Day One: First Impressions – let’s be honest, a bit foggy!

When I arrived, the business of entry fees, passport stamping, baggage claim and customs went more smoothly and quickly than I’ve ever experienced. Santiago must be the largest airport in Chile, but I almost felt like I was in the Eugene, Oregon airport – or maybe even the East Terminal at Lambert. Calm is the word that comes to mind, which for an airport is pretty odd. Ha ha! Everything really is upside down in Chile.

Ximena (pronounced: Hee-meh-nuh) had booked me a taxi. Sweet sweet lady was worried that she wasn’t able to be there in person to meet me. I don’t know whether what I’m about to describe is Chilean, or if it has more to do with something Xime said to the taxi people.

Just as she’d promised, immediately after I got my bags, I walked through a door and saw my name on a sign at the taxi stand. The taxi counter man said, “¿Español?” Feeling an inadequate vistor, I shook my head, “Nada mucho?” He smiled and said “Ah” then showed me the printout listing prices in both pesos and dolares. A chance to redeem myself! I pulled out the crispy Chilean Pesos I’d ordered from Bank of America before leaving. Uno dos tres! Let the Pass-offs begin! The counter man passed me off to a blond lady who pushed my luggage cart escorting me outside where she passed me off to the taxi driver. Pass-off #3 would eventually come once the driver unloaded my bags, rang Xime’s bell and saw me safely enveloped in her hugs and squeals.

The ride to Viña was supposed to take about 1.5 to 2 hours. I didn’t look at my watch, so I don’t know what our actual time was. It was foggy, so the Andes appeared as purple shadows at first. As we got closer things became a bit clearer. I could see the green covered bottoms ascend into the mist above. Some kind of techno-ish poppy medley was on the radio. Lady Gaga’s Boys Boys Boys morphed into the YMCA, then old school New Kids Step-by-Step (at which I squealed internally knowing Amy would be so happy that I had some NKOTB action on my first day in Chile), which turned into disco great Ring My Bell. I saw some letters on a mountainside and reached into my bag to write them down so I could ask Xime what they said. (Always learning!) Just as we rounded a bend the letters reappeared with an explanation. The word’s I’d seen were the name of some residential community. I UNDERSTAND SPANISH! HOORAY! Hope fluttered inside of me as the longest and strangest 80’s style pop rock medley continued with Send Me an Angel, Girls Girls Girls, Simply Irresistible…

A new song came on the radio “Vamos a la playa” (Let’s go to the beach) Apropos considering we were nearing Vina, which has a lovely playa of its own.

Once at Xime’s, she showed me my room, gave me a quick tour of the house (pictures soon…). We had coffee and chatted for a while. Then we went to pick the kids up from school!!! I knew they wouldn’t remember me, Bea (pronounced: Bay-ah) was 2 when I last saw her and Max was just a baby. Xime said they were really excited to see me – which they were, Bea greeting me with a dimpled smile and Max with, “Jeanne Jeanne, your bed is downstairs and my bed is upstairs!” (downstairs = main floor) We went home and had a traditional Chilean dish for lunch. Though I can’t remember the name I can tell you it was like a stew of beans, spaghetti noodles and pumpkin. Delicioso!

Yes at times I was feeling very overwhelmed! Chileans speak Spanish so fast. And Vina is colorful and beautiful and (as Xime described it) messy. Not messy as in dirty. More like a lot of colors and words and people and cars and things everywhere. Not chaotic – that would imply a level of stress – it's calm. Maybe a good adjective would be busy – as in “That dress has a busy pattern.” Regardless, I’m enchanted. I hope to find a job here so I can be in this city longer. Cross your fingers!