Tuesday, July 10, 2007

new phone number

In Pocuro, a telephone land line is not as common as one might think. In the past, Associates had to walk down the dirt road to a corner in order to use a pay phone to call home. Just a few years ago, Associates invested in a cell phone, providing for a bit more convenient and safe method of maintain communication with friends and family. This option was expensive. Minutes on the phone were always precious and longer than a minute on the phone caused us to panic. Even worse, the reception was not great and it was expensive for those who called from the United States (30 cents a minute compared to the usual 15 cents!). Nevertheless, it was the only reasonable option available in the small campo town.

When we moved to Santiago (the "big city" as I like to call it, haha), we kept the cell phone. Minutes were still precious, reception not great, and phone calls received from the U.S. were still expensive to those calling. A few months ago, we were told that a phone line could be installed in our apartment. We jumped for joy, knowing that a land line would be best for everyone.

Finally, more than a month later, our new phone line is installed! It is now really cheap to call us and the reception is great. With it, came our new telephone number. To call me from the United States is the following:
011-56-2-271-1609
A future blog will account Chile's version of doing something "on time" or "within the next week." Needless to say, Chileans say "nacimos atrasados" or "we were born late." What should have only been a few days wait for the phone line was a month. I guess in Chile there are just some things worth waiting for...and this phone line is definitely one of those things.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

A Badge of Honor

The 4th of July came and went here in Chile without much celebration by us gringos. It was a nice sunny day, a break from the rain and cold that we have been experiencing. In the afternoon, I took a nice walk around the neigborhood and in the evening, I went to the local supermarket to do our monthly grocery shopping. Because most Chileans spent the evening in front of their television sets watching the Chile vs. Mexico soccer game, the supermarket was not crowded as usual and I was able to shop without much hassle.

When I went to bed around 10:00pm, I started thinking about my day and about 4th of July. First, I was surprised how many Chileans were aware of the day's significance for me and for the United States. All of my co-workers wished me a "Happy 4th of July" as well as most of my students. Even Ryan mentioned that Don Roberto, our evening door man for our apartment, wished him a "Happy Day of Independence" in his English that he is desperately trying to improve.

To be honest, I only learned the date for the Independence Day of Chile about two weeks ago...and I only found out because it was the name of a street I was walking on and asked my Chilean friend about the significance of it. I certainly did not know the date before I came to Chile and I certainly did not learn it in school - there was no reason to. The fact that I had to show many people where Chile was on the map and mention that it was in South America leads me to believe that many other gringos would not know Chile's Day of Independence as well. Regardless, it is not the norm to learn of Chile's Day of Indpendence in School...in English classes here in Chile, a 4th of July celebration happens every year.

Also thinking about the day, I was surprised at how the aforementioned well-wishers spoke to me about the holiday. It was if the holiday was something I should be very proud of, a part of my heritage and celebrating the day would be celebrating who I am as a person. The only thing I can think of as a comparison is wishing "Happy Hanukkah" to someone who celebrates the Jewish faith. Sure, I understand the history of the day and why it is celebrated, but never before have I thought about the 4th of July as a celebration of my identity as an American.

Lastly, I realized how blessed I have been to celebrate this day in very different places and how those memories make this day a truly important to me in how I live my life. Just three years ago, I was in Washington, DC and sitting with friends on the grass in the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. We spent the whole day there, playing football and frisbee, eating hot dogs and hamburgers, having a good ol' American holiday. Seeing the fireworks that night, with the monuments in the same view, is something that I will never forget.

Just as spectacular are the fireworks in my hometown, Parkville. Growing up I have spent many 4th of July weekends volunteering for the American Legion serving food in the park, watching the small-town parade, riding carnival rides, eating carnival treats, and finishing off the weekend with Parkville's famous and amazing fireworks display over the Missouri River. Most often, I would spend each night in the summer heat, hanging out with friends afterward. If for some reason Parkville was not my location for the holiday, I would usually be at the lake and fish the entire weekend, enjoying my time in the sun with family.

All in all, I do not have one bad memory about the 4th of July and I'd have to say now that it is one of my favorite holidays. Too bad that it took living in a foreign country to realize it. Only one more 4th of July to celebrate here until I am back home to continue such great memories. As far as next year, you can guarantee next year's celebration will come with a different perspective and a set of plans to celebrate, wearning the day as a badge of honor.


This was too cute, I just had to include it. :-)