Christine's Return to the US

On December 8th, 2009, I landed in Miami, Florida. It was a full day of traveling from Chile. I spent two full days roaming around South Beach, eating some wonderful Cuban food, and doing a little shopping. The weather was spectacular and the scenery is entertaining. It's like an adult playround where the rich and famous and the wanna-be's come to show off their toys.

Then I spent the weekend in Chicago. Arrived on Friday and left Monday morning. I went ice skating in Daley Plaza, had some great American meals including, macaroni and cheese, pizza, and turkey & mashed potatoes. Also went to where Oprah Winfrey records her show near downtown Chicago. I would have expected the building to be more grandioso but instead it was simple and plain.

HARPO STUDIOS

I went to a German festival outdoor where I had hot spiced wine (new to try) and walked around looking at all the different booths of tradition German ornaments, food, and trinkets. The famous Christmas tree was also lit up and beautiful, but a tad smaller than I had always imagined. Had lunch in Greektown and then went to the new skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) which was so scary! It's about a 6'x4' glass box that sticks out of the building so you feel you are walking on air. You can see the 103 stories down. We had 3 or 4 boys jumping up and down on it right before our turn! Very comforting to watch and if it was going to break, it would have broke then.

Looking down.

The last of my "travel excursions" happened Sunday evening, before I was flying to Oklahoma on Monday, which was going to an Oz themed park in Chicago slightly north of downtown. Very fitting for me and this blog.


You see, the headline on the black and white photo of my brother and me at the top of this blog reads, "We're Off to See The Lizard." I'm sure it makes no sense to anyone that is not in our family. However it has a big significance to us and is based on the lyrics of "We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz." So, to find myself, after 8.5 months of traveling, in a park themed off the Wizard of Oz, there could not have been a more fitting ending.

MY ARRIVAL TO OKLAHOMA

My arrival to the Tulsa International Airport was a show and something I will NEVER forget. As I am walking towards my parents and start to give my mother a hug I hear this LOUD "whoa, whoa, ay muchachita........" and I look over to see my brother practically running over to me in a HUGE sombrero and Peruvian llama sweater!! It was hilarious and anyone in the waiting area was laughing hysterically at this unfolding. It was an unforgettable moment and pictures were taken to capture it all.

Me, my brother, and Julie.



My family.

As for me......my plans are to spend the holidays in the US. Around the end of January I'm looking to take an intermediate spanish course in central america for approximately 4-5 weeks to build upon what I have already learned but with an emphasis on grammar.

Afterwards, I don't have definitive plans yet. Next year holds a new chapter and I don't even have the title. Exciting the possibilities!

Thank you for reading the blogs I've posted the past 8 months and we'll keep adding entries whenever we find ourselves somewhere new.

Christine

Christine's Closing Ceremonies

Antofagasta was located in the second (of fourteen) region in Chile. Between the 4month, 6month, and 8month volunteers, it was the largest region for volunteer placements so the organization held closing ceremonies for us in Antofagasta (largest city in the region). We watched a group of singers and dancers perform to the tunes of the traditional Chilean dance of Cueca which is pictured below.

We had a nice lunch for just the volunteers in public schools in Antofagasta. Then we started with breakout groups to provide feedback on the program. The following day we had formal ceremonies where each of us were called up on stage to receive a certificate of participation as well as a copper (one of the primary minerals of the region) notebook pad.

Here is myself pictured with my host mom.

Joe, Paul, and I were the last of the 8monthers to finish in Antofagasta so, of course, we had to take a picture to commemorate the accomplishment!

After closing ceremonies, we were bused to Santiago for closing ceremonies there too. Over 200 volunteers came and we were presented another certificate. Several countries were presented including Czech Republic, Germany, Australia, England, Trinidad, Canada, Sweden, Finland, and of course the USA.

It was a time to say goodbye to those friends made during our time in Chile. We differed in races, education, beliefs, opinions, and interests but were bonded by the experience of being in a foreign country. We experienced the excitement of a new place together. The stares from looking different from everyone else. The frustrations of not being able to communicate easily. The adjustment to dinner being much later in the evening. The hugs, kisses, and endless questions from our students......"Ms/Mr., How old are you?....Do you have any children? Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?". The feelings of "How in the world do I get these children to listen to me". The curiosity of traveling to other parts of the country. The thoughts of ........ "oh my goodness, I'm really going to have hot dog meat over buttered spagetti noodles as a meal?" Relying on public transportation instead of a car to get from one place to another. It was those experiences in Chile that brought us together and will forever give us a bond.

Saludos to the friends who I came to know in Chile and thank you for your friendships.

CW

Christines trip to Argentina

I arrived to Argentina two weeks ago and stayed for about 8 days. I loved every minute in Argentina. It is a great place. I visited Mendoza and Buenos Aires. The accent there is slightly different and takes some getting use to. They use vos instead of tu to refer to the other person they are talking to. The first time i heard this i thought they were asking something about my voice, which in spanish is voz.

Mendoza is located in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes (gorgeous drive). It is a popular tourist city, though the most popular tourist attraction are the wine tours offered (most popularly on bicycle which doesnt make to much sense.... wine + bicycle riding).

Then was Buenos Aires. It was spectacular. This is the second largest city in South America, with about 13 million people. The people are very friendly and beautiful, the buildings have great old architecture, and there are many things to do and see.



I thought it was interesting here, and it was one of the first things i noticed, to see the difference in greetings between Chile and Argentina. In Chile, men and women greet with a kiss on the cheek. Men greet with a handshake. Here, there is the kiss on the cheek but it is also customary for the men to kiss each other on the cheek. I thought that was interesting.

I went to the second most unusual bookstore in the world. It was built in an old theatre. Talk about jaw dropping gorgeous. The stage was converted to a cafe where you could sit and read or enjoy a cup of espresso and an empanada.

I took a short tango lesson and watched a tango show. What an amazing dance. May have to put that on the list of next dances to learn.

I visited the tumb of Evita. She was only in her young 30s when she died of cancer but there is a musuem dedicated to her and people regularly come to pay their respects.

I thoroughly loved Argentina and would love to go back one day. I have now returned to the US and will write two more blogs, one on my closing ceremony and then one on arriving to the US with closing comments.

CW