That One Time on Friday Friday

On Friday, Drafna and I took 54 folders to Collipulli to get them signed by the townspeople so that we can send in the plans and get them approved by the government. We took us an hour and a half to get there by bus, we slept the entire way because, once again, we worked REALLY late. After meeting up with the committee leader and dropping off about 80 pounds of paper we headed back to the bus station and found out we had to wait an hour before there was a bus that could fit two people to Temuco. so... we EXPLORED!

The town is set up in a grid so I was sure we wouldn't get lost and miss the bus. We went crazy and just started walking and turning corners whenever we felt like it. I finally had time to get to know my co-worker and talk about things unrelated to work. We discovered a church that was heavily affected by the earthquake about a year ago. The place was gorgeous, I honestly think that all the cracks and broken windows add to its beauty.

 Once we got back home, we got ready to head out and enjoy the night. Drafna, Rosa, and I all decided to go out together earlier at work. The night resulted in more bonding time. We went out around 11pm and didn't end the night till past 4am. I learned really fast that everyone over here drinks to get drunk, and they do it fast. Not that any of them are light weights, but they take drinks down very quickly. If you go out in Chile, expect to walk into a cloud of smoke. Few people here aren't addicted to cigarettes, so pubs, clubs, and restaurants let everyone smoke inside, and some don't even have an area for non-smokers. I'm sure I second-hand smoked an entire pack that night. 

My co-workers.
Rosa and Drafna

 We went to three different places and met up with two more people during the night. We started at a pub, called Plan B, that was full of university students. People kept coming in groups of at least four or five, ordering forties for two dollars each, and smoking their cigarettes. The entire place was packed. When we got tired of the atmosphere we walked a couple blocks to a place we could sit. We had to ring a doorbell to get in. The guitarist played Chilean folk music and everyone kept making fun of me because I was watching the guitarist so intensely. The music was amazing! I'm determined to get that good on the guitar.

 Even though all the places we went were crowded, the streets we usually empty. The last place we went to was a club. The music was the same stuff I'd usually hear at any other club, with some techno remixes of some popular spanish songs in between. I got to dance and it made my day.

That One Time in Temuco

The city I’m staying in is called Temuco. Its in the center (W/E), south (N/S) of Chile. Replacing the smog in Santiago is the smoke from furnaces. The entire city is gray from all the ash that has accumulated over the years. Even all the rain that falls can’t keep the city clean. This place is wet and cold, with a median of about 4 degrees C during the coldest month. Hello woolen socks, you’re my new best friend.

This is the firm. We all wear thick jackets and scarves because its still freezing with the heater on.

I started my job at the architecture firm five days ago in Temuco. I’ve already stayed up past two three times, working on plots that have to get turned in to the government office. Everyone at the firm, except the intern, is related to me to some degree, so the atmosphere at work is about as fun and casual as it can get. In the last four days, I’ve folded about 100 plans and designed and finished plots for our next project. Luckily we're designing low-income housing so they're only about 40m2, otherwise I’d never get some sleep. The BEST part of this gig has to be the location of the firm. It is literally right next to my aunt’s house. All I have to do is walk through the back yard to get to my desk. Even still, I think I’ll manage to be late some days, but it doesn’t seem to matter much around here. (This week everyone I live by--seven people--were late to work at least once.) Its great, but not too good for whatever future job I get. Tomorrow the firm is going to one of the sites that we are working on.

Collipulli
This is one of the locations we're designing for.

The home that I’m living in is the same as my boss’s, kinda funny. My aunt completely spoils everyone around her. She makes sure everyone is fed three times a day, but the difference between her and every other mom is that at lunch she cooks for the family AND everyone that works in their family’s three businesses. Plus, she’s an amazing cook. Time to start learning. My room is nice and cozy(and its GREEN!) It used to be the daughter’s room, so I feel right at home in it. I’m already envisioning tons of projects to Pia-ize it--starting with artwork.

My room

I still haven’t driven a car around here; they are all manual, so someone has to teach me. My cousin JP, told me the basics really quickly. Now I just need to get behind the wheel on some streets that aren’t too congested--that’s going to be a near impossible task. Most streets are one way, there are few traffic lights, and people park anywhere they can, including grass plazas. The marked lanes are usually ignored and the bus drivers rule the roads. They are like kings, the can stop anywhere, force cars out of the way, and are basically at the top of the food chain. The house I’m staying at is only a few blocks away from downtown Temuco, so there is a lot waiting for me to explore. I’m just glad I won’t ever have to find parking there.

Since I’m staying here for a long time, I’ve been looking for some way to exercise. Soccer is the obvious answer, but not too surprisingly, the guys around here are too keen on the idea of playing with a girl. I’ll just have to make them get use to it, or start a girls club. Maybe, both; I really like both ideas. For now, my girl cousins and I will be joining a gym together and doing some cycling.

This cute little dog, Lucky Buddha, is going to be my new best friend. He already baptized my bed by peeing all over my pillows. I did some major dog proofing after that.

That One Time In Santiago

I've been here in Santiago for about five days visiting family before the real adventure begins. It's been a prequel to my life that will start 400 miles south of here. I'M SO EXCITED! Well, I already lost my voice and I am trying to brush up on my Spanish at the same time. Can’t say it’s been an easy task, I sound like a hot man when but at least I’m starting to catch on to some chilenismos I had forgotten about. There’s no time to relax and get better because even the the days I feel like I am being lazy are full of events, people, and random trips.

Starting at the beginning, my entire trip from California to Santiago took me a total of 31 hours. It was brutal, but I don’t recall a lot of it, not because I slept, but because I was dizzy--always on the brink of sleep, just never getting there. In my semi-consciousness, I managed to meet a Paraguayana studying at Kansas University. Hopefully when I start touring the Americas, I’ll meet up with her again.

My first stop was my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Like a true Chileana, the first thing I ate and drank was maraqueta and pisco sour. There’s nothing in the world like fresh Chilean bread and this yummy drink. (I’ll have to dedicate an entire post to their awesomeness later) After a few days with my mom’s side of the family, I went to my Dad’s side to spend time with cousins, aunts and my Grandma. It’s a completely different experience when there are people my age to interact with; that’s when my Chilean slang started to get a workout.

the view from the parcela

I went to visit my family’s “parcela” in Curacavi. Its a hillside facing the east full of vegetation and a pretty little house. Fourteen of us decided to make the trip up the dirt road to have an asado with lots ribs, chorripan, chicken, beef, and potatoes. I got sent away with the same food I was greeted with. Yum. We got us most of the way with nine of us in a van in first gear, but as soon as we turned into our lot, we all clambered out as fast as we could so that the 21 year old van wouldn’t slide back down. It made it all the way up while the rest of us walked.

pretty little cabin house

Instead of being greeted by everyone who had already gotten there, we were told “Don’t go in the house! It’s covered in rat/mouse poop!” Great, my mom would love that. I’m just glad she wasn't there to see it. The entire first floor was bleached until it sparkled, but nothing could be done with the couches. They just sat there threatening us with toxic waste. Still, it didn't really bother us because the food was delicious.

Cousins starting the grill

In the time there, I saw two kinds of spiders are common in the area. Black widows and araña pollitos, which is basically the Chilean tarantula.My cousins were all fascinated by the giant spider, while i just tried not to show how freaked out I was by the fact that they were picking it up. Once I get used to the idea that they aren't poisonous, I'll feel a lot better. Although, if I woke up with one of those in my bed, I'm sure I'd scream. 

I knew there was a pool somewhere on the hill and took a long way through brush and boulders to get to find it when there was a path and stairs on the other side of the house. oops. my way was much more fun.

The best part of the entire trip was, hands down, trying to get the van back down the hill.  We stayed past six, sitting around a campfire, joking about how none of us died and that the world hadn’t ended. (I wonder how disappointed or relieved all those cult followers were.) Because of this, we stayed until it was completely dark and had that much more trouble leaving. We all piled in ridiculously fast because it was getting very cold.

When we started lining the van up with the path to go down to the dirt road, I knew that getting the van to cooperate was going to be difficult. The two parents in the car took charge, but as soon as we started going down, my cousin said, “back up, we’re not going to make it.”  Two seconds later I had to yell, “Stop! We’re stuck on the ledge!”  We got stuck.  The best solution seemed to once again, pile out of the van. The problem was that this time we couldn't open the doors -- they were stuck too -- so we all climbed out through the windows. To make the story short, in the end the only thing that got us unstuck was man power. All of our planks, levers, stones, and bricks were useless. We all pushed the van on one side to tilt it enough for the wheels on the opposite side to get enough grip to back up. A cousin took some pictures of the entire fiasco that I need to get my hands on. Next time I go, I'm taking a 4x4.

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