tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59353714673518804352024-03-20T04:02:32.356-04:00La GringaMi corazón late en Chile.The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-4211251410791611892017-05-28T19:10:00.000-04:002017-05-28T19:10:00.419-04:00Sally Can Drive...in NYIn March 2006, after living in New York City for four months, I decided it was time to get my New York driver's license. I might have waited longer, but my old license was about to expire, so I had to "get 'er done."<br />
<br />
I looked online to find out where their offices were located and was surprised to discover that, instead of only needing my old license, the New York state DMV required a bunch of other stuff, too. <br />
<br />
There was a "point" system that I couldn't understand. They had assigned different items, each a potential form of ID, a number of points. You had to bring in items which totaled six points. <br />
<br />
I looked at the list of things, such as valid license from another state, birth certificate, social security card, etc., mentally adding up the points. <br />
<br />
Let's see, old driver's license=2 points. Social security card=3 points, and so forth. I noticed that the birth certificate wasn't worth any points at all. So, why was it on the list? <br />
<br />
I didn't even consider taking it since it didn't help me achieve my six point total.<br />
<br />
On a cold, drizzly day in late March, I made a special trip downtown to the DMV, toting all six precious points worth of items. Even though I had my map and compass with me, I got lost and walked blocks in the wrong direction before realizing my mistake and retracing my steps. <br />
<br />
I finally found the place and shoved through the revolving brass door into a stiflingly hot lobby. At the reception desk was a large, belligerent woman. She had braided hair, tight against her head, that was dyed red. Not a natural red, but bright, Christmas red. <br />
<br />
In order to enter the place, I had to get past her. She was looking at people's paperwork and handing out numbers. <br />
<br />
I heard her ask the man ahead of me, "Do you have your birth certificate?"<br />
<br />
His English wasn't good, and there was a bit of a discussion before he was sent away, without receiving a number. I had heard their conversation, but since he seemed to be from a foreign country, I wasn't worried about not having my birth certificate with me. I figured all foreigners probably had to show a birth certificate, but hey, I'm an American. <br />
<br />
The kind folks at the DMV in New Mexico (and several other states before that) had previously issued me a driver's license. It had my date of birth on it, so it shouldn't be a problem.<br />
<br />
"Next!" I realized that she meant me. <br />
<br />
I boldly approached the reception desk with my paperwork. She barely glanced at it. "Where's your birth certificate?"<br />
<br />
I started sputtering, "But the birth certificate isn't worth any points." I held out all the other stuff I had lugged with me, but she ignored it.<br />
<br />
"You have to show proof of date of birth."<br />
<br />
I pointed to my old license. "It's right here...on my license." <br />
<br />
"You have to have your birth certificate."<br />
<br />
"But..."<br />
<br />
"You have to have your birth certificate."<br />
<br />
"I just..."<br />
<br />
"You have to have your birth certificate." I backed away because it became obvious that she wasn't going to budge and there was a long line behind me. Not to mention that she was beginning to sound like a parrot, repeating itself over and over again. <br />
<br />
I left in shame, avoiding eye contact with all the people in line, whom I sincerely hoped had possession of their birth certificates.<br />
<br />
I knew where my birth certificate was. I had a file of "important" papers that I could easily get my hands on, but I didn't run home, get it, and rush right back down to the DMV. Several weeks went by before I felt courageous enough to face that woman again. <br />
<br />
When I finally went back, I took no chances. I had my old driver's license, my passport, my social security card, my apartment lease, an electric bill, and of course, the birth certificate. <br />
<br />
Armed with my bag full of ID, I went through the revolving door back into the overheated lobby. I went on a different day of the week, hoping that the braided-haired woman would have that day off. <br />
<br />
No such luck. She was behind the reception desk, still handing out numbers and attitude. She must have seen hundreds of people every day. <br />
<br />
I got in line. As I worked my way toward her, she glanced up at me. When I approached her desk, she looked me straight in the eye and demanded, "Do you have your birth certificate this time?"<br />
<br />
I was speechless that she would remember little ol' me, out of all the people that she saw every day. "Yes," I squeaked.<br />
<br />
She looked at all my paperwork before shoving it back into my hands. "Is the form filled out?" I nodded. "Lemme see it."<br />
<br />
Looking it over, she started shaking her braided head. "Unh-uh. You gotta finish this part." She pointed to a section of the application. "And sign this."<br />
<br />
Grudgingly, she gave me the prize, a coveted number, and told me to go stand somewhere else to complete all the paperwork. <br />
Dismissed, I slunk away to a tall table where I could stand and fill in all the missing information.<br />
<br />
I was in, but the number only got me past her. I still had to wait an hour until they called my number. Then, I could get in line for the eye test, and after that, in another line for the photo. <br />
<br />
I didn't get to see the photo, but the photographer promised me that, if I didn't like it, I could return and he would redo it. At that point, I didn't care if I looked like Ronald McDonald. <br />
<br />
After the photo, there was another wait for the cashier line. When it was my turn, I had to answer a bunch of questions about residency and criminal activity and I-can't-remember-what-else while the clerk eyed me with suspicion. <br />
<br />
I answered her questions, gave her my paperwork, and surrendered my old driver's license. She took it all and my money, too, before handing me a piece of paper.<br />
<br />
Expecting to get my license, I looked at the paper. It was a temporary driver's permit. "What is this? Where's my license?"<br />
<br />
She explained that, once my paperwork had been "cleared," I would receive my license in the mail within four to six weeks. <br />
<br />
This was the first time I had walked out of a DMV without a license, but sure enough, I received it in the mail within about three weeks. The photo was god-awful, but I didn't care. <br />
<br />
Eleven years later, and ironically, I've never driven in the state of New York.The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-82866430627018465112015-08-28T19:15:00.000-04:002015-08-28T19:17:48.302-04:00Do I Look French from There?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjCI0Y5xhSDgGuaMgkQnlQ7q2AL2A7gBtD4V4CnlTXNXPNWJaEIBHJuMLVhRm8PQV6qcOKLW2JADmEXM0ExpOEqiZYsJbeo754mWJyB6WDfhCTi5HpCZkPRDUzNA2tL8mE9rG6D36up8/s1600/DSCF0950-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjCI0Y5xhSDgGuaMgkQnlQ7q2AL2A7gBtD4V4CnlTXNXPNWJaEIBHJuMLVhRm8PQV6qcOKLW2JADmEXM0ExpOEqiZYsJbeo754mWJyB6WDfhCTi5HpCZkPRDUzNA2tL8mE9rG6D36up8/s320/DSCF0950-300x225.jpg" /></a></div>My regular homeopathic pharmacy has been out of garlic tablets for at least two weeks. Garlic's good for my blood, so I passed by there this morning and peered through their glass front door with a hopeful expression. The clerk inside knew what I was looking for and gave me a thumbs down. Still no garlic. <br />
<br />
On my way back home, I stopped in at another pharmacy. This one, I rarely use. An older woman with full fringe bangs and shoulder-length hair helped me. She "sold" me the garlic tablets, but then I had to go to the other counter to pay. A man took my money there. <br />
<br />
He was 50-ish with salt and pepper hair and Buddy Holly glasses. A nice-looking guy in a nerdy way. <br />
<br />
In the background, a female singer was crooning, "The More I See You." He hummed along, singing a word here and there.<br />
<br />
"Buena musica," I commented to him. He held up a CD cover and started talking about how much he loved jazz and blues. <br />
<br />
I mentioned a video that I had seen last week. The nine-year old Norwegian, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSfgCIGd7k4">Angelina Jordan,</a> sounds like Amy Winehouse reincarnated. <br />
<br />
"I love Amy." He showed me his playlist of oldies, telling me in Spanglish that he also loved Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Tom Jones. My kind of music. Our music conversation was going swimmingly when, out of the blue, he asked me, "Are you Canadian?"<br />
<br />
I shook my head. The older lady joined us, and I asked in Spanish, "Do you like to dance?"<br />
<br />
"¡Sí!" <br />
<br />
I leaned slightly over the counter, trying to peek at his ring finger, but his hands were out of sight. "Are you single?" I asked him. <br />
<br />
The older lady moved closer to him and said, "He's my husband." <br />
<br />
<em>"¡O, perdón! Vale la pena preguntar, ¿no?"</em> Oops, sorry. It never hurts to ask. Luckily, she had a good sense of humor and found it funny instead of threatening. <br />
<br />
He carried on, unfazed, and then must have decided that I was French because he began speaking to me in French. <br />
<br />
Many people here have mistaken me for French or German, even Russian. Let's see. I know precisely...oh right...zero French. Well, that's not strictly true. I could throw around some "Bon jour" and "Merci" in a terrible accent. Beyond that, I would have to be mute. <br />
<br />
I must have a "European face," but that's where it ends. I'm not skinny enough to look French below my collarbones. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-28571297796325912822015-08-09T13:04:00.000-04:002015-08-09T14:06:57.623-04:00Vexed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqskZyHUKCtOfg65Yx3r91yWcxD-Ds4J5H83-neqXTUypx5VD26gZqEUYeJPOPWVM8cdgruFv6EibKXbFNuyJ5s3lGMGv80C31kuozoK0S88zbiUa7UBkRJDpyzDHdYyBVBCMysqeYY0/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqskZyHUKCtOfg65Yx3r91yWcxD-Ds4J5H83-neqXTUypx5VD26gZqEUYeJPOPWVM8cdgruFv6EibKXbFNuyJ5s3lGMGv80C31kuozoK0S88zbiUa7UBkRJDpyzDHdYyBVBCMysqeYY0/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></a></div>I've had to change <i>peluqueros</i> again. This must be the fifth or sixth one I've tried here. I've lost count. <br />
<br />
After an incident with one in El Centro back in 2012, I'd been trekking out to Barrio Yungay to Marcos* who did a consistent job of maintaining my hair style. <br />
<br />
The problem? It was two-fold. Over time, I'd noticed that all the magazines in the salon had disappeared and were replaced by religious pamphlets. Along with my haircut, I could expect an evangelical lecture. <br />
<br />
Then, there arose the scenario of their son and his learning English. This year, he was accepted into a "prestigious" Chilean school. He had not learned much English before and, now, he is struggling at the new school. <br />
<br />
On my last visit to the salon, I'd had the foresight to take my Kindle and was reading the latest trashy novel, in plain view of their religious propaganda, when I heard a little voice say, "Hello, Tía." <br />
<br />
I looked up to find Juanito* peeking into the salon. Since they live upstairs, this didn't surprise me, but this time, his mother frog-marched him in, one hand on each shoulder, and plunked him down in a chair opposite me. In his 12-year old hands was his English textbook. <br />
<br />
"Please, he needs help with his homework. He doesn't understand it," pleaded his mother. <br />
<br />
This wasn't the first time that they had asked for my help. I'd given mini-English lessons on previous salon visits and, last year, his mother had emailed me a homework assignment, along with a note begging me to do it for him. The task had been to translate a report which he would then have to read in class. <br />
<br />
Put between the rock and being forced to find a new hairdresser, I'd reluctantly done the translation and sent it back with a stern note, reminding her that Juanito would learn nothing this way. They calmed down for awhile, but this year at his new school, he seems completely lost. <br />
<br />
I looked at Juanito, seated across from me, and started asking him questions in English. "Does your teacher speak to the class in English?" I already suspected the answer to this, and he confirmed it with the blank stare. <br />
<br />
I asked him again, in Spanish, and he shook his head. "Can he speak English at all?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, yes. He can."<br />
<br />
"Then, why doesn't he?" <br />
<br />
"The first day of school, he asked who could understand him in English. When no one raised his hand, he gave up and started speaking to us in Spanish." <br />
<br />
Uh-huh. If the kids can't understand the English teacher, isn't it his job to actually make sure that they learn how? I suggested that Juanito's parents go to the school and speak with the teacher, ask him why the kids aren't being taught in English. If the teacher wasn't receptive, my advice would be to complain to the administration. <br />
<br />
"But how could we do that?" <i>What?!</i> "Why don't you come and do some workshops?"<br />
<br />
I explained that I would soon be leaving Chile for this year, that I was not available to begin workshops. I thought that they had understood me. <br />
<br />
They ignored my recommendation that they speak with the teacher, but they went to the administration alright...to ask if I could come to the school to teach remedial workshops to Juanito's class. <br />
<br />
Next thing I knew, I had received an email from an "inspector" at the school, inviting me to send in a proposal, along with lesson plans, so that they could approve it before I arrived to do the free workshops. <br />
<br />
After stewing for a couple of weeks, I wrote the inspector a polite note, explaining that I'm not going to be here long enough to begin workshops this year. He wrote back to say that I should inform Juanito's parents. <br />
<br />
Since I'd already tried to inform them and they'd chosen not to hear me, I didn't bother to attempt it again. This, of course, all means that I've had to find yet another <i>peluquería. </i><br />
<br />
I've managed to locate a salon downtown where I was able to relax and thumb through the latest issue of <i>Vanidades</i> while waiting, and best of all, the Linda Hunt doppelgänger stylist doesn't seem the least bit interested in learning English. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
<i><br />
*names changed</i>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-7969273462406072432015-08-01T17:10:00.000-04:002015-08-01T17:10:46.742-04:00Top of the List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPji64-Z6HZQ5570uwBKU2l3DeL86ASPXHE_dgyoDmQhDkzKyHIsI2J3boIceYJRfs1ZlfNAlfjQMaTuMwK3Qu6hOvjA_V1S1d8Y_MHpFyLi7nD8je_XilUUYo0I9d8B_RrXQsyu0nwSk/s1600/DSCN0642.JPG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPji64-Z6HZQ5570uwBKU2l3DeL86ASPXHE_dgyoDmQhDkzKyHIsI2J3boIceYJRfs1ZlfNAlfjQMaTuMwK3Qu6hOvjA_V1S1d8Y_MHpFyLi7nD8je_XilUUYo0I9d8B_RrXQsyu0nwSk/s320/DSCN0642.JPG.JPG" /></a></div>Do you like lists? I'm a list-maker, so when I see a new list of something that interests me, I usually read through it. <br />
<br />
<br />
Thia week, I found Chile on two lists. The first was a Thrillist article called <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/travel/12-of-the-most-unbelievably-cheap-paradises-on-earth">"12 of the Most Unbelievably Cheap Paradises on Earth."</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
I wasn't expecting to find a Chilean city on the list. I was simply scrolling along, reading about Bulgaria, Panama, Cambodia, and others when I discovered that Nº. 12 was Las Trancas, Chile. <br />
<br />
I have to confess that I've never been there, don't really know exactly where Las Trancas is. If you enjoy hiking, skiing, and snowboarding, you might want to check out Thrillist's idea of "paradise," though I have my doubts that you could actually grow cacao there. <br />
<br />
The other list was presented by Condé Nast Traveler, <a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2013-11-09/colorful-cities-architecture-design-photos">"The Most Colorful Cities in the World."</a> My first thought? <i>I live near one of them.</i> <br />
<br />
Valparaíso, Chile, easily belongs on this list with its wildly painted buildings and murals. I scrolled through the list, past our neighbors, Brazil and Argentina, shaking my head at some of Condé Nast's choices. <i>Where is Valpo?</i><br />
<br />
Once again, Valparaíso was the final city on the list. This colorfully painted coastal city, built on hills, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No list of cities with colorful buildings or street art would be complete without her. <br />
<br />
I like to think of Valpo the way poet Pablo Neruda did, "Valparaíso, how absurd you are...you haven't combed your hair, you've never had time to get dressed, life has always surprised you."<br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-79131070075422016622015-07-29T16:49:00.000-04:002015-07-29T16:49:03.790-04:00Ojos Abiertos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XhRvrpYDVS8HgR2jq0GK4bHNiFoYsjOfmLx2p4q0SPXiaMG9YfPjPkh5s-QGs9xTjDCYJ5WiS-QFp2C4wC3HB-6NsB0-3tUzUgk5LZOeW3L0nA_U8UZ_MatlLyYRTsrLEaCduDovYMc/s1600/DSCN9441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XhRvrpYDVS8HgR2jq0GK4bHNiFoYsjOfmLx2p4q0SPXiaMG9YfPjPkh5s-QGs9xTjDCYJ5WiS-QFp2C4wC3HB-6NsB0-3tUzUgk5LZOeW3L0nA_U8UZ_MatlLyYRTsrLEaCduDovYMc/s320/DSCN9441.JPG" /></a></div>In my quest to find viable volunteer opportunities for teaching English, I recently attended a meeting of a new organizaton called <i>Ojos Abiertos.</i> <br />
<br />
"To empower children to grow as individuals and valuable community members through initiatives designed to nurture empathy, support learning, and promote respect and self-autonomy" reads its mission statement. <br />
<br />
The founder of the group is a dedicated young woman named Helen who has put together an international team of volunteers to spearhead the program. Their first project will be at a municipal school in Conchalí, on the north side of Santiago. <br />
<br />
Last year, I had met with the director of this school. He is serious about improving the lives of his students and is determined to give them more opportunities for success in life. <i>Ojos Abiertos</i> is proposing English and art workshops at this school.<br />
<br />
When I visited, I did a brief English encounter in a 7th grade classroom. Like at most Chilean schools, the kids were timid, but curious. By the end of the presentation, most of them had warmed up enough to participate. <br />
<br />
Afterward, as I was leaving, one of the girls from the class ran up, leaned into me, and blurted out, "I think you are a very good person." <br />
<br />
I put my arm around her shoulders, looked into her shining eyes, and told her, "I think you are a very good person, too." <br />
<br />
She gave me a big hug, and an even bigger grin, before running back to join her circle of giggling classmates. <br />
<br />
If you have ever considered volunteering, think about contacting Helen at <i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ojosabiertossantiago?fref=ts">Ojos Abiertos.</a></i> You will probably receive much more than you can give. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-62659670692951449182015-07-26T12:57:00.000-04:002015-07-26T12:57:16.306-04:00Coffee Encounters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIXpZwd1mxu3Os2P-WoMxf3vL-SfRwijcBqXrYGwjEWyp48xxjoSHPQiRepW1laGhyphenhyphenuNbRvhLF_edPRQ6huPAss40O1CSfFHSt6M6PjSxKQiHoRT-PVsKVN9kmVIV-Riy3WYZbmkuCCM/s1600/IMG_20150609_153141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIXpZwd1mxu3Os2P-WoMxf3vL-SfRwijcBqXrYGwjEWyp48xxjoSHPQiRepW1laGhyphenhyphenuNbRvhLF_edPRQ6huPAss40O1CSfFHSt6M6PjSxKQiHoRT-PVsKVN9kmVIV-Riy3WYZbmkuCCM/s320/IMG_20150609_153141.jpg" /></a></div>As opposed to my last post about the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/03/top-10-bars-santiago-chile">ten best bars</a> in Santiago, now here's a list of <a href="http://playfm.cl/los-10-mejores-cafes-de-santiago/">nine cafes</a> to help us survive winter. <br />
<br />
How many of these have I visited? Not as many as the bars, but considering that I only drink decaf, which is almost impossible to find here, and that I drink it at home in the mornings, I'm surprised that I've actually visited three out of these nine. <br />
<br />
Two of them are in my neighborhood and, if I'm honest, I didn't drink coffee there. At Colmado, I've had lunch and at Bon Bon Oriental, they serve delicious, gooey Turkish delicacies. <br />
<br />
The other one I've investigated is in Barrio Italia. I went to <i><a href="http://www.xocoporti.com">Xoco Por Ti</a>,</i> which is not a café but a chocolate bar. I was also in Rende Bú, not the one on the list, but their location in Barrio Italia, which was known as the "cat café" during the month of June because it operated as a cat adoption center. At both places, I drank hot chocolate. <br />
<br />
My own neighborhood is teeming with cafes. Many of them have <i>buenda onda,</i> a nice vibe, but I cannot vouch for their coffee. Now a caffeine teetotaler, I'm still buzzed from 1983.<br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-54271264754499970392015-07-22T13:39:00.000-04:002015-07-22T13:39:10.229-04:00Happy Hours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86Ov4HRWoJ3pAAUaAysdnfMzNYjBLN-xgYOYpK3O9xeoNkG0VmSfh_wyCJMKg3pRZfDIjETzFPCf4zHrOA_0_LpD4pB2UNTdAV7Y3f7yin1DJgqRiFzonenmecYbsCBb9Fj4kyEqxRZg/s1600/IMG_20150718_154929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86Ov4HRWoJ3pAAUaAysdnfMzNYjBLN-xgYOYpK3O9xeoNkG0VmSfh_wyCJMKg3pRZfDIjETzFPCf4zHrOA_0_LpD4pB2UNTdAV7Y3f7yin1DJgqRiFzonenmecYbsCBb9Fj4kyEqxRZg/s320/IMG_20150718_154929.jpg" /></a></div>Frequently, I am contacted by folks who read this blog and are planning a visit to Chile. They ask me where to stay, what to do, how to get from A to B. I enjoy playing virtual tour guide and I offer advice when I can. <br />
<br />
Many people want to be in the heart of it all. They choose to stay in Barrio Bellas Artes or <a href="http://www.barriolastarria.com">Barrio LaStarria</a> where you can hop onto the Metro or a bus, and it's easy to walk to restaurants and bars. <br />
<br />
When I first moved here, back in 2011, it was almost impossible to find a restaurant open between the hours of 5pm and 7pm. They firmly shut their doors after lunch and didn't reopen until Chilean dinner hour. Now, with a huge influx of tourists, more and more places are staying open all the way through, from lunch until closing. <br />
<br />
Walking through LaStarria, you see signs announcing "Happy Hour." Though most Chileans don't arrive to get "happy" until around 9pm, the Happy Hours usually start after lunch, which means around 5pm. <br />
<br />
A recent article in The Guardian said that Santiago is "out to surprise" and listed the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/03/top-10-bars-santiago-chile">Top 10 Bars in Santiago</a>. I might disagree about some on the list, but I have visited most of them. Six of them are within a five minute walk from my apartment...and you wondered why I post so many photos of cocktails. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-59110110817057804702015-07-19T13:12:00.000-04:002015-07-19T13:12:21.929-04:00Hello, Goodbye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNGbhLP299MtziIhCBX3aUCuJxyqNFiWfPpi3wvbB8a9_7B59wTOLFcHlE1LxpzAKbJjIBXfvpJkZnMfixGP3rQ0TDmuNLTpM3XYby3xOPOC8JtR7OYl4MKzJ_i_AcDcRjfjY1UelGDU/s1600/Out+of+time.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNGbhLP299MtziIhCBX3aUCuJxyqNFiWfPpi3wvbB8a9_7B59wTOLFcHlE1LxpzAKbJjIBXfvpJkZnMfixGP3rQ0TDmuNLTpM3XYby3xOPOC8JtR7OYl4MKzJ_i_AcDcRjfjY1UelGDU/s320/Out+of+time.JPG" /></a></div>"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get." Remember that quote from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/apr/04/off-with-their-heads-the-10-greatest-quotes-from-alice-in-wonderland">Alice in Wonderland</a>? <br />
<br />
Considering that my interview for <a href="http://thedisplacednation.com/category/alice-in-wonderland/wonderlanded-series/">The Displaced Nation's</a> "Wonderlanded" series went live this week on their website, I suppose I've got Alice on the brain. <br />
<br />
I'm not certain that I've ever read the entire Alice in Wonderland book. I must have seen the Disney movie years ago. I vividly remember the White Rabbit running along, checking his pocket watch, and muttering, "Hello, goodbye. I'm late. I'm late for a very important date."<br />
<br />
I often feel that way, as if I'm meeting myself coming and going. For example, I meant to write this post yesterday, but I was saying goodbye to a friend in the afternoon and having dinner with another in the evening. In between, there was a writing webinar, a sink full of dishes, an unmade bed, and a pile of laundry to fold.<br />
<br />
Call me OCD, but in only 550 square feet, clutter can't happen. <br />
<br />
How nice it would be to have someone to do all the cleaning and putting away, to pay all my bills, to cook for me and then just call me when it's ready, so that I could write and socialize all day, but I guess that's called a "nursing home." <br />
<br />
For now, I'll stick to my mad, frantic juggling. <br />
<blockquote>“Have I gone mad?<br />
I'm afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.” <br />
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland</blockquote><br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-55564271772569174632015-07-14T16:22:00.000-04:002015-07-14T16:22:16.980-04:00Flojera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzPiiakRlZhPKFwyXFVJOtU4zin8D7HG1yWk4SGHFnMxuKaar3UbQkzMwVvG-IkMTPC6Dqxv8d4ImZzEZIoK1JEzLckhzmXqnAOhX_8bvpjILDnlQth2hr6nosLyBi2naAG7MEBlGSDE/s1600/DSCF1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzPiiakRlZhPKFwyXFVJOtU4zin8D7HG1yWk4SGHFnMxuKaar3UbQkzMwVvG-IkMTPC6Dqxv8d4ImZzEZIoK1JEzLckhzmXqnAOhX_8bvpjILDnlQth2hr6nosLyBi2naAG7MEBlGSDE/s320/DSCF1042.JPG" /></a></div>I'm not getting any work done. All I want to do is sit and stare at the Cordillera. <br />
<br />
<br />
We had just enough rain over the weekend that I can clearly see those majestic Andes Mountains for the first time in almost three months. I could be doing other things, but I only want to sit quietly and soak in this view. <br />
<br />
<br />
Earlier, I went to an expat meeting. I didn't know anyone at the meeting and the inevitable getting-to-know-you questions were asked. <br />
<br />
"So, what do you do here in Chile?" <br />
<br />
I get asked this question a lot, usually by well-meaning people. It's a normal question. <br />
<br />
Since I'm not here for a job, if I'm feeling cantankerous, sometimes I reply, "Nothing." That's usually a conversation stopper, so instead I often say, "I'm retired," which doesn't fare much better. <br />
<br />
This frequently earns me a skeptical once-over. "Really?" as if they can't believe it. "What do you <i><b>do</b></i> all day?"<br />
<br />
"Well, let's see..." I laugh because explaining my schedule is complicated. Should I tell them that I'm an excellent time-waster? Or that every day is different? I usually launch into a spiel about classes and workshops, which satisfies their curiosity. <br />
<br />
"Oh, so you're a teacher?" Not really, not at the moment. I haven't quite learned how to admit the truth, that I'm a writer. <br />
<br />
Except on days like today when it's far too tempting to sit and watch the sun light up the snow-capped Cordillera. Today, I'm definitely a <i>flojera,</i> a lazy mountain watcher. Can you blame me? <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-73933015111172122052015-07-11T12:47:00.000-04:002015-07-11T12:47:49.311-04:00Livin' It Like I Mean It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEkqCz8YmpLtP_9Yr9pXu0TPUtmwAkl4qIzt1vBfNbVfOEYuw4e2vKWzFDzo_Eh1Mgv4UGlFWp_mWsTzRji1wrisl-z_2iE9fxdgi3Lc7G6Wh2AoPRW8kGcrG7yNIoMVmawZRFmeuk8Q/s1600/Neruda+mural.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEkqCz8YmpLtP_9Yr9pXu0TPUtmwAkl4qIzt1vBfNbVfOEYuw4e2vKWzFDzo_Eh1Mgv4UGlFWp_mWsTzRji1wrisl-z_2iE9fxdgi3Lc7G6Wh2AoPRW8kGcrG7yNIoMVmawZRFmeuk8Q/s320/Neruda+mural.JPG" /></a></div>Tomorrow is the anniversary of Pablo Neruda's birthday. A Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, Neruda has been dubbed "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language" by Colombian novelist, Gabriel García Márquez.<br />
<br />
<i>Isla Negra,</i> on the Pacific coast an hour and a half west of Santiago, was one of Neruda's <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/may/11/sailing-on-land-aboard-nerudas-ship-like-homes-in/">three homes.</a> Though I've been to Valparaíso many times, I have never visited his home there, <i>La Sebastiana</i>, but I've been to <i>Isla Negra</i> and to <i>La Chascona</i>, which is here in Santiago. <br />
<br />
In addition to being a renowned poet, Neruda was a collector. The houses are full of seashells, wine glasses, and ships' mastheads. His "toys," which he claimed helped him retain his youthful spirit. My impression is that he loved food, wine, women, beauty, and words. Neruda lived large. <br />
<br />
Maybe I was inspired by him the day I visited <i>Isla Negra</i> because I did something beyond my usual comfort zone. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>Outside the entrance to <i>Isla Negra</i>, a woman was selling homemade chocolates from a small stall. In the background, “Marble Halls” from Enya’s <i>Shepherd Moons</i> album was softly playing. <br />
<br />
I stood in the street and sang to her in English that she couldn’t understand. She closed her eyes to listen, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, while passersby stared at the looney <i>gringa,</i> singing in the road. <br />
<br />
After my performance, she dug underneath her counter and brought out a tattered guest book and a pen. I wrote her a note in Spanish about how delightful it felt to stand in that exquisite spot and sing one of my favorite songs. <br />
<br />
I also bought chocolates to serve for <i>once.</i> Maybe that’s what had made the woman so happy. She was smiling as I walked away.<br />
~~<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher-ebook/dp/B00WH7UI2O/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436632939&sr=1-1&keywords=a+million+sticky+kisses">A Million Sticky Kisses</a></i><br />
</blockquote><br />
I think I'll take a page from Neruda's book and follow his example of living large. More singing, more laughter, maybe some dancing or howling at the moon. Live it like I mean it. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-58242694251143620472015-07-07T16:49:00.001-04:002015-07-07T17:17:13.307-04:00¡Que se puede!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNADROs3lAh_DBCeZ5WrlnsJBnEdoS2EiYtnAo3oAq-uy0U1W3kPnK47wMysa2ttzfqnCuc6ov-QmMxW_eHsFEEyj1KTt-fcU1_gpH_zs0gaiDfQ3Jtc_UUiHErJkH1DUAE1sFcto0YVA/s1600/DSCN0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNADROs3lAh_DBCeZ5WrlnsJBnEdoS2EiYtnAo3oAq-uy0U1W3kPnK47wMysa2ttzfqnCuc6ov-QmMxW_eHsFEEyj1KTt-fcU1_gpH_zs0gaiDfQ3Jtc_UUiHErJkH1DUAE1sFcto0YVA/s320/DSCN0701.JPG" /></a></div>On Saturday evening, after Chile's historic win of the <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2015/07/04/chile-beats-argentina-4-1-on-penalties-to-win-copa-america">Copa America</a> soccer tournament, there was jubilation in Santiago. <br />
<br />
Chile had never before won this tournament, and we watched, mesmerized, as Alexis Sanchez kicked the winning penalty goal. Thousands took to the streets to celebrate the victory. Plaza Italia, the designated gathering place for celebrations, as well as protests, was overrun with ecstatic fans. <br />
<br />
Everything started off well, with honking horns and <i>vuvuzelas.</i> People, shouting in the streets, "Chi, Chi, Chi," and others responding, "le, le, le," but before the night had ended, there were three deaths, plus looting and vandalism.<br />
<br />
Now that the initial thrill is winding down, it's back to the real world where Chile's got a few <a href="http://southernpacificreview.com/2015/06/26/teachers-strike-in-chile/">issues</a> to resolve. As my <a href="https://soundcloud.com/polosax/mar-afuera">musician friend, Polo*</a> commented on Facebook, <i>"YA ES NUESTRA LA COPA AMERICA. ¡QUE FELICIDAD! AHORA A GANAR LA COPA EN EDUCACION, SALUD, CULTURA, RESPETO, JUSTICIA."</i> Now the Copa America is ours. What joy! Now, to win the Copa in education, healthcare, culture, respect, and justice. <br />
<br />
I couldn't agree more, Polo. <i>¡Que se puede!</i> <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
<br />
*a little jazz for your listening pleasure, brought to you by Polo.The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-43490032488551516542015-07-04T15:37:00.001-04:002015-07-04T15:40:28.629-04:00Forever 39<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZWFmeHxfVObF-Zs_pTNCWgOpJ9Hh7QWS1AK9wsrz9Qs4sCVBCrJS5gSC47Yl6c6bF6ZaE-8sln8n4gyEmUOE08NF-tHnVY_lzigbY31w9-pxCP7RKdygDYN7C82Uw0a7eaXMilDH2bA/s1600/cherbluble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZWFmeHxfVObF-Zs_pTNCWgOpJ9Hh7QWS1AK9wsrz9Qs4sCVBCrJS5gSC47Yl6c6bF6ZaE-8sln8n4gyEmUOE08NF-tHnVY_lzigbY31w9-pxCP7RKdygDYN7C82Uw0a7eaXMilDH2bA/s320/cherbluble.jpg" /></a></div>Today is my birthday. Like the old vaudevillian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Benny">Jack Benny</a>, who never admitted being older than 39, I've stopped counting. <br />
<br />
People who know me best, know that my cake will be chocolate, but I couldn't resist posting this photo of a <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/red-white-and-blue-cake-stuffed-with-pie-cherbluble-july-4th-dessert">Cherbluble.</a> <br />
<br />
It is pie, baked inside of a cake. Actually, it's three pies, cherry, apple, and blueberry, baked in red, white, and blue cake layers. This indulgence only sounds appropriate after a dinner of <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Turducken">Turducken,</a> another over-the-top gastronomic creation. Think I'll stick with my chocolate cake. <br />
<br />
On one of my birthdays several years ago, my son sent me this poem, author unknown:<br />
<blockquote>“Count your garden by the flowers,<br />
Never by the leaves that fall;<br />
Count your days by golden hours<br />
Don’t remember clouds at all.<br />
Count the night by stars, not shadows.<br />
Count your life with smiles, not tears.<br />
And with joy on this, your birthday,<br />
Count your age by friends, not years.”</blockquote>I have received cards, calls, messages, and notes from Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, Chile, Canada, and from sea to shining sea. In friendships, I am "old" and very, very rich.<br />
<br />
But I'm still only admitting to 39!<br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-91265635402954875722015-07-01T20:27:00.000-04:002015-07-02T18:12:41.716-04:00The Besties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOd3Vldeq2dAWJ2-48FwhcdGPkc6JTpCC6hIlwjvcf5A7GBRdZ9NneKzwGzOKmQENxXpxU0-1fKec_Or91JnUql_399V8IZTX_Kv9zyEyNzIqJ3a6d0pHbWHz8Y9Tm6Drb2MgZzOhocTM/s1600/1898215_10152233879573563_1827944189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOd3Vldeq2dAWJ2-48FwhcdGPkc6JTpCC6hIlwjvcf5A7GBRdZ9NneKzwGzOKmQENxXpxU0-1fKec_Or91JnUql_399V8IZTX_Kv9zyEyNzIqJ3a6d0pHbWHz8Y9Tm6Drb2MgZzOhocTM/s320/1898215_10152233879573563_1827944189_n.jpg" /></a></div>Today is my good friend's birthday. We were born three days apart, a long darned time ago. <br />
<br />
When we were five years old, we started kindergarten together and we remained in the same class all the way through high school. Afterward, though our paths diverged and went separate ways, we have always stayed in contact and remained friends. <br />
<br />
I seldom see him in person because we are so far away from each other, but each time we catch up, it's like no time has passed at all. <br />
<br />
On this occasion of his birthday, I'd like to ask him, "If you could write a note to your younger self, what would you say in only two words?"<br />
<br />
Would you say, "Have fun" or "Enjoy everything"? Maybe you would be more somber and remind yoursel to "Save money" or "Forgive yourself" or "Forget yesterday." Maybe you would simply say, "Be happy."<br />
<br />
An old joke says that men are happier than women. Why? Because they can be President of the US, but they can never be pregnant. Because car mechanics will tell them the truth. Because wrinkles add character. Because people will never stare at their chests when talking to them. Because their phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. Because a five-day vacation requires only a small carry on bag. Because they can open all their own jars. Because the same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. And because they only have to shave the neck and above, <i>and</i> they have freedom of choice about growing a mustache.<br />
<br />
As Andrea Reiser, author of the article, "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-reiser/47-things-ive-learned-in-my-40s_b_7300630.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063">47 Things I've Learned in my 40's</a>" says, <br />
<blockquote><b>It's awesome to collect people throughout life, but you're truly blessed if you have a handful of besties who will always, always have your back. Even if you don't speak to them all that often, you know they're there.<i></i></b></blockquote>I am truly blessed and you're one of besties, buddy. I wish you a very happy birthday. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-84304473346170783902015-06-27T17:24:00.001-04:002015-06-27T17:36:38.824-04:00Exploring Chile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir4Cdgn2vooFncspWXrvbFeOvbFXmP_nYR30u-g-dGWNEHaaqBTNjCut1qb8EV9o0Gh7VSAEDM0Hu6wgH_yuC-qSdtO8Mzmn1sVSZHZqOvM2nQEcDvdvQ6JDfhTsAibpD5IBaQk3hcmk/s1600/523655178_295x166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir4Cdgn2vooFncspWXrvbFeOvbFXmP_nYR30u-g-dGWNEHaaqBTNjCut1qb8EV9o0Gh7VSAEDM0Hu6wgH_yuC-qSdtO8Mzmn1sVSZHZqOvM2nQEcDvdvQ6JDfhTsAibpD5IBaQk3hcmk/s320/523655178_295x166.jpg" /></a></div>When thinking about what to post today, I reviewed some options. Should I rant about Santiago's eternal smog? Yawn, cough-cough. Or voice my opinion of Chile's soccer team's Gonzalo Jara's "disappearing finger"? If you don't already know, you don't want to know.<br />
<br />
No, I'm feeling lazy and a bit <i>resfriada,</i> a little under the weather. I think the smog has finally gotten to me, so I will show you a lovely little video, made by a vacationing woman from Slovenia. <br />
<br />
Rahela Jagric, an international filmmaker, and her boyfriend spent a month traversing Chile by bus. Here is her video, "<a href="https://vimeo.com/129549193">Exploring Chile</a>."<br />
<br />
As she quotes Gustave Flaubert, "Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-43529539684440510732015-06-24T12:59:00.000-04:002015-06-24T13:02:05.484-04:00What Next? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0rmZLBv_3nvzOule5rsHU1gii_Cfe7Gc87xP1dmLf4nyKhgMAssF-Tr9Lj21J0rH-ZGpuVpWG2GJbMGOHAtcTDQ3YKISh9uN0zyePgGYiHWIPlwYB1fAuvPnJTW2_w_LpzrbaCLHURg/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0rmZLBv_3nvzOule5rsHU1gii_Cfe7Gc87xP1dmLf4nyKhgMAssF-Tr9Lj21J0rH-ZGpuVpWG2GJbMGOHAtcTDQ3YKISh9uN0zyePgGYiHWIPlwYB1fAuvPnJTW2_w_LpzrbaCLHURg/s320/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>Marmite, beloved by Brits across the globe, will soon be available in convenient, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/24/marmite-launch-travel-size-jars">airline acceptable jars</a>. <br />
<br />
Starting July 1, these babies will go on sale at some stores in Great Britain, and there is talk that a mini-Bovril is in the works, as well. <br />
<br />
This should make for some happy travelers, considering that jars of Marmite are one of the most confiscated items at the London city airport, second only to jam. <br />
<br />
For us non-Brits, maybe someone could package small jars of Nutella or peanut butter for those long flights, though I'm pretty happy with just taking chocolate onboard. There's no restriction on that unless I try to travel with...oh, say...40 or 50 lbs. of it. <br />
<br />
In the past couple of weeks, I've discovered two new chocolate places here in Santiago. One is not strictly a chocolate store, but I had a delicious cup of hot chocolate there when I went to visit the "Cat Café," otherwise known as Café Rendebú, in Barrio Italia.<br />
<br />
The other is also in Barrio Italia. More like a chocolate stand with a few outdoor tables, <a href="http://www.xocoporti.com">Xoco Por Ti</a> is tucked away in one of Barrio Italia's many hidden passages. I had a frappe there and I can highly vouch for the quality of the chocolate. <br />
<br />
When I lived in New York, I was a member of a Meetup for chocolate lovers. I went on chocolate tours, and I made it my business to visit any and every new chocolate shop within the five boroughs. Though the list in Santiago would be shorter, I am thinking of doing the same thing here. <br />
<br />
Anyone else game for chocolate discovery in Santiago? Marmite and Nutella are optional.<br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-14719215288624653512015-06-21T12:23:00.000-04:002015-06-21T12:23:28.480-04:00Daddy's Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd3qamMMVHCkDONUQY1Hx4PSMvlC-HG4vGDgSNo7gTu1z_V1EYwFdVojz5mCTlzwkgnSCn-JRskhKWwsxhbQdnxLSRctlDjktXw1zRpef2uGMT5URZqlOt7W9aAjQM47jl6ClAHHhOVY/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd3qamMMVHCkDONUQY1Hx4PSMvlC-HG4vGDgSNo7gTu1z_V1EYwFdVojz5mCTlzwkgnSCn-JRskhKWwsxhbQdnxLSRctlDjktXw1zRpef2uGMT5URZqlOt7W9aAjQM47jl6ClAHHhOVY/s320/DSCN2033.JPG" /></a></div>Way back when I was a little girl, starting to lose my baby teeth, my father and I had a ritual. <br />
<br />
I could not stand the thought of pulling my own teeth. I was such a wimp about it that, when one became loose, it had to practically fall out of my head on its own because I wasn't going to touch it.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I watched in the mirror as my tongue tugged at it, jiggling it back and forth in my mouth, worrying it until it was often hanging only by a thread. Even then, I couldn't do it. There was no way I was going to remove my own teeth. <br />
<br />
One fell out one day when I was eating ice cream. Another was pulled out by a sticky candy bar. The rest were Daddy's job. <br />
<br />
My mother would usually report to him that I had a tooth that needed pulling. Sitting in our living room after work, he would put down his newspaper and call me over. "Sally, come here and let me check your tooth." <br />
<br />
He might as well have said, "Come here and let me give you a spanking," but I knew that I had to go and sit on his lap so that he could "test" my loose tooth. <br />
<br />
I would sit down, begging, "No, Daddy, don't pull it! Just check it, okay? Don't hurt me."<br />
<br />
Invariably, he would respond. "I'm not going to pull it. I'm just going to wiggle it to see how loose it is." <br />
<br />
"Really? You promise?"<br />
<br />
"I promise I'm just going to wiggle it." <br />
<br />
He made that promise to me every time, and every time, it was a necessary lie. He'd twiddle my tooth back and forth a couple of times before getting a good enough grip on it to yank it out. He knew that he only had one shot at it because, had he not gotten it the first time, I would have been out of there like a scalded dog. <br />
<br />
I usually cried a little, though it really didn't hurt much, as I'd jump down to run and look in the mirror at the bloody hole where my tooth used to be. <br />
<br />
My sister, who was younger, pulled all her own baby teeth. So did my son, years later. I was eternally grateful for that because, even now, the idea of that parental task makes me shudder. <br />
<br />
Thank you, Daddy, for having a strong stomach and nibble fingers. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-76312606704333928442015-06-17T11:44:00.000-04:002015-06-17T15:57:03.609-04:00Arturo vs. The Devil <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MH6BNaJy5VR-xgRaVW1rjqXpXggv4SgxLvo2egdngfsAS6ACrVkxZIIxeWH_SfZRWSRxYD_MmQozTC77hNkf9r310-tfGQ-pCZE3srsFrRrEYFX_djJIKH3Wp5cJkA3eqN1AxYAeCL0/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MH6BNaJy5VR-xgRaVW1rjqXpXggv4SgxLvo2egdngfsAS6ACrVkxZIIxeWH_SfZRWSRxYD_MmQozTC77hNkf9r310-tfGQ-pCZE3srsFrRrEYFX_djJIKH3Wp5cJkA3eqN1AxYAeCL0/s320/images.jpeg" /></a></div>Here in Chile, we are in the thick of the Copa America soccer tournament. Soccer <i>aficionados</i> here are rabidly fanatic. <br />
<br />
So far, Chile won its first game against Ecuadór. Then, we tied Mexico in the second game. <br />
<br />
Yesterday our midfielder, Arturo Vidal, decided to go out to the casino, have a few drinks, and then drive back to Santiago. Before he made it back, he crashed his cherry red Ferrari into a tree. Apparently, he was slightly injured as were the other people involved. Charge: drunk driving.<br />
<br />
Today, there is a big uproar about his behavior and this accident. Should he be punished? According to Chile's drunk-driving laws, he's subject to jail time. Should he be suspended from the team? He who scored two of Chile's three goals against Mexico? He is a star here, a <i>dios.</i> Should he be held to the same standards as an "ordinary" person or is he above it all? He would not be the first celebrity to escape punishment simply because they are famous, but if there's no punishment, what kind of message does it send? <br />
<br />
Our hero and role model has already declared on camera, <i>"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMcNHpmV66o">No fue culpa mia</a>."</i> It wasn't my fault. <br />
<br />
So, whose fault was it? I'm reminded of the old Flip Wilson skit, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SLifea3NHQ">The Devil Made Me Do It.</a> Maybe, like Geraldine, he was kicking the devil instead of putting his foot on the brake.<br />
<br />
It looks to me like "the devil done got old Arturo," as Geraldine might say. <br />
<br />
The world is watching you, Chile. When you decide his fate, will you stand up and be a role model or has the devil got you, too?<br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-61122463034977994272015-06-13T07:48:00.001-04:002015-06-13T07:50:54.203-04:00Travel through Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ecs8wCg2n4bZGHFR0lsRO6jN1FiBYgyy_x3_BKB2Qe2b4gV6ClW-58NYlD_BKFwn9yQx6ALTJILNLn8seI8sLjB1yg7No5PU9CyUScFjchqeOHUnuzX2iPyFoF0VpdpsaKV-_-_d2yo/s1600/IMG_0050+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ecs8wCg2n4bZGHFR0lsRO6jN1FiBYgyy_x3_BKB2Qe2b4gV6ClW-58NYlD_BKFwn9yQx6ALTJILNLn8seI8sLjB1yg7No5PU9CyUScFjchqeOHUnuzX2iPyFoF0VpdpsaKV-_-_d2yo/s320/IMG_0050+-+Version+2.jpg" /></a></div>“We all become travelers in a different way. … I became a traveler through reading,” said famed travel writer, Paul Theroux, at an address at the University of Maine. <br />
<br />
I remember being fascinated years ago by his book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Railway-Bazaar-Paul-Theroux/dp/0618658947/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434195992&sr=1-1&keywords=paul+theroux">The Great Railway Bazaar</a>.</i> Maybe I was encouraged by his advice not only to go on vacation, but to make a home in a different country, learn the language, and immerse myself there.<br />
<br />
From an early age, I had the same idea as he did. In the introduction to my book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1627471162/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1J5XT7VV9QMPJYNS2YYX&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop">A Million Sticky Kisses</a>,</i> I wrote the following:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>They told me that I’d been “vaccinated with the phonograph needle,” meaning I talked too much, and that I’d “never met a stranger” which meant that I’d talk to just about anybody. How else was I supposed to get information? A curious little girl, I wanted to know what was out there in the big, wide world.</b> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>At night, I’d lie awake and listen to the whistle of the midnight train as it passed through like clockwork. I always pondered where it might be going. In my imagination, it was always somewhere “exotic” and exciting. Where to tonight? Chicago? New York? Out West?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><b>I wanted to hop onboard that train and discover all those places, to find out what was out there, to be somewhere, anonymous, where it was up to me to mind my own business.</b> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Our house wasn’t in a neighborhood full of kids. It was on the outskirts of town, and my little sister was six years younger than I was. Most of the time, I ended up playing alone, lining up my dollies and reading to them or “teaching” them from old school books. I made up stories, mostly about traveling to faraway places and what those places, and the people I’d find there, might be like.</b> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I don’t remember how old I was when the idea came to me. One day, I’m going overseas... </b></div></blockquote>From a childhood dream to my reality for the past four years, consciously or not, I followed Mr. Theroux's advice. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com/">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-54632992077633478522015-06-09T11:11:00.000-04:002015-06-09T11:11:07.613-04:00 Do You Allow Divine Inspiration To Flow Through You? ~~guest post by Catherine Carrigan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUb2eJZXJ4g78TOboZnGXHu98pUy1Sc5jvekyGnRN1Y9bSbo3QBIkxb8l2XhQ25yDuLFfpkWiE_DXtdumPp6ioAi_cRd_DOy7WTRVCUb7iHmK4_xv8dYs7CDcYeUD3arnLYNzB25vOvA/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUb2eJZXJ4g78TOboZnGXHu98pUy1Sc5jvekyGnRN1Y9bSbo3QBIkxb8l2XhQ25yDuLFfpkWiE_DXtdumPp6ioAi_cRd_DOy7WTRVCUb7iHmK4_xv8dYs7CDcYeUD3arnLYNzB25vOvA/s320/unnamed.jpg" /></a></div>Last year, I did a very interesting healing with a painter. She had been depressed for some time.<br />
<br />
Although many natural healing remedies had helped her to feel less blue – yoga, nutritional supplements – she was still mildly dissatisfied and unable to break her cycle. She came to me for a medical intuitive reading and healing. I asked for guidance and received the information that she needed to paint a minimum of 1 and a half hours every other day to eliminate her depression for good. Although she had painted in the past, her artistic efforts had been sporadic in a stop-and-go fashion.<br />
<br />
“Look at this like your mental health project,” I advised her. “It doesn’t matter whether you paint or draw, whether you sell your artwork or don’t sell your art. Just do something at least 1 and a half hours every day and then you will feel dramatically better.”<br />
<br />
She followed my advice and, voila, her depression was gone.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I was doing a healing for a woman who practices energy medicine. Although she is an accomplished practitioner, she had gotten away from energy work and her life has been out of order in several dimensions – especially financially and mentally.<br />
<br />
“You have to allow the healing energy to flow through you,” I advised her. “You need to work with at least three clients a week or you won’t feel right. You are blocking the flow and getting all turned around as a result.”<br />
<br />
Many of us receive divine inspiration on a regular basis. Your soul could want to paint, heal, write or create in some other way – in business, for example. If you do not allow this divine inspiration to flow through you, to work through you, to be birthed by you, you may end up feeling not only depressed but the word I would use for this condition is dispirited – out of touch with who you are, not able to put your finger on exactly what is wrong with you, going from one therapist to the other with no result.<br />
<br />
You may be coping by drinking too much alcohol, overworking or abusing yourself in many other ways.<br />
<br />
Here’s the rub. If you already know you are a naturally creative person, if you don’t create, if you do not allow divine inspiration to flow through you, you will not feel right no matter if you are taking vitamins, exercising, talking to a therapist about your childhood, receiving acupuncture, taking antidepressants, etc. etc. etc.<br />
<br />
You need to be living in harmony with your what your soul is longing to do, so you might as well follow your guidance and allow divine inspiration to flow through you.<br />
<br />
I had this experience myself. After publishing my first book in 1997, I went through a 15-year dry spell. My soul longed to write more books but nothing was happening, nothing was coming through me until I wrote the rough draft of my second book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Healing-Awaken-Intuitive-Happiness/dp/1627470026/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1433861563&sr=8-2&keywords=catherine+carrigan">What Is Healing? Awaken Your Intuitive Power for Health and Happiness. </a></i><br />
<br />
Even though I had been making money, serving others and growing in many ways as a person and even blogging and writing a monthly newsletter, I didn’t feel quite myself until I finally broke down and allowed divine inspiration to flow through me in the form of a book.<br />
<br />
Another friend of mine was given the guidance that if she didn’t start teaching again she would become ill. We all have a special gift – a gift that only YOU can give – that your soul is deeply longing to contribute.<br />
<br />
Stop making yourself sick by blocking your soul. Just go do it! <br />
<br />
What is healing? Healing happens when we allow divine inspiration to flow through us.<br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Carrigan/e/B000AQ4SGG/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Catherine Carrigan</a><br />
Catherine Carrigan is a medical intuitive healer, a fitness and nutrition expert, a playwright and the Amazon Nº. 1 best-selling author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Healing-Awaken-Intuitive-Happiness/dp/1627470026/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1433861563&sr=8-2&keywords=catherine+carrigan"><i>What Is Healing? Awaken Your Intuitive Power For Health And Happiness</i></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unlimited-Energy-Now-Catherine-Carrigan/dp/1627471057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433861563&sr=8-1&keywords=catherine+carrigan"><i>Unlimited Energy Now.</i></a> She is currently editing her fourth book, <i>Banish the Blues Now.</i> <br />
<a href="http://catherinecarrigan.com">www.catherinecarrigan.com </a><br />
<a href="http://unlimitedenergynow.com">www.unlimitedenergynow.com </a><br />
678-612-8816 <br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-88096066949997582022015-06-07T16:05:00.000-04:002015-06-07T19:10:22.338-04:00The New Young<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTUQuYER0Q5o5rteFedTXMpPs9A05B6VMijg4LZI4GVTAfki3rUbbLOevo0HOg37I0fnsWVWgBb5TIyftPHfGqzsP21Vfuw0VkH205u1PFhVi9wOMwXiku1-8QEkDqKKhO-wWagTOUZU/s1600/DSCN6603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTUQuYER0Q5o5rteFedTXMpPs9A05B6VMijg4LZI4GVTAfki3rUbbLOevo0HOg37I0fnsWVWgBb5TIyftPHfGqzsP21Vfuw0VkH205u1PFhVi9wOMwXiku1-8QEkDqKKhO-wWagTOUZU/s320/DSCN6603.JPG" /></a></div>Recently, I was reading one of those articles that floats around on Facebook. It was called <a href="http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/7-surprising-things-that-make-you-live-longer/#pagination-top">"7 surprising things that make you live longer."</a> That got my attention. I discovered that:<br />
<br />
1. According to researchers, smiling in photographs is good for you. The theory is that people who smile in photos are genuinely happier than people who don't, supposedly a reflection of well-being. These animated people tend to live up to seven years longer than non-smilers. <br />
<br />
I don't know how much I smile in daily life, but I can smile when someone says "Cheese!" or "Whiskey!", as they do here in Chile. Does that mean I'm actually happier or just a good at smiling on cue?<br />
<br />
2. Next on the list was having "positive" initials. Huh? My initials, "SR," seem neutral. They don't indicate anything negative, but neither are they positive, whereas initials such as ACE, WOW or VIP can allegedly add over four years to your life. I might have to reconsider my nom de plume.<br />
<br />
3. Number Three is getting married. While they claim that married people live longer, I've been there-done that, and I'm certain that and the divorce that followed took a few years off my life. I'm in the minus column on this one.<br />
<br />
4. Being slightly overweight is Number Four. No problem. I've had this one licked for years. <br />
<br />
5. Having religious beliefs helps deal with stress and often creates beneficial social bonding. No argument. <br />
<br />
6. It's no surprise that Number Six is also about being social. People who have a strong social network tend to feel less stressed and depressed and often live longer than those who do not. I'm seeing a pattern here. <br />
<br />
7. Last, but not least...laughter. Studies have proven that laughter can lower blood pressure, reduce bad cholesterol, and boost your immune system. I once took a laughter class where the teacher explained it all to us. Laughter suppresses our fight-or-flight response and stimulates the vagus nerve which promotes healing. <br />
<br />
In Santiago, there is a laughter group which meets once a month in Barrio República. The facilitator leads games that encourage the participants to laugh. At first, you feel ridiculous, then only silly, and afterward lighter and happier. If you'd like information about this laughter group, you can visit Alex de la Risa's Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-de-la-risa/75229388542?fref=ts&ref=br_tf">page.</a> <br />
<br />
Let's see. It looks like I need to be silly, social, and smiley, even if I have to fake it until I feel it. When I add up the above and subtract out the minuses, I might gain a few years, if the <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chile-sounds-smog-alarm-ahead-football-showcase-014336434.html#B3mxTsm">Santiago smog</a> doesn't get me first. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-55631961761363403302015-05-31T13:44:00.002-04:002015-05-31T13:44:50.180-04:00Día del Patrimonio Cultural<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_3m1CEDIH47-IY7fy10-FjpBDvDDWS7tvMV1eG1LmuczrZ1DPYtdcJpJ4B3lzi_WXtLwHxXkqtD_3rLjokrBSuDSuUXpHd-BWVj8wGPg3hnSMouLBQR7JPQORXfLTrvXKWm46V68xBk/s1600/DSCN6296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_3m1CEDIH47-IY7fy10-FjpBDvDDWS7tvMV1eG1LmuczrZ1DPYtdcJpJ4B3lzi_WXtLwHxXkqtD_3rLjokrBSuDSuUXpHd-BWVj8wGPg3hnSMouLBQR7JPQORXfLTrvXKWm46V68xBk/s320/DSCN6296.JPG" /></a></div>There is a brass band playing outside. Enthusiastically, if slightly off-key. They are celebrating <i>Día del Patrimonio Cultural de Chile,</i> a nation-wide festival which lasts, not just one day, but all weekend to honor the different dimensions of cultural heritage in Chile.<br />
<br />
In my neighborhood, the brass band is here in conjunction with the <i>bomberos,</i> the fire department. They play a song or two. Then, the <i>bomberos</i> release a stream of water from an antique steam-powered water canon, shooting it high into the air to entertain the cheering crowds. <br />
<br />
I spoke with one of the <i>bomberos,</i> wearing his official company uniform which was festooned with medals. He explained to me that this engine was one of the first "fire trucks" in Santiago. It has been lovingly preserved and is used only for celebrations like this one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMFkWu3POCKR1WhGUTkb03GBtDWfhJMsR_m733a1zejQEFawulkuF4Dal5dwBm09DTJMvt691QgSA50e1E1Q7nIpGh7m4S9VUUeGc3ofG_fbNSMC_R_6vbNXoHLXQm4dVHi5LWU7tJp0/s1600/DSCN6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMFkWu3POCKR1WhGUTkb03GBtDWfhJMsR_m733a1zejQEFawulkuF4Dal5dwBm09DTJMvt691QgSA50e1E1Q7nIpGh7m4S9VUUeGc3ofG_fbNSMC_R_6vbNXoHLXQm4dVHi5LWU7tJp0/s320/DSCN6295.JPG" /></a></div><br />
When I first moved here, four years ago, a <i>bombero</i> approached me on the street. He had a clipboard and asked me to sign up to give a monthly donation to the fire department. In Chile, firemen are not paid. They are all volunteers. <br />
<br />
I didn't know this at the time, and I was a little leery of signing up. "Let me think about it," I told him. <br />
<br />
"If we get an alarm for your apartment, we're not going to think about it before we come to rescue you."<br />
<br />
I signed up as a donor that day. Living only a block or two from the fire station, I hear the alarm at least once a day. Luckily, it's never rung for me. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-53408323690055312242015-05-26T14:03:00.000-04:002015-05-26T14:13:56.726-04:00Back to the Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9vdkKHzDh9HOKZEeQNAr6hw37PQsv8p98Bo6Lmo0apR9DJmfafCaaY15SzRJlDB9E_2aWGpJJVlBUQ6-3XZisOh1kKJ-c9bjEvy5Vj3KG042PnRyLSt48O2_7w7ds6BjRArQCJ2gsdI/s1600/il_340x270.544763804_4lfu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9vdkKHzDh9HOKZEeQNAr6hw37PQsv8p98Bo6Lmo0apR9DJmfafCaaY15SzRJlDB9E_2aWGpJJVlBUQ6-3XZisOh1kKJ-c9bjEvy5Vj3KG042PnRyLSt48O2_7w7ds6BjRArQCJ2gsdI/s320/il_340x270.544763804_4lfu.jpg" /></a></div>As I was preparing to write the May newsletter, I opened up my Mailchimp account and put in my user name and password. A notice came up that said, "It seems that your system clock is set too far into the future."<br />
<br />
Huh? What does that mean? <br />
<br />
I was scratching my head over it, thinking that if this were the future, "A Million Sticky Kisses" would already be a Nº. 1 Best Seller. Hollywood would have called, and my friend would have sent his tux out to the cleaners so that he could accompany me to all those Oscar parties. <br />
<br />
Then I remembered that Chile is in its own time zone which, apparently, doesn't exist. At some point last summer, the government declared that we were not going to move the clocks around any more. We are forever stuck in a Daylight Savings Time warp. <br />
<br />
Right now, if we weren't renegades, we'd be at GMT-4, but we <i>are</i> renegades, so we are at GMT-3, which none of my electronic devices recognizes on its own. Therefore, I have to manually set my computer to Buenos Aires time, thrusting myself...too far into the future. <br />
<br />
As for the other, a girl can dream, can't she? In the immortal words of Bloody Mary in Rodgers & Hammerstein's <i>South Pacific,</i> "You got to have a dream. If you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?"<br />
<br />
If you'd like to receive my monthly newsletter, you can sign up <a href="http://iamsallyrose.com">here.</a><br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-48341727608771851322015-05-23T16:06:00.000-04:002015-05-23T16:34:21.766-04:00Polyglot or Bon Vivant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjI1AQfrqXqBmjo0UQNbGgZVEdrCg1XFobjjSOW8VDcp4nNc95deNNdBe_WKpUD3o7lWkSZRJ2ZkjKYm-Tyt198W7NFZhLEgr19CW65flQ89UkMmKngFWJyuajj_sCH6wrhZpoaw_wKo/s1600/IMG_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjI1AQfrqXqBmjo0UQNbGgZVEdrCg1XFobjjSOW8VDcp4nNc95deNNdBe_WKpUD3o7lWkSZRJ2ZkjKYm-Tyt198W7NFZhLEgr19CW65flQ89UkMmKngFWJyuajj_sCH6wrhZpoaw_wKo/s320/IMG_0031.jpg" /></a></div>I watched a <a href="http://www.babbel.com/magazine/language-chamaleon-one?slc=engmag-a2-vid-bv1-polyglotvid-new-ob&utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=cd_engall_gen_cxo_bv1_polyglotvid">video</a> about twins from England who are polyglots. Each one speaks more than six languages fluently. And here, I've been patting myself on the back just for wading through Spanish. <br />
<br />
The video shows one of the twins demonstrating his extraordinary skills. I noticed that he cycled from Hebrew to French to Catalan to Spanish to Portuguese. Listening hard, I tried to understand him in languages other than English or Spanish and heard many similarities in the romance languages. I've been thinking about trying to learn a third language, though I'm not sure which it would be. Where would I most like to visit next? That would be the biggest motivator for me because I plan to keep traveling. <br />
<br />
In a travel <a href="http://roadwarriorvoices.com/2015/05/17/8-reasons-travel-can-make-you-healthier-and-give-you-a-longer-life/">article</a> I recently read, the author listed eight reasons that travel can make you healthier. Among them were pleasure, sense of purpose, and challenge to keep the mind sharp. Also, smiling for all those selfies. Apparently, just the act of smiling sends the "happy" message to your brain. It's hard to feel down when you're smiling. <br />
<br />
Between practicing for my selfies and tickling my brain with new information, I may live to be 112. Wonder how many languages I could learn by then. <br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com">iamsallyrose.com</a>The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-34803445817914691252015-05-19T15:23:00.001-04:002015-05-19T15:25:23.307-04:00Poquito de todo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpQzjmHuCl5Oo4AxQ-UO1kM1JCIzfJzGtAvjhOVdFjN0wy5MEOxH-6R3CeL4KwX6T5y0MgTsKNLZNzwFAF1jFqCm7Zk8Uynil99lBunqbwxTgXf5RXBIrinZAvNFRDk06OHRUQ4ugXWY/s1600/DSCN1886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpQzjmHuCl5Oo4AxQ-UO1kM1JCIzfJzGtAvjhOVdFjN0wy5MEOxH-6R3CeL4KwX6T5y0MgTsKNLZNzwFAF1jFqCm7Zk8Uynil99lBunqbwxTgXf5RXBIrinZAvNFRDk06OHRUQ4ugXWY/s400/DSCN1886.jpg" /></a></div>It's not all just about teaching, though. Would you take a look at this exquisite coastline?<br />
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Chileans joke that when God finished making all the other parts of the earth, he took what was left over and made Chile. Driest desert in the world, the majestic Andes, surf-worthy beaches, awe-inspiring forests, imposing glaciers, Chile has it all. <br />
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<i>The WorldPost</i> thinks so, too. Their <i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/14/through-your-lens-chile-instagram_n_7277354.html">"Through Your Lens"</a></i> article's featured country this week is Chile, showcasing photos from social media users. They call Chile an "under-rated travel destination."<br />
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I'd have to agree. Chile is a photographer's <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/iamsallyrose/">dream.</a> What are you waiting for?<br />
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~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
<a href="http://iamsallyrose.com">iamsallyrose.com</a><br />
The Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5935371467351880435.post-91274666221874365952015-05-16T15:20:00.002-04:002015-05-19T14:55:52.443-04:00Presenting A Million Sticky Kisses, the Story of a Gringa Teacher in Chile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqmV9mFdBva9Q3G5cggiYsb92DiXo97c9oU4_Ez_M4FyZVYf7DShVEnxiRGlCPDtDHhw4AEVXaRHhpT-0g-uTmFoTNu3mr_rzLCV_WctN2tot_Hac8Sgeq-bj34qho-36GEniPhIuKo4/s1600/twitter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqmV9mFdBva9Q3G5cggiYsb92DiXo97c9oU4_Ez_M4FyZVYf7DShVEnxiRGlCPDtDHhw4AEVXaRHhpT-0g-uTmFoTNu3mr_rzLCV_WctN2tot_Hac8Sgeq-bj34qho-36GEniPhIuKo4/s400/twitter1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
People often ask me, "Why Chile?" If you've read this blog for awhile, you may already have a clue to the answer. If you haven't, I'll give you a hint: volunteer teaching. <br />
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If you'd like to know the story of my original visits to Chile to be a volunteer teacher, it's all in my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431802615&sr=8-1&keywords=a+million+sticky+kisses">A Million Sticky Kisses</a>. Now available on Amazon in both print and Kindle versions. <br />
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Watch my new book trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJccbYPQDyo">here.</a><br />
<br />
~~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Rose/e/B00SP9VDVI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">Sally Rose</a><br />
Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1507531591/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=06XX40ZAYNYZG980GTY2&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2091268302&pf_rd_i=desktop">Penny Possible</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Sticky-Kisses-Gringa-Teacher/dp/1627471162/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=02EH8M1RRR1J9PS9GCZY">A Million Sticky Kisses</a><br />
iamsallyrose.comThe Thorny Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05571417764568310827noreply@blogger.com0