Thanks to Torunn

Hi,

I am taking English lessons. Twice a week, when I visit my Argentinean English teacher, I praise my self that I wasn't born in Chile. Or in Spain for that sake's. Luckily, I was born in Norway. In Norway they know how to pronounce an H and of course that makes it easier to say Hello. It is definitely better to say Hello that Jello, or kjello.

However, I am in Chile now. I could have been born in Chile btw. I am not that glad I wasn't born here though. Or maybe I am? Well, the fact is that I left Norway over a year ago and find myself living in Santiago- Chile. 30 years after. This is my parents' Santiago. And my Santiago now. And it is my Chile. After 30 years I realized it is also my Chile and that gives me comfort. It makes me feel more whole. As if something was missing before.

I left Norway shortly after finishing my Master's degree. My idea was to get some air, think, try to figure out where I am heading, or where I should be heading. I had no plan. No real plan for life. Now, I find my self planned. Almost over -planned I would say. Today I know what will be my job in the next 3 years. That is something. I am surprised.

I will soon be heading back to Norway. I am happy for that, but also sad. Now as departure day is getting closer I find myself caught in the middel of a quagmire of manic depression, feeling one day very happy and one day very sad. I will leave my beloved Chile and return to my other home and most of my life. Well, at least what I've always thought was my life, but after spending some months in Chile I understand that part of my life is also here. That's what makes this difficult.

Santiago is sunny today. It is August 11 and the worst wintermonth. It is also the month of my birthday, even tough I was born in summer in Oslo. I miss Oslo. I miss the simple things of life and simplicity in general. I understand what is going on here but sometimes it is so difficult. People make the smallest and easiest things difficult. That's what makes Chile hard sometimes. Despite of this I love Chile. I love the warmth of the people, the food and the mountains. I also feel sad when I think of Chile. There are som many things that are wrong here. Crime, poverty, political apathy, political elitism, individualism..

It is difficult to resume one year in one paragraph. Nevertheless, my intention was not that, but rather send my thoughts to my beloved friend Torunn Berg which is now in India and has shared numerous of funny stories and warmth through her blog. You made my day Torunn. Thanks. I love and miss you. I will try to be as funny, sweet and intelligent as you.

...and I will try to give this blog some continuity.

Peace and love (as Torunn would say),

D