The important things of Santiago

I’m on week 2 of class now. And I went to the beach this weekend, about 2 hours outside of Santiago. And I went on a sea-wolf cruise. And I’ve moved into an apartment/house and have had many a IDSSBILWSS breakdown (I don’t speak Spanish but I live with Spanish speakers)… yet what’s more important at a time like this? You guessed it, let’s talk about food:

So, I’m a food snob, I’ll admit… (these are the important things you learn about yourself when placed outside your comfort zone.) But I can say, I’m also all about trying weird foods, even if I know I’m not gonna like it, I’ll try it. Well, I’ve given up here… but I’ve spent so much time talking with my fellow Americans about the Chilean restaurant going experience that I now see it as the funniest thing in the world and can’t wait for a feature film to come out that takes place (from start to finish) in a Chilean restaurant.

Typical Restaurant Experience: 6 of us loud Americans sit down. We finally find a waiter and ask for menus. They bring one. We order sandwiches that take up half of the one menu. They don’t make sandwiches at the busy time of day because it would take up too much room in the kitchen, we should come back in 2 hrs if we want sandwiches. Hey, whose complaining? So, we play it safe--- papas fritas, nope sorry no fresh fries this time of day either. So what do you have? Oh, ONLY pizza, thanks for telling us. The tea comes, but just the bag with no water. And when you want a little more water, nope, they don’t have anymore hot water. And how about when everyone orders dinner and one person just wants to order dessert…. Oh, they don’t have dessert, ok, no problem. And then dinner is done and the infamous question of “does anyone want to see a dessert menu?” And if you order anything without mayo, or with extra cheese, etc… nope, they bring you just what is says on the menu. And my favorite, I ordered Ensalada (I finally found a restaurant that has salad!!!!!) and I get a completo… aka the hotdog covered in mayo, avocado, onions, ketchup, etc etc. Actually, two of those incidents happened at the same place… a restaurant that changed names to something de Clinton because when Clinton was in office he was in Santiago and stopped in there for a Fanta and now the name is changed and the walls are covered in his picture holding a Chilean fanta bottle.

But now I am in my apartment and I discovered JUMBO, an American-style grocery store and so for the first time in 3 weeks I have peanut butter, cream cheese (Chase st girls, I will never again complain about Philedelphia Cream Cheese!), non white bread, meat that I can cook so its not dripping with blood (literally), rice cakes, jelly that’s not marmalade, etc etc.

Next time I swear I’ll talk about more important things, like how I had two students come in late today and be rude about it and mannnn did I get pissed… oh and how the books arrived! Just when I was getting used to the idea of teaching a class with not knowing what I am supposed to teach, they give me books! Quick shout-out to having books!