Comense Emersion

I am now officially a Chilean. I have lived, eaten… well basically experienced/survived a Chilean Dinner Party. This past week my head of the English Department ,Danica,  told me she would be preparing an Asado Saturday night as a welcome to Chile for me that would begin at 7 pm. Well, I heard the palabra food and I was sold. I had been hearing these tall tales that Asado food was pretty amazing.

Bring it on Chile

Well siiiirree I have eaten my words yet again down here in the south lands literalllly
Let’s start at the beginning because I feel my evening could explain so much about Chilean culture.

On Friday Nelda, my co-teacher , who would also be attending the dinner party informed me she would pick me up at 6:45 at my case. She also told me she didn’t really believe in Chilean time and she found it important to always arrive at the designated hour and minute instructed. So, yesterday Susan and I went out for coffee at about 5:00 and met up with a few girls to have some gossip y café. It had been snowing off and on all day so a little fresh I use this word tentatively air sounded spectacular.

It normally takes about 10-13 minutes to get to el centro  yes, Susan being the loveable A-type personality she is timed it so that when I complain about walking she can say, “Well it only takes about 13 minutes Merrette”
 We began our trek towards the coffee shop, trek being the optive word. In order for you to understand the wind/weather here in Punta Arenas would consist of 73 industrial strength fans, a dozen or so buckets of shaved ice and a water hose get the picture. Luckily the wind was at our backs walking towards centro so we got there in about .03 seconds flat Susan timed it

So as the time near’d for my dinner party I had to cut the gossip short and return to mi casa to get ready. I began walking/crawling/rolling face first into the 73 industrial strength fans, buckets of shaved ice and water hoses towards home. I forgot money so a collectivo was out of the questio I am beginning to seriously resent collectivos Well 24 minutes I may have picked up Susan’s timing habit later I arrived home. I looked in the mirror and realized my mascara had run completely down my face, my hair was plastered to my forehead and my face was beat red. I am rushing to get ready. I have the blow dryer in the crook of my arm, tissue in one hand and mascara in the other because Nelda does not believe in Chilean time right

6:50
alright well anyone can be 5 minutes late

7:00

7:15
I call her No answer

7:35
she calls and it goes something like this.
Nelda: Hey Mary, did you call
Me: confused um yeah. Weren’t you supposed to be here at 6:45

Nelda: Don’t worry. See you in 10 minutes

7:45

7:50
Nelda: Mary, I can’t find your house. We’re at the corner store

Me: Okay, stay there I’ll meet you

Nelda: click as in she hung up

8:00
I’m shivering standing by the corner store and my mascara is threatening another trip down my cheeks

8:10
Nelda arrives

Me: is it okay we’re late

Nelda: It’s Chilean time

To be cont.