Happiness

If you could wake up everyday, with the sunrise gleaming onto your front porch and have breakfast, lunch and dinner with your family, make your living with your own two hands, see all your sweat, blood and tears transform into profit, would you be content? Or would you miss the bright city lights, exquisite restaurants, theater, and all the "pretty things"? I guess we must ask ourselves if we are happy and not fear the truth, and then decide weather we truly desire what we have or if we are left wanting.......It's never to late to "be the Change you wish to see in the world." -Ghandi

El dia Patria

SEPTEMBER 18th is the Chilean independence day from Spain, and an excuse to eat, drink, dance and celebrate the change of the seasons. Winter is like a dark period of life for Chile, so the saying goes that if you survive the passing of august (end of winter) then you have survived the year. I am truly amazed at the pride and loyalty that the Chilenos have, it is quite inspiring. Not only do they treat Futbol like religion, but the local dance, food, and Independence day are treated with the utmost respect. Since we have tomorrow off from work, my company had a BBQ and show for all of its' employees at lunch time. La Cueca is the local dance, and it is like folklore, a simple dance that gives simple pleasures and an overall feeling of happiness. The work weeks may be long here, but I feel that they make an effort to treat their employees well. Providing the employees in the packing house with a lunch that only costs the company about $2 per person but for most is better food than they would eat at home, also there is a van that provides transportation to and from work for people that live in the area, allowing employees to leave a half-an-hour early on fridays, and bonuses at Independence day and Christmas are all pretty nice benefits of working at propal. It is a breath of fresh air to see other people caring about other people and their quality of life!

Starbucks in Chile

STARBUCKS....there are few here in Chile, but one happened to open in Vina del Mar, very close to my home in Renaca. Attempting to ride by bike from Renaca to Valparaiso on saturday was a comical affair, although I did not get a flat tire, the inter-tube came out and luckily I hadn't gotten very far. Trying to explain this occurrence over the telephone in spanish is no easy task especially when I don't have my dictionary in front of me. Thank goodness for body language, after I got the bike back to my apartment, my roomate finally understood me, but did not have the tool to fix the tire. So...I continued my journey on foot, passing by the beautiful Sea with my ipod in my ear turned out to be just what I needed that day. Feeling a little blue, I noticed the newly opened Starbucks, and couldn't help but give in to my American tendencies and take advantage of a little guilty pleasure. One has to admire how a company such as Starbucks adapts to its' cultural surroundings, by having "manjar" (a chilean dessert) and an outside patio for smoking, they definitely do there homework. One thing that struck me as quite odd, is that you had to pay extra to add milk to your coffee, because every Starbucks in the states and in Europe have a small table where you can choose from 3 different kinds of milk for your coffee. I have to admit, it was quite lovely to sit and sip my coffee with my book and my journal in hand and observe all the unusual social behavior. I guess making out in Starbucks is just as acceptable as making out in the subway, in the streets, in the clubs, just about any public place is ideal to suck face!

Love is short, para olvidar cuesta tiempo

The comedy of our past is quite tragic.
Light-hearted and romantic,
Dark and deceptive.

Secretive to the core,
Every optimistic plan, every loving thought,
a selfish lie.
Act IV reveals your true form.

The final scene appears
A typical tragic cuento del amor......
NO.........
VIVO con compasión, con amor,
sin casto corazón.

!GRACIAS! porque me da
La oportunidad para vivir.
Encontré la luz y la felicidad.
Deje el oscuridad y el engaño.

Inhala, exhala, poco a poco
No olvido el amor
Ni olvido el ausente y el dolor.
Ya, no te quiero, es cierto.

No sufro por mis lagrimas
Escucho el ritmo
Ando con confianza
Ojala que celebro
La belleza esplendido
de una nueva VIDA.

Futbol

So the company that I work for rents out a Futbol field for its' employees and they play every thurs. night. Last night was my first match, and it was awesome, while the guys team is very good, there is a lack of organization in the womens' league and as a result all the girls think that I am a superstar......Because, what I have come to realize is that although futbol is the most popular sport in Chile it is still primarily a man's sport here, which I would love to change:)) Also, after the girls and the guys match everyone gets together for a BBQ and there is ping pong, music, and laughter it is sooo fun!! Overall I would say that the there are three key elements that made my first chilean futbol experience a success: I scored 4 goals, dislocated my hand, and had blood seeping through my socks from where my toenail was stepped on. (graphic details are courtesy for my brother.) Tu eres una Estrella!!

Tienes que Vivirlo

Two big accomplishments today: One I managed to overcome my nerves and ask my boss in formal spanish for permission to take a week off in november for thanksgiving (el dia accion de gracias). He said that it would be no problem, but considering that I have been here for less than a month, you could see how it is a little bit intimidating. Secondly, I somehow stumbled upon a cost that is out of the ordinary in one of my comparative analysis, and my boss was very happy to say the least, as well as talking with all the clients that love to hear the sound of their own voice, I am saving him quite a bit of time. Which we all know, time is money. I am pleased with myself, and feeling better about a career in produce everyday.....Tomorrow, I am playing soccer with a group of girls from the office vs. the girls from quality control should be a good match. I love how dedicated everyone is here, it gives you a sense of purpose in your life even if it is only to belong to a small social network. Saturday is a big match between Chile and Venezuela....it could get crazy here!!

Last weekend, was spent wining and dining through the streets of Valparaiso y Vina del Mar with my lovely sister and her gregorio. Friday night we had sushi chilean style, avocado tempura(deliciosa). Saturday we walked through the house of Pablo Neruda, a famous chilean poet, in the hills of Valparaiso. Valpo as it is referred, is a photographer's paradise, the colors are gaudy and the ascensors that take you up into the hills go to mansions as well as shacks without electricity. This city is truly diverse, colorful, and artisitic to say the least. After our large relaxing lunch we shared a bottle of wine and good conversation, toasted to the success of my sister and her husband's wonderful life, they have truly made it bigtime! I am sooo proud of them and so lucky that everywhere I go there they are.....sonoma, spain, san francisco and now Chile! I am truly lucky to have such a wonderful family! Congrats court and gregor, I AM SOOOO PROUD OF YOU!! xoxoxox