week eighteen
the final project for my spanish language class is a video of us interviewing chileans about a cultural aspect that we’ve noticed in the last four months. my friend and i are investigating empanadas. mostly because i wanted to eat a bunch of them and call it homework. today we hit the streets of viña to ask random strangers about their opinions on this traditional food. i’ve been dreading this aspect of the assignment for weeks. i hate talking to desconocidos. but i have to admit, it turned out to be quite the enjoyable experience. two hours and five conversations later, we had been given pieces of candy, three compliments for our language skills, a lecture on poor chilean nutrition (could not agree more), and an old family secret for making the perfect empanada.
in our study abroad handbook it says to expect to go places you never thought you’d go. that’s happened a lot this semester. but especially this week. on sunday night i got a call from my bestie down here in chile, telling me that her dad had died a few hours earlier while they were touring santiago. i hopped on a bus headed that way shortly thereafter, weeping for this dear family’s loss and feeling entirely inadequate for the situation. the next day, as we passed through the metal detectors at the united states embassy, i thought, this would definitely qualify as one of those unexpected places.
it’s been a rough week. but from this end of things looking back, i can say with confidence that god is merciful. and god is good.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3
many parts of these past days were nightmarish. but there was also a lot of laughter, a lot of smiles, and a lot of unexpected joy. here are some pictures of the better moments of the last week or so.
sunday morning we were supposed to meet at a bus stop at 7am to catch a micro to la campana to go hiking. at 715 i woke up to my phone ringing and andrew asking where i was. warm and cozy in my bed is what i wanted to reply. but because it was his birthday, i told him i’d be there as soon as possible. in twenty minutes i got dressed, packed a lunch, brushed my teeth, made my bed, ate a banana, brushed my teeth again, and walked/trotted/ran/taxied over to the meeting place. twenty minutes. most impressive thing i’ve ever done.
we were already in santiago, so we decided we might as well meet our friends for the chile vs. paraguay world cup qualifying game. why we are already preparing for a competition that won’t be happening for another two years is beyond me. but it was a grand time. chile won 2-0 in an exciting match. and we got to see alexi sanchez, fresh off the plane from barcelona, playing for his homeland. people joke that soccer is religion for chile. they’re not exaggerating very much.
“vamos…vamos chilenos…esta noche..tenemos que ganar!”
an entire stadium screaming the national anthem
CHI…LE…CHI CHI CHI…LE LE LE…VIVA CHILE
GOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL!!! utter pandemonium.
empanadas are the best way to say goodbye
joy. pure joy.
