas and my number one blog fan who finally got to sit down, Aunt Mare.

I don't know when Snuggis became cool but they must be because Rachael has two of them.

And Mr. Crissanti had to have one!

Doesn't he look like he just ate a pan of rigattonis? He's not in our family, but I sure wish he was!

**The holiday schedule was just like the Sunday schedule and absolutely nothing to worry about. Maybe if the people who work in public transportation got paid double time on Sundays like they do on holidays, Sundays would be a more fun day to take the train...

Look!

2009-12-28T04:32:00.001-05:00

My boyfriend can fly!

Because...

2009-12-28T03:36:00.007-05:00

I'm at the airport, it's 3:37am and I can't find my

camera-computer cord (Ryan, is it on your coffee table next to my cool green wooden bracelet?) to upload new pictures, you get the first part of my Flavors of the Americas tour. Or some of things I ate this last week.

My first meal back was McDonald's but we don't need to talk about that. What we can talk about is how Cousin Erin did a fantastic job feeding me my first few days back. Our last meal in the DC/NOVA area was at Southside 815 where I was able to get a chicken sandwich with a fried green tomato on it. Que bueeeennnnnoooooooo. I mean, coooooooool.

And Erin was able to get... nachos!

Once I was back in the bosom of home (ha!) and with Diana, we went to everyone's favorite hamburger chain and home of my second job ever...Fuddruckers. Not only did I learn how to serve beer on tap and make a mean milkshake in this place, I even got to watch a customer throw one at the manager! A milkshake, not a beer. The reason she threw the milkshake is because she wasn't allowed to have a beer. Anyway, ten years later the burgers, and buns, are still perfect. See the first picture for proof of that!

Diana and I sat in the back and remembered the "surprise" going away party she threw for me at Fudd's when I moved to Wisconsin. Can you believe that was almost six years ago? I want to say nothing has changed but now they sell buffalo burgers. When I worked there, we only sold tuna steaks and ostrich burgers.

On Wednesday morning, Erin Lucas took me to the Pop Shop for breakfast. We had a little bit of a hard time with the menu because it's so big but I finally ended up with the cinammon bun french toast. It was so good, I didn't even think of the 30 different grilled cheeses I could have had if Erin and I had gone for lunch.

Erin got yummy fluffy eggs and this awesome biscuit. When I asked for one for desser, the waitress said she knew I had biscuit envy. Maybe...

Jess took me to the new Naked Chocolate in University City for dessert. Earlier in the week, we went to Vietnam (in Chinatown of course) and had spring rolls and noodles. The only dessert we managed that night was Wawa ice cream in the car, so...

That's the chocolate-peanut butter cupcake and the Hawaiian hot chocolate, which includes caramel and LAVA SALT! It's my favorite hot chocolate in the world. And in the background is the lemon tart. That's good but you should get a cupcake!

On Christmas Eve, Ryan and I went to relive his first childhood memory and eat panzerottis. He says he remembers going with our mom to Franco's after her doctor appointments while she was pregnant with me! So I guess this stuff is in our blood. And that makes us lucky because...

...they are some of the best things on the planet.

Coming up (once I find a way to upload my pictures) Christmas, bowling, and a lot of O'Sheas!

Mis Amigos!

2009-12-24T22:47:00.005-05:00

One of the hardest things about living in Patagonia is that I am so far away from these guys...

I wish I had a cheeseburger wallet like my friend Kevin...

Thanks Diana for the great picture. Where is that waitress? Fixing her tube top!

Mi polola! Shhhh...uh we're just excited about the mozzarella CHEESE sticks.

Cheer up Andie; Sandra's right there!

Look at those handsome fellows...

My favorite fellow Duggar fans!

Pretty Penn Student!

Yea friends!

Christmas in Philadelphia!

2009-12-24T22:33:00.004-05:00

I spent the past two Christmases in California, so I am glad to be home this year. I only need to move to Chile to celebrate the holidays here.

One of us is dressed right for the holidays...but that's her job!

Feliz Cumpelanos Papa!

2009-12-19T12:18:00.004-05:00

On your birthday...

I hope you hang out with fun people,

cook an awesome lamb...

And of course, get your bearings!

The Biggest Bummer Ever

2009-12-19T11:16:00.006-05:00

Half of the reason I decided to come home for Christmas was for Autumn and Craig's wedding. I have been waiting for this wedding forever! I borrowed the perfect dress from Erin, practiced walking in heels, and I even bought lipstick. And now the big day is here and it looks like this:

It's not going to stop until tomorrow. So I look like this:

I am so upset. Why can't the wedding be across the parking lot from Ryan's house?

So to feel better, Ryan and I headed to Acme for survival supplies. You know, anything that isn't milk, bread, and eggs.

We made Lynne call first to make sure they were open. It really isn't terribly cold out and some people are driving but maaaaaaaaaa...

Look at all the peanut butter! I can't get over all the stuff we have here.

Ryan in his new puffy coat and cream cheese. I was making him queasy telling him about how much the Chileans I know love mayonnaise.They put it on everything.

So I let him have the best candy/cookie from Chile to feel better.

Because it's not like we have enough food to get us through this blizzard. Do you see the carrots?

Donde estoy?

2009-12-17T11:16:00.002-05:00

I'm in DC with this one!

I've already had McDonalds's, used the self-checkout at CVS, and read several issues of Glamour and Cosmo, in ENGLISH! I also said hello to someone in the bathroom at the airport, helped a man find his wife, and answered the question do I speak English in SPANISH!

If It's 6 in the morning here...

2009-12-16T04:10:00.002-05:00

Once I figure out how to be two places at once, I would like to be here as well as Philadelphia.

what time is it where you are? All I know is that I am in the Santiago airport, the sun is just coming up now and that's at least an hour later than I'm used to. By this time in Natales, the birds and dogs are already out in full force looking for breakfast. Now I am going to think of all the things I want to eat when I get back to the Delaware Valley...pizzzzzzzzzzza! But first I am going to say a Hail Mary that there is a McDonalds in the Lima airport...por favor!

La Mujer de la Casa!

2009-12-11T14:38:00.005-05:00

So until I get back from my whirlwind tour of the Delaware Valley and get a job, I am a housewife. It`s really fun, being in charge of making the bed, buying appropriately priced produce (eggs for 70 pesos!), and attempting to pull the weeds out of the cement front yard. I don`t plan or cook meals because I found a man who likes and is super good at cooking. This makes me smile the whole time I do the dishes after lunch.

And today I went to yoga for the first time! It was swell. The teacher is from Germany but of course the class was taught in Spanish, but I understood just about everything she said and wasn`t too awful. Sometimes I even got a ¨muy bien!!¨ Or at least I think it was directed at me. Anyway, I am mos def going back. Tomorrow night it`s in a tent! But for now I have to go put on my (handmade!) apron and make some mashed potatoes (from scratch!)!

P.S. My new address is:

Calle Bruno Canobra 0102

Puerto Natales, Region XII

Chile

El Parque...

2009-12-10T15:55:00.005-05:00

Best tour guide ever, because he accepts payments in hugs and stuff.

Clouds that look like mushroom clouds but thankfully aren´t real mushroom clouds.

Mi familia! Donde estan Ryan and Lynne?

Trying to fly. It is a beautiful, windy day like always.

That´s a tree, not a creepy person.

Men and Maps.
Lady Slippers!

Awesome pictures taken through microscopes.

Look, he even makes lunch!

Valparaiso!

2009-12-10T15:40:00.003-05:00

I am on a terrible computer with a terrible mouse, so this will be mostly pictures of our two day trip to Valparaiso. It was great. I would go back in a second.

We wanted to see the sunset but instead got a terrific moonrise.

All fish should have umbrellas for rain!

La Casa de Neruda! You know who Pablo Neruda is right?

Wow Gabriela Mistral, most famous woman poet Chile has ever had and loves to name high schools after, that´s an awesome bag. You sure are LUCKY to have it.

Doing what I do best, taking statues seriously.

Pretty cactus outside la casa de Neruda.

Find me a good paying job in Valpo and I´ll move here.

Padres! Padres! Parents, not the baseball team!

2009-12-01T06:59:00.006-05:00

Did anyone ever think any of the Kohlers would ever go to South America?

Well here they are!

Dad almost at the top of Cerro San Cristobal.

Mom with her awesome high tech camera.

After three days in Santiago, we took a bus to Valparaiso, a city on the beach. Sure I picked a place to stay that's under construction, both in the hotel and the street out front, but it's still nice and surrounded by places to eat! It's not this place, but it is also yellow!

Will they survive the oldest ascensor in Valparaiso? It was only built in the 1830s or so.

They will together! It sure beats climbing the steps!

Giving Gracias!

2009-11-27T15:17:00.006-05:00

Yea for Santiago! Of the 200 or so gringos meeting here to end our program, I could be one of the only ones who loves Santiago. I am mos def the only one who loves Santiago and Puerto Natales equally.

Some highlights of being in this super South American metropolis are:

-It's warm! Like summer warm!

-Things are cheap! And there are lots of things!

-McDonalds! But only once!

-Vegetarian lasagna at a Hare Kirshna cafe where they don't even try to convert you!

-I got to have a real Thanksgiving last night with a bunch of Chilenos interested in learning English! It was really fun convincing people to try "papas dulces".

and...

My folks are here! I picked them up at the airport this morning with a sign that said "mis padres". I was a little worried that after not seeing them for 8 months that they would look older, but not at all. And they are the only people in Chile, maybe in the whole world, who think my Spanish is fantastic. Yea for parents!

Leaving Natales!

2009-11-24T21:46:00.004-05:00

Eight months is finally here. I had one last silent breakfast with the host folks. Well not too silent because with fifteen minutes to freedom, they finally asked if I was staying in Natales. I said you bet and they reminded me that we would be neighbors...

Anyway, our bus was at 9:00, we got to the airport at noon for our flight at 4:15. We weren't allowed to check in until after 3:30, so we had a lot of time to wait and eat expensive sandwiches and good french fries in the cafe.

This isn't even all of our stuff.

Emily's school gave her a million going away parties and dinners and actos, all in a vain desperate attempt to make her cry. She finally did when her kinder kids showed up at the bus station.

Last minute regional beers. This is less than a hour before the flight takes off and we haven't gotten our tickets yet or checked in any of our luggage. Ahhh Chile. I think the security guards liked watching me whip off my belt as I went through the metal detactor. Again, ahhhh Chile.

The beer they chose for me because I said Torres del Paine is my favorite place. Isn't it everyones?

Pretending to be Chilean 13 year olds together one last time.

Now we're in Santiago, minus Patty, and tomorrow we have big plans to go scarf shopping and jeans shopping and McNugget shopping...and maybe talk about what we've been up to for the past eight months. Maybe.

Deep Blue Something...

2009-11-23T13:27:00.003-05:00

Remember at the beginning of Breakfast at Tiffany`s when Holly Golightly is having breakfast in front of Tiffany`s (ladies and gentlemen, we have a title!)? You know how it`s so light out? That`s what it`s like here now when you walk home at 5:30am after the bars close. In fact, I think all the bars in Natales let their clocks take a summer vacation and just rely on the sunrise to say when it`s closing time.

Live! Live! Live!

2009-11-21T10:41:00.003-05:00

Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!

Happy birthday Ryan! Hope you eat your weight in Italian food and cookie cake today! I will find something you would like here and eat it in your honor. And hug a puppy if it lets me.

I Had Class...

2009-11-20T13:21:00.006-05:00

But not anymore!

I had big plans to have a party for my favorite kids, 7B. Without question, they were the most vocal, most interesting class all year. And absolutely the nicest. They demonstrated this again yesterday when almost all of them attended the funeral of their classmate's mama. This included walking a half hour from the house to the church, sitting through the service, then walking to the cemetery to hug their friend. Super good kids who really deserved a party. Well guess what?

They gave me a party instead!

Some of them were sent to the teacher's lounge where I hang out on Fridays before class and eat potato chips and distract me. They did a terrible job but had fun doing it. Finally they told me I could come to class because the door was unlocked. I walked into the classroom to find the desks pushed into one long table, covered with food, and the board decorated with their names and "I love you Miss!" Carlitos' abuela made me rhubarb jam and gave me a rosary and Omar made the cake.

It was the best way to end things.

Of course I bought the wrong batteries for my camera so I couldn't document the occasion but as mi mejor amigo says, sometimes you just have to be there.

Of course I'll see them in December when I come back for the Christmas concert with my folks and I'll see them around town maybe for the rest of our lives. But it was really nice that we all felt the same about each other.

Good Kids

2009-11-19T12:30:00.004-05:00

At the end of a super class with 7A, Andrea announced that it was my last class with them. More than half the kids actually protested. Then they clapped for me and started a "Miss Alicia" chant. A bunch of them gave me big hugs and kisses goodbye while other kids just ducked out with a "chao". It was great.

Then I got ambushed in the hallway by five girls. Twice. Maybe some of them will miss me.

Tomorrow my last class ever is with my favorite class ever, 7B. I think I am going to splurge on cookies and peanut butter just so they really know that they were my favorites.

Call me La Dona...

2009-11-19T09:54:00.005-05:00

Last night was the closing ceremony for the gringos. Patty gave a speech, we were given mouse pads and keychains, some girls sang a Gloria Estefan song, and then everyone got to eat sushi and sandwiches and drink pisco. The best part, besides the free food, was that I understood everything that was said during the speeches. It was a nice change from the welcoming ceremony we had in April when I didn't understand a word! Yea for listening!

Best profesora/voluntaria combo in Natales, maybe in all of Chile! Out of the whole eight months, we only had one fight, and it lasted all of ten minutes. Tenemos suerte!

Can you read that? It says Dona Alycia Kohler. From now on, I am only responding to La Dona. This will be a nice change from Alice. Nacho actually even called me Dona a few times, just because he's a super nice guy.

Awesome example of an excellent host family! Erica was a good mama to all of us.

Can you guess which volunteer packed eight skirts for her stay in Patagonia?

Afterwards a bunch of us went to the place Molly's amigo works for more piscos! Cinthia, La Chinita, came with us and said some really nice stuff about us. Then mi mejor pololo showed up to join the fun. He was in super spirits because he sold his first kayak trip that day. And he was super proud of his polola, even if she was using her Dona diploma as a placemat. There was talk of showing it to the grandkids someday... how many piscos did we have?

Joe and Nacho should not be allowed to sit together. I bet the most tears shed in town will be when these two have to part.

Shameless Self Promotion!

2009-11-19T09:47:00.004-05:00

The Ministry is having a photo contest! Check out all the entries here http://www.ingles.mineduc.cl/concurso/ and keep an eye out for these guys...

Winners get free food in Santiago! Tell your friends! Remind them that I haven't gotten to eat real, fun, possibly Mexican, food in a looooong time!

My Name's Not Baby...

2009-11-17T10:25:00.002-05:00

What do all these folks have in common with each other but not me?

Their name! I found out the other day that everyone here thinks my real name is Alice! Like when people speak to or about me in English, they call me Alice! What have I done to make people think this? Do I really seem like an Alice?

Would a real Alice wear a t-shirt with a rabbit on it to school and use the excuse that it could be an English lesson? No way!

Little Pink Houses

2009-11-17T08:52:00.004-05:00

You know that people paint their houses bright colors down here to ward off seasonal depression, right? Well it only kind of works because suicide is still the leading cause of death among young folks in these parts. I think it's partly because people don't spend enough time walking around their neighborhood, looking at these pretty houses. Or they need to encourage their neighbors to paint their houses bright colors as well so they can just look out the window.

Here is a fine example of the many Natalinos doing their part. No to prozac, yes to paint! Or yes to both!

Finally, a picture of the most well known sheep in Natales!

This next house is my absolute favorite in Natales, and not just because it's blue...

It's because of their yard...

Talk about a natural remedy to beat the blues. Whenever I get down about the exchange rate, which lately is all the time, I think of this house.

Last Lunes!

2009-11-16T09:23:00.005-05:00

My last week of school started today. So I started it by walking to school slowly with new batteries in my camera.

Puppy! Word has gotten around to the dogs of Natales that I am not afraid to kick them if they try to taste my legs because this guy and his twin puppy brother ran under a fence as soon as I walked by and came back out a minute later. Which is too bad because I would never kick a puppy.

My last official day in 5B. Of course I didn't tell them that. Not that they would have listened.

The tallest house in Puerto Natales? I think the third story was added sometime this year. I have no idea why they need so much room but maybe it's a three level discreet discotech or a home for refugee Jewish children...

One way to school. The long way.

I Don't Think it was Walt Flannagen's Dog...Plus More!

2009-11-13T09:56:00.006-05:00

Why can't they all be like this?

Yesterday I almost got bit by a dog. I've been here for 8 months and barely had a dog bark at me, so I was pretty freaked out. The dog barked once and went for my leg. I felt his teeth near my knee and I froze. The owner of the dog started yelling "tranquilo" (I don't know if that was at me or the dog) and the dog backed off. The man asked if I got bit and I said no and made a "learn to control your dogs" face, which looks just like my "are you kidding me?" face.

So for now I am afraid of dogs., which is too bad because they are everywhere. Last night walking home I actually crossed the street to avoid some barking ones. Shoot.

So today is better than yesterday because:

-No class with 8th grade!

-While waiting in line at Don Bosco, the smaller grocery store, the redheaded gringo in front of me was having a terrible time trying to figure out Chilean money. The cashier, whose little boy Kevin goes to my school and is adorable, smiled at me and was super patient with the man. It was nice to see the transaction go smoothly and even nicer that I'm rarely that girl anymore. Yess!!!

-I saw three people I know who I actually like and wanted to say hi to me.

-A little old lady asked me to help her cross the street. She didn't care that my Spanish is terrible, she just needed a hand and a ear. I felt like the kid from Up or the boys in that episode of Duck Tales when they spend all of Uncle Scrooge's money, only reverse. I wish more old ladies would ask me to help them do this.

It's only noon here, so the day could mos def head south. But for now, I am sitting in the teacher's room, listening to the Protestant kids (all eight of them) have religion class while hiding my potato chips from them, and having a swell time.

*****And the day kept going well, especially after I introduced 15 7th graders to peanut butter! They thought it tasted great but I bet their favorite part was that I let them just stick their fingers straight into the jar.

Why Can't...

2009-11-12T09:41:00.003-05:00

...every day look like this?

This time in two weeks, I'll be basking in the smoggy glow of Santiago, hopefully with an empanada in one hand and a six pack of McNuggets in the other. And hopping up and down waiting for the folks to get here. All the while pretending that I am not missing my favorite holiday in the world.

Just Say No!

2009-11-10T07:34:00.004-05:00

Nancy Reagan, this post is for you!

The 8th graders are taking a test today to determine where they can go to high school. Andrea is proctoring the test at another school, so it was just me and 24 4th graders. Before class, their teacher pulls me aside to tell me that because some of the 8th graders will be taking the test in the classroom next to 4th grade, I must conduct the class in absolute silence. ABSOLUTE SILENCE. I asked her if she was serious and when she said yes, I laughed, not really at her but kind of. Nevermind that I teach a language class, but expecting anyone to keep a class of 24 4th graders silent for 90 minutes is kind of ridic. So I took them to a different classroom where they were loud loud loud until I finally lost it and gave them a very impassioned speech in Spanglish about respect and manners. They finally listened to me when I told them to go get breakfast.

Then, one of the 2nd grade teachers flagged me down in the hallway and wanted to know if I would teach her class for Andrea. I said no, I have never taught 2nd grade, I'm not supposed to teach 2nd grade, and I was not planning to start now. She said I could just play games with them. Like I have enough games to keep 20 2nd graders I don't know occupied for 90 minutes in a different language. At least someone in this school thinks I am smart! She really tried to sell them to me, saying how cute and nice they are. I agreed that they are super cute, and kept saying no no no. It felt great. So what if the teacher is mad at me now and will probably try to run me over with her car. I am going to say no more often and mean it!

Not Getting the Old Hopes Up or Anything...

2009-11-09T09:33:00.007-05:00

...but this could be a picture of me at work soon.

One of my favorite students sat down with me this morning and said her mama wants me to come over today so she can talk about getting me a job this summer at the park, speaking English. I don't know anything else about it, so of course I'm already plagued with doubts. The park is 90 minutes away, I don't want to live in the park, would it be possible/worth it to come back everyday, I can't start until January, would the job still exsist in January...

But it would be super to have a real job lined up in my favorite place in the world. We'll see. Everything always works out, right?

Only two more weeks of classes and living with a host family. I'll miss school, that's for sure. Missing the senorita silent treatment at home will be less likely. I have mos def learned from this experience that adults shouldn't live with other adults unless all adults are treated like adults. Novel concept eh?

Wanda Honey, You Were on the Radio...

2009-11-05T09:32:00.007-05:00

Patty Hearst's best line from Cry-Baby sums up yesterday for me. Andrea's uncle owns a radio station in town and we recorded a PSA about Puerto Natales yesterday. She did the Spanish part and I did the English. I tried to be really enthusiastic, especially when saying "throw your trash in the trashcan!"

Dig it babe. You need a new look.

Since there are so many good quotes from Cry-Baby, I just have to keep going. Check these girls out. Kati has her confirmation on Saturday so she got a new dress. I made her promise not to tug on the skirt the whole hour she has to wear it in church. And Ivania is a class act as always. That her boots match her dress is a complete coincidence, of course.

What Do Teachers in Chile Have in Common With SEPTA Workers?

2009-11-04T11:16:00.005-05:00

They don't want to go to work!

Most of the public school teachers in Chile have been striking for a few weeks now over something that happened in 1981. It looks like the strike could go until the end of the year. Awesome. Kids don't need to go to school for the last two months or anything right?

Until today, almost all of the teachers in Natales were not on strike. To be a teacher down here, you get super incentives because it's the middle of nowhere and the pay is better than almost every other job in town. That must have changed because around 12:30, right in the middle of my 6th graders singing "Jingle Bell Rock" some man walked into school, with a bullhorn, screaming about the strike. Andrea practically pushed him back out the door while I gave him my "are you kidding" me face times 25. We looked out the window and saw about 30 adults walking down the streets with signs and flags (and all sorts of crap they will probably throw on the ground when they are finished) blocking traffic and doing nothing.

I think the right to protest is a fine thing, but I don't think that includes the right to disrupt an entire school with a megaphone just because you don't want to go to work anymore. Get a job at the gas company or as a fisherman and see what happens when you try to strike over nothing. Just don't work with kids.

I mean, my goodness, these kids need structure!

My God Darling, What is That?

2009-11-04T11:06:00.004-05:00

Can you tell what that is?

Here's a hint; I needed to wear all of these things this morning.

It's November! It's spring! It's the equivalent of May!

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (as everyone said as they walked into the kitchen this morning and saw this out the window).

But hey Nacho is back in town! So what if he brought Argentinian snow with him?

Hallo-what?

2009-11-02T09:34:00.004-05:00

I love this picture of Emily and Patty. This is how most nights look when we hang out.

Two weeks ago, some of my favorite girls asked me to spend Halloween with them. I said of course, especially when they said we were dressing up like pirates. I can be a pirate!

Two days before Halloween rolls around, I still don't have my pirate costume. The girls have reminded me every day about Saturday and every day I say I'll be there and ready.

Two hours before Halloween, I am lying in bed at home, miserable and sick and still without any costume. I reason that because I am an adult I don't need a costume and I will just hang back with Alison's mother, who is going to come along with us. But I have to go. I can't let these girls down.

Two seconds after I am let into Alison's house, I realize she isn't home. She's at the Internet cafe. Ana, one of the younger girls, was at the house and she and Alison's mother apologized a lot for Alison's absence. Ana finally says to me (in English!) "Lets go!" and we head to her house so she can put on her costume and I can meet her grandmother. She also points out the sheep that is always loitering near the school and says her name is Margina. Ana knows this because Margina is her sheep.

We knock on one door for candy and no one answers before we give up and look for Alison at the Internet cafe. We spend the next hour playing games and Halloween is never mentioned again. Which was too bad because Ana says "Halloween" like a champ, especially for a kid who's mother tongue does not encourage the English double L.

Ana is the one having the most fun in this photo, besides me of course.

So Halloween doesn't really matter here. No big deal. I headed home, talked to the local Mormon missionaries for a few minutes (brave boys!) and ate some cookies. I had been out late the night before, going to Argentina with Andrea for groceries, eating shawrma with everyone in town, going back to Josh and Emily's for a super game of "Nunca en mi vida" and going back out to the bar at 4. Sometimes it's okay to just go home and go to bed.

There will be plenty of other nights like this in the last three weeks everyone is here. Three weeks! Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaa......

Sol y Luna

2009-10-29T10:34:00.003-04:00

Check out those tights...

Wednesday is my worst day. Three long classes in a row, ending with 6th grade, a bunch (can you call 34 kids a bunch?) of wild, obviously hearing impaired, 11 year olds. Alone, every single one of my students is surprisingly nice, but get them in a group larger than ten and I start wanting to commit adolscenticide. So after this looooong day, which ends at 1:00, I usually go home, eat lunch, and take a looooong nap. Like until 8:00 and I can escape to the pololo’s where I get almost four hours of child free, mucho channels, World Series TV watching done.

Today was looking to go in the same direction as always. I was late to my first class because I was finishing up my totally wicked, even if it was totally unprofessional looking, “What Can You Do At School?” worksheet (Can you read? Swim? Watch TV? Yes I Can! No I Can’t!) and had to beg for photocopies. I got to 4th grade just in time to hear them singing “The Little Drummer Boy” which they do fantastically, especially the boys. I don’t like “The Little Drummer Boy”, not even the David Bowie version, but I really like when 4A sings it.

These boys never look this serious!

So the day started out swell and just went down a cliff from there. I had to kick a girl out of 7th grade, kick another girl out of 6th grade and practically tried to push a kid to class in front of his mother (oops!). After all of this, one of my favorite 7th graders, Omar, reminded me that he had invited me to his house that afternoon for cake. Since it was Wednesday and nap day, and World Series Day, I really wanted to blow him off, but instead I asked him to write down his address and said I would see him at 4:30.

I’m so glad I went. Nacho found out his grandmother was really sick and had to leave that minute for Argentina to be with her, so I was really sad for him and a little bummed for me. But once I got to Omar’s house, I felt better. I remembered that this is why I came to Chile, to eat free cake with really nice people, not to watch the World Series. They told me about living in Argentina this past year and asked if there are lots of robberies in the United States. We played magnetic darts with Andrea, Omar’s three-year-old sister and they told me to eat more. And laughed when Andrea took the last cookie out of my hand and put it straight into her mouth. We did all of this in about two and a half hours, and I understood everything they said. Maybe not every word, but I followed every conversation, even when the dad was talking. Lucy, Omar’s mama, said I could definitely come back and this was after I freaked out because I thought the totally realistic looking tiger sitting on their sofa was a real tiger. Like their pet tiger would have been quiet the whole time we were eating ham and palta sandwiches?

I came home and Sandra was at her brand new sewing machine that I tried not to drool over when she asked me to explain something. Things have been really up and down in the house for the past two months, so I was thrilled that she asked me for help and I was able to. Then Ivania pointed out the kitchen window to the moon. Luna! I took her to my room and pointed out the sun. Sol! Because the kid needs to know that we live in a magical place where the sun and moon are both up and out at 8:30pm and that makes us super lucky. But I think she already knows that.