Saturday 29 October 2011
A little project to help me get a job...
The first question on my application to AMV BBDO, a prestigious ad agency, asks me how I would choose to make my first impression... so I thought I'd try to include a bit about my experiences on the other side of the world. Here's my first cut of the video...
Friday 17 December 2010
It's been a while
I've been AWOL for a while, which, apart from this very lazy week, suggests how much we've been up to down here in South America! After exams, Anna and I had to say goodbye to Alejandro, our upstairs neighbour who has been like a grandfather to us for the past 5 or so months. Our escapade to the most generous Italian restaurant in the world was indicative of the size of the Mango Sours that he made us for the final farewell. To say it was a pint of cocktail would be no exaggeration.
As soon as Anna could escape from the 9-5, we sped off to meet Cris in Sao Paolo. On the plane, I was stuck between a rather... ahem, large fellow and a young guy who prompted Anna's admiration. She told me loudly how lucky I was, only to discover that he spoke immaculate English! My rosy cheeks lasted all the way to Brazil.
Sao Paulo is one of the most cosmopolitan cities I've ever been to, especially for Latin America, which was such a lovely surprise after Santiago's dull attractions. We attended a family party and attempted to become fluent in Portuguese with the help of Cris and her friend Karen, who had come to visit us previously in Chile. The number one event? Feijoada of course! It is as dodgy as it sounds:
But that was ok. There was plenty of other wildlife :)
We ate calamari and fried shrimp fresh from the Atlantic, then breezed along the winding jungle roads to the airport. Next stop: Buenos Aires.
I have actually visited BsAs before, but didn't get the chance to see the best bits, such as the antiques market in San Telmo or the little cafes in Palermo. This time around, I immersed myself in the possibilities of a vintage fur coat or an antique Chanel handbag, stopping only for Italian-influenced cuisine.
And then the sickness hit. I felt so nauseous and weak, I had to go to bed for almost the entirety of the next two days. Call it a pre-Christmas diet, but it was not a pleasant experience! Perhaps the worst of it was the knowledge that Anna and I faced an imminent 24 hour bus journey back to Santiago. Fortunately, I rallied just in time to get caught in a storm before the big bus ride. The rain in Argentina is quite similar to the downpours we suffered in Brazil, and within 5 minutes we might as well have been dunked in the swimming pool. Luckily, there was just enough time to change clothes before racing to the bus station and getting comfortable with a glass of unexpected champagne. First class travel!
This past week has been a full of 'lasts'. The last time we would go to Jack's burger bar, where our favourite waiter (nicknamed "Sonrisa") wasn't even there to serve us; the last time we would ride the metro, or walk the familiar route to the metro stop; and the last time we'd enjoy a glass of Chilean pisco or wine in our apartment. My time in Chile has been absolutely invaluable and I wouldn't change a thing about it- I didn't even get robbed! Maybe one day I'll be back to this city which I have called home for these short months. For now, I'll board the plane and hope for a snow-free runway at Heathrow so I can be home for Christmas. Thanks for reading!
La Entusiasta
xxx
As soon as Anna could escape from the 9-5, we sped off to meet Cris in Sao Paolo. On the plane, I was stuck between a rather... ahem, large fellow and a young guy who prompted Anna's admiration. She told me loudly how lucky I was, only to discover that he spoke immaculate English! My rosy cheeks lasted all the way to Brazil.
Sao Paulo is one of the most cosmopolitan cities I've ever been to, especially for Latin America, which was such a lovely surprise after Santiago's dull attractions. We attended a family party and attempted to become fluent in Portuguese with the help of Cris and her friend Karen, who had come to visit us previously in Chile. The number one event? Feijoada of course! It is as dodgy as it sounds:
I was expecting rice and beans. The accompanying pork parts were slightly less welcome. We had tongue, crackling and all kinds of innards. Hmmmmmm...
We soon headed to the coast between Sao Paolo and Rio to enjoy Cris's beach house. And then I realised why it's called the rainforest. The downpour was torrential, and it just never ended! Nevertheless, we bbq'd and birdwatched to our heart's content. It turns out that Anna is afraid of spiders.
But that was ok. There was plenty of other wildlife :)
The beach was paradise after the storm, and I got so burnt that my face peeled off...
I have actually visited BsAs before, but didn't get the chance to see the best bits, such as the antiques market in San Telmo or the little cafes in Palermo. This time around, I immersed myself in the possibilities of a vintage fur coat or an antique Chanel handbag, stopping only for Italian-influenced cuisine.
And then the sickness hit. I felt so nauseous and weak, I had to go to bed for almost the entirety of the next two days. Call it a pre-Christmas diet, but it was not a pleasant experience! Perhaps the worst of it was the knowledge that Anna and I faced an imminent 24 hour bus journey back to Santiago. Fortunately, I rallied just in time to get caught in a storm before the big bus ride. The rain in Argentina is quite similar to the downpours we suffered in Brazil, and within 5 minutes we might as well have been dunked in the swimming pool. Luckily, there was just enough time to change clothes before racing to the bus station and getting comfortable with a glass of unexpected champagne. First class travel!
This past week has been a full of 'lasts'. The last time we would go to Jack's burger bar, where our favourite waiter (nicknamed "Sonrisa") wasn't even there to serve us; the last time we would ride the metro, or walk the familiar route to the metro stop; and the last time we'd enjoy a glass of Chilean pisco or wine in our apartment. My time in Chile has been absolutely invaluable and I wouldn't change a thing about it- I didn't even get robbed! Maybe one day I'll be back to this city which I have called home for these short months. For now, I'll board the plane and hope for a snow-free runway at Heathrow so I can be home for Christmas. Thanks for reading!
La Entusiasta
xxx
Friday 26 November 2010
The Painful Days of Revision
I'm currently on the slow trudge towards my last exam of this semester... Let me tell you: it's not fun.
To lighten the load a bit, and to reward my survival of yesterday's exam, Anna and I joined Alejandro for a night on the tiles. That is to say, we didn't actually go clubbing or anything (the dude's 67, and although he may be well up for it, I don't think we would have been able to keep up!)- we actually had a rendez-vous for ice cream.
The ice cream parlour is quite a phenomenon in Chile, and Bravissimo is THE place to go if you want a proper sundae (and yes, it does tickle me that it has the same name as a British lingerie shop). We pored over the menu amidst Alejandro's adamant claims to the waitress that it was my birthday (he was angling for an extra scoop), and finally settled on what looked like the most modest option: three ginormous hunking scoops in a glass sundae dish the size of a small yacht. I opted for avellana (hazelnut), menta chips (mint choc chip) and some kind of maracuyá cocktail (passion fruit), which turned out to be rather scrummy. I, nevertheless, in true Jasmine style, couldn't finish it. What a wet blanket.
What drove me on in the eating stakes was the promise of the best Italian restaurant I had ever been to. I pointed out that I had been to Rome. Alejandro didn't care. In my ongoing quest to find the best fettucine in the world, I agreed to continue on to dinner in the aforementioned restaurant, despite my stomach's best interests. Let me just make this clear: I have never EVER seen such a big plate of pasta. EVER. Just the sight of it was offputting, and even the reams of certificate's declaring the chef's participation in the 'Best Pizza in the World' competition (I stress, participation, not any kind of medal or trophy) could not persuade me to eat more than a few bites. Suddenly the families filing out with doggie bags galore made sense: this meal was going to last me for a few days. Having said that, I ate it for lunch and dinner today and it's all gone...
After that amount of carbohydrates, Anna and I were all too ready to topple into bed, and I was very glad to remember that my next exam wasn't until next Tuesday; some respite, at least.
La Entusiasta
xxx
To lighten the load a bit, and to reward my survival of yesterday's exam, Anna and I joined Alejandro for a night on the tiles. That is to say, we didn't actually go clubbing or anything (the dude's 67, and although he may be well up for it, I don't think we would have been able to keep up!)- we actually had a rendez-vous for ice cream.
The ice cream parlour is quite a phenomenon in Chile, and Bravissimo is THE place to go if you want a proper sundae (and yes, it does tickle me that it has the same name as a British lingerie shop). We pored over the menu amidst Alejandro's adamant claims to the waitress that it was my birthday (he was angling for an extra scoop), and finally settled on what looked like the most modest option: three ginormous hunking scoops in a glass sundae dish the size of a small yacht. I opted for avellana (hazelnut), menta chips (mint choc chip) and some kind of maracuyá cocktail (passion fruit), which turned out to be rather scrummy. I, nevertheless, in true Jasmine style, couldn't finish it. What a wet blanket.
What drove me on in the eating stakes was the promise of the best Italian restaurant I had ever been to. I pointed out that I had been to Rome. Alejandro didn't care. In my ongoing quest to find the best fettucine in the world, I agreed to continue on to dinner in the aforementioned restaurant, despite my stomach's best interests. Let me just make this clear: I have never EVER seen such a big plate of pasta. EVER. Just the sight of it was offputting, and even the reams of certificate's declaring the chef's participation in the 'Best Pizza in the World' competition (I stress, participation, not any kind of medal or trophy) could not persuade me to eat more than a few bites. Suddenly the families filing out with doggie bags galore made sense: this meal was going to last me for a few days. Having said that, I ate it for lunch and dinner today and it's all gone...
After that amount of carbohydrates, Anna and I were all too ready to topple into bed, and I was very glad to remember that my next exam wasn't until next Tuesday; some respite, at least.
La Entusiasta
xxx
Monday 22 November 2010
Santiago Funtimes
Incredibly, the last weekend of my time in Chile is fast approaching. We've been frantically trying to cram in all our favourite bits of Santiago one more time before our trip to Brazil, but i think the most important thing is to enjoy the remainder of summer before we plunge into an icy European winter! I've been trawling the internet for a coat and boots, and I can't wait to have a little shopping spree for work clothes that will last me through my placement in Spain. It's a time of transition!
Over the next two weeks, my final exams will be dramatically played out amidst scenes of hectic revision and last-minute cramming sessions, but I'm hoping to emerge with a decent pass and head off to Sao Paolo with a clear head. We've been invited to go to Cris' beach house for a few days before crossing the border to Argentina. Let's hope there'll be time for a boat trip to Uruguay too! It's going to be a bit of a desperate attempt to round up those last Christmas presents and finish off our tans. I'll be honest, I won't be happy if I'm not the brownest member of the family on Christmas day!
Yesterday was a bit of a coup for me, as we learnt how to make sushi from a true expert- Cris' Japanese/Brazilian friend Karen. It was absolutely delicious, and surprisingly simple (although I doubt my mum would trust me to make it at home- food poisoning, anyone?). The cherry on the cake was an evening of shopping, where I was inaugurated as a true Latina upon the purchase of a pair of skintight, bum-hugging jeans (I'm channelling J-Lo, don'tcha know). The chocolate sprinkle on that cherry was the fact that we squeezed in a trip to the cinema to see the most recent instalment of Harry Potter. And, in case you're wondering, yes, I did cry when Dobby died...
Besitos,
La Entusiasta
xxx
Over the next two weeks, my final exams will be dramatically played out amidst scenes of hectic revision and last-minute cramming sessions, but I'm hoping to emerge with a decent pass and head off to Sao Paolo with a clear head. We've been invited to go to Cris' beach house for a few days before crossing the border to Argentina. Let's hope there'll be time for a boat trip to Uruguay too! It's going to be a bit of a desperate attempt to round up those last Christmas presents and finish off our tans. I'll be honest, I won't be happy if I'm not the brownest member of the family on Christmas day!
Yesterday was a bit of a coup for me, as we learnt how to make sushi from a true expert- Cris' Japanese/Brazilian friend Karen. It was absolutely delicious, and surprisingly simple (although I doubt my mum would trust me to make it at home- food poisoning, anyone?). The cherry on the cake was an evening of shopping, where I was inaugurated as a true Latina upon the purchase of a pair of skintight, bum-hugging jeans (I'm channelling J-Lo, don'tcha know). The chocolate sprinkle on that cherry was the fact that we squeezed in a trip to the cinema to see the most recent instalment of Harry Potter. And, in case you're wondering, yes, I did cry when Dobby died...
Besitos,
La Entusiasta
xxx
Saturday 30 October 2010
A List
1. Weather here is so temperamental: yesterday I was snuggled up in two jumpers and a jacket; today, the girls and I are going to Alejandro's other apartment to make use of the top floor pool with views of the Andes!
2. If anyone ever suggests that you read a book by Jose Donoso, I recommend you pass the opportunity up. 100 pages down and still no idea what's going on...
3. It's nearly November! That should mean sweet potatoes and parsnip soup, but instead it means salad and ripe strawberries. I could get used to that, I suppose...
4. Springtime here smells just like it does in England: freshly mown grass, wisteria and jasmine crawling over the fences, honeysuckle and sneezing fits.
5. I found out this week that I'll have all of December free! Any suggestions for what I should do?
La Entusiasta
xxx
2. If anyone ever suggests that you read a book by Jose Donoso, I recommend you pass the opportunity up. 100 pages down and still no idea what's going on...
3. It's nearly November! That should mean sweet potatoes and parsnip soup, but instead it means salad and ripe strawberries. I could get used to that, I suppose...
4. Springtime here smells just like it does in England: freshly mown grass, wisteria and jasmine crawling over the fences, honeysuckle and sneezing fits.
5. I found out this week that I'll have all of December free! Any suggestions for what I should do?
La Entusiasta
xxx
Sunday 24 October 2010
A Visit from Mama and Papa
Mum had been told specifically what type of clothing would be necessary to offset her platinum blonde bob, which would essentially serve as a siren for unscrupulous thieves and bottom-pinchers, and I was confident that the whole trip would be a success if she followed my advice. However, if you've met my Mum, you'll know that telling her to leave her white linen trousers at home is essentially a lost cause. They pulled up to the building not in grungy traveller's gear, but rather in brightly-coloured smart M&S jumpers and the aforementioned white trousers. Sigh... The clothing saga would follow us first to Valparaiso, where there was a distinctly chilly coastal wind blowing, and then to San Pedro, where we had to dress to suit temperatures between -10 and 35 degrees.
Our trip to San Pedro de Atacama gave us a glimpse of one of the most interesting and beautiful parts of Chile- and also offered the opportunity of a few hours of tanning time! We stayed in Hotel Altiplanico, which was like a tiny village of luxe mud huts under the Atacameñan sun, and organised to go on a few desert tours, including Death and Moon Valley, the salt flats and lagoons, geysers, and a guided tour of the universe visible from this corner of the southern hemisphere. We woke up early every morning, suffering through the freezing temperatures to watch the sun rise over the Andes. Sometimes the silhouette of the mountains looked like an Art Attack project- a wash of watercolour and black paper cutout, or three tons of dark socks on top of a sea of crumpled orange t-shirts. We tested the boiling water of the geysers and the icy depths of the salt water lagoons, but I have to say that the best bit of the trip for me was looking through our guide Alain's telescopes to see nebulae, Jupiter's moons, double stars and Mars. I've never heard such a good explanation of the time-space continuum, and even with a few trips to the NASA space station in Texas under my belt, I'd still venture to say that the view of the universe from Alain's backyard was the most impressive I've ever seen.
Of course, the visit to San Pedro would not have been complete without an adoring fan of Maria Elena Swett (supposedly my lookalike) asking for my autograph... Ok not quite, but I did get asked for a picture with one store owner!
More adventures from Ma and Pa's visit soon!
La Entusiasta
xxx
Sunday 26 September 2010
Back in the Game
Greetings!! Sorry for not updating in yonks; I've been sans-ordinateur for a ridiculous amount of time- but my good old Tosh is up and running once more thanks the gormless charms of Miguel at PC Factory. There is so much to share, some of it may have already escaped my memory, but I'll do my utmost to fill you in.
Uni life is more or less uneventful; I mostly toddle through the days and try to absorb as much as possible. The highlight of my week is, without question, Spanish classes with Señor Bobbert, a German pedant with a taste for novels by Philip Roth and an immense capacity for remembering names. Thanks to those 3 hours a week, I am a subjunctive machine! I have resorted to irritatingly pointing out to friends (both foreign and Chilean) where the use of subjunctive would be optimal, and where it is absolutely obligatory, just in everyday conversation. They love it, I can assure you...
Last weekend, we took advantage of the two Bank Holidays for Independence Day and took a girly road trip up north to La Serena, on the coast. Anna, Cris, Laure, Mirva and I squished into a tiny white chav car and whizzed up the highway (when I say whizzed, we stayed within the speed limit for the whole 6-hour journey, of course!) to the beach, where we had assumed it would be boiling hot. You may be able to tell from my tone: it was not hot. It was bloomin' freezing. After such a long journey with only one CD, of only 10 tracks (Passenger, if you were wondering. Quite apt now I think of it), we were going slightly doolally. Not as doolally, however, as the people of Punta de Choros appeared to be. Two hours up a dirt and gravel track, we arrived at Punta de Choros, population 50, which is famous for being a secret wildlife hotspot. We had our 6th empanada of the weekend and got in the queue to take a boat out and see the dolphins and penguins, but (as much as I hate to generalise), the people running the attraction seemed to have an IQ of about 83- perhaps due to the village's tiny population and remoteness. Due to lack of organisation on their part, we had to wait over two hours whilst half of Chile overtook us in the queue, before we finally saw the magic- and gosh was it magic! Tiny waddling penguins, scores of dolphins, giant lazy sea lions and a mischevious little otter entertained us as we huddled on our little motorboat and wished for a bit of sunshine. Absolutely incredible!
Unfortunately, on the way back we got a bit lost. On a dirt road in the middle of the desert, being lost is not the best feeling, but my Finnish friend Mirva entertained us with a game of 'Who Am I', using loo roll taped to our foreheads. Our journey back to Santiago was even more fun thanks to the imaginative boys in the car next to us, with whom we exchanged written messages pressed against the window for a good couple of hours! What I would say is, the road up the coast of Chile must be one of the most beautiful in the world, right up there with the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
Next weekend will bring a trip to Mendoza, Argentina, so I'll be sure to keep note of any anecdotes to post! Hasta pronto :)
La Entusiasta
xxx
Uni life is more or less uneventful; I mostly toddle through the days and try to absorb as much as possible. The highlight of my week is, without question, Spanish classes with Señor Bobbert, a German pedant with a taste for novels by Philip Roth and an immense capacity for remembering names. Thanks to those 3 hours a week, I am a subjunctive machine! I have resorted to irritatingly pointing out to friends (both foreign and Chilean) where the use of subjunctive would be optimal, and where it is absolutely obligatory, just in everyday conversation. They love it, I can assure you...
Last weekend, we took advantage of the two Bank Holidays for Independence Day and took a girly road trip up north to La Serena, on the coast. Anna, Cris, Laure, Mirva and I squished into a tiny white chav car and whizzed up the highway (when I say whizzed, we stayed within the speed limit for the whole 6-hour journey, of course!) to the beach, where we had assumed it would be boiling hot. You may be able to tell from my tone: it was not hot. It was bloomin' freezing. After such a long journey with only one CD, of only 10 tracks (Passenger, if you were wondering. Quite apt now I think of it), we were going slightly doolally. Not as doolally, however, as the people of Punta de Choros appeared to be. Two hours up a dirt and gravel track, we arrived at Punta de Choros, population 50, which is famous for being a secret wildlife hotspot. We had our 6th empanada of the weekend and got in the queue to take a boat out and see the dolphins and penguins, but (as much as I hate to generalise), the people running the attraction seemed to have an IQ of about 83- perhaps due to the village's tiny population and remoteness. Due to lack of organisation on their part, we had to wait over two hours whilst half of Chile overtook us in the queue, before we finally saw the magic- and gosh was it magic! Tiny waddling penguins, scores of dolphins, giant lazy sea lions and a mischevious little otter entertained us as we huddled on our little motorboat and wished for a bit of sunshine. Absolutely incredible!
Unfortunately, on the way back we got a bit lost. On a dirt road in the middle of the desert, being lost is not the best feeling, but my Finnish friend Mirva entertained us with a game of 'Who Am I', using loo roll taped to our foreheads. Our journey back to Santiago was even more fun thanks to the imaginative boys in the car next to us, with whom we exchanged written messages pressed against the window for a good couple of hours! What I would say is, the road up the coast of Chile must be one of the most beautiful in the world, right up there with the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
Next weekend will bring a trip to Mendoza, Argentina, so I'll be sure to keep note of any anecdotes to post! Hasta pronto :)
La Entusiasta
xxx
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