Eres un gringo?

This is the first question I am asked when I either strike up a conversation with a Chilean or they come up to me (and ask for donations to their college fund...true story). Maybe it's the red beard slowly creeping in or the map that I constantly pull from my pocket to find El Mercado Central y El Museo Precolombiano. When a friend from Luxembourg found out I was from Texas, he lit up and said: "EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas, right??" To which I responded: "and EVERYTHING's smaller in Luxembourg, right?"

The first four days have been a roller coaster to say the least. When moving into a new hostel yesterday the cabbie drove off with 90% of my body still outside the car. Friday night, I was voted off the stage at a karaoke bar because I rendition of "I Shot the Sheriff" did not live up to the Chilean standards. My first meal was a hot dog called the Italiano gigante. It's a huge hot dog (a Chilean favorite) with tomatoes, guacamole, and..wait for it...mayo. Disgusting but I forced myself to finish it. So the following day I went to McDonald's and downed some nuggets and Fanta.

However after all of this I am having a great time. The best time. Saturday we took a trolley up to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, the mountain right in the middle of Santiago and saw some outrageous views. After a rainstorm in Santiago, the smog that famously covers the city clears out and the views are incredible. The Andes are snow-capped and the way the city nestles into the bottom of the mountain resembles Denver in a way and is indescribable. I have a lot more to add but will bullet point some highlights:

- Friday night we had a BBQ on our balcony overlooking the Plaza De Armas. Meat that came from the lung lining of a cow. It was delicious. Also, present was a blind man named Johnny who plays guitar and the harmonica. He was traveling the next day to do a benefit concert in Concepcion and is somewhat of a Chilean celebrity. Or so I was told.
- I have seen some damage from the earthquake. Several museums and government buildings have structural damage on the outside but the mess has yet to be cleaned up.
- Tons and tons of stray dogs. Saw a woman drop a T-bone to one on my first day and then another woman drop a bag of chicken bones which resulted in a feast for several pups.
- Chileans like to talk about the NBA. (My pick: Celtics in 6).
- Ketchup comes in a green bottle and mustard does not taste like mustard.
- DON'T flush the toilet paper!!! It belongs in a trash can next to the toilet.
- Saw a woman breastfeeding her child at El Parque de Santa Lucia today...
- First songs I heard in Santiago playing at my hostel: Tracy Chapman's "Give me One Reason", No Doubt's "Don't Speak" and Shania Twain's, "I feel like a woman." I can't remember the last time I heard any of those songs.
- Word Cup fever is everywhere and I'm loving it. It's the first time Chile's national team has played in the cup since 1998 and they have a favorable draw against Honduras, the Swiss, and..Spain.
- I find out tomorrow what city I will be placed in a get to see a profile of my family!

That's all for now. More to come before I head to the Patagonia next weekend.

One week left in Dallas!

Now only seven days away from journeying down to Santiago and the Chilean Andes and I have mixed emotions of nervousness and excitement. I am to the point where I am sick of talking about it and ready to get going on this shin-dig.

The most common question I am receiving is, "Why Chile?" First of all I was unaware of the impending winter that I will come to know so fondly, I've never skied, and the earthquakes happened three days after I applied. So perhaps I'm a bit crazy and ill-advised but the more and more I look at the country, the more I feel I could not have picked a better place. The people are said to be gregarious, welcoming, and full of life. The landscape is unlike anything I have ever seen (or heard as of now). And if that's not reason enough, soccer is kind of a big deal to them! Viva Chile en la Copa Mundial!

A few sidenotes:
1) Here is the hostel I will be staying in when I arrive in Santiago. It's in the middle of the Plaza De Armas, their oldest town square: http://www.plazadearmashostel.com/ingles.html
2) The books I have packed thus far: First two Harry Potter's, The Power of One, Brave New World, In Patagonia, and Soccernomics. Don't know how much room I'll have for anymore but I welcome suggestions.
3) I am going during the country's Bicentennial and the president-elect is preparing many activities for the green bean country!
4) When superimposed on the USA map, Chile extends from San Francisco to New York City.
5) An Argentinian man at a bar last now (get used to that intro but hopefully it'll be a girl next time), told me that man Chileans and Argentinians have light skin. Perhaps he was trying to comfort me or maybe I will fit in better than I thought.

That's it for now. I'm one week away from leaving and have to get my Mi Cocina, Burger House, FC Dallas home game, Rangers broadcasts, Bagel Bites, DMN Sports section, and cold beer (Chile is not known for having plentiful amounts of brews) fix for the next seven days. Adios and feel free to comment.