The case of the overpacker

How does one pack two 60 lb. suitcases plus carry on a backpack that is the size of Texas :) and STILL have nothing to wear?!  I unloaded my suitcases and seems that I have packed for the opposite seasons.  The funny thing is that while I was packing I was sure that I was packing all the right things.  I convinced myself that I could survive these first months with spring to mid-fall clothing.  The first day of my arrival, I realized everything I packed was wrong.  All the Chileans are completely bundled up - I see no skin - even though it really isn't that cold yet. They obviously know more than me and perhaps are anticipating the chilly weather to come. Or, maybe it's a mental thing.  For them, this is the end of fall and it has been atypically warm these last 2 weeks.  Thursday, they tell me, everything will change. Therefore, I have put in the request to my dad to please send that winter stuff I set aside.  Although, it does not snow in Santiago and it does not get anywhere near the bone chilling temps of Boston.  There is actually quite a bit of smog here.  Today was sunny and beautiful but the mountains were shaded by a light brown layer smog - nothing us Angelenos are not accustomed to. But, I didn't expect it in Chile.  I've learned Santiago is in a valley and with the Andes being only an hour away, the smog has no where to escape to so it just sits there...similar to San Gabriel Valley. 

Every time I look into my closet I sigh and say to myself that I HAVE to stay until December now just so I get use out of all these clothes.  Although, I don't know how much the style will change in the summer.  I've only been here 3 days and have not traveled anywhere else in South America so this next statement could be wrong.  But from what I've seen, Chile is to Argentina or Brazil what Boston is to New York.  Chileans appear to be on the conservative side, not too fashion-forward, and they all look similar - todos están morenos. There is more diversity in Boston though than there is here.  Tourism has not really taken off in Chile.  With the Andes lining almost the entire length of the country, they literally separate Chile from the rest of the continent.  I have not seen one blond yet.  Except for tonight - I did see a wannabe blond.  María Jesus (Pio's eldest daughter - the 18-year-old troubled young adult) came home with yellow hair.  Her mom almost fell over.  María Jesus has long brown beautiful locks of hair which she barrel rolls in big pieces.  Now, "it is the color of mustard" Veronica tells me.  And her eyebrows are still dark as brown can be.  This is María Jesus' first year a la universidad.  She's obviously experimenting and wanting to be different.  I remember when I died my hair red and then had Christina give me highlights at home.  Since we didn't use bleach to cut through the color, the highlights turned orange, pink, and a few other hues.  I basically had a rainbow on my head.  My mom and grandma had just seen José Eber on TV so insisted I go to his salon to have him fix me.  I had never heard of him before and thought his name was pronounced like the Spanish "Jose".  I expected a 5'5'' Mexican man to walk out so was shocked when the 6' something French man walked out with long blond hair wearing a cowboy hat.   Anyway, Veronica also informed me that María Jesus is very intelligent but immature.  She has epilepsy which has completely taken over her life.  It is not so serious that she ever goes into convulsions, but it is serious enough that she takes 8 pills a day to combat depression and disorganization among other things to help her focus, sleep, get up, etc.  I'm sure more will unfold over the coming months.  

Today was quite busy.  Veronica picked me up at 11:30 to go shopping.  I also packed the incorrect shoes.  All the boots I brought have heels.  They look great but are not comfortable for all the walking we do here.  Veronica was nice enough to take me to the mall for flat, practical boots.  We visited the three major department stores, Zara (So exciting to find! It was the most stylish store I saw.), and a few others but I didn't see anything worth buying.  We then had lunch at a salad bar buffet and left to pick up Negro (Pio Jr.) from school.  The reason they call him Negro is that when he was born he had black hair.  How Not PC this nickname would be in los Estados Unidos.  Negro's school starts at 8 and does not get out until 4pm!  We dropped him off at his tutor's - he goes twice per week; we went to the pharmacy to drop off María Jesus' presciptions and while doing so picked up ritalin for Negro...another new "problema" I learnd about today; picked up Peta (13-year-old) from yoga at 5:30 - a nice after-school activity she does once a week; and went back to the tutor's to pick up Negro.  While we were saying good-bye, Veronica remembered that it was Negro's first confession tonight.  She panicked.  It was 6 and they had to be there by 7:30.  We raced home, Veronica put dinner on the table, and Veronica's aunt came over to watch Peta for the evening.  Her aunt lives next door and has such a friendly air about her!  She greeted me with a big smile, kiss and "Estás la gringaita?"  Apparently, I'm making a name for myself. :)  We sped to Negro's school and said our good-byes.  Since it is only 4 blocks from my apartment, I walked home.  As I walked, I saw a few father's all suited up running down the street to make the confession ceremony in time. It made me smile. :)

Buenas noches,

Jen