Stuck in the '80s

Usually any discussion I have about the '80s stirs emotions of embarrassment and denial in both myself and the person with whom I am speaking, however, Chile never received the important memo that the '80s were done and officially disowned from the lives of millions. Here in Chile, the radio plays Brian Adams and the B-52s. Men strut down the street with pride as they sport their mullets, others with their rat tails--the elite have a combination of both. The fanny pack never was laid to rest and can be spotted at places ranging from the supermercado to the discoteca. Woman wear leggings that can only be described as utterly fabulous as they glow with sparkles and vibrant colors. And I am just going to say it because I cannot keep it in any longer: last night I met a woman wearing parachute pants! ¡Ya poh! Enough is enough! I cannot remember the word, but a friend from Germany told me that they have a word that encompasses the emotion of feeling embarrassment/ shame for someone else, well, that word is what I feel for this nation. Something is rotten in the state of Chile (raise your hand if you know this allusion)!

Well, whenever I manage to find time not consumed in agony of the '80s that fills my life, I try to do productive things with my life. Classes have been going pretty well, although, I am pretty tired of hearing all of the students from the states speaking English to one another in my literature class. These students are ones that traveled down to Chile as cohorts of students from specific universities, and I am pretty sure they just think they are in vacation. They come to class speaking English, are not prepared, do not participate and then look at the professor like she is inconveniencing them by holding class. It is great that they are taking the opportunity to experience a different culture, I guess I just have different purpose for my time compared to them.

I have fallen pretty stagnant in my interest of cooking as of recent. I think that it is because I am tired of making the same things for myself all of the time because I only cook for myself and never want to make anything overly complicated. Well, I think that I am going to try and buy a cookbook and see of I can't kick this kitchen-laziness and learn some local cuisine. I still do not know the name of any of the food that I eat when I am out, which makes me feel pretty dang incompetent!

And a few additional notes:

1.) The world for scarf in Spanish is bufanda. Whether or not you speak Spanish you can tell that is probably the most effeminate word there ever was, leading me to the sad conclusion that God only intended woman to wear scarves.

2.) The hot water did not work in the apartment from Monday through Friday evening. That being said, if you smelled something offensive last week if was probably me.