Garivalpo

Abby and I (as most of the next few stories will begin) spent a long weekend in Valparaiso, Chile - a port city about an hour and a half or so outside the capital of Santiago. This being a long weekend and all, there were quite a few people roaming around the city on long weekend vacations that wouldn't normally be there, except not really all that many, but anyhoo...we found this really lovely bed and breakfast on one of the many hills that make up the city of Valparaiso and when we got there the only room that was left was - get this - the matrimonial suite. All fine and dandy, except for the fact that I'm pretty sure the lady who owned the place thought we were lesbians. Like hardcore lesbians.

Here's a picture of the very lovely matrimonial suite at the Garivalpo.



The funny thing about the whole experience was that after realizing that we were at a bed and breakfast with a bunch of couples and that the owner thought we were two big lesbos, everything became HILARIOUS in that context of the people outside who thought we were lesbians. Like, if one of us took a long shower, that was funny. Or if one of us threw a shoe at the wall, that was funny. Or if we took a picture of us in the bed - me with a towel on my head that looks like a turban - that shit was funny too. Eventually it extended to everything we did back in Santiago. If we shared food at a restaurant - "two big lesbos." If one of us held onto the other so as not to die on the subway - "two big lesbos." We spent quite a bit of time entertaining ourselves with that one, let me tell you.

All in all, Valparaiso was a good time.

- E

p.s. I'm totally gonna get a lot of hits on this entry because I used the word lesbians. I'm excited to see what turns up.

Monday to Friday

Before I start to get into the juicy details and identical dates that happened while Abby was here, let me tell you this.

I have this really nice former student who I see every Monday and Wednesday even though I don't teach that group anymore. Anyway, the other day he was telling me about how he lives two hours out of the city but works in the city. Our conversation went something like this:

me: "Wait, you live outside of Santiago?"
student: "Yes."
Me: "Wait, so when you get out of class at 9pm, you drive TWO HOURS to get home? What the hell is wrong with you?"
student: "No, during the week I live in Santiago."
me: "OH! So you're only home on the weekends?"
student: "Yes." ...(pauses and then kind of leans into me)... "From Monday to Friday I'm single."
me: ........"yeah, i think that's my cue to leave."

at which point we all laughed and then I told him I was going to call his wife and we all laughed some more. Later on I gave him these two cookies that I had left from the ones I bought for my students to munch on during class.

Today he brought me a package of cookies and I told him he was a very sweet man to which he replied "You didn't think so on Monday," (which, granted, I thought was kind of endearing) and I laughed and said "no, I know it was a joke. it was funny." and we laughed again.

Later on when I tell you about one of the two identical dates, you will sort of come to understand why this story is so especially funny.

My students are weird.

Loves,
- E

Guess Who?

My god friends, I almost didn't make it.

One entire month later (!) I finally got a phone and internet service in my very posh Santiago apartment. By now, no one reads this damn thing anymore, but I'll be damned if I give up on it.

As it happes, I have many many things to tell. One of those things is that I HATE the phone company, but you already knew that. Another is that since the last time I wrote on this blog Abigail Salas has come and gone. She left just yesterday and as predicted, many a good time was had and many a laughable adventure occured, including us nicknaming one of my doormen "cherub" and everyone in the city of Valparaiso thinking we were two big lesbos (more on that soon). Either way, there are stories to tell and dirty laundry to air out and an occassional picture. And now that I have internet again I'll be posting regularly (promise).

Also, the guy who sells ham near my apartment does not ask me how much ham I want in weight but rather how many slices I want and I truly kind of want to marry him. Although he's a happily married man and Abby is a slut and totally flirted with him. Shameless.

- E

This picture kind of sums up the whole thing. Missing that bastard already.

My brother insists that I post this. I suppose I cannot argue with him.

I think he does it so he can get more face time on my blog.

Good job.

- E

If I thought the cell phone company was bad, it's pretty clear the regular phone/internet company is, oh, about thirty times worse. So, I still have no internet at home and that makes it especially difficult for me to be clever and witty on this blog on a regular basis. That being said, it should happen sometime this week and then I'll be back to my normal antics. Trust me, I have plenty to complain about.

AND, the one and only Abigail Salas will be making her appearance in Santiago de Chile in the very, very near future (like, Friday, which some of my students are oddly very excited about - they´ve asked me for pictures) so there will be many a story to tell, most of which I probably won't be able to blog about but I'll allude to them nonetheless.

Yay.

Loves,
- E