The military also had some kind of festival where they had all their machines, etc out to tour for the kids. It was a lot of fun!
Monday, September 15, 2014
A good Sunday!
I'm feeling bad about my ranting post, so I'm going to say that yesterday was a great day. It was gorgeous and we finally went to the beach. It is actually pretty nice! And, Sadie LOVED the water.
The military also had some kind of festival where they had all their machines, etc out to tour for the kids. It was a lot of fun!
The military also had some kind of festival where they had all their machines, etc out to tour for the kids. It was a lot of fun!
Hilarious (or not) day
Of course just as I sit down to write this entry, I hear Sadie wake up... OK, I will be quick.
While there are many things about Antofagasta that I like, today was a very frustrating day. I believe it has some to do with our sleep deprivation, but mostly today was a great example of just how Chileans do things (and why a lot of expats I know are frustrated with daily life items and want to move back to the states!)
We left the house at 11am with a long list of to dos, and by 1pm all we had done successfully is get gas. First we went to the bank (which was closed on Sundays of course, but so was the ATM. All we needed was cash!). While the bank was open today, the ATM didn't have any money in it. So, that was a fail. Next, we went to a furniture store that was very unhelpful and couldn't find what we needed. Then, we went to the mall and of course they also didn't have what we needed (just a futon people! and some patio furniture!). The best part is that no one helps you. Everyone tells you something different and sometimes they really just lie to your face. (I can't even tell you how true this is even though it sounds horrible! Like the pool guy who was supposed to arrive at my house at 11am on Friday and didn't come until 3pm without any kind of call or anything). In the stores there are people standing around chatting to each other, but NO ONE makes any effort. Just a very different culture. I hate to say it, but I really have found it to be true (and so have others). Finally we went to Easy (like a Home Depot, actually I think it might be owned by Home Depot someone told me), and found what we needed. We finally begged someone to help us (it was around 3pm) and they wrote us a slip of paper to pick it up on the loading dock. We paid and drove the car to the loading dock. Our big box for our couch was there, but no one was around. So, Steve and I proceeded to load it on the top of our car (with our huge 2 kid stroller and 2 car seats no way would it fit inside our Rav4). Steve had some twine and worked on tying it down. No one offered to help. No one was even around to help. While we were there a man drove his truck right behind us, so when we backed out to get around the guy in front of us, we of course hit the truck. Thank goodness no marks, but we were very frustrated! Who pulls up right behind a car loading a huge box on the top?? Finally got home around 4 and put Sadie down for a nap! Steve went back out to run errands, including trying to pay our ADT bill. Went to the ADT office, but they said you can't pay there you have to go to another place (but on the bill it says you can pay there...). Fail. He then goes to get the patio furniture we found initially but they of course don't have anything in black, only turquoise. And of course it took him about 30 minutes to find someone to help! What a day. He is still gone, lost his parking ticket so can't leave the lot. Because he has no ticket, he has to take the car papers (which don't even have our name on them yet! That is a story for another day) to some office and prove the car is ours and he needs to leave with it. I am just praying they let him out.
So, I may never see my husband again and he may spend the rest of his life in the parking lot of the Sodimac...
There is my rant! How I miss Target.
Here is a cute picture of Sadie to make up for it!
While there are many things about Antofagasta that I like, today was a very frustrating day. I believe it has some to do with our sleep deprivation, but mostly today was a great example of just how Chileans do things (and why a lot of expats I know are frustrated with daily life items and want to move back to the states!)
We left the house at 11am with a long list of to dos, and by 1pm all we had done successfully is get gas. First we went to the bank (which was closed on Sundays of course, but so was the ATM. All we needed was cash!). While the bank was open today, the ATM didn't have any money in it. So, that was a fail. Next, we went to a furniture store that was very unhelpful and couldn't find what we needed. Then, we went to the mall and of course they also didn't have what we needed (just a futon people! and some patio furniture!). The best part is that no one helps you. Everyone tells you something different and sometimes they really just lie to your face. (I can't even tell you how true this is even though it sounds horrible! Like the pool guy who was supposed to arrive at my house at 11am on Friday and didn't come until 3pm without any kind of call or anything). In the stores there are people standing around chatting to each other, but NO ONE makes any effort. Just a very different culture. I hate to say it, but I really have found it to be true (and so have others). Finally we went to Easy (like a Home Depot, actually I think it might be owned by Home Depot someone told me), and found what we needed. We finally begged someone to help us (it was around 3pm) and they wrote us a slip of paper to pick it up on the loading dock. We paid and drove the car to the loading dock. Our big box for our couch was there, but no one was around. So, Steve and I proceeded to load it on the top of our car (with our huge 2 kid stroller and 2 car seats no way would it fit inside our Rav4). Steve had some twine and worked on tying it down. No one offered to help. No one was even around to help. While we were there a man drove his truck right behind us, so when we backed out to get around the guy in front of us, we of course hit the truck. Thank goodness no marks, but we were very frustrated! Who pulls up right behind a car loading a huge box on the top?? Finally got home around 4 and put Sadie down for a nap! Steve went back out to run errands, including trying to pay our ADT bill. Went to the ADT office, but they said you can't pay there you have to go to another place (but on the bill it says you can pay there...). Fail. He then goes to get the patio furniture we found initially but they of course don't have anything in black, only turquoise. And of course it took him about 30 minutes to find someone to help! What a day. He is still gone, lost his parking ticket so can't leave the lot. Because he has no ticket, he has to take the car papers (which don't even have our name on them yet! That is a story for another day) to some office and prove the car is ours and he needs to leave with it. I am just praying they let him out.
So, I may never see my husband again and he may spend the rest of his life in the parking lot of the Sodimac...
There is my rant! How I miss Target.
Here is a cute picture of Sadie to make up for it!
Friday, September 12, 2014
The desert that is our front yard
We live in a desert. The driest place on earth to be exact. And, while we have a gorgeous view of the ocean from our backyard (and actually all the windows), we look directly at a huge barren mountain to our front (we are on the edge of the development). This morning, Steve and Sadie went on a short walk to discover our front yard and the area close by. Frankly, she loves it. It's like a huge sandbox, which is where she would live if we let her.
Sometimes I forget I'm in South America
Exhibit A
Although, I didn't see the store, just the sign...
Although, I didn't see the store, just the sign...
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Our new house
Well, we are now in Antofagasta. There is so much I want to say about our experience here already, but I don't have much time right now. However, I want to start by posting pics of our house (please excuse the mess). Steve is already working like crazy (leaving at 7am and hardly home by 8:30pm on good days), so there is not much time for me to clean!
The view from the master bedroom.
The front of our house (within our crazy tall wall fortress).
Our "garage"
Another part of the view from our master bedroom (yes, it's a glare on the window)
The desert in front of our house
Isaac's room (which is obviously still in progress)
The kids' bathroom upstairs
Master closet (and that's only half of it!)
Our bathroom sinks
Sadie's room (after her nap)
View from Sadie's room (you can see the master windows which are awesome!)
View from Sadie's room
Kitchen (I'm making dinner so you can see I'm trying to bribe Sadie with things she can play with)
Our new appliances (that we had to buy ourselves!)
Another view of the kitchen
The logia (where the washer/dryer are obviously as well as the "nana room", which you can't really see but it's to the right of the washer)
The main living room (with a good view of the backyard)
Dining room
Backyard (from inside, so there is a glare)
Not pictured: The awesome grill, playroom and office...
The view from the master bedroom.
The front of our house (within our crazy tall wall fortress).
Our "garage"
Another part of the view from our master bedroom (yes, it's a glare on the window)
The desert in front of our house
Isaac's room (which is obviously still in progress)
The kids' bathroom upstairs
Granny and JoJo Visit
We were soooo incredibly happy and grateful to have a full week with Granny and JoJo. The kids really enjoyed it, and I was so appreciative for all their help. Steve was out of town for most of the week (driving from Santiago to Antofagasta with much of our stuff and of course to take the car up), so it was nice to not spend that time by myself with the kids.
I already mentioned the exciting event on their first day (the earthquake). The rest of the time was devoted to sight-seeing as well as catching up and going to the park. We all went to La Vega, Mercado Central, Cerro San Cristbol, Los Dominicos (all of which I've discussed on previous blog posts), and our favorite parks as well as the Concha y Toro Vina, which was a real treat (since what new mom gets to go to a winery??). We had such a great week and I even had time for naps and extra sleep with them around. :)
Here are some good pics. (wish I would have taken more!)
I already mentioned the exciting event on their first day (the earthquake). The rest of the time was devoted to sight-seeing as well as catching up and going to the park. We all went to La Vega, Mercado Central, Cerro San Cristbol, Los Dominicos (all of which I've discussed on previous blog posts), and our favorite parks as well as the Concha y Toro Vina, which was a real treat (since what new mom gets to go to a winery??). We had such a great week and I even had time for naps and extra sleep with them around. :)
Here are some good pics. (wish I would have taken more!)
Earthquake!
I haven't been able to update my blog in quite awhile. Many apologies for anyone who has missed me ;) A lot has happened, and, frankly, any free time I have is devoted to napping or showering. So, where do I begin?
The earthquake.
A few Saturdays ago, my parents arrived in Santiago from Austin (yay!) and we were enjoying a wonderful meal of authentic Indian food in my apartment when the lights above the table started swaying back and forth. My immediate thought was, what is going on in the apartment above us? But then, I felt the floor shaking, and everything around me was shaking. I waited for it to stop, but it just kept going. Something fell in the kitchen and then I saw something fall off one of our book shelves. Everyone was silent. I thought, so, this is what an earthquake feels like, that's cool that I get to experience it. Then, I thought, what if it keeps getting worse? What if this is the one? After a long 20 seconds or so, it stopped. Then, Sadie started crying. It was as if she could sense how scary it could have been.
Luckily, everyone was completely fine, and to my knowledge there was very little to no damage in Santiago (the epicenter was closer to Valparaiso and I believe it was about a 6.4).
The only picture I have from that night is one of Granny and her two Shaul grandkids!
The earthquake.
A few Saturdays ago, my parents arrived in Santiago from Austin (yay!) and we were enjoying a wonderful meal of authentic Indian food in my apartment when the lights above the table started swaying back and forth. My immediate thought was, what is going on in the apartment above us? But then, I felt the floor shaking, and everything around me was shaking. I waited for it to stop, but it just kept going. Something fell in the kitchen and then I saw something fall off one of our book shelves. Everyone was silent. I thought, so, this is what an earthquake feels like, that's cool that I get to experience it. Then, I thought, what if it keeps getting worse? What if this is the one? After a long 20 seconds or so, it stopped. Then, Sadie started crying. It was as if she could sense how scary it could have been.
Luckily, everyone was completely fine, and to my knowledge there was very little to no damage in Santiago (the epicenter was closer to Valparaiso and I believe it was about a 6.4).
The only picture I have from that night is one of Granny and her two Shaul grandkids!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)