Sometimes I'm a Geek...

I have gotten into the habit of waking up and reading the blogs that I follow. It's like when my dad gets up and reads the news, except blogs make me laugh and don't get me down like the news does. Today on someone's blog I found this link to make your own superhero. So I went to it... AND HERE'S MINE! 

As you can see she's wearing my two favorite colors, purple and green. Green is her main color though because she's nature conscious, obviously. Her hair is short and brown, because that is how my hair is and I'm trying to make this style cool. I don't really like whips, but this was the only weapon that looked good. And of course she has a "T" on her chest because she's the TENDER-NATOR. (uhhh couldn't think of anything better....)

If you want to make one too here's the link. 

http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/

I won't judge you. 

Noche de Orgar

Since Nicole and I are desperate for words of the gospel in English, we had an FHE in English last night with some of our LDS friends here! 

Afterwards we thought we share a US favorite treat: Rice Crispy Treats! Little did we know that most of the supplies we need are quite hard to find. So we improvised. We ended up getting colored marshmallows because the white ones were way expensive. They also didn't have plain rice crispys. About 2/3 of the cereal isle was actually just chocolate cereal. Which I though was AWESOME because they obviously know how to do cereal here, but sad because they didn't have what we wanted. So we settled on chocolate rice crispys.

At first when we melted the marshmallows they were all pretty colors, but they soon turned to brown, and didn't look very appetizing. Then we added the rice crispys and it was just one massive brown mess. Good thing it tasted good! In the end I think everyone enjoyed them, and it was fun to share some thing with our friends when they do so much for us here!

Pollolas

While being here in Chile Nicole and I have learned some Chilean slang. We try to use them as much as possible because it makes us feel more assimilated. Here are a few we've learned:

lindo=pretty

carretear= to party

peola= fine

quichi= you know

We have also learned that there are like three different words for "boyfriend."

Amigo= boy that is just a friend

Pollola= boy that's something more ;P

Novio= we're together and serious! 

Everyone here has asked us our "status." And some have been nudging us towards boys... thank goodness we have that BYU rule we can't date and that whole language barrier thing. However the other night Nicole was talking with Rodrigo about his pollola, and suggested we get some of our own. So we took him up on his suggestion. 

Nicole: Hey Jared want to be my pollola?

Jared: Sure!

Tiffany: Oh man! I want a Pollola too!

Jared: Why not Guillermo?

Tiffany: Okay. Hey Guillermo want to be my pollola?

Guillermo: Okay. 

Tiffany: Great! 

If your intrested you can have a Chilean pollola of your own... Pablo's brother is still available!

(Disclaimer {mostly for my mom}: I do not really have a Chilean lover, and I still want to return to the States.)  

Noche de Valdivia

Because pictures are worth a thousand words. Here's 11 thousand words in pixel form and then some.

Noche de Valdivia is the last big party Valdivia has before school starts. It's like a big party ending summer. Everyone is sad to start school next week. There are thousands of people who line the coast of the big river waiting for the boat parade to start when it gets dark. Boats go by all jazzed up with lights and performers. After the parade there is a firework show. Also amazing! Then everyone has a big chia fight! Chias are little circles of paper everyone throws everywhere and at everyone! It gets pretty crazy. You need to protect your eyes and mouth.

Over all it's just one big party for the city!

you mean i've been eating CAT this whole time?!

This past week Nicole and I were told that there was a service activity to clean the church. At 10 am on Saturday morning our cell phone goes off while I'm still in bed and I throw it to Nicole. (Pia should just know now that when Nicole answers the phone it really means we're still in bed and not ready.) She had called to tell us that once again there was an activity going on RIGHT NOW that we weren't at. So of course we throw on some clothes and run out the door lookin' horrible! (I mean really bad, note how there are no pictures of me in this blog!) And took our 8 min walk to the church to show up and not see anyone. 

As we got closer we did see one missionary.... and his companion in a tree. 

Oh missionaries. 

Then all the other missionaries showed up, about 6 or 7 sets. One other sister from our ward did eventually show up and open the building for us. So Nicole, the other Sister, me and like 15 guys started cleaning the church building. I felt just a little out numbered, and awkward. While Nicole, the Sister and I tackled the bathrooms the boys took care of the outside. Then we played with the little girl of the Sister there. Her name is Angelica and she is full of fire! After that we helped some more and talked with some of the guys. It was great to talk to them about our experiences and hear about theirs. We also talked a lot about school and girls too.

I started talking with one of the missionaries who was from Bolivia. The missionaries were starting to cook for a bbq and I told him how much I like the meat here. He mentioned that it was cat. Cat? I said, like "meow, meow?" Yeah he said, that or horse usually.

I'VE BEEN EATING CAT AND HORSE WITH OUT KNOWING THE WHOLE TIME!

AND I LIKE IT!!!

Nicole and I then joined the missionaries for lunch. Some of the meat wasn't completely cooked... so now I've also eaten raw meat in Chile. Why not just add it to the list. I'm facing my fear of Semolina. Lunch was fun. But it was weird because we were two girls with a bunch of missionaries. We felt weird mutually weird about the situation. 

Overall it was another great experience. I always have a good time when I'm serving.

Around Town

Kayaking 

Crazy Shopping

Las Gringas= Nicole and Tiffany

Good Chilean Food

Ghetto Chic

Hunting for Lobos del Mar

Nicole and I went kayaking. It was so cheep we decided to go for a whole hour! Yeah... let's just say after going from one end of the small enclosed area to the other there wasn't really that much to do. So we pretended to race the other people in kayaks. They didn't know, and we always won. We were pretty much pro. We timed ourselves and we went across in 3 min and 25 sec. I know, I know we're good. 

Valdivia is know for its "lobos del mar" which translate to "wolves of the sea." They are HUGE sea lions. At least I think their sea lions in English.... Anyways, three or four of the lobos del mar decided to enchant us in our little circle. It was great! Everyone from the sidewalk was watching them too. 

They looked even bigger closer to them. So we decided to get a little bit closer and try our luck for an awesome photo. They started slashing around though and we chickened out and backed away. We did still get pretty close, we could have touched it with our paddle. 

But we were out done by some other "boat time lovers." They got so close I think they could have touched it with their hands! That's one thing that we have noticed here too. More things slide. Chileans go for it! 

Our hour of kayaking eventually ended, and we continued on with our day having full filled our adventure quota for the day. 

Fashion Show At Lunch!

Yesterday Nicole and I had our big SOUVENIRS SHOPPING DAY! It was crazy. We've been here in Valdivia for over a month now and we've been looking around for stuff that we think you guys would actually like. After much consideration we went out and went completely crazy and pretty much bought souvenirs for everyone. Remember to appreciate your gift because we had to sort through all of this junk to find stuff we thought you all would actually like! (and yet still was "chilean")

Nicole and I did get a little a little side tracked though... with PANTS. 

Since coming to Chile Nicole and I have seen everyone wear these genie type pants. They can be found in every color. I mean every color. Nicole finally broke down and got a pair. 

But she had a hard time picking a color. She finally decided on the purple! (which were way better than the yellow ones I talked her out of!)

I was not immune to the pants-crazy yesterday either. Last year my friend Natania went to China and came back with these "rappy" pants. They are pants that are made of just one piece of material and you rap them in a particular way to make them pants! When Natania first got them I thought they were crazy looking (sorry Natania). But I've become enchanted with them here!

At one store I found these nice brown ones that are nice for everyday. As you can see I need to be careful when I'm in them. I think a big gust of wind will blow me over.  

But then I saw these green fancy ones. I just couldn't say no.  

The hippy child in me won. 

Party Like It's A Mission Homecoming!

Last night Nicole and I were invited to a missionary home coming! A missionary we didn't know. I think most everyone here has realized that we're bored out of our minds, either that or we're the "american freaks" that everyone likes inviting to things. Either way I'll take the invites.

There was a TON of food. And talking in Spanish. 

But the real party didn't begin until the SILLY STRING came out!

Adventures with Pia!

Today Nicole and I were just sitting around in our room thinking- Man we really should leave our room sometime because we've been in here for like 14 hours straight. So we decided that we should go run some errands, which never actually happened because we got distracted with our computers (you know falling for the facebook, e-mail, movie making additions we have). My computer is really just a growth on my lap these days. 

BUT thankfully we were saved from our cave of english-ness by PIA!!!! 

She just showed up at our house to take us for a walk to the park!

 

On the way she nudged us some more about the guys that we might like here. Oh Pia! 

We then continued walking and Pia showed us where we could eat some blackberries.

I kindly declined because I thought I didn't like blackberries. Nicole and Pia just went at it.

Eventually I gave in and tried one. I LOVED THEM. So then the three of us went crazy eating blackberries. 

I got so into it I climbed a tree to pull a branch down so Nicole (5 foot) could get us some more! Maybe she shouldn't have been the one reaching for them.....

Then we hopped a few fences to see some pretty places. 

We stopped in some field so Nicole could share her flower child talents with Pia and teach her how to make a flower crown. 

Eventually we did end up at Jorge's house, were we enjoyed an evening of karaoke, pizza, family home evening, and a chick flick. What a great night!

THANK-GOODNESS FOR PIA! 

JAS Conference 2009!

This week I think I've had the highest highs and lowest lows since being here in Chile. Nicole and I went to Punta Varras for the JAS (Young Single Adult) Conference! 

TUESDAY HIGHLIGHTS!

Nicole and I woke up by our cell phone going off. It was our friend here Nattie, asking us where we where? The bus was there and leaving in 5 mins! Let's just say we freaked out. We jumped out of bed and started packing, because you know why would anyone pack the day before you actually need to leave. Nicole just shoved like everything she owned into her backpack, which really isn't that much to beginning with I guess. I, on the other hand, grabbed my bathroom bag, 2ish pairs of pants and a few shirts. Oh, and my sleeping bag. Then we ran out the door. We made it to the bus station and apparently some of the other kids had also missed the bus so we got on another one with them. I fell asleep to be woke up and told to get off the bus to get off on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, I had my grumpy pants off. Then it started to rain. We did eventually find another small bus to take us into town were we met up with everyone.  

Miss took the boys bathroom for the girls when I went to take a shower... no boys came in luckily, until I was walking out! 

Later that night we went to our first Chilean dance. They don't dance in circles like they do in the US. Instead they do it in lines! We danced until like 1 am. And they don't take breaks like in the US, it's continuous dancing. There is like no way to get out of dancing with some. Your pretty much dancing with them for the next half hour weather you like it or not. All the music sounded the same to us too. It was all just different versions of Salsa music. 

WEDNESDAY HIGHLIGHTS!

Woke up at 6 am. Why? Because apparently Chilean girls wake up at 6 to look pretty for the men here. HA. I went back to sleep. We did have fun with Pia and Nattie in the morning though. Nicole and Pia dog-piled on me, so we were all laughing. Pia and Nattie also taught us a song with hand motions that we kept messing up and everyone laughed when we did. (we kept saying water shoes instead of water frogs! :D)

I fell asleep during devotional and apparently Pia tried to wake me up but I swatted her with my hand. Oops. 

Then we all crammed into a small bus and went to a nice soccer field. On the spur of the moment I decided that I would join the girls team. It was great. I mean I was wearing these nice shoes that were horrible to play with, but it was fun! I was even good! I shot a goal and everyone in the stands started chanting "GRINGA, GRINGA."

It was pretty much the most thrilling moment of my life. We won our first game and the championship too! I ended up scoring 2 goals actually. Oh, Yeah- I'm a JAS Conference Champ! Then we came back and played Basketball in the gym. I don't think I've actually played basketball since middle school. Little need to say then that I was horrible, and we only ended up scoring 2 points in the whole game. I did make those 2 points though. ::proud smile:: After basketball we then played Volleyball. Which is like my least favorite sport. We won because everyone else on my team was amazing, but somehow my name was the only name that ended up on the newsletter about Volleyball. 

Nicole and I taught people to say "holy cow" and "winner" because their funny to hear with a Chilean accent. ::hehe:: They taught us to say "paralelepipedo"which they in turn got a good laugh at. 

At night they had a big karaoke thing that we snuck out of because it was crazy. We didn't know any of the songs and people were going crazy cheering and everything. Closest thing I think I've ever been in to a riot. We went out and played cards with Jorge and Anival. They taught us a new game called nervous.

THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS!

Woke up early again. Went to "classes" on various things. Not that we understood anything. Devotional. 

Pretty boring day. Practiced our Italian dance. Had lunch. 

We preformed our dancing once in the gym and then once for the public community in the area at an open talent show. Did a lot of sitting around and talking with people... we found some English speakers. ::hehe:: Got to know the people in our stake really well though.

FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS!

Devotional given by the one of the seventy. There are actually quite a few of seventy here. We've met 3 already. 

Went to clean a cemetery for a service project. We pulled weeds and cleaned up trash. Pablo gave me a ride in a wheel barrow he called the "Chilean ride." We found a statue that is like the one in SLC and took picture with it. Then we got a little carried away and took some joke pictures in the cemetery. I probably the best time in a cemetery I have ever had or ever will. The whole time Rodrigo called me "Hermana" too. Which means "Sister" and the title they give to sister missionaries. I liked it. 

After the service project we came back and went to the beach (beach of the large lake there) with a bunch of the boys. They all went swimming and I didn't have my bathing suit so I jumped in with my clothes. Then we walked around the town. It's even more touristy than Valdivia! Had a great completo as well. You got to love the hot dogs with mayo, tomatoes, and avocados here. RiGhT? 

Had the last formal dance. It was less enjoyable than the first. First of all it was "love" themed... not a good sign -ever. Actually after/during the dance I have never felt so homesick. 

Nicole and I didn't know any of the songs or the dances. I also realized that they people were moving on with their lives. After another 2 months I would never see these people again. I felt like my life was on hold. I imagine missionaries must feel this way sometimes.

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS!

Today we had a testimony meeting on the beach of the lake at 6 am. It was pretty but also cold. I got up to bear my testimony, but in English. One of the girls offered to translate for me so everyone understood. 

We cleaned up camp and took naps in the afternoon. Then we went to the beach for a while and in evening we caught a bus back to Valdivia. The bus ride was the best bus ride ever. I taught Pablo the rhyme "Lose, Double Loser" which in turn he taught us one:

Las manitos, las manitos

donde estan

aqui estan!!! 

Ellas se saludan

Ellas se saludan

y se van

y se van

It was hard to say good bye to everyone.