This past Saturday night a few of my friends and I decided to go into D.C. and go out. We were planning to go to Adam's Morgan, a fun young bar scene. We start off the night pre-gaming at Talya's apartment.
Jen, Talya, Ariel, Baruch, and Danielle are all pre-gaming, some more than others. It was getting late and we needed to walk to the metro.
I have to say that I am really happy that I bought my new heels because I swear I can walk for miles in them. Maybe not miles, but for long distances.
Back to my night. We all arrive at the metro only to have Jen's heel break. Baruch told her to put gum to keep the heel together, thinking that it will stick. Of course that didn't work so we asked the security guard for some tape. She was so mean and would only give us a tiny piece of tape. We are finally in the metro heading to Adam's Morgan when all of a sudden one of my friends (I will not name names) tells us she feels sick and needs to get off the metro. She hurries to a bench a proceeds to puke. It was not a pretty site.
Of course this has to happen to us. Baruch tries to find some thicker tape for Jen's shoe, while we are taking care of one of our friends. Obviously she was unable to go out, and she insisted that we still go out. Jen and I carry her outside where the taxi was waiting for her and Jen. Jen also decided she wasn't going to go out because of her shoe, so she would take our friend home.
The rest of us hopped onto the metro and headed to Adam's Morgan. We took a cab from the metro to the bar and finally we have arrived. We went to the bar called The Reef. Its a cool place where they have a balcony and on the second floor its a dance club. Baruch isn't the crazy dancer, so we sat down and just enjoyed each others company. I have to say that I love going out with Baruch and Ariel, you can never have a bad time with them.
The other girl who came with us, left to go and try to meet up with a boy. So now there were 3.
We left the club after a little while to get some falafel. We went to this really good falafel restaurant and ate there. It was 2:30am and the metro was going to close at 3am, so we got in a cab to leave. We arrived at the metro but we were not going to leave without our other friend. She calls me and tells me that she is walking by herself to the metro. I was like oh gosh, its too dangerous to do that. Then she says that she is lost, holy shit!
Finally she found a cab and came to us, just in time. We took the metro back to College Park and walked from the metro to our places.
It wasn't my ideal night, but I still had fun anyways. Thank you Baruch and Ariel!!!!
Aventura en College Park, Md
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Bienvenido a los Estados Unidos!!
So I know it has been wayyyy too long and I apologize. I am back in the good old United States. I actually just started school yesterday!
I came back to school a week early and of course everything bad that happens, happened. Now I do not want you to think that these were extremely serious events, but it was really annoying.
I arrived at around 7:30pm and realized that my ex-roommate had friends that slept in my bed, so of course I stripped the sheets to clean them. Because who knows what they did in my bed, hopefully nothing dirty.
My roommate, Jen, lent me a sheet so I slept in that. Not the perfect welcome home but it will do. Then when I wanted to wash my sheets I lent it to a friend...a day and half later I retrieved all my sheets to find out that they were still wet and they smelt like mold. How shitty is that?!?
I took it back to my apartment to try to dry my sheets, sent it thru the dryer twice and of course they were still not dry. I had no idea why this was happening to me, but it was. I hung all my sheets around the apartment and it smelled like mold :(
Then we got this "huge hurricane", I put it in quotes because the entire state of Maryland does not know what to do during any natural disaster. They were freaking out only to have a tropical storm, and of course my apartment lost electricity. Every other building, but mine, got their power back. We of course did not get it back til 2 days later. Why, you ask???? I do not know, ask Pepco.
It is nice to be back, but I must say I do miss South America like crazy. College Park just does not cut it anymore. I will for sure be going to D.C. a whole lot more this semester.
Senior Year!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Buenos Aires!!!
I apologize for lacking on the blogging. So my program has ended Thursday and Friday I set off for Buenos Aires on a 22 hour bus ride. The bus ride was actually not that bad. I arrived at 9pm at Mendoza and then at 10pm left to go to Buenos Aires.
I got to the BA at 1pm and from there Dany picked me up and we went on the Subte, that's there subway system, and took it to our apartment. This apartment is cute and small. Nothing fancy shmancy, but we do not really need that. Saturday was mainly a relaxing day because I must say, sitting on a bus for 22 hours can be extremely tiring.
The next day we went to meet up with Dany's friends to go to the feria. Let me try to remember all of his friends: Karen, Molly, Tony, Jenna, Scott, and Erica. I think I got all their names down. They were all extremely nice. Keep telling me that they finally get to meet 'The Famous Haya.' I must say, I do like hearing that. I knew once I left everyone the girls were going to talk about me and discuss what they think of me. Hopefully its all good.
Dany went to school this morning so I am just relaxing til I meet him at 1:30pm. I really hope I do not get lost because that will really suck. Its a pretty day outside and cannot wait to start my day.
Chaoooo
I got to the BA at 1pm and from there Dany picked me up and we went on the Subte, that's there subway system, and took it to our apartment. This apartment is cute and small. Nothing fancy shmancy, but we do not really need that. Saturday was mainly a relaxing day because I must say, sitting on a bus for 22 hours can be extremely tiring.
The next day we went to meet up with Dany's friends to go to the feria. Let me try to remember all of his friends: Karen, Molly, Tony, Jenna, Scott, and Erica. I think I got all their names down. They were all extremely nice. Keep telling me that they finally get to meet 'The Famous Haya.' I must say, I do like hearing that. I knew once I left everyone the girls were going to talk about me and discuss what they think of me. Hopefully its all good.
Dany went to school this morning so I am just relaxing til I meet him at 1:30pm. I really hope I do not get lost because that will really suck. Its a pretty day outside and cannot wait to start my day.
Chaoooo
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Chag Sameach!!!
Last night was the first night of Passover and I celebrated it at my friend, Daniel's house with his entire family. There were roughly 21 people there, all Chileans except for one other gringo. Yes, I am called a gringo. To define gringo for ya'll, it is anyone who does not live in South America.
We did not start the seder til about 9pm. I get there and see that I am completely overdressed. I did not really care because I have to admit, I looked good! We were all cramped up in the dining room, I sat next to Daniel's cousin and family friends. This seder was a combination of Sephardic and Ashkenazi which was completely new for me, since I am only Ashkenazi. They did all the same songs as I do, plus some other songs that I did not know. Everything was in Spanish, and I understood 90% of it! I was extremely proud of myself. We had gefilta fish and matzo ball soup, sooooo Ashkenazi. Then they brought out rice, that was the Sephardic part of the meal. The entire family was extremely warm and friendly, but I must say it did make me miss home a lot.
My mother told me that she had 29 people come over for her seder. That's a crazy amount! I am sure her seder went beautifully and the food was incredible. I did not come home until 1am. Longest Seder ever!!!! But extremely enjoyable. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience.
Keeping Passover in a country where their main diet is bread, is extremely hard. I walk along the streets drooling over the empanadas and all the pastries that I can no longer eat. I keep reminding myself its a cleansing week, to try and ease my hunger. It is actually nice not being able to eat the empanadas because a week before Passover I definitely went on a carb binge. I just want to tell you that I did not gain any weight, just like to eat.
I am extremely sad that my program is coming to an end because I have made incredible friends and have fallen in love with Santiago. I really wish we had more time :(
We did not start the seder til about 9pm. I get there and see that I am completely overdressed. I did not really care because I have to admit, I looked good! We were all cramped up in the dining room, I sat next to Daniel's cousin and family friends. This seder was a combination of Sephardic and Ashkenazi which was completely new for me, since I am only Ashkenazi. They did all the same songs as I do, plus some other songs that I did not know. Everything was in Spanish, and I understood 90% of it! I was extremely proud of myself. We had gefilta fish and matzo ball soup, sooooo Ashkenazi. Then they brought out rice, that was the Sephardic part of the meal. The entire family was extremely warm and friendly, but I must say it did make me miss home a lot.
My mother told me that she had 29 people come over for her seder. That's a crazy amount! I am sure her seder went beautifully and the food was incredible. I did not come home until 1am. Longest Seder ever!!!! But extremely enjoyable. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience.
Keeping Passover in a country where their main diet is bread, is extremely hard. I walk along the streets drooling over the empanadas and all the pastries that I can no longer eat. I keep reminding myself its a cleansing week, to try and ease my hunger. It is actually nice not being able to eat the empanadas because a week before Passover I definitely went on a carb binge. I just want to tell you that I did not gain any weight, just like to eat.
I am extremely sad that my program is coming to an end because I have made incredible friends and have fallen in love with Santiago. I really wish we had more time :(
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Shabbat Shalom!
This Friday I celebrated my first Chilean Shabbat!!!! My friend Aliza Belcourt from yearcourse is studying abroad in Valparaiso. She came to Santiago because her sister is visiting her, so I got her invited with me to my friend, Daniel's house for Shabbat dinner.
First we went to services. He goes to an Orthodox Synagogue where the women and men are separated. I actually wore a really cute outfit that consisted of clothes that I bought from Chile. Looking back, I bought a lot of clothes here and I cannot wait to show everyone back in the states! I was so surprised to know a lot of the tunes for the prayers. I swear I felt like I was back in Beth Yeshurun for a little. Made me miss home, for like 10 seconds! Just kidding!!
After services the family of the Bat Mitzvah girl organized a huge spread of desserts and snacks. I ate these brownies that were so moist and delicious. I swear I had about 5 pieces!!!
Then Daniel drove us to his really nice apartment, where is parents, brother, and cousin of his brother-in-law where all waiting for us. I have to tell you that all Chileans have this fascination for people from the USA. They love trying to speak English as well as hearing how we speak spanish. His family was super nice and so welcoming. We did not start eating til 9pm. It was a late meal...we had two types of sauces for fish, Israeli salads, and knish. Everything tasted amazing. All the while we were also drinking wine with the meals. Of course there was no water because Chileans hate water. For dessert we had lemon pie and chocolate covered almonds. For some reason his parents thought that I have never had pie before, I was like I am from Texas I have had so much pie. Then Aliza and I began naming all the different pies we've had.
We didn't leave the house til like 1230am. Daniel was going to drive us back to my house and from there Aliza was going to her hostel. So Daniel drives a stick shift and I have always wanted to learn because I think the coolest cars have stick shift. Daniel preceded to teach me how to drive, he got out of his car and we switched seats. I must say I am a pretty fast learner. I need a little more practice, but then I am good to go!!!
First we went to services. He goes to an Orthodox Synagogue where the women and men are separated. I actually wore a really cute outfit that consisted of clothes that I bought from Chile. Looking back, I bought a lot of clothes here and I cannot wait to show everyone back in the states! I was so surprised to know a lot of the tunes for the prayers. I swear I felt like I was back in Beth Yeshurun for a little. Made me miss home, for like 10 seconds! Just kidding!!
After services the family of the Bat Mitzvah girl organized a huge spread of desserts and snacks. I ate these brownies that were so moist and delicious. I swear I had about 5 pieces!!!
Then Daniel drove us to his really nice apartment, where is parents, brother, and cousin of his brother-in-law where all waiting for us. I have to tell you that all Chileans have this fascination for people from the USA. They love trying to speak English as well as hearing how we speak spanish. His family was super nice and so welcoming. We did not start eating til 9pm. It was a late meal...we had two types of sauces for fish, Israeli salads, and knish. Everything tasted amazing. All the while we were also drinking wine with the meals. Of course there was no water because Chileans hate water. For dessert we had lemon pie and chocolate covered almonds. For some reason his parents thought that I have never had pie before, I was like I am from Texas I have had so much pie. Then Aliza and I began naming all the different pies we've had.
We didn't leave the house til like 1230am. Daniel was going to drive us back to my house and from there Aliza was going to her hostel. So Daniel drives a stick shift and I have always wanted to learn because I think the coolest cars have stick shift. Daniel preceded to teach me how to drive, he got out of his car and we switched seats. I must say I am a pretty fast learner. I need a little more practice, but then I am good to go!!!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
You Know your in Chile When...
My friends on my program came up with a Facebook group called "You Know Your in Chile When..."
People post different situations that has been happening to us in Chile. I thought it would be fun to share some of what my friends have posted.
You know your in Chile when...
Jay Balagna
People post different situations that has been happening to us in Chile. I thought it would be fun to share some of what my friends have posted.
You know your in Chile when...
Jay Balagna
... you're helping your family cook and for more than an hour your only job is to peel tomatoes.
... when you take a coca cola with you jogging
...when you see nothing but mullets and even think for a second that you, yourself can pull one off jajjaaja
when you get turned on by a girl in elastic jeans and a floral shirt
when you watch a mother put fanta in her baby's sippy cup
When youre pissed you paid for the bus even though you swear you took the metro less then an hour ago
When 500 pesos coins seem like the most valuable thing to you that you hate giving them to people to pay them back.
classes and practice gets cancelled because of the National Delinquent Day for los flaytes
when uni brows are facially accepted smh
when your host mom gives you an armful of packages of marmelada to bring to your family back at home as 'el sabor de chile'
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
El Cementario
Today Stephanie, Fiona, Cristobal, and I went to the biggest cemetery in Santiago, Chile. This cemetery is like a small city...they have speed limits, streets, and vendors. The way that the cemetery worked was that families would buy huge plots and build basically cathedrals where the families are buried. Most of these buildings were built in the 1800's and probably cost million dollars to buy. This cemetery is extremely beautiful and ancient looking.
This cemetery is so big that it is very dangerous for anyone to walk alone because there could be people lurking and hiding between buildings. They have a ghost tour at night...Stephanie, Fiona, and I are thinking about doing it, but the more I think about the scarier I get. If anyone knows me, they know how easily scared I get. I am a big chicken. (Just ask my dad, he is the main reason for me being easily scared)
We were walking around for a while and got tired so sat on a bench next to a burial and just began to talk. It was quite eery having random conversations next to the dead, but what can I say...we were tired and we love to talk.
Ill be putting up pictures soon of the cemetery and some of the houses from Los Dominicos.
This cemetery is so big that it is very dangerous for anyone to walk alone because there could be people lurking and hiding between buildings. They have a ghost tour at night...Stephanie, Fiona, and I are thinking about doing it, but the more I think about the scarier I get. If anyone knows me, they know how easily scared I get. I am a big chicken. (Just ask my dad, he is the main reason for me being easily scared)
We were walking around for a while and got tired so sat on a bench next to a burial and just began to talk. It was quite eery having random conversations next to the dead, but what can I say...we were tired and we love to talk.
Ill be putting up pictures soon of the cemetery and some of the houses from Los Dominicos.
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