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This is such a rollercoaster

When i wrote earlier today, I was pretty upset and not that I would leave this country because I had a bad experience with one person, but I was definitly reminiscing about the US and what I miss. I had to run some errands downtown and as I was waiting at a crosswalk for the light to change, a woman randomly started talking to me. It was just about the heat (it was VERY hot here today) but all the same, she just made conversation with me. A few minutes later, a different person randomly struck up a conversation with me. THis is normal, although still nice behavior for a small town. But I live in Santiago, the 6 million person capital of the country! If would be like someone in San Francisco randomñly striking up a conversation with you on the street as you wait to cross. It just doesn't happen. And here, it is just normal. People here maybe be blind to the beauty of other cultures, but they sure are nice.

Language update: A gringo just moved in to my apartment (that makes it 3 guys and me). I was telling my mom this when she commented to me about how nice that must be for me to have someone to speak English with. And it hit me, I have once again changed. I used to long to speak Englsih with people. I could speak Spanish, but I wanted to speak English. But not anymore. It is not important any more if I speak English or Spanish. I don{t mind going a whole day speaking in Spanish and I am not more satisfied from speaking in Englsih than I am in Spanish. Sweet transition!

Comments

Anonymous said…
your life in chile really sounds lovely. i wouldn't assume that everyone in the country is narrow-minded and bigoted. and don't forget, there are plenty of people in this country (i.e., the US) who are just as bigoted as the people you've met in Chile. I think you should really enjoy the rich and embracing culture you've found there. People strike up conversations on the street! New Year's celebrations last all night on the beach! Family ties are so strong that extended families gather together at holidays. It really sounds lovely. And a country that produced Pablo Neruda has got to be wonderful.

Just keep your eyes open for people who are more like-minded. Perhaps students at the university. And you might be just the catalyst to open some people's eyes to the beauty of other cultures as well.

Love, Mom
1:48 AM
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