No more photos

Sorry guys no more photos.
I know that I haven’t written anything on this blog for a while and I am sorry to tell you that now that I am now writing with bad news. Unfortunately I will now not be able to put any more of MY photos on my blog for you too see. Last night I got home to find that someone had broken in to my house and stole new laptop computer (which I painfully purchased out of necessity as my old one stopped working about a week ago) and my camera. Also, the thieves stole the laptops and cameras of all my roommates. In total 4 laptops, two cameras and any money that they could find. The result is that I will not be putting any of my photos on my blog for you too see and I am likely to be writing even less entries for you to read. Unfortunately, this also means I have to find a new creative process for writing music and academic papers as well. Any suggestions???
Other than that I had a really nice Christmas. I had a nice dinner with friends. We spent a lot of time reflecting on the experiences that we have had together and laughed a lot. Although I am not a religious person my friend Hanna and I decided to attend a post-Christmas Catholic mass. It was an interesting event with a lot of singing, sitting, listening and Jesus wafer eating. I would really like to know the symbolism behind that (any anthropological suggestions?).
It has been quite strange to spend the holiday season here in the summer. I keep having feelings of ¨well that’s out of season¨ when I am walking down the street and hear Christmas music or see a Christmas tree. I guess that is a part of the fun of being in another country then the one I grew up in.
I hope that everyone is well, that you had a good Christmas and that your new years Eve will be equally eventfull.
Merry Christmas
I love you.
Doran

Earthquake simulation in Valparaiao

So today there have been several tremors happening. I thought I would look into what the procedures are in case of earthquake and found this video. I thought I would share it with you.

Beaucracy!!

So things are moving. These last couple of weeks have been crazy! But I have almost arived at my destinasion! So here’s what has been happening. I have in been in the processes of applying for a new passport; I am realizing that the lessons in beaucracy are some of my hardest lessons in life. I hate the process of filling out all of those forms only to find out in the process that you don’t exactly fit into their little boxes. I needed a guarantor here in Chile who has known me for a minimum of two years, which has been an illogical process, as I have only been here for 4.5 months. Likewise, I have been trying to change the date of my flight home, which has resulted in conversations like;
Doran- I would like to change the date of my flight home please.
Evil Bureaucratic machine – We can’t do that (because Bureaucrats always speak in plural)
Doran – “Why not?”
Evil Bureaucratic machine – “because there is a rule”
Doran – “ Why is there a rule?”
Evil Bureaucratic machine – Because there is a rule
Doran - why is there a rule?
Evil Bureaucratic machine – Because there is a rule.
Doran – Why is there a rule?
Evil Bureaucratic machine – Because there is a rule.
Doran – Why is there a rule?
Evil Bureaucratic machine – Because there is a rule.
Doran – ……………… why?????????????
Evil Bureaucratic machine – …………………..Because
I have come to the conclusion that beaucrates are not people, they are in fact machines simply sort paper and complete forms. The good news, I eventually was able to find form #49587ehhg09835, which is used in special cases for people who question the system profusely. Apparently if you ask "why?" too many times there is paradoxical feedback loop that is created and the system self-destructs.
Likewise, I have been finishing up this semester of university. This has involved the kind of stress that you can only have from writing exams and final papers in Spanish. I Ahhhhh... almost done. Super bien.

Food and Friends

Anyone who knows me knows that I appreciate good food and good people. I am fortunate enough at this memento in my life to be surrounded by both. In the house that I live in there are four other wonderfull people. They are the foundation of my community here in Chile. There is Katharina from Germany, Angela from France, Kali (Carl) who is Swedish and Maria who is Swedish/Chilean. Beyond them we are surrounded by an extremely supportive group of other people who are, for the most part, open-minded kind and quality human beings. On more than one occasion I have been impressed, that regardless of our differences in language, culture and ethnicity there is a common theme that flow between us, a common understand and support that is deeper than culture, language, race and ethnicity. We laugh, cry, and share food and perspectives about the world, we are all humans, and as one of the wisest people I know once said, ¨water finds it’s own level¨. As far as the food goes, here are a few shots of my regular diet, as well as one of the markets where I buy my food.

Reasons

Ok folks. You already may be aware I am scheduled to return to Alberta in the coming semester. I have been in the process of looking for a place to live (which are all ridiculously expensive) and thinking about the courses that I may be interested in taking. Here’s the deal. I have been presented with the opportunity to stay here another semester. I am in the process of weighing my options but thought would formulate my ideas and get some feedback from my friends and family.

Reasons to stay:
1) Further develop my abilities in Spanish
2) Have the opportunity to travel and know more of the south of Chile and Argentina and Uruguay
3) The cost of living here is about a third of that in Canada
4) I won’t be missing out on my Academics as I have room for three more courses that I could take here in Chile and I could do an independent study. Equating to a four-course semester
5) Now that I know how things work here in Chile my second semester here will be easier than the first.
6) I won’t need to find a place to live in Lethbrige for another 6 months.
7) I get to have three summers in a row.
8) My living arrangement here in Chile is super-sweet

Reasons to return to Canada
1) If I stay I need a new passport
2) If I stay I need to renew my visa
3) I am missing my friends and family
4) I am not to sure about the processes of processing student loans from another country. Is it possibly
5) I may not be able to change my flight to leave in 6 months, and would therefore need to buy a new plane ticket.

Ok... please leave feedback. I would like to know your opinions and need a bit of group guidance.

Language learning

Felisidades Jory!

9 out of 11 people (Including Chileans) believe that you are more Chilean then the Chilean guy!!! I hope that everyone knows that I am referring to the last post. These last couple of weeks have been quite an interesting process. It is one thing to say you are going to learn a language, and quite another to be in the process of learning one. It has been almost three months with basically no English and my mind is doing some of the strangest things. Fist of all I am having super strange dreams that include people and places that I haven’t thought about in a long time. When I try to speak in English I often insert Spanish words where the there should be English words. For example, like=como but=pero and and=y. This wouldn’t be a problem, but I tend to sound like an idiot when I speak to my family and or friends over skype. Other strange things that are happening… I am recognizing that I do not react the same in “normal” everyday contexts. Perhaps it is a cultural adaption, but at times I am not as patient as I normally am and am more easily annoyed. I am writing a lot of music, with rhythms and sounds that I have no idea where they came from. I am thinking that this may be due to the new parts of my brain that I am using. I am composing full songs start to finish in one sitting that seem to lack a specific genera. The flip side to this is that lyrically I am super spermatic. My brain switches back and forth form English to Spanish and I end up with songs in Spanish that are not very well defined. I am trying to capture as much of this as possible, because as many or us artists know, the cup of inspiration is not always full. Super strange is the mind. I am attaching a short video clip of my apartment… as you may notice from the beginning, its spring!!!

Spot the Chilean

Photo 1















Photo 2

I keep telling my brother that he would fit in great here! There are a lot of people with his physical features, much like him they love to BBQ, and there is a thriving metal scene. One of these two photos is a chilean the other is my brother. Can you spot the Chilean??? Feel free to vote on the right hand side of the page.