Jenna plays Interpreter in Chile. Wait! WHAT?!

So last week my host mom, Alicia, asked me if I could do her a favor. Who knew that she would ask me to be an interpreter for here?! My host mom works at a Blood Bank here in Viña at a hospital called Gustavo Fricke after a doctor who worked there. So early Monday morning I arrived at the hospital to begin translating. I met this girl from England and her name was Joanna. She works for a hospital in England and her work asked her to come to Chile to do an investigation. She wanted to learn about Chilean hospitals here. She was hoping to take back what she learned here and apply it in England. I think it was really brave of her to come here to Chile to do this project, especially because she doesn't speak much Spanish. However, for only being here a couple weeks she has picked up some phrases and words. So there I was being introduced as an interpreter... How relieved Joanna looked, when I started talking to her in English! "Oh, you speak English! Great!" she said to me with excitement. And then we were off!

Joanna was working on a 2 year research project regarding Blood and Transplants. Basically she wanted to learn how to identify the key drivers in the demand planning process for national blood stocks.

She had some very detailed questions about the Blood Bank. The changes in the the use of blood and the amount being used. She wanted to learn about the main factors that influences this increase of decrease of blood within the hospital.

So the interview was a little intense. haha and a little over my head at first. There were A LOT of medical terms and at times it was semi-exhausting. hehehe But.... I survived and afterwards I was able to see it as a learning experience. And a good one! I have never done something like this before! It is pretty crazy listening two languages at the same time and thinking in those same two languages at the same time. My brain has gotten used to speaking more Spanish than English on a daily basis. It was actually weird to hear myself talking in English and then in Spanish right afterwards. We also did the same interview at a hospital in Valpo (Valparaiso).

Afterwards, one of the doctors took the two of us girls out to lunch. We at this amazing restaurant. Fine dining. =) We ate clams with Parmesan cheese for an appetizer. Then we had salad and a famous fish in Chile called Congrio. It was delicious! Afterwards the doctor, Pedro, wanted to take Joanna around and show her the sights. We went to different hills in Valpo and showed her some of the famous lookouts!

Over all it was a long and fun-filled day. I got the chance to play interpreter and I think I liked it. Much love,

Jenna

Vamos CHILE!

CHI! CHI! LE! LE! CHI-CHI-CHI- LE-LE- LE VIVA CHILE! screamed and sang the Chileans at the soccer game! I went to my FIRST futbol (soccer) game here in Chile.I have never been one for soccer. It's not that I didn't like it, but more like I just never got that into it. But... I think my host brother Tomás is very proud of me, because now I am really starting to like it. =) Especially when I get to see it LIVE. It definitely makes a difference! So from now on soccer is more on my radar. Haha thanks to this house full of boys. Soccer Fanatics! =P Everyone in my host family is divided into different Chilean soccer teams. My host brother Nacho and my host dad Gabriel are both Santiago Wanderers fans. My host brother Matias is a fan of Colo Colo. Finally there are the fans of La U: my host brothers Tomás and Lucas and my host mom Alicia. La U used to be associated with the Universidad de Chile (University of Chile). This is the University that my host brother Tomás goes to in Santiago. And me...what team do I have? I don't have one! hahaha. I have decided that it is safer to play it neutral. It is safer that way. It is pretty funny when everyone tries to sweet talk me into choosing their team of choice. Gabriel always says that I am his "Wanderina." But I have to say that my host brother Tomás and Lucas definitely try the hardest to convince me to choose La "U." They are always showing me videos on youtube. Videos of amazing goals and the crazy fanatic fans.

Anyways... back to the game on the 14th. I went with a group of 30 people and we took a bus. The game was against Ecuador. The game was played at the Monumental Stadium in Santiago. The Chilean team usually plays at the National Stadium, but right now it is under construction. The Monumental Stadium is also where Matias's team Colo Colo plays. My friend Philippe helped organize this whole trip to the game. We were all spirited with our red Chilean fútbol jerseys. My host brother Tomás let me borrow his. =) I also bought a Chilean flag! It only cost me $3. We had pretty good seats too. We were right behind one of the goals. It was so funny...So our group was made up of a lot of exchange students, especially blonde, white american girls. That REALLY caught the attention of the majority of Chilean guys in the stands. The next thing we knew they were standing up in groups and applauding. haha There was cheering and the snapping of photos. I even took some pictures with some of them, who had their faces painted like the Chilean flag. Talk about spirit! They have so many chants and songs. I learned almost all of them. =P We did the wave with the rest of the audience. Someone even made a dummy doll that was wearing a little yellow shirt like the players from Ecuador. Everyone was tossing it around in the stands. People even brought in toilet paper and beach balls. However, the most impressive as the amount of fireworks and flares. We won the game! Chile- 1 and Ecuador -0. Overall it was an awesome day! I want to go to another one. until my next post...

ARGENTINA!

I am still writing I promise!! hehe okay... so here are some big highlights.

I went to Argentina! Mendoza, Argentina. We had a long weekend, so I was there from friday Oct 9 to monday Oct 12. I have been wanting to travel, and I finally got the chance! I started talking to my friend Pam, another gringa, and she invited me to go to Mendoza. We were a total of 6. There was me, Pam, Jessi, Emma, and the chilean host moms of Jessi and Emma. We went to buy our bus tickets and they only costed 24,000 pesos for each ticket. It was a little less than $50. It is an 8 hour bus ride! The longest time I think I have ever been in a bus. This included coffe/tea, soda, a sandwich, and an alfajor (which are these AMAZING cookies. They are made with this carmel "manjar" in the middle). My brother Bobby is obsessed with manjar! He couldn't get enough of it when he was here. Don't worry bud we can make some when I get back home! I am going to learn how to make it, but it seems really simple. Our bus left early friday morning at 8:30am. 8 hours later we arrived in Mendoza! It was really warm! Definitely felt like a warmer spring than we were currently having in Chile. We eventually found a hostel and settled down. I felt like I was back at summer camp. A room filled with bunk beds and all girls!

When I told my host family that I was going to go to Argentina everyone agreed that I need to eat A LOT of carne (meat)! Matias (my host brother) and Alicia (my host mom) especially stressed this! And they were SO RIGHT. Meat there is REALLY cheap and REALLY TASTY. One night for dinner I tried Bife Chorizo. mmm my mouth still waters when I think about it. haha. I also tried my first "submarino" like the word submarine in English. It is like a hot chocolate. It is warmed milk that is served with a really rich chocolate bar. You drop the chocolate bar into the cup and let it melt a little bit. Then in every spoonful you get the yummy combination of chocolate and warm milk. mmm

We also went to a buffet or a "tenedor libre" (free fork). We ate all kinds of yummy food. There was even a stir fry noodle dish that was almost good asian food. I really miss all of my favorite asian food back at home. =)

I discovered that Argentinians are exceptionally friendly. They really go out of their way to tell you to take care, and that you stay in good health. Everyone was super friendly, when we were in need of directions. I started up so many conversations with people at the feria (art fair). We went to a big feria in the main plaza called "Plaza Independencia." I was told several times that I have a Chilean accent! =P hahaha I felt proud. I definitely confused some people in Argentina. They knew I wasn't Chilean, but they couldn't understand why I was talking in Spanish like the Chileans. They also have a distinct accent as well. I picked up on their accent really fast. I think I have their accent down. Haha I can say a couple words and phrases the way they do. They use a lot of the "sh" sound. For example they pronounce Chile => "Shile."

It was overall a great trip. Relaxing and fun. I really want to go back sometime in the future.

Being... Gringa? American? Jenna?

Wow... I think that it is really interesting to see other countries and other cultures. I guess the only letdown is that being an American can sometimes make you an easy target. I'm not saying this in a bitter or upset manner. Not at all. It has been more like a learning experience.

But once you break free from our "bubble" of America, it really opens your eyes. Not everyone loves us. haha But that doesn't mean that everyone hates us either. More importantly it is about the fact that America has created and projected a certain image of Americans. This image has been presented all over the world in the media and the internet. Honestly I don't want to be compared to the extreme versions of these images. I don't think they completely capture who I am. These images are not realistic representations of many Americans. However it has been amazing to learn how much other countries know about us, our country, and our history. Sometimes this even shocks me. This is the case with some of the Chileans I know or I have met. The understand our politics, our economics, our history. I am trying my best to learn about Chile as much as I can and as fast as I can. Maybe it isn't fast enough, but hey I am trying. I am taking a class called "Danzas Tradicionales de Chile." I am learning the traditional dances from all over Chile. I am also taking a class about the traditional songs, games and dances of Chile. I am always ready and waiting to learn something new. I am ready for new experiences. I am ready to meet new people and learn new slang.

Sometimes it has been a challenge to fight this stereotype while being abroad. Mostly because I don't really know if it should be necessary. It is like that saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." It is a beautiful thought, but I don't think it is always realistic. I know at one point in our lives we will make a judgment about someone or something, whether it is right or wrong. The reality is that we are individuals. We shouldn't have to be labeled. Not ALL women are the same. Not ALL men act the same way. We learn to fight the generalizations. I think this helps us better discover and define our identity. I think more than ever I want to be seen as me, Jenna, and nothing less. =)

For the mean time, I laugh at the "gringo" jokes and shake my head.

A funny story: So I tend to blend in with the Chilean girls more or less. So I don't usually get too much extra attention when I am walking alone. hahaha catcalls and such. Here they call them "piropos." However, when I am with one of my American or other exchange student friends who are blonde we receive soooo much attention. I think it is hilarious to hear the Chilean guys shout things out to us. I always start laughing even when I try not to. It is always some variation of, "hello beautiful...where are you from?...what is your name?..." We always respond back in Spanish. ;)

So here I am. Jenna- the traveler. Jenna, an American and still proud of it. Have I changed? Maybe so. Maybe I am a little less naive, ignorant, and sheltered. Maybe I am more mature, bilingual, and aware.

Who am I? In Spanish vs. English

Who am I? It is one of those deep and complicated questions that we have asked ourselves at least once in our lives. (Some of us hundreds or even thousands of times) As we get older our responses to this question change and they become modified. Sometimes we identify ourselves by our gender or our sexual orientation. Other times our identity is molded by our nationality or our ethnicity. And finally some of us identify ourselves by our professions. However, these are more like our titles, our physical appearances, and our features that are formed by our biological and gentic makeup.

I believe that our life experiences and the relationships we create throughout our lives can become a part of our identity too. They can help give us a new perspective of our world and where we stand in it.

But I have to wonder... do the impressions we make change when we are speaking a different language? Is that really possible? Or can we even know for sure? If so, how different do we seem. I have been told that I speak differently when I speak in English than when I am speaking in Spanish. My pitch is distinct in each language.

Learning another language in it self has been an amazing experience. Sometimes I don't even know how to describe it. I cannot believe that I can think, speak, write, and even dream in two languages. Sometimes my brain gets confused. I find myself saying phrases in English to my host brothers or host parents. I don't really know why... It is like the words just slip out. Or other times I catch myself trying to say something in both English and Spanish at the same time. Crazy right?!

I am actually really curious to know how I sound to the Chileans here when I am speaking Spanish. I have been told I speak well. haha Of course that is nice to hear. I have also been told that I don't have a distinct "gringo" accent. HOWEVER, hahaha my host brother Tomás always gives me a hard time. He teases me for having a "gringo" accent. I don't know if I will ever pass as a Chilean, in his opinion, when I speak Spanish. I think it will be pretty hard to leave that "gringo" accent completely, but I am trying to speak like the Chileans here. I feel like that is part of the experience. I have skyped with some family friends from home and they have told me I am picking up the "Chilean accent." I don't know about that. Maybe it just sounds distinct from a Mexican accent. hahaha

I have also learned that LANGUAGE can assist you in your self-discovery or it can be a barrier. I feel like you have the power to make this decision for yourself. In the last few years I have improved my Spanish and now I am starting to consider it my second language. Trying to express yourself in a new language is definitely a learning experience. Sometimes it is strange because you want to express your feelings in a certain way but you struggle to find a specific phrase. Sometimes you have to settle for something similiar.Sometimes I feel like I can say everything I want in Spanish and other times I can feel that I am limited by the words I can use. I have decided that this is all part of the learning experience. I am ready for anything and everything that Chile has to offer me.

Take care! I will write more soon! xoxo

Jenna

Gringa vs. Chilena. The life of a tourist.

First of all I want to encourage all of you to TRAVEL. I can't stress enough how much you will learn and gain from your experiences abroad. Some of my friends think I am crazy to be living here in Chile for 5 months! So if that sounds insane to you then you don't have to commit to something so extreme. But seriously, I think that it is one of the best ways to put yourself out there in the world. If you are reading this and you are a student of some kind try and study abroad. Anywhere! =) Change your environment for a summer, a semester or even a year! And most importantly, escape your comfort zone!!

Gather up the courage to break the safety bubble surrounding you. Sometimes it is easy to become so caught up in our personal lives that we forget about the rest of the world, waiting to be explored. Honestly, I don't think that television or the internet does justice to so many of the amazing parts of this earth. My family just went to Peru and visited Machu Picchu. I was just looking through their photos and it looks amazing, but after doing some traveling of my own I know that it probably so much more breathtaking in person. As a tourist you are given the opportunity to learn about other cultures, languages, people, and customs. You are able to share some of your culture with others as well. Usually people are as equally interested in learning about you and your customs. However, these experiences will also offer you the opportunity to learn a lot more about yourself. Self-evaluation is really important too.

As a tourist you have to make a decision. Do you live the life of a tourist during your stay? Or do you want to try your best to live like the locals and blend in? Now, I think there are a variety of options between these two extremes, but this is the blunt question you need to ask yourself before any trip. My dad who also writes a blog captured this idea perfectly, so I am going to quote him a little bit. He said that we have this, "overwhelming tendency to seek comfort in things we know and trust. In the extreme, when abroad, we stay at the Hilton hotels, get coffee at starbucks, and never try to utter a word other than English." Thanks dad! But it's so true! Sometimes we go to such extremes what is the point to even travel. If you are going to stay in a 5 star hotel and only live the luxurious life. Then stay home hahaha. At least in my opinion. Because you will miss so much!

For me I wanted the FULL Chile experience. Well almost =P. As best as I could. As some of you know I am living with a Chilean family. I am trying to take classes with mostly Chileans. haha and ALL of my classes here are completely in Spanish! I know it's kind of crazy, but so far I'm surviving. I am trying my best to fit in. Trying to be more of the Chilena than the really obvious Gringa. hahaha. I am really happen with my decision to come back to Chile for a semester. Some of my friends did not understand why I wanted to go back to the same country. And they are right, there is still a lot of the world I need to explore. And I plan to. Eventually. But this trip was really for me. I wanted time to learn about myself as well as another country.

My goals:

-learn more spanish! I want to be close to fluent!

-travel! I want to see more of Chile and more of South America.

-meet more Chileans and make new friends!

-Enjoy life here.

I have been thinking alot about my choice to come here, and I honestly have no regrets so far!

That is all I have for you right now. Talk to all soon.