I think it is safe to say that we all understand everything changes. The seasons change, and with that the weather changes; we change, and as a result our attitude about life and how we live changes; technology changes, and consequently society changes. Times change. Time simply changes. So I have learned, especially during my time here in Chile, that means don’t bother making huge plans, don’t have high expectations for anything or anyone (except, maybe yourself), and don’t, I repeat, do not make hasty commitments because you just don’t know what will change. “Cambia, todo cambia” (“Change, everything changes”).
The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for Gretch and I. Since we have decided to live and work in Santiago, that has not only meant taking initiative and putting things into action (which we are both completely fine with), but also allowing for and accepting change. In our quest to find a place to live, we looked at so many different options- including, but not limited to, an all female hostel, which seemed more like a prison than a place to live; a quiet apartment in the “upside” of town, which we quickly discovered was out of our price range (and expectations); and an interesting house, which at first, we thought was our “diamond in the rough,” but upon returning to it, gave us a very eery feeling. I cannot describe the creepiness that eluded the place, but it was there- so, we crossed yet another off our list.
During this time of, what I would like to term, “treasure hunting,” I learned that it is very, very important to weigh out all of the options very carefully, in any decision. You never know just how you will feel about something the next day or, after having heard a very thorough and in-depth analysis from Gretchen, you may realize that the place really isn’t the “precious gem” you thought it was. I do not even know how many times my attitude toward a certain living situation changed during the entire process! It was, at times, a little frustrating, but I can say now, there are many more positive consequences from it than negative. One, we became more familiar with different areas around the city. Plus, I am slowly becoming more and more comfortable with public transportation (which is a God-send, by the way). Two, we were able to practice a lot of Spanish, with many different kinds of people. Three, we made a couple of friends that I would really like to keep in contact with. And, finally, the most postive result, we actually did find our treasure! Okay, maybe not, but we did find a great place to live! We are now living with a cute little Chilean woman named Monica, in a quiet little apartment. The rooms are nice, the rent is affordable, and it is very centrally located to everything in the city! Ah, its nice to know we found a good place to live. Its definitely an, “‘X’ marks the spot” feeling!
What a funny thing change is though. You don’t even recognize it until it has already taken over. It’s in how you look, how you feel, how you interact. Its in how the world and all its people interact. Thoreau said, “things do not change, we change.” I agree and disagree with this quote. I see it more as time and the world changing and, if we choose to, we can change too. We can grow; we can learn and experience; we can change. However, we have to want to grow; we have to want to learn; and we have to want to change. Ultimately though, I do believe that everything does change, because everything is connected. “Cambia, todo cambia.” I guess, its morely about how we choose to change.
I am so excited that life is full of changes and opportunities for growth! It keeps things very interesting. However, I am truly content in knowing that I will not be changing places to live for a while :-) But, then again, who knows? Things change, right?
