tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61880557136460312392024-03-13T07:58:25.219-07:00Viajar Con Buena OndaAllie's Adventures in South America: Peru, Chile, and ArgentinaAlliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-67649618270097197472014-08-14T19:55:00.000-07:002014-09-02T16:53:34.579-07:00Human Rights & Law<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I meant to mention this in my last post, but it was getting too long! My last week at the human rights office, I had the opportunity to attend a court session to witness one of the "La Perla" trials. To provide a brief overview of the long and complex history behind these trials, I will include some of the text from the handout we were given by our program:<br />
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<b>Background</b><br />
<b><br /></b>"Operation Condor was a mass-scale campaign of state terrorism and political repression officially implemented in 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships in South America. In Argentina the military dictatorship started on 24 of March 1976 after a military coup and lasted until 1983. This was, as mentioned, a period of state terrorism against first and foremost political dissidents, and it is known to many outside of Argentina as ‘the Dirty War’. However, in Argentina this is not an expression they like to use and they call this period ‘Guerra Sucia’, or ‘Guerra Política’. During this period approximately 30 000 people went missing, although this number varies depending on the source. These were the victims of the military government’s suppression, and the majority of these were tortured and killed. These victims are often referred to ‘the disappeared’ due to the fact that they simply vanished after being taken and the majority of<br />
their bodies have never been found in the aftermaths of the dictatorship.<br />
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It might be difficult to imagine that even though thousands of people disappeared no one seemed to know what had happened to them and where they were. What happened was that the military government established hundreds of clandestine detention centers that officially were not under the government's control and denied the existence of the victims. This enabled the military to physically eliminate their victims without being held responsible for it. In Córdoba, the main detention center was called La Perla where between 2000 and 3000 victims were brought, tortured and killed. Only 2-300 survived during the two years this detention center was actively used for this specific purpose.<br />
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In 1983 the military government was forced to step down after the defeat against Great Britain after the Guerra de Las Malvinas (The Falklands War). Democracy was restored and it was no longer possible to ignore the issue. In 1983 a truth commission called The National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (CONADEP) by the newly elected constitutional president Raul Alfonsín to start investigating what had really happened during the dictatorship.<br />
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In 2005, amnesty laws that prohibited perpetrators from being prosecuted were abolished, which opened up the floor for new investigations. The difference between these new investigations and the ones that were done during the 1980s is that in 2005 there was no new truth commission or any other body of government leading the investigations. The difference is that prosecutors are now allowed to start their own investigations in order to make a case and prosecute the ex-military leaders for their crimes."<br />
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<b>My Experience</b><br />
<b><br /></b>It was one of these trials that I attended this week. When we entered the courthouse, the first thing we saw was a large group of young students holding red carnations. Upon closer inspection, we could see that the plastic flowers each had a tag wrapped around the stem containing the name of a still-missing person and the day they disappeared. Members of the press were taking photos of them as well as the other people who attended court that day. <br />
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When we entered, we saw a large group sitting together from the "Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo," an Argentine human rights organization geared towards locating children stolen and illegally adopted during the Guerra Sucia. A little further towards the stand sat the perpetrators of the crimes. Because their backs were turned to us and the Spanish was very quick, it was difficult unfortunately to follow the complexity of the trial. However, being present in the environment we could still feel the incredible impact that the war years left on Argentina and its people as well as the long-awaited hunger for justice.<br />
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After the trial, a woman approached us holding poster boards with large photos of young men in military uniforms. She began speaking English to us, and respectfully we took a moment to listen. She began a speech on how it is wrong to implicate young soldiers for crimes they were not aware of committing. As she continued to speak, we quickly realized how extreme her view was, and how offensive her presence was to those who came in support of the disappeared. Although her speech was disconcerting, it was interesting to note a perspective so radically different than those we had been familiar with.<br />
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Attending court was an interesting lens through which to learn about Argentina's history in the context of the present struggle for justice. I also appreciated experiencing the legal aspect of human rights, one very essential to the discussion and implementation of the subject. Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-14741836082452393332014-08-13T16:15:00.000-07:002014-08-23T19:26:10.896-07:00Saying "chau" :(<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, two months have certainly flown by! My last two weeks in Córdoba were certainly packed, and I am looking forward to a chance to reflect on the overall experience.</div>
<a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2014/08/saying-chau.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-78062688524427072392014-07-30T08:18:00.002-07:002014-07-30T08:18:40.757-07:00Periodismo y derechos humanosSo many great things have happened since my last post! <br />
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First, my presentation to the high school students giving a general overview of human rights went very well. I tried to make it interactive, asking them during the presentation to select three from the list of 30 human rights outlined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I then asked that they discuss why they chose the rights that they did and how they have seen each right violated in their lifetime. The students all had relevant stories, some drew from current events and others from their own experience. The Argentinian human rights coordinator helped me explore some of the major human rights violations that occur daily in Argentina, such as the lack of access to public services, the illegality of abortion, and the effects of government corruption. Overall, it was a success!<br />
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Second, I think we really made a breakthrough with sexual education at Soaje. Last night was our third "Taller de educacion sexual," in which we taught the girls about contraceptive methods. After a brief presentation about contraceptive methods and where to obtain free birth control, condoms, and pregnancy tests, we passed out bananas and condoms so we could teach the girls how to properly use protection. All the girls participated except for one and the girls who did participate enjoyed doing the activity, amidst many giggles. After the workshop, one of the girls told us that she was really interested by our sexual education workshops and that they were very helpful for her. She then opened up a little to tell us about her story: she had been violated sexually at seven years old, which led her to experiment with drugs and harm herself. She has since gotten much better now at fourteen, in large part due to the environment and people of Soaje. It was incredible the horrors she had been through at such a young age. This was very emotional for us, and I felt very validated in the work that we were doing. <br />
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Third, I've started work at 88.3 Radio Nativa in Unquillo! It's a fun, young environment in which we discuss current events on a local and national level. I've already spoken on air several times, about my work in human rights, about Argentina's tight economic situation, and a bit about my experiences so far in Argentina. It's exciting to speak on the radio, although I definitely get nervous! However, I feel that it's forcing me to better my confidence and fluency speaking in Spanish. I have also conducted street interviews, the first about the dangers of young teens using the internet to talk to strangers, and the second about an upcoming auto race rally. It's been really fun so far-- the first day I mentioned on the air that I liked chocolate and the next day a listener brought me some!<br />
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I had an interesting conversation with one of my coordinators about the significance of the media in Argentina-- apparently, the government subsidizes free HD televisions for those who cannot afford one. The reason for this is that the government recognizes that many of Argentina's newspapers speak out angrily against the government whereas the television can be regulated more easily to convey a certain message. I keep this in mind when speaking on air-- media-filtered information is a powerful tool that can shape the thought and action of a large group of people.<br />
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Also, I spent this past weekend in Mendoza in what was definitely my favorite trip here so far! Mendoza is famous for beautiful mountainous landscapes, horses, and wineries. We even went sledding!<br />
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It's also interesting being here during Argentina's economic trouble (<a href="http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/06a4492e1a41417297b7972787266623/Argentina-Debt-Q-and-A">This article provides a good overview</a>)-- this morning my street was blocked off due to an angry demonstration. If Argentina's government does not come to an agreement with New York courts by today, the country will default for a second time since its economic crisis, resulting in--among other things--further devaluing of the peso, inflation, and deeper isolation from the global market. It will be interesting to see how things play out here after today.</div>
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Besos!</div>
<br />Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-57056161467270063382014-07-15T08:42:00.002-07:002014-07-15T08:49:46.774-07:00VAMOS VAMOS Argentina!Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted, I have been very busy and a lot has happened! I'll try to give a brief overview of the past weeks' events.<br />
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WORK:</div>
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Sexual education at Soaje is going well so far! For our first workshop, we prepared a brief quiz to assess the girls' knowledge in three major areas of sexual education: healthy relationships and consent, STI's (focused on HIV), and protection/contraception/safe sex. The girls were receptive to the quiz, asking many questions for the answers they missed. A woman working at Soaje was kind enough to assist us in explaining concepts that we found difficult to articulate in Spanish. She remarked to us how important she believed our work to be, and was grateful to open up the discussion with the girls.</div>
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This week I also give my "Introduction to Human Rights" presentation to a group of high school students, covering general concepts, history, and applications of human rights. The presentation I prepared can be found here: </div>
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<a href="http://prezi.com/okehqdlirrfa/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share" tabindex="-1" target="_parent" title="http://prezi.com/okehqdlirrfa/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share">http://prezi.com/okehqdlirrfa/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share</a></div>
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I'm really happy with how it turned out, I hope it holds their attention!</div>
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I have also been working a little alongside Ganas, an organization that feeds and clothes the homeless. My role has been to interview the homeless while Ganas is providing food, asking them general questions about their lives and families as well as anything they may need. The interviews are used to document a large population about which little is known in Cordoba and to attempt to pressure the government into taking steps to curb homelessness.</div>
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Finally, this week we are working with the Basta de Trata campaign against child abuse and pedophilia. This weekend, there is an event for Basta de Trata aimed at spreading awareness and garnering social media support. For the occasion I made this giant Instagram, to encourage the sharing of the #bastadetrata hashtag.</div>
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TRAVEL:</div>
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This past weekend I traveled to Salta, a city way up in the desert-and-valley north of Argentina. Because we only had two days, we didn't get to do all that we wanted, but still had a great time! Highlights: hiking, horseback riding, wine tasting, feeding llamas, and touring monumental rock formations. <br />
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On our horseback ride we met a couple who had saved up enough money, quit their jobs, and had been traveling around the world for the past year. It was so inspiring to hear about their adventures-- I hope to do something similar in the future.<br />
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WORLD CUP:</div>
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Being in Cordoba for the World Cup has been the best experience! For each game, everyone gathers in the center of the city to watch, draped from head to toe in blue and white. After each win, the streets flood with people singing and chanting and banging on drums. It's been amazing to taste the incredible passion Argentinians share for their sport. <br />
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Of course, the loss at the finals was devastating. The silence in the crowd was deafening after Germany made their World Cup-winning goal. When it ended however, I was relieved to see clapping for a game well played. Though I heard news of angry riots in Buenos Aires, nothing of the sort happened in Cordoba: everyone was genuinely proud of their team for a brilliant performance in La copa del mundo.</div>
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It's strange to think that the Cup is finally over, as it has been a large part of my experience here thus far.</div>
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Overall, I've been enjoying my time here more and more as I adapt to the city life. Sometime in the following weeks I hope to travel to Mendoza, a beautiful city just east of the Andes. Work is also about to change soon; At the end of next week, I am going to continue teaching sexual education while interning at a local radio station to learn about Argentinian journalism. This will supplement my interest in media representation of current events in South America (possible thesis topic?) and should coincide nicely with my work in human rights.</div>
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Besos!</div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-30676886406814206012014-06-26T16:19:00.003-07:002014-06-26T16:23:28.186-07:00La primera semana!<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I just finished up my first week in C<span style="line-height: 107%;">órdoba and a lot has happened so far! I had a wonderful first weekend meeting other students on my program and getting a little taste of Argentina's nightlife. I'm hoping to plan several trips for the upcoming weekends, hopefully for some horseback riding, skiing, wine tasting, and paragliding! The other students are from all different corners of the globe and it has been so much fun to share the similarities and differences between our languages and cultures. So far I have met others from Germany, Holland, France, Scotland, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, and all over the U.S.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I also am so fortunate to be here during the World Cup-- It is amazing to see how passionate everyone is here about Argentina's team. Both of the games I have watched here have ended in victory for Argentina and therefore joyous, cheering chaos. Hereis a photo a friend snapped after one of the games:</span></span><br />
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Absolutely loco!<br />
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I also had an orientation and began work for my program, which was a little overwhelming though exciting. My program partners with several NGOs and nonprofits in different areas of human rights, so every student has the opportunity to explore various issues in the field. My specific placement is at Soaje, "a residential care facility for girls aged between 13 and 17 years of age, whose parents have been deemed by the Court as unfit or incapable of caring for them. The girls may have been living at Soaje for anything between a few days or a few years. The girls live at Soaje until they turn 18 years old, are moved to another facility, or are reunited with their parents/family (a decision of the courts). "<br />
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My job at Soaje is to develop a series of workshops for the girls that focus on their rights, self-esteem, and sexual education in order to facilitate their integration into the outside world. The sexual education focus is part of a larger HIV-awareness campaign that my program hopes to develop not only at Soaje, but at similar organizations as well. As a result of its deep-rooted Catholic traditions and lack of resources, sexual education is seriously lacking in Argentina. This leaves a large number of the population unaware of the dangers of unprotected sex and unaware that they may have HIV, a potentially deadly virus that is treatable if caught early. </div>
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Though this is my main project, I also will be preparing a workshop engineered for highschoolers attending a two week program to Argentina. The workshop will introduce them to the general concepts, history, and practice of human rights. I will also be attending court sessions, performing academic research, offering translations, and transcribing meetings for the human rights office.</div>
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The schedule is pretty packed, so I hope I can handle it! I'm excited to start planning my projects and to meet more students on my program this weekend.</div>
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Besos!</div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-81695316078687824812014-06-19T18:37:00.000-07:002014-06-19T18:53:08.997-07:00Una nueva aventura: Córdoba!Well, here I am again-- I've once more chosen to leave behind everything that is comfortable and familiar in the pursuit of adventure and broadened experience. The journey to Córdoba was a lengthy one, but passed quickly. The view from the airplane window on my connecting flight to Santiago was magical: I watched as the sun rose over the tips of the jagged Andes that peeked through the clouds, spilling red and yellow blotches all over the sky. As I maneuvered through the airports of Santiago and Córdoba, I felt my Spanish snap back into place. I muttered <em>permiso</em> in crowded spaces and greeted airport staff with a warm <em>hola!</em> <br />
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The little house from which I'm typing this post was a short taxi ride away. I was greeted by a host mama and her grown daughter who lives across town but visits frequently. We discussed house keys, food preferences, shower functions, laundry guidelines, etc. then sat down to a simple, but satisfying <em>almuerzo</em>. Later I unpacked then had <em>cena </em>with my host mama, during which we had a chance to <em>compartir</em> a few details about our lives. She is a language teacher experienced in French, Spanish, and Portugese. She lived in Brazil for a few years and fell in love with it.<br />
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<em>Mi casita!</em></div>
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My first impressions are as follows: <br />
1. My host mom has a huge heart for her children and her home, bears similarities to my host mom in Chile<br />
2. This internship program gives me a lot more freedom than study abroad/I will have much more independence here<br />
3. I have a feeling I will grow to be very comfortable here<br />
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Monday I will have orientation for my duties at the human rights office at which I am working and Tuesday I will begin! I am unsure of what to expect from the experience at the moment, which makes it all the more exciting. This weekend I hope to explore the city a little and hopefully watch the Argentina v. Iran world cup game with some Argentinos! <br />
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I'm definitely missing home and those that I love, but I am very much looking forward to what I hope will be a valuable experience here in Córdoba. <br />
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<em>Besos!</em>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-59251244184332513122013-11-14T09:22:00.001-08:002013-11-14T09:23:39.837-08:00La Serena, Elqui Valley, Coquimbo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HOLA. Wow I've been a TERRIBLE blogger. This post was half-written about six weeks ago and never finished, mostly due to work, traveling, and general laziness. But no more excuses! Look for several catch-up posts to come.<br>
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I love the culture of traveling: it's a community full of young, curious, confident people who thrive on new experiences. They don't need much: just the necessities and a sense of adventure.<br>
<br><a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/11/la-serena-elqui-valley-coquimbo.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-18801568205999394632013-09-23T21:22:00.001-07:002013-09-23T21:28:55.972-07:00Santiago & Las Fiestas Patrias!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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¡Oyeee, Chileans sure know how to have a good time! These past two weekends were brimming with good friends, good food, drinks, dancing, and more family than I will ever be able to remember the names of. </div>
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<a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/09/santiago-las-fiestas-patrias.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-16751686400731305742013-09-13T06:27:00.002-07:002013-09-23T21:32:55.297-07:00¡Que RICA esta fin de semana!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The title roughly translates to: OH MY GOD THIS WEEKEND WAS INCREDIBLE! In an effort to do everything possible within our short time in Chile, we embarked on three separate adventures this past weekend: visited another of Pablo Neruda's famous houses in Isla Negra, climbed the sand dunes of Con-Con, and hiked the mountains of La Campana. ALSO, Friday night was a football (soccer) match against Venezuela-- naturally, all public transportation shut down and we all gathered to watch. And Chile <em>killed</em> 3-0, resulting in audible screams and cheers which rattled the streets of Valparaiso.<br>
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<a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/09/que-rica-esta-fin-de-semana.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-81442746853198008512013-09-03T18:34:00.001-07:002013-09-23T21:35:30.710-07:00La vida porteña: my first week in VALPO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Feelings I have experienced this past week:<br>
<ol>
<li>Awkwardness</li>
<li>Excitement</li>
<li>Nervousness</li>
<li>Awe</li>
<li>Total happiness</li>
<li>Discomfort</li>
<li>Confusion/disorientation</li>
<li>Accomplishment</li>
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After three days of orientation at a modest hotel in Valpo, which consisted of seminars on topics such as health, cultural norms, and safety, we arrived nervously at our homestays on Saturday. Mine consists of a host mother and sister living in this adorable little home on one of Valpo's famous <em>cerros</em>(hills). I definitely hit the language barrier head-on when I arrived, generating several awkward situations. Along with being spoken very quickly, Chilean Spanish also includes several of its own invented words, phrases, and slang. The inability to communicate well made me feel like an idiot at first, but I believe I have more or less recovered myself after my few days here. There still are moments where I am lost in what my host mom is asking me, but I now can more or less understand her and respond accordingly. If I already feel more comfortable, I am confident I will much better at the end of this program!<br>
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My host sister speaks English, and is very familiar with American culture. I see this throughout Valparaiso: several restaurants, bars, and clubs play American music and relay pop culture references from the States. <br>
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<a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/09/la-vida-portena-my-first-week-in-valpo.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-64783362873742014062013-08-26T22:48:00.001-07:002013-08-26T22:50:04.162-07:00Can you say PARADISE?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>Never</em> go <em>anywhere</em> without directions. Never go <em>anywhere</em> without knowing <em>exactly </em>which streets to take in which order that are clearly visible on a <em>MAP</em> unless you don't mind getting hopelessly <em>lost</em>. This is especially relevant in a <em>foreign country</em> where everyone speaks a <em>foreign language</em>. Also, although people may be friendly and try their best to help you, they do not always know the correct directions. </div><a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/08/can-you-say-paradise.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-61157955710172377592013-08-23T22:23:00.002-07:002013-08-23T22:31:42.446-07:00Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Incas Incas Incas!<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In an effort to see as much of Peru as possible in the past two days, my parents and I have been back and forth on planes, trains, buses, and cars, sleeping little and sitting a lot. As a result, I have now come down with a <em>gripe: </em>my throat is sore and I am generally exhausted! Nevertheless, our two days were rich with incredible historic sites, jaw-dropping scenery, delicious food, and lots of Inca history.</div>
<a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/08/cuzco-machu-picchu-incas-incas-incas.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-43827842608314056622013-08-20T20:46:00.000-07:002013-08-20T21:57:44.511-07:00¡Bienvenidos a Lima! (Mira Flores & Parque del amor)<br>
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Things I have learned about Peru so far: <br>
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1. The fruit juice/produce/food in general here is absolutely AMAZING<br>
2. Many people in Lima speak English and the city has seen a fair amount of globalization (TGI Fridays/Starbucks/Tony Roma's anyone?)<br>
3. Driving laws are pretty much non-existent<br>
4. Sushi is popular here, fish is fresh and delicious<br>
5. Llama/alpaca products are all the rage<br>
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Despite some initial concerns that I would stick out as an American or feel unwelcome here, I was surprised at how much Lima seemed like any other city I have visited. With the traffic, casinos, and recognizable chain stores, it felt as if we were somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. <br>
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After having flown into Lima late last night, we slept long into the afternoon like lazy tourists only to emerge to visit the local mall in Miraflores, Larcomar. Though the day was overcast, the beautiful ocean setting was visible from the small shopping center. The shops were a cultural amalgam of European, American, Asian, and traditional Peruvian stores. One of the latter featured these two indigenous-looking women working masterfully on a colorful loom.<br>
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<a href="http://viajarconbuenaonda.blogspot.com/2013/08/bienvenidos-lima-mira-flores-parque-del.html#more">Read more »</a>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188055713646031239.post-31787258219572024442013-08-18T23:16:00.001-07:002013-08-20T21:29:00.696-07:00GOODBYE NEWPORT, HELLO ADVENTURE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Amid the chaos of the last few days' packing, last-minute shopping, and reluctant goodbyes, I have seemed to forget the fact that this is my last night. In California. In <i>America.</i> For three and a half months. It's absolutely unreal. Everyone I love and everything familiar will be left behind in the pursuit of adventure, a new sense of self. <br />
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And I'm EXCITED!<br />
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This summer has passed lazily: Aside from working from home for a news journalism internship, I have been spending my days enjoying the sun-soaked beauty of my So-Cal hometown with some of my favorite people. I was usually in pajamas for more hours of the day than I would like to admit. <br />
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It's not that my summer lacked adventure, but I had "adventures" in the over-used, casual sense of the word. I had new experiences and met new people, tried new food, visited new places-- but at no point had I been completely stripped of all comfort and familiarity and made to confront a completely new culture. <br />
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I believe this is the perfect time in my life to have this new sort of adventure, while I am still young and a little stupid. And I can't wait to blog about it! <br />
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<a href="http://alwayslikethesun.blogspot.com/">During my jaw surgery last summer</a>, blogging was my salvation from the immense frustration of a wired-shut, emotionally and physically painful recovery. Though I couldn't speak, I could still reach out to the surprisingly large community of people undergoing the same process, seeking their help and guiding others who had yet to have surgery. After all the positive comments I received, the blog became one of the things I was most proud to have created. And here we go again!<br />
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Of course, a travel blog is a whole different ballgame, but the aims are similar. This blog will be a line to my friends and family back home as well as a way for me to stay grounded amongst the constant newness of the coming months.<br />
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First stop: Peru for a few days with the family, then off to Chile! Tomorrow begins the adventure of a lifetime!<br />
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<br />Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17585886415358283065noreply@blogger.com1