Shahid in Rehab

OK, it's been way too long since my last post, being punctual is not a Chilean thing, and it seems that it's one thing that I'm slowly adopting... Whoops. Firstly, props to Regan for the creative title. Pretty much sums up what I've been up to for the past month and a half. My road to recovery with my shoulders is still in progress, I started in mid-March with physiotherapy. Physiotherapy started pretty light, physio elastic bands and bouncy balls to help with my mobility. Then, it ramped up quite a bit. I got given a set of weights and a set of four exercises to build resistance, mass and strength in my delts, pecs, rotator cuff muscles, and biceps. Twice a week the physio came and we would add weight and repetitions, the process is quite time consuming, I had to work out three times every day with the weights and the cycle took around half and hour each time. I got used to my muscles being sore all the time, but a kind of reassuring soreness, since I knew I was getting stronger. Now my course of physio sessions is over, but the recovery still isn't. I've been left with the weights and have to do a 40min workout with them twice every day, commitment hasn't really been a problem since I'm keen to get back in shape, or even in better shape than I was before, and get out on the river to do what I love doing.

Early on in the process, this thing has grown a lot...

I guess, not that Regan knew it, but this title also has a second meaning. I'm in academic rehab. That is to say that I've spent so long doing hardly any academic work that I had to work quite hard to get back into the swing of it. This term is when I've really got to put in the hours for my year abroad project. Once I got back into the rhythm of studying and researching I started to have a really good time with my project. I've heard so many year abroad students moan about their projects and how tedious it is, but if you choose a theme that interests you then it shouldn't be an issue! My project focuses around the translation of a very experimental novel called 'Por la patria', by the Chilean authoress, Diamela Eltit. I'm not only trying to translate excerpts from the novel, but also investigating the philosophical, technical and ethical issues that surround the translation of such a work. I've been lucky enough to be in personal contact with Diamela, who has really helped me in my project. I have also received lots of support from Dick Gerdes and Ronald Christ, who are translators of other novels by Diamela. It'll be a massive advantage to get back to Cambridge and be able to talk about a novel that I've actually been able to discuss with the authoress of that novel!

Last week we had a long Easter weekend. I set off with Roberto and Consuelo to go to Santuario El Cañi, a conservation park near Pucón. It's a pretty big area of protected forest, lakes, hills and wildlife. We took the tent and headed off on a very rainy weekend, when we arrived late in the evening we hiked for a while in the dark, up quite a steep and muddy path to Melanie's house. Melanie, somebody who I worked with during my break in Pucón, lives at the entrance to the park and was kind enough to let us stay the night in one of the cabins next to her house. After an evening of listening to Melanie's dad, an Englishman, talk about experiences in the santuario, spirituality, nature, and other interesting things, we set off early in the morning. It's about 4hrs to the viewpoint, up the biggest hill in the park. The ascent is pretty easy and the views are incredible!

When I got back though, somebody had robbed my English phone from my room. Damn. So I am now unable to take any kind of decent photos, nor have any English numbers. A few people have asked why I never reply to my messages, that's why. If you do get a reply from my English phone, it will be from a thieving Chilean...

Today is my last day at work for a week or two. My parents arrive in Chile tomorrow! We're going to spend 10 days travelling around together and I'll be showing them around the country that I now call home. I am expecting it to be a little bit strange to see people from home, since I've spend the last eight months living a completely separate life, but it'll be great to see them again. I hope to update you soon on how our travels go. Hopefully I'll have regained by English punctuality by then!!!