The Birthday Present
The son of one of my caregivers had a birthday last week. Victor was turning eleven. I'd met him once when María brought him to visit. He was sweet and shy around me, an innocent ten-year old who was excited to meet a gringa. María had told me that his birthday was...
Love Me Tender
This little book, that's been so close to my heart for over two years, is now LIVE on Amazon. If you're in the US and have Amazon Prime, your copy can arrive by next week. The facts: It's bilingual--English-Spanish. It's beautifully illustrated. It's perfect for...
Am I Chilean Yet?
A couple of years ago, the Matador Network published an article called "20 Signs that You're Culturally Chilean." I wrote a blog post about it, claiming a few of the signs for myself. I found my old blog post and now I wonder if I've adopted any more Chilean...
Alternative Facts
Recently, I joined a new Facebook group for female travelers over 40. I was surprised when I discovered another member from Chile. We started communicating and realized that we're in the same city. This never happens to me. Usually, I'm the Lone Ranger who's in Chile....
Dulce o Travesura
The first year that I lived in Santiago, Chile, I was invited to a Halloween party. My Spanish was rudimentary then. I remember how awkward I felt, being the only non-native Spanish speaker in the room. Most of the evening, I didn't know what was going on. Halloween...
Hello…and How Are You
"¿Cómo aprendiste tu inglés?" I turned to look at the small boy standing next to me on the Metro train. How did you learn English? He had obviously been listening to me and my friends speaking in English. "Just like you learned Spanish," I told him in Spanish. "I grew...
The Lolo
Apartment living has its advantages and its challenges. The apartment I'm in is owned by a friend. It's in a nice building, a comfy apartment with a partial view of the Pacific Ocean. It's also in a university area, which means that it's convenient for students who...
7 Good Things about Being “Stuck” in Chile
Six weeks ago, I fell and broke three bones in my left ankle. I had to have emergency surgery one week before I was scheduled to leave Chile. Today, I had a check-up at the hospital. Here, check-ups are called "control." So I went for control, expecting to be cleared...
Three Lucky Doggies
These three doggies have it good. Why do I say that? Because compared to the other 999,997* street dogs in Santiago, Chile, they are doing well. The man in this photo takes care of them. He works as a street cleaner in El Centro. I often see him when I'm out and...
¡Viva Chile!
Can you spot the gringa? Last Monday, September 18, was Chile's national holiday, Fiestas Patrias. It's usually celebrated with friends and family. Often, there's a barbeque involved. Other than going to doctor visits, I had not been leaving the safety and comfort of...
If Life Gives You Lemons
No photos of sutures or bedpans. No talk about hospitals or check ups. Instead, let's talk about food. Since I can't stand up to prepare my own meals due to my broken ankle, I have two women who come in to cook, do light cleaning, take care of the laundry, etc. I may...
Humpty Dumpty
A week ago Wednesday, I got up early in Santiago and took the Metro out to the bus station. My friends in the Quinta Región of Chile had invited me to visit for the day. Actually, they would have been happy if I'd agreed to stay for several days, but I had commitments...