Estimados Mi Gorro,

Our first adventure Teton Valley (USA)

Volcano Villarrica Adventure (Chile)

I remember when I first met you. I was in the Teton Valley on my NOLS trip and when we began telemark skiing practice at Targhee I realized the hat I brought with me was way to small. So after the first day I went looking for a new one, and looked around for awhile and couldn't find anything I liked, then I saw you, brown with pigtails and a sweet nativish design around the mid section, and you fit perfectly. Made in Canada but I bought you in the USofA. You weren't to colorful, no pompom on top, not a snowboarders hat for sure; you were simple, warm, made of wool, and me, we connected. I didn't take you off for 13 days after that.

You've kept me warm when I was cold. You've kept the sun out of my eyes when I couldn't see. You've been my pillow when I had none. And my tissue when I needed one. My towel when I needed to wipe the sweat off my forehead or to dry my hands when they were wet. We've summitted mountains together, we've seen the inside of a active volcano crater, together! We've seen countless lakes, rivers, beaches, valleys, trees, and natural beauty of mother nature with one another. Don't forget the way you used to help me pick up girls, letting them try you on then run off so I can find you again. You stayed up late with me when I couldn't sleep. You helped me sleep by covering my eyes when I needed it. Some people would say they thought I had actual pigtails because you looked so much like my hair, it's just because we were meant for each other. We have traveled to 4 different countries on 2 different continents. We learned Spanish together and they said you looked Bolivian. I've worn you as a glove, sock, underwear haha, and of course a hat, and sometimes you would be the only thing I was wearing. You fixed my hair when I wanted to look cool, and kept me mysterious when I wanted to look cooler. We've gotten drunk together, and we've been way to hungover together. You never got mad when I threw you on the ground or wore one of my baseball caps. You were always there waiting, knowing I would be back. We have seen the world together for the past 2 years. I don't know were you went or why you left and if it was my fault, no hard feelings, but I know you are making someone's head very warm and you are ready to be on your own adventure now. I will never forget you and the time we had together. Best hat I've ever known.

Love,

Franke

Saltos, Esquiando, Pizza, Poo

Salto Leon

Salto La China

Had a perfect day last Friday. I don't work on Fridays so they already are awesome but I woke up after a great nights sleep, first one in awhile, looked out my window, blue bird day, I was like yes finally some sun. Still in bed, looked at my phone to an awesome hilarious email from Chaub, that really helped jump start my day, thanks zms cool. Went for a run to the beach and back fist pumping to my Chilean music. Took a shower, called up my friend Tina and said we have to do something today and not waste a second, so we decided to go see these waterfalls I heard about, Salto La China y Salto Leon. My padre let me use his car which was sweet, so we get out there not knowing where it is or what to expect, find the signs pay the entrance fee for Salto La China walk up, and were in awe. This waterfall had to be over a hundred feet tall so sick, with a rainbow and everything, just look at the pictures I can't describe it. Drove out to the next one which was 5 minutes more up the road, got to the entrance and there was no one there, so we say what the hell lets just go ahead, there was three of the scariest dogs barking at us almost bite Tina, they acted like I wasn't there and went straight for Tina because they could smell I'm part wolf, but really they didn't even look at me. So I was like just don't look at them and keep walking, which worked. Walk up to the Salto Leon, and it was funking insane, about the same height as the other but had a second fall and more water coming out and just the scenery was mas fuerte and the rainbow was crazy. By far the most amazing waterfalls Ive ever seen.

Went back to Pucon for a late lunch, found a good cafe/deli. Was perfect, sun was shinning, I was outside, could see the Volcano in one direction, an amazing sangwich in front of me, perros lying to my side chilling in the sun, people talking spanish, was very tranquilo. Entonces we went back to Villarrica chilled at Tina's house for a bit. Met up with this gringa who is 16 and is studying for a year here which takes muchos ganas. We corrupted her and took her out way to hard. Met up with another friend Claudia who is Chileana and we all had some beers and popcorn, listened to way to much Michael Jackson then went out for Karaoke, at a disco called Magnolia in Villarrica. I signed up for Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams and after about 15 spanish songs I was up, and I belted my heart out, I have the worst voice in the world but I knew all the words so whats up. We attempted to sing with the Chileanos for a while then danced a bunch and before you know it, it was 3am and we had planned to go skiing the next day. If its skiing I can always get up, but I can't always last. I got up at 7am, got on a bus to Pucon got must stuff rented from my friends in Aguaventura, who are French, and was on the Volcano by 930 am. I was like the first one up there, had the slopes all to myself, was very peaceful but after about 3 hours, I couldn't tell if iwas either just super bored because I had done every slope ten times or was so hunger i was going to barf. Told myself I need to make it to 2pm and did then bounced as fast as I could. Rested for awhile and decided I really want some pizza and watch some sports like an American.

Went to this delicious pizza placed called Pizza Cala owned by an Argentinean/American. Got there around 5 and he had just opened. I was the only one in there for about 2 hours just shootin the shit with this guy. His name is Javier and he owns the restaurant and lives above it. He was born in Argentina and lived there till about 8 i think, and then his family moved to Virginia because his dad was in the World Bank, outside of DC. Grew up speaking spanish and only spoke it at home, but when he got to public school he said it was like he had no idea what was going on and he said the first thing he can remember really understanding in English was, "ok put your things away" which to him meant alright now I get to go home. Went to Virginia Tech studied restaurant management. Don't really know how he got back to Argentina but married an Argentinean woman had four kids, and was working in a good restaurant cooking lots of pizza. Got divorced said fuck it and went back to the states and worked in Steamboat Springs at a restaurant cooking. Would spend 4 months in the states, 2 months in San Martin de Los Andes. And after about 6 years a friend of his who owns a Pizza Cala in San Martin said he should open up one in Pucon so to be closer to his kids. So about 4 years ago he did, and has been there ever since, the restaurant has amazing pizza and a great atmosphere. Everyones always drinking and joking around. And this guy is obsessed with pizza it was pretty funny when I asked him a question he would just go off, and then when I told him I was from New York, he said he researches pizza from Italy, NY, Chicago Cali, everywhere. I also asked him a bunch of restaurant questions because yes it is still my dream to own one. I won't go into the specifics but most important thing is the food, if they leave and say damn that was good pizza then they will come back and word will spread. I will pick his brain more, Oh and he has FOOTBALL and Monday Night Football!

Chilled Saturday night cause I was very tired. But Sunday, man sunday was a trip. So our toilet has been funked up lately and wont flush right, and sunday it overflowed something out of a movie with poo water everywhere. Our neighbor ended helping us with everything but after much manly work, we had to take the entire toilet out of the bathroom outside, literally pull what was stuck in the toilet from the bottom out and clean it. Now it would be funny if i did this but there was no way i was touching someone elses shit (I hadnt pooed in the toilet since last week because we were doing the yellow mellow rule) whatever it was awful. But its all fixed now so thats cool, i can poop again. After we sterilized the whole house Genaro taught me how to make hamburgers ad said I was a good student and I cut garlic real well, from watchin you ma! Chilled the rest of the day with Genaro, he was feeling down so we went to the beach and played with his dog Josefa. I feel bad the man is pretty much alone in this place, not much connection with his family, has lots of friends but its not the same, getting old and just retired, I am afraid for when I leave, I promise I will return and see him again.

Taught solo today wasn't that bad cause I played bingo, but the last class I had was absolutely horrible. Cram 45 ten year olds into a room 15ft by 15ft, make the class an hour and a half long, and the last class of the day, show them small prizes watch them go crazy, then try to play bingo keeping track of whos cheating and whos not, oh yeah and speak spanish!, and tell me you wont have a headache. I survived then played basketball after school with some of the 8th graders who were cool today, and took my anger out on them by running all over their faces, they were dead tired by the end, and by the end I would just run up and down the court actually making layups, still got it ladies.

Right now we are waiting for the Gas guy to come because we don't have hot water and I haven't showered in 3 days, so I am really hoping we can get some tonight. Ganna go watch MNF too, go who's ever playing!

Como esta gringolandia?

Patiperro

fin de semana de la diez y ocho

Crazy dance competition

Feliz Cumpleanos Esteban, con la abuela loca

Tina;s host parents dancing Cueca

Some 5th graders at the Cuecada

Chile is awesome. The last weekend was a blast. It was the Independence weekend for Chile and it was my friend Steve's birthday. So like I said last week my school had a play type thing on Tuesday were I dressed up and danced Cueca all night. Since we didn't have school on Friday on Thursday we had another Cuecada, which is just a big Cueca dance party all day. It was a good jump off to the weekend because I had to dance Cueca by myself with a partner (13 year old student) in front of the entire school in the gym. I felt like it was the gringo show but it wouldn't be the last one of the weekend. It was also impossible to teach this week because all the kids were so excited for the holiday, even with bribing them until I almost had no more little goddies left. After the Cuecada all the teachers gathered in the Professors classroom and drank wine and ate empanadas. I crushed about 5 and had my generous share of wine. After went to another professors house for more chips and beer, and after about an hour being shot up by machine gun spanish I figured it was time to leave.

That night made plans with my friend Tina from Villarrica to meet up with Steve in his town Pitrufquen for his birthday. Tina's family is the bombizzle and got her a car that she shares with her host brother. It is like a 1982 Mazda or something but it is a beast, one door doesn't work, it overheats, and the host dad put a new stereo system in it so we can play our ipods, it felt like road tripping back in America. We hit the road to see steve when we call him and he's in Temuco. So we change plans and vamos a temuco. Meet up with Steve and a friend Claudia, then go to a bar to meet Steve's host teachers and some of their friends. Who were the funniest guys ever. Spoke decent English but we loud as shit, cursing and chain smoking the whole time. After many drinks and conversations about curse words in English and Spanish we decided to go to the casino. We tried to pull the gringo card and tell the bouncers we didn't speak spanish and to let us in for free. Tina worked her magic and got us tickets from the front desk for free. The bar was sick, it was like a huge discoteca in the bottom of the casino. Got more drinks, danced faces off, boogied. Woke up wishing for and American style hangover cure of M&R, Rocky's, or some type of diner with hashbrowns and endless eggs but we had to settle with gross muchies from a gas station, and the chips tasted like a fart. We all went back to Villarrica decided to go to Tina's host families campo house and grill up lots of meat and food. After much running around going to one store than to another because chileans never buy everything they need at one place, we finally made it to the campo. We hung out for a while enjoyed the scenery, grilled up, popped open mucho vino, ate goat kidney, Dermot came up, played cards, then I ate till I couldn't move which I sometimes due because of the Holiber-Endless-Pit-Stomach-Syndrome or HEPSS for short, were we eat until we are full then just keep eating until it is physically impossible to move then pass out. The meat was so good though, and grilled vegetables, and we only ate with our hands which makes everything taste better.

The next day I had to get back to Pucon early because my school was having a Desfila, parade, for the town as well as all the other schools for the 18th. Now the weather has been crazy lately and when I woke up it was pouring so I knew this wasn't going to happen. Got back home and my teacher calls me and say that it is going to be in the main gym in the city. So like half the town was squished into this small basketball gym and for about 2 hours it was just random important people talking and sometimes the band would play. And after the first 20 minutes my host teacher says she is going to leave because there are too many people here. I figured I am already dressed up in a tie and nice slacks I might as well stay no point in wasting these good looks, and plus I never saw this so I told her I going to stay. The only cool thing I saw was this little 8 year old kid dance Cueca like the man, like a player pimp, he was my idle. Finally got out of there and decided to go back to the Campo with Tina and Steve because Tinas family was having a party. My host dad has been sick and was in bed all weekend, as well as some of the family he usually sees so that is why I hung out with Tina's family. But her family is absolutely amazing so it was awesome. Got to their campo house and the whole family was there, uncles aunts cousins grandparents, it felt just like home. They immediately gave us food and drink and were joking laughing having a good time. Once everyone was finished eating the moved the tables outside and blasted the Cueca music. Another dance party, so sick, and Tina's host dad is the Cueca man, he danced for about 20 minutes and said he felt like he was going to die, haha pot belly and a half. Of course all the gringos had to dance Cueca too another gringo show, we gave steve a quick lesson and he did his best to keep up. Oh and Tina's host grandma is the craziest lady ever, probably the funniest woman I've met in Chile. Always joking, speaking Mapugundun, talking dirty, and telling steve he had a nice ass. The family knew it was steve's birthday and made him a cake, a complete stranger, such nice people, but there is a tradition in Chile for your birthday and after the birthday song and blowing out of the candle they smashed Steve's face into the cake. He was covered in his hair everything was hilarious. Was a sweet holiday party, good people good food good time.

That night we went to meet up with some friends in Mulahue, Dave and Corey, who said there was a sweet Ramada there. A Ramada is like a place with games bars dancing and food. After finally finding the place through fog and much guessing, we were awed by how sweet it was. Tons of cooking meat, everyone was dancing and drinking and they sold bottles not glasses of drinks, so the night was a little hazy after that but we played foozeball, throw the ring on an impossible target, danced more cueca, ate more meat then ended up going to a discoteca were the bouncer was like 350 pounds and was quickly annoyed with me when I told him to let us in for free because we don't speak English. Well we got in and danced more, then watched some kind of dance competition on stage with half naked women and dudes competing, the winner was a beefy guy who ended up taking his shirt off and dancing with the hot chicks on stage, was a very smart move, thats what I would've done. Drove back to Villarrica at like 730am passed out hard for a few hours then decided I'm going to die if I don't get to my bed. Took a bus at like 11 for Pucon and must have looked like shit because I was getting more than usual gringo stares. On the way back the bus stops turns around goes to the bus repair shop, we switch busses, then get on our way. A 20 minute trip that took an hour, I was not in the best of moods. Finally made it home then passed out till about 6 in the afternoon. Cleaned myself up and I feel like a million bucks today plus there's no school today either. Was a fun filled weekend with lots of good food and company.

Forgot to write about this but two weeks ago my boss's came to visit me and see how I was doing. It was the two regional directors and the boss from the ministry. A little nerve racking to say the least so I prepared hard all week and made tons of lesson plans. And for the lesson that they were going to come and watch me teach I planned a very special one. I thought I would teach a song, and what better song than Fight For Your Right by the Beastie Boys. I couldn't help but laugh to myself because they had no idea what the words to the song meant and I would just yell the chorus in their faces. Not to be mean but sort of my own little inside joke, one for the good guys. They said I was doing a good job and were on their way. Thought you'd get a kick out of that.

I have also decided, after thinking about it and talking to the fam, I'm going to volunteer on a horse ranch for three months after my teaching is done. I will work for food and a place to sleep thats all. Can't funking wait. check it out Estancia Ranquilco http://ranquilco.com/blog/

YOU!,

efronka

almost forgot, yo kayla, ¿comó estas chica?

Concepción y La Cueca

Went to Concepción last weekend with my friend Dermot. For those of you who don't know Concepcion was the center of where the Earthquake hit last February. Before going I tried to look up in my travel guide about hostals and other cool stuff there but there was not one word about the city, and also online it said the city had no hostals. A little strange since we were going to the place with the most earthquakes. But it ended up being awesome. We got to the bus station and found that we weren't actually in the city, but just outside so after some crazy machine gun spanish we figured out what other bus we needed to take to the center. Concepcion is gorgeous there are tons of markets and tons of pedestrian streets and a great plaza. The first night we also found an awesome strip of about 15 bars and discos. And after a little walking and talking we found a great small hotel a block from the plaza, Dermot worked his magic and we payed a good deal less and got breakfast in the mornings too, only thing was we got no receipt so we were a little nervous they were going to steal all our stuff but the didn't so it was cool. Went out hard the first night, our usual buy a bottle of pisco, drink in the plaza, try and talk to girls, freeze our butts off, have deep conversations, figure we are to drunk and need to dance. Oh we also found a sick bar that has the best 80's classic rock cover bands, I was rocking out hard to Van Halen, Guns and Roses, Foreigner, was a dream come true. Went back there the second night too. Walked around all day saturday, bought a pair of awesome shades for 2mil on the street, walked to the ghetto of Concepcion which really put things into perspective, was like an entirely different city. Watched some kids play futbol on pretty much a sand field, or "the worst pitch I've ever seen" says dermot. Ate mounds of meat and fries, and this dish called a Pinchanga which would kill in the states, im bringing it back, its fries, avocados, olives, onion, meat, hot dogs chops, tomato, and everything else you want. At dinner we felt a tremor and felt the trip complete. The messed up thing was the city seems so fine and nice, almost like white plains or a small boston, but then you go down a block and a building would be destroyed glass everywhere on the street, caution tape, and you can't even imagine if and when people were in there. The streets and gravel are also sometimes out of place, they say that when the quake it you could see the ground move like waves on a beach, messed up. Overall was a good trip. Also met a guy from Chicago playing pro basketball in Chile, went to Indiana for Bball, forgot his name but I'll keep a look out for him in a few years in the NBA, Darius, or Darien something.

So Fiestas Patrias is September 18th. It is the Independence Day of Chile and this year happens to be the bicentennial. So the last week and this week has been crazy and people have been partying and dancing the national dance called La Cueca. It is a dance that most people know but if your good you look like an absolute player. I've been telling my host dad how much I want to learn so last week I got my first lesson in Cueca from friends of my host dad and they were sure to explain everything real easily for me, NOT, I got the hang out it after about an hour. It is a really awesome dance thats sexy and stomping and foot shoving, and the real Huasos have spurs and sick outfits. So anyways last night was like a big show from my school for the Holiday and my principal and host dad had been saying for weeks how I need to dress up like a Huaso for the show. So I said hell yeah I'll look like a cowboy, so they went through with it and I found myself walking down the street to the gymnasium in inch high boots, high jacket, sombrero, and a Manta(Pancho). And I felt very over dressed lets just say cause none of the other students were dressed up and only a few of the teachers. But I just told myself I am part of the show and hey, im in friggin Chile what the hell. Thinking I was going to be dancing Cueca all night, I had another professor I work with give me another lesson of Cueca that day, I was rocking, and even learning some of the harder stomp steps, player. We get to the after party drink some pisco sours and wine, turned the Cueca music on and then the party really started. As I was bombarded by all the women professors to dance with me I quickly began to think, shit I'm the dumb gringo that thinks he knows how to dance. Whatever whipped out my hanker-chief, wooed my partner and got dancing. Was awesome, ended up dancing with jsut about every teacher there even the principal. Whenever I would mess up they would just call out the next step for me, was hilarious, Vuelta! Vuelta! They finally called me Chileano, el Gringo Chileano, I felt like I fit in....tear. Anyways was a lot of fun and I can't wait to see whats in store for this weekend. I hear wine, empanadas, wine, and cueca, sounds promising.

you have power in your silence

Ignacio

Trip to the hospital, ma don't worry I'm fine

Futbol field where I run laps sometimes

Other side of the field

So last week I got a little sick. I wasn't so much sick as it felt like a football was in my stomach and I couldn't go to the bathroom. I woke up and had the worst stomach ache of all time so I asked my host dad if he had any xlax. It was super early for my host dad as he doesn't wake up until 12 everyday. Bending over in pain I was like, "puedo usar su alto para comprar." He asked me like 5 times if I wanted to go to the hospital or that he should drive, and knowing that he is the slowest man on Earth I tried to deny but he insisted. Already being annoyed and for those who know how much I hate getting sick, waiting for this guy to get dressed and find his glasses and his keys, I knew it was going to be a pleasant morning. Meanwhile it took us another ten minutes to get out of the driveway because he also drives like an old person, (two accidents in last two weeks). Yet again he kept nagging me if I wanted to just get checked at the hospital, ultimately I was like fine take me to the dang hospital just to keep him quiet. I should have known better because like everywhere else in Pucon he knew everyone at the hospital and said hello and shook like 5 peoples hands on the way in, which I was in no mood to meet anyone or try and talk spanish. Surprisingly the hospital was pretty good and fast. A doctor checked me out and said that I just had a lot of gas in my stomach. Probably the insane amount of shell fish I ate in Valdivia, I had two plates of shellfish, something was bound to get me back. I got some drops for my stomach and stayed in bed for the next day. I won't go into detail the dump I took but after two days of no pooping, combined with the amount I eat equals.... Ha. Anyways when I got back to school everyone already knew what was wrong with me, stomach, and not being able to poop and all. Guess word travels fast when you live next to your school and your host dads favorite hobby is to talk talk talk. Oh almost forgot on the way back from the doctors he stopped in the middle of the road to tell some family friends I couldn't go number two, he was yelling out of the car in the middle of the street, I don't understand much but I know when to feel embarrassed. I'm all good now everythings going smooth. It was also pretty funny hearing the Chilean remedies for a bad stomach, some of which include: go for a run, smoke a cigarette, drink some weird herbal tea, eat more, eat less, drink lots of water, don't eat any chocolate, no sugar, eat lots of fruit, nothing with grease, only eat crackers, drink a cup of cooking oil, and more. Although I hope I don't get sick again it was a good experience to see what another hospital in a different country was like.

Took it easy most of the weekend tried to nurse the stomach back to health weather was amazing went for a run, chilled on the beach, but did kind of learn how to ride a motorcycle which was awesome. It was just around the block, and yes I wore a helmet, but it was cool to finally get on one, was badass. Hung out with my friend in Villarrica saturday night, played cards with her host family, drank mucho wine, cause there is a sale here for Fiestas Patrias, and wine is dirt cheap, I'm talkin 5 doll hairs for really good Chilean wine. Went to her host family's campo sunday, ate amazing meats and tomatoes, enjoyed the sun, river, playing futbol in the yard, was great.

Want to get out this weekend not sure what yet but I'll take pictures. Oh I am also thinking about working on a farm after my program here for three months then traveling, or I could just travel, thoughts, digame?

Hope the real world is treating everyone well, winter is almost over! (for chile)

Is True Blood Over?

Fwh