El Teniente - Copper Mine

Ohh today was a trying day...we went to the copper mine today only about an hour and half away. I woke up around 6:45 to get to the office on time at 8 am. The copper mine provided us transportation. I don't know why half the group didn't want to go...??? I mean this wasn't something we could have done on our own and don't underground copper mines sound appealing?? So we had this tour guide, this old balding man with only white hair in a ring around his head. Sighs....he was talking about how Argentina has an advantage bc it could trade with it was facing its major trade partner, Europe, and could send ships right on over across the Atlantic. But Chile has an advantage bc it faces ITS partners, China, Japan...all of Asia. AND THIS OLD MAN PROCEEDS TO PULL BACK HIS EYES, indicating the 'chink eye' that we all know too well about. OMG I kid you not. SIGHSSS I gave him the dirtiest look while my own friends proceeded to look at me to see my reaction. Of course I was disgusted. I wanted to rip him one right there. And as I was still trying to process all of this, a few sentences later, he comes over to my side and he asks me in front of everyone, are you from Asia. No. You're not from Japan, China...? No the United States. .......... And he gave up and continued talking. Those few words hardly came out out of my mouth I was so pissed. What the fuck what the fuck why do people ALWAYS ask me the same thing?!! Something like where are you from, the United States, BUT you have Asian origin? OR Are you from Asia, no the US, BUT what is your origen? Always the BUT or hesitance or something goddamit. Stop trying to put me into a category. If I let you label me, then you'll start fiddling with all these stereotypes in your head. Why aren't you satisfied with my answer, it's what you asked. God I could go on. The reason why he asked, apparently, his next sentence was that a lot of Chinese, Japanese and Indians visit the mines looking to buy. Even if this guy had asked Carmen Gloria, our Resident Director, she would have told him that I was Korean since that's what she told my host family too, wtfff. Wow I can't believe she's 61, she looks soooooo much younger than that.
Well then we put on our silly gear. Headlight, hard hat, orange safety jacket, belt with heavy light container and emergency oxygen, heavy boots. Goddang it I am NOT that small and the stupid belt would NOT stay on me, I had to readjust it so many times, eventually it just fell to the ground while I was walking so I instead carried it but then someone told me to put it on. It was ridiculous!
So we got to walk through the tunnels it was really dark and wet but our boots and headlights saved us. First we got to sit at these computers and use a joystick to control machinery thousands of meters away and we started moving things, drilling things, hehe. Then we got to watch this drilling happen and picked up some rocks with copper on it. Then we got to see some natural crystals growing. Then the rocks being crushed in this huge gobbler haha. I guess I was expecting huge mines where we would be standing on cliffs, but I guess that's just for coal. Did you know that Chile produces 40% of the world's copper, thus the largest producer in the world? The United States, Japan and China are next. And then Japan and China are the biggest consumers of Chile's copper. Neat-o.
We finally emerged from the copper mines to eat lunch at the cafeteria, I was starving so I gobbled eveerything up. When I go back to the states, I am going to cherish food even more then I already do, bc goddang food sucks here so badly. I already ranted about that. But I want to make jello with fresh fruits in it, what an interesting idea.
We then walked around the town, saw old photographs. Lots of (US) Americans came to these mines and helped in its modernization and industrialization thus putting Chile on the map. One guy, Braden, was from Indiana and graduated from Boston University, whoaa!! We went to this bowling alley, you know entertainment for people. OMGGGGGGGG. My mind is so confused. So the whole town, about 2000 m above sea level, was very close to the Andes bc the mines are located there and the water from the snow melting from the Andes supplies the mines. Well there was frickin SNOWWW on the ground like huge chunks like maybe after a winter storm a few days of sun afterwards when there are still mounds of snow that you want to kcik around WHAT?!! So we're supposed to be in spring, although we came from summer in the States, but we just experienced winter, and then now we're coldd surrounded by snow and snow capped mountains and then in a few weeks we'll be back in freezing Boston weather? My body is just too confused ><"" We also went thru this museum where there were lots of old things like an old typewriter, clock, phones, photographs, records, I really like old antiques like this!!! We just walked around for a bit, of course we had to stop inside a church. We walked through this 'house' that was made out of metal walls. As I smiled at this miner who walked by, he then asked if I was Japanese or Chinese, the smile instantly turned into a frown....goddang it. At least the others feel sympathy but they can't feel empathy. Anyone could really look Chilean here except for blacks and Asians... Goddangit. And it's just me, bc there is another person of color on the trip, but she is very light skinned, could be taken for Hispanic even. And well he definitely didn't approach her in front of everyone to say anything to HER. Godd.. And then we drove back home...
It was almost dark, we all wanted to eat, I had this awesome pizza and of course natural juice, Chileans love this, and then omg we went to McDonalds for dessert lol. They have these McCafe's here that is kind of fancy, has fancy little desserts for a reasonable price, kind of reminds me of Starbucks desserts. I had a chiquito macchiato and this layered yummlicious cake. I have a lottt of dessert here.
Last night, we had dinner and wine at this Chilean restaurant. We also had some of cousre infamous Bravissimo ice cream. I say of course bc it's what we alwayss dooo...>< Something terrible happened on the way back, god I hate drinking, nvm that.
All in all it was a fun entertaining day, now back to my essay omg!!
Pictures at picasa: http://picasaweb.google.com/angelalalam

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