Santiago Showers

We had a two day break from the rain, but it’s back and in full swing. I’m totally remembering the winter of 2006- specifically that )#(@)(*@&ing November when it rained- no, poured- for the WHOLE month without rest. As many of you know, I packed terribly. My friend Renee, who I’ve gone on a couple trips with, teases me that I pack “everything but what I need”. It’s totally true and embarrassing since I usually wear the same 5-6 outfits in any given month. Yet I still cannot pack. Anywho, the point of telling that is not to make myself look bad, but to point out that I left my Gore-Tex jacket in Seattle (along with all my other coats!) and was getting a little soaked until I got an umbrella today. Other Chileans are not as underprepared. In fact, they put Seattleites to shame when it comes to all-weather gear. Sure, we have REI and Gore-Tex to outfit us in the Northwest, but do we dare wear moonboots or snowboarding pants to English class when it’s raining cats and dogs? Definitely not. My students, and many passersby in other public places, are sporting the crap out of them though and it’s super amusing to me. ESPECIALLY when I see the Mariah Carey wannabes, with their all white snow-fits on; wedge-heel, faux-fur-trimmed moon boots and a flowery umbrella. Sans the wedge-heel boots, the snowsuits wouldn’t look so ridiculous if geared up for more heavy-duty outdoor activities, but for god’s sake to protect you from. . . RAIN??? Too, too funny. I guess if they (the Mariah Carey wannabes and others with full snowsuits) had been at the bus stop the other day, they’d be dry and laughing at me with my wet ass, so who’s to judge. Either way, it’s been a great point of amusement for me . . . being all tough and desensitized to the rain.