The start of the week in Valparaíso was lovely. The people at La Casa Azul are very welcoming, both the volunteers and guests. There’s people from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, etc., I love the mix of Spanish dialects that my ears are getting accustomed to. I love that when I’m trying to remember a word in English, I can only think of it in Spanish. I love speaking Spanish to the sweet older woman who owns a restaurant down the block from our hostel. It’s genuinely fun to speak Spanish as a second language and have this opportunity to meet people that I otherwise wouldn’t have. I’m seeing how many doors are opening because I know Spanish.
My first full day in Valparaíso, on October 22nd, consisted of a morning volunteer shift. It was a really easy shift because it included cleaning the bathrooms, floors, and kitchen and then setting up the table for breakfast where we all ate together. Every morning there’s bread with jam and coffee for the volunteers and guests. After eating and speaking with people, we cleaned up and learned some things about reception. Before I knew it, my shift was over and one of the guests invited me to go walk around with him. We ended up going with another volunteer as well, walking down and up stairs throughout the town, seeing murals everywhere in the streets, and stopping by several art exhibits. It was so amazing to speak Spanish with them and see some of Valparaíso. This town is so vibrant and filled with art, it fills my heart to finally be here after trying to travel here for the last 3 years.
We got these amazing hot dog things at a food truck called “Completos” and ate them on the beach while we played a card game. It was such a great day, however, I did pick up some bug and ended up getting sick for just over a week which resulted in time spent resting in the hostel. The silver lining in this is that I got to talk to several guests and make connections which I’ve loved. I’ve met lots of Europeans, lots of Chileans, and a handful of people from other Latin American countries. One person in particular that stood out to me was Marcos, a man from Brazil who is probably 65 or so. I remember when I first spoke with him and he asked me what I had studied in the university, I was nervous to tell him because of the backlash I often got from older men about my liberal arts studies. I reluctantly told him about my psychology and Spanish degree and he met me with nothing but excitement. We ended up having conversations about psychology all week. He also told me stories about his travels from earlier in life and we ended up being very like-minded. I love that a 22 year old woman from the states and a 65 year old man from Brazil can be so similar even with such different backgrounds. This just goes to show how similar we can be with people from all over the world. It may feel like we could never bond with someone from such a different culture and place but that’s just small minded thinking and I’m glad Marcos helped me see that.
I’ve decided to journal about all of the special souls that I meet because that might be the most impactful thing from traveling. While I had an idea of what it’d be like to work in a hostel, I never imagined how many different people I would get to talk to. I love working in La Casa Azul because the environment is amazing. I love cooking meals with the other volunteers or guests, I love checking people in and hearing about the purpose of their trip, I love cleaning the house and following the mission statement of making it feel like a home away from home. It’s truly beginning to feel like that for myself as well. I love the movement here, how normal it is to spend 10 minutes walking up or down the stairs just to get to your home or to the store. I love seeing people I recognize in the neighborhoods and saying hello. I love reading feminist quotes painted on the steps. Even the litter here is artistic, pieces of paper with inspirational quotes written on them. I love that I want to be here and that I have that choice and ability.
My days have been filled with so much walking, exploring markets, buying fresh veggies from street vendors, exploring museums or art exhibits, getting piercings, going to the climbing gym, watching the sunsets by the ocean, and spending time at the hostel. It feels amazing to be building a community here in Valparaíso.
I‘ve been being in the moment for many days, not taking photos or thinking about my blog, which I think is a healthy transition. I’m feeling less touristy everyday I’m here and for that I’m thankful. I still have a list of sights to see but it’s amazing to not be in a rush to cross things off of that list. It’ll happen when it happens…
Ciao <3