chileI finally found myself thinking in Spanish for the first time last night. It is a hard feeling to describe. Of course, I usually am forced to think in Spanish when in class, conversing with my family, or (most common) asking for directions. However, this time I was brushing my teeth and suddenly realized that my usual mental recount of the day´s activities was no longer limited to English.
Though thus far I have chosen to describe my more "touristy" activities here (traveling, sight-seeing, etc.) I should probably describe what a typical day is like as a college student living in Santiago. Most classes here (at least the ones worth taking...)don´t start until 10am or after. In this respect, Chilean schools could serve as a model for all US universities; it is much easier to pay attention after sleeping until 8am than when forced to get up at 6. El desayuno (breakfast) usually consists of toasted bread, coffee with milk poured from a box (and unrefrigerated until opened!-the intricacies of food preservation here never cease to amaze...), and fruit. Cereal, I was informed, is usually reserved for children and gringos.
Taking the metro to one of Católica´s or Universidad de Chile´s countless campuses poses a challenge. Although my navigation skills have improved somewhat, rush hour in a city of over six million is an experience in itself. "Metro-guards" in official blue uniforms literally push people into the cars so that the doors are able to close. As the temperatures continue to hover around 25 degrees C, this makes for uncomfortable riding conditions. Watching the people on the metro is always entertaining. One of my professors yesterday explained to the class that Chileans in general tend to be somewhat serious and reserved until they get to know someone, and that this plays into their facial expressions. She also noted that people smiling or gazing out the window with dreamy expressions are sometimes considered "stupid" since they are not visibly preoccupied with important matters. No wonder I get so many sympathetic looks....
School here is fairly comparable, although the weather thus far is much better than in good old WI and thus the doors and windows of the classrooms are often left open during classes, which can run as long as 4 hours. Coupled with the frequent need to sit on the floor or steps of the lecture hall due to overcrowding in popular classes it is sometimes hard to pay attention. (No change there!)
After school, I usually either go to one of my friend´s houses for "onces" (the snack btwn lunch and dinner) or have people over. Lately, my house has become a favorite destination since my host mom makes a mean "leche con platano," a blended milk-banana drink, which she usually serves with cake or bread and pb.
Dinner, which is usually served around 9pm, provides a time for the family to catch up on the day´s activities and watch the latest episode of "Brujas" (think Sex in the City/Charmed). Bedtime, along with the rest of the day, follows the college schedule, particularly on weekends when people typically stay out until 5am. Bar-closing time in WI is happy hour here.
Feeling this comfortable after only 4 weeks makes me wonder how the eventual transition back to US life will go. Good thing I still have a couple months to prepare.
