A Darker Side of my Experience

"Te gusta Santiago?" someone will ask me.

I usually answer, "Si. Mucho. Hay muchas cosas que hacer aqui," but that's it really. I've met some really cool Chileans, but I've bumped into a lot of unpleasant Chileans.

I've recently gotten my iPod nano pick-pocketed while climbing up the bus. It really sucked. I bought that iPod right before leaving for Chile. It was six months old! It makes my stomach sick thinking about someone enjoying my stolen iPod. I know it could've been worst. I know I should've been more careful. I've learned my lesson, I know. I know it's just a thing. I'm over it, but I'm not over the fact that this city is filled with petty thieves. I fuckin hate it! I've been to big cities. I went to NYC regularly and I've never had to worry about petty thieves. I hate Santiago for their fleites.

And it's not just the fleites. People here are kind of rude. They cut in front of you and take advantage of extranjeros. It's all man for himself here, and I'm starting to acquire that attitude. Ugh. Is this how all big cities are? My Chilean student lived in Toronto for three months and he expressed how Toronto is a friendly and safe city while Santiago is the opposite. People on the streets hardly smile at you. They just look at you with a stare. I've started to have staring contests with strangers in the bus and subway. I don't want to taint the rest of my experience here but that fleite asshole who took my iPod has. It's his fault. It's his parents' fault for raising him a fleite. Seriously. I'm so surprised how much of the kids here lack discipline.

Well, at least I got that out of the way. In 12 days I will have a new iPod and my boyfriend here in Santiago. He will most definitely enhance my Santiago experience.

Summertime Here, Wintertime There

Well, while everyone up North is freezing their asses of, we here in Chile are enjoying the lovely beach weather. Monday, we went to a beach in Viña del Mar called Reñaca to soak up some sun. Unfortunately, some of us soaked up a little too much sun.

mas allá es Valparaiso

rico


Mel & Brea


whoops. alguien ha olvidido poner sunblock. pobresita mel



Fun beach day with the ladies.

It's been tough tryin to get into the Christmas spirit here. We've put up Christmas lights in the apartment and I've walked through shops and malls and.... U.S. still does Christmas the best. I also think it's because back in the states, we're too busy shopping and spending and running into traffic. We become so stressed out that we just want to get to Christmas already to alleviate all the stress. Here, we do not have that kind of stress, so we don't look forward to Christmas so much.

corner of San Pedro de Valdivia and Providencia

December in Santiago

It's December now and it just doesn't feel like the holidays are coming. Streets and stores are decorated, but where is the cold and the snow?

It snowed in NJ the other day.

My nephew Gabe enjoying the first snowfall of the season.