Playa Hermosa/Jacó

The third week of November was my adjustment week...I finally started to feel comfortable with all of the Costa Rican customs and culture.  This was the weekend that I wanted to socialize with some of the TEFL students and other staff at Máximo, so what better way to do that than go to the beach?

We left Máximo at 7:00 a.m. and headed for Playa Hermosa.  There are actually two beaches named Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica (not that it's confusing at all...), one in Guanacaste and one in Puntarenas.  We went to the one in Puntarenas since its closer...only about 2 hours away from San Pedro.  Playa Hermosa is a gorgeous black sand beach just outside of the more touristy beach, Jacó.

First, we stopped for a stretch/bathroom break...where we also got the opportunity to take pictures of some crocodiles wading in a river.  This is really a tourist stop, as most of the people taking pictures of the crocs were foreigners.

Once we got to Playa Hermosa, we enjoyed the first sunny day of our stay in Costa Rica just relaxing on the beach and swimming in the Pacific Ocean.

 

After Playa Hermosa, we went to Jacó for lunch.  Jacó is way more developed, with lots of hotels and more tourists than Playa Hermosa.  I liked Playa Hermosa more, as it has a small beach town type of vibe...definitely more my style. :)

Adjustment period

After my culture shock abated, I finally started to feel at home in Costa Rica.  The city still has its downfalls, and as much as I'd love to live closer to the beach or in the mountains (since transportation here is insane), I'm oddly happy living in a big city.  I moved from the apartment I spent November in to a house in Vargas Araya, which is about a 10-15 minute bus ride to work.  Everything is close; there's a market a block away, as well as a bar/restaurant, Chinese restaurant, bakery/panadería, ice cream shop, and a couple of video rental places.  My roommates are great, and I love the house.

Last night was the Christmas party at Máximo.  It was so great to have fun with my new family.  I really do love everyone that works there.  We had great food, dancing, drinks, and gift giving in the form of Secret Santas.  

I'm really excited to go home and play in all the snow.  Flagstaff got 18 inches at the airport, and there was a foot at my parents' house.  I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends and family and telling them about my Costa Rican adventures...I feel like it's been forever since I left home.  Part of this comes from feeling like I've changed. Maybe it's because I'm living an independent life for the first time and I've had to adjust to everything on my own.  I've met amazing people, but my loved ones at home mean everything to me. 

Culture Shock

Since arriving in Costa Rica, I've been experiencing culture shock.  It's definitely an interesting set of emotions...there are even stages like grieving! It's different for everyone. 

Wikipedia defines it like this: Culture shock is the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, or to a move between social environments also a simple travel to another type of life.

"Symptoms" include (starred ones are ones I experienced):

Excessive concern over cleanliness and health

Feelings of helplessness and withdrawal*

Irritability*

Anger*

Glazed stare

Desire for home and old friends*

Physiological stress reactions*

Homesickness*

Boredom

Withdrawal*

Getting "stuck" on one thing

Suicidal or fatalistic thoughts

Excessive sleep

Insomnia*

Compulsive eating/drinking/weight gain

Stereotyping host nationals*

Hostility towards host nationals.

Like any move, it just takes time. I'm already 100% better from two weeks ago, and every day I'm here, the more I adjust. It will be interesting to see if I have reverse culture shock when I go home for Christmas!

Puntarenas

Last weekend, I went to the port town of Puntarenas to visit my friend, Andrés.  The last time I was in Costa Rica, we came through Puntarenas to take a catamaran to Isla Tortuga, so I never really got to see the whole town.  

Andrés and his brother, Randy, picked me up from the bus stop near their home in the neighborhood of El Roble.  We went back to their house, and I met their parents and aunt.  Then we went to a maritime museum with crocodiles, turtles, and sharks.  We all got to pet a nurse shark, which was pretty cool.  

 

After the museum, we went to get ice cream and Andrés and I walked "el paseo de turistas" (Tourist Walk) and all the way into the actual city of Puntarenas.  It was really nice catching up with Andrés.  He helped me with my Spanish and I helped him with his English (which has really improved!).  We sat on one of the overlooks to watch the sunset.  It was beautiful!!

   

We also went to "surprise" Jorge! He lived in the same house as Andrés, Pridian, and I in San José back in 2008.  It was great to see him too, and it was even more funny to hear Andrés make fun of him.  I got to experience the game of futsal, which is really just indoor soccer.  Randy's girlfriend, Francinie was on the team, and it was definitely interesting to watch because there weren't any referees or scoreboard.  It's a really aggressive game!

On Sunday, we ate a big, delicious, traditional Costa Rican breakfast of eggs, gallo pinto (a black beans and white rice combo), and fresh juice with fruit.  Andrés, Randy, Francinie, me, and their dad went for a drive up to Miramar, which is in the mountains overlooking Puntarenas.  We could see the entire Nicoya Peninsula...it was absolutely gorgeous! We had lunch in Miramar and then headed back down the mountains, where I had to catch the bus back to San José. 

It was a very fun, relaxing weekend.  I really enjoyed spending time with Andrés and meeting his family.  Hopefully, I'll go back soon!

Teaching/life in Costa Rica!

Life here is agreeing with me.  I'm the happiest I've ever been, and I'm truly grateful to be able to have this experience.  There are things I see every day that I want to blog about, and hopefully I'll be able to soak them in and share them with others. 

The first three days of teaching have been great.  The class structure is really similar to the training I took in Chile for the IDELT course, so it's nothing really new.  All the books are supplied, and teachers get a curriculum with activities, games, and different ideas for the material.  All the teachers and staff at Máximo Nivel are great and are willing to help me or answer questions whenever I need support.  The learners are also awesome, they're all so smart!

I will have to post a separate entry on my first full weekend in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida!

I can't believe I'm finally here!  Costa Rica is just as beautiful as I remember.  I arrived two hours later than I was supposed to thanks to a delay in Dallas (whether it was hurricane-related or not, I don't know.  I had a smile on my face as soon as San José came into view through the plane's window.  I knew then and there that I had made the right decision.  I had a lot of misgivings the week before I left, and a lot of high stress the last couple of days before leaving, but they were all squashed as soon as I saw the awesome mountains and volcanoes of Costa Rica's Central Valley. 

San Jose sunset.

I had my first day of orientation with Máximo Nivel today, the school I'll be teaching at for the next six months. I finally met Ken, the founder and GM of the school.  Everyone here is so nice, and I know this is the right decision.  

Máximo Nivel

I'll be posting more in a few days about the new job. I'll start teaching on Thursday!!! 

The countdown begins...

Well, I have 19 days left in Flagstaff, my hometown.  I'm seeing everything differently, especially now, in October.  There's a reason October is one of my favorite months in Flagstaff.  The changing leaves and cooler nights, mixed with my changing sentiments of the city, are bittersweet.  The mountain lights up with yellow from the aspen leaves.  I have always loved this mountain town and will always call it home, but now everything's different. 

I'm growing tired of the daily routine, and as much as I love both of my jobs, it will be a nice change to be teaching, because I know that is my calling (at least right now).  I'm ready to experience a (relatively) new culture, and see things as an expat.  My friend Andres, put it this way last night in a text message: "You have a new vision of Costa Rica, not like a tourist, now like tica."  I want to go to different places like Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest, and still see it as an American, but Andres told me I could go to places like Puntarenas on the weekend and meet his family.  These experiences will make me appreciate the culture even more and expand my love and adoration of the Costa Rican people.

I know I should be living each day that I'm still in Flagstaff to the fullest and appreciating everything that Northern Arizona has to offer, but I can't help feeling antsy.  Costa Rica has been calling my name since I left it 4 1/2 years ago, and I love jumping into the unknown. My tica friend Pridian has been helping me look for apartments, and emailed me the other day letting me know that one of her friends is looking for a  roommate.  I might not even have to bother looking for an apartment.  It's close to the university (and my school, Maximo Nivel) and get this, I'd be paying $140 a month!

New beginnings

It's been almost a week since I signed the teaching contract with Maximo Nivel.  I've asked what seems like a thousand questions to the director, a new co-worker, the BridgeTEFL program advisors, and my Tico friends Andrés and Pridian.  All of them have been great with dealing with these questions, and Pridian even offered to drive me places, help me find an apartment, and go with me to buy a phone.  

I really couldn't ask for much better right now.  I'm still riding an amazing high that I hope won't go away for a long time.  I don't think leaving my tutoring job at CCC will be that difficult, and even my co-workers at the rink won't be that hard to say goodbye too, even though I love all of them.  Even saying bye to my parents won't be too bad...I will cry leaving my figure skating family, and I'm dreading it.  I've been skating with most of them for at least five years and a lot of them I've grown really close to.  The students I teach will be really hard to leave, as well as my Literacy Center family.  They've given me so many amazing opportunities (especially the executive director, Carynn) to grow as a teacher and I don't know if I can ever thank them enough for everything they've done for me.  My students there have been amazing as well, and I'll definitely be sad the last class...I had one learner come up to me the other day and say that there won't be anyone that can replace me.  

That statement is why I teach...I've always wanted to change people's lives in a positive way, and right now I feel like this new chapter is exactly what I need.  Despite the misgivings, doubts, sadness, and nervous feelings that I have right now, the excitement of the unknown outweighs all of them.  I remember crying on the flight home from Costa Rica 4 1/2 years ago, and now I get the opportunity to go back and fulfill what I struggled so hard to achieve with my bachelor's degree. 

New Job!

Yes, you're reading that title correctly!!! I got a job! On Tuesday, I signed a contract with a school called Maximo Nivel in San Jose, Costa Rica! I'm so excited for this next phase of my life. I have to be in San Jose by October 29th so I can attend the teacher orientation and I officially start teaching on November 1st.

Here are a few pics from my last trip to Costa Rica.

Me at Volcan Poas

SO green!

Me soaking wet at La Paz Waterfall!

A beautiful beach on Isla Tortuga

Downtown San Jose

Beach at Manuel Antonio National Park

Beach right outside our hostel in Puerto Viejo.

I love this picture. Can't wait to see Andres & Jorge again! :)

PURA VIDA!!!!

Job hunting brings a whole new meaning to "full time job".

It's been a little difficult to find time to write lately.  I've been really busy between both jobs, skating, teaching and volunteering.  Searching for a job has consumed a lot of my free time lately.  It's pretty much been like a third job.  I've had two interviews, one at a school in Liberia, Costa Rica called Instituto Estelar Bilingue and the other in Queretaro, Mexico for Bridge (the organization that I got my IDELT certificate from). 

So far, the Liberia school is my first pick.  I've been to Costa Rica twice already, and I'm comfortable there.  I have dreams about my experiences there, and I can picture myself teaching English there.  It's a perfect combination of local culture and experiences and the tourism industry, plus Liberia is only an hour and a half away from the Nicaraguan border and not far from the beach.  I've been talking to my host brother, and having ties to the country is always a comforting feeling, especially since I'll be so far away from friends and family.  I've been in contact with another school called Idiomas Mundiales, which is based in San Jose and Heredia in the Central Valley.  The prompt response from there really shocked me, as he told me he was very interested in hiring me, I just had to be in country and the interview was just a formality really.  This was even before I was done with the IDELT course when I was still in Santiago.

My second choice is still being decided.  There's a full time job in Antigua, Guatemala (which is outside Guatemala City) at a preschool.  I'm still trying to see if I could exhibit enough patience with children to teach English at a preschool, but Antigua looks like an absolutely beautiful city.  I would definitely consider moving here and it would be a big risk for me to move somewhere where I didn't know anyone, but I know (just like my experience in Chile) I would make a lot of friends and learn so much about myself as well as my students.

I haven't really researched the school in Poza Rica, Mexico yet.  From what I've read, the pay is really good for Mexico standards and the school is funded by the oil company, Pemex, so they have really competitive pay rates compared to other schools in the region.  I actually hadn't even heard of this small city.  Apparently, most of the population moved years ago, so the town's population now is about 34,000 (half the size of Flagstaff).  Its close proximity to the beach and some insane Mayan and Aztec ruins make it really appealing to live, plus I could always meet family and friends in Cancun or other locations during vacations.  I adore everything about Mexico and I know I wouldn't have issues with eating Mexican food every day either. :)

I'll be updating as soon as I know anything...at this point, I'm pretty much a sitting duck until July or August, which is when the hiring season in Mexico starts and also when the director of the school in Liberia will be able to tell me whether or not the teachers are going to be renewing their contracts.  The director of the preschool basically told me that I'd come in October, stay for a two month trial teaching period, and be hired in December.

Week #4: How Chile made me hungry to learn more about the world.

Wow, I can't believe I've been home from Chile for almost three weeks now. The country taught me a lot about myself, and I came home ready to start a career in English teaching. As excited as I was to come home, I find myself missing the most amazing things about Chile.  I miss the fresh fruit that you could buy for two dollars from the man across the street from my apartment (the strawberries were to die for!), walking the tree lined streets of Providencia on a Sunday afternoon, the stunning views of Valparaiso, and all the friends I made there.  I think what I miss most though, is my host family.  Throughout my stay, not a day went by when they didn't ask me how I was doing, things about my family, if I needed anything, or how my course was going. I will never forget their amazing generosity and hospitality during my short month in Chile.  It's for this very reason that I stay with host families while I'm in a foreign country and I've been fortunate to have two great stays (in Chile and Costa Rica).

Chile made me hungry to learn more about the world, not only because of Santiago's rich history and architecture, but because I went there alone, not knowing anyone, and managed to come away from the experience with a deeper understanding of Chilean culture and the people.  I now have a handful of friends and a host family there, and I can't wait to go back.  I want to see more of the country, and I'm hoping that my next experience there will be as equally exciting and stimulating as my first trip.

Week #3: How much Chile made me realize I don't like earthquakes and how Valparaíso/Viña del Mar made me love Chile!

Week #3 started off a little shaky...ok I'm under-exaggerating a bit.  After being awoke by a "tremor" early Saturday morning, an even bigger "tremor" hit around 8:00 pm in Santiago on Sunday night.  I was actually just about to talk to my parents via Skype when I heard a car alarm go off...which is not an uncommon occurence here in my neighborhood.  Feeling the ground shake is something that I would have to get used to, but as of now, I'm not a fan of these "tremors". The earthquake was about 150 miles away, close to where the big one two years ago was.  Luckily, no deaths were reported and only about 14 people were hurt.


Getting out of town for the weekend was exactly what I needed.  Valparaíso is now one of the coolest places I've ever been too.  I loved the layout, probably because it reminded me a lot of San Francisco.  The streets suck to walk up, but nevertheless, I decided to walk to one of Pablo Neruda's other houses, La Sebastiana.  Boy, was I glad I did, even though I was sweating profusely once I got there a half hour later.  This house was where most of his poetry was written, and I can see why.  The house is situated in one of the nicest neighborhoods of Valparaíso, and he had a full view of the ocean port with ships coming in and out regularly.


The next day, I went to Viña del Mar, which reminds me of Florida or California.  I didn't spend but two hours there, and I wish I would have stayed there longer because it was much cleaner and a little more touristy than Valparaíso, but one of the best beaches is about 10 minutes away by taxi, and I didn't have a chance to make it there.  I'd definitely have to stay a week to see all that Valparaíso and Viña del Mar have to offer.

Week #2: How Pablo Neruda changed my view of Chile.

This last weekend I went to La Chascona, one of famed poet Pablo Neruda's three homes.  This one is at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal, the huge hill I went to the weekend before.  It's in the artsy neighborhood of Bellavista in Providencia, and as soon as you walk into the gift shop area, pay for a tour, and enter the cafe/garden area, you are instantly transformed into Pablo Neruda's world: that of a poet, author, philanthropist, diplomat and Nobel Prize winner.  His house in Santiago is gorgeous, and is actually two houses built in one. He had plans for a fourth, but wouldn't live to build it.


Pablo Neruda had such an interesting life...I can't possibly take time to write down all I learned at La Chascona.  He died two weeks after the coup that took place (ironically) on September 11th, 1973 in Santiago.  Later this year, his body will be exhumed to see what if the cause of death really was heart failure (as his third wife, Matilde and loved ones presumed) or if he was poisoned by the Pinochet government.  


His travels and view of politics is something that is still talked about today.  I met a Chilean couple at La Chascona who travel to his resting place (and another of his houses) at La Isla Negra, which is about two hours away from Santiago, on the coast.  They go there every year on the day of Neruda's passing to show their support.  His poetry is everywhere here, it's as if he's still alive.  With his left, socialist leanings, he was criticized by many people like Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borgés for his political thoughts, but even Borgés praises Neruda's talent, calling him "one of the best poets who ever lived". 


To be in his house and to see where he wrote poetry and lived the last years of his life was, for lack of better words, inspiring.  You feel his presence in the house from the moment you step in the front door. His legacy is still alive and well in Santiago and all of Chile, and 39 years after his death, his work is still as cherished and loved as it was the day he died. 

Week #2: How Chile made me glad I recycle.

I seriously can't believe I've been here two weeks, and that my month in Chile is halfway finished already.  I'm so busy with the coursework during the week that I really don't have time to go out and do things at night.  Hopefully that will change this weekend, and no matter what homework I have, there are things I want to see and do! This weekend I'm hoping to go to La Chascona (one of poet Pablo Neruda's three houses) and el centro (downtown).  Hopefully if I'm not too bogged down with homework, I can post a blog on Sunday telling you all about my adventures!!!


I've convinced myself that I will come back to Chile and tour the country for at least a couple weeks at some point.  I'm not even going to make it to the Lake District (which runs all the way to Patagonia), see the Atacama Desert, or get to Easter Island!!!!!


Everything is different here.  There's more traffic and people, but it's a little ridiculous how impatient the drivers are...although I think Costa Rica still wins out on impatient drivers.  At least here, the drivers stop if you're crossing the street.  Seriously, the obsession with mayonnaise is a little disgusting too.  I think the hardest custom to get used to is wearing shoes ALL the time, even in the house.  It's considered rude if you don't.  Also, if I could wave a magic wand and change one thing about Chile, it would be their complete lack of caring about the environment.  Santiago is so smoggy most days, you can't even see the Andes, and March isn't that bad (apparently winter is the worst and summer is the best).  I walked by a house the other day that had a hose spewing with water and I learned very quickly to re-use the plastic bags you get or you'll accumulate them.

Week #1: How I found my passion in Chile

Wow, I can't believe I'm in my second week already! The course is speeding by, as well as my time in Chile. I'm going to try my hardest to see everything, but I already know I need to come back two or three more times to see half the things I wanted to in Chile. A month is definitely not long enough!!!!!


Week #1 has been exciting and exhausting all at the same time.  After recovering from the weekend jet lag, I walked into Bridge ready to learn. I actually expected to know a lot of the techniques for teaching EFL (or ESL in the States) but I've learned so much and gotten so much more out of this course than I ever would have anticipated.  I've definitely changed some of my perspectives on how hard it is to be a teacher and, more importantly, how much harder it is to be a student learning a foreign language (especially English!!!)


I'm learning so much and this IDELT course has made me realize just how much I love imparting my knowledge on to others.  I walk in to Bridge every day excited and challenged.  It's not like most university classes at all...I actually want to come to class because I know it's helping me towards a career (more on that coming soon!!)  Coming to Chile has made me realize just how much I want to be a teacher.

Week #1: Santiago, Chile-finally!!!!

Saturday: Let me tell you, the 9 1/2 hour flight to Santiago, Chile was SO worth it! Providencia (the area I'm staying in) is so beautiful! I got to my host family's apartment around noon, jet lagged and tired.  My host mom, Verónica, and dad, Patricio, are beyond nice and so willing to talk to me or give me directions every time I ask for a new place to go or good restaurant to eat.  I decide to venture out and exchange the remainder of my American money into Chilean pesos.  I only had to walk a few blocks to a small shopping mall.  For a culture that hardly eats anything (except lunch), I think I see about 5 or 6 McDonalds in 6 blocks.  I found the school, which is literally 8-10 minutes away from my family's apartment!!! I also found a Starbucks. :) 


This is the street I live on:

Sunday: I decide to walk to a park that Verónica says isn't very far away, and she's right.  Within ten minutes of my apartment, I find a cute little park next to a "river" (I'm putting it in quotes because it doesn't resemble a river, and that's saying something since I'm from Arizona, where there's hardly any water). When I think of a river, I think of this:

Apparently, this is the Chilean version, called the Río Mapocho:

Yeah...definitely different. There are a lot of differences here. So many, in fact, that that's a whole separate entry, coming soon to a blog near you. :)

Oh, and I found the U.S. Embassy:

I <3 Santiago!!!!!

48 hours

48 hours from now I'll be on a plane to L.A., then Dallas, then Santiago, Chile.  It's going to be a long day, but I know it will be so worth it when I get there. The more I read/hear about it, the more I love the country, and I haven't even been there yet.

I'm mostly excited, but a little nervous too. This is the first trip I've taken where I literally won't have anyone I know traveling with me or know anyone when I get there. I'm nervous to meet my host family, and nervous about the course, but I'm excited to experience all of these things too.

I really hope I have enough time to blog every day.  I feel so connected to everyone when I blog, it's like writing emails, except to everyone. I'll even try to share a couple pictures on here if I can!

My next entry will be from Chile! Puedo escribir pronto! (I'll write soon!) :)

Can't wait! (fotos de Santiago de Chile)

Chilean phrases/slang

Some of these are awesome! They're taken from the book Gringo's Culture Guide to Chile.

¡Adónde la viste!

Literally: Where'd you see that?

Implied meaning: No way!, yeah right! (No te creo)

Al tiro

Literally: Upon throwing

Implied meaning: Immediately (ahora mismo)

Amermelada

Literally: marmalade

Implied meaning: a stupid person (una persona tonta)

¡Bakan!

Implied Meaning: Ultra cool (muy bueno)

¡Buena onda!

Literally: Good wave!

Implied meaning: Cool, great (un buen tipo de persona)

(no) cacha ni uno

Literally: He doesn't catch a single thing

Implied meaning: He doesn't understand a thing (no entender nada)

¿cachai?

Literally: catch?

Implied Meaning: Do you understand? (¿comprendes?)

capo

Implied meaning: good at something, smart, cool (un buen tipo de persona)

cara de palo

Literally: stick face

Implied meaning: boldly, frankly (ser franco)

¡Chao pescado!

Literally: bye fish

Implied meaning: See you later, alligator (Hasta luego)

chueco

Literally: crooked

Implied meaning: a person who doesn't follow the rules, liar (uno que no sigue reglas, mentiroso)

cuestión

Literally: question, matter

Implied meaning: thing, matter (cosa)

dejar la escoba

Literally: To leave the broom.

Implied meaning: to cause a mess or disaster (causar un disastre, dejar todo desorganizado)

echate al pollo

Liteally: throw it to the chicken

Implied meaning: get out of here!

encachado

Implied meaning: good looking, cool (ser bonito(a))

¡(no) estoy ni ahí!

Literally: I'm not even there.

Implied meaning: I don't care! (no le importa a uno)

fome

Implied meaning: dumb, boring, refers to something that you don't like (tonto, aburrido, algo que no te gusta)

gamba

Literally: a shrimp

Implied meaning: refers to the foot, or a 100 peso coin (el pie, o una moneda de 100 pesos)

guagua

Literally: baby, infant

Implied meaning: a baby (un bebé)

harto

enough

Implied meaning: many, a lot (mucho)

lolo(a)

Implied meaning: teenager, young person (un joven)

luca

Implied meaning: 1000 peso bill (un billete de mil pesos)

malulo(a)

Literally: 'mal' in Spanish means bad

Implied meaning: mischievious (malicioso)

medio(a)

Literally: middle, medium

Implied meaning: very big (bien grande)

monitos

Literally: little monkeys

Implied meaning: cartoons (dibujos animados)

pata de vaca (said "pate vaca")

Literally: foot of a cow

Implied meaning: to act badly or to have bad intentions

pato malo

Literally: bad duck

Implied meaning: bad boy, hoodlum (chico malo)

pega

Literally: hit

Implied meaning: work, job

pegar en la pera

Literally: hit the chin

Implied meaning: to mooch, to eat and socialize (conseguir comida gratis)

pesado(a)

Literally: heavy

Implied meaning: mean, rude, bothersome (rudo, molestoso)

pescar + "algo"

Literally: to fish + something

Implied meaning: to pay attention to, to notice (darse cuenta de algo, fijarse)

pintar el mono

Literally: paint monkey

Implied meaning: to goof off (dejar las responsibilidades y jugar todo el tiempo)

pololear

Implied meaning: to be dating, have a boyfriend or girlfriend (tener novio, pero no significa que se van a casar)

pucha

Implied meaning: disappointment when something didn't go your way

pulento

Implied meaning: cool, as in a person (ser un buen chico)

¡Que choro!

Implied meaning: entertaining, worthy of attention

sacar la mugre

Literally: To take off, or out, the filth

Implied meaning: to beat up (pelear y ganar)

(no) salvar a nadie

Literally: To not save anyone.

Implied meaning: to be worthless, useless (ser de ningún valor)

sapear

Literally: 'sapo' is spanish for toad

Implied meaning: to be nosy, eavesdrop (escuchar secretamente a otros)

se cree la muerte

Literally: you think you're death

Implied meaning: you think you are better than everyone else (se cree mejor que todos)

tener el diente largo

Literally: To have a long tooth

Implied meaning: To be very hungry, so hungry I could eat a horse... (tener mucho hambre)

tirar un chancho

Literally: to throw a pig

Implied meaning: to belch, to burp (eructar)

(hacer) tuto

Literally: to make 'tuto'

Implied meaning: to sleep, take a nap (tomar una siesta o dormir)

weón

Implied meaning #1: To be an idiot

Example: ¡Oye que eres weón!

Implied meaning #2: Something you'd call a friend

update.

So again, here I am with this blog.  It's been a long time, longer than I've anticipated.


Now that I'm a college graduate, I find myself with possibly less free time than I had when I was in school, but it's spent doing things I enjoy, for the most part.


I'm headed to Chile next month...I'm beyond excited about it, I can't wait to see another culture completely different from my own and meet some incredible people. I've heard nothing but good things about the people, the scenery, the food, and the capital city, Santiago, is surrounded by the Andes mountains and pristine beaches.


I'll definitely be updating through this blog while I'm there.  I find it easier to blog when I'm away from my regular life and in a new place...partially because I don't have a very exciting life in general, and when I do, it's usually not anything even worth posting.  Taking a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course might be the most challenging thing I've had to do yet, since the course is 140 hours in a month! I'm ready for the challenge!!!