How lovely the sound! We are so incredibly happy it is raining! Now, that may sound silly, but it isn't. We haven't had rain in Santiago since March (when our friend the Malaviyas were here). That is a VERY long time to go without rain in a smog pit. When it stops raining and the sky finally clears (baruch hashem), we are going to be able to breathe and see and do all those normal things that other mortals do everyday. On top of that, we hear that we will be able to see the lovely (now) snow covered Andes that loom over us invisibly most of the rest of the time.
Do I sound a little dark? Well, let's just say that it was hard to come back here after being in Argentina. We were thrilled to get back to the kids -- three days was almost a day too long for us! But, ugly, dark, smokey Santiago itself wasn't all that inviting. If you are planning to visit us, I do not recommend May until August. The other reason that I found myself unwilling to return has more to do with culture. Chile is weird, is the shortest way to put it. While we were in Argentina, we felt like we were in a Latin America that was happy to be Latin American. Check out the Chileno blog, as he explains is very clearly -- Chile seems to have more of an identity complex. It doesn't really want to be part of South America. Like any identity repressed, it comes out in all sorts of twisted and not fun ways. The thing that bothers me the most is that the rich folks are even nastier/snobbier/ruder than they are in other places. Of course, after eight months, I can't speak definitively on the Chilean people nor after three days can I speak definitively on the Argentine people -- but I can't help but have my impressions. Rich Chileans make you feel like the scum they just wiped off their boots; or, I should say, they act like you should feel like the scum they just wiped off their boots, whether you feel that way or not (I do not -- I have a healthy middle American sense of self and sense of guilt at the same time). Entitlement does not even begin to cover it. What I saw and felt and met among the Argentines was self-contentedness, joy and enjoyment in their own ways, but not any sneering superiority - the kind that we bump into regularly from Chileans. (Not our friends of course, just most people on the street, in the stores, in cars, and in airports!)
Okay, now I am sounding very discontented. In general, Chile is a fabulous first post for us -- we speak Spanish, we can drink the water and find most of our favorite foods and the kids have been relatively satisfied and comfortable here (forgetting the bullying for a second). I guess I am really ready (emotionally) for a visit back to the states. Preparation-wise, I am not ready AT ALL. I haven't even started to feel overwhelmed (saving that for the weekend)! In nine days we get on the plane for a five and a half week trip. I better start to think about it.
In the meantime, Aidan is now down with some nasty bug, possibly the flu (fever, sore throat, cough) and home from school. He seems to be coping with classical music, tea and good books. You gotta admire good taste!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Smog
Today's News:
Smog emergency declared in Chilean capital
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Authorities on Thursday declared a smog emergency in the Chilean capital city of 5.5 million people, ordering some 320,000 vehicles off the streets and 414 especially polluting factories idled.
The normally bad air pollution in Santiago has been aggravated in recent days by an unseasonable lack of rain and wind and because some factories have been forced to burn oil due to a steep drop in the supply of natural gas from neighboring Argentina.
Authorities also recommended that schools suspend gym classes.
The temporary ban covers all cars without catalytic converters and a fifth of more modern vehicles, based on their license plate numbers.
Officials said vehicles, industries and the massive use of some polluting home heating systems are the main sources of pollution in the city.
The really weird thing is that it is very pretty outside right now. I just did some shopping with some girlfriends (getting ready to go to the states, carrying presents!), and we could see the mountains as we drove about. It is very nice and warm right now due to it being sunny and I think that makes the smog worse sometimes (sunlight does something that activities the ground level ozone or something; very bad for you).
Smog emergency declared in Chilean capital
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Authorities on Thursday declared a smog emergency in the Chilean capital city of 5.5 million people, ordering some 320,000 vehicles off the streets and 414 especially polluting factories idled.
The normally bad air pollution in Santiago has been aggravated in recent days by an unseasonable lack of rain and wind and because some factories have been forced to burn oil due to a steep drop in the supply of natural gas from neighboring Argentina.
Authorities also recommended that schools suspend gym classes.
The temporary ban covers all cars without catalytic converters and a fifth of more modern vehicles, based on their license plate numbers.
Officials said vehicles, industries and the massive use of some polluting home heating systems are the main sources of pollution in the city.
The really weird thing is that it is very pretty outside right now. I just did some shopping with some girlfriends (getting ready to go to the states, carrying presents!), and we could see the mountains as we drove about. It is very nice and warm right now due to it being sunny and I think that makes the smog worse sometimes (sunlight does something that activities the ground level ozone or something; very bad for you).
NPR mornings
I love non-working days, mostly because of long leisurely mornings. So many of my favorite things are best done in the morning: listening to npr, drinking coffee, making lists, doing yoga, pollution-light walks, or knitting/sewing. What's wonderful is the lack of hurry. Sometimes I wish I was someone who jumped out of bed and rushed joyfully into the day. But I really love to start slow. By a certain hour though, I tire of lolling about and need to accomplish something or at least get out with other people.
This brings me to a topic that will become a recurring theme on this blog: the help. Namely, our housekeeper, Maria. Now, when I have a little more time, I will give a little of the background. For now, in relation to NPR mornings, Maria is a master at the disapproving glance. If I stay in my bedroom and pop out for more coffee in my jammies, say, after 8:30 am, I get a disapproving glance. The later in the day, the quieter and more critical she becomes. This is a very weird thing to live with and very much interferes with my joy in laziness. I keep thinking that I will learn to ignore it, but I haven't yet and it has been several months.
bye! Gotta go look for some souvenirs to take back to the states -- I guess my leisurely morning is at an end!
This brings me to a topic that will become a recurring theme on this blog: the help. Namely, our housekeeper, Maria. Now, when I have a little more time, I will give a little of the background. For now, in relation to NPR mornings, Maria is a master at the disapproving glance. If I stay in my bedroom and pop out for more coffee in my jammies, say, after 8:30 am, I get a disapproving glance. The later in the day, the quieter and more critical she becomes. This is a very weird thing to live with and very much interferes with my joy in laziness. I keep thinking that I will learn to ignore it, but I haven't yet and it has been several months.
bye! Gotta go look for some souvenirs to take back to the states -- I guess my leisurely morning is at an end!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Travels
We are going to be travelling a lot in the next few weeks. Doug and I have a big, romantic weekend away to Mendoza, Argentina this weekend. We have a friend that kept offering to watch the kids for a weekend and we kept demurring and finally she said, "I leave in a month. If you want a chance to be just the two of you, go!" We said, "yes, please" and promptly found a deal for flights to Argentina. We will celebrate our anniversary a little bit early by staying in a B&B, drinking lots of wine ("wine-tasting" officially), eating big beautiful steaks and wandering around looking at things made of leather. We may even buy some shoes -- it's the done thing in Argentina.
The funny thing is that just a few days ago, Doug got his R&R approved and we will be going home in a little over two weeks! We will get back from Argentina on Tuesday and have just a week and a half to turn ourselves around and back out the door. Doug will have 2 weeks out of South America (very little time, really), but the kids and I will have 5 and a half weeks. If you are in the States but not in ER, please come up and see us! We will be staying for three of the weeks at www.wandawoodresort.com and another week in a house in the village as well as a week or two with my lovely parents.
Gotta go downstairs and finish sewing badges on Maggie's Girl Scout vest for her meeting tomorrow. I think she will be better enough for her meeting!
The funny thing is that just a few days ago, Doug got his R&R approved and we will be going home in a little over two weeks! We will get back from Argentina on Tuesday and have just a week and a half to turn ourselves around and back out the door. Doug will have 2 weeks out of South America (very little time, really), but the kids and I will have 5 and a half weeks. If you are in the States but not in ER, please come up and see us! We will be staying for three of the weeks at www.wandawoodresort.com and another week in a house in the village as well as a week or two with my lovely parents.
Gotta go downstairs and finish sewing badges on Maggie's Girl Scout vest for her meeting tomorrow. I think she will be better enough for her meeting!
Being a mom
Today I get to focus on being a mom. Maggie is feeling a little more like herself -- her fever has come down enough that she feels less sleepy. I am so happy to be with her today. It is so much fun to just be the two of us together home on a weekday. It is too bad that she has to get sick for us to have this special time! I think I might be coming down with her cold too, but we will lie around, play games, do puzzles, read books, listen to music and take it easy together. I am so lucky to have Maggie in my life. Maggie says we will also have the kittens for playmates.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)