Interview: Impressions of Chile

Chilean impressions. Interview of Abby Dedinsky (conducted by the writer of this blog) on her time spent so far in Chile, South America.

Interviewing author (I): Abby, I know that you haven't been in Chile for even a month, but I'm sure you have had many experiences and have already gathered some impressions. Tell me, what was your first impression of Chile when you arrived?

Abby (A): Thank you for this opportunity to share with you about my impressions of Chile! Well, upon arriving at the airport, being picked up by my new Chilean family, and driving to our house, the surroundings were what first struck me. It was raining and the sky was gray (actually the first time it had rained here all winter!), and it was colder than summer back at home. Once on the road, I have to say I was struck by the stark contrast between the high rises in the city central, with the clusters of shacks outside the city, a little village that can hardly be called a village, made up of houses that aren't fit for people. Once we got into the more residential part of Santiago, the houses and buildings were more of a "normal", middle ground, but I have to say the thought still lingers in my mind.

I: Wow. Yeah that is one first impression there. Goodness. I could spend a whole post just talking about that. Another time, I'm sure. Moving on, what is your impression of the transportation in Santiago?

A: So far I have traveled on foot, by car, by metro (subway), by bus, and by taxi. The "taco" (traffic jam) can be a lot when you're in a car, and we have been lost a lot, even when being driven by a Chilean. I really like the metro system though. It is convenient and smooth, and I really wish Milwaukee had one. I have my own "bip" card now too, which is how one pays to travel that way.

I: I understand you travel on foot to school, is that correct?

A: Yes! It is so convenient that we live only 7 houses away from the school. On the end of the block there is also a Schoenstatt shrine. I visit there very often, and feel very spoiled to have one so close.

I: Ah yes, Schoenstatt in Chile. As a member of Schoenstatt in the Milwaukee area visiting Chile, what do you like most of all about the movement here in Chile? What has been your favorite experience?

A: Well I think I could already talk about that for hours. But in short, I really love how the shrine here in Providencia is never empty. I mean, being alone in the shrine is wonderful, but the fact that there is always someone visiting the Blessed Mother here in the city is really beautiful in my opinion. Even though there are half a dozen shrines right here in Santiago, there are always people in and around the shrine here. And I don't mean sisters, for of course there are around 15 or 20 sisters living on the property of the shrine and school, but just people - old and young men and women, couples, teenagers, university students. My favorite experience was probably the girls youth rally day on August 15th [note from author: see "weekend relaxation post"] or the Covenant Day celebration on August 18. The 8 pm Mass held in the chapel of Colegio Mariano was well attended, and afterwards everyone went to the shrine to renew their covenant of love. I thought it was really amusing that they used the front of the shrine as a projection screen. That was a new one for me. Perhaps you can include some pictures of that event?

I: Yes! I will surely do that, thanks for the suggestion, Abby. [For continuity, the pictures have been added here.]

I: Alright, Abby. I understand that you are studying for a semester at Colegio Mariano. What's the one thing that is most different from your high school at home?

A: Tough question, because it is completely different! I think what is most different is that instead of everyone having their own schedule and moving from class to class, the group has almost the same schedule and the teachers for the most part come to them. I find that on the whole, the class is much more unified and works on common projects together, for example, preparations for the week celebrating the school's birthday. It reminds me a lot of my grade school and the community I had at that time with my classmates. 

I: That does sound like it would lend itself to a different dynamic. Now, on to another topic. What about the food? What is most different? What is your favorite food that you've tried?

A: Good question. Well, breakfast is more or less the same as I'm used to. I usually have cereal or yogurt. Lunch is their main meal of the day, which means I always am sent with a thermos full of hot food, usually leftovers from supper. Supper is somewhere between 6 and whenever, depending on the day. The "nana" [note: it is common for chilean households to hire someone to be like a nanny and a maid, as in the case of Estrellita, the "nana" of the Cannistra family.] makes the supper and usually gives me more than I can eat, and as a rule is always trying to get me to eat more. Every single day we have the same conversation, 

"Oh wow, this looks wonderful but I can't eat it all!" 

"Why not? Why can't you eat so much? Do you not like it?"

"I'm just not made to eat that much! It's delicious though, thank you very much."

And yet the next day she still gives me more than I can eat...

The food she cooks is usually beef or chicken, in a soup or with rice or potatoes, and with vegetables. In general they eat a lot of bread. I read somewhere that the only country that consumes more bread than Chile is Germany. Aside from the main meal and supper, other food available includes: cookies, cake, cereal, lunchmeat ham & cheese, fruit or yogurt. Their yogurt has more sugar than dairy in it, I think. So, I am still figuring out what to do with all this sugar and bread. However, the food that Estrellita makes is very good. Oh! And I tried my first empanada on Saturday. That means I've really experienced Chile [at this point Abby laughs]. 

I: Well you won't go hungry, that's for sure. Of course in the US people usually greet each other with a handshake or, for family members or friends, a hug. How is that different in Chile?

A: [Abby laughs.] Here everyone greets each other by touching and kissing their left cheek, with an accompanying hug. Kind of hard to explain. I'm getting used to it, but it sometimes catches me off guard when someone I don't know or a sister does it. But it's like every time you see someone. Every girl in my class goes around to every other girl when she arrives at school every day. And usually when you say "chao", too. 

I: That reminds me! How is it going with all the "Chileanismos"? 

A: Besides the fact that many of the Spanish words I learned are more from Spain than Latin America (7 year old Anto is always correcting me), some of the most used words here in Chile are: "seca" (cool, great, talented, etc.), "bacán" (good or great), "sipo" (Yes with a po on the end. They add po to a bunch of words and I'm not really sure why...). and "¡Qué fome!" (When something is borning or lame).

I: Although I'm sure there are many other customs and experiences you could share, since this post is getting a little long and there aren't many pictures, perhaps I should draw this interview to a close. Thank you so much for this opportunity today, Abby. Take care, be safe, and most of all have fun down in Chile!

A: Thank you so much, author of this blog. I will, you take care of yourself too. 

Weekend "relaxation"

Two weeks ago yesterday, I arrived in Chile. There hasn't been a dull moment since! Today is about the dullest it gets, as I stayed home from school today in an attempt to get over this bad cold I picked up a few days ago. But it gives me some time to think over the past weeks and to post some pictures again. :) So no complaints. :)

With so many new things (as in school) have happened, I have never posted about some of the other adventures I had the past two weekends! So now I'll take a few moments to share about that too. 

The first weekend (August 8-9) my mom was still in town, so the Cannistra family (with whom I am staying, if you recall :)) took us to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar on Saturday, two cities about an hour and a half away from Santiago. We drove in two cars: my "chilean parents", my mom, and little Antonella in one car, and Maca, Francisco (aka Foco, Maca's boyfriend), Tomasso and me in the other. 

Whenever I mention to a Chilean when we went, they can't believe it. It had been raining and raining in the days leading up to (and including!) the weekend, and the destruction of homes in that area had been all over the news. Since both cities are on the coast, the waves were absolutely huge. But all in all, I really enjoyed our visit. All the houses in Valparaíso are different colors, and the winding streets reminded me somewhat of Assisi, Italy. 

As you can see, the sky was kind of gray. And it was on and off raining with super strong winds. But I was so happy that we could go then when my mom was still here :) The above pictures are of both Valparaíso and Viña, because they are like connected and I didn't know which one we were in half the time, mostly because the people in my car didn't always know either. We also went to this really nice restaurant, where a magician visited our table and wowed Anto. Wish I had gotten pictures of her face haha.

Later that night, I went to a party with Maca and Foco. It was a party of Foco's soccer team and their girl friends. Plus me. But it wasn't awkward or anything, and Maca was grateful to have me there because she wasn't really friends with any of the girls. I got a lot of questions about how things are in the USA, do we listen to reggaeton, what are parties like, is the drinking age really 21 in the US? can you really get your driver's license at 16? And at 1:30 am in the morning I found myself engaged in a conversation (in Spanish of course, most people's English is pretty horrible haha) about politics: the 2016 Presidential candidates, abortion, same-sex marriage, and the state of the Church in the US. At 1:30 am. I mean, the girl was really nice but it was kind of challenging. I wish I had more and better pictures but here are a few. I don't look very nice but you get the idea.

On Sunday of that weekend (August 9) I played violin for my first Mass here in Chile! Every Sunday the Schoenstatt family from the Providencia shrine has Mass at 12:00pm (now in the winter it is held in the large chapel of my school), and then a Mass for the Schoenstatt youth at 7:30 pm. On the 9th I played for the noon Mass with two guys youth who played guitar and sang. This past Sunday (August 16th) I played for the noon Mass again, this time with two of the Schoenstatt sisters from my school and some girls from my school as well. Then I played for the 7:30pm Mass later that day with the "Gran Coro Gran", a group of both girls and guys Schoenstatt who practice weekly and play for a variety of occasions. I am now a part of that group while I'm here these months :). All in all, I've gone to Mass 6 times while here in Chile so far, and it wasn't until the 6th Mass that I didn't play violin. It's really great, to be honest. 

Finally, last Saturday, August 15, the international Schoenstatt girls youth celebrated 84 years of existence! I went to a rally day for the girls youth of Santiago at their national shrine in Bellavista (see shrine post for pictures from my first time there). There were about 120 girls, middle school through after college age, and it was a lot of fun! Made me miss my youth at home :) The chilean national youth sister, Hna. María Jesus, had met me in Germany and seen me the week before, so she decided at the beginning when she was saying some words of welcome, to have me introduced and ask me to say something to the girls...Well I was taken by surprise, but I managed to say something  to all of them. I am used to impromptu announcements and speeches in English in front of a fair amount of people, but in Spanish is definitely a new thing haha. :) As usual, I played violin for the Mass we had in the beautiful Church of the Holy Spirit. Please enjoy the pictures!

Can you find me in this photo^? :)

Once again, sorry for the long post and I hope that you enjoy the pictures! All in all, I am grateful for your prayers and bring you and all of your intentions to the Cenacle of Providence shrine. :) And to all my friends back at home beginning the school year, especially those who are now Catholic Memorial Seniors, have fun and good luck! 

Love,

Abby

Colegio Mariano de Schoenstatt - My first week of school!

Today was my fifth day of school at CMS (Colegio Mariano de Schoenstatt). It was a really good week, and I'm not just saying that. I really enjoyed it. So many things happened, so many new experiences and adventures. I could talk to you about it for hours, I assure you. But here are a few pictures and some explanations to accompany. Before I continue I want to apologize if my writing is poor, it's that my brain is constantly in Spanish mode and it's hard to switch back sometimes, especially at night or in the early morning.
First of all, CMS is an almost all girls school. That is, they are starting to have boys as well, but the oldest boys at this point are like 4 years old or something. So as far as my life at school goes, it's all girls. So yeah, the school has programs for preschool through high school. Most grades have only one class (called a "curso" or course) but mine has 2 cursos: Tercero Medio A & Tercero Medio B. I am in A, along with 20 or so other girls. Because they are in the southern hemisphere, this is there second semester, so yes, I am in like 11th grade second semester in Chile. Here are a few pictures of the campus. It's in different buildings, and is more or less open, and hence pretty cold.

The first picture is of the front entrance of the school - what I see every morning when I arrive. Our house is 7 houses down the road, which is super convenient. The school day begins at 8 am, which is really nice compared to what I'm used to. The second photo shows the center area of the campus, which I pass through on my way to our classroom. The third picture shows the doorway of our classroom, where we have most of our classes. Everyone in my curso has more or less the same schedule, except for the elective classes or those that are combined with the other curso of 3° Medio (their classroom is photo #5). Photo 4 is the beautiful view of the Andes from the doorway of our room. Aren't they beautiful?! When the sky is blue, even more so. The final two photos show parts of the center area of the campus from the opposite direction, including the old house, which is a beautiful building. 

Here is a picture of our classroom, although it is not such a good photo. I sit in the back corner in a group of three with my new friends Cami and Ampi. In the front of the room you can see the cross, where there is a picture of the Blessed Mother and also of Fr. Kentenich, the founder of Schoenstatt. The really amazing thing is that this photo of Father is 1) a picture of him in Milwaukee! and 2) a copy of the original photo which I have!! It was a gift for my Covenant of Love a few years ago from a Puerto Rican lady who was staying the weekend at our Center in Waukesha, WI. She wanted to give it to me as a Covenant gift, and I think she took the photo herself, or at least was there when it was taken. But I have the original! I still can't believe it. God is good!

The other interesting thing about CMS is that they have a uniform. I have never worn a uniform before, but I really like it. It's so much easier in the mornings, and it's not especially ugly either. It's kinda cute in it's own little way. 

One with my "parka", one with my sweater, one with just the jumper and blouse, and one with the corbatin which I just got yesterday. And you can see two of my friends in the background. I have no idea why she was having her hair curled, so don't ask. ;)

The girls are very nice. At first (Monday) they were excited that a new "gringa" was coming, and excited that I can (usually) understand and speak Spanish, then I think they didn't quite know how to get to know me (that was Tuesday). Wednesday and Thursday they became more comfortable and I as well, and Friday they all thought I was very "seca" with my violin playing ;). "Seca" is basically a chilenismo for cool. Jajaja...

Goodness, there are a million other things I could include about school because there are a million new and interesting things. 

 Picture of the music room. My violin and I are now a part of the song they are rehearsing for an upcoming something. It's a very interesting song...I don't even know how to describe it haha.

Classroom fun. Well, today the girls presented research projects about influential women in history, complete with costumes and all (Isabelle of Castille & Fernando, and then some nuns). 

 Another picture from class, this time from religion class, taught by Hna. M. Lorena. Yesterday there was quite a class discussion that progressed from salvation, to afterlife, to baptism, to apostasy, to abortion, to sin, and it didn't stop until the bell. Poor Sister. It was really interesting to see the girls and their opinions...anyway.

Here are my things ready to go to school while I eat my breakfast. My backpack, my violin, and my little red lunchbox which I received as a gift on my way to the airport and has been really handy! (Shout-out to the person who gave it to me!!). 

My violin has been very useful. Last Sunday I played for Mass with two guys youth. Yesterday I joined in for music class (which is only once a week for an hour and a half), and then had two choir practices. One with a sister and some girls for today's all school Mass (in the spirit of the Assumption tomorrow!), and then in the evening with a choir of mixed guys and girls youth who play for the weekly 7:30pm Sunday youth Mass at the shrine, and for various other things. The choir from today's Mass asked me to join them on Sunday at noon for Mass as well this week (in addition to the evening Mass later that day!). So I think my violin and I will be busy, but I am happy to finally be using it regularly! 

Here is a picture I found on the school's website from Mass today :) I don't remember all the girls' names, but they're super sweet! The sister playing guitar is Hna. María Inés, the person with whom I communicated in order to come here to Chile. She's super seca jajaja :D 

Other pictures from Mass today can be found here. If you want to get an idea of the student body size or see the chapel/hall where Mass is held. 

Bueno, I promise that there is so much more to share, but I don't want to bore you with more details. If you actually read the whole thing up to here, I admire you! I will save more details about general school life and other events from these past days here in Chile as time goes on. For now, thanks for the prayers, and please know I pray for all of you and your families! Greetings from Providencia, Santiago, Chile, South America, Southern/Western Hemispheres, Planet Earth, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe, Hand of God. Which is Providencia. All the same, no matter where I am. 

Love, Abby