this made me smile.

in the english language, 2 is pronounced 'too' (or 'two' or 'to' whichever makes you feel better). sometimes it is substituted for words. so, "too good to be true" can become "2 good 2 be true" and so forth. (but dont actually write like that, please. please.) are you with me so far? yes?

today i found out that you can do the exact same thing in spanish.  i found this out from my rotary counselor.

in the spanish language (wow. that does not sound natural.) 2 is pronounced 'dos'.


in case you ever needed to know, you can totally write 'saludos' like 'salu2'


this information will one day save your life.  

cinema and kiddy carts

Remember back when I had that school film festival and it took place at this old cinema? Well yesterday Kelly and I went back to that cinema and ended up getting a tour from the owner. It was built in 1947 and still managed to survive the earthquake unscathed meanwhile the newer cinema apparently went 'ploop'. In his words, not mine. Haha. 

Later we went back to see "Bombal" a Chilean movie about a female Chilean writer (María Luisa Bomabal) in the 1930´s. It was, of course, in Spanish. 

I wanted so so badly to love the movie. Because it was Chilean. But I didn't. It was really depressing and slow, and we ended up leaving before the movie was over. It's also hard to get into something when you are concentrating so hard on understanding. As long as you concentrate, you can understand everything that's being said, but if you relax and try to enjoy the movie, your understanding ability goes 'ploop'. 

But the cinema was really beautiful, and I loved the experience. When the movie began, the theatre-man ran down the aisle and up onto the stage to turn off the lights and then ran back to the box. That same man was the ticket seller, the host, and the concession stand worker. It was fantastic. 

After the movie, we hung out on the plaza while we waited for a ride. It was dark out, but there were a ton of families out with kids, which I found ironic, since every Chilean is "OH MY GOD, YOU WERE AT THE PLAZA AT NIGHT?! BUT.. BUT.. THERE'RE GANGSTERS OUT AT NIGHT. YOU CANT DO THAT, GRACE. YOU JUST CANT. OH GOD, I CANT BELIEVE SHE DID THAT... OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD."

We rented one of the kiddy carts, and took turns pushing eachother around in it, as fast as we could, to the amusement of everyone on the plaza. Pretty much every person we passed was all "GO FASTER, COME ON YOU CAN DO IT! PUT SOME MUSCLE IN IT." and then, to eachother, "You, know, I don't think those girls are from around here..."

These carts. But at night. 

Well this will mess with your heads

Este post es solo por la intención de molestarlo ustedes. No es mi culpa. Es la culpa de mi papa maravilloso, entonces gritar a el. Ustedes pueden usar traductor google si tu necesiten. Y si no entienden, es porque mi gramatica es horrible y tambien uso muchas palabras Chilenismo, que no existe en Español normal. Por ejemplo, soy muy bakan y mas fliate que todo la otre weones. Tienen divertido con eso! Jajajajaja. Cuando hablo con gente quien no de Chile pero puede habla en Español siempre uso muchas Chilenismos porque es mas interesante.

Okey, tengo un historia para ustedes. En el tiempo antiguo, el tiempo de reyes y conquistadors, la 'b' y 'v' de Español fue pronunciado distinto. Pero, durante los años, la diferencia fue perdio, y, ahora, 'b' y 'v' son pronunciado lo mismo. Todo de los Chilenos siempre escribe 'v' cuando necesite 'b' y viceversa (si, eso es lo mismo en correcto. Problamente hay un palabra mejor, pero no se lo). Entonces, cuando en el chat con un Chileno, esto sucede siempre (SIEMPRE!):
Amigo: Que lastima que tu tubiste que ir.
Me: AHHHHHH, CSM, que significa 'tubiste'? Debo sabe esto, problamente!! Porque no se po???
Traductor google: En ingles, tubiste significa tubiste.
Me: Que?! Traductor google no sabe tampoco?! Oh no!
Otro amigo: Grace, que quiere decir es 'tuviste'.
Me: Ohhhhh, cacho. Yo se la significa de 'tuviste', po. Jajajaja. Estoy tonta.


I've saved you the trouble of trying to translate it. This is what google translate will give you, and I personally think its funnier than anything I could ever write on my own. Believe me, to a Chilean, what I said actually makes sense. I hope.

This post is only the intention to annoy you. It's not my fault. It's wonderful because of my dad, then yell at him. You can use google translator if you need it. And if you do not understand, is because my grammar is horrible and Chilenismo also use many words, that does not exist in Spanish normal. For example, I am very Bakan and more fliate all the Leaders What 'otherness. Have fun with that! Hahahahaha. When I talk to people who can not speak in Chile but always use many Chilenismos Spanish because it is more interesting.

Okay, I have a story for you. In ancient time, the time of kings and conquistadors, the 'b' and 'v' in Spanish was pronounced differently. But over the years, the difference was lost, and now, 'b' and 'v' are pronounced the same. Too much the same as the Chileans always writes 'v' when needed 'b' and vice versa (yes, that is the same in right. You probably is a better word, but it is not). Then, when chatting with a Chilean, this always happens (SIEMPRE!):
Friend: Too bad you tubiste to go.
Me: AHHHHHH, CSM, which means 'tubiste'? I know this, you probably! Because there is po?? Google translator: In English, tubiste means tubiste.
Me: What! Google translator does not know either?! Oh no!
Another friend: Grace, he means is 'you had'.
Me: Ohhhhh, chub. I know the meaning of 'you had', po. Hahahaha. I'm stupid.

Music that you won't understand the words to

Okay, so, concert the other night, good news and bad news.

Bad news: Somebody (cough, cough, KELLY) gave me bad information and the Wachiturros were not there.

Good news: Instead, a Chilean rock band who I absolutely love way more than I like the Wachiturros was there, and I was a very very happy little Gringa.

So that you can enjoy them too: Ven Aqui... Santiago de Chile... Llueve Sobre La Ciudad...okaaay, I'll stop at three if I must...

Anyway..
More good news: When Los Bunkers came on, Kelly and I managed to fight our way into the very second row, and WE WERE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE STAGE. In the mosh pit, and the camera guy kinda got in the way of some of my pictures, but still, CAN YOU SAY AWESOMENESS??!


And: When Eyci and Cody (who are also very famous--impressive, Talca) played Te Amo Con Locura, I got up on a friends shoulders and screamed like the crazy fangirl that I'm totally not (pssssshhh) until my lungs pretty much fell off, and Cody and I definitely made some deep eye-contact there. Hahahaha. You would've been pretty proud of my pipes, Dad.

The whole thing was for Talca's Independence Week, and they had really big-name bands (I was really impressed, if I haven't already conveyed that) playing at the river all week, although I only went on Saturday night. And there was a crazy amount of people there.

The next day, I posted a facebook status about Los Bunkers, and a schoolmate who I'm not sure I even know responded "Oh, yeah, I saw you there! Second row, right?"
..I suppose I should be really used to that, since it happens all the time in the life of an exchange student, but mouth still drops to my knees every time somebody random happens to know every little detail of my life.
Oh, I don't know if I mentioned, but Kelly and I did make it onto National TV(!!!) that one time. And I didn't even get to see how stupid I probably looked, but I still have random people recognizing me. "Oh, you're that foreign girl who likes mote con huesillo?" or "GRACE, GRACE, OMG, I SAW YOU ON THE TELLY!!"

In other news, I have been doing absolutely nothing except watching a large amount of movies. And cooking really really creative meals because there's no food in the house at the moment. All of my friends (ALL OF THEM--exchange students and classmates) are on vacation.... and it's too, too hot to leave the house without the prospect of friends to meet.

And, yes, they celebrate Valentine's day normally here. But I spent it cuddling with my telly. Haha.

Love, Gracie

P.S.
Happy happy happy birthday to the BEST man in the whole world. Love you, Daddy.

P.P.S
There is a un-proportionally large amount of views to the post where I mentioned horse [you know what] and it's a little disturbing. I suppose I should've forseen that. Also, people google search some really really disturbing things and I find it quite hilarious that they ended up reading this instead. Not exactly what you where looking for, was it? Now, get your mind out of the gutter! 


P.P.P.S
To whoever google searched "Does Chile have nutella?" why, yes, yes it does. And it costs, like, five dollars a tiny little jar. But, all the labeling comes in German, so it's totally worth it.

No Hay Nadie Como Tu

This is one of my favorite Spanish songs. It has been since before I came to Chile, and I listened to it ALL THE TIME. And now, my Spanish is sooooo awesome, that I actually understand all the words. ALL OF THEM. YAYYYY ME! So I just thought I'd share my accomplishment with you.

And, tonight, at a free concert on the river, I am going to see another very important Latino band, the one and only Wachiturros. I cannot even express how psyched I am. THE WACHITURROS!!!! 

They are, like, THE South American Icon. And, for your pleasure, here they are.  

(The first Spanish I learned after coming to Chile was how to say "Do you wanna punch in the face, you BLEEEP BLEEP BLEEEEEEEP??!!" The second thing was how to sing the lyrics to "Tirate un paso." Priorities, right?)

-Gracie 

I swear I haven't forgotten about you all...

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

I blame it on not much going on.

The summer heat is driving me crazy--yes, I'm complaining about being on summer break. Sorry, guys. I'm ready for the school year to start up again. I'm not ready for real American school, though.

Wednesday I went to Santiago, just for the day. It was nice--I got to see the American Embassy (although they wouldnt let us in!!), visit an exchange friend, and, the best part, eat at both subway AND taco bell.

Santiago was fun, but it made me love Talca so much. I really do love Talca a lot.

I also spent a week with my family in the south of Chile, (Temuco, Licanray) and that was okay, but it also made me miss Talca.

Otherwise, I've just been hanging out, avoiding the heat. My Spanish is getting to a nearly-fluentish stage. I think. Most of my friends can only speak Spanish, which is great. And a Chilean friend who speaks fluent English heard me have a conversation in Spanish for the first time the other day, and he told me he was really surprised and impressed. So I'm feeling pretty good about myself.

-Gracie