Dueling covers

I love going to the library!

I went to the Public Library this morning to return a book I had checked out... and promptly checked out a bunch more. Good fun, good fun.

Informal poll: which cover of Ines del alma mia do you think is cooler?

Editorial Sudamericana edition:


Rayo edition:


I think the Sudamericana cover suits the novel more than the Rayo one... but who knows. Give me an opinion! Leave me a comment!

Vamos chilenos!!

It was totally a miracle - but CHILE WON 3-2 against Ecuador. I got to watch it on Univision's online watch the games as if they were on TV feature, which was pretty cool. And I'm all about jumping up and down and screaming in my apartment when Chile scores, or Ecuador scored (grrrr), or anything really happens. My neighbors must think I'm nuts.

Loosely translated from EMOL.com [side note - part of why I sometimes find it really difficult to follow Chilean sports is that no one ever explains anything, everyone has nicknames or goes by a different name and is never clearly identified... which is totally evident in the write up. Original at the end.]:

SANTIAGO. - Chile's reaction was great, as is rarely seen in a National Team. Until 79' we were losing 2-1 to Ecuador, but Suazo stepped up followed by Carlos Villanueva to give Chile the win in their Copa América debut.

Chile's first half was terrible. Without spark, with no clarity, without coordination within the group, they succumbed to the speed and extended play of Luis Fernando Suarez's team.

Luis Valencia opened the scoring at the 15 minute mark, but Suazo scored a tying goal at the 20 minute mark. Ecuador took the lead again with a goal from Christian Benitez (23')

In the second half, Acosta modified his system twice to Chile's benefit, manifested by Suazo's second goal (79') and Villanueva (86'), which gave the victory to Acosta's team (CHILE!).


Chile logró una hazaña en Venezuela y se llevó los primeros tres puntos

Miércoles 27 de Junio de 2007 - 20:42 hrs
El Mercurio Online.

SANTIAGO.- Una gran reacción la de Chile. Como pocas veces visto en una selección nacional. Hasta el minuto 78 caía 2-1 ante Ecuador, pero apareció Suazo y luego Carlos Villanueva para darle el triunfo a Chile en su debut en la Copa América.

El primer tiempo fue horrible para Chile. Sin chispa, con poca clñaridad, sin juego de conjunto sucumbieron ante la rapidez y el juego largo de los de Luis Fernando Suárez.

Abrió la cuenta Luis Valencia a los 15', pero empató Suazo a los 20'. Ecuadro volvió a ponerse arriba con tanto de Christian Benitez a los 23'.

En el segundo tiempo Acosta modificó dos veces el esquema y los cambios le dierosn resultado Suazo a los 79' y Villanueva a los 86' le dieron la victoria a los de Acosta. Original article

Fun with 19th century British Literature

Because everyone knows that I love it. I ADORE Jane Austen - which is probably part of why I thought this article by Rebecca Traister was pretty nifty. I'm also pretty fond of the Bronte sisters, and I like me some George Eliot (hmm the women novelists, they're pretty cool). Thomas Hardy, anyone?

From reading random things online, I feel like my taste in Austen is somewhat amusing in that my favorite of her novels are Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I suppose my ranking order, even though I enjoy all of them, would be:

1. Northanger Abbey
1. Persuasion
3. Mansfield Park
4. Emma
5. Sense and Sensibility
6. Pride and Prejudice

Which ones have been made into (usually missing the social aspects and humor of the novels) movies? Not my favorites. And Northanger Abbey would be hilarious. Just imagine Catherine's misconceptions about the Abbey and the Tilneys. And Bath, oh Bath.

This is making me want to read The Madwoman in the Attic. Or to re-read Middlemarch. Though I admit, all of these novels are somehow associated with autumn for me. Autumn is my favorite season, after all, but there is something that makes me think of the moor and autumn. I think it was my multiple readings of The Secret Garden as a child and not really knowing what a moor was (and no, I'm not talking about the Muslim conquest of Spain).

Anyways, if anyone has read this far - what is your favorite Austen novel? Favorite 19th century British novel? Middlemarch? Jane Eyre? Wuthering Heights? Tess of the D'Urbervilles? I want to know!!

The Freedom of Information Act, Chile, and the CIA

Who hasn't heard about the Family Jewels? OK, I'm a news junkie. Nonetheless, it's kinda frustrating that the CIA releases this 702 page document without any cohesive contents index. Typical but frustrating.

You know what else was frustrating? Last night, it caught my fancy to search for CIA documents relating to Chile in the 1970's. I had read some of them before when I wrote a paper on the CIA's involvement of Pinochet's coup. There are a lot more now (evidentally bunches were released in 2004). But... there are a lot of things blacked out. Pages missing. And to be honest, I would love to know their actual standards for not releasing that information. Particularly because, based on the context of the document, it might be morally damning but I can't think of a reason vital to national security to keep it hidden. Even given the bits and pieces that are available, it's pretty darn depressing. Have fun exploring at the CIA's FOIA site. It's oddly fascinating, even if you aren't a historian - as a citizen, resident, person, it's important to know these things. And to see what they are still keeping secret.

Ugh. Double, no, triple ugh.

Oh, how I dislike the current Supreme Court. It's only redeeming feature this term (that comes to mind off the top of my head) are the dissents. Particularly when delivered from the bench by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Because she's still one of my heroes.

Can someone explain to me how the campaign finance stuff as an "endorsement" of free speech while simultaneously restricting student speech? Ah, I remember. Because students don't give money to Republicans. And they are taxed without representation - at least until they turn 18. Ugh.

There are some days when I just want to pull my hair out while listening to the news.

(The NYT doesn't like the rulings, either.)

pink and pretty

I sometimes forget how quickly I read in English, particularly my beloved fantasy novels. This is not to say that I don't read relatively quickly in Spanish, but it's not the same. I've torn through 5 books in the last 2.5 days. That said, I haven't done much of anything else. But still.

We have some possibly good news from immigration people meaning that I would get to see S in July. Everyone else says it is good news, while I just think of the ways the government might have fudged the truth to get my hopes up. I'm trying not to be too negative, or positive either for that matter.

My new cell phone is here! It is pretty. And pink. And most importantly, in one piece.

My current approach to literary criticism, that is, what I do

Every text I read, I read as an individual with a history, aesthetic likes and dislikes, and generic preferences. When I finish the text, I analyze my reactions. If I liked it, I note a few details that might explain why (for example, strong feminist themes and decent mechanics in writing), and usually don’t pursue it beyond that, unless larger themes develop, usually in tandem with another text that I liked. However, the texts I don’t like are almost more academically challenging or interesting, because I force myself to think WHY I don’t like them – it is a lot easier to enumerate the things I don’t like about a text that I have a tepid reaction to as opposed to a text that I adore. By this logic, I should study modern poetry. I have more to say about it. But I care about the things I like to read. And there is where I can connect themes. Random novels that share historical figures; views of a specific urban space in the last 15 years in fiction; the mechanics of narrative, between novel and short story; film adaptations, or stories that mirror films that the author has seen/acted in/directed/studied.

My father, while musing upon his own experience in graduate school in (a different foreign language), said something to the effect that success in literature in academia is more learning the crazy theory than actually ruminating on the texts at hand. I certainly felt that way in my lit classes when I studied abroad as an undergraduate. These students, who studied literature and nothing else (there is no equivalent for “area requirements” or a general liberal arts education there) had such a specialized jargon, and in my second language, that I felt intimidated at first. I read Theodor Adorno in translation – in my second language. But when it came time to leave the theory, after the first few weeks, and talk about the actual texts, my native speaker classmates were lost, and only parroted back theory that had no application to the text at hand. Now, I admit that I use Scarry’s Body in Pain, Foucault, etc. when it actually has an application to the theme that I am exploring. It is hard to talk about urban spaces in narrative as space and aesthetic without reading about urban planning theory. I can’t talk about Colonial or Viceregal anything without a historical background, both from contemporary texts to particular events and current scholarship. But to treat a text as if its only importance is the way we can apply Foucault or Butler or Derrida destroys the text as an entity in and of itself, in my opinion. A text is valuable for itself, just as as individuals we are worth a great deal. To limit the interpretation of a text, or contacts it might have with other texts or fields, to one narrow theoretical outlook does not only the text a disservice but also the theory upon which the criticism is based.

It’s like the New Yorker Cartoon with the punchline: “And just how do you expect to become a made man, son, without a solid liberal-arts education?” While specialization is important in my field, you have to keep the bigger picture in mind. And in my own studies, the texts themselves are infinitely more important that the theoretical approach I employ.

work and npr shows

I keep thinking of writing things and then I get distracted - by S, by work, by being in pain, by the heat...

Last weekend felt luxuriously long. Unproductive in some ways, but long. I spent all day Saturday setting my living room set up so that there would be space for the couch that I was getting on Sunday. And getting the couch... was a process. I was exhausted. And then that evening, as I was going to sleep, my cell phone broke in half. IN HALF. 2 pieces. It wasn't my best day, by a stretch.

I'm used to teaching again. What I'm not used to, and doubt that I ever will be, is getting up early. I am finding it much more difficult this week than it was last week. But the group is a good one, and I like teaching things.

I bought some more work clothes last week and they arrived today - though much to my dismay, one of the tops has enormous arm holes. I don't understand how a body can be built for this size that requires arm holes that big. Unless you are an XS or S and have gigantic breasts or shoulders (though not both, the cut wouldn't work there), then this wouldn't fit you. Which is really too bad, because if it would fit, it is pretty cute. Alas, I have way more skirts than tops, and this top was supposed to help me remedy that. Without it, I've acquired a pants, a skirt, and 1 top instead of 2. Whoops. So I'll just keep looking.

A very random thought, since all of the other interesting things I have been thinking about and meaning to post have since escaped me - someone at Marketplace really likes the Mexican band Maná, because bits of their songs keep getting put between stories. It's rather recent. I also find it rather random. But perhaps it is because I actually know the rest of the song.

it's been a week...

Happy Flag Day. Because no one knew that today was Flag Day.

Class goes well. It's exhausting but quite rewarding so far. However, I am definitely looking forward to the weekend, and sleeping past 7 AM. Have I mentioned that I'm not a morning person?

The only thing I have really done besides preps has been cook. My house is still a disaster from when I unpacked... must take care of that at some point...

I was almost freaking out earlier because I need to get a piece of furniture that I purchased, but had no way of transporting to my house. Church saved the day! I emailed one of the pastors and he sent out a call for help, and someone responded. Yay!

I have a few scholarly ideas floating around my head... if I can get my work space straightened up at all, I might even dive in to them. And no, parents, they do not involve translating anything. Sorry there.

1 more day until the weekend... and I don't usually even count them!

On the verge of collapse...

The title is a bit of an exaggeration, but I am absolutely exhausted.

I haven't quite settled into a routine yet, but I'm getting there - and I was definitely tired and irritable today. Whoops.

I made the dough for sopaipillas, but I used zucchini squash so it is not the right color. I haven't fried the dough yet, though, because I only really like to eat them hot, and I'm not really hungry right now. I didn't even make too much of a mess. So that was exciting.

I miss my husband a lot. This whole distance thing, um, still sucks. In case anyone was wondering.

Una canción de amor

When S and I got married, the "procession" song was in Spanish - and almost all of S's relatives got all emotional, but my family didn't understand a word of it. Well, here it is. And I even translated it. So enjoy.

Hace mucho no sentía
lo que siento en este día
no puedo explicarme nada
solo tengo tu mirada
aquí clavada entre mis ojos
solo tengo un raro antojo
de extrañarte cada día
y ser parte de tus días

Yo no puedo hablarte nada
lo único que hago es mirarte
una que otra carcajada
no controlo mis palabras
y cuando voy a buscarte
mis latidos se aceleran
amor con la luna llena
solo quiero regalarte

Una canción de amor
de la penumbra siento que nace una luz
siento tus manos y presiento
que eres tu que estás muy cerca
no puedo creer que tu amor abrió mi puerta.


Solo quiero terminar
esta corta melodía
explicándote en mis días
mis deseos de quererte
de poder volver a verte
de engreírte tiernamente
cada minuto del día
y cantarte eternamente...

Una canción de amor
de la penumbra siento que nace una luz
siento tus manos y presiento
que eres tu que estás muy cerca
no puedo creer que tu amor abrió mi puerta.

***

It has been a long time since I felt
What I feel this day
I cannot explain it
I only have your gaze
Focused between my eyes
I only have an odd craving
To miss you every day
And to be part of your days

I can’t say anything to you
The only thing I do is look at you
One or another laugh
I don’t control my words
And when I go to pick you up
My heart-beat races
Love with the full moon
I just want to give you

A love song
From the shadows I feel that a light is born
I feel your hands and I know
That it is you and you are close
I can’t believe that your love opened the door

I just want to finish
This short melody
Explaining to you in my days
My desire to love you
To be able to see you again
To spoil you tenderly
Every minute of the day
And to sing to you forever…

A love song
From the shadows I feel that a light is born
I feel your hands and I know
That it is you and you are close
I can’t believe that your love opened the door

!!!

Soda Stereo is coming back!

In the end we didn't get to go see Gustavo Cerati in May because I was, um, indisposed. That is, hacking away in bed and unable to hear out of one ear. But this makes me super duper happy. As S said: "about soda TENEMOS QUE IR A VERLOS when we have the chance." We have to go see them. They'll be touring South America in November and December. I just hope the timing works out! That would be SO COOL!!!!!!

In the meanwhile... I'm roasting like a chicken in my A/C lacking in the window apartment. My bedroom is cooler but I don't want to go in there for fear of making it warmer. I'm convinced it's about the same temperature inside AND outside. This sucks.

ugh.

So I'm back in the US. And it is miserably hot, my mail hasn't been delivered, my air conditioning unit is not in the window, and my ISP double charged me for last month's bill. Ah, bureaucracy sucks as much in the US as it does in Chile.

I miss my husband bunches.

Also, the TSA managed to break the zipper on a brand new bag. How do I know this? It was fine in Miami. But when I picked it up at my destination airport, the zipper on one side wouldn't open, and inside I found a TSA search announcement. ALWAYS one of my bags gets searched. But they managed to break the zipper. Ugh.

I miss the hubby.

Out and about around the city

Sadly my vacation is almost over. I have to head back to the Northern Hemisphere tomorrow, which kind of isn't so fun. I would much rather be here staying in bed until noon, playing video games until the middle of the night with my husband and sister-in-law, cooking occasionally, paseando at the mall, meeting my suegra for coffee at the grocery store, etc etc. The last few days, what with being recovered and all, I have ventured out an about in the city. Out and about meaning that I have gone to lunch at Mari's, we had once to celebrate Abuelita's birthday, I met a friend from college at church and we had lunch at the house and chatted quite a bit, had lunch and once with Lizette and her family, etc, etc. Today is a day at home, Telefonica finally showed up (I'm sitting in the living room! With the laptop! And connected to the Internet!) and now we have internet for the laptop, but the old computie is too old and won't connect to the new modem.

My experiences with Transantiago haven't been horrible at all. Certainly no worse than with the old micros amarillas. The only complication we have really had was when my friend had to take the micro home, we had to wait 30 minutes for the troncal to come, and it was totally full. What we didn't know was about 10 seconds after that bus had left, another one with the same route went by, completely empty. I suppose that is one of the problems with the system. But at least for where we live, it isn't too bad, because we still have various options to get places - 3 troncales (longer bus routes), 3 alimentadores (local bus routes), 2 metro stop options once you take the bus (which we had to do in the old system anyways), taxi colectivos, etc. Where the family and my friends live, too, there are options. But I suppose there are parts of the city that suffer. And some people just didn't take into account the flow of passengers - of course there are a gazillion people trying to take public transportation before 8 AM, when they all have to be at work at that time. But it's not as terrible as the press makes it out to be. Which doesn't surprise me, given the press's penchant for blaming the government for everything that might be wrong in the life of every individual and searching out extreme cases as "typical examples." Not that I don't think the press is biased, or anything.

PS They have fewer cars on the Metro on Sundays. And so Sundays are really uncomfortable for travelling. Also, the buses get really full at random times on the weekends. Like 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Who knows why. But I had a seat - I totally empathize with the micro driver who didn't want to stop because no people could fit on the bus. And since people were yelling at him and booing him for not stopping when they wanted to get off at paraderos that were full of people... well, I don't think he was too bad. But then again, I had a seat on the bus. And he stopped for us to get off.

I've had a wonderful time being lazy and hanging out with my husband. What is odd for me is that, at least right now, I am not feeling too sad or upset about having to leave. Regretful, yes, because I have enjoyed being lazy, being here, and being with S. But I don't feel tears in my eyes at the thought of getting on a plane. Perhaps it is because we will see each other again soon. Or maybe I'm just in denial. Either way, it's been a good few weeks for me.

Montañas nevadas

Just a very quick update - what with it finally having rained, you can see the mountains! They are really close to S's house, after all. And they have snow on them now. They also have trees, which you can now see, because the air is clear and YOU CAN SEE THE CORDILLERA!

This provoked an inordinate amount of pleasure in S and I when we were out and about this afternoon. Chile is such a pretty country, especially when you can see the montañas.