TESOL Chile Conference in Iquique and September 11th in Santiago

Looking at my calendar, I can´t believe that we are almost halfway through September already!

At the end of August I took a trip up to Iquique in northern Chile to attend the TESOL Chile conference.  Last year it was in Santiago, but every other year they have it in the north or south to share the traveling amongst everyone.

I arrived on Thursday afternoon, and after being taken all over Iquique with a shuttle service I arrived at my hotel after about an hour and a half.  I was hungry and went out to get some lunch.  It was too late for me to attend the workshop, so I walked around and explored and then turned in early.

A churrasco sandwich with fries on the side

On Friday I was able to get a colectivo to the Universidad Arturo Prat.  While I was waiting in line to register I socialized with some other participants, and a few minutes later one of my friends arrived.  We got registered and listened to the plenary session as well as a rousing dance routine.

a modest but filling breakfast

In the middle of the dancing routine I realized something important.  My hotel had a sign inside each room about securing all our valuables and that they weren´t responsible for anything lost inside the rooms.  So being diligent I locked my bookbag with the luggage lock I usually use when I carry around my laptop or tablet in Santiago.  There was only one problem this time.  

I didn´t keep my keys in my pocket like I usually do in Santiago.  I decided to keep them inside the very bookbag that I locked securely with the luggage lock.

I shared my debacle with my friend, and her eyes went wide and she laughed at my stupidity.  I would have done the same in her position.

Luckily I took some time to think it through, and there was a 2 hour lunch break that allowed me to get back to the hotel to figure it out.

Luckily I had put my keys in an inside pocket with a thin layer between the inside and outside pocket, so I was able to borrow some scissors and cut a hole through the pockets and pull out my keys without having to call a locksmith.

After a nice lunch at a Peruvian/Japanese fusion restaurant, I was back to the conference.

It was really interesting meeting other teachers from all over, and there were some great workshops.  It was a great reminder of all the great teaching strategies out there to incorporate to classes.  

Saturday morning I woke up to a bit of a surprise: no electricity in the hotel.  Let's just say it made showering and shaving in the dark a bit more interesting than normal, but luckily I managed to do both without too much difficulty.  (Or at least no one commented on my shaving job).  I attended more workshops, had lunch with friends,and presented a workshop of my own.  There was a good turnout and I think I did pretty well fitting the material in to an hour and a half block, but it´s always a challenge to keep everyone engaged and feel like you´re meeting everyone´s needs.  I felt very fortunate to have a few friends that attended my workshop as a sign of support.

aji de gallina lasagna

English teacher friends!

A nice event at the end of the conference was a raffle.  Everyone who turned in their survey of the conference got a ticket, and then numbers were called and prizes were awarded.  I lucked out and won a very nice book with photos from the northern regions of Chile.  It´s a nice coffee table book and one that I can use the photographs for in classes.  

The conference was over on Saturday evening, but my flight back to Santiago was only at 7:00 on Sunday night.  Before arriving I had made contact with a company to go paragliding.  I made plans to go on Sunday, and they picked me up around 11 that morning.

After picking up someone else, we made our way up to the cliffs.  There were about 20 people there suiting up and with parachutes, and it seemed like everyone knew each other.  I didn´t feel too scared until I started to get suited up and was told I would have to run towards the cliff and jump off with the instructor.  

The view and experience was amazing.  I don´t know what it is, but the feeling of flying is just so indescribable for me.  I love the peacefulness of being in the air and seeing everything around me and below me.  I had a Gopro camera with me, and so here are some of the pictures I took.

The flight was about 20 minutes altogether, and I landed on the beach.

After that, I grabbed some lunch and people watched along the beach until my transfer to the airport came.  The shuttle got me to the airport about an hour before my flight was scheduled to leave.  This is much closer than I ever like to cut it for any flight, but luckily I was able to do self check in since I didn´t have any bags.  The airport was small, so I got through security without a problem.

The flight was uneventful, and I arrived in Santiago around 10 that night.  I was tempted by a Cinnabon on my way out of the airport, but after having had cookies on the flight I decided I didn´t need any more junk food today.  I would normally take a bus to downtown and then another bus home, but given the time of night I decided to go with a transfer.

I bought my ticket, and it turns out that they were grouping everyone by neighborhood before leaving since it was so late at night.  I was a bit annoyed and really wanted to get home since it was almost 10:30 at this point.  As I wondered how long I would have to wait, one of my current students walked up to me!

It was a complete surprise, and it turns out he doesn´t live too far from me.  We spent about 20 minutes talking until the van was ready to leave, and then we got to talk for the hour long trip back to my place.  It was really nice talking with him, and it helped the time go by more quickly.

Fast forwarding to today, it´s September 11th.

As a US citizen I obviously think of the terrorist attacks back home.  September 11th also has a deep meaning here in Chile, but for a different reason.  On September 11th, 1973 there was a miltary coup that took over the government and burned down the presidential palace.  This was the beginning of a dictatorship that lasted for years and that was accompanied with the disappearance and torturing of people.  I have to admit that I don´t know a lot of the details behind it, but it certainly appears to be a dark and controversial event in Chile´s history.

People warned me to be careful on the night of the 10th and all day the 11th due to protests regarding the 40th anniversary, and I heeded their call.  On Tuesday night I was sure to get home early to avoid any difficulties, (if things get bad they will actually stop all public transportation in the evenings) and two of my three classes were cancelled on the 11th.  Besides a trip to the grocery store, I stayed in, did work for classes, and caught up on housework.  I would prefer to work and make money by teaching classes, but I don´t want to compromise my safety by doing so.

On a positive note, it appears that winter is over and the 18 holiday week is almost here!  Most people have the entire week off, and so it´s a week of celebration, Chilean flags, barbeques, dancing cueca, and lifted spirits after having survived another winter.  This year I will be staying in Santiago and am looking forward to exploring the fondas (similar to fairs or carnivals) with friends.

I hope everyone back in the States is having a nice fall and a good start to the school year!

A Weekend Trip to Viña and Gringo Cravings

I´m looking at my calendar and can´t believe that it is almost the end of August.

I´ve been really busy with classes, and I decided I deserved to take a break.  Thursday August 15th was a holiday here and all my classes for the following day cancelled, so I took the opportunity to go to Viña del Mar for Friday and Saturday.

I got my bus ticket a few days in advance and booked a room at the bed and breakfast I stayed at before.  The bus was pretty full on the way there and we hit traffic on the way there, so the usual 1.5 hour trip was almost 2.5 hours.

As I began to walk to the main plaza to get a colectivo to the bed and breakfast, I grabbed some lunch.  I hadn´t had a schwarma in a while and this place looked promising, so I gave it a try.  It was good, and the outside seating was nice with the sunny warm weather.

OK, now to walk to the main plaza for that colectivo.  As I walked down the way I remembered, I was met with all types of wooden walls set up due to construction.  They basically created a labyrinth that I spent 30 minutes walking through.  When I arrived to where the colectivos were supposed to be, there weren´t any due to the wooden walls.  So I decided to walk to the bed and breakfast.

About 40 minutes later I arrived.  I dropped off my bags and decided to go out for a walk given the beautiful weather.  I walked along the beach, listened to the street musicians and water crashing against the coast, wrote in my journal, and then tried my luck at the casino.  $18.000 pesos (about $36) later I decided on an early dinner at Ruby Tuesday´s.  

I normally don´t like going to American restaurants here (OK, I do order Papa Johns from time to time), but I was in the mood for some free refills and something familiar.  I got a nice dish of chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli and a chocolate dessert.  

I was back at the bed and breakfast by 8 or so, and I spent a few hours getting work done for classes.  I love their upstairs area and always give me a thermos with hot water to make tea, so it´s a nice way to get work done.

I was up early the following morning, and I got some work done before and after breakfast.  This breakfast was set for me and a woman from Mexico staying at the same place:

Crepes with jam, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice, and bread with chesse,
cold cuts, and egg.  What more could you ask for?

Another walk along the coast, a stop for some hot chocolate, and journal writing while sitting on the rocks was followed by lunch at a Mexican restaurant that I´ve heard is good.  It lived up to the hype and even had 2 free refills on the soda.

After lunch I met up with a friend, and we took the bus from Viña to Valpo.  We explored the hills, street art, rode the antique street cars, and visited the house some friends lived in when they were in Chile in 2010.  Being there brought back lots of memories of my previous trips there, and it was hard to believe that almost 3 years have gone by since they left.

I did some more work for classes in the evening and the following morning, and on Sunday I made my way back to Santiago feeling refreshed.

I don´t know if it´s just me or a phase I´m going through, but lately I´ve been having cravings for gringo food.  What exactly do I mean by gringo food?  I´ll give you some examples:

Cinnabon (which has opened up at the Constanera Center here in Santiago)
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with marshmallows (which can be bought at Jumbo at the Constanera Center)
Kraft Mac and Cheese (also on sale at Jumbo)
Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Chip Cookies (also at Jumbo)

Let´s just say that Thursday that was a holiday included a visit to Cinnabon and Jumbo.  Unfortunately I didn´t think to get pictures of these things before I consumed them, but I think that most readers are familiar with these products.

My gringo cravings will be further satisfied when Denny´s opens here at the end of the month.  Unfortunately I´ll be in Iquique for a teaching conference during the grand opening at the end of the month, but I know that it will be here waiting for me when I´m back.

The weather has also been warming up slowly but surely, so it will be nice when spring comes to Santiago.  Until then happy end of summer for everyone reading up north!

Keeping Busy, A Day Trip, and Public Transportation Culture in Santiago

I've been meaning to write with an update for over a week now, but I have found myself busier that I've been expecting to be.  This is a good thing, as keeping busy usually equates to making money and not having idle time.  

The teaching materials I got on my visit home have been working out well.  I'm spending time developing new games and resources, and while time consuming it will pay off in the long run. On Monday I'll start teaching CORFO classes again.  These classes are for Chileans who have received a scholarship from the government in order to improve their English, and the group I will have will have 100 hours of classes over a period of about two and a half months.  It's very intense, but seeing how much the students learn is very rewarding.  

I'm excited for the opportunity, but at the same time it makes me realize how quickly time goes by.  Last year I also taught CORFO, but I was hired about four days before the start of the program and taught the class in conjunction with another teacher.  Despite only seeing the students half of the time, we grew close and we have stayed in touch and meet up from time to time.

Last weekend I took a day trip with some friends to Con Con.  On the car ride there we did a lot of catching up since we hadn't seen each other in a while.  We had reservations at a seafood restaurant, and the food was delicious.  Apart from fried scallops and tuna fish I don't eat much seafood (I figure I'm already fishy enough), so my appetizer was a cheese empanada.  My friends shared a huge platter of a variety of seafood before the meal came out, and we also got a nice plate of garlic bread.  My main dish was chicken with an olive oil/garlic sauce, and it was great.  After some wine and a bajativo (a shot sized cup of a sweet alcoholic drink that's supposed to help your digestion), we walked along the coast and ventured down to the beach.  It was a warm day considering it was winter, and after wandering around some more we made our way back to Santiago.

On a completely unrelated note, something that has been on my mind for the past few weeks is the public transportation system here.  From my experiences traveling and from what I've heard from people, the bus and subway system here in Santiago is very efficient and modern.  That's not to say that it's perfect, and that's also not to say that it's without its cultural peculiarities.

Let me explain.  The first thing is traveling during rush hour.  The crowds of people that wait and push and shove their way onto a subway train is amazing, and four cars could easily pass by without getting on because of the number of people waiting along with you.  If you somehow manage to make your way onto a train, you are crushed like a sardine.  In addition to that, there's the chance that you won't make it out of the train when you need to get out due to the number of people you would have to barge your way through.  Don't forget that this is also a prime time for pickpockets.  So I avoid the metro around rush hour at all costs.

Then there are the buses.  During rush hour they will also fill up, and sometimes two, three, or even four buses will pass by packed like sardines.  Often they will stop, but only to let passengers off of the bus.  Since the driver doesn't open the front door to accept passengers, people will then run to one of the other doors and hop on.  In this way people are able to get to where they are going, but with the crowds of people it's virtually impossible to make your way to the front to pay the fare even if you wanted to.  Drivers realize that people need to get to where they're going, and so sometimes they see people waiting and will purposely open the back doors for people to board.

In the rare occasion that I am traveling home during rush hour, I usually find myself taking a combination of two or three buses home.  This happened last week, and after two buses passing by without stopping I was left with three options:

1. Take a taxi home (at the cost of about 15 dollars which I didn't have on me at the time)
2. Wait patiently for a bus that would actually stop and board on the front
3. Board the bus on one of the back doors

Last week I ended up choosing option number three.  I almost never do this, but I had no idea how long I would have been stranded waiting at the bus stop, and I was right in the middle of rush hour at that time.

After boarding I noticed that there were two men that were helping their fellow Chileans board.  How so?  They were actually prying the back doors open with their bare hands if the driver didn't open them so that people could get on the bus.  You could see the glee on people's face as they shoved their way onto the bus and narrowly escaped the closing of the doors.  Sometimes the doors would close on their bookbag or a piece of clothing, and fellow passengers would help them free themselves from the doors.

I didn't want to take out my Ipod Touch to take a picture within the bus, but here is a picture I snapped after I got off:

Before anyone starts to make judgments about the people that aren't paying the bus fare, let me put things into context for you.  A ride on the bus or subways costs about 600 pesos, which allows for two transfers within a two hour period.  There is a discount for students, and they will pay about 150 pesos.  But there are no day passes, week passes, monthly passes, or any type of discount.  So as a tourist in Santiago you pay the same amount as a person who has lived here all their life.

So if you consider you are going to a low wage job and only go there and back, you are spending about 24.000 pesos a month on commuting.  This is assuming that you can afford to live in the city, and also that you can get by on a minimum wage of about 194.000 pesos a month.  If you're outside the city, you might have to pay even more to commute.  

I used to judge the people who hop on the buses without paying, and I would get angry at their taking advantage of the system.  That's not to say that there aren't people that can afford to pay that take advantage, but I find I'm a much happier person if I stop worrying about what other people are doing and judging them.

I know that I keep going on and on, but there are two other things that I think of when I think of public transportation here: The idea of forming lines and honoring them.

A few days ago I was at a bus stop, and it was the end of a line and the start of the new one.  As people usually form a line where the bus stops to get on, I went to start the line.  (There were people milling around in various spots, but no conceivable line that I could see).  Then 20 feet away "the official line started forming".  Now keep in mind that this line is nowhere near where people will actually board the bus, but people started lining up there.  At first I tried to remain adamant that I was in the right spot and that I was going to get on the bus before the other people, but picturing a verbal confrontation or being told to go to the end of the line was enough for me to simply sigh and make my way to the end of the "line".  I made it on the bus without a problem, but it still makes me wonder:  How in the world are lines established here?

Last week I also encountered a similar situation, but this time waiting for a colectivo.  (It's basically a taxi that follows a fixed route and has a flat price but will pick up and drop off multiple passengers along the route).  So a woman and I were waiting for one.  I knew she was waiting because she waved for it to stop, and as her and I approached it to board a woman walked right in front of me and boarded instead of me.  I was caught off guard and didn't know what to say.

So then as more people came, another woman and I were waiting for the next one.  As we both waved as they passed by, a man decided to upstream us.  That's right, he saw that we had formed a line that now had four people in it, and he went in front of us in an effort to catch a colectivo before us.  In the end the colectivo that stopped saw our line and we were able to board before him.  This leave me wondering another thing:  Do Chileans also get annoyed at people that jump lines and don't seem to honor them?  Or do they simply accept it as something that happens and is part of the culture?

As time goes by, I am picking up on the more subtle points of culture here in Chile.  I've learned to become less direct when talking with people, and I've also learned to accept less direct responses to situations.  I've grown to get used to a more lax concept of time and honoring commitments.  That doesn't mean that I agree with these things, but I am growing to understand them.  Despite that, there is still much more to learn about living in another culture and navigating personal and professional relationships here.

And to end this post on a less serious note, I'll share some pictures of food that I've eaten recently.

an experimental dish of chicken with tomatoes in an olive
oil/garlic sauce

a roast beef sandwich from a restaurant I've started
visiting to kill time between classes

A ham and cheese sandwich, which was followed by tea
and chocolate mousse cake.  What can I say? Working
makes you hungry!

A friend took me to a cafe that had
pastries filled with Nutella.  I'll be going
back there when I can.

Reflections on A Visit Back Home

So I've been back home visiting New Jersey for the past two weeks.

Of course each visit home would not be complete without visiting family and friends, shopping for clothes and teaching supplies, and eating the delicious food that I miss. There's the comfort that you experience with what is familiar: your bed at home, the TV shows you miss, and eating the food that you crave while you are gone.  This visit home was special because I also managed to get to the Jersey shore twice: once with my friend Rob who lived in Chile for a year, and another time with my dad.  The last time I had been there was in 2009.

I find more and more, however, each visit home entails more than these things that have become routine for me.  I really find myself thinking about American culture, Chilean culture, my family and friends, my life in Chile, and how I'm changing as a person.

As I sit at Starbucks and write this while wearing sandals (I have worn them almost nonstop for the past two weeks), the consumerism and relative wealth that is available in the States once again is very blatant.  I find myself giving in to consumerism and buying perhaps more than I need because prices are so low.  I also worry that I will regret not buying something or forget to buy something and not be able to get it until the next time I'm home, (which will most likely for the holidays in December).  I do have to add that I am also bringing back things for friends and students as well as some materials for a low income school that I have volunteered at, so that is also accounting for one of my luggage pieces.

A more glaring example of the consumerism and perhaps even a sense of entitlement can be seen on TV.  As I was watching The Price Is Right with my dad, a woman jumped up and down when she found out she was playing to win a jungle safari in Africa.  She exclaimed, "Please!  I need this vacation!!!"  In the end, she didn't win the game.  In a somewhat similar situation, I watched House Hunters on HGTV.  A couple was looking for a new house, and the wife insisted that wherever she lived had to have granite countertops already installed.  I don't remember how the episode ended, but I imagine that the woman probably got what she wanted or went on to do without.

Another thing I think about is independence.  I enjoy the independence I have when I visit the States.  This is not to say that I'm not independent in Chile, but it's different.  When I'm visiting the States I can drive to wherever I want to go, and I can pretty much get whatever I want to buy or eat at most if not all times of the day.  Things are readily available, and it usually doesn't require a long trip or much planning on my part.  There's something special about driving down the highway and listening to the radio in the summer, and that's something I don't have in Chile.

I've also come across varying attitudes about my experiences living abroad.  When I meet people for the first time they are usually very enthusiastic and interested in hearing about my experiences.  Some express their interest in traveling to Chile or other parts of the world, and of course I encourage them and let them know that I am willing to give advice or travel tips if they want them.  

Sometimes these go on and tell me that they admire what I've done and open up to tell me about their fear of flying or a general fear of the unknown that keep them from traveling.  I really respect these people, as it's not easy to admit that you're afraid of something.

Other people that I meet have accepted my travels and experiences living as an expat.  When I'm home for a visit we will chat about what has happened in our lives since my last visit, and I really enjoy spending time with those people.  We can talk about life, share a meal, or just spend a night playing games or watching TV together.  The important thing is that we're spending time together and that we're friends and understand each other.  Some of these people are fellow expats that have moved back to the States or people that also have traveled a good amount in their life.  

I've also found other people that have a different take on my experiences.  I've gotten comments that I should look into a government job being a translator or that I would be better off in another line of work.  Before I say anything else I have to say that I´m a rather sensitive person.  While these questions appear innocuous, I feel like their underlying thoughts are that I'm not making enough money or that teaching is not a worthy profession.  They also seem to think that I shouldn't be living abroad and that I would be better off living in the States.  In general, these people hold the attitude that the United States is the best country in the world and they don't have to step outside of it to know it.

After trying to have an open conversation as to why these people hold these beliefs (I honestly believe they are bringing these issues up because they are concerned for my best interests), it becomes apparent to me that they are usually uninformed about what they are talking about. They aren't familiar with the political climate in regards to teaching or the hard work that goes along with teaching each and every day. They don't seem to realize how much work I've put into developing my skills, and the extra cost and coursework I'd have to put in to get the necessary qualifications to change careers.  They also don't seem to realize how difficult it would be to move back to the States financially, logistically, and mentally.  (I almost want to ask these people "Why don't YOU try picking up your life and move to another country and then move back?")

Deep down, I think these people are also afraid.  They are afraid of change or of the unknown and want to protect others.  They probably also worry for my well being. 

After giving it some thought, I once again have to reaffirm that traveling and living in another culture is such a great way to grow personally and professionally.  Yes, it can be scary.  Things might not work out the way you expect, but that´s part of the adventure and growing as a person!  I've been in Chile for three and a half years now, and I think people who thought living there was "just a phase I was going through" are now realizing I'm happy with my life in Chile.  It certainly isn't perfect, but I'm a lot happier, have a comfortable lifestyle and plenty of job opportunities.

So the next time I receive some advice about changing to a "better" career or moving back to the States, I won't try to convince them to my way of thinking.  My response will simply be: "Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm happy with my life in Chile."

Happy 4th of July!

So I arrived safe and sound back in the States just in time for the 4th of July.

I had an overnight flight from Santiago to Dallas, and then a connecting flight into Philadelphia.  I got to the airport early to avoid traffic, and I also wanted to be early in case of any long lines with other people going on vacation.  I got through in about half an hour, so I had plenty of time to kill before boarding.  

The first flight was pretty uneventful, but something interesting happened.  The woman sitting next to me on the first flight also came down to Santiago with TeachingChile, and she was also going back for a winter/summer vacation.  We got to talking about our experiences, and it turns out we have some friends in common.  It's a small world.

After we landed and got through security, we parted ways.  I got some breakfast at TGIF Friday's and took the chance to charge my electronics.  We got in about an hour later than expected, so I had about 40 minutes before my next flight started boarding.  

I landed around 1:30 on the 4th of July.  On the way home I got a pizza steak from Wawa (I love that place!) for lunch, and we relaxed at home for a few hours.  Then we decided to give the economy some stimulation and did some shopping at Walmart.  After getting home we watched the fireworks on TV, and I was out like a light by 10.

For those of you that aren't familiar with American culture, this was not a typical 4th of July.  A more traditional 4th of July would include a barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and apple pie, and perhaps some alcohol. 

My time home has been pretty low key so far.  I've done some shopping for school supplies to bring back with me (back to school sales have already started!), and I've gotten a prescription filled for new glasses and also renewed my driver's license.  My dad had a small barbecue yesterday, and today I got a true gringo breakfast at Denny's and some Coldstone's ice cream as a treat.  I won't bore you with the pictures, as most of you have seen them before.

I'm glad to be back home.  I'm certainly accustomed to the Santiago winter, as this is my fourth winter there.  That doesn't mean that I like it.  

On the other side of the coin, this has been my first summer home in the States since 2009 (before I left for Chile).  When I wake up and get dressed in the morning I need to remind myself that it's summer here and to dress accordingly.

I'm looking forward to spending my time at home catching up with family and friends and squeezing as much summer fun out of my time home as possible before I return to Santiago on the 19th.

Oh yeah, and remember that skydiving that I did last week?  I just got an email from them that the plane was in an accident when landing after a rainy day, and that all jumps and courses have been suspended until further notice.

That's all for now.  I hope everyone had a Happy 4th, no matter where you celebrated.  And for the Canadian readers, Happy Belated Canada Day!

The Third Time is the Charm, Or Is It? (Video Pending!)

So today was the rescheduled day for my tandem jump skydiving.

In case you have missed my previous post, my jump was supposed to happen two weekends ago, but it was cancelled due to bad weather.  Last weekend there was a mechanical failure, and so I wasn't able to jump.

They say the third time is the charm.

I woke up around 7:30 and promptly hit the snooze button and rolled out of bed around 8.  (I don't know why I set my alarm for so early, especially on the weekend).  After breakfast and a shower I left my place at 9.  

I got to the Pajaritos bus station (I still have yet to figure out why a bus station would be called "little birdie"), and got a bus pretty quickly.  This bus was much smaller, and the bus driver assured me he would let me off at the right stop.  Just to be sure, I kept an eye on the road for most of the trip.

The bus actually stopped at the same place where we had taken the bus back last time, and so it was convenient that I knew exactly where to go.

When I arrived, there were only two people there: the receptionist and someone who was waiting to do a jump for his course.  It turns out that everyone else was doing a jump, and about 10 minutes later they landed.

In the meantime I made a quick stop to the restroom and was amused by this sign:

Skydiver, demonstrate your precision.  Aim for the bowl!

I have to admit that I packed an extra pair of underwear with me.  I didn't know what might happen, and I wanted to do whatever I could to prevent an uncomfortable bus ride back to Santiago.

Carlos reviewed the procedures with me, and he prepared the parachute while I got suited up. I wanted to wear my red Chile shirt, but Carlos warned me that it was about 2 degrees below zero in the air (about 28 degrees Fahrenheit), so he suggested keeping my jacket on too.   

The pilot came over and introduced himself as Juan Carlos, and we chatted for a bit.  He lives in Santiago and has an office job during the week and works as a pilot on the weekend.  Carlos helped me put my harness on, and a few minutes later we walked out the plane.

The plane was much smaller than I realized.  The pilot, cameraman, Carlos, and I could barely fit in it, and when I stretched out my feet it almost touched the back wall of the plane.

So I was mentally preparing myself, and then the pilot turned on the engine.

Well, he tried to.

And then he tried to again.  And again.

"MIERDA!" said the cameraman as he hopped out of the plane.  He then tried to manually turn the propeller of the plane, and Juan Carlos then tried again.  No luck.

I heard them talking about the battery, and eventually Carlos got out too.  He also tried to get the propeller going, but to no avail.

About 15 minutes went by, and then Marco drove up with his car.  He popped the hood, and they hooked up the cables to jump start the plane.  

They tried it again, and still no motor.  5 minutes of waiting and a few more attempts, and still nothing.  

By this point my nerves had calmed down with the long wait.  I began to think that maybe this was in fact a sign that it wasn't meant to be.  I imagined having wasted two weekends traveling out here and not getting to go and what I would do with the money if I asked for a refund.  

A few minutes later, they gave it another try, and the plane roared to life.  Juan Carlos cheered, and the wind whipped up around me.  The cameraman and Carlos hopped in, and then we were off.

We drove around for a bit while the plane got some momentum going, and then we took off.  I have to say that taking off on a plane of that size and with a window completely open directly to your side is a bit nerve racking.  

We went up and up and up, and the view was amazing.  It had rained pretty hard two days before this, so the sky was clear.  I had a view of the Andes that took my breath away.

What seemed like about an eternity later (but was probably only 10 minutes), Carlos started preparing me for the jump.  I had to turn around and face the pilot so that he could attach the harness.  He got that done, and then the cameraman walked out to the wing of the plane.  Now I had to put my legs in front of me and then put them out onto the pedestal.  

The wind was so strong and cold, and my legs were shaking.  Then I heard Carlos say the magic words:

LISTO,   AR    QUEO!!!!!!!!!!   (Ready Arch!!!!!)

At that point he thrust us forward and out of the plane.  I immediately arched my body as he instructed, sticking out my stomach and curving my legs back.  I kept my chin up and hands on the harness in front of me.

And it was AMAZING.

The wind was rushing past me, and I felt like a bird.  About 5 seconds later Carlos tapped my shoulders, which was a signal to spread my arms out.  I was looking around and trying to find the cameraman, but at the same time the wind was going into my mouth and taking my breath away.  I eventually found the cameraman and gave him the thumbs up.  

I think it was about 25 seconds later when Carlos deployed the parachute.  We were jerked up quickly, and it caught me off guard at first.

"Lo hiciste perfecto!" (You did it perfectly!) said Carlos.  He then showed me the grips for the parachute and encouraged me to take them with my hands, and he showed me how pulling down on one side or the other controlled the direction we went.  It was pretty cool, kind of like driving a car.

Now I was able to admire the beauty of the landscape and Andes, I only wish I had had my camera, but the pictures will always be in my memory.

As we got closer to the ground, Carlos reminded me of the last safety procedure: raising my legs up and holding my knees so that he could put his feet down first when we land.  I raised my legs up to my chest as high as I could, and I thought that we would land on our feet.  But we actually landed on our behind.  

The cameraman had landed before us, and so he recorded my landing.

And I could hardly believe it was all over.  

The other people there asked how it was and congratulated me as I walked back into the hangar, and I got unsuited.  The cameraman put the videos on the large screen TV for me to see, and then he got to work making a copy for me.  While it was processing I got to chat with a guy from Chile but who lived in New York for five years.  It was really interesting talking to him and hearing his thoughts about life in Chile and the States.

After getting my souvenir mug and a CD with the pictures and video, I thanked everyone and headed out.  The bus ride back to Santiago was uneventful, but I would think that almost anything happening after skydiving would probably be.

Was it an amazing experience? Yes.  It made me think of all the adventure sports I've done, and it reaffirmed my love for adrenaline and pushing my limits.  It all started back in 1996 when I did something like a Superman jump with two high school friends; we were in a harness with our stomachs to the ground and were taken up into the air.  When we were let go we flew in a large arch like Superman.  After that, I went on to do a bungee type jump but in a seat being propelled into the air at the World Expo in Germany in 2000, then zip lining, rock climbing, and bungee jumping over the years.

Well, I fly back to the States for a visit Wednesday night.  I think I'll wait until I'm back there before I embark on any more adventures.  

PS- I have video and photos, but they are not uploading at the moment.  Hopefully they will be up within a few days!

PPS- The photos are working, but no matter what I do I get an error message when trying to upload the video.  :-(