Before I begin this story, I must thank Maida Salas for her great idea of gathering all of us cousins at María Pinto to celebrate Cristián and Laura´s marriage in September.At first, it was just a simple e-mail that invited cousins from Cata and elders, but due to the big success, it was later reduced to anyone who wanted to be there.
Each family of cousins had to provide with something: some had the meats, others had desserts, drinks and alcoholic beverages, appetizers, salads, tables...and well dishes and cooking items had to be brought because we are way too many for one family to get them for everyone.
The day started going with my mom to see Bernie and Mónica at their place in this handcraft fair near
CasaPiedra, a really nice place that, well, at lunch time received few guests, but in the end served its purpose: show people what they are selling, the most incredible things you can imagine. Then we went back to our apartment, had lunch, slept a while and then we set out towards María Pinto. We followed all directions provided, including closing after each gate we opened. I believe it was a great idea to put signs showing the way to the house, otherwise one could easily get lost in there.
Got out of the car and as we moved to the grass I could see a large group gathered around four or five big tables under a huge tree (that had a pretty nice cover for the sun), another group close to the barbecues, another one by the pool, another in the mini soccer field, others were jumping, and others were spread throughout the big space of the country side. We were a lot, because not only there were
Fernanda and Diego, José Luis and Javiera, Ismael and Maya, Pía and Álvaro, Juanpi and his fianceé, Cristián and Laura, Mamo and Mrs., Tinte and Cristián, Fernanda Binvignat and Pedro, Denise and Diego, María José and Manuela, Alejandro, Cata, José Miguel and María Jesús, Carlos and Pilar, Isabel, but also their kids (we can estimate around fifteen or twenty more or less), plus Bebo,Tatú, Margara, Meli, Manan, Pati and Mariano. Three generations under one place, but if we add that it was also the day in which Tata Héctor and Bili were married, we can say that there were four generations in spirit, along with the ones that couldn´t be there because they had previous arrangements or are currently living outside Chile.
The day was cloudy and sunny, not too hot, just like a regular November day in Chile. Just my bad luck that I couldn´t swim because I forgot my swimsuit at home. But, besides that, it was an amazing day!!!!!! Pictures were coming and going; hopefully we will be seeing them in facebook so we can relive that day forever in our minds...and that opens the door to future meetings as well.
It was nice to catch up with what everybody´s doing and future plans, whether it may be marriage or having a baby, or starting a relationship, or none at all in my case (please, to all my cousins out there, if you know someone that could be right for me, don´t feel shy and hook me up!)
Love, hugs and kisses to those who couldn´t be there but that will make it another time
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Junta en María Pinto (versión español)
Antes de empezar mi relato, debo agradecer a nuestra querida prima Maida Salas la gran idea de juntarnos todos los primos que pudiéramos en María Pinto, aprovechando que Cristián y Laura estaban en Santiago.
Todo comenzó con un correo invitándonos a participar, originalmente desde la Cata para arriba, pero después del gran éxito alcanzado entre el resto, se amplió el rango de edad a todos los que quisieran ir. Se repartieron entre todos las cosas que traer: una familia se preocupó de las carnes a la parrilla, otra de las ensaladas, los postres, los picoteos.
El día, para mí, comenzó relativamente temprano yendo con mi mamá a visitar el pequeño local que tenían Bernie y Mónica cerca de CasaPiedra, un lugar bien ameno y acogedor que a esas horas del almuerzo recibía poca gente, pero que les sirvió de promoción de sus talentos artesanales. Almorzamos en el departamento, mi mamá se tomó una siesta y después partimos a María Pinto. Seguimos todas las instrucciones proveídas por la anfitriona...incluso la de ir cerrando cada portón que se abría y creo que fue una excelente idea que hubieran puesto cartelitos; hizo todo más fácil.
Bajando del auto vi a Diego Torres, y luego nos dirigimos hacia el quincho.
Debajo de un gran árbol habían cuatro o cinco mesas grandes con manteles, donde se podía observar claramente la masividad del encuentro. Estaban Fernanda y Diego , José Luis y Javiera, Ismael y Maya, Pía y Álvaro, Juanpi y su novia, Cristián con Laura, Mamo y señora, Tinte y Cristián, Fernanda y Pedro, Denise y Diego, María José y Manuela, Alejandro, Cata, José Miguel y María Jesús, Carlos y PilarIsabel; y hay que agregar también a los hijos respectivos de cada una de las parejas, o sea un familión. Además estaban Bebo y Tatú, Margara, Meli, Manan, Pati y Mariano. En total tres generaciones que se juntaron no solo para celebrar el matrimonio de Cristián y Laura, sino que también coincidió con el aniversario de matrimonio del Tata y la Bili, así que podríamos estar hablando de cuatro generaciones bajo un mismo techo (bajo las últimas circunstancias, por supuesto).
Habían grupos en las mesas grandes, otros dos grupos cerca del asado, un grupo de niños que jugaba al fútbol, otro grupo en la piscina, otro grupo saltando en las camas elásticas, otros bajo la sombra de un gran árbol y de vez en cuando se producían movimientos de un lado para el otro con el propósito de que todos pudiéramos compartir.
El día estaba soleado con algunas nubecitas que dejaron mis ganas de bañarme para otro día, pero ¡¡¡¡Estuvo buenísimo!!!!! Y en nuestros pensamientos también estaban los que no pudieron ir porque están fuera del país, como es el caso de Cristóbal y Ligia, Loreto y Andrea, Maureen, Stephanie, Benji; así como los que tenían otros compromisos. Fueron sus buenas horas para recapitular después de tanto tiempo sin juntarse de verdad en una ocasión tan especial.
No faltaron las fotos, así que supongo que a medida que se vayan difundiendo, se puedan ir agregando al magnífico historial de esta familia Streeter Prieto. Un día intenso, de relajo al máximo, de ponernos al día después de mucho tiempo sin vernos (y para qué decir que de tantos que somos, que me es imposible acordarme de todos los nombres de los hijos de mis primos, así que en ese tema mil perdones....¡muy fácil de perder la cuenta con todos los que somos!)
Unos ricos postres, bebidas, cerveza, vino con durazno, té helado, carne, chorizos, salchichas, varias ensaladas...¡una fiesta hecha y derecha!
Todo comenzó con un correo invitándonos a participar, originalmente desde la Cata para arriba, pero después del gran éxito alcanzado entre el resto, se amplió el rango de edad a todos los que quisieran ir. Se repartieron entre todos las cosas que traer: una familia se preocupó de las carnes a la parrilla, otra de las ensaladas, los postres, los picoteos.
El día, para mí, comenzó relativamente temprano yendo con mi mamá a visitar el pequeño local que tenían Bernie y Mónica cerca de CasaPiedra, un lugar bien ameno y acogedor que a esas horas del almuerzo recibía poca gente, pero que les sirvió de promoción de sus talentos artesanales. Almorzamos en el departamento, mi mamá se tomó una siesta y después partimos a María Pinto. Seguimos todas las instrucciones proveídas por la anfitriona...incluso la de ir cerrando cada portón que se abría y creo que fue una excelente idea que hubieran puesto cartelitos; hizo todo más fácil.
Bajando del auto vi a Diego Torres, y luego nos dirigimos hacia el quincho.
Debajo de un gran árbol habían cuatro o cinco mesas grandes con manteles, donde se podía observar claramente la masividad del encuentro. Estaban Fernanda y Diego , José Luis y Javiera, Ismael y Maya, Pía y Álvaro, Juanpi y su novia, Cristián con Laura, Mamo y señora, Tinte y Cristián, Fernanda y Pedro, Denise y Diego, María José y Manuela, Alejandro, Cata, José Miguel y María Jesús, Carlos y PilarIsabel; y hay que agregar también a los hijos respectivos de cada una de las parejas, o sea un familión. Además estaban Bebo y Tatú, Margara, Meli, Manan, Pati y Mariano. En total tres generaciones que se juntaron no solo para celebrar el matrimonio de Cristián y Laura, sino que también coincidió con el aniversario de matrimonio del Tata y la Bili, así que podríamos estar hablando de cuatro generaciones bajo un mismo techo (bajo las últimas circunstancias, por supuesto).
Habían grupos en las mesas grandes, otros dos grupos cerca del asado, un grupo de niños que jugaba al fútbol, otro grupo en la piscina, otro grupo saltando en las camas elásticas, otros bajo la sombra de un gran árbol y de vez en cuando se producían movimientos de un lado para el otro con el propósito de que todos pudiéramos compartir.
El día estaba soleado con algunas nubecitas que dejaron mis ganas de bañarme para otro día, pero ¡¡¡¡Estuvo buenísimo!!!!! Y en nuestros pensamientos también estaban los que no pudieron ir porque están fuera del país, como es el caso de Cristóbal y Ligia, Loreto y Andrea, Maureen, Stephanie, Benji; así como los que tenían otros compromisos. Fueron sus buenas horas para recapitular después de tanto tiempo sin juntarse de verdad en una ocasión tan especial.
No faltaron las fotos, así que supongo que a medida que se vayan difundiendo, se puedan ir agregando al magnífico historial de esta familia Streeter Prieto. Un día intenso, de relajo al máximo, de ponernos al día después de mucho tiempo sin vernos (y para qué decir que de tantos que somos, que me es imposible acordarme de todos los nombres de los hijos de mis primos, así que en ese tema mil perdones....¡muy fácil de perder la cuenta con todos los que somos!)
Unos ricos postres, bebidas, cerveza, vino con durazno, té helado, carne, chorizos, salchichas, varias ensaladas...¡una fiesta hecha y derecha!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Halloween in Los Vilos
The house in Los Vilos is right at the end of a very long main street and it´s over 100 years old, and there is a little faint smoke of running ghosts of rats and spooky hallucinations....the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. And the broken down, near water pier that once stood tall reminds me of the little girl that tried to run through but looked carefully not to fall down the big holes in the middle.
The day was cloudy with a lovely breeze and things started to put in motion for a little trick-or treating night. As the day continued, the house kept that haunted-and-beware kind of look and I was expecting maybe a couple of kids would venture our way, but they didn´t, so I settled with my mom and her girl friend to play cards. And I got thirsty....for a gooey drop of juice, so I went out to see what I could find.
As I walked along the first block it was all dark, no movement...yet something seemed to be happening somewhere. And suddenly, I found a little princess walking by just as she was heading home, after picking up something sweet at La Marinita, the bakery from way, way back. Next, what a nice surprise I found! Now things started to make sense. There they were, the female and male pirates, vampires, ladybug, dead boys and girls, a couple of devils and all the stores from the bakery and up were open, so they were the ones getting visited that night. Absolutely amazing!!!!!
The day was cloudy with a lovely breeze and things started to put in motion for a little trick-or treating night. As the day continued, the house kept that haunted-and-beware kind of look and I was expecting maybe a couple of kids would venture our way, but they didn´t, so I settled with my mom and her girl friend to play cards. And I got thirsty....for a gooey drop of juice, so I went out to see what I could find.
As I walked along the first block it was all dark, no movement...yet something seemed to be happening somewhere. And suddenly, I found a little princess walking by just as she was heading home, after picking up something sweet at La Marinita, the bakery from way, way back. Next, what a nice surprise I found! Now things started to make sense. There they were, the female and male pirates, vampires, ladybug, dead boys and girls, a couple of devils and all the stores from the bakery and up were open, so they were the ones getting visited that night. Absolutely amazing!!!!!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
La pivellina
I went to the movies last weekend with my mom, and we choose this italian movie that basically is about a woman who takes a girl of about 1 1/2- 2 years old to her house because she has been left alone at the park. Inside, you find her husband and a 14 year old boy who treats the little girl, Asia, like his sister. And they move around what seems to be a decaying circus.
It shows us how hard those lives are and what they do to make them better, to adjust to the circumstances, with absolutely no clue about what is going to happen next and that leaves you wondering what might happen.
A simple, worth-watching movie, almost like a documentary that tells us a little bit about "la pivellina", this little girl that changes the life of the people that take her in, for better or worse because they know they will have to give her away at the end, and the constant fear of her mother coming back to claim her.
Bitter-sweet and amiable characters that makes me wonder why we don´t get to see a lot of these movies instead of just the blockbusters... and then you understand, it´s a different kind of movie. It´s about getting you to see different lives through the eyes of normal people.
Absolutely amazing, if you get a chance to see it, do it
It shows us how hard those lives are and what they do to make them better, to adjust to the circumstances, with absolutely no clue about what is going to happen next and that leaves you wondering what might happen.
A simple, worth-watching movie, almost like a documentary that tells us a little bit about "la pivellina", this little girl that changes the life of the people that take her in, for better or worse because they know they will have to give her away at the end, and the constant fear of her mother coming back to claim her.
Bitter-sweet and amiable characters that makes me wonder why we don´t get to see a lot of these movies instead of just the blockbusters... and then you understand, it´s a different kind of movie. It´s about getting you to see different lives through the eyes of normal people.
Absolutely amazing, if you get a chance to see it, do it
Sunday, October 16, 2011
La Roja
Para los fanáticos del fútbol, saber cuando juega la selección chilena, es algo que traspasa fronteras, ya que hasta los no fanáticos se entusiasman para ver cómo será el resultado después del último partido, que en este caso había sido el fatal 4-2 que le dio Argentina. Todo el país comienza a girar alrededor de las horas previas; en Santiago, se comienza a notar en el flujo cada vez más irregular de las micro, donde la gente empieza a aglomerarse para llegar antes que inicie el partido; incluso se puede ver en el metro, donde hay tanta gente con prisa por entrar que cuesta que a uno lo dejen salir.
Y volviendo a lo que les iba a contar, resulta que justo ese día también tenía clases en la Gabriela Mistral a las 19:30 y con todo el enredo de micros y metro, terminé entrando a la sala como a las siete veinte, tiempo necesario para hacerse un café y esperar a que el profesor empiece la clase.
Yo, que apenas sé algunos apellidos de "la Roja", como son Matías Fernández, Suazo y nada del resto, llegué a la clase y el profesor dice tres apellidos como si todos supiéramos quiénes son, y lo que es peor, más encima era la delantera peruana (o sea, la posibilidad de siquiera adivinar era nula). Pero a pesar de eso, después de una derrota ante Argentina, sale de todos lados las ansias del triunfo porque se convierte en una de las pocas cosas que podemos celebrar todos juntos.
La clase se dio igual, aunque los nombres de los tres delanteros peruanos volvieron a surgir cuando se integraron el resto de los alumnos, y por esa hora y media, estuve concentradísima en la clase. Al salir, reinaba el silencio, sin ninguna posibilidad real de saber el resultado a no ser que saliera en las pantallas del metro o algo parecido.
Y al entrar a mi edificio, no me aguanté y le pregunté a los guardias, que me anunciaron la victoria de 4-2 sobre Perú. Con el frío, corrí lo más rápido que pude y prendí la televisión para ver los goles, o sea, para decidir cuál había sido el mejor o no. En casi todos los canales, se siguió a la transmisión del segundo partido entre Argentina y no sé quién más. Pero los encontré, creo que vi los tres primeros, más uno de Perú y mi interés volvió a las series de televisión que tenía planeado ver, con la alegría de que "la Roja" había ganado.
Nada más que decir que en un día como ése, disfrutar de la alegría de un equipo de fútbol victorioso seguro que arranca sonrisas en más de una cara triste, de algún dolor pasajero y lo más importante, es sentir como el país se une frente a algo que pareciera tan trivial, pero que al final de cuentas es una de las cosas que vale la pena disfrutar.
Y volviendo a lo que les iba a contar, resulta que justo ese día también tenía clases en la Gabriela Mistral a las 19:30 y con todo el enredo de micros y metro, terminé entrando a la sala como a las siete veinte, tiempo necesario para hacerse un café y esperar a que el profesor empiece la clase.
Yo, que apenas sé algunos apellidos de "la Roja", como son Matías Fernández, Suazo y nada del resto, llegué a la clase y el profesor dice tres apellidos como si todos supiéramos quiénes son, y lo que es peor, más encima era la delantera peruana (o sea, la posibilidad de siquiera adivinar era nula). Pero a pesar de eso, después de una derrota ante Argentina, sale de todos lados las ansias del triunfo porque se convierte en una de las pocas cosas que podemos celebrar todos juntos.
La clase se dio igual, aunque los nombres de los tres delanteros peruanos volvieron a surgir cuando se integraron el resto de los alumnos, y por esa hora y media, estuve concentradísima en la clase. Al salir, reinaba el silencio, sin ninguna posibilidad real de saber el resultado a no ser que saliera en las pantallas del metro o algo parecido.
Y al entrar a mi edificio, no me aguanté y le pregunté a los guardias, que me anunciaron la victoria de 4-2 sobre Perú. Con el frío, corrí lo más rápido que pude y prendí la televisión para ver los goles, o sea, para decidir cuál había sido el mejor o no. En casi todos los canales, se siguió a la transmisión del segundo partido entre Argentina y no sé quién más. Pero los encontré, creo que vi los tres primeros, más uno de Perú y mi interés volvió a las series de televisión que tenía planeado ver, con la alegría de que "la Roja" había ganado.
Nada más que decir que en un día como ése, disfrutar de la alegría de un equipo de fútbol victorioso seguro que arranca sonrisas en más de una cara triste, de algún dolor pasajero y lo más importante, es sentir como el país se une frente a algo que pareciera tan trivial, pero que al final de cuentas es una de las cosas que vale la pena disfrutar.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Alcohol commercials
Though I don´t like to drink, I take this time to express my public outrage at a new alcohol commercial that is driving me insane as it encourages a complete lack of responsibility and pretending that what you do can be seen through another way.
I mean, seriously! How can an alcohol commercial tell that it doesn´t matter whether you burn your house, you get hit by lightning, you carelessly drop construction materials into someone else´s home and that someone doesn´t get hurt, or you get your car down a truck.... and you can just take another look around...!!!! I don´t really understand why they would let anyone do a commercial that basically says that you can continue having fun when you are drinking and do the most stupid thing in the world...
I am seriously upset about it and I just feel like changing the channel so that I wouldn´t hear that stupid little song where the man or people whistle and say that you can´t take another way around.... it just drives me crazy.
Until next time, my readers
I mean, seriously! How can an alcohol commercial tell that it doesn´t matter whether you burn your house, you get hit by lightning, you carelessly drop construction materials into someone else´s home and that someone doesn´t get hurt, or you get your car down a truck.... and you can just take another look around...!!!! I don´t really understand why they would let anyone do a commercial that basically says that you can continue having fun when you are drinking and do the most stupid thing in the world...
I am seriously upset about it and I just feel like changing the channel so that I wouldn´t hear that stupid little song where the man or people whistle and say that you can´t take another way around.... it just drives me crazy.
Until next time, my readers
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Peripecias Santiaguinas
Ayer quedé de juntarme con una amiga a las cuatro de la tarde en su casa. A eso de las doce de la mañana, pensé en llamarla para saber si nos juntaríamos como habíamos quedado pero no lo hice. Volví al departamento, almorcé y a eso de las tres de la tarde fui a tomar la micro y me dirigí al metro Pedro de Valdivia. Me bajé en Baquedano y antes de tomar el metro en dirección a su casa, la llamé y me enteré de que Susana no andaba con auto, así que seguí hasta la estación Irrarrázaval y le pregunté a un guardia cómo podía llegar al Estadio Nacional, y me dijo que tomara la micro 506 ó 507. Tomé la micro y después de andar su buen rato me encontré como a la altura del Movistar Arena y le pregunté al chofer por el Estadio Nacional...¿qué creen? Había tomado la micro, pero obviamente en la dirección equivocada. Me bajé de la micro, crucé la calle y me fui a la parada más cercana y no correspondía al paradero de ninguna de esas micros, así que caminé unas tres cuadras hasta que encontré el paradero. Una señora me preguntó si sabía cuánto se estaban demorando las micros y le dije que no tenía mucha idea, pero que había escuchado que estaban desviando el tránsito por los preparativos del Parque O´Higgins para la celebración de Fiestas Patrias. Al rato, llegó otro señor que dijo que venía caminando como por diez cuadras y no se veía micro por ningún lado. Llamé a Susana para contarle lo que me había pasado, mientras seguía caminando en dirección a la cordillera. Después de que no pasaran micros por un rato, Susana me llamó para decirme dónde estaba y me di cuenta que estaba en Matta con Arturo Prat, así que ella me recomendó que preguntara cuán lejos estaba de Vicuña Mackenna. Pregunté y estaba bastante lejos, por lo que decidí darle una segunda mirada a las micros y me subí a una 406 para bajarme en el Estadio Nacional.
Luego Matta se transformó en Grecia hasta que llegué al paradero Marathón, señal de que la próxima parada sería Estadio Nacional, pero la micro no paró hasta que llegué al Portal Ñuñoa, un mall. Llamé nuevamente a Susana y en el celular, entre cortado, le escuché algo de un restaurant chino y esta vez, para que las dos estuviéramos claras, le pregunté por qué lado de Grecia venía caminando y me dijo que frente al Estadio Nacional. Debo haber caminado unas cuatro o cinco cuadras y di con el restaurant chino y eventualmente, con Susana.
De ahí a su casa a tomar algo bien frío porque con el calor que hacía, las dos veníamos con la lengua afuera: un rico helado con una Coca-Cola Zero fría y queque de plátano de Olga. Conversamos sobre el pasado 11 de septiembre, de Felipe Camiroaga y de toda la gente que estaba en el avión que se estrelló hace dos semanas en Juan Fernández; de nuestras experiencias de ver la Zona Cero en Nueva York (yo) y un mural en Washington (Susana), y de apreciar que tuvimos sensaciones muy parecidas al entrar a esos lugares que parecieran no mostrar su fuerza, y que al llegar, es casi como haber estado presente ahí mismo a pesar de la distancia, porque nada se puede comparar con lo que les pasó a esa gente en esos momentos, la angustia, la pérdida de la calma, el ataque a una zona cosmopolita; de mirar los nombres, fotos y cartas de jóvenes que pelearon en la Primera o Segunda Guerra Mundial y sentir esa emoción latente, indescriptible, como un nudo apretado en el estómago que se retuerce y que se aliviana al mismo tiempo, de intentar por algunos minutos comprender la magnitud de la situación, de nuestras propias sensaciones y sin dar con las palabras exactas para definirlo.
En eso se nos pasó la hora y llegó la hora de ponerse de nuevo los chalecos y chaquetas y tomar una once con algo calientito y de ahí de vuelta a mi departamento. Como le dije a Susana, "todos los caminos llegan a Roma, y por ende, a su casa", también me pude dar cuenta de lo poco que conozco Santiago y que es fácil perderse si uno no tiene alguna manera de ubicarse geográficamente.
Y como ustedes leen, a pesar de todo ese tremendo viaje por Santiago, ahora estoy de vuelta en mi departamento escribiéndoles esto y dejándoles un mensaje: es normal que uno se pierda en una ciudad tan grande cuando uno conoce prácticamente solo las calles a nuestro alrededor, y hay que tomar las riendas para encontrar el lugar que se anda buscando o volver a casa nuevamente.
Luego Matta se transformó en Grecia hasta que llegué al paradero Marathón, señal de que la próxima parada sería Estadio Nacional, pero la micro no paró hasta que llegué al Portal Ñuñoa, un mall. Llamé nuevamente a Susana y en el celular, entre cortado, le escuché algo de un restaurant chino y esta vez, para que las dos estuviéramos claras, le pregunté por qué lado de Grecia venía caminando y me dijo que frente al Estadio Nacional. Debo haber caminado unas cuatro o cinco cuadras y di con el restaurant chino y eventualmente, con Susana.
De ahí a su casa a tomar algo bien frío porque con el calor que hacía, las dos veníamos con la lengua afuera: un rico helado con una Coca-Cola Zero fría y queque de plátano de Olga. Conversamos sobre el pasado 11 de septiembre, de Felipe Camiroaga y de toda la gente que estaba en el avión que se estrelló hace dos semanas en Juan Fernández; de nuestras experiencias de ver la Zona Cero en Nueva York (yo) y un mural en Washington (Susana), y de apreciar que tuvimos sensaciones muy parecidas al entrar a esos lugares que parecieran no mostrar su fuerza, y que al llegar, es casi como haber estado presente ahí mismo a pesar de la distancia, porque nada se puede comparar con lo que les pasó a esa gente en esos momentos, la angustia, la pérdida de la calma, el ataque a una zona cosmopolita; de mirar los nombres, fotos y cartas de jóvenes que pelearon en la Primera o Segunda Guerra Mundial y sentir esa emoción latente, indescriptible, como un nudo apretado en el estómago que se retuerce y que se aliviana al mismo tiempo, de intentar por algunos minutos comprender la magnitud de la situación, de nuestras propias sensaciones y sin dar con las palabras exactas para definirlo.
En eso se nos pasó la hora y llegó la hora de ponerse de nuevo los chalecos y chaquetas y tomar una once con algo calientito y de ahí de vuelta a mi departamento. Como le dije a Susana, "todos los caminos llegan a Roma, y por ende, a su casa", también me pude dar cuenta de lo poco que conozco Santiago y que es fácil perderse si uno no tiene alguna manera de ubicarse geográficamente.
Y como ustedes leen, a pesar de todo ese tremendo viaje por Santiago, ahora estoy de vuelta en mi departamento escribiéndoles esto y dejándoles un mensaje: es normal que uno se pierda en una ciudad tan grande cuando uno conoce prácticamente solo las calles a nuestro alrededor, y hay que tomar las riendas para encontrar el lugar que se anda buscando o volver a casa nuevamente.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 11th or 9/11
As I was ready to get up from my bed today, I realized that so many things are happening on this particular date. I mean, the first thing that came to my mind was that it was the 6th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack on New York, which even after all these years it´s so hard to see again. My stomache still crunches up a bit as I saw yesterday the clips from the planes impacting the two towers and when they fell down. I can´t help myself thinking that I just wish this was just a nightmare, but it´s not.
In Chile, where I live, it´s also the day when the government troops took over La Moneda on 1973, and may I say that people here are still using this day to put up barricades and start up bonfires and damaging public goods, people and policemen always on the lookout for a rock or something that might injure up somebody...it´s just crazy!!!
And on a personal note, it´s also my grandma´s Bili death anniversary and Ximena, one of my mom´s friends. So you see, it´s just one of these days that keep you so busy... I´m hoping that they are both watching over us, their family, their friends rooting each day for every victory and supporting us through every failure, all the way through.
And last, but not least, and this one I think it´s the better one (so to speak, because every one of the things I´ve mentioned have changed my life in some way or another), it`s Pepe´s birthday, one of my dad´s brothers.
Too many things to remember on such a day...Can anyone else think of something similar, anywhere?
See you until the next post
In Chile, where I live, it´s also the day when the government troops took over La Moneda on 1973, and may I say that people here are still using this day to put up barricades and start up bonfires and damaging public goods, people and policemen always on the lookout for a rock or something that might injure up somebody...it´s just crazy!!!
And on a personal note, it´s also my grandma´s Bili death anniversary and Ximena, one of my mom´s friends. So you see, it´s just one of these days that keep you so busy... I´m hoping that they are both watching over us, their family, their friends rooting each day for every victory and supporting us through every failure, all the way through.
And last, but not least, and this one I think it´s the better one (so to speak, because every one of the things I´ve mentioned have changed my life in some way or another), it`s Pepe´s birthday, one of my dad´s brothers.
Too many things to remember on such a day...Can anyone else think of something similar, anywhere?
See you until the next post
Sunday, September 4, 2011
La elegancia del erizo
Una película francesa que vale la pena ver. Es una historia centrada en la vida de Paloma, una niña de once años que vive en un edificio de lujo en Francia, la conserje del edificio y un nuevo inquilino que revoluciona al lugar.
Un punto de vista infantil sobre el mundo que la rodea y su ambiente más cercano, su familia con una afición seria al drama existencial y al cine que piensa que nada vale la pena más que lo que uno está haciendo antes de morir. Es una película que combina la actuación con dibujos animados hechos sobre papel, que nos muestra la crueldad con que habitualmente actuamos frente a gente que es de menor condición social, a veces a propósito, y muchas veces, sin quererlo.
Nos muestra los dos lados y los escondites bajos los que se refugia cada inquilino y cómo algunas cosas cambian, y otras permanecen como si nada hubiera pasado; en realidad, fue una verdadera lástima no haber tenido la ocasión de verla directamente en el cine, pero justo la tenían en el sistema premium que son entradas tan caras y sin descuento más encima.
Disfrútenla
Un punto de vista infantil sobre el mundo que la rodea y su ambiente más cercano, su familia con una afición seria al drama existencial y al cine que piensa que nada vale la pena más que lo que uno está haciendo antes de morir. Es una película que combina la actuación con dibujos animados hechos sobre papel, que nos muestra la crueldad con que habitualmente actuamos frente a gente que es de menor condición social, a veces a propósito, y muchas veces, sin quererlo.
Nos muestra los dos lados y los escondites bajos los que se refugia cada inquilino y cómo algunas cosas cambian, y otras permanecen como si nada hubiera pasado; en realidad, fue una verdadera lástima no haber tenido la ocasión de verla directamente en el cine, pero justo la tenían en el sistema premium que son entradas tan caras y sin descuento más encima.
Disfrútenla
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Despertares
Después de una odisea de prácticamente tres días, finalmente pude ver esta película protagonizado por Robert de Niro y Robin Williams. Una película ambientada en los años sesenta, basada en una historia real sobre pacientes con encefalitis, y la calidad de vida que tenían porque se pensaba que sus mentes no estaban activas.
La verdad es que es una de esas películas que nos muestran que a veces no hay que darse por vencidos porque otros piensan diferente que uno. De que si todos nos juntamos para lograr un bien común, las cosas más imposibles se pueden lograr, aunque sea por unos pocos días.
Y al mismo tiempo, que nos muestran que todo ser humano necesita la compañía de otras personas para sentirse y estar bien. Excelentes actuaciones, especialmente de Robert de Niro como paciente, de verdad que valía la pena mirarla, como la recomendó Fernanda.
Te hace recordar de las cosas importantes de la vida: la familia, la amistad, lo bueno de las diferencias y cómo a veces es más fácil dejarnos llevar por el trabajo, por un problema, por alguna enfermedad, en vez de dar gracias por lo que tenemos y que hay que disfrutar de la vida.
Me enseñó que hay que ver las cosas más allá de sus límites, buscar lo diferente, ese algo que nos llama a investigar, a seguir la vida del reportero y ver hasta dónde somos capaces de llegar si nos proponemos. Realmente una buena combinación para un fin de semana relajado y tranquilo, en la espera de que vengan muchos más como éste.
La verdad es que es una de esas películas que nos muestran que a veces no hay que darse por vencidos porque otros piensan diferente que uno. De que si todos nos juntamos para lograr un bien común, las cosas más imposibles se pueden lograr, aunque sea por unos pocos días.
Y al mismo tiempo, que nos muestran que todo ser humano necesita la compañía de otras personas para sentirse y estar bien. Excelentes actuaciones, especialmente de Robert de Niro como paciente, de verdad que valía la pena mirarla, como la recomendó Fernanda.
Te hace recordar de las cosas importantes de la vida: la familia, la amistad, lo bueno de las diferencias y cómo a veces es más fácil dejarnos llevar por el trabajo, por un problema, por alguna enfermedad, en vez de dar gracias por lo que tenemos y que hay que disfrutar de la vida.
Me enseñó que hay que ver las cosas más allá de sus límites, buscar lo diferente, ese algo que nos llama a investigar, a seguir la vida del reportero y ver hasta dónde somos capaces de llegar si nos proponemos. Realmente una buena combinación para un fin de semana relajado y tranquilo, en la espera de que vengan muchos más como éste.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
It´s snowing
This morning I woke up to the sound of my sister telling something to my mom and I decided to get up and have some breakfast. I looked out the window and it was raining, so it was good to have a warm cup of coffee with bread and jam. I took a shower and put my clothes on and then I picked up my mom´s computer to continue working on my Nietzsche paper and all of a sudden, these tiny little snowflakes started falling from the sky.
The fog was white and before I knew it, the snow was getting heavier and it started to look like there were feathers dropping down from the sky...unbelievable and exciting because it has not snowed for a couple of years in the city. It has been falling non-stop for three hours by now, but only on the neighborhoods closer to the mountains, it´s only raining downtown. For those who know Santiago I can tell you that it´s snowing from Rotonda Peréz Sujovic right down to the Cordillera de Los Andes.
I tried to publish this earlier, but somehow it seems to me like it´s perfect right now. We are really in winter now (it´s starting to look like a White Christmas, but we are on summer at that time) so I wish I could be able to do a little bit of magic and capture the beauty of the snow falling everywhere, from one side to another so that I could take a look at it when it´s gone, which hopefully, won´t be for quite a while.
And it´s quite peaceful and quiet, except by the men working on the kitchen tiles, and it feels like a dream, something so beautiful that I wish we could have at least a snow like this one once in winter. Had to warm up again with a nice cup of tea and now I´m waiting for lunch so that I can continue with my paper feeling more inspired and giving thanks to this day....hard to put up in words all that I´m feeling right now.
I picture myself in a nice little cottage with a warm fireplace, something really great to drink and something sweet, typing away until the snow stops falling down from the sky. There would be a big window so that I could just grab my camera and take a couple of pictures.
The fog was white and before I knew it, the snow was getting heavier and it started to look like there were feathers dropping down from the sky...unbelievable and exciting because it has not snowed for a couple of years in the city. It has been falling non-stop for three hours by now, but only on the neighborhoods closer to the mountains, it´s only raining downtown. For those who know Santiago I can tell you that it´s snowing from Rotonda Peréz Sujovic right down to the Cordillera de Los Andes.
I tried to publish this earlier, but somehow it seems to me like it´s perfect right now. We are really in winter now (it´s starting to look like a White Christmas, but we are on summer at that time) so I wish I could be able to do a little bit of magic and capture the beauty of the snow falling everywhere, from one side to another so that I could take a look at it when it´s gone, which hopefully, won´t be for quite a while.
And it´s quite peaceful and quiet, except by the men working on the kitchen tiles, and it feels like a dream, something so beautiful that I wish we could have at least a snow like this one once in winter. Had to warm up again with a nice cup of tea and now I´m waiting for lunch so that I can continue with my paper feeling more inspired and giving thanks to this day....hard to put up in words all that I´m feeling right now.
I picture myself in a nice little cottage with a warm fireplace, something really great to drink and something sweet, typing away until the snow stops falling down from the sky. There would be a big window so that I could just grab my camera and take a couple of pictures.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Leyendo a Nietzsche
Estaba leyendo el programa de mi próximo curso de Ideología y varios nombres me eran conocidos como Adam Smith, John Locke, Karl Marx y, por supuesto, Nietzsche, y otro más que en este momento no me acuerdo cuál es. Una amiga me preguntó por qué había elegido a alguien tan, como decirlo, particular en su forma de decir las cosas. Eso me quedó dando vuelta en la cabeza, y descubrí que más bien fue la idea de leer algo de Nietzsche, porque no lo había hecho nunca. Quería tener mi propia visión sobre él, sus ideas ya que muchas veces juzgamos sin saber realmente el mensaje que están trasmitiendo. Partió simplemente por curiosidad, y me encontré con algo distinto, algo que merecía una segunda mirada.
Está claro que odiaba a las mujeres y tiene problemas con el Cristianismo, pero tambièn hay cosas que son reflejo de la época y solo quiero saber más, definitivamente que es lo que transmite, y cuando termine de leer haré un trabajo sobre mis descubrimientos.
Para mí es entender diferentes puntos de vista, aunque uno los llegue a considerar equivocados, pero al mismo tiempo me doy cuenta de que hay ciertas cosas que hablan sobre el ser humano que son comunes a todos...es un desafío y lo que me propongo es leerlo, digerirlo y encontrar una tesis digna de probar.
¿Qué se puede esperar? Muchas cosas y Nietzsche (no saben cuán difícil es aprender a deletrear este apellido, no se por qué pero cada vez que apreto la z inmediatamente marco la x porque es raro ver la combinación zsc y en ese orden.
Cuando yo leo algo espero encontrar algo distinto, algo que me sorprenda y eso es lo que he encontrado hasta el momento en lo que he leído no he aceptado algunos puntos de vistas, he encontrado ciertas paradojas, ciertos conflictos y ciertas verdades. Leí La caída de los ídolos y estoy en las últimas páginas (unas 50-60 aproximadamente) de Asi habló Zaratustra y todavía no me han dado ganas de tirarlo por la ventana o algo por el estilo; siento que tengo ganas de terminarlo para ver hacia dónde me lleva y tomar una posición.
Bueno, hasta la próxima porque creo que si sigo escribiendo voy a develar ciertos detalles de mi trabajo y no voy a hacerlo hasta tenerlo concluido.
Está claro que odiaba a las mujeres y tiene problemas con el Cristianismo, pero tambièn hay cosas que son reflejo de la época y solo quiero saber más, definitivamente que es lo que transmite, y cuando termine de leer haré un trabajo sobre mis descubrimientos.
Para mí es entender diferentes puntos de vista, aunque uno los llegue a considerar equivocados, pero al mismo tiempo me doy cuenta de que hay ciertas cosas que hablan sobre el ser humano que son comunes a todos...es un desafío y lo que me propongo es leerlo, digerirlo y encontrar una tesis digna de probar.
¿Qué se puede esperar? Muchas cosas y Nietzsche (no saben cuán difícil es aprender a deletrear este apellido, no se por qué pero cada vez que apreto la z inmediatamente marco la x porque es raro ver la combinación zsc y en ese orden.
Cuando yo leo algo espero encontrar algo distinto, algo que me sorprenda y eso es lo que he encontrado hasta el momento en lo que he leído no he aceptado algunos puntos de vistas, he encontrado ciertas paradojas, ciertos conflictos y ciertas verdades. Leí La caída de los ídolos y estoy en las últimas páginas (unas 50-60 aproximadamente) de Asi habló Zaratustra y todavía no me han dado ganas de tirarlo por la ventana o algo por el estilo; siento que tengo ganas de terminarlo para ver hacia dónde me lleva y tomar una posición.
Bueno, hasta la próxima porque creo que si sigo escribiendo voy a develar ciertos detalles de mi trabajo y no voy a hacerlo hasta tenerlo concluido.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2: the end of a decade
So, today I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. It was the end of a decade of Harry Potter´s movies, which is quite a lot of time, huh. And the thing that makes me write about as a real follower of the complete saga is that ever since the first one, I was always motivated to see the next one. And yes, that did include reading the complete seven books. What I get in the end are the things that I'll never forget like when Harry Potter finds out that it was Snape who was trying to keep on his broom on his first game of quidditch, Hagrid´s fascination for dragons and creatures that everyone else saw as monstrous; the branches of the whooping willow falling hard on the Weasley´s car; the hat that revealed the house of Hogwart´s students; seeing quidditch game for real, not just on the imagination; the hyppogriff that brought Draco Malfoy´s to the nurses; the time when Harry learns who was the real traitor that helped kill his parents; the Marauder´s Map that let people know where the rest are in Hogwarts; the time-turning device that Hermione carried arround throughout third year and that we only get to see half-way in the movie; Dobby, the elf of the Malfoy´s house; Harry, Hermione and Ron going to Hagrid´s house sneaking out in the night; the cloak that made Harry invisible; the amazing challenges of the Triwizard´s Tournament; the reporter that wrote whatever she wanted about the four people participating in it; Victor Krum and his relationship with Hermione; Hermione´s expected dress for the ball; the thrill of seeing how Harry tries to escape the basilisk that hears his every move, his near-death moment with Ginny Weasley; Snape´s way of talking that creeped everyone out (and may I say one of the best created villains in movies, certainly one of the best characters in the saga); the dementors that sucked life and spirit around everyone; professor Lockheart´s inability to control the pixies on his first class; the real-life chess on the first movie; Sirius´s house hidden from human view and the grouchy house elf that hated him and Harry; the obnoxious head inquisitor of Hogwarts that drove everyone at the school insane by all her rules and how she was driven out by the Weasley twins; fighting death-eaters in the Ministry of Magic; Bellatrix Strange with all her moves (quite a performance by Helena Bonham Carter); Draco Malfoy´s bitter fights towards Harry Potter and facing the fact that he was not as bad as he wanted people to see, that he was not a killer; Ron and Hermione´s relationship and the long-waited-for kiss.
I could just keep on writing about things that I liked, but I prefer to acknowledge that Ralph Fiennes´s role of Lord Voldemort was really wicked as well. I think that is the most important part of the movies: to be able to follow the plot and that you remember each character because of their personality, the way the actor falls and acts like his character and you are able to sympathize or hate, and at the same time, love what they have done with it.
Just amazing, what else can I say and hoping that I have not ruined everyone´s expectations for those who have not yet seen it, but hopefully I´ll get some comments from some of you about similar kind of experiences, so until next time, goodbye
I could just keep on writing about things that I liked, but I prefer to acknowledge that Ralph Fiennes´s role of Lord Voldemort was really wicked as well. I think that is the most important part of the movies: to be able to follow the plot and that you remember each character because of their personality, the way the actor falls and acts like his character and you are able to sympathize or hate, and at the same time, love what they have done with it.
Just amazing, what else can I say and hoping that I have not ruined everyone´s expectations for those who have not yet seen it, but hopefully I´ll get some comments from some of you about similar kind of experiences, so until next time, goodbye
Saturday, July 9, 2011
¿Inocente o culpable?
Hoy fui a ver esta película en Cine Hoyts Parque Arauco. Uno de esos thrillers inolvidables que te deja con la sensación de qué le espera al protagonista. Bàsicamente, es de un abogado que tiene como misiòn defender a los criminales y conseguirles la sentencia más corta que puedan. Asume que todos son culpables y espera que no se equivoque cuando se presente un inocente. El giro de la historia es bastante inesperado, de esos que te dejan preguntando ¿quién es el engañado y quièn el engañador? Muy buenas actuaciones de conocidos actores de cine y protagonizada por Mathew McCounaghey.
Nada es lo que parece y espero que no les pase como a mí, que en un momento de la película me pasó lo mismo que al personaje, ese pequeño detalle que cambia todas las cosas y que de repente hace click y todo el asunto se aclara.
Valió la pena, en realidad, si les gusta este tipo de pelìculas, vayan a verla. Se sorprenderán con lo que se espera a la vuelta de la esquina. Buena música onda sesenta-setenta así que también pueden disfrutarla de esa manera.
Espero comentarios, ah y otra cosa, ¿quién podría decirme cuál es el tìtulo original en inglés?
Hasta la próxima
Nada es lo que parece y espero que no les pase como a mí, que en un momento de la película me pasó lo mismo que al personaje, ese pequeño detalle que cambia todas las cosas y que de repente hace click y todo el asunto se aclara.
Valió la pena, en realidad, si les gusta este tipo de pelìculas, vayan a verla. Se sorprenderán con lo que se espera a la vuelta de la esquina. Buena música onda sesenta-setenta así que también pueden disfrutarla de esa manera.
Espero comentarios, ah y otra cosa, ¿quién podría decirme cuál es el tìtulo original en inglés?
Hasta la próxima
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Music and Films in the 60´s
So, last Wednesday I had one of the most amazing classes ever! I´m taking this class called 1960´s Revolutions and it was time for Music and Films that made an impact on the 1960´s or that were influenced by them.
We started with this group called The Sillcows, which I had never heard before, but that was just a little souvenir of things to come. We listened to many songs like Happy Together, a song that I don´t remember when I heard it first but somehow I knew the lyrics, kind of cool, though. Then we had another song called California Dreamin, which rang a bell, a pretty interesting one, actually! Heard from my teacher that they were one of the first groups to use stereo sounds (oops! I forgot the name of the group. Hope you music lovers don´t hate me for that). We listened to The Doors with Light my Fire, with a really good looking Jim Morrison, by the way. We heard from Creedence Clearwater Revival with Down on the Corner, a french lady singer with a called named Voila, then another french song called Je t´ aime mon plus (hope I got the name of the song right). Then we saw this out of this world video of Joe Cocker singing With a little help from my friends (cover from The Beatles) that some people claim to be one of the best song covers of that particular song, but personally I have to admit that I prefer The Beatles `s version. I think that what was really amazing was seeing Joe Cocker with a t-shirt playing a ghost guitar, I mean he really had some voice and some really cool moves in Woodstock.
In the movie arena, we saw little pieces of The Graduate with some incredible scenes, then some of Melody, a very small part of Easy Rider (I don´t think I would have been able to see much more than that) and a part of To Sir with Love, I believe that was about it.
The closing or may I say, the finale, was a Coca-Cola ad using the music that was popular back then. I just had to say that I was thrilled by the class, although outside it was raining like crazy! And well, it just had to be me to go with just a hat and a scarf to class, which got all wet and as I was hoping if someone could give me a lift to the nearest subway station, my teacher came up and he drove to Tobalaba, which I had to run to so that I did not get all wet. Little hot in the subway and freezing with rain when I got out of the subway to take the bus to go home.
And what happened next, was simply out of this world! In a really scary kind of way. I don´t have anything against gays but this guy must have been kind of high and I saw him cross the street like in two steps and then he moved from one side to the other and it was very strange to look at. I was glad though that there was another man next to me while I waited for the red light to cross Gerònimo de Alderete and I just went through the other entrance to my building because it made me feel much more secure than walking a whole block by myself.
Hope this is interesting for some of you, and I hope to hear your comments about this night.
We started with this group called The Sillcows, which I had never heard before, but that was just a little souvenir of things to come. We listened to many songs like Happy Together, a song that I don´t remember when I heard it first but somehow I knew the lyrics, kind of cool, though. Then we had another song called California Dreamin, which rang a bell, a pretty interesting one, actually! Heard from my teacher that they were one of the first groups to use stereo sounds (oops! I forgot the name of the group. Hope you music lovers don´t hate me for that). We listened to The Doors with Light my Fire, with a really good looking Jim Morrison, by the way. We heard from Creedence Clearwater Revival with Down on the Corner, a french lady singer with a called named Voila, then another french song called Je t´ aime mon plus (hope I got the name of the song right). Then we saw this out of this world video of Joe Cocker singing With a little help from my friends (cover from The Beatles) that some people claim to be one of the best song covers of that particular song, but personally I have to admit that I prefer The Beatles `s version. I think that what was really amazing was seeing Joe Cocker with a t-shirt playing a ghost guitar, I mean he really had some voice and some really cool moves in Woodstock.
In the movie arena, we saw little pieces of The Graduate with some incredible scenes, then some of Melody, a very small part of Easy Rider (I don´t think I would have been able to see much more than that) and a part of To Sir with Love, I believe that was about it.
The closing or may I say, the finale, was a Coca-Cola ad using the music that was popular back then. I just had to say that I was thrilled by the class, although outside it was raining like crazy! And well, it just had to be me to go with just a hat and a scarf to class, which got all wet and as I was hoping if someone could give me a lift to the nearest subway station, my teacher came up and he drove to Tobalaba, which I had to run to so that I did not get all wet. Little hot in the subway and freezing with rain when I got out of the subway to take the bus to go home.
And what happened next, was simply out of this world! In a really scary kind of way. I don´t have anything against gays but this guy must have been kind of high and I saw him cross the street like in two steps and then he moved from one side to the other and it was very strange to look at. I was glad though that there was another man next to me while I waited for the red light to cross Gerònimo de Alderete and I just went through the other entrance to my building because it made me feel much more secure than walking a whole block by myself.
Hope this is interesting for some of you, and I hope to hear your comments about this night.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Going out
I agreed with my friend, Suzie Q, to meet at 15:45 last Friday. I was really looking forward to it because I had not been able to see her for about a month or so.
I was checking for jobs on the internet and I noticed that the battery of my computer was going down, though I had plugged it in, and then I became aware that the lights were out, so I hurried to finish before it died out on me. My cell phone rang and it was Suzie Q, calling me to say that the class she had scheduled for the afternoon was cancelled, therefore she wouldn´t be in the area for us to meet and that she had not eaten lunch and couldn´t wait until four to eat. I told her that we should meet for lunch instead and we agreed to meet at Bravissimo, an icecream-coffee house near the university.
I grabbed all my things and took the bus until I got to the subway station. Pretty sure that I knew where I was going, I crossed the street and started to walk towards the mountain, and suddenly I realized that I was on the wrong street!
I traced my steps to the right street and I sat at a table before calling Suzie Q to tell her where I was. She arrived a few minutes later and this waiter gave each one of us a menu and left us there to decide. We started talking and the waiter never came back, so we had to call him to take our order. We were in the second floor and it took a while for the food to get there. I didn´t like my pumpkin soup (the one my mom cooks is incredible!) so I decided that I would wait for a cup of coffee and something sweet to fill my appetite.
And what happened from then on, was a complete chaos! Somewhere along the way, our waiter went for his lunch break and we were assigned someone else. Suzie Q asked for a tea and I ordered a coffee with a piece of lemon pie. The waiter came back with a bag of tea and a cup and hot water, so my friend told him if he could bring out the box to select her own tea while I got my cup of cofee. He came back with the teas but no lemon pie, and I asked him what happened and he said that they were out of lemon pie and fruit pie. I asked him what I could get for the same price and he recommended me some pancakes. I told him to bring us one extra plate and fork so that the both of us could share.
The pancakes came back with three different sauces, but no extra dish or fork! We had to track down our waiter and tell him that we needed those extra things to share the dessert. And I just couldn´t believe it when I tasted the pancakes and they were cold, so I wasn´t satisfied with my choice.
We continued talkiing for about half an hour and no one came by to pick up our plates until we decided it was time to go, so we asked for the bill when our waiter finally approached our table. He went downstairs and he came back to tells us what had we ordered and then he told us that he would have to bring us the bill on a piece of paper because the computers were down. He came with the bill and we handed him the money and he brought the changet . I was making out how much I had spent and there was extra cash. A couple of seconds later, the waiter came to tell us that he had brought us the wrong change.
We decided that that was the last time we ate there, because after all, their specialty is ice-cream and that´s what they are good at. I was so happy to finally leave that place!
Has anyone ever experienced something similar? Please, feel free to share.
I was checking for jobs on the internet and I noticed that the battery of my computer was going down, though I had plugged it in, and then I became aware that the lights were out, so I hurried to finish before it died out on me. My cell phone rang and it was Suzie Q, calling me to say that the class she had scheduled for the afternoon was cancelled, therefore she wouldn´t be in the area for us to meet and that she had not eaten lunch and couldn´t wait until four to eat. I told her that we should meet for lunch instead and we agreed to meet at Bravissimo, an icecream-coffee house near the university.
I grabbed all my things and took the bus until I got to the subway station. Pretty sure that I knew where I was going, I crossed the street and started to walk towards the mountain, and suddenly I realized that I was on the wrong street!
I traced my steps to the right street and I sat at a table before calling Suzie Q to tell her where I was. She arrived a few minutes later and this waiter gave each one of us a menu and left us there to decide. We started talking and the waiter never came back, so we had to call him to take our order. We were in the second floor and it took a while for the food to get there. I didn´t like my pumpkin soup (the one my mom cooks is incredible!) so I decided that I would wait for a cup of coffee and something sweet to fill my appetite.
And what happened from then on, was a complete chaos! Somewhere along the way, our waiter went for his lunch break and we were assigned someone else. Suzie Q asked for a tea and I ordered a coffee with a piece of lemon pie. The waiter came back with a bag of tea and a cup and hot water, so my friend told him if he could bring out the box to select her own tea while I got my cup of cofee. He came back with the teas but no lemon pie, and I asked him what happened and he said that they were out of lemon pie and fruit pie. I asked him what I could get for the same price and he recommended me some pancakes. I told him to bring us one extra plate and fork so that the both of us could share.
The pancakes came back with three different sauces, but no extra dish or fork! We had to track down our waiter and tell him that we needed those extra things to share the dessert. And I just couldn´t believe it when I tasted the pancakes and they were cold, so I wasn´t satisfied with my choice.
We continued talkiing for about half an hour and no one came by to pick up our plates until we decided it was time to go, so we asked for the bill when our waiter finally approached our table. He went downstairs and he came back to tells us what had we ordered and then he told us that he would have to bring us the bill on a piece of paper because the computers were down. He came with the bill and we handed him the money and he brought the changet . I was making out how much I had spent and there was extra cash. A couple of seconds later, the waiter came to tell us that he had brought us the wrong change.
We decided that that was the last time we ate there, because after all, their specialty is ice-cream and that´s what they are good at. I was so happy to finally leave that place!
Has anyone ever experienced something similar? Please, feel free to share.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Día en cama
Todo parecia andar bien hoy, pero claro, justo se me ocurre salir muy desabrigada como a las nueve de la mañana y hacía un frío espantoso aquí en Santiago. Fui a la psicóloga y después pasé a comprarme un cafecito para volver más calientita a la cosa, porque ahí ya estaba algo tiritando.
Llegué al departamento y toqué el timbre porque se me habían quedado las llaves y el celular, ¡por suerte que estaba la mamá en la casa! Hice la cama de la mamá y pagué unas cuentas por internet, miré las ofertas de trabajo y me dio frío, así que me tiré dos mantas encima, una azul a cuadrillé y otra más calientita. Y a pesar de eso, seguía sintiendo frío y me empezó a doler la cabeza. Me metí en la cama y me di cuenta que no me sentía para nada bien, no tenía hambre y sentía que la cabeza me hervía.
Cuando la mamá volvió del supermercado me tomé la temperatura y aunque no estaba muy alta, esa sensación de fiebre y dolor de cabeza fueron más que yo. Una sopita caliente (no sé ni de qué era porque como la preparó la mamá, no le pregunté), un remedio para el resfrío y una buena dormida fueron suficientes para sentirme algo mejor. Me levanté al baño y salí muy rápido, y obviamente, me mareé un poco y viendo cómo estaba la tarde, preferí quedarame en cama,,,,aunque me perdiera una clase tan entretenida como la de los años 60, y decidí cuidarme.
Tomé un té con leche y un pedazo de pan tostado con mantequilla porque sentía que algo muy fuerte me iba a caer bomba en el estómago. Una lata, pero qué se le va a hacer, voy a tener que preocuparme de salir bien abrigada de aquí en adelante para que no me pesque nada raro.
Llegué al departamento y toqué el timbre porque se me habían quedado las llaves y el celular, ¡por suerte que estaba la mamá en la casa! Hice la cama de la mamá y pagué unas cuentas por internet, miré las ofertas de trabajo y me dio frío, así que me tiré dos mantas encima, una azul a cuadrillé y otra más calientita. Y a pesar de eso, seguía sintiendo frío y me empezó a doler la cabeza. Me metí en la cama y me di cuenta que no me sentía para nada bien, no tenía hambre y sentía que la cabeza me hervía.
Cuando la mamá volvió del supermercado me tomé la temperatura y aunque no estaba muy alta, esa sensación de fiebre y dolor de cabeza fueron más que yo. Una sopita caliente (no sé ni de qué era porque como la preparó la mamá, no le pregunté), un remedio para el resfrío y una buena dormida fueron suficientes para sentirme algo mejor. Me levanté al baño y salí muy rápido, y obviamente, me mareé un poco y viendo cómo estaba la tarde, preferí quedarame en cama,,,,aunque me perdiera una clase tan entretenida como la de los años 60, y decidí cuidarme.
Tomé un té con leche y un pedazo de pan tostado con mantequilla porque sentía que algo muy fuerte me iba a caer bomba en el estómago. Una lata, pero qué se le va a hacer, voy a tener que preocuparme de salir bien abrigada de aquí en adelante para que no me pesque nada raro.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Mind-blowing class en Rebeliones de los años 60 (8/6/11)
Todo estaba preparado con una semana de anticipación: el ansiado recital de Bob Dylan para acompañarnos en esta clase. Llegué a la Universidad Gabriela Mistral y me encontré con el profe que justo tenía que sacarse unas fotos con un profesor español que vino a hacer un curso intensivo sobre Rusia en las tardes hasta hoy. Justo le estaba diciendo a la persona que se iba a preocupar del sonido si podía ir a instalarlo, pero todavía estaba la clase anterior así que tuvo que esperar a que terminaran para poder entrar. Tuve una pequeña muestra de lo que nos esperaba, por lo que esperé con ansias a que fueran las 19:30 para que pudiéramos comenzar la clase.
Empezó la clase primero con Woody Guthrie, con una canción llamada This land is made for you and me, que si algunos de ustedes la conoce es una que dice algo como esto: This land is my land from California to....this land is made for you and me (ref: si alguno de ustedes vio la película de Julia Roberts con Susan Sarandon, Stepmom, es la canción que cantan para la celebración de Thanksgiving). Todo al natural estilo country y después nos fuimos con The Beatles y Daytripper.
Por supuesto que seguimos con Bob Dylan cantando Blowin in the wind y apareció una canción con Woody Guthrie (ídolo música folk-música con un sonido como de trenes, no country), una canción de Dylan con Joan Baez y varias interpretaciones de artistas que le rinden tributo a Dylan en sus comienzos.
Música espectacular, eso sí que yo parecía que era la única que las cantaba en inglés...algo divertido, pero buena la sesión para seguir aprendiendo con los 60. Eso sí que la única lata es que algunas canciones las leímos en español y se le va toda la gracia.
Y casi se me olvida, Elvis Presley con Jailhouse Rock mostrándolo de joven, cuando ya se nota la influencia de las drogas y ya en las últimas. También escuchamos dos canciones de Johnny Cash: una con Bob Dylan y otra que grabó antes de morir como recordatorio del camino recorrido.
Groovy, groovy kind of night.
Luego Peter, Paul and Mary con 100 Miles; después Dylan de nuevo con varios intérpretes contemporáneos y algunas canciones como tributo.
Lo que se llama una clase muy entretenida con buena música de fondo y que me dejó con ganas de esperar a la siguiente clase.
Empezó la clase primero con Woody Guthrie, con una canción llamada This land is made for you and me, que si algunos de ustedes la conoce es una que dice algo como esto: This land is my land from California to....this land is made for you and me (ref: si alguno de ustedes vio la película de Julia Roberts con Susan Sarandon, Stepmom, es la canción que cantan para la celebración de Thanksgiving). Todo al natural estilo country y después nos fuimos con The Beatles y Daytripper.
Por supuesto que seguimos con Bob Dylan cantando Blowin in the wind y apareció una canción con Woody Guthrie (ídolo música folk-música con un sonido como de trenes, no country), una canción de Dylan con Joan Baez y varias interpretaciones de artistas que le rinden tributo a Dylan en sus comienzos.
Música espectacular, eso sí que yo parecía que era la única que las cantaba en inglés...algo divertido, pero buena la sesión para seguir aprendiendo con los 60. Eso sí que la única lata es que algunas canciones las leímos en español y se le va toda la gracia.
Y casi se me olvida, Elvis Presley con Jailhouse Rock mostrándolo de joven, cuando ya se nota la influencia de las drogas y ya en las últimas. También escuchamos dos canciones de Johnny Cash: una con Bob Dylan y otra que grabó antes de morir como recordatorio del camino recorrido.
Groovy, groovy kind of night.
Luego Peter, Paul and Mary con 100 Miles; después Dylan de nuevo con varios intérpretes contemporáneos y algunas canciones como tributo.
Lo que se llama una clase muy entretenida con buena música de fondo y que me dejó con ganas de esperar a la siguiente clase.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Easy Rider
I can´t believe I actually saw this movie twice. It was bad enough the first time, but since it was listed as one of the movies to watch in my master´s course, I rented it and decided if I could figure it out this time.
And I got a little bit more to understand, but I couldn´t help drowsing off somewhere around the half of the movie. I got so far that these were two bikers who bought drug to a mexican dealer, tried it and then sold it to a customer in what seemed like a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Then they start this road trip towards New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Actually I think that the only thing that made some sort of sense in the movie was the part where they were in the commune, at least I got the feeling that they had some sort of horizon, while the two riders had not.
Then there is that scene at town where they meet Jack Nicholson´s character... and that is where I lost control of everything. From that point on everything was a blur...got some sense of their participating in the Mardi Grass night and the psychodelic paraphernalia in the cemetery. And then for whatever reason they get shot. I mean, I don´t think I will ever see it again because it is so weird and not so easy to watch. Maybe it was the time or the way it was made, but I had enough of it. I will not try to see it again because I found that the dialogues weren´t very amusing and filming natural dawn got so bright as the movie itself so sometimes I didn´t even know where I was.
And I got a little bit more to understand, but I couldn´t help drowsing off somewhere around the half of the movie. I got so far that these were two bikers who bought drug to a mexican dealer, tried it and then sold it to a customer in what seemed like a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Then they start this road trip towards New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Actually I think that the only thing that made some sort of sense in the movie was the part where they were in the commune, at least I got the feeling that they had some sort of horizon, while the two riders had not.
Then there is that scene at town where they meet Jack Nicholson´s character... and that is where I lost control of everything. From that point on everything was a blur...got some sense of their participating in the Mardi Grass night and the psychodelic paraphernalia in the cemetery. And then for whatever reason they get shot. I mean, I don´t think I will ever see it again because it is so weird and not so easy to watch. Maybe it was the time or the way it was made, but I had enough of it. I will not try to see it again because I found that the dialogues weren´t very amusing and filming natural dawn got so bright as the movie itself so sometimes I didn´t even know where I was.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Rain Man
So, back on the train of seeing movies that I have not seen before, I had this urge to watch Rain Man. I only had seen a couple of minutes and today, after viewing Easy Rider (a movie I´ve seen twice and still can´t make much sense off), I decided to put it on my dvd player.
The story surprised me because it basically is about a man who is notified about his father´s death and gets really upset because there is a three million trust fund set up for a trustee that he can´t know about. Furiosly seeking the truth, he ends up finding that he has an elder brother that he never knew about and that no one can tell him why. So, he decides to take his brother for a ride and see if he can win custody so that he can access his half of the inheritance. And that is where the road trip of getting to know each other begins.
It´s not easy at first, like I expected, but I was moved by the way in which Hoffmann portrays this autistic man who is great with numbers but has problems dealing with money affairs. And on the other hand, you have Cruise, who is annoyed at his brother´s behavior, and is really doing everything in his power to keep his business afloat, and in the process he discovers a truth: his brother is the Rain Man, the imaginary friend he had when he was a child.
The road trip to finding a brother is not easy, or for that matter, realizing that I miss my brother. I miss the sound of his voice (Cristóbal called me last week and I didn´t recognize him at first, but once I did, it was great hearing from him) and this bond between us because we are so close in age. Cristóbal was my childhood companion, friend, partner in adventures; and seeing this movie made me remember all those moments and wanting to hold him close to me to tell him that I love him and that I wish he was here (knowing, of course, that it is in Vancouver where he needs to be right now with Ligia, having a time for themselves, to be with each other) and perhaps, his annoying way of touching the apartment´s button until someone finally had to open him.
It´s been hard on me not to see him on a regular basis, but life goes on and I know that he is happy where he is. This movie made me recall his leaning shoulder that I could talk to when I wanted, and as tears flushed down my cheeks I realized how much I missed him and wanted to take a plane to Vancouver just for kicks and see him greeting me at the airport. Cristóbal has many of the qualities that I look in a man and I realized that the moment in which Tom Cruise says goodbye to his brother, reminding him that he will pay him a visit in two weeks, I found myself saying that it would be great to go and see my brother in such a little period of time, so I wrote in here instead.
I know that his wife is taking good care of him and the point is that I miss him because I´m living with my mom and sisters and it´s kind of strange not to see a man, my brother, or hear his voice. I would like Cristóbal to tell me that things will be alright, that there´s nothing to be scared about, that I blew it big time by not going to Paul McCartney´s concert on Wednesday, to sit with him while we see a movie and talk about what has happened into our lives when we are apart from each other. But well, life is unexpected and you never know what you are gonna get, but of one thing I´m sure: wherever Cristóbal is, he is always in my heart and I think that is important to acknowledge that.
I´m not complaining about the fact that I have three sisters, but it surely made a difference in my life to have a brother and one that stood beside me during my childhood and whose love and support have been unconditional.
So if you are thinking about a brother, or a sister, that you haven´t seen or talked to for some time, feel free to contact him or her and let them know how you feel about them.
The story surprised me because it basically is about a man who is notified about his father´s death and gets really upset because there is a three million trust fund set up for a trustee that he can´t know about. Furiosly seeking the truth, he ends up finding that he has an elder brother that he never knew about and that no one can tell him why. So, he decides to take his brother for a ride and see if he can win custody so that he can access his half of the inheritance. And that is where the road trip of getting to know each other begins.
It´s not easy at first, like I expected, but I was moved by the way in which Hoffmann portrays this autistic man who is great with numbers but has problems dealing with money affairs. And on the other hand, you have Cruise, who is annoyed at his brother´s behavior, and is really doing everything in his power to keep his business afloat, and in the process he discovers a truth: his brother is the Rain Man, the imaginary friend he had when he was a child.
The road trip to finding a brother is not easy, or for that matter, realizing that I miss my brother. I miss the sound of his voice (Cristóbal called me last week and I didn´t recognize him at first, but once I did, it was great hearing from him) and this bond between us because we are so close in age. Cristóbal was my childhood companion, friend, partner in adventures; and seeing this movie made me remember all those moments and wanting to hold him close to me to tell him that I love him and that I wish he was here (knowing, of course, that it is in Vancouver where he needs to be right now with Ligia, having a time for themselves, to be with each other) and perhaps, his annoying way of touching the apartment´s button until someone finally had to open him.
It´s been hard on me not to see him on a regular basis, but life goes on and I know that he is happy where he is. This movie made me recall his leaning shoulder that I could talk to when I wanted, and as tears flushed down my cheeks I realized how much I missed him and wanted to take a plane to Vancouver just for kicks and see him greeting me at the airport. Cristóbal has many of the qualities that I look in a man and I realized that the moment in which Tom Cruise says goodbye to his brother, reminding him that he will pay him a visit in two weeks, I found myself saying that it would be great to go and see my brother in such a little period of time, so I wrote in here instead.
I know that his wife is taking good care of him and the point is that I miss him because I´m living with my mom and sisters and it´s kind of strange not to see a man, my brother, or hear his voice. I would like Cristóbal to tell me that things will be alright, that there´s nothing to be scared about, that I blew it big time by not going to Paul McCartney´s concert on Wednesday, to sit with him while we see a movie and talk about what has happened into our lives when we are apart from each other. But well, life is unexpected and you never know what you are gonna get, but of one thing I´m sure: wherever Cristóbal is, he is always in my heart and I think that is important to acknowledge that.
I´m not complaining about the fact that I have three sisters, but it surely made a difference in my life to have a brother and one that stood beside me during my childhood and whose love and support have been unconditional.
So if you are thinking about a brother, or a sister, that you haven´t seen or talked to for some time, feel free to contact him or her and let them know how you feel about them.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Remember Me
I remember seeing the trailer in the movies a while back, and last Tuesday, I said to myself, well if you really want to get your own opinion on it, then you have to see it so I rented it. Some reviews considered it a bad film because it started with a tragic event and ended with one, but that was not enough to stop me, so when I came home I told my sister Denise if she wanted to see it with me and she said she didn´t like it. Hesitation comes to my mind at this moment, which of course then transformed into I have to see it because I rented it and I want to get a first hand view of it and then write something about the movie.
The story centered in Tyler, played by Robert Pattinson (otherwise known as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga), a 21 year old that still grieves over the suicide of his elder brother Michael and yet manages to be the perfect companion for his little sister, Caroline.
On the other side, we have Ally, the daughter of a cop and amazingly enough, the movie begins with her (I thought it would be the other way around). She is 11 and is waiting for the subway with her mom in a completely deserted station and there are two young present, who, of course, are up to no good. They take away the mother´s handbag and well, I found here a small flaw in the movie, a small detail that kept me wondering throughout the rest of the movie. The guys get into the subway (no one comes out), the door closes and then, for what appears to be some kind of a miracle, the doors open again and they shoot the mother, leaving Ally by herself until her daddy shows up. I ran this scene back in my head a couple of times and I found out that it didn´t seem real, I mean, really, when you think about it, what are the chances of you being by yourself with your daughter while you get this bad feeling that the other two people act like they want to attack you, and you still wait for the subway to appear. And I mean, come on, the whole scene puts itself in motion at the exact moment that the subway stops.
Well, I think I better move forward. Tyler and Ally both go to the same college, and it so happens that her father is the cop who, the night before, had pushed Tyler against a police car for going on the defense of two bystanders who witnessed an attack and are going to be sent to jail. Tyler´s roommate finally gets to him that dating his daughter would be the perfect revenge.
So then we see the couple dating, while Tyler tries to get his father´s attention to the fact that his behavior towards Caroline is driving her away and has all these issues inside of him that he can´t even talk with his roommate, which adds that extra spicy flavor (in my opinion). And then we have the couple fighting when the truth finally comes out, which also opens a bridge for the relationship father-daughter-son in Tyler`s case to improve.
I knew that somehow the tragic ending was coming, but I think the problem is not where that person dies or the day, but rather that it looks like somehow it was a "I´m-waiting-peacefully-to-be-killed " right when things seem to get better and a breakthrough that reveals that not everything is like the way you see it, saying that people have different means of caring or remembering someone.
I think that Robert Pattinson meets the challenge with his character, and it´s really a risky move to try different movies while you still are in people´s mind as Edward Cullen in Twilight. But I also believe that actors have to go through that process so that they can show us what kind of characters they can make. Think about it, over a decade ago Leonardo di Caprio was the cross-star lover in Titanic and there were a lot of women who were charmed by it, but as time moved on, he has adopted more challenging characters, ranging from an undercover cop to a man in a psychic institute to an expert on the mind (The departed, Shutter Island and Inception) so we can expect that something like that could happen to Pattinson.
It´s a tragic love story that also deals with family relationships that are difficult to handle when you have experienced divorce or lose of a family member, and I think that in that aspect is a good movie. I was surprised at the ending about finding myself in similar situations which I could relate to so it was worth it. I don´t regret seeing it.
The story centered in Tyler, played by Robert Pattinson (otherwise known as Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga), a 21 year old that still grieves over the suicide of his elder brother Michael and yet manages to be the perfect companion for his little sister, Caroline.
On the other side, we have Ally, the daughter of a cop and amazingly enough, the movie begins with her (I thought it would be the other way around). She is 11 and is waiting for the subway with her mom in a completely deserted station and there are two young present, who, of course, are up to no good. They take away the mother´s handbag and well, I found here a small flaw in the movie, a small detail that kept me wondering throughout the rest of the movie. The guys get into the subway (no one comes out), the door closes and then, for what appears to be some kind of a miracle, the doors open again and they shoot the mother, leaving Ally by herself until her daddy shows up. I ran this scene back in my head a couple of times and I found out that it didn´t seem real, I mean, really, when you think about it, what are the chances of you being by yourself with your daughter while you get this bad feeling that the other two people act like they want to attack you, and you still wait for the subway to appear. And I mean, come on, the whole scene puts itself in motion at the exact moment that the subway stops.
Well, I think I better move forward. Tyler and Ally both go to the same college, and it so happens that her father is the cop who, the night before, had pushed Tyler against a police car for going on the defense of two bystanders who witnessed an attack and are going to be sent to jail. Tyler´s roommate finally gets to him that dating his daughter would be the perfect revenge.
So then we see the couple dating, while Tyler tries to get his father´s attention to the fact that his behavior towards Caroline is driving her away and has all these issues inside of him that he can´t even talk with his roommate, which adds that extra spicy flavor (in my opinion). And then we have the couple fighting when the truth finally comes out, which also opens a bridge for the relationship father-daughter-son in Tyler`s case to improve.
I knew that somehow the tragic ending was coming, but I think the problem is not where that person dies or the day, but rather that it looks like somehow it was a "I´m-waiting-peacefully-to-be-killed " right when things seem to get better and a breakthrough that reveals that not everything is like the way you see it, saying that people have different means of caring or remembering someone.
I think that Robert Pattinson meets the challenge with his character, and it´s really a risky move to try different movies while you still are in people´s mind as Edward Cullen in Twilight. But I also believe that actors have to go through that process so that they can show us what kind of characters they can make. Think about it, over a decade ago Leonardo di Caprio was the cross-star lover in Titanic and there were a lot of women who were charmed by it, but as time moved on, he has adopted more challenging characters, ranging from an undercover cop to a man in a psychic institute to an expert on the mind (The departed, Shutter Island and Inception) so we can expect that something like that could happen to Pattinson.
It´s a tragic love story that also deals with family relationships that are difficult to handle when you have experienced divorce or lose of a family member, and I think that in that aspect is a good movie. I was surprised at the ending about finding myself in similar situations which I could relate to so it was worth it. I don´t regret seeing it.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Entrevistas grupales
El martes, cuando ya nada parecía traer alguna posibilidad de trabajo, llegó a mi correo un mensaje diciendo que me presentara formal el día jueves 21 de abril a las 9:40 a.m. Organicé todo para que ayer todo saliera a la perfección, incluso tomé precauciones por si me quedaba dormida. Lo peor fue que la noche anterior, quizás porque estaba algo ansiosa, no pude encontrar el celular y me fui a dormir, confiando en que la mañana me despertaría la alarma y sabría finalmente dónde lo había dejado.
Finalmente, a eso de las siete, la música del celular emanaba a borbotones dentro de mi cartera, por lo que pude encontrarlo, pero eso no impidió que me quedara dormida y despertara nuevamente a las 8:20. Me duché rápidamente, me puse la tenida que había elegido y partí al paradero de la micro. Vi pasar una, dos, tres micros y ninguna iba hacia Providencia, lo que me frustraba cada vez más...hasta que apareció la micro naranja que me dejaba en Escuela Militar (menos mal que la tomé porque o si no, no hubiera alcanzado a llegar). Subí al metro e iba bien mirando las estaciones para no perder mi parada. Y claro, iba pensando en otra cosa y cuando decidí bajarme, vi MANUEL MONTT sobre una pared...y ahí me acordé que me tenía que bajar en la anterior, por lo que cambié de andén.
Lo más extraño fue que llegó el otro metro y salieron como unas seis personas, y sólo entramos dos a ese vagón. Todavía tenía tiempo para llegar a la entrevista y cuando llegué al lugar donde me tenía que presentar se veía harta gente, como si estuvieran esperando algo, pero no le presté mucha atención. Hacía frío y le pregunté al conserje del edificio que tenía una entrevista, y cuando dijo que tenía que esperar junto con el resto, comprendí que era una entrevista grupal. Claro que con mi pollera negra, una negra y unas medias, no me hacía mucha gracia tener que esperar mucho rato afuera, así que pensé que ojalá comenzaran a llamar pronto, lo que sucedió un par de minutos después.
Subí al segundo piso, entrando de cinco a la vez, y pasé a dejar mi nombre, mi celular y el nombre de la persona que me había contactado para luego pasar a una sala que estaba llena de sillas. Calculo que habremos sido entre veinticinco a treinta personas.
Empezó con la introducción de la empresa en forma general para luego concentrarse en lo referente al trabajo en sí. Después, una serie de testimonios que indicaban el éxito que habían tenido con el producto, lo que en general, fue rápido, con excepción del último, que se demoró como unos veinte minutos en hablar. Yo, personalmente, hasta ese punto ya notaba que había perdido el interés y si no hubiera sido por el hecho de que estaba entre las dos primeras filas, me hubiera ido de ahí, con absoluta seguridad de que no era para mí ese tipo de trabajo.
Como una forma de atrapar hasta el más desconfiado, nos pasaron por una máquina que calcula el IMC (índice de masa corporal) y el porcentaje de grasa en el cuerpo, más una té para que probáramos uno de los productos con la intención de que después seríamos capaces de recomendarlo. Tomé apenas dos sorbos cuando me di cuenta de que no podía seguir forzando algo que definitivamente no me gustaba -creo que hasta ese momento todavía trataba de meterme en la cabeza que había alguna posibilidad después de todo, y la verdad es que descubrí que estaba aburrida, y lo único que quería era que todo terminara rápido.
Luego pasó una señora al frente que explicó lo que venía dentro del primer kit que nos entregaría la empresa, pagando primero el derecho a la franquicia, y toda la gama de productos que se ofrecían. Dijo que se realizaría una capacitación después de la exposición y si había alguno de nosotros que en ese preciso momento no podíamos pagar, podíamos ir más tarde a otra presentación en Huechuraba. Nos dijo que ahí no sería necesario que fuéramos en tenida formal y que incluso podíamos ir en blue jeans, lo que para mí se tradujo en una sola pregunta ¿por qué nos habían pedido que fuéramos vestidos formalmente si en realidad no era más que captar la atención por trabajar en la empresa?
Quedé con la sensación, un poco molesta, de que me habían hecho perder el tiempo, de que todo eso de vestirme lo mejor posible ni siquiera era una garantía segura de un trabajo, sino que más bien creo que la idea era que nos sintiéramos ya como empresarias (os).
Así que tomé mi cartera, me fui al metro y de ahí directo al departamento en busca de algo caliente para aminorar el frío.
¿Qué es lo que piensan ustedes de esta situación? ¿Serían capaces de promocionar un producto que no les gusta por ganar un poco de dinero extra?
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Mil soles espléndidos
Este libro situado en el Afganistán del siglo veinte relata el enfrentamiento y el cruce generacional de dos mujeres en un tiempo de conflicto y ajuste a los cambios impuestos tanto por el pueblo soviético como por el ejercido por los talibanes.
Mariam, una jovencita ilegítima, sueña con todos los jueves en que viene su padre a visitarla, y a su manera, parece pasar por alto lo que le dice su madre de que ella está viviendo una fantasía, que por eso no conoce a sus hermanos. Todo se derrumba al realizar el viaje a la ciudad y darse cuenta del rechazo total de su padre, que la deja dormir afuera, sin cobijo, esperando tranquilamente a que desista. La vuelta a la realidad se hace cruda al encontrar a su madre muerta. Por ende, conlleva al padre a asumir la obligación de alojarla dentro de su palacio y para consumar lo antes posible una unión matrimonial con un hombre bastante mayor.
Laila, por otro lado, estudia y su padre le fomenta la oportunidad que tiene como mujer de aprender una profesión y ser útil en el nuevo Afganistán que promueven los rusos. Y por otro lado, se enfrenta por primera vez al amor con su primo, lo que la conlleva a barajar entre un matrimonio arreglado y sus propósitos de seguir estudiando. Pero, al poco tiempo, con la retirada de los rusos, todo lo que a ella se aferraba se desvanece, la gente comienza a emigrar hacia Pakistán; se restringe la presencia de la mujer en el mundo laboral y es forzada nuevamente a ponerse la burka, y con el riesgo de sufrir golpes si se le ocurriera siquiera romper alguna de esas reglas. Sus padres mueren en un bombardeo, y es rescatada por Rashid, el marido de Mariam.
Mariam, veinte años mayor, ve la llegada de Laila como una intrusa y que además pone en jaque su matrimonio al quedar embarazada rápidamente, la trata mal, se enfrentan y se ven obligadas a ocultarlo todo en presencia del marido de ambas. La llegada de una niña, en vez de ser algo terrible, enciende en Mariam un amor incondicional, una alegría que ella no podía esperar pues sus intentos de lograr la maternidad no habían rendido los frutos esperados. Y eso, es también el gatillo que hace que estas dos mujeres comiencen a acercarse y a generar una complicidad propia, a compartir momentos más agradables cuando Rashid no está presente.
No será hasta la llegada del hijo varón para que los privilegios concedidos a la niña se le quiten, y por ende, Rashid asume la obligación de comportarse como un padre y enseñarle a rezar. El niño, quien de a poco comienza a notar esa preferencia, se convierte en un espía de su madre y de Mariam para con Rashid, y sin quererlo, al reencontrarse Laila con su primo y ver la reacción que ella tiene con él versus la que tiene con su padre, despierta de nuevo al monstruo de los correazos, de los puñetes y eso se vuelve insoportable para ambas mujeres.
Mariam, acostumbrada a tales abusos, arremete con todas sus fuerzas contra Rashid en defensa de Laila y toma la determinación de dejar que la joven madre pueda probar otros horizontes en Pakistán y olvidarse de lo sufrido para sacar adelante a sus hijos, de darle la posibilidad de empezar una relación de pareja con amor de verdad y no a la fuerza. Es la última vez que ambas mujeres se ven, debido a las circunstancias, llevando por siempre el recuerdo de los buenos momentos.
El tiempo pasa y Laila quiere retornar a su hogar, y al hacerlo, por Mariam y en honor a ella, comienza a trabajar para que el futuro de muchos niños sea diferente al suyo.
Eso es en esencia este libro, el relato de cómo a veces la vida nos da segundas oportunidades cuando uno menos se lo espera y es capar de unir generaciones frente a una causa común. Hace sentir el duro trato que reciben las mujeres en Afganistán, sus pequeños años de alegría así como también lo que deben aguantar por el simple hecho de estar casadas (que sus palabras no sirven de nada, que está sometida al carácter del marido sin importar las circunstancias, que nada de lo que diga puede salvarla) y la impotencia de no poder tener a un hijo que de alguna manera ayude a hacer la vida diaria un poco más soportable) y a la vez, la grandeza de poder comprender a la otra y comenzar a escuchar y a entenderse mutuamente; a recordar los sufrimientos y a hacer todo esfuerzo por consolidar un futuro mejor.
Mariam, una jovencita ilegítima, sueña con todos los jueves en que viene su padre a visitarla, y a su manera, parece pasar por alto lo que le dice su madre de que ella está viviendo una fantasía, que por eso no conoce a sus hermanos. Todo se derrumba al realizar el viaje a la ciudad y darse cuenta del rechazo total de su padre, que la deja dormir afuera, sin cobijo, esperando tranquilamente a que desista. La vuelta a la realidad se hace cruda al encontrar a su madre muerta. Por ende, conlleva al padre a asumir la obligación de alojarla dentro de su palacio y para consumar lo antes posible una unión matrimonial con un hombre bastante mayor.
Laila, por otro lado, estudia y su padre le fomenta la oportunidad que tiene como mujer de aprender una profesión y ser útil en el nuevo Afganistán que promueven los rusos. Y por otro lado, se enfrenta por primera vez al amor con su primo, lo que la conlleva a barajar entre un matrimonio arreglado y sus propósitos de seguir estudiando. Pero, al poco tiempo, con la retirada de los rusos, todo lo que a ella se aferraba se desvanece, la gente comienza a emigrar hacia Pakistán; se restringe la presencia de la mujer en el mundo laboral y es forzada nuevamente a ponerse la burka, y con el riesgo de sufrir golpes si se le ocurriera siquiera romper alguna de esas reglas. Sus padres mueren en un bombardeo, y es rescatada por Rashid, el marido de Mariam.
Mariam, veinte años mayor, ve la llegada de Laila como una intrusa y que además pone en jaque su matrimonio al quedar embarazada rápidamente, la trata mal, se enfrentan y se ven obligadas a ocultarlo todo en presencia del marido de ambas. La llegada de una niña, en vez de ser algo terrible, enciende en Mariam un amor incondicional, una alegría que ella no podía esperar pues sus intentos de lograr la maternidad no habían rendido los frutos esperados. Y eso, es también el gatillo que hace que estas dos mujeres comiencen a acercarse y a generar una complicidad propia, a compartir momentos más agradables cuando Rashid no está presente.
No será hasta la llegada del hijo varón para que los privilegios concedidos a la niña se le quiten, y por ende, Rashid asume la obligación de comportarse como un padre y enseñarle a rezar. El niño, quien de a poco comienza a notar esa preferencia, se convierte en un espía de su madre y de Mariam para con Rashid, y sin quererlo, al reencontrarse Laila con su primo y ver la reacción que ella tiene con él versus la que tiene con su padre, despierta de nuevo al monstruo de los correazos, de los puñetes y eso se vuelve insoportable para ambas mujeres.
Mariam, acostumbrada a tales abusos, arremete con todas sus fuerzas contra Rashid en defensa de Laila y toma la determinación de dejar que la joven madre pueda probar otros horizontes en Pakistán y olvidarse de lo sufrido para sacar adelante a sus hijos, de darle la posibilidad de empezar una relación de pareja con amor de verdad y no a la fuerza. Es la última vez que ambas mujeres se ven, debido a las circunstancias, llevando por siempre el recuerdo de los buenos momentos.
El tiempo pasa y Laila quiere retornar a su hogar, y al hacerlo, por Mariam y en honor a ella, comienza a trabajar para que el futuro de muchos niños sea diferente al suyo.
Eso es en esencia este libro, el relato de cómo a veces la vida nos da segundas oportunidades cuando uno menos se lo espera y es capar de unir generaciones frente a una causa común. Hace sentir el duro trato que reciben las mujeres en Afganistán, sus pequeños años de alegría así como también lo que deben aguantar por el simple hecho de estar casadas (que sus palabras no sirven de nada, que está sometida al carácter del marido sin importar las circunstancias, que nada de lo que diga puede salvarla) y la impotencia de no poder tener a un hijo que de alguna manera ayude a hacer la vida diaria un poco más soportable) y a la vez, la grandeza de poder comprender a la otra y comenzar a escuchar y a entenderse mutuamente; a recordar los sufrimientos y a hacer todo esfuerzo por consolidar un futuro mejor.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Across the Universe
I just finished watching this movie set up in the 1960´s. Basically it is a musical about two people half-way around the globe that come together with the help of The Beatles´songs. It catches the Vietnam war and how it affects the soldiers going overseas, unaware of the danger they are facing, and the people at home, who are starting a revolution by protesting against the north american involvement in the war. Also, there is a love story that starts pretty easily and you can see how the road gets complicated as they move around the country, while at the same time, it keeps you wondering whether it will hold up in the end or not (you have to see it, because I´m not saying the end).
It also deals with a singer on its beginnings and how she struggles to reach the point of being known to the public outside of the bar. What I liked is that she had this sort of Janis Joplin kind of look and her guitar player reminded me a little bit of Jimi Hendrix (I have to warn you that this evaluation is based on a look-a-like of the actors, because these characters don´t quite fit the category).
I also have to acknowledge that I knew some of the lyrics, which I sang along with the actors and just listened to the other that I didn´t know that well or just never heard them before. I think that the beginning with Girl was awesome; and I honestly believe that the Hey Jude had a perfect timing with the lead actor, it sort of suited him like a globe and I just couldn´t help sing it along because that song is definitively one of my favorites.
And it really made my day the end of the movie...it was like really being back there, when it happened, and well, I was not surprised with the last song because as I said before, it flows just like the river goes back to the ocean. All the destructive ideas and all the drug using and everything else come together and it gives it a whole new meaning.
It was just one of the movies that I wish I had seen before, however, I feel really lucky that I was able to watch it at all because after some dvd player issues, my sister´s Apple computer finally came through (which ultimately means that I have to talk to the people at Blockbuster because it is very unusual that I got a parental control on the movie but not in the special features´s disc).
It also deals with a singer on its beginnings and how she struggles to reach the point of being known to the public outside of the bar. What I liked is that she had this sort of Janis Joplin kind of look and her guitar player reminded me a little bit of Jimi Hendrix (I have to warn you that this evaluation is based on a look-a-like of the actors, because these characters don´t quite fit the category).
I also have to acknowledge that I knew some of the lyrics, which I sang along with the actors and just listened to the other that I didn´t know that well or just never heard them before. I think that the beginning with Girl was awesome; and I honestly believe that the Hey Jude had a perfect timing with the lead actor, it sort of suited him like a globe and I just couldn´t help sing it along because that song is definitively one of my favorites.
And it really made my day the end of the movie...it was like really being back there, when it happened, and well, I was not surprised with the last song because as I said before, it flows just like the river goes back to the ocean. All the destructive ideas and all the drug using and everything else come together and it gives it a whole new meaning.
It was just one of the movies that I wish I had seen before, however, I feel really lucky that I was able to watch it at all because after some dvd player issues, my sister´s Apple computer finally came through (which ultimately means that I have to talk to the people at Blockbuster because it is very unusual that I got a parental control on the movie but not in the special features´s disc).
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Corte de luz
Hoy todo parecía normal, me di una exquisita ducha y me puse a revisar los sitios donde tengo mi curriculum para ver posibilidades de trabajo. Una vez que las había visto todas, me dirigí a mi sitio para ver una de mis series favoritas, The Mentalist, e iba como a la mitad del capítulo cuando la pantalla se congeló. Los personajes seguían hablando y no pasaba nada, así que apreté la tecla de escape y el computador no prendió más. Revisé la conexión por si acaso se hubiera desconectado el cable, pero como no era ése el problema, se me ocurrió prender la lámpara de mi velador y descubrí que se había cortado la luz en el departamento.
En situaciones similares, lo más lógico hubiera sido ir en busca de otro computador, buscar un libro que no he empezado todavía o en una de éstas, haber sacado mi bordado. Y esta vez, quise salir del departamento para ir a arrendar una película. A unos quince minutos de distancia está el Blockbuster más cercano, tomé el ascensor y dirigí mis pasos repasando en mi mente las cosas que había averiguado de varias películas que he visto recientemente, comparándolas con otras que no me han dejado nada valioso para compartir.
Una vez dentro del local, tomé un canasto y me di una primera vuelta viendo si había algo nuevo que llevar, hasta que me acordé que había visto Across the universe el sábado pasado, razón por la cual apresuré mis pasos para tomar la última copia y tuve suerte porque ahí estaba.
Acto seguido, vi un vistazo a los estrenos a ver si aparecía algo interesante y terminé tomando una película china que se había ganado un Oscar como mejor película extranjera. Y me entraron ganas de ver otra de Stephen King, 1408, y comencé a divagar por los diversos pasillos y no la podía encontrar. Los habré revisado un par de veces buscando en el sector de horror, de acción, de comedia, de películas extranjeras, entre los estrenos para finalmente encontrarla en el medio de unas que ya había visto. Lo que no contaba era que tuvieran una sola copia y por supuesto, no estaba.
Debo reconocer que esta película también estuvo en el cine y como tenía el aspecto de ser de terror, no la fui a ver. Y resulta que ayer, luego de jugar en el computador me fui a ver televisión a la pieza de mi mamá, vi algunas series y después comencé a moverme por los canales y de reojo vi que era una película con John Cusack, pero no me detuve al instante sino que seguí el largo camino de dar vueltas en vano tratando de encontrar algo distinto. No sé si habrá sido porque era lo más interesante, sino porque en la segunda vuelta pude ver algo de la situación en que estaba el protagonista y de ahí no me pude separar hasta que vi el final y en ese momento, decidí arrendarla, por lo que se me pueden imaginar mi decepción cuando no encontré una copia. Busqué otras películas que podrían interesarme hasta que simplemente me cansé de dar tanta vuelta y me puse en la cola (no había nadie) para pagar.
De vuelta al departamento me puse a analizar El Graduado, Melody, Apocalypsis Now, y cómo ellas me habían sorprendido: en la primera, me di cuenta de que no todo era solamente acerca de la relación entre la Sra. Robinson y Ben; de la segunda, de esas cosas que podrían servirme para hacer un trabajo sobre un curso nuevo que empiezo la próxima semana y que además, era una película que no figuraba entre las conocidas; de la tercera, del tema que trata la película. Todo ese pensamiento me condujo a pensar en Psicosis y todo lo que había visto yo de Hitchcock, llegando a la conclusión de que sentía una conexión especial con ellas, considerando la época en que fueron filmadas, y la diferencia que había con muchas versiones de esas películas en la actualidad.
Para qué decir entonces que ni me di cuenta cuando estaba prácticamente a unos pocos metros de mi edificio, pedí que me abrieran la puerta y oí que alguien se había quedado atrapado en el ascensor del edificio A, que es en el que yo vivo. La costumbre me llevó hasta los mismos ascensores y recién capté de que no podía subirme a ninguno de ellos si la persona continuaba adentro. Justo venía un señor de la administración y le pregunté dónde estaban las escaleras (pensar que llevamos casi tres meses aquí y nunca se me pasó por la cabeza saber ese detalle tan importante). Tuve que decidirme a subir los doce pisos a pie, caminando con la luz del generador, bastante tenue a veces, y agradeciendo que se me hubiera ocurrido comprarme una Coca-Cola Zero.
Doce pisos que se me hicieron eternos, pero llegué a la meta y me puse a ordenar algunas cosas hasta que volviera la luz para pensar recién en qué comer para el almuerzo.
En situaciones similares, lo más lógico hubiera sido ir en busca de otro computador, buscar un libro que no he empezado todavía o en una de éstas, haber sacado mi bordado. Y esta vez, quise salir del departamento para ir a arrendar una película. A unos quince minutos de distancia está el Blockbuster más cercano, tomé el ascensor y dirigí mis pasos repasando en mi mente las cosas que había averiguado de varias películas que he visto recientemente, comparándolas con otras que no me han dejado nada valioso para compartir.
Una vez dentro del local, tomé un canasto y me di una primera vuelta viendo si había algo nuevo que llevar, hasta que me acordé que había visto Across the universe el sábado pasado, razón por la cual apresuré mis pasos para tomar la última copia y tuve suerte porque ahí estaba.
Acto seguido, vi un vistazo a los estrenos a ver si aparecía algo interesante y terminé tomando una película china que se había ganado un Oscar como mejor película extranjera. Y me entraron ganas de ver otra de Stephen King, 1408, y comencé a divagar por los diversos pasillos y no la podía encontrar. Los habré revisado un par de veces buscando en el sector de horror, de acción, de comedia, de películas extranjeras, entre los estrenos para finalmente encontrarla en el medio de unas que ya había visto. Lo que no contaba era que tuvieran una sola copia y por supuesto, no estaba.
Debo reconocer que esta película también estuvo en el cine y como tenía el aspecto de ser de terror, no la fui a ver. Y resulta que ayer, luego de jugar en el computador me fui a ver televisión a la pieza de mi mamá, vi algunas series y después comencé a moverme por los canales y de reojo vi que era una película con John Cusack, pero no me detuve al instante sino que seguí el largo camino de dar vueltas en vano tratando de encontrar algo distinto. No sé si habrá sido porque era lo más interesante, sino porque en la segunda vuelta pude ver algo de la situación en que estaba el protagonista y de ahí no me pude separar hasta que vi el final y en ese momento, decidí arrendarla, por lo que se me pueden imaginar mi decepción cuando no encontré una copia. Busqué otras películas que podrían interesarme hasta que simplemente me cansé de dar tanta vuelta y me puse en la cola (no había nadie) para pagar.
De vuelta al departamento me puse a analizar El Graduado, Melody, Apocalypsis Now, y cómo ellas me habían sorprendido: en la primera, me di cuenta de que no todo era solamente acerca de la relación entre la Sra. Robinson y Ben; de la segunda, de esas cosas que podrían servirme para hacer un trabajo sobre un curso nuevo que empiezo la próxima semana y que además, era una película que no figuraba entre las conocidas; de la tercera, del tema que trata la película. Todo ese pensamiento me condujo a pensar en Psicosis y todo lo que había visto yo de Hitchcock, llegando a la conclusión de que sentía una conexión especial con ellas, considerando la época en que fueron filmadas, y la diferencia que había con muchas versiones de esas películas en la actualidad.
Para qué decir entonces que ni me di cuenta cuando estaba prácticamente a unos pocos metros de mi edificio, pedí que me abrieran la puerta y oí que alguien se había quedado atrapado en el ascensor del edificio A, que es en el que yo vivo. La costumbre me llevó hasta los mismos ascensores y recién capté de que no podía subirme a ninguno de ellos si la persona continuaba adentro. Justo venía un señor de la administración y le pregunté dónde estaban las escaleras (pensar que llevamos casi tres meses aquí y nunca se me pasó por la cabeza saber ese detalle tan importante). Tuve que decidirme a subir los doce pisos a pie, caminando con la luz del generador, bastante tenue a veces, y agradeciendo que se me hubiera ocurrido comprarme una Coca-Cola Zero.
Doce pisos que se me hicieron eternos, pero llegué a la meta y me puse a ordenar algunas cosas hasta que volviera la luz para pensar recién en qué comer para el almuerzo.
Monday, April 4, 2011
April
I just can´t believe that we are already on April. It´s just crazy to see how time goes by, though I have to say that the weather is still quite nice for Fall. I can still wear t-shirts but in the night the temperature can drop considerably.
Things at our apartment are starting to change, it isn´t as bad as it was in the beginning. Today, the electricians are here, so we are finally getting more light than just the bedside lamp. I think it´s wonderful to see things moving into a good direction.
Everything is changing at its own pace and hopefully, I´ll start to work sometime soon. And in the meantime, all I have to do is keep looking. I feel like a new life is beginning for me, and I´m going to make something new, a small risk and see whether it´s worth it. I´ll let you know once I´ve done it because I´m scared that if I don´t give myself that chance, then I´ll never know whether I´m really good at it or it´s just a hobby. I´ll see what happens.
And with this little commentary I said goodbye to you all, until the next time I feel like sharing something.
Things at our apartment are starting to change, it isn´t as bad as it was in the beginning. Today, the electricians are here, so we are finally getting more light than just the bedside lamp. I think it´s wonderful to see things moving into a good direction.
Everything is changing at its own pace and hopefully, I´ll start to work sometime soon. And in the meantime, all I have to do is keep looking. I feel like a new life is beginning for me, and I´m going to make something new, a small risk and see whether it´s worth it. I´ll let you know once I´ve done it because I´m scared that if I don´t give myself that chance, then I´ll never know whether I´m really good at it or it´s just a hobby. I´ll see what happens.
And with this little commentary I said goodbye to you all, until the next time I feel like sharing something.
Friday, April 1, 2011
El Concierto
Ayer fui a ver esta película, en el mismo día que se estrenaba, lo que no es algo que hago generalmente. La primera vez que vi la sinopsis fue esperando a ver El Cisne Negro, y desde ahí que decidí verla. Una historia simple y divertida que realmente vale la pena ir a verla. Entre las cosas extrañas se puede mencionar que es una película francesa hablada en ruso y en francés, y está basada en la historia de un chileno; esa versatilidad es lo que más me atrajo, y se podría decir, que es una universalidad que se une armoniosamente como las notas que se elevan hacia la perfección.
No pare de reírme, y a veces, no estaba segura si llorar de alegría, de pena, de todas las historias paralelas que se fundían en una sola: hacer un gran concierto en París. Hay una incertidumbre que se vierte en toda la película: ¿quiénes son los verdaderos padres de Anne-Marie Jacquet? Se vislumbran varias posibilidades y cuando finalmente sale a la luz, es algo inesperado y que le brinda ese toque mágico, esa inspiración que pasa de la completa locura a una interpretación músical de Tchaikowsky que es de otro mundo. No encuentro mejor manera de describirla, esa pieza toca y se filtra por todos los sentidos al compás de cada instrumento, a su ritmo, a su manera de respetar y honrar a dos personas del pasado.
Me sentí como las personas adentro del concierto, a tal punto que mis manos aplaudían junto con la audiencia, e incluso no pude contenerme cuando finalizó. No es necesario saber de música para que la película te haga vibrar; lo que hace vibrar son las características únicas de cada personaje, sus locuras, sus pasiones, sus deseos reprimidos de volver a tocar y de una venganza semi-amarga, de las complicidades, de involucrarse en una vida de músicos rusos que buscan recuperar su momento de gloria. Es, al final de cuentas, una improvisación después de algo ocurrido 30 años atrás.
Una película original, que no necesita de efectos especiales más que el de dejarse llevar por la trama, por las ganas de reírse o de querer "matar" a algunos personajes en determinadas ocasiones; en la mezcla perfecta entre la locura, los miedos y los recuerdos. Lo dejo hasta aquí, ya que espero los comentarios de ustedes que ya la han visto o que decidan ir a verla.
No pare de reírme, y a veces, no estaba segura si llorar de alegría, de pena, de todas las historias paralelas que se fundían en una sola: hacer un gran concierto en París. Hay una incertidumbre que se vierte en toda la película: ¿quiénes son los verdaderos padres de Anne-Marie Jacquet? Se vislumbran varias posibilidades y cuando finalmente sale a la luz, es algo inesperado y que le brinda ese toque mágico, esa inspiración que pasa de la completa locura a una interpretación músical de Tchaikowsky que es de otro mundo. No encuentro mejor manera de describirla, esa pieza toca y se filtra por todos los sentidos al compás de cada instrumento, a su ritmo, a su manera de respetar y honrar a dos personas del pasado.
Me sentí como las personas adentro del concierto, a tal punto que mis manos aplaudían junto con la audiencia, e incluso no pude contenerme cuando finalizó. No es necesario saber de música para que la película te haga vibrar; lo que hace vibrar son las características únicas de cada personaje, sus locuras, sus pasiones, sus deseos reprimidos de volver a tocar y de una venganza semi-amarga, de las complicidades, de involucrarse en una vida de músicos rusos que buscan recuperar su momento de gloria. Es, al final de cuentas, una improvisación después de algo ocurrido 30 años atrás.
Una película original, que no necesita de efectos especiales más que el de dejarse llevar por la trama, por las ganas de reírse o de querer "matar" a algunos personajes en determinadas ocasiones; en la mezcla perfecta entre la locura, los miedos y los recuerdos. Lo dejo hasta aquí, ya que espero los comentarios de ustedes que ya la han visto o que decidan ir a verla.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cometas en el Cielo
Acabo de terminar este libro que trata sobre la vida de dos niños en Afganistán, y su afición por el día en que los cometas o volantines volaban libremente sobre el cielo azul. Una historia movida por la fidelidad de los amigos, de esos que se tienen a escondidas porque son de diferente clase social o porque no es del agrado de la sociedad. Un libro que conduce a examinar la propia infancia, a deleitarse con las inmensas travesuras que se pueden hacer cuando se tiene a alguien con quién compartir esos momentos. A disfrutar a pesar de las diferencias, y de lo terrible que se puede llegar a ser cuando deliberadamente se engaña al otro como un juego, donde se ponen a prueba los compromisos adquiridos, la lealtad, la verdad y los momentos que nos marcan para siempre.
Es la búsqueda del perdón, de sentir que se podría haber hecho algo en una situación que está fuera del control personal. Es la relación entre padre e hijo esbozada por los triunfos y las derrotas, por las expectativas, por encontrar un rasgo, una característica que los una; tanto así como su propia fragilidad cuando se pone a prueba.
Una historia que conmueve, que lleva a preguntarse sobre el pueblo afgano, de las guerras que perturban el día a día y su pasar por el tiempo. Y como dice el autor en su libro, para mí, por lo menos, Afganistán es uno de esos países que no son fáciles de ubicar en el mapa y que solo entran en la mente de nosotros por los talibanes, por la presencia de países extranjeros, por la impotencia de que la paz no tenga un fruto duradero, por saber que a la distancia hay personas que sufren más de lo que uno es capaz de imaginar.
También nos enfrenta a los momentos difíciles, a las forzosas emigraciones hacia otros países en donde se pueda respirar la libertad, en donde se esté dispuesto a cualquier cosa con tal de seguir adelante, a pesar de no gozar de los privilegios del pasado. Una pena guardada y la alegría del amor correspondido, de no saber lo que pasará a la vuelta de la esquina, de lo que se considera bueno y malo, de no saber dónde nos llevará el destino y si seremos capaces de enfrentarnos a los desafíos.
Es un libro que me impactó por la sencillez de sus palabras con ese aire envuelto de dátiles, moras, nieve, a excremento, a ratas, de balas, de matanzas, de enfrentamientos, de situaciones delicadas que salen a la luz para sorprendernos, para que nos caigan las lágrimas (ya sean de pena o de alegría) y sobre todo, que habla de la esperanza a pesar de todo lo malo que ocurre en el mundo.
Es la búsqueda del perdón, de sentir que se podría haber hecho algo en una situación que está fuera del control personal. Es la relación entre padre e hijo esbozada por los triunfos y las derrotas, por las expectativas, por encontrar un rasgo, una característica que los una; tanto así como su propia fragilidad cuando se pone a prueba.
Una historia que conmueve, que lleva a preguntarse sobre el pueblo afgano, de las guerras que perturban el día a día y su pasar por el tiempo. Y como dice el autor en su libro, para mí, por lo menos, Afganistán es uno de esos países que no son fáciles de ubicar en el mapa y que solo entran en la mente de nosotros por los talibanes, por la presencia de países extranjeros, por la impotencia de que la paz no tenga un fruto duradero, por saber que a la distancia hay personas que sufren más de lo que uno es capaz de imaginar.
También nos enfrenta a los momentos difíciles, a las forzosas emigraciones hacia otros países en donde se pueda respirar la libertad, en donde se esté dispuesto a cualquier cosa con tal de seguir adelante, a pesar de no gozar de los privilegios del pasado. Una pena guardada y la alegría del amor correspondido, de no saber lo que pasará a la vuelta de la esquina, de lo que se considera bueno y malo, de no saber dónde nos llevará el destino y si seremos capaces de enfrentarnos a los desafíos.
Es un libro que me impactó por la sencillez de sus palabras con ese aire envuelto de dátiles, moras, nieve, a excremento, a ratas, de balas, de matanzas, de enfrentamientos, de situaciones delicadas que salen a la luz para sorprendernos, para que nos caigan las lágrimas (ya sean de pena o de alegría) y sobre todo, que habla de la esperanza a pesar de todo lo malo que ocurre en el mundo.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Al despertar
Todavía encuentro algo extraño que sea capaz de levantarme temprano después de acostarme como a las tres de la mañana, aunque hoy el día está (hasta el momento) tan feo que lo único que se escucha es el continuo martilleo de la construcción de enfrente y la música de Aerosmith en mi computador. Está tranquilo, deteniendo por un momento el continuo ajetreo de la primera semana de marzo, de que los colegios y algunas universidades han empezado sus clases. Parece que también anda algún maestro dentro del departamento o mi mamá arreglando algunas cosas y simplemente no queda otra opción que ponerse a escribir para cubrir todos esos pequeños ruidos que, a pesar de que molestan, nos acercan cada vez más a un mejor departamento.
El cielo gris con unas nubes grises flotando sobre los cerros se pueden ver desde mi ventana y me imagino volando como Dorothy en El Mago de Oz a un mundo lleno de color, de esperanza, de estar esperando días mejores (o mejor dicho, que sean así).
Sounds of Silence
In my last post, I ended with giving myself the right to be silent. Throughout the movie we hear this song over and over again, there´s no way you can miss it. It would really help my case if I knew the exact lyrics, but I´ll just google them later and that will come out on my next post. In the beginning, the song seems to reflect on what´s going on Ben´s mind as he flies home after the end of his fourth year at college. He is scared about the meaning of the word future and you can see it right through his eyes, his face, his movements, though delicately. It´s the silence that overwhelms him because his family is already expecting him to know what his next move is going to be.
He just wants to be left alone for a while, but his family have invited over all of their friends to congratulate him on how well he did in college. Ben desperately tries to escape them, but it is a wild goose chase, wherever he goes someone catches up to him and finally he can´t handle it anymore and runs up to his room. This is when he first see Mrs. Robinson and his helpless. He falls right into her game and then he is silent, except when he starts to get a glimpse of the real situation: she wants to seduce him. Ben tries to keep himself together in that house, and luckily, he escapes without any scars.
Then at his 21st birthday, which I´ve got to say is one of the strangest scenes in the entire movie, I don´t know why on earth does his father takes up all that time to get him to get into the pool with that diving suit. But then it gives another chance for silence, this time as he decides whether or not what he´s doing is really worth something: what will it prove if he can stand up at the bottom of the pool? Nothing apparently, but for him is just another chance to block everyone else from this weight of the future that heavily pushes him into despair and I think that´s why he ends up calling Mrs. Robinson, just to run away from all the big deal they make of his turning of age.
Now the silence is when he gets up the nerve to actually sleep with her. And then Ben starts to drift away from the current, he just lies in the pool all day, enjoying himself waiting for a new night with his lover. His future can wait, no one has to find out that yet, so early in life.
The silence comes up when he meets Elaine Robinson and for once starts to listen to what his heart says and pay less attention to his head. We start to get the image of silence associated with sex and also to hear up your own voice, your own thoughts.
The silence that surrounds us is that time where Ben and Elaine are watching at each other in the chapel. It comes up quite unnoticed at first as we see him calling for her and waiting for her to make up her mind: whether she runs away with him or she stays married to the doctor. We get to experience that in a slow motion as she looks at Ben and suddenly starts to shut down her ears to what everyone is saying to her at that moment, and is sublime as she loses herself into her thoughts and decides that she wants something more of life than a forced marriage, she won´t make the same mistake her mother did. She will be free of all that´s expected of her and runs out to meet him as an eagle dives down to its prey. And again we hear the echoes of silence as they seat beside each other, without talking. It´s all over their faces, their gestures of satisfaction, of finally getting the woman he wanted; of getting rid of what society thinks is right for a young woman to be doing.
He just wants to be left alone for a while, but his family have invited over all of their friends to congratulate him on how well he did in college. Ben desperately tries to escape them, but it is a wild goose chase, wherever he goes someone catches up to him and finally he can´t handle it anymore and runs up to his room. This is when he first see Mrs. Robinson and his helpless. He falls right into her game and then he is silent, except when he starts to get a glimpse of the real situation: she wants to seduce him. Ben tries to keep himself together in that house, and luckily, he escapes without any scars.
Then at his 21st birthday, which I´ve got to say is one of the strangest scenes in the entire movie, I don´t know why on earth does his father takes up all that time to get him to get into the pool with that diving suit. But then it gives another chance for silence, this time as he decides whether or not what he´s doing is really worth something: what will it prove if he can stand up at the bottom of the pool? Nothing apparently, but for him is just another chance to block everyone else from this weight of the future that heavily pushes him into despair and I think that´s why he ends up calling Mrs. Robinson, just to run away from all the big deal they make of his turning of age.
Now the silence is when he gets up the nerve to actually sleep with her. And then Ben starts to drift away from the current, he just lies in the pool all day, enjoying himself waiting for a new night with his lover. His future can wait, no one has to find out that yet, so early in life.
The silence comes up when he meets Elaine Robinson and for once starts to listen to what his heart says and pay less attention to his head. We start to get the image of silence associated with sex and also to hear up your own voice, your own thoughts.
The silence that surrounds us is that time where Ben and Elaine are watching at each other in the chapel. It comes up quite unnoticed at first as we see him calling for her and waiting for her to make up her mind: whether she runs away with him or she stays married to the doctor. We get to experience that in a slow motion as she looks at Ben and suddenly starts to shut down her ears to what everyone is saying to her at that moment, and is sublime as she loses herself into her thoughts and decides that she wants something more of life than a forced marriage, she won´t make the same mistake her mother did. She will be free of all that´s expected of her and runs out to meet him as an eagle dives down to its prey. And again we hear the echoes of silence as they seat beside each other, without talking. It´s all over their faces, their gestures of satisfaction, of finally getting the woman he wanted; of getting rid of what society thinks is right for a young woman to be doing.
Hitchcock movies I´ve seen
Most of us have some idea of Hitchcock´s bathroom kill in Psycho, but I happen to be one of those people who still have not seen it, though I´m looking forward to see it tomorrow.
The first movie I saw was The Birds. At first, I didn´t know what to expect, the only I knew was that it was among the director´s best movies. So, I watched it and really got scared when the birds actually started getting hurt by them. It´s got that edge that I expected from horror movies, with the exception that this one was not a bloody mess kind of deal (that´s one of the main reasons I don´t like those pictures). The quietness and all the expectation before each attack is there, always present, I was able to feel the tension generating between the characters and the unexpected events. And that scene where the girl is at the phone booth and the birds start hitting that window and you start to see how it slowly breaks, waiting for someone really dreadful to happen to her and well, the outcome is not the one I expected but was thrilled and moved in that moment.
The next one, Vertigo, I happen to came across it last year as I went to my cousin´s wedding, in the airplane. It was one of the movies that looked worth looking after realizing that I was not going to see any of the others. And just when I was getting to grasp the concept of the movie, the plane landed, therefore, I just had to see it again once the plane took off because it had already hooked me. It was unbelievable to watch this man who couldn´t see from heights because he got dizzy, go to all lengths to figure out what his best friend´s wife was doing while he wasn´t there as he noticed that she couldn´t really remember where she had been. It seemed pretty harmless, with a supernatural kind of thing going on and he ended up falling for her. And then, when he gets accused of murdering her by throwing her off the tower, I started to wonder what had really happened. Everything seemed so circunstancial that he didn´t go to prison but soon learned how he had been fooled, it was well done, and you sort of understand what he decides to make in the end, and of course, overcoming his problem.
And just like an hour ago, I finished watching Rear Window. I got this one from Blockbusterg because I had seen the two before and I knewtI wouldn´t be dissapointed. The funny thing is that I tried to watch it with english subtitles, but I got the feeling that I was missing important parts of it, so I took them off. I listened as hard as I could at a volume that was acceptable because my sister was also in the family room, I found out that I had made the right call. The opening scene seemed so natural, until I saw the man in the wheelchair and his cast, which had the words <<Here lies the broken bones of L.G. Jeffries>>, was kind of funny. And then I noticed the rhythm of his movements from one window to the other, as a peeping tom, and being careful so tha he couldn´t be seen. It was a wonderful concept and then I saw the first glimpse of the movie´s theme, what was that man doing at three a.m. in the morning and all the weird things that called up his attention and soon drew into this game his nurse, Stella, and his girlfriend, Lisa (this is the first movie that I have seen of Grace Kelly, imagine that and without knowing it; meaning I missed it in the credits the first time). Another thing was his cop friend, who was unwilling to believe him because he thought that his friend might be hallucinating because all the facts that he would gather would contradict Jeffries´ statements. I was able to put some pieces together as it unfolded and again, I was surprised at how great the movie was done. And in the end, I saw the funny joke just like at the beginning: the guy had both of his legs broken. I finished watching and the Psycho dvd was there because my mom used the dvd player before me, I just knew that I had to watch that one tomorrow, or today since the clock just turned 0:00.
I think that what is actually real awesome is that now we can actually see those movies because someone has taken up the time to remaster them without losing their magic, their intrigue, their horror, their mistery and the fact that they are unique because nowadays I have seen too many movie trailers that tell me that they are not worth watching because you have seen the same story told over and over again, but these ones make me want to see more of Hitchcock´s movies. That is the real value of it, that they are set in another decade but that at the same time, are timeless.
The first movie I saw was The Birds. At first, I didn´t know what to expect, the only I knew was that it was among the director´s best movies. So, I watched it and really got scared when the birds actually started getting hurt by them. It´s got that edge that I expected from horror movies, with the exception that this one was not a bloody mess kind of deal (that´s one of the main reasons I don´t like those pictures). The quietness and all the expectation before each attack is there, always present, I was able to feel the tension generating between the characters and the unexpected events. And that scene where the girl is at the phone booth and the birds start hitting that window and you start to see how it slowly breaks, waiting for someone really dreadful to happen to her and well, the outcome is not the one I expected but was thrilled and moved in that moment.
The next one, Vertigo, I happen to came across it last year as I went to my cousin´s wedding, in the airplane. It was one of the movies that looked worth looking after realizing that I was not going to see any of the others. And just when I was getting to grasp the concept of the movie, the plane landed, therefore, I just had to see it again once the plane took off because it had already hooked me. It was unbelievable to watch this man who couldn´t see from heights because he got dizzy, go to all lengths to figure out what his best friend´s wife was doing while he wasn´t there as he noticed that she couldn´t really remember where she had been. It seemed pretty harmless, with a supernatural kind of thing going on and he ended up falling for her. And then, when he gets accused of murdering her by throwing her off the tower, I started to wonder what had really happened. Everything seemed so circunstancial that he didn´t go to prison but soon learned how he had been fooled, it was well done, and you sort of understand what he decides to make in the end, and of course, overcoming his problem.
And just like an hour ago, I finished watching Rear Window. I got this one from Blockbusterg because I had seen the two before and I knewtI wouldn´t be dissapointed. The funny thing is that I tried to watch it with english subtitles, but I got the feeling that I was missing important parts of it, so I took them off. I listened as hard as I could at a volume that was acceptable because my sister was also in the family room, I found out that I had made the right call. The opening scene seemed so natural, until I saw the man in the wheelchair and his cast, which had the words <<Here lies the broken bones of L.G. Jeffries>>, was kind of funny. And then I noticed the rhythm of his movements from one window to the other, as a peeping tom, and being careful so tha he couldn´t be seen. It was a wonderful concept and then I saw the first glimpse of the movie´s theme, what was that man doing at three a.m. in the morning and all the weird things that called up his attention and soon drew into this game his nurse, Stella, and his girlfriend, Lisa (this is the first movie that I have seen of Grace Kelly, imagine that and without knowing it; meaning I missed it in the credits the first time). Another thing was his cop friend, who was unwilling to believe him because he thought that his friend might be hallucinating because all the facts that he would gather would contradict Jeffries´ statements. I was able to put some pieces together as it unfolded and again, I was surprised at how great the movie was done. And in the end, I saw the funny joke just like at the beginning: the guy had both of his legs broken. I finished watching and the Psycho dvd was there because my mom used the dvd player before me, I just knew that I had to watch that one tomorrow, or today since the clock just turned 0:00.
I think that what is actually real awesome is that now we can actually see those movies because someone has taken up the time to remaster them without losing their magic, their intrigue, their horror, their mistery and the fact that they are unique because nowadays I have seen too many movie trailers that tell me that they are not worth watching because you have seen the same story told over and over again, but these ones make me want to see more of Hitchcock´s movies. That is the real value of it, that they are set in another decade but that at the same time, are timeless.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Brownie Chocolate Cake
Tomorrow is my sister´s birthday, but she is celebrating today with her friends.
After the usual what would you like for your birthday? the next question was what kind of cake would you like?
I asked both questions because I wanted to make sure that her day was special. She liked my choice of present and then she answered that she wanted a chocolate cake with manjar (sweetened condensed milked boiled for an hour) filling.
I told my mother and we agreed that we were going to make the cake, so I started looking for a cake recipe that we had done before (aka foolproof). On Wednesday, my mom remembered that she and one of her sisters had make a cake using brownie as a base for it, but what she did not have was enough time to help me with it, so I did it myself.
I used my brownie recipe and I placed in the oven, with an excellent result but the chocolate chips were kind of big (I learned something new: chocolate chips are alright when you use them for brownies or cookies, but for a cake, it´s much better to use a chocolate bar) and my mom gave me the idea to use the oven rack so that the cake could have three layers. I said ok, but that I was going to do it on the following day.
Thursday came and I woke up early, played on the computer and after a little while I decided I was going to get up and have breakfast so that I could make the cake with my mother, but I went into her room and she was gone. I had no other choice but to do it myself because it had to be done at least one day ahead.
My kitchen is very small, and at one moment I had the cake made the previous evening next to the stove and on top of cookie sheets, a food processor, a wooden cutting board, a knife and the melted chocolate...a complete but manageable chaos.
After making the double recipe, I noticed that I had to take the oven rack out and had nowhere to put it. I simply put all the items that I didn´t need any more on the sink, cleaned the counter and placed a tile to allow the brownie to cool down. The only good thing was that I had made the chocolate spread, which I had to move every other minute to give it a brilliant finish. But I still had to do the filling.
Before I knew it, I was on the move again: putting away all the things that I no longer needed, making space in the fridge to put the cake once it was done, take out the manjar and milk and an orange-flavored rum, and it was kind of wild because I had to take at least two or three turns with my hands before I could place anything or make room for something else.
And then I had to make the cake. I looked for a serving plate and I took the first one I saw (we´ve only been in this apartment for a couple of months so it´s a bit hard to know exactly where everything is). Now I really had to do some deepful thinking about where every thing was going to be so that I had no problems during the whole process.
I put one part of the brownie base and then with a spoon I put some milk because it would make the cake softer (handmade and not store-bought). Then I added the manjar filling and I continued until I reached layer four. Then I moved on to the chocolate spread, which I started to mix with a wooden spoon until it was ready to cover up the cake. At that moment, I just forgot that I had to take the food processor to cut the nuts and the chocolate chips and take out a wooden cutboard to make the chips smaller, and all the mess in the kitchen because now I only had to finish before I started with the cleaning up process.
After I placed the cake in the fridge I began to put the dirty items in the sink because I had to take all that had been washed previously and store them. My first victims were the stove racks, that not only required c leaning but also to clean the stove before I returned them to their original place. Then I moved on to the cooking implements -meaning all the ones that I wasn´t able to put in the dishwasher- and then to sweep the floor and to mop it afterwards.
Then I actually looked at the clock and it was about one p.m. so I decided to go take a shower in peace. All that is left to do is for my sister and her friends to try it this evening and then I´ll know if they like it.
It must have been good because half of the cake came back at two a.m.
After the usual what would you like for your birthday? the next question was what kind of cake would you like?
I asked both questions because I wanted to make sure that her day was special. She liked my choice of present and then she answered that she wanted a chocolate cake with manjar (sweetened condensed milked boiled for an hour) filling.
I told my mother and we agreed that we were going to make the cake, so I started looking for a cake recipe that we had done before (aka foolproof). On Wednesday, my mom remembered that she and one of her sisters had make a cake using brownie as a base for it, but what she did not have was enough time to help me with it, so I did it myself.
I used my brownie recipe and I placed in the oven, with an excellent result but the chocolate chips were kind of big (I learned something new: chocolate chips are alright when you use them for brownies or cookies, but for a cake, it´s much better to use a chocolate bar) and my mom gave me the idea to use the oven rack so that the cake could have three layers. I said ok, but that I was going to do it on the following day.
Thursday came and I woke up early, played on the computer and after a little while I decided I was going to get up and have breakfast so that I could make the cake with my mother, but I went into her room and she was gone. I had no other choice but to do it myself because it had to be done at least one day ahead.
My kitchen is very small, and at one moment I had the cake made the previous evening next to the stove and on top of cookie sheets, a food processor, a wooden cutting board, a knife and the melted chocolate...a complete but manageable chaos.
After making the double recipe, I noticed that I had to take the oven rack out and had nowhere to put it. I simply put all the items that I didn´t need any more on the sink, cleaned the counter and placed a tile to allow the brownie to cool down. The only good thing was that I had made the chocolate spread, which I had to move every other minute to give it a brilliant finish. But I still had to do the filling.
Before I knew it, I was on the move again: putting away all the things that I no longer needed, making space in the fridge to put the cake once it was done, take out the manjar and milk and an orange-flavored rum, and it was kind of wild because I had to take at least two or three turns with my hands before I could place anything or make room for something else.
And then I had to make the cake. I looked for a serving plate and I took the first one I saw (we´ve only been in this apartment for a couple of months so it´s a bit hard to know exactly where everything is). Now I really had to do some deepful thinking about where every thing was going to be so that I had no problems during the whole process.
I put one part of the brownie base and then with a spoon I put some milk because it would make the cake softer (handmade and not store-bought). Then I added the manjar filling and I continued until I reached layer four. Then I moved on to the chocolate spread, which I started to mix with a wooden spoon until it was ready to cover up the cake. At that moment, I just forgot that I had to take the food processor to cut the nuts and the chocolate chips and take out a wooden cutboard to make the chips smaller, and all the mess in the kitchen because now I only had to finish before I started with the cleaning up process.
After I placed the cake in the fridge I began to put the dirty items in the sink because I had to take all that had been washed previously and store them. My first victims were the stove racks, that not only required c leaning but also to clean the stove before I returned them to their original place. Then I moved on to the cooking implements -meaning all the ones that I wasn´t able to put in the dishwasher- and then to sweep the floor and to mop it afterwards.
Then I actually looked at the clock and it was about one p.m. so I decided to go take a shower in peace. All that is left to do is for my sister and her friends to try it this evening and then I´ll know if they like it.
It must have been good because half of the cake came back at two a.m.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Pintando la vida
Toda la semana pasada (bueno, no toda, solamente hasta el jueves para ser sincera) vinieron los maestros a pintar el departamento nuevo. El blanco invadió todos los rincones, aunque se tiñó de lila en pieza de Denise.Todo bien, solo faltaba que el lunes vinieran a pintar las puertas y los guardapolvos. Poco a poco se fueron cubriendo los muebles con diario, luego los closets por dentro: sobre los cajones, parecen paquetes a medio terminar; y donde están los colgadores hubo que hacer prácticamente lo mismo, eso sí que toda la ropa tuvo que salir y en este momento miro a mi izquierda y se ve una pila de ropa con colgadores dejando algo de espacio donde dormir esta noche.
Y mientras más se pintaban las puertas, el olor rebotaba y sigue rebotando por todas partes, y por consiguiente, todas están abiertas, convirtiendo a este pequeño lugar de descanso en un laberinto de puertas que no se pueden tocar porque la pintura es de óleo (en otras palabras, no sale de la ropa), unos pequeños lugares donde siquiera poder dormir, teniendo mucho cuidado que los pasillos de acceso estén medios libres para poder ir bailando alrededor sin tener que caerse al suelo.
Eso no quita que la vida siga su flujo normal, después de todo, hay que ir al banco a depositar plata, a despejarse la mente un rato y respirar un aire menos saturado. Hay que salir a comprar pan para las onces, cocinar, lavar e incluso darse el tiempo para ver una película vieja, pero buena y simpática. ¡Qué locura y qué mejora!
También hay que empezar a preparar la fiesta del primer cumpleaños en este departamento, y de nadie menos que Denise. Hay que ver cómo se va a hacer la torta de chocolate con manjar y nueces, cuándo se va a hacer y quién o quiénes la irán a hacer. Otra tendrá que preocuparse de las cosas ricas que se comerán en la fiesta con los amigos y cómo organizarse para que todo esté funcionando bien para estar a más tardar a las ocho en una de las salas de eventos, preparada especialmente para la ocasión.
Y seguimos pintando la vida....
Y mientras más se pintaban las puertas, el olor rebotaba y sigue rebotando por todas partes, y por consiguiente, todas están abiertas, convirtiendo a este pequeño lugar de descanso en un laberinto de puertas que no se pueden tocar porque la pintura es de óleo (en otras palabras, no sale de la ropa), unos pequeños lugares donde siquiera poder dormir, teniendo mucho cuidado que los pasillos de acceso estén medios libres para poder ir bailando alrededor sin tener que caerse al suelo.
Eso no quita que la vida siga su flujo normal, después de todo, hay que ir al banco a depositar plata, a despejarse la mente un rato y respirar un aire menos saturado. Hay que salir a comprar pan para las onces, cocinar, lavar e incluso darse el tiempo para ver una película vieja, pero buena y simpática. ¡Qué locura y qué mejora!
También hay que empezar a preparar la fiesta del primer cumpleaños en este departamento, y de nadie menos que Denise. Hay que ver cómo se va a hacer la torta de chocolate con manjar y nueces, cuándo se va a hacer y quién o quiénes la irán a hacer. Otra tendrá que preocuparse de las cosas ricas que se comerán en la fiesta con los amigos y cómo organizarse para que todo esté funcionando bien para estar a más tardar a las ocho en una de las salas de eventos, preparada especialmente para la ocasión.
Y seguimos pintando la vida....
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Haciendo babysitting
Ayer, justo cuando salía del cine, saco el celular para sacarle el silencio y me encontré con un par de llamadas perdidas. La primera era de Fernanda, así que naturalmente, la llamé a ella primero y me contó que una de mis primas quería saber si podía hacerle babysitting. Luego llamé al otro número que venía después y resultó que era la Coté Maturana (yo pensé que era Manuela), y me dijo si podía ir a su casa a cuidar a Maite. Me vinieron a buscar y de a poco quise entrar en confianza con Maite para que no fuera tan difícil la salida de su mamá.
Claro que una cosa es esperar que se porte bien, y otra cosa es cuando no te conocen, lo que hace de este trabajo un poquito más difícil, pero que de todos modos se puede hacer. Partí contándole los típicos cuentos de niños: Blancanieves, Rapunzel, Ricitos de Oro, Cenicienta y con eso logré captar la atención de Maite. Sentía cómo me miraba, con los ojos bien abiertos y muy interesada con lo que estaba sucediendo en la historia, interrumpida a momentos por sus <<¿por qué?>>, y a ratos pasaba su lengua por una exquisita cuchara con manjar.
La tele puesta con los monitos, y de a poco, se fue quedando dormida. La llevé a la cama y en el preciso momento en que la acuesto, se despertó y comenzó a llorar preguntando por su mamá. Por supuesto que tuve que tomarla en brazos y tratar de convencerla de que todo estaba bien, incluso la llevé a la cama de Manuela. Pero no era el momento adecuado, lo único que conseguí fue que se devolviera a ver los monitos en la tele.
Mientras ella veía la tele yo trataba de encontrar alguna manera para que se fuera a dormir tranquilita, y no tuve suerte. Le hice la mamadera y como estaba muy caliente, la puse en agua fría hasta que se la pudiera tomar.
Por fin, cerca de las una y media, hice el último intento: le dije a Maite que era hora de que se fuera a acostar para que cuando la mamá llegara ella estuviera durmiendo. La tomé en brazos, le llevé la mamadera y la llevé a su camita. La metí adentro, la tapé bien y le dije que me quedaría con ella hasta que se quedara dormida. No habrán pasado ni treinta segundos cuando Maite finalmente cerró sus lindos ojitos y se entregó a los sueños de Morfeo. Como a las cinco llegaron de vuelta y tanto Coté como Manuela se mostraron asombradas de que hubiera durado despierta hasta esa hora, lo que para mí siempre ha sido natural. Nunca me he podido dormir cuando he cuidado niños; me siento segura sabiendo que ellos duermen en paz y mirarlos de vez en cuando.
Y reconozco que hacía mucho tiempo que no cuidaba niños, y la respuesta de Maite era la que yo más menos esperaba porque no me ubica mucho, pero al fin y al cabo, lo importante es que haya escuchado mis cuentos, se haya tomado la mamadera y se quedara dormida, porque eso era lo que ella necesitaba.
Claro que una cosa es esperar que se porte bien, y otra cosa es cuando no te conocen, lo que hace de este trabajo un poquito más difícil, pero que de todos modos se puede hacer. Partí contándole los típicos cuentos de niños: Blancanieves, Rapunzel, Ricitos de Oro, Cenicienta y con eso logré captar la atención de Maite. Sentía cómo me miraba, con los ojos bien abiertos y muy interesada con lo que estaba sucediendo en la historia, interrumpida a momentos por sus <<¿por qué?>>, y a ratos pasaba su lengua por una exquisita cuchara con manjar.
La tele puesta con los monitos, y de a poco, se fue quedando dormida. La llevé a la cama y en el preciso momento en que la acuesto, se despertó y comenzó a llorar preguntando por su mamá. Por supuesto que tuve que tomarla en brazos y tratar de convencerla de que todo estaba bien, incluso la llevé a la cama de Manuela. Pero no era el momento adecuado, lo único que conseguí fue que se devolviera a ver los monitos en la tele.
Mientras ella veía la tele yo trataba de encontrar alguna manera para que se fuera a dormir tranquilita, y no tuve suerte. Le hice la mamadera y como estaba muy caliente, la puse en agua fría hasta que se la pudiera tomar.
Por fin, cerca de las una y media, hice el último intento: le dije a Maite que era hora de que se fuera a acostar para que cuando la mamá llegara ella estuviera durmiendo. La tomé en brazos, le llevé la mamadera y la llevé a su camita. La metí adentro, la tapé bien y le dije que me quedaría con ella hasta que se quedara dormida. No habrán pasado ni treinta segundos cuando Maite finalmente cerró sus lindos ojitos y se entregó a los sueños de Morfeo. Como a las cinco llegaron de vuelta y tanto Coté como Manuela se mostraron asombradas de que hubiera durado despierta hasta esa hora, lo que para mí siempre ha sido natural. Nunca me he podido dormir cuando he cuidado niños; me siento segura sabiendo que ellos duermen en paz y mirarlos de vez en cuando.
Y reconozco que hacía mucho tiempo que no cuidaba niños, y la respuesta de Maite era la que yo más menos esperaba porque no me ubica mucho, pero al fin y al cabo, lo importante es que haya escuchado mis cuentos, se haya tomado la mamadera y se quedara dormida, porque eso era lo que ella necesitaba.
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Lyrics
Just like I said I would do last night (though I just post it), I saw the lyrics of the song Sounds of Silence. It was like I described it. Basically what it says is that people talk and hear things, but are unwilling to reveal the whole truth about themselves. They don´t say what they are really thinking about, that is for their minds only and for the very few who are able to break through that wall. In the end, when everything is quiet, when we get rid of all the noise, then we are truly listening to our deepest thoughts and we keep them to ourselves because we think no one will understand how we feel.
We believe it´s better if we don´t say things that may sound innapropiate for the people around us (or society in general) because we struggle to find our place in the world. In the movie, it was in those moments that we saw the true nature of the characters, who was lying, who was jealous, who were they in love with. And until they saw a sign they were able to express it outloud and let the other people to wander about what they said.
We believe it´s better if we don´t say things that may sound innapropiate for the people around us (or society in general) because we struggle to find our place in the world. In the movie, it was in those moments that we saw the true nature of the characters, who was lying, who was jealous, who were they in love with. And until they saw a sign they were able to express it outloud and let the other people to wander about what they said.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Graduate (1967)
I just can´t believe I just saw this amazing movie today. I mean, I am wondering why I never had the urge to see it before. And I have not words to describe it. All I can say is that it´s worth watching, not only because of the relationship between Ben, Mrs. Robinson and Elaine Robinson, but because it is a first glimpse of how do you wish your future to be and who you want to spend it with.
I like Dustin Hoffman´s character: he is a little bit naive and scared of how his future is going to be like because people around him somehow are forcing him to decide in that precise moment what will happen next. Ben has never faced that kind of decision before, and the pressure is very overwhelming.
On the other hand, we have Mrs. Robinson, who is only interested in Ben because of this thing they have together and seems to be so sure of herself. She is the seducer, and she plays the part extremely well, but the minute that Ben becomes aware that sex is just not enough and wants to know a little bit more about her, she is the one that´s inexperienced. The roles are reversed, Ben is the adult there, he is the one that feels that she is there with him trying to run away from something and shockinly...it´s her marriage!
Why did she get married? Because she was pregnant...that would be one of the reasons, but is that enough for her? Of course not, she appears to want more and yet, she prefers to be alone with a husband than to be by herself. She is unhappy by choice. Sure you could argue that it was because of the decade, because that´s what you were supposed to do back then when you got pregnant, but when you really take a closer look at it, no one forced her to do it, she took it as a chore, as a mechanical thing, as the only solution for her problem.
And then, we have Elaine Robinson, the girl that Ben falls for. She can´t be his true love, mainly because of his sexual relationship with his mother, and the harder he pretends not to see her, his parents push him into a date with her. And then he takes her to that awful place, trying to present himself as a very bad guy who´s not worth taking a second look, he is shaken up by the tears that wash down her face. Once all the music and the show and the noise are gone, Ben is able to listen to her and Elaine is willing to listen to him. That´s the whole conflict of the movie: how could Ben have sex with Mrs. Robinson and fall for her daughter? Why is she forbidden to him? Is it because he is not good for her as her parents say? Or is there something else? Maybe they don´t want her to marry for love but rather from someone who can provide for her. A man that will be able to satisfy her economic needs but not her heart.
Mrs. Robinson knows what it feels like to be in a loveless marriage, but she wants her daughter to have the same thing as she does. Isn´t that selfish or what? She simply does not seem to care and in the end, Elaine is able to silence all the people around her and take a deep look into her heart, her soul and choose between a real possibility of being happy and a good marriage with nothing in common. The choice she makes comes from within her and decides to fight for her choice, to think that she deserves something better than just settle with a man she barely knows.
It was a really incredible movie that took me a while to see, but I liked it because of its beauty, its way of showing emotions versus desire; the need for love, the pressure to being someone that everybody likes, the pretending-to-be-happily married couple in comparison to Ben´s family, and a whole lot of things that are running through my mind just now but I willing choose to listen to the sounds of silence
I like Dustin Hoffman´s character: he is a little bit naive and scared of how his future is going to be like because people around him somehow are forcing him to decide in that precise moment what will happen next. Ben has never faced that kind of decision before, and the pressure is very overwhelming.
On the other hand, we have Mrs. Robinson, who is only interested in Ben because of this thing they have together and seems to be so sure of herself. She is the seducer, and she plays the part extremely well, but the minute that Ben becomes aware that sex is just not enough and wants to know a little bit more about her, she is the one that´s inexperienced. The roles are reversed, Ben is the adult there, he is the one that feels that she is there with him trying to run away from something and shockinly...it´s her marriage!
Why did she get married? Because she was pregnant...that would be one of the reasons, but is that enough for her? Of course not, she appears to want more and yet, she prefers to be alone with a husband than to be by herself. She is unhappy by choice. Sure you could argue that it was because of the decade, because that´s what you were supposed to do back then when you got pregnant, but when you really take a closer look at it, no one forced her to do it, she took it as a chore, as a mechanical thing, as the only solution for her problem.
And then, we have Elaine Robinson, the girl that Ben falls for. She can´t be his true love, mainly because of his sexual relationship with his mother, and the harder he pretends not to see her, his parents push him into a date with her. And then he takes her to that awful place, trying to present himself as a very bad guy who´s not worth taking a second look, he is shaken up by the tears that wash down her face. Once all the music and the show and the noise are gone, Ben is able to listen to her and Elaine is willing to listen to him. That´s the whole conflict of the movie: how could Ben have sex with Mrs. Robinson and fall for her daughter? Why is she forbidden to him? Is it because he is not good for her as her parents say? Or is there something else? Maybe they don´t want her to marry for love but rather from someone who can provide for her. A man that will be able to satisfy her economic needs but not her heart.
Mrs. Robinson knows what it feels like to be in a loveless marriage, but she wants her daughter to have the same thing as she does. Isn´t that selfish or what? She simply does not seem to care and in the end, Elaine is able to silence all the people around her and take a deep look into her heart, her soul and choose between a real possibility of being happy and a good marriage with nothing in common. The choice she makes comes from within her and decides to fight for her choice, to think that she deserves something better than just settle with a man she barely knows.
It was a really incredible movie that took me a while to see, but I liked it because of its beauty, its way of showing emotions versus desire; the need for love, the pressure to being someone that everybody likes, the pretending-to-be-happily married couple in comparison to Ben´s family, and a whole lot of things that are running through my mind just now but I willing choose to listen to the sounds of silence
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Cielos grises
Los cielos grises nos anuncian que ya se nos fue el verano, que se acabaron las temperaturas por sobre los 30 grados. Por un lado, no deja de ser agradable el hecho de que ahora se pueda caminar por las calles sin que tener que preocuparse por los lentes de sol o buscar el amparo de los árboles o quizás, ir a comprar una botella de agua para calmar la sed. Y por otro, es una sensación cruel del frío que penetra por todas partes, incluso si vamos bien abrigados; significa que finalmente ha partido la locura del colegio y de la universidad, que es marzo y que debiéramos esperar que a esta altura se produjeran estos cambios...¡si tan solo fueran más paulatinos!
Es hora de sacar las ropas de invierno: los chalecos, las parkas, los pantalones, los calcetines, las medias, las camisetas que han pasado seis meses desde que los usamos por última vez. También es tiempo de enfrentar nuevos desafíos, ya sea en lo laboral, en los estudios, en lo personal y ponerle mucha energía porque ya no tenemos al sol que muchas veces es tan fuerte que no nos deja ni pensar. El otoño y el invierno son épocas de movimiento, donde solo se necesita una razón para salir a caminar (que no esté lloviendo, y si lo está, con un paraguas, esperando la clemencia de los autos para que no nos mojen mientras pasan al lado de nosotros), salir de la casa para huir del olor a pintura, para despejarse la cabeza o simplemente, para dejar un rato el computador, ir a buscar una película que no pudiste verla en su momento, disfrutar del cine, quizás sería bueno una visita a un museo (de arte, historia natural, precolombino, etc), ir a comprar un lápiz pasta para reemplazar el que se acabó o se reventó.
Inventa un millón de razones para salir, para ir al gimnasio y recordar lo bueno del verano. Hay que mirar hacia lo alto de la Cordillera de Los Andes y esperar a que caigan las primeras lluvias o nieve que deleitan al transeúnte o a la persona que está en un departamento. Es hora de ayudar al que lo necesita, dentro de lo posible para cada uno porque lo importante es dar algo de sí hacia esa otra persona que la está pasando mal.
Es hora de sacar las ropas de invierno: los chalecos, las parkas, los pantalones, los calcetines, las medias, las camisetas que han pasado seis meses desde que los usamos por última vez. También es tiempo de enfrentar nuevos desafíos, ya sea en lo laboral, en los estudios, en lo personal y ponerle mucha energía porque ya no tenemos al sol que muchas veces es tan fuerte que no nos deja ni pensar. El otoño y el invierno son épocas de movimiento, donde solo se necesita una razón para salir a caminar (que no esté lloviendo, y si lo está, con un paraguas, esperando la clemencia de los autos para que no nos mojen mientras pasan al lado de nosotros), salir de la casa para huir del olor a pintura, para despejarse la cabeza o simplemente, para dejar un rato el computador, ir a buscar una película que no pudiste verla en su momento, disfrutar del cine, quizás sería bueno una visita a un museo (de arte, historia natural, precolombino, etc), ir a comprar un lápiz pasta para reemplazar el que se acabó o se reventó.
Inventa un millón de razones para salir, para ir al gimnasio y recordar lo bueno del verano. Hay que mirar hacia lo alto de la Cordillera de Los Andes y esperar a que caigan las primeras lluvias o nieve que deleitan al transeúnte o a la persona que está en un departamento. Es hora de ayudar al que lo necesita, dentro de lo posible para cada uno porque lo importante es dar algo de sí hacia esa otra persona que la está pasando mal.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Mocha-espresso fudge
Today I wanted to be creative, to do something other than stay all day in the computer and my mom asked whether we should go out for lunch, but since my sisters woke up late, she said that maybe I could make something sweet for a coffee-break.
I moved into my apartment and I discovered among my things a book about Christmas and there was this recipe called Mocha-espresso fudge that I wanted to try, so I thought that it would be a good idea to bake it today. I gathered up all the ingredients, followed the instructions step by step and waited for an hour to see the results.
When I went to check it, it was still kind of sticky, so I put it in my fridge for a while and left it a little bit longer and nothing happened. I told my mom that I was unlucky making the fudge so she suggested that maybe I could make individual cakes adding eggs, milk, flour and baking powder.
I sifted the flour with the baking powder and I set it aside. Then I beat the eggs and I added the fudge mixture, and then I started to add the flour, and when it got too hard to handle I just added a little bit of milk. Made the cakes and put them in the oven for about 35 minutes.
The result was good, considering that I kind of re-invented the recipe. Of course it wasn´t one of my best jobs but they tasted ok, though they stuck to their pan.
I really like baking sweets and I try to look once in a while for new recipes and like most of the time, this one didn´t turn up like it was supposed to be. But I still had fun, even adding the extra ingredients and making something new, different, never done by me before and I just wanted to share this experience because you never know what might happen when you do something for the first time.
Some times you´ll get lucky and you will get the outcome you expected, and on every few occassions it won´t. So instead of feeling discouraged and blame it on the recipe or on anybody, write it somewhere (because you´ll want to know what you did wrong so that you won´t make the same mistake again) or memorize it, and see what you can come up with. Sometimes it´s a new recipe or anything else you want, but never lose sight of your purpose because wherever it took you, it´s an experience that might be worth doing over and over and over again.
So I said goodnight sharing my baking experience with a very sweety ending: Mocha-espresso fudge mini-cakes (I came up with that name just know, so see if you can come up with a different one).
I moved into my apartment and I discovered among my things a book about Christmas and there was this recipe called Mocha-espresso fudge that I wanted to try, so I thought that it would be a good idea to bake it today. I gathered up all the ingredients, followed the instructions step by step and waited for an hour to see the results.
When I went to check it, it was still kind of sticky, so I put it in my fridge for a while and left it a little bit longer and nothing happened. I told my mom that I was unlucky making the fudge so she suggested that maybe I could make individual cakes adding eggs, milk, flour and baking powder.
I sifted the flour with the baking powder and I set it aside. Then I beat the eggs and I added the fudge mixture, and then I started to add the flour, and when it got too hard to handle I just added a little bit of milk. Made the cakes and put them in the oven for about 35 minutes.
The result was good, considering that I kind of re-invented the recipe. Of course it wasn´t one of my best jobs but they tasted ok, though they stuck to their pan.
I really like baking sweets and I try to look once in a while for new recipes and like most of the time, this one didn´t turn up like it was supposed to be. But I still had fun, even adding the extra ingredients and making something new, different, never done by me before and I just wanted to share this experience because you never know what might happen when you do something for the first time.
Some times you´ll get lucky and you will get the outcome you expected, and on every few occassions it won´t. So instead of feeling discouraged and blame it on the recipe or on anybody, write it somewhere (because you´ll want to know what you did wrong so that you won´t make the same mistake again) or memorize it, and see what you can come up with. Sometimes it´s a new recipe or anything else you want, but never lose sight of your purpose because wherever it took you, it´s an experience that might be worth doing over and over and over again.
So I said goodnight sharing my baking experience with a very sweety ending: Mocha-espresso fudge mini-cakes (I came up with that name just know, so see if you can come up with a different one).
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