I confess to not being the most patriotic girl. My father always complains that I don’t care for what’s going on in Chile and that I should be more “in tune” with my culture. Hey! I’m plenty “in tune” Mr…. I’m just not walking around wearing a llama wool hat with a giant flag as my Superman cape. Not that there’s anything wrong with that… it’s just not me.
I’m an American. I live in the U.S., I work in the U.S. and I absolutely LOVE this crazy country that has given me and my entire family the most amazing opportunity to follow our bliss since the late 80s. I was ten and a half (kids always say that) and did not speak a LICK of eeeeenglich. Nothing. Zip. Nada. But I remember thinking it was no big deal… until I got to school and realized that yes, indeed it was a bit of problem. I had the most awful teacher who insisted on sending me to read the dictionary whenever I didn't understand something. She was a genius, of course, since sending a kid who does not speak nor read English to read a dictionary that is ALL in English was...well... kind of useless and a bit torturous for yours truly.
I think it was just a bit of a shock to come from being a top student back in Chile to being treated like a second-class citizen because I needed to think and translate words in my head before speaking. Memo to all: struggling with a new language does NOT equal IQ deficiency. I was, however, very excited that they had a giant cafeteria with lots of food and hog dogs. My father never allowed me to sign up for free lunch. He said he never wanted anyone to say we took anything for free that we didn't deserve. So I never really could afford to buy the hot dog and chocky milk combo, but I’d pack a mean bologna sandwich no matter what. Kids teased me because of my height, and because I didn’t speak the language they thought I
didn’t understand what they were saying… although Big Bird is rather self-explanatory.I excelled in physical ed because you didn’t need to speak in order to run fast (oh, and I was a beast climbing that rope). Until some kid next to me told me I looked funny when I ran and I thought, well… that’s not good…I better stop running. So I joined the marching band and that certainly didn’t help my popularity. Oh, and I was on the "juggling" team. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I can juggle balls like you never imagined La Gigante could. And although I'm giggling like a school girl now because I know your mind is in the gutter, it's the awful truth: I'm very coordinated! So on this glorious September 18th, I say Viva Chile and Viva USA for allowing my humble tribe to work the land. I cannot wait to visit granny in Santiago next year and eat like it's 2012 then grab my gazillion cousins and dance the night away with strange very, very short Chilean men. I'll buy expensive souvenirs, have tea and sweets with friends and family, visit grandpa's grave to say howdy, drink the wine and then drink some more, and then sit back, enjoy my last night in this long, skinny, out-of-the-way country and slowly but surely come to the realization that I can't wait to just fly back home.
Right back here. It's just where I belong.
Salud!
Photo link: here
Hola Cindy,
In honour of Independence Day I've selected some quotations ('cause that's what I do) from some famous Chileans:
"Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Now is the time his bones are formed, his mind developed. To him we cannot say tomorrow, his name is today."
-Gabriela Mistral
"For women the best aphrodisiacs are words. The G-spot is in the ears. He who looks for it below there is wasting his time."
-Isabel Allende
"We have obligations towards the innocent, the dead, towards the living, towards our children and their children."
-Ricardo Lagos
"But every single damn thing matters! Only we don't realize. We just tell ourselves that art runs on one track and life, our lives, on another, and we don't realize that's a lie."
-Roberto Bolano
"A child who does not play is not a child, but the man who doesn't play has lost forever the child who lived in him and who he will miss terribly."
-Pablo Neruda
And one more by Neruda (because he was too great to quote just once)..
"The books that help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty."
-Pablo Neruda
Happy Independence Day!!
Barry
Viva us all!
Isabel Allende - my kind of girl.
Have a great weekend Cindy. :)
I am humbled by your superior English skills - even though you've been here a while, it's still a second language and puts most of us first language people to shame. :) Plus I would LOVE to visit Chile (and even wear a llama wool hat!) Happy Independence Day!
While we're on the subject, I vote we name this our own Chilean Cindypendence Day.
(It's no wonder you're so tall and thin, how else would you fit into a skinny country like that?)
Buen fin de semana! :)
B
Considering your late start with English, you've mastered it well. In fact, much better than most "writers" here.
My son could always juggle. Although I don't know where he got it from, because his dad sure couldn't.
Viva Chile and Viva USA, I say!
Barry that's awesome! Thank you for the quotes:))) I've been to Neruda's house in Isla Negra in Chile. I used to vacation in the area while growing up... his home is INCREDIBLE. And yes! Cindipendence Day it is!!!!
Matthew you have great taste. She's one of my FAVES. I wish you could read her in Spanish... she's magical.
Veggie Dear! Thank you for the visit and the compliment:) It's a gorgeous country to visit - specially the south where you can stay at some little inn in the middle of nowhere and wonder around. Sooooo great. It totally deserves a llama wool hat.
Thank you Matty! I'm not exactly sure how I've been a writer and copy editor for over 10 years... go figure. My only guess is that when you learn a second language from scratch, you REALLY take the time to study the mechanics and grammar.
Cindy, you are so eloquent...you really are wine on the lips, eyes, whatever...
Novel
Do you have any plans to travel back to Chile? I'm not sure how old you were when you came to the US, but I'm sure you must feel a strong attachment to your homeland.
Mucho Gusto!! Looked up Chile and was surprised to find out that Chuquicamata was the largest open pit metal mine in the world. Cool being as I work in the mining business. Learn something new everyday. You have mastered your second language nicely. If big bird had looked like you I might have watched it more. ;))
Thank you Novel! That's a hell of a compliment:) I'm glad you enjoy my page.
Barry... I'm going back in Feb to see granny and go to El Festival de Vina de Mar - it's a huge song festival and THE place to be in the summer:)
Shane you're crazy LOL. But thanks... every time I wear yellow someone calls me Big Bird. Mining is HUGE in Chile... big business!
Surprises, surprises! I surely didn't imagine you, "blogger Cindy" as being a lean, well coordinated woman with Chilean roots. I know it doesn't matter anyways but I totally envisioned you to be almost the opposite of your picture included in this post!
Anyways! I have always loved a good autobiography, so please keep them coming!
Yey for diversity! Viva Blogger Cindy! Oh and Chile too, right.
Cindy La Gigante... Big bird has NOTHING on you!
Sorry that I'm posting so late. I've been making it a habit to read your blog posts because they are always so inspiring. Happy belated Independence Day!