Jenna plays Interpreter in Chile. Wait! WHAT?!

So last week my host mom, Alicia, asked me if I could do her a favor. Who knew that she would ask me to be an interpreter for here?! My host mom works at a Blood Bank here in Viña at a hospital called Gustavo Fricke after a doctor who worked there. So early Monday morning I arrived at the hospital to begin translating. I met this girl from England and her name was Joanna. She works for a hospital in England and her work asked her to come to Chile to do an investigation. She wanted to learn about Chilean hospitals here. She was hoping to take back what she learned here and apply it in England. I think it was really brave of her to come here to Chile to do this project, especially because she doesn't speak much Spanish. However, for only being here a couple weeks she has picked up some phrases and words. So there I was being introduced as an interpreter... How relieved Joanna looked, when I started talking to her in English! "Oh, you speak English! Great!" she said to me with excitement. And then we were off!

Joanna was working on a 2 year research project regarding Blood and Transplants. Basically she wanted to learn how to identify the key drivers in the demand planning process for national blood stocks.

She had some very detailed questions about the Blood Bank. The changes in the the use of blood and the amount being used. She wanted to learn about the main factors that influences this increase of decrease of blood within the hospital.

So the interview was a little intense. haha and a little over my head at first. There were A LOT of medical terms and at times it was semi-exhausting. hehehe But.... I survived and afterwards I was able to see it as a learning experience. And a good one! I have never done something like this before! It is pretty crazy listening two languages at the same time and thinking in those same two languages at the same time. My brain has gotten used to speaking more Spanish than English on a daily basis. It was actually weird to hear myself talking in English and then in Spanish right afterwards. We also did the same interview at a hospital in Valpo (Valparaiso).

Afterwards, one of the doctors took the two of us girls out to lunch. We at this amazing restaurant. Fine dining. =) We ate clams with Parmesan cheese for an appetizer. Then we had salad and a famous fish in Chile called Congrio. It was delicious! Afterwards the doctor, Pedro, wanted to take Joanna around and show her the sights. We went to different hills in Valpo and showed her some of the famous lookouts!

Over all it was a long and fun-filled day. I got the chance to play interpreter and I think I liked it. Much love,

Jenna

Vamos CHILE!

CHI! CHI! LE! LE! CHI-CHI-CHI- LE-LE- LE VIVA CHILE! screamed and sang the Chileans at the soccer game! I went to my FIRST futbol (soccer) game here in Chile.I have never been one for soccer. It's not that I didn't like it, but more like I just never got that into it. But... I think my host brother Tomás is very proud of me, because now I am really starting to like it. =) Especially when I get to see it LIVE. It definitely makes a difference! So from now on soccer is more on my radar. Haha thanks to this house full of boys. Soccer Fanatics! =P Everyone in my host family is divided into different Chilean soccer teams. My host brother Nacho and my host dad Gabriel are both Santiago Wanderers fans. My host brother Matias is a fan of Colo Colo. Finally there are the fans of La U: my host brothers Tomás and Lucas and my host mom Alicia. La U used to be associated with the Universidad de Chile (University of Chile). This is the University that my host brother Tomás goes to in Santiago. And me...what team do I have? I don't have one! hahaha. I have decided that it is safer to play it neutral. It is safer that way. It is pretty funny when everyone tries to sweet talk me into choosing their team of choice. Gabriel always says that I am his "Wanderina." But I have to say that my host brother Tomás and Lucas definitely try the hardest to convince me to choose La "U." They are always showing me videos on youtube. Videos of amazing goals and the crazy fanatic fans.

Anyways... back to the game on the 14th. I went with a group of 30 people and we took a bus. The game was against Ecuador. The game was played at the Monumental Stadium in Santiago. The Chilean team usually plays at the National Stadium, but right now it is under construction. The Monumental Stadium is also where Matias's team Colo Colo plays. My friend Philippe helped organize this whole trip to the game. We were all spirited with our red Chilean fútbol jerseys. My host brother Tomás let me borrow his. =) I also bought a Chilean flag! It only cost me $3. We had pretty good seats too. We were right behind one of the goals. It was so funny...So our group was made up of a lot of exchange students, especially blonde, white american girls. That REALLY caught the attention of the majority of Chilean guys in the stands. The next thing we knew they were standing up in groups and applauding. haha There was cheering and the snapping of photos. I even took some pictures with some of them, who had their faces painted like the Chilean flag. Talk about spirit! They have so many chants and songs. I learned almost all of them. =P We did the wave with the rest of the audience. Someone even made a dummy doll that was wearing a little yellow shirt like the players from Ecuador. Everyone was tossing it around in the stands. People even brought in toilet paper and beach balls. However, the most impressive as the amount of fireworks and flares. We won the game! Chile- 1 and Ecuador -0. Overall it was an awesome day! I want to go to another one. until my next post...

ARGENTINA!

I am still writing I promise!! hehe okay... so here are some big highlights.

I went to Argentina! Mendoza, Argentina. We had a long weekend, so I was there from friday Oct 9 to monday Oct 12. I have been wanting to travel, and I finally got the chance! I started talking to my friend Pam, another gringa, and she invited me to go to Mendoza. We were a total of 6. There was me, Pam, Jessi, Emma, and the chilean host moms of Jessi and Emma. We went to buy our bus tickets and they only costed 24,000 pesos for each ticket. It was a little less than $50. It is an 8 hour bus ride! The longest time I think I have ever been in a bus. This included coffe/tea, soda, a sandwich, and an alfajor (which are these AMAZING cookies. They are made with this carmel "manjar" in the middle). My brother Bobby is obsessed with manjar! He couldn't get enough of it when he was here. Don't worry bud we can make some when I get back home! I am going to learn how to make it, but it seems really simple. Our bus left early friday morning at 8:30am. 8 hours later we arrived in Mendoza! It was really warm! Definitely felt like a warmer spring than we were currently having in Chile. We eventually found a hostel and settled down. I felt like I was back at summer camp. A room filled with bunk beds and all girls!

When I told my host family that I was going to go to Argentina everyone agreed that I need to eat A LOT of carne (meat)! Matias (my host brother) and Alicia (my host mom) especially stressed this! And they were SO RIGHT. Meat there is REALLY cheap and REALLY TASTY. One night for dinner I tried Bife Chorizo. mmm my mouth still waters when I think about it. haha. I also tried my first "submarino" like the word submarine in English. It is like a hot chocolate. It is warmed milk that is served with a really rich chocolate bar. You drop the chocolate bar into the cup and let it melt a little bit. Then in every spoonful you get the yummy combination of chocolate and warm milk. mmm

We also went to a buffet or a "tenedor libre" (free fork). We ate all kinds of yummy food. There was even a stir fry noodle dish that was almost good asian food. I really miss all of my favorite asian food back at home. =)

I discovered that Argentinians are exceptionally friendly. They really go out of their way to tell you to take care, and that you stay in good health. Everyone was super friendly, when we were in need of directions. I started up so many conversations with people at the feria (art fair). We went to a big feria in the main plaza called "Plaza Independencia." I was told several times that I have a Chilean accent! =P hahaha I felt proud. I definitely confused some people in Argentina. They knew I wasn't Chilean, but they couldn't understand why I was talking in Spanish like the Chileans. They also have a distinct accent as well. I picked up on their accent really fast. I think I have their accent down. Haha I can say a couple words and phrases the way they do. They use a lot of the "sh" sound. For example they pronounce Chile => "Shile."

It was overall a great trip. Relaxing and fun. I really want to go back sometime in the future.