uprooted

Spanish writing sample

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:32:40 -0500

Robyn Putney

SPN491

Dr. Perez

8 septiembre 2012

El rol de la mujer en la república de España

Durante la época de la república de España existían varios problemas y desafíos para los españoles. La dictadura de Franco, que siguió a los anos de la guerra civil (1936-1939) se caracterizó por horrores inimaginables y la política llevada a cabo por el general Francisco Franco intensificó y magnificó un rasgo definitivo de la cultura que era el machismo. Es fácil ver los desafíos que la guerra civil y la posterior dictadura de Franco presentaron para las mujeres cuando éstas se enfrentaban a situaciones políticas que querían cambiar, o simplemente cuando querían participar en los diálogos sociales. A través Historia de una maestra, por Josefina Aldecoa, y algunos estudios sobre el lugar de la mujer durante los años de la Guerra civil, encontramos que la mujer vive una paradoja. Tiene un rol elevado en el hogar, pero reprimido cuando se intenta trasladar a un lugar público. En este ensayo explico la situación y el rol percibido de las mujeres en la sociedad en España durante la república, y lo aplico y apoyo con el ejemplo de la protagonista, de Historia de una maestra, Gabriela López. Gabriela es un buen ejemplo del carácter de muchas mujeres que atravesaron momentos en los que se intentó romper las tradiciones, pero eran contenidas físicamente e intelectualmente en un mundo controlado por la razón masculina.

Sería útil describir el rol de las mujeres percibido por la comunidad española en la época de la república para entender a lo que éstas se enfrentaban, y de ese modo, asombrarnos aún más de sus contribuciones a la causa política y social de la época. Al entender su rol asignado por los demás, entendemos y valoramos sus contribuciones a las causas políticas. Una publicación de 1886 (que fue publicado bien antes de los principios de la guerra civil en España) en una colección llamada “Biblioteca para Señoritas” describe en detalle el rol de las mujeres en el hogar en esa época.

El bienestar de la familia depende de la mujer… La mujer es el

gobierno de la casa, es el elemento primordial a cuya

se reparan pérdidas y quebrantos, se conserva la adquirida

fortuna, se inculcan ideas de moralidad, se traza a cada individuo

sus deberes y todo esto no con la expresión de la fuerza, sino con el

hermoso prestigio del amor, pues la mujer del hogar domina sobre todas las almas”(Nash 25).

Entonces, la mujer es definida por la sociedad como un ángel dulce y mágico, como describe Nash, y sobre todo su lugar es en el hogar. La mujer era reina de la casa en muchas maneras, pero fuera de la casa esa idea no se traslada. Un buen ejemplo es Dolors Monserdà (1845-1919) quien era escritora feminista y una figura del nacionalismo conservador catalán (Nash 26). También era líder del movimiento reformista católico y se esforzaba para el avance de las mujeres en la educación, el trabajo, y su progreso general. Sin embargo, ella creía que había un rol sumiso de la mujer, y que era parte de las leyes naturales, y que era “mandato de Jesucristo” y que es realmente parte de la corazón de la mujer, o algo instintivo (Nash 27). Nash explica que gran parte de esta justificación proviene de la iglesia católica, que la cual tenía un papel central en la cultura y vida general de España en este tiempo especialmente, puesto que fue amenazada por el gobierno de Franco.

Un artículo publicado en 1889 en La Vanguardia da una imagen muy clara para el lector de cómo debe ser el rol de la mujer en la sociedad cuando dice, “Desde su inteligencia a su estatura, todo en ella es inferior y contrario a los hombres…las mujeres, inferiores a los hombres, deben ser su complemento en las funciones sociales…” (Nash 26). La cultura de machismo extremo entonces dirigía el rol de las mujeres claramente sin dar espacio para interpretación alguna. Para una mujer típica del hogar en esa época, cuestionar este sistema sería inconcebible. Al ver las barreras a las que se enfrentaban, determinaron de un modo u otro encontrar un lugar público para sus voces, aunque fueron criticadas o peor, castigadas. Cuando tomaron las calles en protesta, los representantes en el poder creyeron que se debian ser castigadas como “mujeres públicas,” o prostitutas. La lógica tras este castigo era que ellas demostraron un espíritu descontrolado, irrespetuo, y como es que existen leyes contra la portación de mujeres así, esos se aplicaron a ellas igualmente en esta situación (Nash 43). Existía una barrera enorme para estas mujeres inteligentes y es increíble que atravesaron desarrollar una voz activa en la política y organizarse en partidos políticas. El PCE tenia control de varios organizaciones de mujeres, por ejemplo, Mujeres Contra La Guerra y El Fascismo, y varios grupos socialistas, o anárquicos. El PCE tenía un rol importante en cultivar grupos para mujeres (Alba).

Josefina Aldecoa captura muchos elementos del machismo en su novela, especialmente con la relación entre Gabriela y los hombres. La memoria que tiene de sus padres es que su padre era el que la enseñaba todo. Su mamá realmente no tenía nada que ver con los conocimientos y la sabiduría que le impartió su papá. La dio consejos y conocimientos no solamente académicas, pero también sobre la humanidad. Cuando el papá de Gabriela trata de enseñarla sobre ideas más grandiosas, que muchos padres considerarían demasiado pesados para una niña, la mamá opina que esas cosas son peligrosas para su hija (Aldecoa 29). Es interesante que haya una madre débil de opinión (excepto en esta situación) pero que a la vez tengs una hija quien llegaría a ser una mujer tan diferente a ella. Esto ocurre, obviamente, por la influencia del padre, quien deseaba respetar a todos, y así se lo inculca a su hija a quien dice “respeta a los demás…” (Aldecoa 30). Gabriela lleva a cabo este consejo como mujer y lo vemos p rimeramente en su tratamiento a los niños desafortunados en el campo. Cuando ella podría fácilmente haberlos tratado o hablado con interioridad, los trata con amor que proviene de un lugar de tolerancia y humildad, hasta que cree que sea mejor vivir como ellos, sin lujos (Aldecoa 63).

Ya que la novela está escrita en la primera persona, tenemos el placer de poder escuchar los pensamientos de la protagonista en su propia voz, y sus palabras revelan su carácter. Gabriela es una mujer muy atrevida. Primero, es educada. Ella no siente que sea necesario vivir con un hombre o siquiera tener a un hombre para estar satisfecha en la vida. A la vez, está presionada por la sociedad cuando vivir con un hombre (Don Wenceslao) sería más conveniente para ella, y no existe una relación romántica o escandalosa entre ellos. Sus reflexiones sobre el amor revelan su espíritu fuerte y seguro. Cuando reflexiona sobre sus relaciones pasadas, no duda de sus decisiones, y comenta que nunca tuvo la sensación de que se había equivocado (Aldecoa 85). Gabriela representa a las mujeres que no temían hablar y expresar sus convicciones, o dar voz a sus opiniones. Lo vemos una y otra vez cuando simplemente explica sus razones y métodos de enseñar a los niños queridos de sus escuelas-negros o blancos, sin que le importe a ella. Ella reconoce a todo ser humano como seres iguales. Lo interesante es que aunque ella no eta de acuerdo con la prejuicio, ni conforme a ella, encuentra una manera de trabajar con la sistema, o sea, jugar según sus reglas, mientras opinarse a pesar de ellas. Lo vemos cuando miramos a como vivía su vida en general. Ella tenia sueños grandes para una mujer en esa epoce, que incluyeron viajar, trabajar y vivir independiente, y lo hizo, pero de muchas maneras era controlado por los hombres con quien vivía o trabajaba. Ella también tenia ideas para la escuela, y cuando los trata de realizar, son rechazados, pero ella encuentra maneras de ensenar conocimientos importantes a los estudiantes (como higiene personal, etc.) que no es parte de la educación tradicional. Básicamente, ella encontró maneras de incluir sus ideas en la sistema aunque muchas veces fueron rechazados. Eso demuestra muy bien como lo hicieron las mujeres que formaron grupos en la Republica, contribuyendo tanto a la lucha, pero según las reglas de los hombres. Eso es vivir la paradoja que es tener tantas habilidades, pero contenerlos o adaptarlas al mundo machista.

Mi interpretación de todo esto es que las mujeres en esta época enfrentaban una situación muy difícil que era vivir con una identidad de paradójica. Esa paradoja era vivir apoyando a la familia como la madre “hada” cariñosa y al mismo tiempo, ser figuras más o menos elevadas en su posición de poder en el hogar. A mi parece que son seres con habilidades oprimidas. Vemos que tienen el potencial de desarrollarse como líderes por sus inmensas contribuciones en el hogar, pero por alguna razón ese rol no se traslada al mundo fuera de la casa-en política, economía, ni en las muchas oportunidades que tendrían como líderes de negocios. Las feministas radicales dirían que eso es debido completamente a los hombres por su machismo y control de la sociedad, que los mantiene en un rol siempre superior a las mujeres, dominándolas en cada sentido. En este sentido, los hombres también son víctimas de su propia creación de una sistema de valores masculinos que crea líneas divisorias entre los sexos donde muchas veces no las hay. Por eso, las mujeres son captivas de una sistema en que son oprimidas por un sexo que se oprima su mismo, porque los hombres se crían en una sistema en que son forzados a convertirse en seres sin emociones, sin expresar las partes de su humanidad (calidades como nutrir y cuidar de los demás, entre varias otras calidades) simplemente porque son definidas como “femeninas”. Cuando pensamos en las mujeres y su rol en la Guerra civil, vemos que había unas líderes muy poderosas con habilidades y potencial ocultados o prevenidos de crecer por la sociedad y cultura en que vivían. Gabriela es un buen ejemplo de la fuerza femenina que fue contenida en los límites sociales durante esta época. Su estilo de enseñar a los niños rurales, especialmente, da un ejemplo de los expectaciones de las mujeres y como los enfrentaron. Por ejemplo, cuando ella desea seguir de vivir sin lujos como los estudiantes, para que pueda entender su estilo de vida por completo, le dice a ella unos hombres que eso no es sano ni aceptable para ella. Su manera de decirlo implica que es porque es una mujer que no puede aguantarlo o que tiene bastante esfuerza. Al fin, ella provee que sí, es fuerte, y quizá lo más impresionante es que lograron tanto y que tenían voz activa a pesar de su lugar en la comunidad.

Bibliografia

Alba, Víctor. The Communist Party in Spain. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 1983.

Aldecoa, Josefina R. Historia De Una Maestra. Barcelona: Editorial Anagrama, 1990

Nash, Mary. “Rojas: Mujeres Republicanas En La Guerra Civil.” KCLibertaria, n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.kclibertaria.comyr.com/lpdf/l255.pdf>.s

Photo

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 11:11:39 -0400

Photo

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 11:08:47 -0400

It’s a chilly November day. Fall is in full swing and it feels so good! As mentioned in my...

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 11:04:46 -0400

It’s a chilly November day. Fall is in full swing and it feels so good! As mentioned in my previous posts, it seems a bit strange, the order of the seasons for me the last two years, since being in Chile from July-December meant having a melt down from winter to mid-spring.

This weekend my Aunt Robin and I are running the Newburyport All Women and One Lucky Guy Half Marathon-so exciting! I’ve never done a half marathon or any sort of race for that matter, so it’s a big deal for me. It’s amazing to see how God made the human body such a fragile, sensitive system finely tuned to keeping homeostasis, but at the same time it is so adaptable. Two months ago I was run/walking 2 miles (The previous year I had mainly done power walking, dance, and yoga.) So it was a big shift. It has been very rewarding, however, and has helped keep a calm state of mind in light of a rather overwhelming first half of the semester.

Speaking of, I really should be doing assignments right now, but I had to write a bit.

I was sitting in a local coffee shop in Andover, people watching. My aunt is selling her house, and early this morning, my deep sleep in the fluffiest bed (giving the best night of sleep after months in the “rustic” bed at school….) was interrupted when we were told someone was coming to look at it. So, like the good little gypsy my mom says I am, I hurriedly packed up my bags, making it look like no one lived there, got in the car, and we headed somewhere we could just be. Auntie walked the dog while I got some needed time to just be. I intended on doing work, but there were a number of distractions.

Anyway, just observing people here is so interesting. Things that are different: people walking around with yoga mats, (I could live here!!) moms dressed up in what would be most people’s finest clothes, (on a Saturday morning)…just over all a very different socio-economic circle than I’m used to seeing. It was the same in Wholefoods last night. We went right after/around rush hour, so all the white collar people were doing their after-work grocery run. Just unbelievable…not only the look of people, but also the things on the shelves. The items sold at the register, things that you might have just “forgotten” were just something else…I mean, eucalyptus counter wipes? Not like I have any problem at all with green household products, pretentious vegan bars and organic things…I actually love all that! But I am not used to being surrounded by such affluence.

May possibly write more later when needing an escape. The parents are coming-I love them so, but it is a bit overwhelming being in a different environment, with the family and the dogs (whom are also really adorable but very loud) all while trying to maintain a low stress level for the race tomorrow. Can’t have our bodies thrown off that homeostasis! In short, for a zen moment later, maybe I’ll write. Until then, ciao ciao.

I shouldn’t be writing right now-too much studying to do! But I’m sick in bed today and...

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:00:21 -0400

I shouldn’t be writing right now-too much studying to do! But I’m sick in bed today and writing on this cloudy day in my snuggie, with my books around is just so cozy:)

This is going to be my update for October-or possibly for the semester because it’s just so busy!

This semester has been a whirlwind-in a good way. There are so many new things going on-it never ceases to amaze me how much things can change in just a few months, or how much God teaches me and helps me discover every season.

So it’s fall in the US now-something I haven’t seen for a good two years, since last fall in the northern hemisphere was spring in Chile. It’s SO EXCITING to be able to experience this season with all the senses-seeing the fiery orange, red, and yellow trees, and smell-oh the smells of fall…cinnamon and nutmeg and all the spices, wood stoves! Not to mention the sound of crunching leaves, and the feel of it beneath my feet when I run and try to step on the crunchiest ones…but now there are piles of them!! (I like to think that one day I’ll get to go on runs with God and He will step on all the crunchy leaves with me :])

Speaking of running, it is going quite well. I’m up to 10 miles now, and it’s been great training for the half around here. There are hills, and pretty trails-I love going in the afternoon because of the way the sun shines through the trees…my joints are stronger, thank God, so there is virtually no pain now!! Praise Him!!

This semester I’m taking Modern Jewish Culture, Women in Politics, Politics of the Developing World, Spanish Seminar (with a focus in Spanish Civil War) and Human Anatomy & Physiology II. It’s a challenge balancing everything, but it is all very interesting and I am loving devoting myself to these classes.

People here are wonderful. God’s blessed me with such amazing friends. My apartment mates are beyond awesome, and there are some brothers downstairs who are just great. It’s great having people stop in and visiting others. Relationships with some people who I only knew a little bit are deepening, and meeting lots of new people has been nice. There is such a difference this semester. Different from any other for a few reasons, and sometimes certain friendships have been confusing and challenging, but every day I thank God for allowing my path to cross with some of the most amazing people.

As far as options post-grad, I’m thinking about a few things…from yoga to a MA in global development/gender studies/Spanish/public health to acupuncture to translation/interpretation, but for now, just focusing on doing well in what’s on my plate this semester. God will lead me in the right direction.

A very delayed update

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:43:14 -0400

Sitting here on the back deck with my parents. I had originally intended on sitting here with a glass of refreshing H2O in this breezy 97 degrees, enjoying the pre-storm sunshine and wind, but alas, the parents have joined. It’s fine, but more and more, I need time away from them. Just part of growing up I suppose…it is pretty endearing to see them sitting here, having followed me out here. It almost makes me feel like a teacher with adorable little children gathered around her.

This summer I’ve been spending most of my time enjoying the sun, getting more of a tan than I’ve ever been able to speak of, reading this really thought provoking book (Herland, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman), and working at Aladdin’s in the city. It is a really great place, family run, and it is so much fun! That family is great and so are the other people. All the shifts hostessing go by so fast when you work with great people and have a good time. It’s also really satisfying to know that you’re giving your best to people as they dine and knowing that you have a chance to add a positive memory to their special evening.

This book, Herland, written by feminist author Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1915 is making me think an awful lot about womanhood and changing my perspective on things like love, friendship, even education…but more on that later. Going out with my Dad (Dave, Papi, Professor, Nutty Professor, or my personal favorite, “Professor Popsy”…) for a little bit since I got the night off-gotta enjoy this beautiful weather!

after talking with my grandparents Putney today, i realized that it has been long since I’ve...

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:52:38 -0500

after talking with my grandparents Putney today, i realized that it has been long since I’ve blogged! my apologies, dear ones. i have a good excuse-i swear! it’s because I AM HOME! yes, state side. i am sitting in my kitchen, listening to “jazzy Christmas” (of which i am sure Calli would approve) sipping some white tea and having my first bite of chocolate in months. and it is scrumtrilescent. (artisan chocolate from my Aunt Robin’s town-traditional mexican style with ginger in it. mmmm-works nicely with the white tea.)

so here’s the story.

it was a long flight home. i left at 11pm Santiago time, and took a 9 hour red eye to Dallas. arriving at 6 am, i went straight through customs for the first time all by myself. i was confused with the bags but got it all figured out! at this point i was just elated to be in the US. i love how at customs they say “welcome home.” from Dallas it was on to Chicago. i sat next to a pleasant couple coming back from their Hawaii honeymoon. she let me use her phone to call my dad-my first call on an actual phone in months! she had a wicked nice engagement ring, too.arrived in Chicago for what was going to be a long layover at 10 am. i got a cafe con leche at starbucks, and found a very nice lady to sit down and complain about/try to figure out the wifi with. she was a very interesting person-a prenatal psychologist from Colorado. at this point i began thinking God intentionally placed me with pleasant people to pass the time with in conversation. the O’Hare airport was so pretty with all the Christmas decorations! i also enjoyed, up until Chicago, the southern hospitality and cheerfulness in Dallas. from there, it was on to Rochacha-i got in at 5:35. i sat with a lady who worked for Petco so we talked all about puppies and kittens and fluffy things the whole way. =] so my dad picked me up. it was so good to see him and get a long awaited hug!

i left out a very important detail-my dad was the only one who knew i was coming home! so we were going to surprise my mom and Shannon. :) i walked in all casual like-and said “hey!” and she just turned around very slowly…her eyes were bigger than i had ever seen! she said “Oh my goodnesssssssssss!” and we hugged for a long, long time. Shannon jumped off the couch and said “what!!??” psyching them out=success! next was Ricky. his sister, Rachel, and her boyfriend (Shannon’s fiance Isaac’s brother Luke) and I drove out to Albany to see him. he thought it was just going to be them. he opened the door and said “whoa!” and “where have you been!?” hahaha. i said “Chile!” it was wonderful. we went to NYC for the day on saturday and it was wonderful. we saw so many things-Macy’s, Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, and lots more. I met Ricky’s room-mate to be, Brian, and we went out for all-you-can-eat sushi. it was amazing!

so these days i am still organizing my things, and just cooking and cleaning. today i made porotos with butternut squash in place of porotos-i’ll post a picture of it soon.

i hope to keep this blog going while i’m at school just so we all can maintain some sort of contact.

thank you all for your continued prayer and support. it means more to me than you’ll ever know!

so proud of my big sister! look at the delicious vegan spinach...

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:58:00 -0500

so proud of my big sister! look at the delicious vegan spinach quiche she made for the thanksgiving feast!

i don’t have much to do until afternoon today. i could read for class, but i can postpone that.

here’s what i have left:

today: re-entry taller y cena de despedida (re-entry meeting and goodbye dinner)

tuesday: ayudantia at 8 am, poetry presentation at 2, and last flamenco class at 5.

wednesday: one long a.m. class

thursday: flamenco performance. it will be my first time dancing in front of audience! it will be so good to be on stage again-without that class this semester would have been much duller. it was so good to have a creative outlet. it’s surprising how much i miss performing for people. since, unlike many dancers, i didn’t start at an early age, i never thought i’d be on stage dancing! it’s certainly a very basic level flamenco course, but it’s still a big deal for me because my whole life i have wanted to dance! it’s inspired me to branch out, try some other types of dance in the states, and stick with it for a long time.

wow. in the words of Brick Tamland, “LOUD NOISES!” The garbage trucks around here are so noisy!!

anyhow, the coming week is the last week of classes in general, then it’s 16 days of freedom! so begins my time of trying to keep myself occupied. i think i’ll be taking a lot of walks, taking pictures, generally relaxing. reading. enjoying the sunshine, and hanging out with people. also, doing some Christmas shopping! it will be really great to pause for a couple weeks and reflect on my time here, how God has changed me, and how He will sustain those changes back in USA. it isn’t frequent in life that one has time to retreat like that, so i plan to take full advantage of it. also, the days remaining should not be taken for granted.

i am going to stop the countdown, in hopes that it will speed up the time until returning home. while that may seem contradictory to the previous reflections on not taking things for granted, i do miss Ricky, my family, and friends.

it looks like friends and family had wonderful celebrations from all the photos tweeted and posted on fb. it was wonderful to be part of things from here-Ricky let me skype his whole family, and my family even let me join the thanksgiving table! how sweet.

i am greatly looking forward to this when i get back!

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=J3H&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1120&bih=523&authuser=0&tbm=isch&tbnid=yARyRAjXvJUPAM:&imgrefurl=http://es.123rf.com/photo_7835708_holiday-cacerola—cazuela-de-batata-tradicional-cubierto-con-nueces-picadas-y-mucha-az-car-moreno-un.html&docid=a8KClwVYtvBb_M&itg=1&imgurl=http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/dreambigphotos/dreambigphotos1009/dreambigphotos100900009/7835708-holiday-cacerola—cazuela-de-batata-tradicional-cubierto-con-nueces-picadas-y-mucha-az-car-moreno-un.jpg&w=801&h=1200&ei=tp_PTtSvGaju0gHg2uAG&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=533&sig=102001424323158537509&page=1&tbnh=162&tbnw=126&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=78&ty=77

more than being in a different country, it feels like i’m on a different planet. it’s...

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:56:22 -0500

more than being in a different country, it feels like i’m on a different planet. it’s crazy how foreign other places can be….as obvious and maybe even dumb that may sound. hey i’m typing without looking at the keyboard, isn’t that cool? i don’t even have to look anymore!! excitinggg. anywhoooo i just want to come home now. i suppose i have nothing new to blog about because that is all i have to say, and all i will have to say for the next three weeks. three weeks! yay!!! i am sad to be missing time with family, tomorrow, (thanksgiving.) and it’s sad that people here will never know the joys of thanksgiving. i think it is a great way to kick off the holiday season. what better way to prelude the celebration of Jesus’ coming than focusing a whole day on being thankful?

classes end next wednesday and then only one final will be left. and i HAVE to do well on it. it’s worth like 40% of the whole class grade and it’s cumulative. blah.

i am staying strong. i’m not going to get too excited. not yet. must stay strong.

25

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:38:00 -0500

25 days until i leave.

i was worried about not having enough to do in the last week and a half of being here, but now it seems that there is almost too much!

i hope to see some awesome parts of the city i haven’t seen yet, and that it just goes by super fast.

to be completely honest, i’m hoping my return home is not anti-climactic. while it will be wonderful to see friends and family again, it is still Rochester-it will be cold and dreary and i will need to take lots of vitamin D.

it’s time to start thinking about work upon returning.

my focus is starting to shift from life here to life in the states. it’s like of like opening an old box that was put up in the attic for a while…i wouldn’t let myself look open it for a long time out of consideration of the sometimes unbearable feelings, wishes, and thoughts evoked by nostalgia.

Christmas smells and sights and sounds will be so exciting-and to just be with loved ones, and back at TFH.

gotta get through these next two weeks-i’m not going to let myself get super pumped until a few days before i leave. can’t lose focus. God’s carried me thus far (four and a half months!) so i know 25 days will be nothing!

"I don’t understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered..."

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:58:41 -0500

““I don’t understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives.””

- Dean Ornish, M.D.

okay now i am legit confused. and/or annoyed. i’m frustrated. that’s what it is....

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:07:00 -0500

okay now i am legit confused. and/or annoyed. i’m frustrated. that’s what it is. it’s the first-world blues….

1. my door doesn’t close unless i wedge a book in it.

2. why is the phone connection set up in my room? when it intermittently ceases to function me echa la culpa, ella…she blames me.

3. turning on the calefont when i cant hot water

^(should have edited before posting. note deterriorating english skillz.)

4. people assuming i’m rich because i’m white

5. skype.

6. occasional days without water.

7. host mom coming in my room and reorganizing my stuff. come on, what is it to you that the hair ties and bobby pins are not in the same pile as the jewelry? furthermore, that just complicates things because then ya gotta fish through the pile to get through what you want.

oy vey.

nishkit!

not sure what’s up with the yiddish tonight. guess i’m just a little verklempt.

awkward.

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:05:57 -0500

apartment buildings can be awkward. or maybe just this one….when you live on the roof level. the dude from downstairs is all buddy buddy with my host mom because she always feeds him. so he is cleaning our windows and taking care of her plants. he should just marry her…(i think he’s already married, though.) any how…he is now cleaning my window. and opened it to clean it. i am in here!!! i said “hola…..” like what, am i not supposed to notice that there is a short brown man with a mustache on the roof and outside my window? i mean it’s super nice, but if you open my window i doubt i should be the one to initiate the saludos. lsifhaligrhiuhr that was soooo awks. am i making a big deal out of nothing? i will be happy to be back in the USA with my own window to clean, cleaning my own room, organizing my things how i like, cooking, and with my SPACE. yes-there, i said it…space, the word so frequently subjecting Americans to criticism. but you know what? we work hard for our space, darn it. ‘merica!

This…this is just too great not to share. Check out this...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:16:00 -0500

This…this is just too great not to share. Check out this guy-he’s movin!! (This video and teh previous one were taken by my friend, Michael.) Also, this is in Plaza de Armas-the main plaza in Santiago.

So this video is a bit old, but I wanted to add it because it...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:13:00 -0500

So this video is a bit old, but I wanted to add it because it was a very memorable moment (and day!) This if from August, when we went to Iquique, in the north. These are members of a church dancing because it was a celebration for their patron saint…whose name I can’t remember! If i remember I’ll add it. The tradition began many years ago. In exchange of pardonings, or special requests (such as healing for sick family members) people promised to dance in this parade or play instruments. It was really cool to see. We were supposed to be awed by their reverence and dedication to their religion….I was happy that we don’t need to do anything to guarantee our prayers will be heard by God, but still enjoyed the performance.

is it odd that i feel awkward with the cleaning lady here? i am so used to cleaning up after myself....

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:15:20 -0400

is it odd that i feel awkward with the cleaning lady here?

i am so used to cleaning up after myself. i got past the whole not cooking for myself thing and that was difficult enough.

i just can’t help but feel like a little kid or even spoiled to have someone ask me if i can please leave my room so she can clean up after me.

i make my bed, keep my things organized, and try (sometimes to no avail) to clean up all the hair from my floor. (i can’t help it i swear! i have so much hair and it’s always falling out when i brush it! although it’s been happening less here-maybe because i’ve been more adament about taking my b-vitamins and eating enough.) anyways, i do as much as possible.

it just feels super strange having someone organize all my things, do my laundry, clean my bathroom, and such. i almost feel guilty. i feel useless.

maybe that’s personalizing it too much.

6 weeks until i depart for USA. it’s gone by pretty fast, at the perfect pace actually. this month is gonna be a doozie as far as work. one paper, a three quizzes, and a presentation, along with class readings, of course. this is when i ask God to be my study buddy!

can’t wait to see some pretty snow-but for now i’m savoring the one time in life when i’ll be able to get a tan in november :) it sure is nice not to have to take so much vitamin-d!

so i just wrote a super awesome post and deleted it all, because...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:24:23 -0400

so i just wrote a super awesome post and deleted it all, because i have great skills like that. anyhow, it ended with my saying: check out how cute these guys are-i can’t wait to see Yankee(right) and meet Carmen(left) when i get home! and, of course, see my beautiful sister and actually start being a proper maid of honor!!!

also, i wrote a list of things God has shown me here.

gratitude-for things like hot running water whenever i want it in the States, availability of a variety of wonderful tings at magical places like Wegmans, “Wally World,” Target….oh target…..etc.
patience-with others and myself
tranquility-you just gotta trust Him and He takes care of everything!
confidence-if you struggle with this, i highly suggest a semester abroad. you just can’t afford timidity, anxiety, and relying on your weak self when you’re a suburban girl or guy thrown into one of Latin America’s largest cities. you know that “footprints” poem? this is when He carries you. it’s comforting to know that we are not self-sufficient. we are not good enough by ourselves, not are we strong enough. but He is and He loves when we look to Him for help. with Him anything-anything-is possible! (even when you’re being that obvious foreigner on the city bus who has no idea where she’s going!)

today is Dia de Todos los Santos-All Souls’ Day. Nora went to the cemetery with her friend who stayed the night. she brought red and white flowers to put on the graves of her loved ones. she is tired, though-i guess her friend arrived late last night (i was hiding in my room skyping Richard and my parents) and wanted to chat at 4 am. myself, i would have probably chatted it up with her-i do love a good pillow talk. however, sleep is also necessary. i felt awkward for not seeing the lady at all-i never know if i’m welcome into the conversations…it’s awkward in such a small apartment space. people hanging out never have their own area, really. i just don’t want to intrude is all, but maybe i’m being rude?

is it really november? i’m glad. i welcome it. it hasn’t gone by too fast or too slow. just right for God to show me all these things He’s been trying to teach me for oh so long. oh, also- he’s making me a better student. showing me how to work harder-it ties in with the patience things, as well. that being said, i’m going to get working!

"Ahora, hay personas que se quejan de que la poesia no es clara, no es directa.Encuentro..."

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:37:50 -0400

““Ahora, hay personas que se quejan de que la poesia no es clara, no es directa.Encuentro absolutamente estupido pedirle claridad a la poesia, porque simplemente lo que ella expresa no es claro. La poesia escarba en lo mas profundo del inconsciente y ahi nada es claro.””

- Eduardo Anquita

They showed us how to weave, play paliwe (like field hockey),...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:04:42 -0400

They showed us how to weave, play paliwe (like field hockey), and dance. It was wonderful!

So that one tea bag in the box that I’ve been avoiding...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:02:00 -0400

So that one tea bag in the box that I’ve been avoiding because it smells funny (sort of geriatric) is actually an awesome herb traditionally used by Mapuches. “Boldo” en Castellano or “folu” in Mapudungun is apparently an excellent detoxifying herb-good for the liver and digestion. SO now i will enjoy it in my Justin Bieber Chile mug.

Temuco was amazing- I’m not sure if I’ve blogged about it yet, but it was so incredible. The land was so alive and pure and colorful-I’ve never seen such green grass! There should be a new color-“Temuco green.” The mapuche community was so welcoming and eager to show us their culture. They’ve opened up their community as a hostel for travelers eager to learn about their way of life.

The trip made me think a lot about creation. It was so beautiful-I don’t see how someone can look at that and not believe there is a God.