If you have studied Spanish, you've learned that:
This is also a pololo...a bug that appears in Chile in spring. I've been told that the word pololo started to be used because it is a metaphor for the boyfriends always hanging around their girlfriends, just like these bugs around fruit. While walking in the park with my puppy this afternoon, I found a pololo stuck in my hair. I took a picture because I thought the story about the use of the word pololo would make a good blog post...
And right after I got done taking that picture....my dog ate my pololo. #truestory # mylife
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It only seemed right that my first "Meet & Greet" post is dedicated to one of the nicest people I have ever met and someone that I see nearly every day. StatsName: Jorge Enrique San Martin Villalobos Born: 15th of December, 1953 Married to: Lidia Children: Marcia & Cynthia Grandchildren: Maxmiliano Pets: Bruno (dog) & Rayita (cat) Occupation
FavoritesFood: asado, pantrucas, pescado (grilling out, dumplings, fish) Drink: navegado, ponche heladito (mulled wine, a nice cold punch) Favorite word in English: seven, because it is perfect Interests/Free TimeSome of Jorge's favorite activities include:
Extra TidbitsSome of that time spent in conversation with friends is collecting stories, pictures, and artifacts from the past, especially that of their beloved town of Longaví...they have even written a book! Every year, for the past 9 years, Jorge and his friends have put together una tertulia {oo-na-ter-too-lee-ah}, an evening where people share these stories, pictures, and artifacts with others in the community. This year I was honored to help Jorge prepare some things for the evening and he gave me permission to share some of the old pictures with all of you! Enjoy! It may not be the highest peak in the world or even South America, but just north and east of Linares are the most beautiful mountain views I have ever seen in my life. Reserva Nacional Altos de LircayWe were a modge-podge group of 6 people. We left in the dark and returned in the dark. We walked 19 miles (29 km). We saw condors, lizards, and rich blue skies. We trudged through dirt, snow, and rivers. We all smelled terrible at the end. We could not stop smiling. While climbing in elevation, a few different thoughts were repeated over and over again in my head: 1) Why aren't mountains flat? 2) Are my legs still attached? 3) Ow. 4) Wowzerz. 5) Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. 6) I'm actually really glad that mountains aren't flat. But most importantly of all my thoughts... 7) The psalms are alive before my eyes. 8) God is so much more than I could ever grasp. 9) I am so incredibly blessed. So immeasurably rich. Psalm 19: 1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 95: 1-5 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you-- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Ephesians 3:17-21 "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." And as usual, when exploring alongside the Grossest with the Mostest, there are plenty more fabulous pictures on their blog and of course, a video. So, when are YOU coming to explore Chile?!I think I have finally recovered. There was food. So. Much. Food. For many days. Wednesday through Monday. I'm tired all over again just thinking about it all. Here are a few highlights: Wednesday, September 14thWednesday was a big day for our school. The students put together a presentation that represented Chile's history and key cultural icons and also featured dances from different regions of the country. Afterwards everyone got together as the families, students, and school staff shared typical food. Children kept bringing me food. I ate 10 different things. Then the staff had our own little celebration afterwards...with, you guessed it, more food. Thursday, September 15thThursday was Longaví's parade and our school was proud to march. Since the parade was not until 4:30pm, everyone came to school after lunch, around 2:30. You may be wondering what marching in the parade exactly entails? I think one student summed it up the best like this: "We wait for 2 hours and then walk for 2 minutes." Saturday, September 17thOn Saturday I went with Jon & Elise out to el campo {el cahm-po} [the countryside] to share in the festivities of the lovely family of Maria Rosa & Gustavo. What did I learn this weekend? I actually really enjoy oysters and mussels. Especially raw with lemon. #surprised #wow #delish Check out this video that Jon made of our day, including a trip to a beautiful nearby river! Also make sure to check out their blog post for some great pictures from the weekend! Sunday, September 18thSunday we went back to Maria Rosa & Gustavo's house where there was lots more food, family, fun, and cueca! Check out this video summary of another great day! Check out other celebration week related videos Jon has done about Chile's National Dance "The Cueca" and Fiestas Patrias celebrations at his rural Chilean school (which includes dances from all over Chile). You have probably realized by now that you should be subscribing to Jon's vlog on YouTube! Subscribing to his vlog will also bring you great benefits such as: news, joy, happiness, tidbits about our lives in Chile, and random appearances by yours truly. Coming soon to a blog near you...Stay tuned for another update coming to you very soon about an AMAZING hike we took last Saturday. Here's a teaser: Also coming soon, the first installment in a section I'm going to call "Meet & Greet" where I will introduce you to special people in my life here in Chile! Mystery Guest #1 is...a secret.
Why, hello there.More than a month has gone by since I have written a blog. Why?? Because God is great. God is so incredibly great. He has given me more than enough to keep my time occupied and my heart full. So, there. That is my excuse, and well, you're just going to have to accept it. I really hope you haven't been sitting around hitting the refresh button every hour in hopes that I've posted something...(but if you have, I appreciate you and thank you for that very special committment.) So, without further ado, here is a bit of one year anniversary reflecting! "I can't wait..."Lately I have been thinking back to the first few months I arrived here. There were times when I was frustrated with not knowing many people and feeling like I didn't have many extra things to do. I would pray that God would give me opportunities to fill my schedule and to meet awesome people and knew that with a bit of patience and time that surely things would change. And then they did. Some weeks I wonder if I'm even going to be able to Netflix at all. Today in town I saw at least a handful of people I knew. My schedule is now sprinkled with tutoring, dinner invitations, a puppy, and hanging with friends. [And, don't worry, Grandpa, a few dates now and again too.] ;-) God. Is. GREAT. Things are really just getting startedWhen people ask me how long I plan to stay in Chile I like to reply: "Entre hoy y la muerte" which means "Between today and death." Why? Partially because it is an unexpected answer and I like the reaction. Partially because many English-speaking teachers come to Chile but only for a few months to a year and I want people to know that we are here for something more than a cultural exchange. Partially because after one year I feel at home...and let's be real...it is a lot of work to move. Partially because I finally can pronounce Quiñepeumo and Freire. But mostly because in the past when I have made plans of what I thought was a great idea, God's timing was different...and always better. Always. Slow but steadyEvery neighborhood here is sprinkled with little corner stores that carry a small supply of just about anything you could want. Here in Chile they are known as almacenes {al-mah-cen-ehs}. Ever since getting settled in my población I noticed that everyone in the almacenes greeted each other as "neighbor", vecino {veh-see-no}...and thus my dream was born. I wanted soooo badly to be called vecina. I patiently waited and about 9ish months later....it happened. I was on my way out somewhere and as I turned the corner one of the shop owners smiled and said two little words that turned my world upside down: "Hola, vecina." I felt so alive! You know that tingling feeling that you get when a dream becomes a reality? It was just like in the movies...no, actually, it was better. A tear may have escaped. I'm pretty sure there was a rainbow and a shooting star at the same time. I am not even sure if I remembered to greet her back. While the tingles have subsided, the vecina comments keep coming from my corner shop friends and other people I have met in the neighborhood...and sometimes even in the cuter form of veci {veh-see}, which I personally highly favor. Two little words. So much power. Sometimes that's all it takes to make someone feel alive. And those two little words were like a gift that keeps on giving. They have given me a confidence...I feel like I could talk to my vecinos about anything! Well, ok, some stuff anyways...but I am sure we'll get there someday. They have given me a sense of belonging...they know I am not just on tour, but a part of the community...they have accepted me! [cue gospel choir music] They have opened up new conversations and opportunities to share...and I pray that it continues to do so! Those two little words took some time in coming, but they were well worth the wait. (Maybe someday I will have a picture with a neighbor that I can put here!! #newgoal) Etc.
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