The Tip of the World: Part One

We set out on our adventure for a last minute trip to the bottom of the world no completely knowing what to expect.  With the idea of normalcy (as in regular work schedules) looming in the very near future, we knew that using our Chilean summer to its fullest should include a trip to Patagonia, because there are just some things you shouldn't miss.  If it seems like I'm always saying "our last minute trip", I am.  It isn't that we don't talk about these things for awhile in advance as "ideas", research even,  but the actual down and dirty planning tends to happen in one frantic afternoon of booking, less than a week out.  Maybe there are better ways to travel, but everything seems to be working out for us so far.  

Our preparation included plane tickets, packing a backpack that would allow enough things for an 11 day trip, but at the same time would be feasible to carry on our 4ish day hike in Torres del Paine, reading up on "things to do", booking hostels/campsites in the park, and creating an itinerary that we would try to follow.  Most of the research about Torres del Paine that I did began to make me nervous, saying things like "hey... book FAR in advance", but we didn't have any trouble booking 4 days in advance, and honestly, I think we had a great deal more planned by the time we got there than a lot of people.  Patagonia laughs at your plans anyway... more on that later.

We took a flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas where we planned to immediately take a bus to the small town of Puerto Natales (the kind of "jumping point" to the park).  The second leg of our flight was delayed, leaving us in the bustling airport of Puerto Montt for more than your typical layover, but eventually we made it to Punta Arenas.  Unfortunately, our flight being delayed caused us to miss the last available bus to Puerto Natales that evening.  Luckily, we weren't the only people affected by this little mishap and in a rare glimmer of awesome in Chilean customer service, the fine people of SKY Airlines arranged a private transport van to take 7 of us FOR FREE on the three hour drive to Puerto Natales.  Well done folks... Well done. 

We planned our trip to include two days in Puerto Natales, which if you are taking the trip, you don't necessarily need that much time.  The town is small and as I said before, mainly serves as a stopping point to and from the park, but for what the town "lacked" in touristy activities, it made up for in charm and beautiful views.  Other than the random coffee shop girl that responded with a loud and obnoxious, "QUE??" when Michael asked about "muffins" which was written in size 230 font on the board behind her, the people were really friendly.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.  

We spend our first day walking around town, visiting the giant milidon statue that greats the town's visitors, and getting our first TINY glimpse of Patagonian wind.  Our hostel, Casa Lili, had a free info session where Mauricio (who I'm sure has hiked every trail and non-trail of that park) gave some advice for tackling the hike.  We ate lunch at a great Brewery/Hamburger/Mexican food restaurant, which is a must visit in Puerto Natales called Baguales Brewery.  We had some craft beer, some carnitas tacos, and It.  Was.   Goooood. They even messed up Michael's order (and by that I mean it took just a little bit longer to come out) and gave us free beer for the wait... make that TWO strange Chilean customer service check marks in two days... weird.  That evening, after we conquered the grocery store to buy food to take with us for the next five days, we went to a bar where we ended up playing darts for a couple hours (since we were seriously the only people there).  I used it as an opportunity to practice doing math outloud in Spanish... since, in case you don't know my secret shame, I am EXTRA terrible at Spanish numbers that include the number 5.  I am proud to report that I hit a couple bullseyes... I am less proud to report that every time I did I struggled to say 50... sigh.

The next morning we did a little more exploring before catching the bus to the park in the afternoon, where we would start our "W" adventure.  

Photo Shoot with the Milidon... giant sloth dude.

Learning a New Language: Part Two

I never realized just how extensive my vocabulary is in English until I started  trying to express myself  in Spanish.  It can be so frustrating knowing that every Spanish-speaker that you meet doesn't really get a true impression of you.  Honestly, I speak Spanish like a child, and not a smart one.  When I write in Spanish, I cringe at the sentence structure and idea development  that frankly reminds me of that journal from 1st grade I found while cleaning out closets at my parents' house.  There is a quote about the journey and the destination that I'm sure applies here... as in it takes time.. yeah whatever.

New points:

When in doubt.. Spanish up that English word.
It actually works more often than not.  You don't always guess correctly, but you guess close enough that you can communicate and be corrected.  Want an adverb?  Take off that -ly and add -amente.  Add an o to the end, or -acion in a pinch.  Sometimes you can just pronounce English words with Spanish vowel sounds. (those are my faves).  It is amazing the correct words you can learn by not being afraid to say the wrong ones.  For someone that hates to be wrong, this can be incredibly humbling.  I am definitely having to learn to accept the fact that I don't have all of the answers.


Learning a language is like riding a roller coaster, as in today I might be speaking like a 3rd grader and tomorrow I'll be back to speaking less than little Antonia (who is 3).  Luckily, I have classmates that can relate and it is apparently normal.  I am looking forward to the moment when my lows aren't quite so frustrating.

Trying to think in a language is as important as trying to speak it.
I have officially started dreaming in a weird Spanish/English mix.  I actually think I may remember things in my dreams that I don't remember when I'm awake.
Trying to translate in your head is impossible and ridiculous.  My ears are getting used to the sound of Spanish and my brain is getting used to responding without the trip from Spanish to English then English to Spanish. Progress folks!

Anyway-- Since my brain is so full of gramatica, I sometimes choose the wrong form out of the pack, but it is getting better and today I even fooled a couple strangers into thinking that I speak the language... Sure... I just asked for a bottle of water and paid for my groceries.. but baby steps.  :)

Learning a New Language--Part One

First a few disclaimers:

1.  I know I am not the first person in the world to learn a new language.  I realize that people do this every day, and that some people have managed to learn 5 languages throughout their lifetime.

2. When I say that things can be difficult or bizarre, I don't mean to complain at all.  I am throroughly enjoying the process and the daily marathon brain workout.

3.  These are purely MY observations, based soley on my opinion  and how I feel... not scientific fact.

Now...

I have been in Chile for right at a month, dropped in a close-to sink or swim situation.  Having a person legally bound to you that is fluent in both English and Spanish definitely helps with complete overload, but in the past month I have definitely had to get used to a few things that come with not knowing the language.
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I rarely (with the exception of stupid teacher inservice) sit in a room without contributing to the conversation.  Even if it is a topic that I know very little about, I will offer the occaisional encouragement or affirmation to those speaking.  September 2012 was a very quiet month for me.  Somedays I sat in rooms full of conversation for hours without saying more than 3 or 4 sentences.  At every moment, I am listening so intently, hoping that context clues will help me commit more vocabulary words to memory, and crossing my fingers that I didn't miss the keyword that makes the concept being discussed the exact opposite of what I thought they meant.  Chileans speak, forgive me, but FREAKING FAST.  This causes me to be about 3 sentences behind at all times when trying to understand them, which in turn causes me to look like a deer in headlights when they ask me a question and I am still deciphering the what I assume to be "sentence" that they said 20 seconds ago, but sounded to me like one giant word.  Then, OBVIO, I have to ask them to repeat it, and they assume I understood nothing--which isn't the case-- Rinse and Repeat. 
Somedays I can understand everything and the very next day, I catch about half.  Just like anything, I know you can't just add water, but that would be SO awesome. 

I am enrolled in intensive Spanish classes which is awesome for learning so much grammar that it explodes out of your ears.  My classes are taught entirely in Spanish, which is definitely something those of us that grew up in the states have never had to experience.  Honestly, this class would be far less effective if they were explaing Spanish to me in English (which seems bizarre), but it gives me hours a day where I hear CORRECT Spanish.  I also feel that I am getting a better handle on language concepts in general.  The hard part is, taking the correct Spanish outside of the classroom and trying to understand slang.  For your entertainment... a few things the average Chilean does to make Spanish impossible to understand (at first).
Take the word:  Gracias, for example.  They don't pronounce the S as much as they let it aspirate, and they do this with all words ending in s.
Take the word: Cansado (tired)... That d is only there for looks in Chile-- Cansao (ow)
adding "ito" to the end of everything.  It isn't a plato.. it is a platito.  Your name isn't Francisco, but Francisquito. 
There are so many more, but I'll spare you.  Yet another disclaimer:  I know that we are just as bad (especially in the South) at making up pronunciations and words in English.

Pronunciation can be challenging, because there are just some sounds that don't exist to my brain, but I am proud to say that I have now been told multiple times that I don't have an American accent... that I sound more like a French person--- so #Winning.  Spanish with a Texas accent is ridiculous, so I'm glad I can fool everyone so far. 

Now for a small rant.  No one else in my class is from an English speaking country, YET they all have at least a working knowledge (enough to converse) in English.  Seriously!!  I am the silly American that knows only one langauge... and that is unfortunate.  We should do a better job of langauge education.  (I will try in my future years as a band director to encourage foreign language RIGHT UNDER music :).

I purchased the first Harry Potter in Spanish and have been reading it very slowly for the last couple of weeks.  I have learned quite a few phrases and vocabulary words, some more useful than others.  (I don't know that the word for owl, wand, and "he who must not be named" are street useful, but the word for muggle is muggle... so there ya go).

This is just the beginning and I am sure there will be many followups to this blog (a series if you will) as I continue to grow in Spanish.  Until then, Hasta luego.