Public Transportation

I survived………one day! Today was my first day going to/from the University. We had an orientation to meet the professors of our intensive language program as well as talked with some student leaders of our respective universities about classes and professors and what to expect. The most entertaining part of the day, however, was getting to and from the University.

I started the day with Maria Jesus, mi hermana chilena. She took me to the metro (subway) station and I bought a frequent traveler card. She accompanied me as we got on the subway and were on our way. After four stops, we got off and caught the micro (bus). CRAZINESS. Talk about hundreds of buses with different numbers, different names, different colors, different directions, different stops. Total chaos. ANYWAY…Maria Jesus got me onto the right bus, and we were on our way…

…HOWEVER, after a certain hour of the day, the bus changes its course. Soooo….we are sitting there, and I see another student from my program with her host mom and she is looking a little confused. They got up to talk to the driver, who then informed us of the “cambio de direccion”---kind of important information. Soooo…we got off the bus and managed to stumble upon the University. With that level of confidence, Maria Jesus gave me my bag lunch, a kiss on the cheek, and a “buenasuerte” that I find my way home. Classic.

Anyway…class was great…the coordinators of the program seem awesome…and everything in that respect will be fine. Its getting home that will be today’s big test. Soooo…after our daily schedule finishes up, about five of us, all heading in the same general direction to our houses, get on the bus with a host mother of one of the students. She then directs us when to get off the bus, and I am confident that I know where I’m going. I get off…find the metro stop…and Im on my way. I left Nick with his map, a general direction of where to go, and a hope that he made it there okay. We shall see!!!! Anyway, confident that my adventure is over, I get on the subway and get off at my stop…and my adventure begins again.

When I got off the subway, I looked up and found myself in a maze of exits, all leading to different sides of different streets. I exited one way—looking for our tall white high rise (only to discover that ALL the buildings around us are tall white high rises) and then decided I was in the wrong place, so I went back underground to see if I could find a different exit. I felt like a little mole or rodent or something, poking my head out looking for danger ("Did I leave the gas on? NO I'm an f-ing squirrel!!"--eddieizzard). Anyway…eventually I found the correct building, but I couldn’t cross the street for fear of DEATH from all the cars, so I went back underground to find the exit next to my building. Que loco.

I have decided that Santiago is an unusual city---a city of mezcla. Some things are so advanced, others are incoherently basic and…I’ll go ahead and say it…third world. I mean, I bought my subway pass, which is then scanned by a laser “thingy” and automatically charged the amount for one ride---pretty advanced stuff. Then I get home and I have to put my toilet paper in the trashcan because the plumbing sucks. I truly think that, while they could change, they enjoy this slightly more simple lifestyle…even though they are one of the few Latin American countries with the infrastructure to change such things.

Enough of that. Santiago is a beautiful city. The Andes shine in the background, tempting the city-goers to slow down just a bit. It is a city where I stand out a little less, with other rubias walking around, making me less of a sore thumb in the crowded metro. It is a city filled with movement, buses, taxis, and motivation—motivation to work hard and contribute to the patria that is chile. I have so much more to explore...for now, that is all. I will be gone for the weekend, but I hope you have a good one!!!

Chau…
(Eliza) Beth o.