DISQUS

So cute. Her coat is so shiny and beautiful. What a well-cared for dog. :)

I like Carlos's idea, but I'm all foodie like that.

So cute! I was just thinking that looks so french and haha, that's why! It's so spunky!


Yay short hair!

I'm so sorry about the loss of work. But it sounds like you're taking it in stride. I guess we're all getting the ripple effects of this economy. I've filled out over 15 job applications for just a simple summer job and still haven't had anything come to fruition! But you're right, in the end it's just money. I know this makes your travel date seem a little more far away, but I'm so happy that you're concentrating on the things you love--you're an amazing writer but you really "sing" in photography. I hope one day that can be your passion and your business, but I somehow think that time isn't too far off!

oops....sorry, comment above is from amanda at TiE :)

I'm just playing the devil's advocate, but I was just making the point that I could easily have the same perception of Chile from here and he would feel as easily as offended, and perhaps want to call me ignorant as well.


I also don't know why that comment was directed at me. Do I seem like a serial killer? Am I parading around guns? No. I felt like it was kind of nada que ver. Chileans hate it when you say you don't like living in Chile, but sometimes I just have to be honest!

Matt, I love the country, too. If I could ship an international foods store with me to live there I'd be a niña feliz.

Psicometodos (however you spell that)-- I could have said equally ignorant things about Chile before going. Have you completely forgotten about a little something that went on roughly between Sept. 11, 1972 and 1980? Wouldn't you be offended if I said that Chileans kidnap people and kill them all over the place? That everyone is a dictator and a murderer?
We are not all serial killers just as you all are not Pinochets. And you know what, I heard that there's a theory that perhaps there are just as many serial killers in other places. And HELLO, have you looked into Juarez lately? Are you saying you're scared of any other country where people are murdered? I would sound ridiculous if I said I never wanted to go to Mexico, etc. because it scares me.

Ditto. My husband is O. because I don't want people googling EITHER of our names.


Especially not certain people involved in custody battles who could try and use this stuff against him/me/his family.

2nd Anonymous:


That just might be your personal experience.



DUDE I don't miss Chile at all. I was expecting crazy reverse culture shock but I didn't experience it at all. I was so ready to go home. I wanted to bow down and kiss my home soil.



I miss my husband's family and my gringa friends and my english students, but I wake up every morning so grateful I'm not back there. I LOVE living in the US now.



I had some reverse culture shock when I came back from being abroad because I was in love with a Chilean, idealized Chile and had the study abroad experience. Now I LOVE the US in a way I never have before. My chilean husband LOVES the US, too. We don't ever want to go back to live there full time again. Just for vacations.



And if we miss Chilean food, we make it. We have everything we need here. We even found pisco. I'm even making maraqueta, found the recipe and everything.



So anyway, I think it's a really relative thing. Some people are just ready to get out and others can stay forever. I respect those people, I really do, but I'm not one of them at all!

I think it involves being in someone's "inner circle of trust"... once you're a part of a family or accepted into a Chilean group the good aspects of the society open up to you. But when you're out, you're out and it's like you don't exist or matter. Obviously my husband isn't rude to me, and I'd like to think he doesn't push people on the subway, but I'm sure he's guilty of it. It's like congested city survival mode.
Here I've noticed differences between south and north east in several of these concepts. For example, I haven't been to a single crowded concert in the NE where people haven't pushed me or been rude. Whereas here in Austin everyone respects your space and apologizes for bumping into you. My friends said it's like that on the West coast, too. So go figure.



Part of me really feels for Tamsin, though. Commuting every day is BRUTAL. It honestly traumatizes you. People are just so ridiculous. I have so many bad memories. It wasn't always that way, it just seemed to get bad in mid-2007. I used to brag about how nice public transportation was before the whole transport shift.



In any case, my suegros claim that transantiago is getting better, but then again they hardly ever use it so I don't think I'll believe it until I see it for my self.



I don't think O. is saved from certain Chilean cultural things. The other day I wanted to host a prospective grad student at our apartment and O. was vehemently opposed. "I don't know him, he said, "he could, "steal our stuff." "You're so Chilean" , I retorted. Call me naive, but some days I just want to trust people!!!!!!

Kyle! I am SOOO proud of you! Oscar was so excited when I told him you did a half! He'd probably yell at me for saying this, but he had the same poop problem when he ran a 10 mile race a few months ago, you're definitely not alone in that experience!

I LOVED the Italian one. I laughed really hard and read them aloud to Oscar. You should mention that the milk is filled with preservatives and boxed so that it will last for 1000 years, just in case another Allende takes over and it's rationed off again.

I actually misread that and thought that you were saying that you're moving to the US and thus have nothing else to blog about. I was so excited (for my own selfish reasons, hahaha). And then. LET DOWN.

What is your favorite cocktail and at which bar in Santiago?


(I have a bet with myself that I know the answer :))

The pose of your photo on your blog and her pose in that photo are very similar, I think maybe from a different angle you wouldn't look so alike.


That's so weird, though, that you found that twin person from a parallel universe. Spooky!

I don't think you'd learn those lessons in, say, AUSTIN.


I can't wait to write my "Why I left and am not going back (knock on wood) entry."



Sadly, I think that neither O. nor his brother will be returning, either, now that they have a taste of the "outside."

Beautiful Kyle in fine detail! What an amazing picture! Geez, that would give me a reason to put on makeup before filming. I'm so excited to see your HD videos!

I could try and work something out! Give me dates and I'll look at plane tickets! I have family I can stay with in NYC or Chicago... I'd love to see you guys!

This is really interesting, too! I think that disillusionment was what drove me away, too. It's not the same after a while.


Man, I should write what drove me away, next week, too!



I miss you!

Mines up, sistah.

I am in!

I taught English to a fireman. He was an executive of one of the largest beverage companies in Chile. He made it sound like it was a very specialized club. I hope that wasn't the building where we own an apartment!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay! Congratulations Kyle!!!!!! :)


I definitely have to agree!

Wow, I had no idea how many people read my blog who aren't in our little blogging community. Crazy! I got a Russian, last night, too. I assume it's the same. :) Welcome.