Diet Coke and Grenadine

Things I love About San José: The Restaurants

2012-01-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

Remember when I didn't find anything redeeming about Costa Rica's capital? That I couldn't find any intriguing buildings, no remnants of history, no places I wanted to wander around in? Well I was wrong. Let's start first with the surprising places I found to fill my belly. Proof:

Casa los Sueños

An amazingly artsy café/bar hidden in one of San Jose's oldest neighborhood.

Cool local paintings on the wall? Check.

Delicious veggie-friendly food and sangria? Check.

Interesting crowd to people watch? Check.

Roma Café

A cozy, contemporary Italian restaurant with live jazz music and a killer risotto.

Kitschy colosseum lanterns? Check.

Exposed brick walls? Check.

Takeout with a moped? Check.

Mi Tierra

Sure it's touristy, but the classic café chorreado served in traditional tin mugs make it worth bearing the keyboardist playing the same folklore song for 30 minutes.

Attention to detail to include every possible thing traditional to Costa Rica? Check.

Casado served on banana leaf plates? Check.

Hand-painted murals on the exterior walls? Check.

Provecho!

A very Merry late Christmas and Feliz Año

2012-01-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

My favorite things about this year's (or I guess, last year's) Christmas season:

The entire downtown streets of San Jose decorated with suspended lights...

...giant Christmas trees...

...and flashing holiday greetings.

Couples who know each other too well.

Large, intriguing presents.

Steaming fondue Christmas dinner with family.

Inappropriate moustaches.

Festive table settings.

Belly laughs.

True love.

Merry 2012!

2011-11-07T19:42:00.000-08:00

I dressed up as my cat Travi for the Trick or Treaters on Halloween, but it turns out no one got to see my costume. Oh well.

A Doodle a Day keeps the Duldrums away

2011-10-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

Doo·dle¹ [dood-l] verb, -dled, -dling, noun

verb (used with object), verb (used without object), noun

to draw or scribble idly: He doodled during the whole lecture.

to waste (time) in aimless or foolish activity; to play or improvise idly

Archaic. a foolish or silly person.

Monday, Oct. 12, 2011: Mismatched nail polish

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2011: Heart-shaped Pumpkin Bread

Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011: Puddle-hopping in girls' bright pink rain-boots (ask me how I got them later)

And the daily doodle updates shall continue...

2011-10-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Over 1 month of wearing the handmande bead string, wrapped 50 times around my wrist by a beautiful Kuna woman named Cecilia in Ciudad Panamá. I was searching all over the city for a long orange bracelet, like the ones the many traditionally-dressed Kuna indigenous women wear in Panamá. I met a woman selling handicrafts in a hidden marketplace who said she had just the thing for me, but that it was at her home and she wouldn't be in the next day before I left in the evening. The vendor said she would pass this bracelet to Cecilia, and I made arrangements to meet at her shop in another market down the road. It was just a verbal promise on both ends, but if felt so magical to acquire a piece this way. I unfortunately arrived late the next day looking for Cecilia's booth, but most of the market was closed. When I finally found her, she was sitting unhurriedly on her stool beading, figuring I had run late, but knowing I would arrive. It took her about 7 minutes to wrap the string around me, each time looping the extra strand around the prior level on my arm. We spoke about her language and her people, and to me the conversation seemed to go on for hours. I paid and thanked her profusely, not wanting to leave with all my unfinished questions. Cecilia smiled warmly and waved goodbye as I walked away with the most magical purchase of my life.

Happy 4 Month Anniversary Costa Rica!

2011-10-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have been terrible at updating about my life in Costa Rica. This is actually a good sign because it means I am busy and doing exciting things. To commemorate another monthaversary, here is what is exciting in my life about my last month in this rainy land:

Independence Day on Sept. 15th was all about the parades, traditional performances, and partying all driven by the local school children. I followed around my 2 dear teacher friends (pictured) whose students celebrated the night before with a lantern lighting parade (to commemorate how the news of independence spread around Costa Rica in the middle of the night), and with a marching band of typical tico songs the day of. Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz!

Travi, my rescued kitty, is really living up to his name (meaning mischievous in Spanish). I am in love.

Myself and my 3 best friends here (2 of them pictured above) went on a short journey to Sarchi, the artesian headquarters in Costa Rica, where I paid homage to my grandma Nana and her trip to the same town many years ago. I purchased a mini version of the same hand-painted cart she got there, that is a part of the childhood memories I have of her home.

I really love my "hometown" of Belen, here in Costa Rica. First, Belen means Bethlehem in Spanish, which is cool to say I am living in Bethleham. It has the cutest center that has a two-towered church whose front yard is a soccer field, a small, vintage train station that they converted into an artesian shop, delicious sodas (or small restaurants) with $1.25 fresh blackberry smoothies, and a Pops ice cream parlor. Last Sunday, my friends and I went to show our support for the newly promoted Division 1 Belen team as they played against the biggest/most famous team in the country. There were a total of 10 fans for Belen (including us 3), but we tied and we stayed true to our roots. Beat 'em Belen.

I still am loving it here (even with the growing hours of rain per day), and am so thankful for the great friends I've made, the amazing world-changing women I've met, and the way God is teaching me through the first adult months of my life. Pura vida.

What's a Christian to do with Binaries?

2011-10-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

A binary is simply a pair of opposites.
Black and white. Up and down. Inside and outside.
In anthropology, we are introduced to binaries by Cladue-Levi Strauss in his structuralist theories, where cultures are based around binaries like sacred/ profane and core/periphery. He says all cultures can be understood in terms of these binaric opposites.
While structuralism in its purist is considered theoretically outdated by contemporary anthropologists-- after all, universal theory is dead too-- I still find that the United Stastian culture still bases much of itself around binaries.
From an early age, we are taught right and wrong and good and bad; the notions of nice/mean, share/selfish, obey/disobey, friend/enemy, safe/dangerous, us/them are so ingrained in concrete opposition that they become a part of our morality.
In school we take true and false tests to pass or fail the class.
We refer to movies or books or food with the comment, "You either love it or hate it."
Even in our humor, we use jokes that being with, "There are 2 kinds of people in this world..."
It is convenient for our intellects, it is a part of our puritanical roots, and it is easy.

But with post-modernism (and post-post modernism) came the glorification of the gray, the multi-directional, the anti-binary.
This scared Christians (with the exception of a few select groups who loved Donald Miller and listen to the Outlaw Preachers podcast). If there is no black and white there is no truth, and if there is no truth there is no Jesus, is the assumption.
But is the Bible really so binaric? Is our God really so binaric?

I think the answer is both yes and no.

There is the heaven/hell duo (an interesting solution to the thesis and antithesis found in Catholicism's Purgatory), and Jesus saying the only way to the Father God in heaven is through Him (John 14:6).

= Binary

There are the foundations of righteousness/sin and thus salvation/damnation, between which Jesus intercedes, again as the solution to the thesis and antithesis.

= Binaries

God wants all our lives, not just a little; He wants hot, not lukewarm, all or nothing (Revelation 3:16).

= Binary

Perhaps Christian theology is so binaric because we as humans find comfort in defining our world pairs of compartmentalized opposites. But, then, if we are created in the image of God, is God Himself also binaric in nature?

I don't think our God is two-dimensional; afterall, He is above dimension:

The trinity of Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

= Not binaric (or even purely ternary for that matter)

God is love, righteous, holy, good, faithful, and true.

= Not binaric, but rather unilateral with no opposites to oppose. God's binaric opposer Satan reflects him backwards as being hate, evil, bad, cheating, and lies. BUT, since God made Satan, even he is beautiful (or at least was originally), and thus God has no antithesis (thanks for this interesting point, Mom!).

Jesus was both fully human and fully God (more than 1 verse here but see John 1:1).

= Binaric in concept, but not a true binary because man and God are not in opposition but rater agreement.

Basically, while the Christian theology may be binaric on the surface, God Himself (or Jesus or the Holy Spirit) is not. The gray lies in the interpretation of the complex doctrine in the New and Old Testament, where pure binaric legalism cannot result in a full understanding of the message of Christianity. They say Christianity is a relationship not a religion, and while most of this relationship is based on the various binaries of sinner/savior, of the earth/of the heavens, flesh/spirit, material/eternal, that separate us from God, Jesus is literally the go-between that solves the contradictions and changes the / for a -- ...

sinner--savior.

Thank you Pret a Voyager!

2011-10-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

One of my all-time favorite travel blogs is www.pret-a-voyager.blogspot.com . Why?

The background on my work computer, using Anne's Pret a Voyager logo.

Anne (the author) studied anthropology and design.
She documents her life as an expat in PARIS.
Her design principles are inspiring (even her blog's tagline, "Travel is not about where you go, but how you see the world"), and her presentations just straight up beautiful.

I have been drooling over her blog (which means, in French, "ready to travel") for ages, and I'm so happy to announce my guest "Boarding Pass" spot on her blog, debuting today!

http://www.pret-a-voyager.com/2011/10/boarding-pass-kaitlin-king.html

Merci Anne for featuring my blog and work!

Panama Pics

2011-09-20T23:17:00.000-07:00

Panama!
Panama City has everything modern urban spaces have but with a touch of its own unique Latino flair: the Trump sky scraper rising above palm trees and flying seagulls, the man-made waterfront behind the Spanish old town, the hand painted buses driving on the super highway winding over tin roofs. When I hiked up Cerro Ancón on the far side of the city, I could see all of the crazy mixture that is Ciudad Panama right before my eyes. There is sign at the summit triumphantly proclaiming the spiritual satisfaction of the discovery of this magical city of two worlds:
"Cuantos años de incógnitos pesares mi espíritu buscaba mas allá a mi hermosa sultana de los mares, la reina de dos mundos,
Panamá!"

[from my Afar post here]

Created with flickr slideshow.

2011-09-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

Afar.com is a paper and online travel magazine wonderful blend of reader-driven discussion space, jaw-dropping photography, and professional travel tips. Check it out, gallivanters! Here are some posts of mine from my most recent Panama trip:
http://www.afar.com/users/katalina-king/trips/casco-antiguo-panama-city
http://www.afar.com/highlights/city-of-two-worlds

3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

2011-08-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

Ask questions of those around you: Ask your waiter,taxi driver, hotel concierge, shop owner, and anyone you come in contact with in your new destination about themselves and their suggestions. People enjoy talking about their experiences and everyone's opinion will be different. Even if it is uncomfortable or you do not speak the local language, engaging in community with a local--however brief-- will provide useful insight and a perhaps memorable connection.
Take out the headphones: Listen to local radio stations, sidewalk conversations, street noise, and cafe murmur. By hearing the vibrations of the city's soundtrack, you will be able to better understand the local way of life.
Expect to be uncomfortable: Going to a new place can be a scary thing, and truly immersing yourself into a new place when traveling is not easy. However once you accept this, you will be free to push yourself to discover the best of what the new place has to offer, even if it requires conversing a language other than your first, getting lost along the way, or eating a food you have never tried.

Happy gallivanting!

-KK (king.kait@gmail.com)

Family Visit!

2011-08-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

A wonderful thing when moving to new places is for your loved ones get to come meet that new place that you love for themselves. My family came for a week to take in the pura vida. We had an amazing time together all over the city and country, especially at a remote eco lodge that we rafted to and from.

Gracias, fam, for bringing your beautiful selves to visit me and for infusing your brilliance into my life once again.

2011-08-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Part 2 of my series on Examiner.com about authenticity and Internet fitness celebrities:
http://www.examiner.com/anthropology-in-scottsdale/part-2-the-total-fitness-persona-from-the-gym-to-the-web

And:
Fitness Celebs

I'm a real writer!

2011-08-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am now an officially published professional writer on Examiner.com! I applied as an examiner of Scottsdale Anthropology and will be reporting remotely on various local issues related to the cultural make-up in Scottsdale. Check out my very first article:

Part 1: Determining authenticity through the Internet

Thanks for your support in my writing career :)

Happy 2 Month Anniversary Costa Rica!

2011-08-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

To commemorate, a list of course...

Never have I ever:

Driven in the middle of the jungle alone (the road to Guanacaste)
Thrown myself a birthday party
Seen a play Spanish (La Madre Coraje and Ma(d)e in Tikicia)
Been to beach with black, volcanoe-burned sand (Playa Negra)
Rafted a tropical river (Rio Reventazon)
Walked for 6 straight hours (La Romería)
Eaten so much rice and beans for breakfast (hurray for Gallo Pinto!)
Explored San Jose's historic district (good finds!)
Been to so many concerts in 1 month (thanks to the awesome shows at Jazz Cafe, a wonderful lounge-y venue with different themed music every single day. It runs more consistently than any government sector here)

And now for the big news: I will be staying in Costa Rica until the end of the year! I will be taking on a new role in the company and extending my contract. I am very excited.

2 down, 4 more to go!

Puerto Viejo

2011-08-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

My recent trip to the caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo resulted in a re-ignited love of reggae, the viewing of greens and forage that the English language cannot accurately describe, and the consuming of fresh tropical fruit cocktails with my feet in the sand. I went with some friends on an internship exchange program with U of A (small world!), and we stayed in cabanas complete with hammocks, mosquito nets, and direct access to the beach. My highlight has to be the Afrocaribbean culture that trickles through the pueblito's little downtown. Puerto Viejo is pura vida.

A Response to "My First Pilgrimage"

2011-08-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Doing any outwardly religious act requires an inward response. Or it should elicit an inward response, I should say. The sanctity of a religious ritual is not the action itself but the spiritual change, enlightenment, encouragement, etc. it brings about. It is a physical manifestation of a stirring within.

What stirring occurred in me from the romería on Monday?

I went with mostly a secular intention of being a part of a national tradition, but I also made an intention for the trip (yoga style). I dedicated the time I had to pray and think on a few particular special people. But I in no way was in constant prayer, and while I thought of their faces when the uphill trekking got painful, when I arrived at the Basilica I honestly completely forgot about them as my intention. Would this be considered a failed mission?

Someone made a comment to me about the point of the pilgrimage being a sacrifice. Sacrificing for God, (like fasting can be) or sacrificing in honor of someone else. He mentioned that my sacrifice of sleep, comfortability, and time was greater than those who took the holiday off the next day after walking. That made me think; the point of the sacrifice is sort of a double standard: the bigger and more outward your personal sacrifice, the more worthy others see the sacrifice being. However, the sacrifice must be first and foremost of the self, giving the broken self to God by doing away with it. But by sacrificing in a highly public fashion-- not even to the extent of walking barefoot or going on knees but actually just being a part the procession in and of itself-- you are in a sense going in opposition of putting the self last. You are putting yourself in a showy place for others to see your sacrifice or hear about it after the fact. Even limping around the office the day after the romería felt showy to me personally, as if to remind others, look at me, I'm sore because I sacrificed my muscles for God while you just slept the night away. Jesus' commandment is that when we fast, we do so in secret. When we tithe, we do so in secret. But you cannot walk in a 12 mile long procession in secret, and when saying the Our Father aloud every 10 minutes, I think others take notice.

On the complete opposite note, I do believe that many people participate in the romería out of pure intentions, and that those walking barefoot are not all like the Pharisee praying loudly on the street corner. I felt a strong union between the other romeros, especially when large groups of people joined in singing praise songs together, or when I heard others praying aloud to themselves. This was a spiritual solidarity, similar to that I felt with the other runners during my half marathon or at with my classmates at my USC graduation, plus Jesus. Going with a bunch of other people on a self-sacrificing mission keeps you accountable to your purpose, even just through the presence of others with similar intentions. It is encouraging to witness the faith of other brothers and sisters through their own sacrifices.

My own spiritual stirring mostly came through conviction of my judgmental mind and (as usual), my pride. The romería offered the opportunity to entertain both and it forced me to deal with them in a direct and urgent way. It is possible to be public while being self-sacrificing but it takes a heart aligned with the Lord. I am still learning what this looks like for me.

My Very First Pilgrimage

2011-08-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

Almost half of the country's population—1.5 million people—travel on foot to the Basilica of Cartago to pay homage to the patron saint of La Virgen de Los Angeles every 2nd of August.

Most travel at least 22 km, but some arrive from the Panamanian or Nicaraguan borders.

My journey was 20 km/12 miles and 5 hours or non-stop walking (Well, I did of course have to stop twice to go to the bathroom, hence the 30 minute deduction).

We left downtown San Jose at 8:30pm and arrived at 2am on the dot (as we approached the plaza, we heard the church bells strike twice).

Whether to fulfill a promise to the Virgin, to participate in the ritual, to have fun with friends,

People principally go for faith; some on knees, many barefoot, more with only sandals.

There are people of all ages walking, from viejitos to babies in their mother’s arms.

It was my first time being a part of such a grand-scale religious pilgrimage, and I went with various intentions.

The roads are closed to accommodate the mass movement of humanity.

There are sections where it is wide, but there are points—like at the bridge—where you must force yourself to shuffle along like a herd of cattle to fit through the small opening.

The route to Cartago is uphill for most of the journey from San Jose to climb 1,000 feet in elevation.

This makes the journey a bit difficult after 3 straight hours in the middle of the night.

Upon arrival, devotees wait another 2-3 hours to enter the church where the original Virgin is displayed.

There are 2 entrances, one for foot travelers, one for those coming on hands and knees. The knees line was almost even with those on foot.

In the massive plaza surrounding the impressive church are thousands of prone romeros who camp out after their journeys with nothing more trash bags or loved ones for coverage.

I did not have the capacity to wait to go inside at 2am unfortunately, but I am excited to return when the action has calmed down a bit.

The Virgen of the Angeles is a stone Madonna statue that was appeared twice in the spot where the Basilica rests.

She appeared to a peasant girl first, who brought her home only to find her disappeared in the morning and back at the original place she found her.

The girl then brought her to a priest who locked her in a box for safekeeping. The next morning she was found in the same distant location.

Church constructed in her honor at a different location was unsuccessfully finished due to several earthquakes. It was taken as a sign that the Virgin wanted her church to be exactly where she appeared. It’s final location was completed in 1639 (although also partially destroyed by another earthquake years later).

I bought 2 small replicas and a rosary from a stand on the road for a dollar.

The Basilica has 3 different sections that have been restored and expanded since the 19^th century.

The front section is the most commanding, with its Byzantine-era architecture that resembles the cathedrals of the Greek Orthodox.

At night, only the front is illuminated, giving it this flat, doll-house quality of cartoonish perfection in front of a backdrop.

When I first saw the structure as I emerged from the carnival street leading up to it, I was amazed by its large scale and clean walls. Nothing else in Costa Rica is as big and white as the Basilica (not even the gringo tourists).

My highlights of the night are following a guitar-carrying youth group singing worship songs;

Being inspired by the faith of others displayed in a way I have not previously understood;

Eating a red frozen gelatina (frozen jello in fat Otter Pop plastic) and discussing world politics with my companions;

Feeling a part of Costa Rican culture in a profound way.

23 Years

2011-07-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

I feel really godo about 23 so far. I'm a blank slate for the new year, a white page. To honor having lived 23 years today, here is (of course) a list (!) of the top 10 things I"m thankful for since July 18, 1988:

1. The goodness, wholeness, messiness, silliness, craziness, beauty, loveliness of my entire King, Sering, Vaught, Theis, Tomlinson, Kirkland, Meyer family. I love you.
2. God being good, but not easy.
3. My many best friends throughout the ages who make this entire life worth living. I mean it really is incredible how many people have changed my life with their friendship.
4. The ability to experience life with all 5 (+!) healthy senses.
5. The fact that I have 17 years of diverse formal education under my belt and 23 years of learning the harder way.
6. Knowing what a sunset looks like over Antarctic & Alaskan glacial waters, Pacific & Atlantic coasts, Sonoran & Chilean desert sands, Midwestern & European planes, Rocky & Andean mountains, rainforest & pine trees, and knowing what it looks like to be flying over the sunset.
7. Shalom.
8. What my body has been capable of in years past and what it is capable of now.
9. The fact that I will never be _____ enough.
10. All of the little opportunities that have lead to big opportunities (example #1 being my current position).

Happy 1 Month Anniversary Costa Rica!

2011-07-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

As per my tradition, some musings of being in my new home for 31 days...

-When I wake up in the morning, I see this:

-Where there is a nice-ish apartment complex, there is an adjacent grassy field. Where the grass in the grassy field is shorter than 3 feet, there is a soccer goal.

-It rains every afternoon (since we are in the rainy season), and I find it refreshing and reminiscent of my Indiana childhood days.

-Office life is not as dreadful as I imagined, and I have TED, the Vicky Cristina Barcelona soundtrack, and the delicious (and free) coffee to thank in part for that.

-As I have learned before from living in a new place, if you are not in a practically constant state of uncomfortability in the beginning, you are doing it wrong. I am pushing myself daily to make the most out of being here; starting conversations with strangers, exploring a new part of the city by foot and by car (and subsequently getting lost), asking tons of questions, and in general just trying brand new things. As I told my friend, you have to just embrace the difficulty to the maximum because it's the only way to make the most of it.

-The people I have met here have shown me the artsy, bohemian-y spots I had been searching for. Word of mouth is very influential in Costa Rican culture, whether it be through office gossip or where to see the newest theater performance. You absolutely must listen to and know the right people to get the most out of San Jose.

-This time around, I am at peace with not transforming into a local; no need to lose myself again in the impossible process of complete assimilation.

-I am finding my "wake up at 6 and run, drive to work from 8 to 5:30, and come home and cook for myself" life rather... nice. I let my crazy out after dinner (as it brews internally up until then), but this adult/"real world" life is not so bad. The only thing is that I find the routine numbing in its steadiness and comfortability (my made-up word again), and I can see how it can be easy to fall into the trappings of its security. But I don't buy it.

-I need to really commit to consistently "serving the poor"/volunteering somewhere because my heart is needy for it.

-I miss the fact that all my family is in Indiana together and I am not.

-I am doing fun things. Here is an example of one, in which I zip-lined upside down across the rainforest canopy:

Also, Pura Vida is real!

Is this real-life?

2011-06-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

I never am satisfied with the toned-down, manicured aesthetic of tourist attractions attempting to play the role of a sippy-cup lid to your glass of authentic foreign experience, filtering the chunks and making sure you don't swallow more than you can handle. I, along with many other I-am-not-a-tourist kinds of travelers, are in constant search for the "real" (insert travel destination here)-- going where the natives eat, getting around by public transportation, and keeping the lifestyle of the local population. We are not easily deceived by the overpriced trinkets, not easily amused by the planned tours, and not easily content with simply being comfortable. Travel becomes a challenge, a research investigation, a game. This propels our sense of urgency to go, go, go, get lost in a new land where no Lonely Planet guide book can get you out of. Get lost and get yourself out. All over the world. You will never be done. You can never beat the game. Finding the "real" for yourself is overwhelming, frightening and makes you feel alive. This just furthers the wanderlust. It's like a drug.

With that in mind, I find myself in my new territory searching for the "authentic" Costa Rica ("authenticity" being among a group of extremely sensitive anthropological jargon that cannot be written without quotations lest you go down in flames with "primitive" and "Third World Country"). This has been confusing and difficult; on one hand, all is Pura Vida, palm-roofed fruit stands on the side of the road, and beautifully decorated ox-driven carts delivering goods, and on the other hand I don't believe that's the "real" Costa Rica. The first time I visited CR in high school, I believed that the locals said pura vida just for the appearance of everything being great for the sake of the tourists' blissful, pampered experience (pura vida is literally the national motto meaning "pure life," and is also the response to any question about well-being, life status, or food quality. Ex: "How are you? Pura vida!" "Do you like the chicken? Pura vida!" Any bumper sticker, shirt, magnet, or little chachky from Costa Rica will undoubtedly have this phrase marked someone next to the country name). I thought it was a fake saying, a too-good-to-be-true smiley response that was created and enforced by the government when Costa Rica decided to up their tourism industry on the gringos. But I have found, Costa Rican to Costa Rican, no tourist in sight, people actually using this phrase normally. Everything really is pura vida. That brings me to the palapa fruit stands selling fresh mangos and strawberries with handwritten signs off the side of the jungle road... is this really where the locals shop too? The stands feel forced-- although not without charm-- like receiving a welcome leigh when you land in Hawaii. It is again, just too good to be true. But yet again, it is true. The company driver (and my personal buddy) took us to his favorite road-side fruit stand where he likes to buy his strawberries. He bought his items and pura vida'd on his way out. And then a few moments later, we saw a legit campesino leading his two white oxen pulling a marvelously painted 2-wheeled cart. Maybe the guy was even delivering fruit to the stand. I was too overwhelmed by the staged-ness of the whole scene involving all 3 elements I most doubt the legitimacy of, so I stayed in the car while my friend jumped out to snap a photo. Is there some magic Costa Rican tourist fairy that is following foreigners around and planning out these postcard scenes and moments? I guess I was wrong about the gimmicks. But I still don't fully believe it.

Proof

2011-06-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

One of the first let's-see-the-Costa-Rica-everyone-raves-about trips was to the active volcano Poas, the beach at Jacó, the waterfalls of La Paz, and zip-lining through the canopy of Vista Los Sueños. Rave-worthy, all of 'em.

The Quest for Authenticity: Distinguishing the Real in the Convoluted Capital of Costa Rica; or How a Recent Liberal Arts Grad Went from Sticking-It-To-The Man to a 9 to 5 in Less Than 30 Days; or San Jose for Dummies / There Are No San Jose Beaches, Idiot

2011-06-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I have now been graduated from USC for 36 days.
I have now been in San Jose, Costa Rica for 10 days.
I have now been working in the corporate world of Human Resources for 7 days.
I have now been understanding how to drive around in fairly large city with no street names for 0 days.

Costa Rica is (I mean, do I really need to say it?) a beautiful country.
All that they say is true: friendly people, easy-going pace of life, Planet Earth-worthy nature scenes, and delicious fresh fruit at the beckon call of your outstretched arm picking the mango off the tree.
But San Jose isn't necessarily what they mean when talk about Costa Rica.
San Jose has all of aforementioned perks, but mixed with in a confusion of dirty streets, colorless building fronts, and American fast food chains.
But I am finding little nuggets of sparkle spots.
Oh, and I really like being here!

2011-05-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

In accordance with my love for maps and drawing, The Hand Drawn Map Association is a treasure trove of a website. They even published my Chilean map from awhile ago:
http://www.handmaps.org/location.php?ID=chile

Hurray for those creative ones.

Top 10 Barista's Secrets

2011-03-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

I was recently inspired by an article in my Yahoo news feed (which is no CNN by the way), called "13 Things Baristas Won't Tell You." My coffee expertise is rather extensive if I do say so myself: I worked for Starbucks for 2 years, received their intensive and thorough training on coffee preparation and completed almost enough coffee seminars and tastings to qualify for Coffee Master. I then moved on to Ground Zero, an independent student-run café on campus where I learned the art of manually pulling espresso from an Italian machine and the real way to make a Macchiato. I also drink coffee (at times more than 1 cup) daily, prepared either in my own french press or from a cafe, but always dark and bold, preferably a Guatemalan or African blend. Not only this, but I have probably spent way more of life than is necessary complaining, sympathizing and sharing stories with fellow baristas all over the world, thus I have the general opinion of hundreds, even world-wide. This gives me enough street cred to write my own version, right?

Top 10 Barista's Secrets

1. Drip coffee has more caffeine in total than espresso. It's true that, "...the content of caffeine per milliliter are much higher than with a regular brew*," but let me tell you, you are not impressing me with your Quad-Venti Americano sir, because I just downed a 22 oz drip coffee in 10 minutes and will last all night.
Drip 115-175 (7 oz cup)

Espresso        100         1 serving (1-2oz)
Brewed          80-135     (7 oz cup)*

*www.coffeefaq.com

2. For the most possible amount of caffeine, try combining a shot or two of espresso with your coffee (a "Black Eye" or "Red Eye" respectively). Even black tea has enough to give you a boost, so don't discredit teas as being weak sauce. Getting a chai tea latté (which is black tea base) with espresso will also do the trick (at Ground Zero, that's an "All Nighter"). And ordering a Cafe au Lait, which is brewed coffee with steamed milk instead of that small latté will do the trick more effectively!
Coffee 80 (5 oz. cup)
Black Tea 40 (one tea bag)
Green Tea 20 (one tea bag)
White Tea 15 (one tea bag)
Herbal Tea 2 (one tea bag)*

*www.ehow.com

3. Even decaf coffee has some caffeine in it, it's just less than the regular. Again, thank you coffeefaq.com, "Decaf should range somewhere in the 2-4 milligrams of caffeine per cup range." So if you really don't want caffeine, try an herbal tea instead. By the way, "Currently used solvents for decaffeinating coffee include, H2O (water), CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), Meth, Chloride, and Ethyl Acetate." Questionable.

4.  A tea bag should brew in the water for at least 5 minutes to achieve its fullest flavor and strength potential. To ice a tea, the tea should be brewed double strength (twice the amount of bags, etc.) for at least 5 minutes and then poured directly over ice. No other water should be included.

5. At Starbucks, a Grande (16 oz) and Venti (20 oz) espresso drinks both get 2 shots of espresso, unless it's an iced Venti drink, which gets 3 shots. Both Grande and Venti teas get 2 tea bags. Thus the only difference is the greater amount of milk, water and sugar in the two sizes. This goes also for many other coffee places I have seen. Also the single shot of espresso you get in a Tall (12 oz) at Starbucks is almost worthless in comparison to the ratio of the other solvent (milk, water or ice).

6. Most places allow customers to use soy milk for free instead of the half-and-half or milk at the self-serve station. Just ask nicely and you shall receive.

7. If you tip you WILL get better service. Even if it's just a few coins. I know this seems ridiculous to tip on top of your over-priced bev, but a little bit goes a long way. If you order a complicated drink or many drinks, a tip is almost mandatory.

8. What and how you order is crucial to the barista's resentment or appreciation of your drink.  And believe me, you don't want certain baristas annoyed at you while they're making your drink. Some pointers:

      -Wait until the barista looks at you and addresses you before speaking your order.

      -Beginning with "please" makes us feel less like we're your slave.

     -If you are ordering anything but a drip coffee, do not begin your order with, "I'll just take a..." Just implies that is is simple and low-maintenance, but a double-tall, half-caff, 2%, no foam, with room latte is not simple.

     -It's ok to ask questions, but if you can try to look for the answers on your own first. This may be in the description of the drink on the posted menu or on a sign placed around you. Educated yourself with a pamphlet on the drink recipes or nutrition content found at Starbucks. After you have looked a little deeper and still have no answer, then ask. Asking unnecessary questions holds up the line and ignoring for-your-information signs frustrates those behind the bar.

     -Say everything that you want in your drink right up front before the barista repeats it back to you. Do not wait until after he or she has rung you up to define your milk preference or desire for sugar-free syrup. Just put all your requests out there right in the beginning. Especially do not ask over the counter to the barista making your drink after the process has begun, unless you forgot something crucial. There is a specific order in which we prepare each drink, and even one little change might make the drink void and we'll have to start over which also costs you time. It is also extremely uncool to try to avoid the up-charge of certain add-ons.

Good:

-You: "I would please like a carmel latte, with soy milk, decaf espresso, sugar-free   carmel and no foam on the top."

-Me: "Ok, that's a decaf, soy, sugar-free carmel no-foam latté. $4.50 please."

Bad:

-You: "Give me a latté."

-Me: "Ok carmel latté. $3.25 please."

-You: "Oh, can you also make it with soy milk? And no caffeine? And sugar-free syrup? And no foam?"

-Me: "Gr!!"

9. It's wonderful to try to order with health-consciously, but just because we put non-fat milk in your milkshake or sugar-free syrup in your mocha does not make it healthy. For an actual low-calorie drink, order a coffee or tea and exchange the sugar for honey. Or just enjoy the treat anyway.


10. Always end your order and drink pick-up with a smile and thank you and we will do the same! Forming positive relationships with your baristas makes our day. We treat our kind regulars with special perks that no coupon can get you. My regulars are the reason why I have worked as a barista since I was 16, and I know that is the favorite part of the job for many others too!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary Chile!

2011-03-01T01:50:00.000-08:00

My various yoga poses throughout Chile in chronological order to commemorate: 1. Centro Cultural first week of my arrival, pre-earthquake; 2. In Patagonia in front a glacier; 3. On the beach of Viña del Mar; 4. On ancient Inca ruins in San Pedro de Atacama; 4. In the Museo Nacional in June when my friends Rachel and Benny visited.

Remember when I celebrated my monthaversaries when I was in Chile? Well now it's been 1 year since arriving and 1 year since the earthquake. Can you believe that? I cannot. You know what this means? Reflection time!

-1 year since I doubted God's goodness, God's importance and God's plan in my life, I fully understand the chains that were holding me captive to my distrust and disbelief and I am pursuing freedom.

-1 year since I had never experienced even a small shaking of the earth, I now am prepared for the big LA quake that is coming... knock on wood!

-1 year since I searched made my identity into someone that I was not and looked for my identity in things that were not me, I am now more confident and unashamed in who God created me to be.

-1 year since I first arrived an innocent and trusting young woman, I know when to be direct and stand up for myself with fuerza.

-1 year since I hadn't noticed the magical of everyday life, I am now painting the experiences that revealed this to me.

-1 year since I understood the feeling of entrapment in my own selfish pursuits, I want to put God first, others second and me third in everything I do.

-1 year since I didn't comprehend the impact those surrounding me on my life, I value more the true fellowship, deep friendships, and genuine people that I love.

-1 year since I didn't realize how important maintaining open and close relationships with my family is on my own well-being, I value our relationships more and take better care to stay connected in distance.

Even thought I left 6 months ago and arrived now 1 year ago, I still have a special place for Chile and the Chilenos in my heart, and God is still teaching me about my experiences there...still! It looks like I'm still not over it ;)

2011-02-22T01:08:00.000-08:00

"You don't ever leave home, you take it with you. Or else, you're homeless."

-James Baldwin

Feliz Día de San Valentín

2011-02-14T17:08:00.000-08:00

In this movie, Holiday Inn with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, poor ol' Jim has the worst slap-in-the-face Valentine's day ever.

While I could be single and sad, I chose hope. I chose to embrace the holiday of love and celebrate the love I do have in my life.

It doesn't matter if I don't have a valentine; at least mine didn't run off dancin' with my best friend/biggest competitor while I was singing the love song I wrote for her.

Poor Jim.

Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore

2011-02-02T12:51:00.000-08:00

I'll admit first off that I did not read the entirety of this book, but for 1 hour explored thoroughly the introduction, beginnings of several chapters and the close. Speed reading! While this is not a Christian book it was written by a former Catholic monk of 12 years with degrees in philosophy, psychology, musicology, and theology. He provides a secular philosophical perspective on cura animarum, the care or charge of the soul. Although not necessarily a novice topic or idea-- after all, it is a form of self-help-- I found some tidbits in the book poignant and would like to share a few lines:

"The great malady of the 20th century implicated in all of our troubles and affecting us individually and socially is loss of soul. When soul is neglected, it doesn't just go away; it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence and loss of meaning." -p. i

Definition is an intellectual enterprise; the soul prefers to imagine." -p. i

"Humility in the artist in his frank acceptance to of all experiences, just as Love in the artist is simply that sense of Beauty that reveals to the worlds its body and soul." -Oscar Wilde, p. 266

"We care for the soul solely by honoring its expressions, by giving it time and opportunity to reveal itself, and by living life in a way that fosters the depth; interiority, and quality in which it flourishes. Soul is its own purpose and end." -p. 304

I think the author is missing that we ourselves cannot save our own souls, even though we might be able to take "charge" of them. While he speaks truth in Western society's loss of interest and recognition of soul, I do not believe true satisfaction can be attained merely through self expression and honoring self-truth.

2011-01-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

Can I go ahead and put it out there that every single painting class I've attended this semester so far (6: 3 hour sessions twice a week for the past 3 weeks), I have cried during or after? My final class of painting, the highest level, the brightest artists, the intimidatingly knowledgeable professor, the blank canvas, the rough start, the critiques comin' in hot, the feelings of embarrassment, of shame, of disgust, the inability to convey, the inability to identify what it is I want to convey, the feeling that I know nothing after all these years of art instruction...

I came across this quote and I want to take the liberty to apply it also to my situation in Fine Arts 405_3323:

“We write (paint, create, express) to find out what we know and what we want to say.”

-William Zinsser, Writing to Learn

Just keep swimming, just the swimming, swimming swimming...

2011-01-09T21:50:00.000-08:00

Today I was telling my story of the Philippines and how I worked alone and independently most of my internship to a man also working in the Philippines right now. His response was unlike anything I have ever heard before, but really struck me.
He said, "Well, working alone teaches us more about dependancy on one another."
It hit me because while I am running around trying to serve ourselves, I am missing the truly important concept of being in community or fellowship.
Without a place to belong, self-gain is worthless. And it feels like it after awhile, too.
Which is why we need each other, no matter what the context.

(PS...This is my 100th post!)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-12-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Although I'm not in Indiana enjoying my family this Christmas, I enjoyed the dessert sun and small family gathering to celebrate the birth of the Messiah.

Although I will not be with family on New Years, I will enjoy being with another special person too.

2010-12-12T14:07:00.001-08:00

We are all a hybrid culture.

2010-12-12T14:02:00.001-08:00

A good job, Starbucks.

2010-12-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

“Who was afraid of Jesus in the Bible?
Those who thought they had power.
Who are the ones who were the closest to Jesus?
Those who thought they had none.”

—	Pastor Tim Chaddick, from today’s sermon

New Blog

2010-12-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

I have created a new blog that I will transition into using 100% eventually, as soon as tumblr updates their accessibility to non-tumblr users. Find it here: www.dietcokeandgrenadine.tumblr.com
I will keep updating here too but I am disappointed with this network blogspot lately!

2010-11-30T02:19:00.000-08:00

My tea reading for today from the Tazo Tea website...

Obama Came to Town

2010-11-27T23:08:00.000-08:00

I saw President Barak Obama when he came to USC to speak, and I figured that was an adventure worthy of sharing...

President Obama stopped on in USC's campus last month and I found it fairly dissappointing after all the hype, but all at once well worth braving the shoving and shouting. After all, when do you get to see the President of the United States speak in front of your own favorite library on your own favorite university campus? Because I was far back enough that I could not snap a clear shot of Obama in his lil' white button down and Barbara Boxer pin, I enjoyed taking the sights of the crazy crowd around me. There were people climbing in trees, an elderly USC good ol' boy with a sticker in support of legalizing recreational marijuana, and people just waiting to get a glimpse of their modern American hero/modern American enemy. 'Twas an interesting experience indeed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T22:44:00.000-08:00

"We need to be grateful for many things that did not happen."

-Langehoven

From a flea market in Santiago

2010-11-16T02:58:00.001-08:00

To be honest...

2010-11-16T02:40:00.000-08:00

It's disguised as a positive thing:
"Making a difference,
Changing the world,
Doing your part..."
But for me, I find myself searching for self-glorification in these catchphrases:
I am making the difference, so applaud me.
I am changing the world, so recognize me.
I am doing my part, so thank me.

My on going struggle is self-glorification.
I battle with comparing myself to the world's standards and yearning for wordly approval.
I need that Gold Star.
And when I don't get that Gold Star for making the world a better place, I feel empty.
But you know what I've learned?
If I do get that Gold Star, I still feel empty.
I have gotten these glittery rewards before, all in a row, perfect 10, tic-tac-toe.
But you know what?

It kinda means, well... nothing.

Where are the real relationships?
Where is the humility?
Where is the teachable spirit?
For me, they get lost somewhere between "I'd like to accept this award on behalf of..." and the thousand dollar celebration that follows.
My purpose does not come from Gold Stars.
My purpose isn't just even in relationships, humility, or learning.

My purpose is in glorifying God, the One who deserves it, not my own self.

God's plans for me might not be big by the world's standards.
I might never receive a single nod from a single person for serving.
People might be confused at what I'm doing, they might think what I am doing is useless.
But the reward from doing what God wants me to do will not leave me feeling empty.
God does have big plans for our lives, but I have to accept that they most likely don't look like the kind of "big" the world says is important.
And I have to be ok with that.
It's so hard for me to give that up, but I have to.

And only then will I find fulfilling how I serve, and only then will I be doing what I was made to do.

2010-11-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

"We are at best poor beggars telling other poor beggars where there is bread."

-Don Carson

The Pusuit of Happiness Comfort

2010-10-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

When we are hungry, we fill up.
When we are in pain, we pop a pill.
When we have to wait in line, we complain.
When we are being challenged, we question God.

I am guilty of relating my overall well-being and my relationship with God based on my comfort level. Or shall I say, I relate my well-being: relationship with God: comfort level. Or visa versa really, as they are all 3 intertwined but rest on the foundation of how comofortable I am in my life. If I am? My relationship with God is great and I am well! If I am uncomfortable, my relationship with God suffers and I then I am not well.

But why is the issue comfort, I ask? What is so wrong with a little discomfort? As Chilean author Isabel Allende-- a favorite of mine-- said in a talk I heard her give last year, "What is wrong with a little pain? [Comfort]... is overrated." I think she has a point in that really, what is so wrong about it? We label discomfort as bad, naturally, but now with the technology and wealth we have around us, we avoid this badness at all costs. And for what? Millions suffer daily and actually benefit from a certain level of discomfort. "...We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance; and endurance, character; and character, hope." In many circumstances that arise in our modern daily lives, it is perhaps more unhealthy into obessively pursue comfort than to in fact be temporarily uncomfortable.

Of course I can't make a general "we" statement and tell the West to stop complaining. But this is a personal revelation for me. To be aware of when I am filling myself emptiliy to satisfy my comfort level, and when I should revel a bit more in what God could potentially be teaching me through the discomfort. Even if it's on the simplest level of being ok with being hungry.

So I'll start now... right after I eat breakfast ;)

from my journal in Chile...

2010-10-15T23:38:00.000-07:00

My map was even published online: http://www.handmaps.org/location.php?ID=chile

"God has tested us this year"

2010-10-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

President Piñera of Chile said at the ceremonious rescue of the 33 trapped miners, "God has tested us this year." I can attest to that on Chile and my own behalf! I feel the pain and joy and relief and disbelief of the world over the amazing recovery of the men involved in the longest entrapment in history. I felt the same after the earthquake happened in Februrary. And I feel the very same about my own life this past year; God has indeed tested me, and perhaps I have also emerged, like the miners, a little malnourited, a little unaccustomed to the light, with plenty of stories to tell, but safe. I definitely didn't suffer as they did, but my life is changed. That's, in one dramatic metaphor, is how I feel.

Fuerza Chile!!

2010-10-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, I never shared with the public the art I created while I was in Chile in my citation-based painting and drawing class. Well then, here ya go.

The link will lead to my full portfolio from the class, the slideshow just shows the pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kaitlinmarieking/Painting205b?authkey=Gv1sRgCLCbwbnbjMrVWQ&feat=directlink

I can't believe in only 12 weeks I produced 9 paintings all outside of class. Well, to be exact, in my host casa, on the floor, trying not to spill paint on the carpet.

In my current advanced painting class at USC, we will paint 4 works in 12 weeks, and even that is shooting high. I was so impressed with my fellow students at La Católica; their works were at times detailed and large and almost always thoughtful and well-constructued. I was the slacker in the class, mostly because I would paint in between weekend travels and weekly excursions.

But still, the Chilean artists I met in my class still inspire me. My current body of work is actually based completely on experiences of magical realism I witnessed in Chile. And athough it will only be 4 paintings large, I hope it will do my friend Chile proud!

2010-09-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

"A good

traveler

has no

fixed

plans and

is not

intent on

arriving."

-Lao Tzu

2010-08-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Traveling well is not really fair.

You are suppossed to go in with an open heart and invest in relationships with the poeple there.

The best times are when are you with those new friends, exploring, learning what it is to be a local, just hanging out,

But then there is the inevitable good-bye, and you have to leave your new friends.

You tried so hard to make these friends, and then you just have to leave them.

Potentially forever, never to see them again.

This is terribly painful!

How can you return from anywhere away from home where you've made dear friends and not want to return?

And not be sad to have them only in an isolated place in your history, in only a little box of time?

Time and relationships are often at odds in my life; there never seems to be enough time to spend time together.

But then do I just "settle down" and never leave a fixed location to solve this?

And forskae the longing I have to constantly be moving?

Or just stop caring as much about other people?

A beautiful friend told me that if you leave behind your new friends in your place away from home and are saddened, it means you understand what it is to love well.

Well loving well is painful.

And thus traveling well is too.

And it takes a lot out of you!

I've been packing, moving, unpacking starting over, adjusting, loving, struggling, and saying good-bye every 6 months since I graduated from high school.

I am tired!

El Sur

2010-08-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, I never got a chance to upload and update you all about my travels to the south of Chile. To put in pocas palabras, it was cold and rainy (however the people were warm and sunny), the towns were small and quiet, and the scenery was abundantly green and forest-y.

My travel mate Ali and I went to 6 towns in 6 days by bus, van, ferry and car, all with our trusty backpacks and polar fleece long underwear. The architecture and food were very Germanic (think cottage-style hotels and kuchin), so it was a nice change to the Spanish and boxy buildings of Santiago. The landscape was also a nice change, with beautiful snow-capped volcanoes as the backdrop to vast lakes and giant green trees, it was like an Indiana-Irish countryside with an Antarctic twist.

One thing that never fails is that in every single established town in Chile, there exists a Spansh Plaza de Armas, with a center plaza, church, a government building, and sometimes a central market. The varrying sizes and styles of these town centers was interesting to observe and compare, but my favorite was the capital of the island we visited; the central church is an unlikely shape and is made entirely of wood, inside and out. This island itself however, was rather creepy as we were seemingly the only tourists there and the local folkloric tales of evil trolls and witches were a little too real in the pitch black, mysterious noise-filled nights.

The moral of the story is that the region is surely a different world in the summer time when vacationers and sun abound and outdoor activities and tours are not impossible to do. All I can say is, thank goodness for the cute cafes were found in every stop and the indoor stoves for heating!

Here are some photos of the trip, credit goes to Ali for the first 11!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Chau Chile

2010-08-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the ends of the earth to the land of the free and home of the brave, and boy have I changed a lot. To organize my ramblings and thoughts since my return, I have categorized them per topic, ish.

On the Top 3

When asked on my evaluation form from my study abroad program the top 3 things I've taken away from my experience, I answered:

1. Stay humble.

2. Keep an open mind.

3. If at first you don't succeed...

On Time Travel

I have time traveled. I traveled from the rainy winter of Santiago where the students are just beginning their 2^nd semester, to the hellish summer of Phoenix where people are still in vacation mode, mildly starting to prepare for the back-to-school mindset of a new school year. I skipped the summer blues and pool parties and will be technically entering into my 3^rd first semester in a row in just 22 days. I feel like I missed Christmas. It’s rather difficult to explain. It confuses my mind to think that the vastly different worlds of Santiago and Phoenix—both my own— exist simultaneously and both will continue to move along finely with or without me. I will no longer be able to witness the passage of time, the developments, the day-to-day of Santiago, yet it will flow on normally just as it had before we ever met.

On Relational Cities

The cities I have lived in or visited in my contemporary life seem to appear to me in these sort of personages that relate to me in human terms, in varying person-to-person type connections. Scottsdale and I have a sibling kind of relationship, where I love hanging out with him/her (Scottsdale has no particular gender to me), feel super comfortable, and yet sometimes get annoyed and can be harsh. Sometimes I just have to yell at Scottsdale to grow up and leave me alone, but it’s really only because I love him/her so much since he/she’s family. Los Angeles is my lover, because we have a love/hate relationship where I generally do not rest at a balance but am filled with a passion (mostly of love) on either end that changes frequently and abruptly. I fight with LA but we always make-up with a kiss. Of sorts.

And then there’s Santiago, who is a dear and closer friend of mine. We have our days of short tempers or frustrations, but I have a steady and deep adoration for what the city teaches me, surprises me with, and accommodates me, like an old friend. We are not very hot or cold and I’m not tied by blood to love, but we are just a good and drama-free match. That’s why I truly feel like I could live there for a longer time, because it is just so easy to be with Santiago. Best friends for life.

On Culture Shock

Things I want to keep up that I learned in Chile:

Greeting people more personally when I enter into a room or see an acquaintance on the street. I loved that Chileans kiss everyone at the party when first arriving and take the time to
Saying “chau.” Because it’s fun.
Eating a bigger lunch and a smaller dinner, plus avoiding eating right before bed. Good habits, although I will take my American breakfast, thanks.
Taking public transportation and walking when possible instead of driving so much. Oh if only LA or Phoenix were as good as the micros and metros there…
Photo-copying pages of books, readings, etc. for school or personal use. Quite handy.
Being very faithful to my good friends and family.
Speaking Spanish with my random chilenismos and sayings.
Wearing my poncho and fanny pack forever and ever amen.

I miss you, Chile. I miss you, new friends. I miss you, family. I am ever thankful!

2010-07-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

It's my last week in Santiago.
I am ready to come home, home.
But I of course am not ready to leave this home, hogar.
"Home is wherever I'm with you."

2010-07-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

I am 22 today.

I actually do feel different now. Un pare de patos, a pair of swans, double digit luck. My only birthday I've ever spent in a parka. I think I prefer a sundress.

Recently I have been traveling to enjoy my "summer." I went snowboarding in the Andes, to a beach town up north and its surrounding valley, and now I'm off to la Región de los Lagos down south where I might potentially freeze to death. All of the adventures have been completed with my faithful companion, Ali. She is wonderful.

Hap Burday Amurca

2010-07-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

In honor of the birthday of the United States of America, the country of which I am a citizen of, I would like to pay tribute to the beautiful things that are tan nuestro, so ours, as United Statesians:

Mega-chain coffee shops with ground coffee, soy milk, and sugary syrups: Yes, I am being serious, I actually miss the fact that you can count on these corperate hounds to satisfy your sweet tooth, caffinated desires at any corner strip mall of suburbia.
Breakfast: Big, hearty, all-food-group-encompasing, American breakfasts. Pass the bacon.
The ability to be able to count on super stores like Target and Michaels for any random object you find yourself in need of (or in want of): It's just that assurity that you can count on that makes you feel secure in life.
Readings that do our culture, landscape, and history proud: Ralph Waldo Emerson's poetry, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain's literature and witty quotes, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Time Magazine, and the Sunday comics.
Regional stereotypes, accents, styles, foods that actually can be rather fun to see realized in real life: California valley girl-isms, Texan cowboy hats, Midwestern gravy, New York City yuppies, etc.
Road trips: Pacific Coast Highway, Route 66, middle-of-nowhere diners and nothing but road for miles.
Rock n' Roll baby.

And, some of my old photos that to me, are also so Americana:

Happy 4th of July!

Again I Might be Wrong

2010-07-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

My favorite personal motto: "Again I might be wrong."

An ex-personal motto I have gotten wrong: "Follow your dreams and it will all work out."

A characteristic that is not sufficient for sustainability, joy, or fulfillment but one of which I value above many others: Passion.

A presentation that exemplifies all my breakthrough realizations on these matters: Mike Rowe of the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs (see video below).

I listened to a sermon by Tim Keller awhile ago on how God has designed humans to work, to create, as an imitation of Himself as Creator. Jobs and work have to do with creation, making, forming, separation no matter the occupation; a teacher brining students' potential out, a medical professional bringing order to a body that is falling apart, an artist making a painting, a hairstylist creating a beautiful look out of chaos... We are sub-creators (as J.R.R. Tolkein names it), and Keller goes as far to say that we need that as a part of satisfaction in life.

This mesage had been on my mind continually since then, seeing as how the everlooming real world is approaching as well as the questions of "What will you do after you graduate?" I want to do something I am passionate about, and I'll admit, a job that is socially accepted as meaningful. If I were to become a landscaper or a sheep castrator many people would question why in the world I spent all that money on a USC education for such a simple or dirty job. But in God's eyes (and in the anthropologists' minds theoretically), any task can be a fulfillment of God's intention for work, and thus the societal worth given to a job is void because all jobs are essentially equally satisfying the intention. Of course some jobs require more education to fulfill sucessfully, some pay more, some put more lives at stake, obviously not all jobs are equal. However, who are we to say that the man who puts the buttons on a cell phone in an assembly line is working a less important job that the man who invented those buttons? It doesn't seem logical, but then again it is matter of questioning cultural upbrining. What if instead of praising and glorifying actors in Hollywood we had the same fervor for great plumbers? Afterall, a plumbers work is much more practical and personally affective than the man who says lines behind a camera for our entertainment. Look in different cultures and you will find who jobs they value say a lot about their society, and sometimes it doesn't seem to make sense from an outsider's perspective. But does it make sense that we worship people whose job is pretending to be someone else?

Fast forward to today, when I listened to a different sermon by the pastor of a church I attend in Arizona, Justin of Praxis. He added to my "ah-ha" with words on the often dissappointing nature of passion. Following your passion often results in unfinished projects, hoping from one pursuit to another, because passion itself is does not always endure through the hardship required to acheive a passion. I can see this in my own life with the simple example of my crafty ventures: beginning one necklace with fervor, then getting bored and starting a painting inspired by the of-the-moment angst, then when the painting isn't really turning out how I wanted I jump to re-sewing a dress to fit the change of season, but when I can't get my mom's antiquated sewing machine to work smoothly, I drop the idea and forget about it. Story of my life. Then apply this to my dream of being an anthropologist that works to better the lives of the poor. I learned from the Philippines it is not an easy thing to work for people. Oh sure I'm passionate about solving world hunger and getting every person alive the basic needs of life. But I lost a lot of passion last summer when I worked with Food for the Hungry, because it really, really wasn't fun sometimes. I didn't come home running around excited about living without running water, only eating fried food, or squeezing into public transportation every day. My passion was put to the test when I realized the poor will actually always exist, and to some extent, there isn't that much I personally can do about that. But then came my study abroad in Chile and boy was I passionate about becoming a Chilena! I wanted to only have Chilean friends, eat, talk, sleep, live just like a Chilean, and I was passionate about assimilating perfectly. But then it turns out, assimilating isn't really all that fun all the time, living far away from home and familiarity brings out the worst in you, and Chileans speak really, really fast. So my passion again faded.

You need a lot more than passion to live a satisfied life. I can honestly say I don't really have passion for serving the poor anymore. I am not passionate about leaving all things North American behind and adopting a Chilean citizenship. It's different with becoming Chilean because that honestly is just rather naive of me, but with serving the poor, I am not just going to accept that I don't love, love, love it and forget about it. I just have a different attitude towards it.

To sum up all this divergent information, take a look at this TED talk video of Mke Rowe himself doing a much better job at describing what I am trying to say:

My new attitude towards my future occupation: I will work wherever God calls me and do it to its fullest, even when the passion fades or is absent, because that is actually just the most satisfying way to live.

Waka Waka/Viva Chile/Getting Tear Gased/La Copa Mundial

2010-06-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

I have never been in one place at one time with so many people rooting for the same goal (no pun intended...) But the past 4 Chilean games in the world cup have really solidified my Chilean pride. I diversified my viewing experiences, and watched the first game at home with my papá, the second in downtown on the lawn of La Moneda (the equivilent of the White House), the third with some homemade tacos and Chilean amigas at an apartment, and today's at a gringo bar with my gringo friends. All 4 had the same thing in common; the spirit of the Chilean people contagiously humming on the streets, through the television, from the heart, and into the air (cursi cursi). Crazy energy! Everyone in red, Chilean flags waving, cheering, yelling, jumping, paper pieces flying, celebrating!

After the first game at home, I decided to go celebrate super Chileno style and go to Plaza Italia near the center where the victory parties are always held. I went via metro, not expecting too much craziness at 10:30 in the morning, but when I stepped off the metro at my stop, I realized I was wrong (you saw that one coming!). My nose started burning, I realized everyone around with covering their noses and mouths with their jackets and scarves, and the entire station was in disorder. I assumed someone had left some sort of stink bomb in the metro, so I hurried with hundreds of other people to get above ground. But when I got out, the stinging got worse and what I saw was a chaotic amount of people running around, eyes dripping, banners sagging, and looking rather frazzled. The carabineros (the police), were all around with their helmet shields over their eyes and batons in hand, some on horseback, most on foot, attempting to control the crowd. I was all alone in the apocalypse, but I was fascinated. A tank looking vehicle drove about 200 feet from where I was and sprayed a gas something into the air, and that's when I realized: tear gas. I turned to walk the other direction and luckily met up with my friend, and like a good little girl, I went back into the metro and went home. El Fin.

Hm, terrible story. If you are easily made worried, stick with that version.

But here's the real deal: ...like a good little adventurer, I wanted a better look at the source of the excitement. To be honest, even though carabiners were yelling at me to turn around and most people were running away, I wanted a peek at the madness' center. So I crossed the street with my friend to see the comotion first-hand. Luckily/unfortunately, we came too late to see the celebrating or anything substantial, just confetti on the ground and crowds of reporters on the sidewalk. When we walked by them, we saw a man that looked equivalent to a chief of police being interviewed by a civilian reporter. Seemed fairly calm at first, but as we approached more, a group started gathering around the two and the policeman began raising his voice. He got in the reporter's face and kept yelling and yelling as the others around him began yelling back in protest. And they were not nice words from either end. As the policeman stormed away, the people started laying down the real deal insults: "You can't hurt innocent people because we're celebrating!" "We have our freedom now, you can't control us by fear!" "This is no longer Pinochet's government!" Oh yes, they brought the Pinochet accusations, and it got real. From here, my better judgement switch turned on, and my friend and I bolted out of this potential war zone. Our nose and mouths still covered, we headed towards the nearby cafe where we planned on studying away the afternoon. This proved difficult however after we witnessed such madness and our lungs still burned, so we lashed out the situation among ourselves. If everyone was just celebrating, why did the carabineros drop the tear gas? Is it ok to hurt innocent people to control a crowd? Is it ok that the government interfere with a party if no one is getting hurt? Is pre-emptive semi-violent crowd control ok?

What we did conclude and what was confirmed after talking with out Chilean friends and families was that the authoritarian attitude of the Pinochet days in Chile is not dead. The Carabineros are the number 2 employer in all of Chile, that is to say that there are many thousands of policmen payed by national government. Piñera once used their forces to keep curfews and control protest (among other atrocities), President Bachelet used their forces in the south after the earthquake to control the looting and keep control, and now President Piñera used them after the world cup to stop the party. Of course the ties between the three are not necessarily making too deep of a statement as they are all very separate situations, however the carabineros are a widely used resource by the government. And the people accept this as part of life. As my papá said, "If the carabineros didn't do anything, the people would be partying all day, they would never leave! They had to break it up sometime."

Switching back to the mundial, the 2nd and 3rd games I also returned to the infamous Plaza Italia for the celebration, but those times I missed the tear gasing part. So much cheering, so much singing, so much happiness! The big street from downtown's heart all the way to Providencia's center (about 3 miles) was closed for celebration, and it is such an incredible feeling to be surrounded by an entire city cheering for their country. Again, crazy energy!

Today was the last game of the mundial and we lost to Brazil. It was a good fight though, and I mean, Brazil is Brazil, so I am proud we made it this far! You might be saying to yourself, "we?" And I say back yes, we. I am be proud to be an American, but I am also proud to be here when this adopted country of mine has overcome a lot of odds to come as far as they did in the ultimate super bowl.

VIVA CHILE!!

Most Beautiful Day

2010-06-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

After the rain on Wednesday came the most beautifully clear day I've experienced in all my time in Santiago.

I feel a great kinship with the Andes now, as though they are a mountain range of my brothers. That's what I always say. The sun is my mother, the moon my lover, the sea my best friend, and the Andes my brothers.

2010-06-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

One month....
a long time.
a short time.
no time at all.

What a strange amount of time to have left in this place I have made home for what seems like a significant chunk of life. Carpe Diem while preparing for departure?

I don't know how I feel about this 1 month I have left, but it is hard to think about.

2010-06-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

"Lo que es bueno siempre cuesta."
-El Temucano

"What is good always costs."

Happy Five Month Chile

2010-06-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Colorful collages to commemorate my joyous four month anniversary with the country I love!

Also, as far as the World Cup goes I have a cheer...

"Chi-Chi-Chi! Le-le-le! VIVA CHILE!"

A Rant on False Feminism

2010-06-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Cosmopolitan is NOT a feminist publication. The popular woman’s magazine that supposedly encourages women’s liberation does not at all promote liberty for women, but rather enslavement evermore to pleasing him. “How to get him to like you,” “How to please him in bed,” “How to be a great catch for him…” The liberal sex for personal feminine pleasure is completely undercoated with the theme of making him happy so that the woman can be considered sexy, beautiful, different, etc., to him. While debaters might claim that copious and free sexual encounters feed women's independence and progression by making her equal to men, the fact that this “progress” is continually all about him and using him to satisfy reveals that fundamentally, while women may be behaving more like for men for sexual satisfaction, the him still manifests a subordinate relationship. Forming an identity around being attractive for men and, much more, changing oneself to be attractive to men is exactly contrary to advancing away from male domination.

Thus, while Cosmo features articles boasting exerting sexual control over men, the fact that it is still about men proves that part of what Cosmo considers constitutes being a powerful woman is actually a woman that exists to please men sexually. For a woman to be “liberated,” identity, self-esteem and happiness cannot be based on the man but on being comfortable with the reality of who she truly is aside form how men—or even other women—perceive her. A woman should want to please a man because she likes him and wants to express her love in this way, not because she feels pleasing a man puts her in the dominant position and needs this ego boost to sustain her sense of worth. Feminism states that women do not need a man to tell them that she is beautiful for that to be true. And while often Cosmo does not endorse or believe this idea, I believe all women should.

2010-06-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Check out my soul mate Rachel's relfections on her visit to my adopted country! We had an amazing time together, and she shares her insights on things in her fresh way that reflect not only her experience but mine as well. Do take a look at her fabulous photos as well in the post:

http://racheltobias.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/santiago-de-chile/

San Pedro de Atacama

2010-06-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Whenever you come to a new place, encounter a new situation, even meet a new person, there is a natural tendancy to relate what you are seeing to what you have seen in the past. The Andes mountains look similar to my Arizona McDowells, the Providencia barrio reminds me of LA, my favorite bohemian beach town is very San Francisco...

But when I came upon the deserts and sights of San Pedro de Atacama, I was at loss for anything in my past to compare them to. They are absolutely so unique, it is difficult to even begin to find a reference point. The earth is absolutely screaming the beauty of its creator.

We saw the largest and only outdoor copper mine, biked and hiked to sand dunes, mountains and cliffs, bused through flatlands to see the flamingos and salt deposits of Atacama, and stayed in the quaint pueblo of San Pedro.

Otoño

2010-05-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

Fall is in full swing, and I must say, autumn looks good on Santiago.

This time of year in this hemisphere though, can be rough! All the major media coming from the west is advertising, spring cleaning! Summer vacation! Shorts, dresses, sandals! The sign outside of one of our malls right now says, Viva en Invierno! Long live winter. And a winter without Christmas? Boo.

2010-05-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

Every pack of cigarettes comes with this dying baby picture and a giant label reading, "HEART ATTACK." True, but and slightly disturbing, but over-the-top to the point that it's kind of amusing... The most amusing part however is that despite these labels, there is still such a huge population of smokers in Santiago it's outrageous.

Un Techo Para Chile

2010-05-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

So I finally had the opportunity to join the large efforts of re-construction

and volunteer with the country’s biggest charity organization in building

temporary housing for earthquake victims. Un Techo Para Chile (“A Roof for

Chile”) is one of the biggest recipients of the telethon funds and government aid

(I finally found out!), and was started by young people to create temporary

solutions for homeless families affected by natural disasters. The group is now

based all around Latin America (Un Techo Para Brazil, etc.), and they exist to

build mediaguas. These are basically one-room wooden shacks that shelter

people from the rain, cold, etc. until they can begin re-building new homes. Thus, to volunteer for them is to build mediaguas, and this is exactly what I did last weekend. The students from my study abroad program and I went to the 6th region to a rural area where the damage was sever.

Two days + 10 (+/-) people x 4 groups= four mediaguas. Or least, that was the goal.

Turns out Un Techo Para Chile is messy, just like basically every service

organization (or any org) in general. We left Santaigo at 5:30am to arrive in Las

Cabras 2 hours away in time to build on Saturday, yet due to lack of planning and communication, our group didn’t even begin building until 2pm. One site we

were supposed to work at didn’t have the old house completely demolished where the mediagua would go, another family just flat out wasn’t home, our bus got lost, the pre-existing organized groups of 5 people got completely messed up, we didn’t have the right tools and wood for the house… Messy! The thing about nonprofits that I have learned is that it is an almost guarantee that not everything will go as planned, so I understand the “non-success” of the pre-building planning. And who can plan the fact that we finally arrived, we discovered that the site for the mediagua is on top of a thick, 200-year old concrete foundation? Or that there would be another aftershock while we were building that would throw off the foundational posts after we measured tirelessly to get them right? Sometimes the intentions are good but the result is that the original goal is not met. We didn’t finish the roof of our mediagua for our family, and neither did another group in the program. Breaking the layers of concrete, brick and stone took the whole first half of the day, the construction manual we were given had incorrect information about the building process, and as first timers, we just weren’t fast enough to finish the house by Sunday night. The good news is that the family that was receiving the house had many skilled members, so they said they would finish the roof themselves another time. However, it was disappointing to leave them with an unfinished project.

Building mediaguas for Un Techo Para Chile is an interesting relief tactic.

The money and time it will take to build the goal of 40,000 mediaguas before the winter and rainy season just weeks away is hefty, and it’s pretty certain that the overall goal will not be reached. Besides that, the system of receiving a mediagua is highly political; those who are the most needy do not necessarily receive their housing first, but those who know someone in the local government or in the organization are. My family in particular was definitely in need, however they did already have 1 mediagua in the backyard, a large portion of their old house was still standing, and they are planning on receiving 2 more mediaguas in their front yard too. I also notice that they were watching TV with their satellite dish inside their existing house. On the other hand, there are still families living in tents in other parts of the country that, to me as a (potentially ignorant) outsider, seem more desperate than the family I built for. However, I am reminded that poverty looks different everywhere you go and is cannot necessarily be judged from the outside. The family I built for lost the entire front part of their house in the earthquake, plus valuables and household items, and although they were in high spirits when we were there and helped us build, you could tell they seemed absolutely worn out. There was the grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, aunt and uncle and two kids all living under the same roof from what I could tell, and when hearing them describe their experience then night of the earthquake, I cannot imagine the terror of watching your house crumble before your eyes. Of course they deserve and need a mediagua. But how do you prioritize the levels of suffering?

In the end, I am very glad I went and do plan to go again. It will be much

easier now that I know how to put together the mediagua and the work that goes into it. I still keep praying for all those families who are still waiting, and might be waiting for still a lot longer.

On Immigration

2010-04-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm so far away from the border of Arizona and Mexico, the debate over this stretch of land and the people that pass through it is still on my mind. With the new law implemented in my home state, I can't help but return to contemplate this issue. I understand that this "issue" is so politically infused, one cannot even mention the words "illegal immigration" without stiring up trouble. And I do not want to do that here. To preface, I am speaking in generalities, I do not wish to accuse or praise any political party, and I realize that this debate goes much deeper than policies.

What I do find most interesting are the parallels in the US and my new adoptive country. Did you know that Chile also deals with consequences of having thousands of illegal immigrants? Although here, they are mostly from the neighboring countries of Peru and Bolivia. And they have the exact same double-sided debate as the US does concerning the actions that should be taken (or not be taken) against the non-Chileans. They also share the same prejudices and skepticism against the "outsiders;" just as it is becoming difficult to distinguish between racism and patriotism in the US, it is difficult to live as a legal Peruvian immigrant in Chile without people assuming he/she is an undocumented immigrant. For me this notion of dislike towards Peruvians and Bolivians seems silly, because why in the world would I personally have prior bias against these people? But to a Chilean, the same is true for North American sentiments against Mexicans (Note: I'm not saying all United States citizens hate all Mexican citizens, but because of the struggles with illegal immigration from Mexico, as a whole I believe the US' opinions about Mexicans as a whole are tainted).

What it really comes down to, is that it is sad that anyone should feel the only option for a better life for themselves and their family is to risk their life and break the law to work difficult jobs far away from their home. Chile is the wealthiest, most developed country in South America while Peru and Bolivia have much higher poverty rates. So, just as someone from Mexico can work a minumum wage job in the US and still earn more money than working another job in Mexico, someone from Bolivia can work a minimum wage job in Chile and often earn more than working in Bolivia. The core issue is the countries from which the people are moving are so desperate that their own people must flee to survive. And this breaks my heart, this is the real tragedy.

Donde Pertenezco

2010-04-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

So, there's this place by the sea called Paradise, and it's where I belong. Valparaíso is home to multi-colored buildings nestled in the hills above the Pacific Ocean, graffiti art on every wall, one of Pablo Neruda's incredible abodes, and heaps and heaps of musicians-artists-bohemians that I want to befriend. This is where I heard Pascuala singing eyes-closed with her acordian, this is where I stayed out until 4am dancing to live Cuban son, and this is where I have to calm my heart rate walking through the streets because of all the surrouding, unavoidable, powerful artwork. Pertenezco aquí, I belong here.

See for yourself:

The Rise of the Ironic Class

2010-04-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

Linked is an interesting article on the development of my generation, which I find thoroughly curious:
The Rise of the Ironic Class

The young people of today operate (generally) with an ironic view of the world, not taking anything too seriously but rather poking fun at everything to maintain distance and superiority. Classic values, emotions, sayings, ideas, are all critisized to the fullest extent, because we know that underlying the façade of goodness is farce. Our parents have divorced, Lance Bass has come out of the closet, we figured out Power Rangers was racist, and Beanie Babies were just a hoax for our allowance money. So instead of actually embracing the cheesiness, we embrace it with pessimistic humor.

The same attitude has transfered to Christianity, to the young people in (and out) of the Church. My favorite example of the ironic stance towards all things stereotypical to the church and all things Christian, is the blog Stuff Christians Like. Bellow are some of my favorites:

Stuff Christians Like:
#2. Saying “bless her heart”
#11. Thomas Kinkade
#24. Church names that sound like clothing stores
#43. Metrosexual worship leaders
#141. Getting freaky deeky with the Song of Solomon
176. Giving open flames to kids on Christmas Eve
#213. Not knowing how to baptize tall people

The article ends with saying that while this ironic outlook on life is not entirely bad, it can be damaging when it causes us to be too prideful and elitist and thus too cool for change. I agree with one of the authors cited when he says that perhaps instead of just being critical we need to strive to change the past mistakes and make the future a place where irony for protection's sake isn't necessary.

So I will keep reading StuffChristiansLike.net while singing along with my metrosexual worship leader at my church, Reality LA. However, I will also pursue God's truth above the façade of Thomas Kinkade perfection and saying, "Bless her heart" before gossiping about her. Oh the irony.

Happy Two Month Chile

2010-04-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Earth's Beginnings...

2010-04-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Upon returning from Patagonia-- the southern most zone of Chile where country and continent fade into Antarctic ocean-- I decided this is not where the earth ends as they say, but instead where it begins; growing from frozen water and rock onwards and upwards into the green. The mountains and glaciers were breathtaking, or rather breath giving, as the air down there is so crisp and clean that my poor lil' urbanized lungs could finally inhale deeply.

We flew into Punta Arenas, toured the small fishing town and its sites for the day, and then took a 3 hour bus trip up to Puerto Natales to stay for 2 nights. One day included a tour by van of the Torres del Paine National Park, and the other day consisted of spontaneous exploration.

To describe this place is to pond-wade, here are some photographs:

Listen to this

2010-04-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

A chilling, profoundly beautiful rendition of the Chilean folk singer Violeta Parra's song, Puerto Montt Esta Temblando, about the earthquake in Chile in 1960. Sung by Pascuala Ilabaca, whom I had the overwhelming joy of seeing perform live on a patio by the ocean at sunset overlooking the colorful town of Valparaíso. I cried during this song.

The first/my favorite stanza:

Puerto Montt está temblando

Con un encono profundo.
Es un acabo de mundo,

Lo que yo estoy presenciando.

A Dios le voy preguntando

Con voz que es como un bramido,

Por qué mandó este castigo?

Respondió con elocuencia,

"Se me acabó la paciencia

Y hay que limpiar este trigo."

My (very) rough translation:

Puerto Montt is shaking with a deep rancor.

It is an end to the world, what I am now witnessing.

I ask God with a voice like a trumpet,

"Why did you command this punishment?"

He responded with eloquence,

"My patience ran dry, I needed to clean the mess."

Women with accordions rock my world.

2010-04-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

I think one of the worst things here is when people talk to me in English.
I never understood why that man with the truck with the Mexican flag sticker yelled at me when I kindly asked him,
"Puede mover su camión por favor?"
"I SPEAK ENGLISH YOU KNOW!"
Me too. And Spanish, what's your point?
Now I understand the point.
I understand how demeaning it came across.
Beneath it all it screams,
"You are not one of us, and I can tell, and I will show this by using your language, since clearly you cannot use mine."
You are not one of us.
I was impaced by that event in the Olvera St. parking lot my freshman year of college, and now I know why it stuck with me. You are not one of us.
I will never be one of you.
But where will I be one of me?

Feliz Pascua!

2010-04-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

To enjoy, a letter from my awesome little cousin to the Easter Bunny from a couple years ago, so adorable (thanks Kirklands!). He is risen indeed!