Sand and Sea

Welp, i spent a lot of time on the coast this week, not doing too much of anything. I thought i was going to be learning to kayak, but messages were misconstrued (or miscommunicated...) and i thought wrong. It was still really nice to get out from behind the computer for a while though. I spent a lot of time combing the shore for interesting little rocks or pebbles. Turns out i found a bunch of sea glass instead. I didn't even know about sea glass untill now! I thought you bought it Wall Mart or a craft store or something.

And i thought the sea glass was real cool. Pieces of glass were littered all along the shore  and  in a variety of colors - blue, white, brown, green ( green being the most common), and even some ruby red.  But i need to clarify, because when i say green i mean like every shade of green imaginable -  sea foam green, emerald, sage dust, kelly green, medium key lime, fern green, pond scum, lotus green, tarragon, deep forest, peacock, granny apple green. You name it. Walk a short distance thinking of a certain shade of green, and chances are you will stumble upon a tiny piece of sea glass that very color. Very cool, indeed. 

And each piece of sea glass was a different shape, a different texture, a different clarity, a different size, and in a different state of of the erosional process. Some were jagged and dull while others were smooth and polished. None were the same, kinda like finger prints or snowflakes. What was even cooler was picking up a piece and trying to figure out where or what it came from. The neck of a beer bottle? Part of a vicks vapor rub container? The bottom of a wine bottle? The screw top of a ball mason jar? A polished shard from an old time Coke a Cola bottle? Hard telling, not knowing. But it sure was a good way to pass the time.

Language Lesson of the Day: Here by the sea and sand, nothing ever goes as planned... Say it with me now! Aquí en la costa y la mar, nada según lo previsto...

Down by the Seaside

Welp because it's such a beautiful day down here in Punta Arenas, i figured i should get some fresh air after lunch. And i decided to do so by taking a quick stroll down by the seaside. Or maybe straitside is more accurate? Regardless, there wasn't too much to see, but it was nice to stretch my legs and enjoy the sea breeze. Saw a boat. Saw some clouds. Saw some people.

Down by the seaside. Saw the boats gone sailing. Can the people hear what the little fish are saying? Oh, oh the people turned away. The people turned away...

Cities

Welp, I made it safely to Punta Arenas six days ago and started work immediately. Can't say the city is a huge departure from what i was expecting, but then again i have made conscious efforts to hold zero expectations during my travels. Take it all for what it is, is what i want to do.

According to Wikipedia, Punta Arenas, the capital city of the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, is the most prominent settlement on the Strait of Magellan. The city itself was officially renamed Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to Punta Arenas. It has a population near 150,000. Punta Arenas literally translated is Sandy Point. My initial impression of the city leaves me a bit underwhelmed, but i am keeping an open mind and will continue to be positive. It's got some good points, some bad points, but it all works out.

Things i have experienced and enjoyed thus far include:

The People - Chilenos are super friendly and approachable! Whenever i am at a loss for words, which is often, never am i afraid to ask a stranger ¿Cómo se dice...? While a sinking suspicion lingers that people may be making fun of me or saying rude things that i can't understand, i still receive an answer to my question with a smile and laugh. But if i was a Chileno, i'd probably laugh at me too. I'm just a gringo. No hard feelings, Chile.

The Weather - And i use to think Montana had unpredictable and exciting weather! The skies here can switch from a pleasant cloudless 15°C day to 40knot winds and hail to ominous gray to rain with cloudless skies and back to pleasant weather in the course of an hour. The forecasts mean nothing. I love it.

Things i miss already include:

American Grocery Stores - As one who values eating, and eating well, as much as i do - i should have seen this coming a mile away. I miss basil, reasonably priced economy sized bottles of kikoman soy sauce, and whole grain bread. I miss coldsmoke and moosedrool - hell, even coors light for that matter! I miss spinach, chocolate chip cookies, and sriracha sauce. While the bakeries and seleción de carne are amazing, the supermercados and Chileno diet as a whole leave a lot to be desired. On a more positive note, the wine is super cheap!

Speaking English - This is self explanatory and i don't really need to justify it with any sort of explanation, but i will. Moving to a foreign country and not being able to speak the language is difficult! I knew that when i decided to make the move, but i never imagined it would be so tiring to have to constantly be actively listening to what people are saying or always making a conscious effort choosing my words. While making small talk has never been a strong talent of mine, i feel even more at odds here in Chile. So it goes. But rest assured, i am not despaired. I the knew the language barrier would be one of my greatest struggles abroad. And while it is challenging, i feel lucky to have the challenge. 

Language Lesson of the Day: Think of Punta Arenas - small city. Dark - dark in the day time. People sleep - sleep in the day time, if they want to. If they want to! There's some good points - some bad points. But it all works out. I'm just a little freaked out... Say it with me now! Piense de Punta Aernas - pequeña ciudad. La oscuridad - oscuridad durante el día. Las personas duermen - duermen durante el día, si quieren. iSi quieren! Hay algunos puntos buenos - algunos puntos malos. Pero todo trabaja fuera. Soy solo un pequeño flipó...

Theme From the Bottom -> Light -> Joy

Welp, over two months have passed since the August 5th collapse of the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile, where 33 miners were trapped 700 meters (2,300 ft) below ground. The men were kept alive over that time by supplies delivered through narrow holes drilled down to them, and kept hope through video conferences with family - until two nights ago, when the first of the 33 miners was successfully lifted to the surface in a specially-designed rescue capsule. At 10:30 pm, Chilean time, all of the 33 men have now made it safely to the surface. Minutes later, fireworks erupted throughout the sky in Punta Arenas as Chilenos country-wide celebrated the successful rescue.

Language Lesson of the Day: Sebastián Piñera, president of Chile, served as a kind of master of ceremonies at the rescue, greeting the miners with paternal hugs and reassurance as they emerged from tunnel. He was quoted talking to one miner saying, “Thank you for everything, thank you for the inspiration. Welcome to life! Very few people have the privilege of being born again.”

Welcome to life! Very few people have the privilege of being born again. Say it with me now! ¡Bienvenido a la vida! Poquísimas personas tienen el privilegio de ser nacido otra vez.

I Am the Sea/The Real Me

Welp, it is good to be back on dry land. As i sit here in Café & Books in Puerto Natales, sipping coffee and reflecting on my trip at sea, i have trouble being anything but optimistic about the next few months i will spend in Chile. While i seemed to be in the minority on the boat being unable to speak multiple languages fluently, traveling without a companion, and having but one stamp on my passport - rather than being an overwhelming and lonely experience i learned that everyone needs to start somewhere. And i am starting right now.

The trip was beautiful and traveling by boat was a very unique way to take in the landscape. Or seascape...? Either way, the Chilean coastline is a seemingly endless expanse of jagged mountain peaks and coastal inlets. Often, one finds themself simply staring at the horizon, mouth agape, wondering what's around the next bend or beyond a subsequent ridge of mountains. The Pacific Ocean is truly daunting and immense in terms of size and power. The affect does not translate well over film and is difficult to express with words.

Cold Water

Welp, i woke up this morning with the cold water. With the cold water and with the cold. Slept all night in the cedar grove. I was born to ramble, born to rove.  Some men are searchin' for the holy grail. But there aint nothin' sweeter than folowin' yer own trail.Well, i woke up this morning with the cold water. With the cold water and with the cold.

- Tom Waits

As i sit here warm and dry, i am scanning through pictures from a recent overnighter i took,  trying to decide which to use in my collage, and contemplating the road ahead. An hour long bus ride from Pucon took me through the mountainous countryside and dropped me off at the Parque Nacional Huerquehue.  What a beautiful day to visit such a beautiful piece of country! From there i hiked about 12km and saw numerous waterfalls, three alpine lakes, and a variety of wildflowers. After my hike i set up camp, prepared a simple dinner, and read next to the lake until the rain started. Then i read in the tent, with the rain pouring down, by headlamp. 

And boy did it rain. Rained all night. Rained all morning. A cold rain at that. It rained so much that it cut short my plans for hiking another mountain before i caught the bus back to Pucon the following day. Additionally, i had hoped to be able to hike to a hot spring, but there was still too much snow for the trek to be possible. So it goes. At least i got a lot of thinking and reading done. 

Things i thought about include my family, my future back in the good ol' US of A, my farewell to Pucon, my quickly approaching journey by sea, and my job in Punta Arenas. Oooh so much thinking done. Lovely really. I miss my family. I am anxious about my future. I am ready to leave Pucon for new adventures, but hope to return in the future. I am excited for my journey by sea and expect to test the limits of my cameras memory card. And finally, i am very much looking forward to starting work. Living life aimlessly and without obligations can be surprisingly tiring. How i look forward to settling into a routine... 

Language Lesson of the Day: My sleeping bag is wet... Say it with me now! Mi saco de dormir es mojado...

Colonel Forbin's Ascent

Welp, it was a very busy weekend. I spent saturday hiking a volcano and kept busy sunday doing yard work at my host family's house in the countryside. All in all it was a very good weekend. 

The National Park Agency in Chile mandates that all amature and recreational alpinists need a guide to hike the Volcano Villarrica. So i ended up hiring Sol & Nieve to drag my wearyshitass up the mountain. But in all seriousness, it was a completely awesome, nontechnical, five hour slog up to the top of volcano with unparalleled views of the country below. In addition to a stunning view of Pucon, i was able to see the Sierra Nevada mountain range, three lakes, and six other volcanoes. The view alone was the worth the price of the guide service. And if i didn't have to pay someone to take me there again, i'd do it in a heart beat. Because of the vast amount of spring snow still on the mountain and cloudless sky, i think i filled up my monthly quota of vitamin D in a day! Even with all my sunscreen, SPF 50 mind you, the sun completely kicked my butt and left me more exhausted than i have been in a very long time. 

The following day and after a very recuperative 11 hours of sleep, i went with my host parents to their cabin in the countryside. and did yardwork! I got to check on the bees, split wood, have a slash fire, prune trees, and wrangle some cattle. It was awesome. 

A goat and a monkey, a mule and a flee. I'm moving to the country. Baby, won't you come with me? 

Across the Universe

Somtimes across the universe doesn't seem that far away. Even though i'm living on a whole 'nother continent, i am still able to find things that seem oh so very familiar and remind me of my life back home.  And fortunately, the life i have chosen to lead is one of leisure... 

A slight breeze, a pleasant 16 degrees centigrade, and not a cloud in the sky. It was a perfect friday for taking it easy by the lake in Pucon. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Language Lesson of the Day: Pucón's unrivaled location by a lake and a volcano and quite stable weather(especially in the summer) make it a popular destination for tourists. It offers a variety of sports and adventure/recreational activities including water skiing, snow skiing, backpacking, white water rafting and kayaking, horse back riding, natural hot springs, and guided ascents of volcano Villarrica. 

I have skied for many years, but i have never climbed a volcano. Say it with me now! He esquiado por muchos años, pero no nunca he subido un volcán!