Santiago
I arrived back into Santiago, after what felt like a very long bus journey. I am not sure why it felt like that, I just guess I was getting sick of buses. Anyway I arrived at Paul’s apartment and dropped of my bags, had a quick bite to eat and set off for the Qantas office in Santiago, armed with as much paperwork as possible. I was aiming to get home to Melbourne by Easter, so I could spend it with the family. However after discussions with the staff at Qantas and seeing the lack of flights available, I knew that I could not make this happen. I had a decision to make. Should I try and get a second visa for Chile and stay an additional 90 days or make my way to London. I booked the flights to London and went away pondering this question… should I stay longer?
I had spoken to Alex previously on Messenger about my Columbia Ski Jacket that I had left in Brasil. He had arranged for someone to take it to Chile and I could collect it from them. I found out that it was Daniel and Thalia’s Auntie that had the jacket and that she lived in Santiago, not to far from Paul’s. I contacted Thalia and asked if she could help me get my jacket, in between other things that we were discussing. The following morning I went to where she was staying and met her Grandparents and some of her extended family. Thalia’s Aunt drove us to the other Aunt’s house to get my jacket. After 3 months of separation we were together again. Thalia had asked me earlier to meet her cousins and in the process I was asked to stay for lunch. I was in mid conversation with all three cousins when a problem with communication arose, the usual language barrier. I had thought that I had said one thing and Thalia had said that I had said the opposite, but when she repeated the word I said, I got very confused about it. I was trying to say it all in Spanish, but gave up and told Thalia to translate instead. She didn’t want too and I didn’t want to talk in Spanish anymore... so I think it ended the conversation. Luckily we were all called to the table for our late lunch.
The following morning I went to church in La Florida. That is where my new American friends have their ministry. I got up early enough and caught the metro train system and then walked the final 5-10mins. It was great to see them again and be able to share some time in church with them, even if I didn’t understand all that was being said. Listening to an American speak Spanish with an American accent is amusing, same accent but a different language. At that meeting I met Elizabeth Hallyburton. Her parents have been missionaries in Chile for almost 30years, first of all in Concepcion and now in Antofagasta. It was also great to speak to someone that had an Australian accent that was similar to mine (Her family comes from Melbourne) and in language that could be understood by both parties. The Smith’s invited me back to their house for lunch, but as I had been invited by Thalia’s family first, I did the right thing and went there for lunch, indicating that I would come for a meal another day at the Smith’s.
Over the next few days I went to visit the Smith family and have dinner with them. Their house was so different, this time, as there was no boxes and everything look like it was in far better order than during moving time. I also chatted with Elizabeth and I think that we got on quite well. She is studying Music at University in Santiago and is staying with the Smith’s while she studies. A few days later she called me up and we arranged to meet and go to her sister’s house, so I could meet her (once she got home from work) and her 2 nieces and 1 nephew. We had a great time at the supermarket and then swimming in the pool and counting in English with her eldest niece. I had a lot of fun and a very relaxing time.
I also went shopping for last minute gifts in some of the local markets, called ferias. During these outings I would also go shopping for food items to cook a final meal for everyone. I wanted to invite a few people over to say thanks for the memories, as during this time, I had decided to leave Chile and move on to England. I felt, from conversations and actions, it was time for me to leave. I felt that God was telling me that he no loner wanted me in Chile. Plus I think that the small apartment would have been very cramped for space with the arrival of Alex and Karen from Brazil. So, the last night I was in Chile, for the 2007 – 2008 trip, I cooked a wonderful sweet chicken stir-fry and my, now World Famous, Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding. I only had a few people over, as I wanted to share my last night with them. There was Paul, Danni and Nati (of course) and I invited Andres, Thalia and Eli. The 7 of us had a wonderful night, well I think we did and that is all that matters, of chatting and eating and drinking. It was also great to catch up with Andres and share some of my stories and adventures of both Brazil and Chile with him. However, as usual the night did not finish until about 5am and I didn’t get to sleep until about 6. One problem…I needed to be at the airport by 12noon for a 2pm flight, I had to be up at 10. Now that wasn’t the problem, the problem was making sure Paul was up to take me. At 10:30 a taxi was called and I was on my way by 11, after saying ‘Goodbye’ to a very sleepy Paul. Thalia, who had stayed overnight, decided to join me in coming to the airport, so I wouldn’t be alone. It was great that she did, as I never like going to airports by myself, even if I am going to be leaving a place. However once I started walking to the customs booths, I turned to see if she was still there and she was not to be seen. I was on my own again, starting a journey to another country, Happy that I was leaving Chile behind me.
I arrived back into Santiago, after what felt like a very long bus journey. I am not sure why it felt like that, I just guess I was getting sick of buses. Anyway I arrived at Paul’s apartment and dropped of my bags, had a quick bite to eat and set off for the Qantas office in Santiago, armed with as much paperwork as possible. I was aiming to get home to Melbourne by Easter, so I could spend it with the family. However after discussions with the staff at Qantas and seeing the lack of flights available, I knew that I could not make this happen. I had a decision to make. Should I try and get a second visa for Chile and stay an additional 90 days or make my way to London. I booked the flights to London and went away pondering this question… should I stay longer?
I had spoken to Alex previously on Messenger about my Columbia Ski Jacket that I had left in Brasil. He had arranged for someone to take it to Chile and I could collect it from them. I found out that it was Daniel and Thalia’s Auntie that had the jacket and that she lived in Santiago, not to far from Paul’s. I contacted Thalia and asked if she could help me get my jacket, in between other things that we were discussing. The following morning I went to where she was staying and met her Grandparents and some of her extended family. Thalia’s Aunt drove us to the other Aunt’s house to get my jacket. After 3 months of separation we were together again. Thalia had asked me earlier to meet her cousins and in the process I was asked to stay for lunch. I was in mid conversation with all three cousins when a problem with communication arose, the usual language barrier. I had thought that I had said one thing and Thalia had said that I had said the opposite, but when she repeated the word I said, I got very confused about it. I was trying to say it all in Spanish, but gave up and told Thalia to translate instead. She didn’t want too and I didn’t want to talk in Spanish anymore... so I think it ended the conversation. Luckily we were all called to the table for our late lunch.
The following morning I went to church in La Florida. That is where my new American friends have their ministry. I got up early enough and caught the metro train system and then walked the final 5-10mins. It was great to see them again and be able to share some time in church with them, even if I didn’t understand all that was being said. Listening to an American speak Spanish with an American accent is amusing, same accent but a different language. At that meeting I met Elizabeth Hallyburton. Her parents have been missionaries in Chile for almost 30years, first of all in Concepcion and now in Antofagasta. It was also great to speak to someone that had an Australian accent that was similar to mine (Her family comes from Melbourne) and in language that could be understood by both parties. The Smith’s invited me back to their house for lunch, but as I had been invited by Thalia’s family first, I did the right thing and went there for lunch, indicating that I would come for a meal another day at the Smith’s.
Over the next few days I went to visit the Smith family and have dinner with them. Their house was so different, this time, as there was no boxes and everything look like it was in far better order than during moving time. I also chatted with Elizabeth and I think that we got on quite well. She is studying Music at University in Santiago and is staying with the Smith’s while she studies. A few days later she called me up and we arranged to meet and go to her sister’s house, so I could meet her (once she got home from work) and her 2 nieces and 1 nephew. We had a great time at the supermarket and then swimming in the pool and counting in English with her eldest niece. I had a lot of fun and a very relaxing time.
I also went shopping for last minute gifts in some of the local markets, called ferias. During these outings I would also go shopping for food items to cook a final meal for everyone. I wanted to invite a few people over to say thanks for the memories, as during this time, I had decided to leave Chile and move on to England. I felt, from conversations and actions, it was time for me to leave. I felt that God was telling me that he no loner wanted me in Chile. Plus I think that the small apartment would have been very cramped for space with the arrival of Alex and Karen from Brazil. So, the last night I was in Chile, for the 2007 – 2008 trip, I cooked a wonderful sweet chicken stir-fry and my, now World Famous, Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding. I only had a few people over, as I wanted to share my last night with them. There was Paul, Danni and Nati (of course) and I invited Andres, Thalia and Eli. The 7 of us had a wonderful night, well I think we did and that is all that matters, of chatting and eating and drinking. It was also great to catch up with Andres and share some of my stories and adventures of both Brazil and Chile with him. However, as usual the night did not finish until about 5am and I didn’t get to sleep until about 6. One problem…I needed to be at the airport by 12noon for a 2pm flight, I had to be up at 10. Now that wasn’t the problem, the problem was making sure Paul was up to take me. At 10:30 a taxi was called and I was on my way by 11, after saying ‘Goodbye’ to a very sleepy Paul. Thalia, who had stayed overnight, decided to join me in coming to the airport, so I wouldn’t be alone. It was great that she did, as I never like going to airports by myself, even if I am going to be leaving a place. However once I started walking to the customs booths, I turned to see if she was still there and she was not to be seen. I was on my own again, starting a journey to another country, Happy that I was leaving Chile behind me.
1 comment:
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If ossible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Aparelho de DVD, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://aparelho-dvd.blogspot.com. A hug.
Post a Comment