Christmas? Over. News Years: Loading...
One thing that I like to do every Christmas is bring out the old wood and plank with 4 wheels and get a solid sesh in, solo or with the dawgs. Everything is essentially closed on Christmas (Except WaWa and Sheetz, who's employees working on that Holiday are braver than the troops), so it makes finding skate spots much easier and the kick-out rate at an almost absolute 0. Miles and I hit the infamous Target rail that is so infamous because of the shite ground that it has for the landing. Good times.
Christmas, and most holidays in my opinion, are a time for reflection. Sure, it's great to get a gift. But it's even better to give one. This is so cliche that I'm not even going to expand on it anymore than the first couple of sentences that are already there.
NEW YEARS! New Year's resolutions are so 2019. Instead, just do whatever the hell you said you were going to do last year that you never did. Maybe it's harder than it sounds, maybe it's not. Quite frankly, I don't give a rat's ass.
Cactus Jack just dropped today. GTG.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Monday, December 23, 2019
Otra Vez
Soy yo.
Trato de ser una persona quien es humano.
Para ser humana significa ser equivocado,
a menos a veces.
Las dos veces que he visto la cara mia al frente del espejo,
me parezco flojo.
El flaco.
Nadie sabe, y a mi
tampoco.
Traigame algunas noticias nuevas,
o algo diferente.
Estoy trabajando estar presente.
Solo tengo este momento, al lado del viento.
El clima me hace sentir igual al mar, o al lago.
Libre, sin las responsibilidades de la vida normal.
Yo pienso, y por lo tanto yo soy.
Ya la dije la oracion: solo tengo este momento.
Otra vez, otra vez. Intentalo otra vez.
Nadie sabe lo que va a pasar, y esa es la razon que el sol
va a cantar.
Trato de ser una persona quien es humano.
Para ser humana significa ser equivocado,
a menos a veces.
Las dos veces que he visto la cara mia al frente del espejo,
me parezco flojo.
El flaco.
Nadie sabe, y a mi
tampoco.
Traigame algunas noticias nuevas,
o algo diferente.
Estoy trabajando estar presente.
Solo tengo este momento, al lado del viento.
El clima me hace sentir igual al mar, o al lago.
Libre, sin las responsibilidades de la vida normal.
Yo pienso, y por lo tanto yo soy.
Ya la dije la oracion: solo tengo este momento.
Otra vez, otra vez. Intentalo otra vez.
Nadie sabe lo que va a pasar, y esa es la razon que el sol
va a cantar.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Ol' Donny takes the L
Well, today is the day. Actually let me start over. Today is "the day". Why the parentheses this time? Here's why: The House of Representatives is voting on both Articles of Impeachment today, and with a Democratic majority one can obviously see what the outcome will be. The Dems are going to vote to impeach Donald Trump. Some may call this a victory, some may call this a political vendetta on the behalf of Nancy Pelosi. Personally I am still deciding on how I see this, just because of what has yet to come with the Senate. The GOP majority is not going to vote against their leader, and a partial impeachment by the Dems is not going to stop Ol' Donny from running again in 2020. If there is one thing that I feel is going to happen from this fiasco, it's going to deepen the political divide in the United States and it's DEFINITELY going to be felt in November 2020.
Here's another thing that I noticed: Trump decided to go to the old fashioned pen and paper to write to Pelosi and the "Do Nothing Democrats" in retaliation to his opposition's actions to get him out of office. Why is this so interesting and somewhat shocking? For one, Donny loves his Twitter. Every time I see a tweet of his it's like I'm reading an old Vine star trying to stay relevant while Tik-Tok has taken over and 6 second videos have become a thing of the past. I see this usage of pen and paper as very, very related to Pablo Escobar's usage of the same elements. He wrote to the president of Colombia about his feelings, sentiments, and possible ramifications if the government didn't cooperate with his wishes. You know that the opposition has gotten to you when you decide to write a letter to them, let alone a 6 page letter that essentially is just a bunch of rambling saying "I'm right and you're wrong!"
It's definitely a scary time for politics in the United States. We, as a nation, are witnessing history right in front of our eyes. Time to get the popcorn.
Here's another thing that I noticed: Trump decided to go to the old fashioned pen and paper to write to Pelosi and the "Do Nothing Democrats" in retaliation to his opposition's actions to get him out of office. Why is this so interesting and somewhat shocking? For one, Donny loves his Twitter. Every time I see a tweet of his it's like I'm reading an old Vine star trying to stay relevant while Tik-Tok has taken over and 6 second videos have become a thing of the past. I see this usage of pen and paper as very, very related to Pablo Escobar's usage of the same elements. He wrote to the president of Colombia about his feelings, sentiments, and possible ramifications if the government didn't cooperate with his wishes. You know that the opposition has gotten to you when you decide to write a letter to them, let alone a 6 page letter that essentially is just a bunch of rambling saying "I'm right and you're wrong!"
It's definitely a scary time for politics in the United States. We, as a nation, are witnessing history right in front of our eyes. Time to get the popcorn.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
small iced coffee straight up
It's Thursday. Per usual, I have arrived at the office first. Usually all I do is make my breakfast (we have an oven here, and I am currently making hashbrowns), check the news, listen to my music, and if I have any coffee I'll take a few sips of it.
I went to Starbucks this morning for my iced coffee (please, roast me later) and the cashier was very nice. I am more impressed that she had a full face of make-up on at 6:50 am EST. That only means that she had to of put that whole face on no later than 5:30 am, since the place is probably open at 6:00 am everyday. Anyway, the coffee is AIGHT.
You ever just think about your place in society, and how every little thing that you do, from idling your car in the morning to get it to warm up, to buying a WaWa sub at 8:00 pm for your dinner, to getting a coffee before work? And your actions' repercussions on those who are behind making the resources for the products that you just bought/ were a consumer for? It leaves a weird taste in my mouth every time knowing that there is someone getting way less satisfaction doing what they have to do in order for me to be a consumer of the product.
It's way too early to be feeling the financial guilt that comes with being a consumer in a capitalistic society that often doesn't give it's fair share to those on the lower end of the wealth spectrum. However, it's still necessary to put yourselves in the shoes of someone who doesn't have it as well as you. Remember, there is always going to be someone who is out there, yearning to be in your position. Even when you think you have it soooooooo bad, it probably isn't that bad. And that's just facts.
My girlfriend says that she has a surprise for me today, and I'm really hoping that it's an earwax cleaner for Target that I was going to buy sometime this week.
I went to Starbucks this morning for my iced coffee (please, roast me later) and the cashier was very nice. I am more impressed that she had a full face of make-up on at 6:50 am EST. That only means that she had to of put that whole face on no later than 5:30 am, since the place is probably open at 6:00 am everyday. Anyway, the coffee is AIGHT.
You ever just think about your place in society, and how every little thing that you do, from idling your car in the morning to get it to warm up, to buying a WaWa sub at 8:00 pm for your dinner, to getting a coffee before work? And your actions' repercussions on those who are behind making the resources for the products that you just bought/ were a consumer for? It leaves a weird taste in my mouth every time knowing that there is someone getting way less satisfaction doing what they have to do in order for me to be a consumer of the product.
It's way too early to be feeling the financial guilt that comes with being a consumer in a capitalistic society that often doesn't give it's fair share to those on the lower end of the wealth spectrum. However, it's still necessary to put yourselves in the shoes of someone who doesn't have it as well as you. Remember, there is always going to be someone who is out there, yearning to be in your position. Even when you think you have it soooooooo bad, it probably isn't that bad. And that's just facts.
My girlfriend says that she has a surprise for me today, and I'm really hoping that it's an earwax cleaner for Target that I was going to buy sometime this week.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Chega de Saudade
Post Thanksgiving! This means I am taking all of the leftovers from the fervent feast and taking it to work next week.
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and recognizing the importance of life, which in itself is ironic.
If you don't know already, this holiday was born out of the slaying and disenfranchisement of the indigenous inhabitants that were simply living.
The bright side is that we have transformed the holiday to a family oriented outing. The downside is that we still lie to our youth and say that the indigenous people were fine with their own plight by the hands of the colonialists.
Rant? Over.
Christmas mode? Activated.
Enjoy time with family and friends, reconcile with those you may not spoken to in a while. But, while doing this, understand the roots of this tradition, and let it be an example of an America of the past. Let it be a catalyst in leading you to do your research on what has happened to the innocent indigenous people, and maybe allow it to press you to make a change for the better treatment of our indigenous brothers and sisters.
Chega de Saudade has often been referred to as the world's first bossa nova song. The title of the song roughly translated to many different phrases that all revolve around the same gesture. "Saudade" refers to longing, more of a melancholy feeling. The whole phrase more or less means that the subject feeling a sentiment of Saudade is tired of feeling down, and yearning a connection to what they are missing. Be it a loved one or an emotional connection to something, Saudade is just as relevant today as it was in early 1950's Brasil. Sarava!
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and recognizing the importance of life, which in itself is ironic.
If you don't know already, this holiday was born out of the slaying and disenfranchisement of the indigenous inhabitants that were simply living.
The bright side is that we have transformed the holiday to a family oriented outing. The downside is that we still lie to our youth and say that the indigenous people were fine with their own plight by the hands of the colonialists.
Rant? Over.
Christmas mode? Activated.
Enjoy time with family and friends, reconcile with those you may not spoken to in a while. But, while doing this, understand the roots of this tradition, and let it be an example of an America of the past. Let it be a catalyst in leading you to do your research on what has happened to the innocent indigenous people, and maybe allow it to press you to make a change for the better treatment of our indigenous brothers and sisters.
Chega de Saudade has often been referred to as the world's first bossa nova song. The title of the song roughly translated to many different phrases that all revolve around the same gesture. "Saudade" refers to longing, more of a melancholy feeling. The whole phrase more or less means that the subject feeling a sentiment of Saudade is tired of feeling down, and yearning a connection to what they are missing. Be it a loved one or an emotional connection to something, Saudade is just as relevant today as it was in early 1950's Brasil. Sarava!
Monday, November 11, 2019
1 Hour Early
Right now for my job I can come in early and leave accordingly. With that being said, I've been coming into work an hour earlier for the last couple weeks, maybe even a month. A quiet workplace is very nice in the morning because any sort of task that needs to get done is finished with little to no interruption.
Another perk of getting to work early is that I can walk in with my sweatpants and nobody will say a word. Oh, that's because nobody else is there other than me. Hm, funny how that works.
I even get to blare my music without anybody yelling at me. Coming into work early is the move. Get hip.
Another perk of getting to work early is that I can walk in with my sweatpants and nobody will say a word. Oh, that's because nobody else is there other than me. Hm, funny how that works.
I even get to blare my music without anybody yelling at me. Coming into work early is the move. Get hip.
Friday, November 8, 2019
the armpit state
Recently, I applied to work for Feds. That's right. The Federal Government.
I had a phone interview to work for the Department of State in the Big Orange (please understand the comedy behind me saying the Big Orange), and I am hoping and praying (AHHHH) that I get this job. It would open up a number of doors for me, especially since I am trying to become a FSO. They got to one of my references quickly after the interview, so if anything that should be promising. I really believe that this is going to be my next BIG step in life, and I could not be more ecstatic. However, I have to live in the present...
With that being said, it's Friday! The family is going out to dinner tonight at an undisclosed location, but just know that the restaurant that we're going to has bottomless fries. Kinda fire, if you ask me.
My music selection as of late has been a little bit better. Instead of letting the same songs rock over and over and over and over I've decided to let the radio for some songs come on. It's something different, granted I literally listen to the same songs over and over again.
A good friend of mine just had her interview to work in Africa for the Peace Corps. We had lunch this past weekend. It's always good to see your friends moving on and progressing in their lives. If you have someone that you want to reach out to, even just to text em' and say "What's good", just do it bruv.
Right now, I am drinking my first cup of coffee of the week. I bought a water bottle yesterday. Last night I split a Canada Dry/Lemonade mixture with my girlfriend. Oh, and a large bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. And two bags of gummy worms. My stomach hurts this morning, but it was all worth it.
Hm, what else should I add to this rant? A few comrades and I are creating a podcast. Yes, a podcast. It's going to be great in the already saturated world of public broadcasting on a myriad of topics that some people certainly don't care about. What's special about this podcast is that we have absolutely ZERO expectations from this, so anything that comes out of it will be success. A fan, a dollar, or a complaint, the fruits of this podcast venture will be sweet to the core.
Hasta la proxima.
I had a phone interview to work for the Department of State in the Big Orange (please understand the comedy behind me saying the Big Orange), and I am hoping and praying (AHHHH) that I get this job. It would open up a number of doors for me, especially since I am trying to become a FSO. They got to one of my references quickly after the interview, so if anything that should be promising. I really believe that this is going to be my next BIG step in life, and I could not be more ecstatic. However, I have to live in the present...
With that being said, it's Friday! The family is going out to dinner tonight at an undisclosed location, but just know that the restaurant that we're going to has bottomless fries. Kinda fire, if you ask me.
My music selection as of late has been a little bit better. Instead of letting the same songs rock over and over and over and over I've decided to let the radio for some songs come on. It's something different, granted I literally listen to the same songs over and over again.
A good friend of mine just had her interview to work in Africa for the Peace Corps. We had lunch this past weekend. It's always good to see your friends moving on and progressing in their lives. If you have someone that you want to reach out to, even just to text em' and say "What's good", just do it bruv.
Right now, I am drinking my first cup of coffee of the week. I bought a water bottle yesterday. Last night I split a Canada Dry/Lemonade mixture with my girlfriend. Oh, and a large bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. And two bags of gummy worms. My stomach hurts this morning, but it was all worth it.
Hm, what else should I add to this rant? A few comrades and I are creating a podcast. Yes, a podcast. It's going to be great in the already saturated world of public broadcasting on a myriad of topics that some people certainly don't care about. What's special about this podcast is that we have absolutely ZERO expectations from this, so anything that comes out of it will be success. A fan, a dollar, or a complaint, the fruits of this podcast venture will be sweet to the core.
Hasta la proxima.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Mondaily/Not a reddit thread
Monday. The beginning of the work week. The jovial aspect that we ALL have to get up (well, some) and get back to the grind. Honestly, waking up and knowing that you have a job is a great feeling. I was reading an article on what your first job means for your career and where to go when and if you don't like it. The money that we make from our jobs funds our hobbies. Just reading that sentence from the solid 5,000 article was enough for me to loathe coming into work a little bit less.
And it's not like my job is terrible. It really isn't that bad. Right now its 8:30-5 with a 1 hour break. Really can't complain, if I'm being honest.
Monday is a solid way to start anew, if you will. Start that book that you've been meaning to read, pay that parking ticket that you've been putting off, hell, it could be anything. For me, this Monday is a start for me to cut down on spending. Everyone has their own financial goals, and cutting down on spending is always a solid way to get it done. What specific goal will my cutting on spending do for me in the long run? Shit, I have no clue. But, as long as I don't spend money on things that aren't necessary, then I will be in the clear.
Ya wanna know what sucks about this Monday, though? Stocktwits made such a corny joke about McDonald's CEO getting the boot after having a consensual relationship with his coworkers. It's all fun and games until POLICY and RULES and REGULATIONS get in the way.
I don't know, maybe this blog post will be a call to action for someone to get started on an important project or something like that. Maybe it won't. Whatever!
And it's not like my job is terrible. It really isn't that bad. Right now its 8:30-5 with a 1 hour break. Really can't complain, if I'm being honest.
Monday is a solid way to start anew, if you will. Start that book that you've been meaning to read, pay that parking ticket that you've been putting off, hell, it could be anything. For me, this Monday is a start for me to cut down on spending. Everyone has their own financial goals, and cutting down on spending is always a solid way to get it done. What specific goal will my cutting on spending do for me in the long run? Shit, I have no clue. But, as long as I don't spend money on things that aren't necessary, then I will be in the clear.
Ya wanna know what sucks about this Monday, though? Stocktwits made such a corny joke about McDonald's CEO getting the boot after having a consensual relationship with his coworkers. It's all fun and games until POLICY and RULES and REGULATIONS get in the way.
I don't know, maybe this blog post will be a call to action for someone to get started on an important project or something like that. Maybe it won't. Whatever!
Friday, November 1, 2019
halloweeeeeeenie
Halloween is always fun because you see others dressed up as ridiculously as they can, and for one day it's acceptable. Why can't we have Halloween like, every week? Every month? Whatever. Tradition.
I got a last minute bail out for a costume by wearing a boof wig, helmet, and snowboard goggles (I was a crusty Shaun White), thanks Barb!
What makes this past Halloween so, so special is that I had to be to work at 6:15 this morning. My 5:30 alarm was so painful to hear this morning. I will say, though, that bumping your music going as fast as a Hellcat down Broad is pretty fun.
Alas, it's Friday. Nationals just won the World Series. It's November. Too early for Christmas decorations? Way too early. Please, don't get any funny ideas about skipping Thanksgiving. Mom's Mac and Cheese will not be disrespected by the overplayed Christmas Music.
I got a last minute bail out for a costume by wearing a boof wig, helmet, and snowboard goggles (I was a crusty Shaun White), thanks Barb!
What makes this past Halloween so, so special is that I had to be to work at 6:15 this morning. My 5:30 alarm was so painful to hear this morning. I will say, though, that bumping your music going as fast as a Hellcat down Broad is pretty fun.
Alas, it's Friday. Nationals just won the World Series. It's November. Too early for Christmas decorations? Way too early. Please, don't get any funny ideas about skipping Thanksgiving. Mom's Mac and Cheese will not be disrespected by the overplayed Christmas Music.
Monday, September 16, 2019
My thoughts on the Malarkey
I work for a non-profit that has extended its services to help Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC's). This means that this child is under the age of 18 and crossed the border without a parent/guardian. What happens once they get caught crossing the border illegally is that they get transported to a DHS facility (Department of Homeland Security). The process for the transfer of children from a DHS facility is SUPPOSED to take no more than 72 hours. However, with the heavy flux of immigrants that have been flowing to and through the border, one can imagine how hard it is to document the thousands that in need of services.
On August 21, multiple reports from a variety of credible news sources announced that the Trump admin. is moving to change one of the key takeaways from the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA) that allows children and other immigrants to stay in ORR custody for no more than 20 days. This would make it easier for immigrants to get deported back to their home country.
This is very controversial. Critics are, for a lack of better words, WILDING THE F**K OUT about what this means for those who are seeking asylum in the United States and how it undermines the humanity of those trying to make their lives better than they were before.
If I'm being honest, I truly believe that this is unconstitutional. I mean, for one we are keeping kids and their families in cages. We aren't giving them proper medicine. We aren't giving them proper sleeping materials. We aren't giving children access to their family members. We ARE proposing that trauma for these children is better than giving them a chance at a better life. We ARE proposing that family separation is good as long as it doesn't affect OUR citizens. We ARE initiating an action that in its entirety goes against what our American morals should be.
This is a scary time for immigration, asylum seekers, pro-immigrant advocates, and our nation as a whole.
A-hem *send tweet*
*character limit has been reached*
On August 21, multiple reports from a variety of credible news sources announced that the Trump admin. is moving to change one of the key takeaways from the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA) that allows children and other immigrants to stay in ORR custody for no more than 20 days. This would make it easier for immigrants to get deported back to their home country.
This is very controversial. Critics are, for a lack of better words, WILDING THE F**K OUT about what this means for those who are seeking asylum in the United States and how it undermines the humanity of those trying to make their lives better than they were before.
If I'm being honest, I truly believe that this is unconstitutional. I mean, for one we are keeping kids and their families in cages. We aren't giving them proper medicine. We aren't giving them proper sleeping materials. We aren't giving children access to their family members. We ARE proposing that trauma for these children is better than giving them a chance at a better life. We ARE proposing that family separation is good as long as it doesn't affect OUR citizens. We ARE initiating an action that in its entirety goes against what our American morals should be.
This is a scary time for immigration, asylum seekers, pro-immigrant advocates, and our nation as a whole.
A-hem *send tweet*
*character limit has been reached*
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Midlo Tuesday
First of all, what is a Midlo?
Answer: THE DAILY DOUBLE
A Midlo is someone who is from Midlothian and goes to the local bowling alley for $1 beers and $2 games. That's a Midlo.
Or someone that went to Midlothian High School. It can be either. The first one is way cooler, though.
This steal of a deal was found by fellow Midlo Alums that didn't get married, still live at home, and update their LinkedIn profiles daily.
A Midlo Tuesday usually goes as follows:
1. Get off of work at 5
2. Stay in traffic for 30 minutes
3. Linking at an associates house
4. Actually bowling
5. Shooting the shit for a solid 30 minutes after the bowling sesh
6. Crying yourself to sleep
7. Alright maybe not #6
So that's it. A Midlo Tuesday. When we're 30 and stable financially, King Pin will be where we have our annual bowl-a-thon.
Answer: THE DAILY DOUBLE
A Midlo is someone who is from Midlothian and goes to the local bowling alley for $1 beers and $2 games. That's a Midlo.
Or someone that went to Midlothian High School. It can be either. The first one is way cooler, though.
This steal of a deal was found by fellow Midlo Alums that didn't get married, still live at home, and update their LinkedIn profiles daily.
A Midlo Tuesday usually goes as follows:
1. Get off of work at 5
2. Stay in traffic for 30 minutes
3. Linking at an associates house
4. Actually bowling
5. Shooting the shit for a solid 30 minutes after the bowling sesh
6. Crying yourself to sleep
7. Alright maybe not #6
So that's it. A Midlo Tuesday. When we're 30 and stable financially, King Pin will be where we have our annual bowl-a-thon.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
que te diviertas
Post Labor Day hangover. What does that exactly mean?
1. Feeling the aftershock of being bodied by a 220 former football fallacy's elbow during a pickup game of basketball
2. Waking up at 6:30 this morning and wondering why I was awake (I had to go to work, hilarious right?)
3. Seeing a text in the group-chat saying "I think I broke my foot lol" and then actually seeing the person's SnapChat only to see that they actually broke their foot
4. The weird crave for Kombucha (I'm not too sure how this fits on the list but I decided to put it anyway)
So, what is Labor Day anyway? Is that the day where we all, the under-represented yet innumerable proletariat rise against the bourgeoisie in order to establish a proper welfare state for a real, interactive representative democracy where the voice of the 99% doesn't necessarily trump the 1% but has a pretty damn loud voice that is heard? Which might, in fact, lead to the defeat of the 1%?
Or is it just another day that we have off and read discussion forums to get a cheap laugh?
Or is it just another day for a cookout?
You decide.
Work has been.......slow.
Monday, August 26, 2019
presta atencion a mi
Recently, I got my roll of film that I took to Chile developed.
I posted the photos on Instagram and Twitter, both without descriptions or captions about where each picture was taken.
So that's what I'm gonna do here. Enjoy.
I posted the photos on Instagram and Twitter, both without descriptions or captions about where each picture was taken.
So that's what I'm gonna do here. Enjoy.
 |
| This is Santiago. The skyline is breathtaking, but man.. Those mountains in the background are something else |
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| Grace y Jessica. Taken outside of what we would consider a Walmart, this is when we went camping in San Pedro de Atacama, which just so happens to be home to the world's driest desert. |
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| This was about an hour outside of Calama, the city where our flight dropped us off. We got a rental car, blasted early 2000's jams, and took in the scenery. |
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| San Pedro de Atacama. We stopped on the side of the road so we could see the sunset, but before that this was our view. |
 |
| The sunset. On the left hand side you can see a man standing, as he was there taking sequence shots and/or a video of the sunset. |
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| Also Santiago. The figures below near the outflow of the river are painting on the rock. This was taken as I was walking across a bridge. |
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| Weekend trip to Mendoza, Argentina. We went to wineries, a wine festival, tasted Argentinian beef, the whole 9 yards. This was taken at the hostel that we were staying in . |
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| On the road from Calama to San Pedro. Not a llama, instead a guanaco. Still related. |
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Suavamente
Week 3 into my new job and it's been pretty cool. There's free coffee!
I think my body is telling me that I'm drinking too much coffee.
I cut someone out of my life that I really had been trying to do and never did until yesterday.
It felt great.
Sabes que significa suave?
It means smooth.
No te preocupes, no hay de que.
What's my next big life goal?
Probably buying my first car.
I'm applying for the Fulbright as an ETA in Argentina.
Vamos a ver lo que pase.
Monday, June 10, 2019
Friday, May 10, 2019
Chapter Complete
As I sit in the library to check my school email, I realize that later today, May 10, 2019, I will be done with my undergraduate. Those 4 years were something special, as they should have. Technically, I have until 6:30 PM and then I will officially done with it. Time flies.
This has been very long. I got home Sunday, had an interview Tuesday, get together yesterday, and graduation today. That's so much change to happen in 4-5 months. Time waits for no one.
VCU, it's been a pleasure. Real world, pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you.
How do I feel? Excited. Happy. Eager. Nervous. But I don't think that I should be feeling any other way. It's been a long time coming for this moment.
This has been very long. I got home Sunday, had an interview Tuesday, get together yesterday, and graduation today. That's so much change to happen in 4-5 months. Time waits for no one.
VCU, it's been a pleasure. Real world, pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you.
How do I feel? Excited. Happy. Eager. Nervous. But I don't think that I should be feeling any other way. It's been a long time coming for this moment.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Houdini
MOVE WITH ME, YOU MOVE CAUTION...
THE DAY HAS COME!
I AM HEADING HOME.
HOW DO I FEEL?
UNA MEZCLA DE EMOCIONES.
ME SIENTO ALEGRE, UN POQUITO TRISTE, EMOCIONADO...
Time to start a new chapter in this thing called "life". I graduate on the 10th. VCU has been really stingy about tickets this year because there are "more people graduating" than they expected. I call BS, but that's none of my business. I don't know how I am going to disseminate this information to the hoard of people (actually like 3-4 other people) that I said I could get a ticket for.
ANYWAY, I have an interview for a job that I really have set my eyes on for the last month a few days after I get back. The best part is that it's in DC! The hiring manager graduated from VCU about 4 years ago also, so at least I have that going for me. Hoping for the best...
What else is there? Maybe I'll work at Rumors part time until I hear back from all of the places that I applied for. There's a house show on the 9th that will commemorate Cary Street Garage (RIP, shout-out Caween and Kaelin). Other than that, I am finally done with undergrad! What a time to be alive. Our unemployment rate is the lowest since 1969 according to the NYT (3.6% unemployment rate). I guess that's something to look forward to (I guess.......).
THE DAY HAS COME!
I AM HEADING HOME.
HOW DO I FEEL?
UNA MEZCLA DE EMOCIONES.
ME SIENTO ALEGRE, UN POQUITO TRISTE, EMOCIONADO...
Time to start a new chapter in this thing called "life". I graduate on the 10th. VCU has been really stingy about tickets this year because there are "more people graduating" than they expected. I call BS, but that's none of my business. I don't know how I am going to disseminate this information to the hoard of people (actually like 3-4 other people) that I said I could get a ticket for.
ANYWAY, I have an interview for a job that I really have set my eyes on for the last month a few days after I get back. The best part is that it's in DC! The hiring manager graduated from VCU about 4 years ago also, so at least I have that going for me. Hoping for the best...
What else is there? Maybe I'll work at Rumors part time until I hear back from all of the places that I applied for. There's a house show on the 9th that will commemorate Cary Street Garage (RIP, shout-out Caween and Kaelin). Other than that, I am finally done with undergrad! What a time to be alive. Our unemployment rate is the lowest since 1969 according to the NYT (3.6% unemployment rate). I guess that's something to look forward to (I guess.......).
Monday, April 29, 2019
Los Ultimos Pasos
Sunday. Sunday. Sunday. No, I am not talking about the Super Bowl.
Sunday is the day of rest. It's the day to sleep in and not check your email. It's a day to do all of your leftover work from the week. It's a calm, cool, and relaxed kind of day.
Except this Sunday I will be arriving from a solid 14 hours of air travel. Throttled and fueled by Red Bulls and black coffee, this Sunday I will finally be home. It still hasn't hit me yet that these 4 months actually went by with the blink of an eye. Even my professor said upon arrival in January that this will be the fastest 4 months of your life. Well, Monica, you were absolutely correct.
It's crazy to think that there is no more university after this. No more "let's skip class" or "Can I have an extension on this assignment?" Instead it's going to be "Do you want these papers filed tomorrow for the conference?" or "Should I be taking down meeting minutes?"
Changes are coming and they're inevitable. Becoming willing to accept the process of growing up and taking more responsibility can often be trying on your mental and morale. But that's life! That's how you get to know who your real friends are, how your family will have your back, and how you start doing some of the things that you never thought you could accomplish. Growth.
The Sunday I come back is also Cinco de Mayo. Sorry in advance, Jessica.
Sunday is the day of rest. It's the day to sleep in and not check your email. It's a day to do all of your leftover work from the week. It's a calm, cool, and relaxed kind of day.
Except this Sunday I will be arriving from a solid 14 hours of air travel. Throttled and fueled by Red Bulls and black coffee, this Sunday I will finally be home. It still hasn't hit me yet that these 4 months actually went by with the blink of an eye. Even my professor said upon arrival in January that this will be the fastest 4 months of your life. Well, Monica, you were absolutely correct.
It's crazy to think that there is no more university after this. No more "let's skip class" or "Can I have an extension on this assignment?" Instead it's going to be "Do you want these papers filed tomorrow for the conference?" or "Should I be taking down meeting minutes?"
Changes are coming and they're inevitable. Becoming willing to accept the process of growing up and taking more responsibility can often be trying on your mental and morale. But that's life! That's how you get to know who your real friends are, how your family will have your back, and how you start doing some of the things that you never thought you could accomplish. Growth.
The Sunday I come back is also Cinco de Mayo. Sorry in advance, Jessica.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
T-Minus 2 or So
Less than 2 weeks left until I am home. Crazy to think that 4 months went by like...... dumb fast? Time chamber much?
I'm excited because I finally get to meet my baby sister. Same amount of excitement that I feel to see my dog (who recently just got put on CBD oil because of his arthritis)(my dad also asked me today if I know anything about the cannabis industry/cannabis stocks)(I'm more surprised than you are).
A very important week lies ahead of me... for reasons that I will not explain pub(I have a Skype interview with a job in DC that I REALLY want)lic.
Here's a small anecdote:
This past weekend I went to the park after buying Powerade and peanuts. The Powerade here tastes different, but that's besides the point. It was a tad bit chilly. Santiago was noticeably dead due to the departure of everyone and their grandmother leaving the city to celebrate the Easter holiday which pretty much lasts from the Thursday before Good Friday until the actual Easter holiday. Anyway, I go home. I was feeling colder than usual, but it's fall here so I thought that it just might be the weather getting to me. Later in the evening I go to change a light bulb in my bathroom, and I notice that my hands are OD cold off the early. Weird, right? Once again, didn't think too much of it.
Host parents call me up for dinner. I'm dressed in a skully, a fleece jacket, and sweatpants. Now I'm uber cold. I try eating, and the food just doesn't sit right. I eventually get that feeling that everybody gets the moment they start getting sick. The ominous headache god seems to creep up on you, the nose gets drippy, and your mood goes from 10 to -3 because you always hate getting sick.
I retire to my room. I start getting the cold shivers, per us(ual)(I love using parenthesis). I fall asleep for an hour, questioning whether I should just puke or lay there miserably in my bed. I decided to pull the trigger and let her rip. After the fiasco I lay on my bathroom floor, relieved and also intrigued on how much better I feel right after. That same night I slept for 4 or so hours because the neighbors were jamming heavy. Like, it's Saturday. I can't be mad about that.
The next day, my host mom tells me that she heard me in the bathroom and chuckled. HA!
I'm excited to go home. I'm excited to graduate. I'm excited to have a Cookout tray with a double burger with cheese, cheddar rounds, fries, and an Oreo milkshake. I can smell the peanut grease now.
I'm excited because I finally get to meet my baby sister. Same amount of excitement that I feel to see my dog (who recently just got put on CBD oil because of his arthritis)(my dad also asked me today if I know anything about the cannabis industry/cannabis stocks)(I'm more surprised than you are).
A very important week lies ahead of me... for reasons that I will not explain pub(I have a Skype interview with a job in DC that I REALLY want)lic.
Here's a small anecdote:
This past weekend I went to the park after buying Powerade and peanuts. The Powerade here tastes different, but that's besides the point. It was a tad bit chilly. Santiago was noticeably dead due to the departure of everyone and their grandmother leaving the city to celebrate the Easter holiday which pretty much lasts from the Thursday before Good Friday until the actual Easter holiday. Anyway, I go home. I was feeling colder than usual, but it's fall here so I thought that it just might be the weather getting to me. Later in the evening I go to change a light bulb in my bathroom, and I notice that my hands are OD cold off the early. Weird, right? Once again, didn't think too much of it.
Host parents call me up for dinner. I'm dressed in a skully, a fleece jacket, and sweatpants. Now I'm uber cold. I try eating, and the food just doesn't sit right. I eventually get that feeling that everybody gets the moment they start getting sick. The ominous headache god seems to creep up on you, the nose gets drippy, and your mood goes from 10 to -3 because you always hate getting sick.
I retire to my room. I start getting the cold shivers, per us(ual)(I love using parenthesis). I fall asleep for an hour, questioning whether I should just puke or lay there miserably in my bed. I decided to pull the trigger and let her rip. After the fiasco I lay on my bathroom floor, relieved and also intrigued on how much better I feel right after. That same night I slept for 4 or so hours because the neighbors were jamming heavy. Like, it's Saturday. I can't be mad about that.
The next day, my host mom tells me that she heard me in the bathroom and chuckled. HA!
I'm excited to go home. I'm excited to graduate. I'm excited to have a Cookout tray with a double burger with cheese, cheddar rounds, fries, and an Oreo milkshake. I can smell the peanut grease now.
Monday, April 8, 2019
San Pedro De Blah Blah Blah Pt. 2
San Pedro de Atacama. Guanacos. Burros. They all mean the same thing.
This weekend was FA. We camped under some of the best skies to see the stars, we went to a real live geyser, and went off-roading in the rental car that the employee told us not too. A solid 10/10 experience.
When I say that these skies were clear, I'm saying that I could see the Little Dipper in full definition along with other parts of Orion's belt. To top it all off, I saw my first shooting star. I would say what my wish was on the star but that would be super lame of me on my own behalf.
I believe that I saw my first ever volcano (from afar) also. Just like all of the other ice-capped mountains/mountainous objects that were in Atacama, their views were unreal.
If I'm gonna keep talking about firsts, this was also my first time camping. I don't know how I've made it this far without camping, but we're going to act like I am a veteran at it and overlook the fact that I had to covertly use my host family's sleeping bag. We fit 3 people in a smaller sized tent on the rocky desert ground. La mayoridad de nuestro grupo no les trajeron una almohada a ellos mismo.
The majority of the group didn't bring a pillow for themselves. But that really didn't matter.
26ish days until graduation.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
San Pedro De Blah Blah Blah
It's a very gloomy Thursday in Santiago today. This whole week outside of my classroom there has been a party that is supposed to be encouraging the students at UNAB to get tested for HIV/AIDS. Honestly, that's not that bad of an idea. Apparently there has been a very sharp uptrend in HIV/AIDS cases in Chile, so why not make something that seems so scary and pretty bleak seem like a social event under the guise of a DJ, cheerleaders, table tennis, and soccer-tennis? I don't see why not!
Later today I will be boarding a flight to San Pedro de Atacama with some of the fellow gang members. Very hesitant at first to partake in this weekend trip, but very glad that I was able to take a RISK FOR ONCE.....(!!!!!!!!!) Should be a very, very good time. Camping under the clearest skies in the world? Say less.
In less than 4 weeks I will be back home in the 804. How do I feel? A plethora of emotions could describe it. Excited, to say the least. This is the longest that I haven't seen my friends in like, ever? Maybe? Sad isn't the word, but the phrase "not mad, just disappointed" might sum up other feelings that I feel as if I am feeling, ya feel? These 4 months flew by. To put a blanket over it I am glad to be going to my HOME home but blown because I'll be leaving some really great relationships that I've made while being here. However, I am acting like I will not be able to visit them in the future as time goes on. To each's own, I guess.
I also just ate a chicken empanada. I think that Professor Paarlberg was right when saying that Chile has the best of them (at least I think that's what he said?).
Later today I will be boarding a flight to San Pedro de Atacama with some of the fellow gang members. Very hesitant at first to partake in this weekend trip, but very glad that I was able to take a RISK FOR ONCE.....(!!!!!!!!!) Should be a very, very good time. Camping under the clearest skies in the world? Say less.
In less than 4 weeks I will be back home in the 804. How do I feel? A plethora of emotions could describe it. Excited, to say the least. This is the longest that I haven't seen my friends in like, ever? Maybe? Sad isn't the word, but the phrase "not mad, just disappointed" might sum up other feelings that I feel as if I am feeling, ya feel? These 4 months flew by. To put a blanket over it I am glad to be going to my HOME home but blown because I'll be leaving some really great relationships that I've made while being here. However, I am acting like I will not be able to visit them in the future as time goes on. To each's own, I guess.
I also just ate a chicken empanada. I think that Professor Paarlberg was right when saying that Chile has the best of them (at least I think that's what he said?).
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
I Saw Water
I Saw Water is a song by Tigers Jaw. I am still salty that I didn't see them play in Richmond the last time that they rolled through. Oh well.
Today was sunny, not too hot, with a fluid breeze. Didn't sweat a bit. I studied poolside with some of my classmates. The view from the roof top was solid.
There's about 30 or so days left on this trip. I'm not sad to see it come to a close, rather appreciative that I've been given this opportunity. Being home will be comforting. And after 5 days of being home, I'll be a VCU grad! Time to add "VCU Alum" to all my social media profiles.
How long does it take for the diploma to get to my house? Asking for a friend.
Today was sunny, not too hot, with a fluid breeze. Didn't sweat a bit. I studied poolside with some of my classmates. The view from the roof top was solid.
There's about 30 or so days left on this trip. I'm not sad to see it come to a close, rather appreciative that I've been given this opportunity. Being home will be comforting. And after 5 days of being home, I'll be a VCU grad! Time to add "VCU Alum" to all my social media profiles.
How long does it take for the diploma to get to my house? Asking for a friend.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Mas que medio
I have about less than 60 days in Chile left. How do I feel about that?
I'm excited to be back with the fam and gang, most definitely. I'm probably more excited to graduate! As long as my credits get approved....... (they will)
But, I'm going to miss this place. The last few weeks I've decided that I need to exit my comfort zone, more than I already have. One would think that doing a study abroad program would be exiting out of their comfort zone to the max, I don't believe there is a cap for how much you can do that to yourself.
It's spring break this upcoming week and for the first time my whole time here I have real homework. It's funny how things work.
I'm excited to be back with the fam and gang, most definitely. I'm probably more excited to graduate! As long as my credits get approved....... (they will)
But, I'm going to miss this place. The last few weeks I've decided that I need to exit my comfort zone, more than I already have. One would think that doing a study abroad program would be exiting out of their comfort zone to the max, I don't believe there is a cap for how much you can do that to yourself.
It's spring break this upcoming week and for the first time my whole time here I have real homework. It's funny how things work.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Causes of Class Division in Chile Pre-Pinochet
Lawrence Jones, III
POLI 353
Professor Paarlberg
12/12/18
Causes of Class Division in Chile Pre-Pinochet
A country’s history often dictates the persona that it reflects to the other nations across the world. It could be riled with humanitarian indecencies, government wrongdoings and social inequality. On the other end, it could be filled with successful regimes that have maintained a certain homeostasis inside of their nation that proved to be up to par with what their denizens were searching for. These sort of scenarios make for great film content, as the elements of visual and sound arts come together to capture the true essence of a country. Chilean director Andres Woods’ film “Machuca” depicts early 1970’s Chile during before the oncoming rule of United States’ backed dictator Augusto Pinochet, who entered into power through a military coup d’etat. This shift of power took place after the election of Chile’s first socialist president, Salvador Allende. With the historical context of this movie reflecting the peak of the Cold War, communist and socialist ideologies were making themselves apparent during this time. Internationally, Chile’s new left leaning democratic-socialist government warrened the attention of countries like the United States who were more than opposed to any government that resonated with communism. Domestically, it proved to be a catalyst to fuel strikes and protests for and against Allende’s new form of rule. This resulted in class divisions inside the country to continually deepen. What factors contributed to the creation of such deep class divisions before Pinochet’s rule? Examination of the long history of systematic oppression by the Chilean bourgeois on the working class, imperialism inside of the country and Salvador Allende’s Democratic-Socialist government will bring specifically identify how division happened.
The cornerstone of bourgeoisie mentality in Chile dates back to the 14th century with events such as the Spanish Conquest took place in the mid 14th century at the hands of individuals like Diego de Almargo and Pedro de Valdivia. With former conquests made against the Inca and Aztec Empires in Peru and Mexico, Almargo was well aware that indigenous forces that went against his firearm-wielding horseback army would not prove to be a formidable force. The same can be said about Valdivia, who’s Spanish forces drained rivaling indigenous tribes like the Mapuche down to stagnating numbers (Spanish War History 2012). Francisco de Villagra would be Valvadivia’s successor after dying at the hands of the Mapuche people, contributing to the continuous destruction of indigenous people’s cities. As a result, a myriad of starvation, betrayal and suppression made its presence on the Mapuche and the acquisition of land for the Spanish colonizers. Of the more notable ramifications of Spanish Conquest was the founding of Chile’s current capital, Santiago. The city would soon be home to La Moneda, the seat of the country’s president, and other institutions that would attract the likes of the affluent yet small upper class that consisted of businessmen and economists (Spanish War History 2012). The subjugation of native peoples to Spanish conquest laid the framework for the practice of feudalism in coming centuries. This lead to large masses of land coming being under the control of the relatively small circle bourgeois class. Reports from a 1925 census revealed that 98% of the Anconcagua river valley was controlled by 3% of landowners, leaving only a small portion of land for peasants to and subsequently making living conditions harder among them (Spanish War History 2012). Spain’s invasion of what would eventually be known as Chile began the history of the bourgeoisie taking advantage of the lower class as a whole, marking the beginning of class division.
Another example of this mentality was In 1879, where Chile declared war on Peru and Bolivia for the ownership of precious mineral reserves in the Atacama desert that would serve to the country’s commercial interests and for Bolivia’s access to the Pacific. Bolivia at the time was suffering from weak leadership amongst its ruling class and the inability to secure its land from the conquest of neighboring countries, while Peru’s armed forces were ill-armed and unprepared for the coastal attacks of Chile. Peru lost Tarapaca, a province in southern Peru. Bolivia lost the most in this battle, having to relinquish its access to the sea through the Chilean acquisition of its Littoral province. When the world economic boom hit from 1891-1913, Chile used the natural resources from their plunder in Peru and Bolivia to their financial gain. The bourgeois would then work closely with large landowners in region to secure the lands resources, with special attention to its nitrates, to profit off of their salvaging. Production rates of nitrates went up from 1,000,000 tons in 1896 to 2,500,000 at the of 1910 along with a 75% increase in demand by the 1918. Chile continued to use its usage of natural resources for monetary gain through exploitation of its copper mines. Copper would soon replace nitrates as the most important export of the country, growing the country’s foreign trade from 140 million pesos in 1896 to 580 million pesos in 1906. With majority of this work done through the exploitation of Chile’s peasant and working class, more and more money was circulated among the upper-class while the proletariat was left to toil against their will. Chile’s history of the bourgeois taking advantage of unstable countries’ with valuable resources continues the narrative of class division on a large level. Unequal distribution of land and exploitation of a disenfranchised population both are effects of the bourgeois mentality, both of which enforcing class division inside of the country.
Along with the bourgeoisie, Chile’s imperialistic relations with the United States also fed into the creation of class division inside of the country. Post World War I Chile saw its country’s industries fall victim to the ownership of outside entities. Even before the United States began its conquest on Chilean materials, 50% of the mines in Chile were owned by foreign investors at this time. The United States first struck by obtaining the El Teniente, a mining company that produced ⅓ of Chile’s national total, in 1904 (Martinez 1979). CODELCO, another mining located in Chuquicamata, was acquired by the United States in 1912 after it had produced about half of the country’s national total. This sort of imperialist attitude shown by the United States led to domestic companies such as Anaconda Copper and Kennecott Copper Mine feeding off of the labor of the working class. Like the copper industry, iron and steel companies also succumbed to United States affairs. US based company Bethlehem Steel took control of Chile’s major metal industry, El Tojo (Martinez 1979). And just like that, the much of the natural resources that were acquired through victory of the War of the Pacific were harbored by the greedy expansionist policies of the US. In retrospect, thinking about why Chile gave up lots of its potential wealth to the US can give several different explanations about Chile’s governance of their resources. One possibility is the Paradox of Plenty, otherwise known as the Resource Curse. Much like the name, the definition of this nuisance is a paradoxical situation where countries with abundances in non-renewable resources suffer from a stagnant and often regressive economic growth. Countries that are affected by this often rely on one large industry to fuel their economy, with mining being Chile’s lifeline (Investopedia 2018). At this point in Chile’s history, the bourgeoisie funneled its capitalistic endeavors on the backs of its proletariat through imperialist ties to the largest expansionist country in the world. What may be one of the few achievements of this capitalist/imperialist synthesis was the rise of a middle class. Santiago became a hotbed for those working in the country’s most important industry while simultaneously country-dwellers were relocating to urban areas of the country. However, the bourgeoisie was able to finesse the trust and likeness of this new middle class through exchanges of trust for positions inside of their administration(s). As the bourgeoisie secured the loyalty of the middle class, the working class continued to suffer. Between 1913 and 1923, real wages of the proletariat dropped 10% partially due to the world economic collapse that transpired in 1918 and inflation due to overproduction (Martinez 1979). Strikes were rampant and displeasure among those affected was brought to the spotlight. Later in 1922 The Russian Revolution garnered the attention of an objectified Chilean working class, resulting in the existing Socialist Workers Party of Chile to transform into the Communist Party of Chile. Even with a public discourse against the workings of the bourgeoisie, their capitalistic tendencies drove the country into an economic downturn through its continual exploitation of its mining industry. Accompanied by repudiation of its foreign debt and a drastic rise in unemployment, Chile would soon hit rock bottom economically by 1931 and experience a number of military coup d’etats, reflecting the political instability of the country (Martinez 1979). Chile’s inexperience on the global frontier of economics with consideration of the meddling of the United States’ on their resources enabled the bourgeoisie that ruled the country to engage in a synthesis of capitalist and imperialist policies. The tensions brought about by improper governance of the bourgeoisie created a solid divide between the haves and the have-nots, implicating a strong divide between ideologies and allegiance vis-a-vis classes.
Lastly, Salvador Allende’s democratic socialist government played a vital role in the class divisions inside of Chile. Socialism was a form of governance that had never been nationally practiced on Chilean soil. Considering that Allende was democratically elected at one of the peaks of the Cold War, his stunning victory caught the attention of the United States and many other international powers at the time. Allende’s platform of democratic socialism was pertinent to running both the government’s economy and society at the same level, avoiding the creation of wealth for the few and destitute socioeconomic conditions for the working class/lower middle class. Other governments pre-Allende had failed in creating important changes needed in Chilean society at the time, like land reform to assist the workers that the bourgeoisie had been taking advantage of for years. The Christian Democrats, represented by Eduardo Frei Montalva’s presidency from 1964 to 1970, attempted to initiate major land reform by acquiring 51% of the country’s copper mines from the United States (Hudson 1994). However, the goal of reclaiming land access of nearly 100,000 families fell short as Montalva’s acquisition 13% of the cultivable land could only be dispersed between 5% and 10% of peasant families. Frei’s government proved to be facade to what the unheard voices of Chile were searching for: a relinquishment of power from the bourgeoisie inside of the government which was defined by oligarchic rule (Martinez 1979). With the deposition of the Christian Democrats, Allende secured the Chilean vote with 36.3% of the vote during a run-off election. His unprecedented win allowed for the marginalized of his country to make their voices known through general strikes and organized workers movements. One of Allende’s first move as president was jumpstarting the process of obtaining the remaining 49% of the country’s mines from the US, signaling that he and his party were in the power to give the unfortunate victims of previous oppressive governments. In addition to creating the case for the United States to give reparations back to Chile, Allende also nationalized the coal mines, iron and nitrate mines, and the textile industry (Martinez 1979). For the first time in modern Chilean history the work of the marginalized was being put back into their bosom while their previously shuttered cries for representation cracked the surface.
Latifundists seeing that their former system of alienating marginalized peoples was not working subsequently lead them to paying armed radical right wing groups to resist this new reform. Allende’s government was at a crossroads, struggling to figure out whether an armed leftist resistance en contra de their opponents would suffice or if denouncement of violence on both ends of the spectrum would prevail. A decision was soon made by the government to keep violence from their end, prompted by the party’s fear of losing control of the possible large scale peasant movement. Instead of armed revolution Allende implemented the largest agrarian reform done by his party and expropriated nearly 5 million hectares of land. Formerly owned by individuals in the Christian Democrat party, the Democratic-Socialists left it’s predecessors a solemn 1 million hectares of land (Martinez 1979). This move executed by Allende grew his party’s popularity, inspired peasants in the countryside to take back land they believed to be theirs, and influenced younger members of the Christian Democrats to form a satellite party dubbed the Movement of the Christian Left (Martinez 1979). The party would submit themselves to the the views and ideologies of the now well established Popular Unity party.The oligarchies established inside of parties such as the Christian Democrats feared that their livelihoods were at stake. Years of making money off of the defenseless seemed to be coming to an end until they partnered with the CIA to begin their plan to retake power in Chile. Allende and his supporters were cornered in La Moneda, the home of the president. After aerial attacks had been deployed onto the presidential palace, infantry began their raid into the palace. Allende would later commit suicide with an automatic rifle that was bestowed upon him by Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro. Often referred to as ‘The Other 9/11”, this day would be marked as one of the most infamous events in Chilean history with its outcome representing the beginning of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship (Gilbert 2013). What the bourgeoisie didn’t expect was their unlimited scope of rule over lower class Chileans to be in jeopardy due to the nation’s first socialist president. Allende’s ability to rally his supported against the tyranny of the oligarchic ruling class is one of the most important reasons as to why class division in Chile became what it was, further emboldened by the Christian Democrats and other anti-communist parties ability to obtain support from their radicalized sectors to defend what they had been building in the nation for centuries essentially.
Class division in Chile dates back to Spanish conquest on Chilean soil where the lives of innocent and ill prepared indigenous peoples were taken advantage of on the behalf of a wealthy Spanish ruling class. This bourgeoisie mentality has lasted in the country for centuries through imperialist and capitalist endeavors taken by the United States and Chilean government. The onset of Salvador Allende’s Democratic-Socialist government continued the polarization between classes as his short tenure as president gave a voice to a massive group of individuals who had been marginalized their entire existence. Culminating these factors together accurately and explicitly explains the existence of such deep class division inside of the country pre-Pinochet.
Sources
Creative Commons. “War of the Pacific.” Ohio River - New World Encyclopedia, New World Encyclopedia, 16 Oct. 2016, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/War_of_the_Pacific.
Martinez, Jorge. “Lessons of Chile.” Socialist Alternative, Jan. 1979, www.socialistalternative.org/lessons-of-chile/lessons-of-chile/.
Hudson, Rex A. “Chile: A Country Study.” Venezuela - The Judiciary, 1994, countrystudies.us/chile/29.htm.
Staff, Investopedia. “Resource Curse.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 31 May 2018, www.investopedia.com/terms/r/resource-curse.asp.
Gilbert, Sarah. “The Coup.” SBS News, SBS News, 2013, www.sbs.com.au/theother911/.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
No lo dudes mas
I've been in Chile for a solid month and a week, maybe two weeks. It's still crazy waking up knowing that I am in a whole new country, but some things never change. Like me forgetting to call my mom yesterday (sorry mom, you will get a phone call today).
I got my first A on an assignment in one of my classes which is super rare for me because I've gotten a B on literally every assignment this semester so far. Pats on the back for me.
Chile just finished having a heat wave (any weather that is 90 degrees Fahrenheit and above) that lasted two weeks. Which means I can walk to my metro stop and not have to worry about sweating through my clothes before my 9:30 class even starts.
There have been two huge fires with smoke that you could see from campus classrooms happen in the last week. Northern Chile (The Atacama Desert aka the driest place on Earth) was flooded last week resulting in the partial destruction of a main bridge in the city. In the south, fires have been ravaging the more temperate weathered section of Chile. Someone tell me that climate change isn't real after hearing that.
Next week our school is going on a trip to a vineyard that's about an hour and a half south of Santiago. While this is tempting, a few other people are going on a trip to Pucon (a city that is supposedly really cool but I have no prior knowledge to it) which I have considered attending, but we will see what happens.
Everything is going great. And I started my application to the Peace Corps. Sheesh.
I got my first A on an assignment in one of my classes which is super rare for me because I've gotten a B on literally every assignment this semester so far. Pats on the back for me.
Chile just finished having a heat wave (any weather that is 90 degrees Fahrenheit and above) that lasted two weeks. Which means I can walk to my metro stop and not have to worry about sweating through my clothes before my 9:30 class even starts.
There have been two huge fires with smoke that you could see from campus classrooms happen in the last week. Northern Chile (The Atacama Desert aka the driest place on Earth) was flooded last week resulting in the partial destruction of a main bridge in the city. In the south, fires have been ravaging the more temperate weathered section of Chile. Someone tell me that climate change isn't real after hearing that.
Next week our school is going on a trip to a vineyard that's about an hour and a half south of Santiago. While this is tempting, a few other people are going on a trip to Pucon (a city that is supposedly really cool but I have no prior knowledge to it) which I have considered attending, but we will see what happens.
Everything is going great. And I started my application to the Peace Corps. Sheesh.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Manquehue
Well, it's been a solid two weeks since I've been in Chile. Let's look at what I have found to be different about this Southern Cone country than Richmond, Virginia (lowkey miss you, baby)
1. Money conversion: Chile uses the Chilean Peso for their currency. $674.22 pesos equals one USD. The dollar can be stretched further here when it comes to local food (el completo, empanadas). Most street vendors will only charge you one luca ($1,000 pesos, about $1.50 USD) for their goods. But when it comes to eating at a restaurant, the similarity with US prices begin to show. Beer costs a solid $4-$5, entrees going for about $10-$15. So it's not deathly expensive, and if you can work around eating out everyday and trying out one of the street vendors instead you can definitely see the strength of the USD over here.
2. The Metro: Fairly easy to use. Costs about $1 to use for each trip, but is free every other trip if you can get to your next metro stop within an hour of the first trip.
3. Stray dogs: In the United States (at least I would think) if someone were to see a stray dog galvanizing through their neighborhood they would call the authorities ASAP. Here there are dogs who occupy the same spot for months at a time. There are two dogs that sit and cool it outside of my building and have passerbys leave them berries. Also none of these dogs are skinny, at least the ones that I've seen. Which has led me to think that they are being fed pretty darn well.
4. Weed: It's legal and illegal at the same time. You can have up to 2 grams on your person as long as you're not smoking it. But that has not stopped la gente from indulging in the devil's lettuce. Students and individuals are smoking at local parks next to campus on the reg. Very interesting sight to see.
5. English: Obviously I am here to refine and make my Spanish speaking skills and comprehension the best that it can be in the 4 months that I am here. What's funny about that is when I am speaking in Spanish to employees in some places, let's say at the grocery store (because it happened to me there yesterday) they will reply back to me in English. I understand it's because they want to make their English better and see it as an opportunity para mejorarse la lingua. I also understand it's kinda obvious that I am not from here and might look/sound like a typical American extranjero.
6. PDA: Dawg... people are making out at every single corner, metro, bus stop, market, pool, you name it. We learned some lingo prior to classes beginning last week and one of the phrases was "comerse". "Comer" means "to eat" and when you add the "se" at the end it makes the verb reflexive. So when using that phrase it means that they are literally eating each other And from the looks of it, they are.
7. Dinner times: I literally just finished eating dinner 20 minutes ago. It's 13 minutes before 11pm.
These are just some things that I have picked up on in the couple weeks that I've been here. I've yet to be hit with the "culture shock" that my advisers and other professionals have told me that would be experiencing, but I am very excited to be subjected to that moment whenever it does happen!
1. Money conversion: Chile uses the Chilean Peso for their currency. $674.22 pesos equals one USD. The dollar can be stretched further here when it comes to local food (el completo, empanadas). Most street vendors will only charge you one luca ($1,000 pesos, about $1.50 USD) for their goods. But when it comes to eating at a restaurant, the similarity with US prices begin to show. Beer costs a solid $4-$5, entrees going for about $10-$15. So it's not deathly expensive, and if you can work around eating out everyday and trying out one of the street vendors instead you can definitely see the strength of the USD over here.
2. The Metro: Fairly easy to use. Costs about $1 to use for each trip, but is free every other trip if you can get to your next metro stop within an hour of the first trip.
3. Stray dogs: In the United States (at least I would think) if someone were to see a stray dog galvanizing through their neighborhood they would call the authorities ASAP. Here there are dogs who occupy the same spot for months at a time. There are two dogs that sit and cool it outside of my building and have passerbys leave them berries. Also none of these dogs are skinny, at least the ones that I've seen. Which has led me to think that they are being fed pretty darn well.
4. Weed: It's legal and illegal at the same time. You can have up to 2 grams on your person as long as you're not smoking it. But that has not stopped la gente from indulging in the devil's lettuce. Students and individuals are smoking at local parks next to campus on the reg. Very interesting sight to see.
5. English: Obviously I am here to refine and make my Spanish speaking skills and comprehension the best that it can be in the 4 months that I am here. What's funny about that is when I am speaking in Spanish to employees in some places, let's say at the grocery store (because it happened to me there yesterday) they will reply back to me in English. I understand it's because they want to make their English better and see it as an opportunity para mejorarse la lingua. I also understand it's kinda obvious that I am not from here and might look/sound like a typical American extranjero.
6. PDA: Dawg... people are making out at every single corner, metro, bus stop, market, pool, you name it. We learned some lingo prior to classes beginning last week and one of the phrases was "comerse". "Comer" means "to eat" and when you add the "se" at the end it makes the verb reflexive. So when using that phrase it means that they are literally eating each other And from the looks of it, they are.
7. Dinner times: I literally just finished eating dinner 20 minutes ago. It's 13 minutes before 11pm.
These are just some things that I have picked up on in the couple weeks that I've been here. I've yet to be hit with the "culture shock" that my advisers and other professionals have told me that would be experiencing, but I am very excited to be subjected to that moment whenever it does happen!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
when in doubt, pinky out
My friends decided to have a game night right before I left, a soft sentiment that reflects the relationship that has grown between all like 100 of us in the group chat. The goodbyes were not as sorrowful as one would think, but I lowkey shed a tear as I was walking to my car. The break pads need to be replaced along with the caliper, an oil change, and probably some transmission fluid just for the hell of it. I'll worry about that later.
I woke up at 5 this morning after waking up at 2 because 1. I couldn't sleep and 2. My phone's battery was busted and was not charging. How do you think I felt about my phone acting stupid the DAY OF MY FLIGHT TO CHILE????? THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.
Whatever. My stepmom gave me a wholesome goodbye, which is always nice. Brother and sister gave me several going away messages, friends sent me snaps, DM's, the whole sha-bang. It was a nice way to go out. The drive up to DC was not that bad, either. Big shout-out to my dad for caving and putting more money on his Easy Pass (not sure if I spelled that right, but I'm going to roll with it)
With my phone being broken, we go to Smart Fix in Pentagon City Mall to alleviate the issue at hand. $40 is not that bad to get your phone fixed up in a solid hour. Shortly after, mom bought me a nice Philly steak and my dad spilled honey all over his blueberry Panera bagel.
Soon after I gave my final goodbyes for a while to my parents, who eagerly and selflessly assisted me in the hectic trials and tribulations up to this point for this trip to happen. I can't thank them enough for the amount of financial/legal/emotional support that they have rendered on my behalf.
As for now, I am on my way to Miami and from there Santiago de Chile.
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