I am Eileen Smith. ExBrooklynite, current Santiaguina (Santiago, Chile dweller). Here’s some datos (facts) you might want to know.

I write.
Alot. Excessively, even. I write here, and professionally. Daily or nearly so for MatadorNetwork and NileGuide (Santiago-specific blog and I’m their Santiago Expert). Here’s some stuff I’ve written recently. If you’d like me to review a service or product, contact me at bearshapedsphere at hotmail.com. Samples/examples provided.

I translate.
I do Spanish to English translations for travel comapanies, universities, insurance companies, individuals, etc. My areas of expertise are tourism and education/communication. Contact me for rates (bearshapedsphere at hotmail.com). I do not translate English to Spanish.

I take photos.
I photograph kids, candid shots, sports and landscapes for money and for fun.
I have had many photos published on-line, but am still working on print. I put some of my pictures on my Flickr page.

I ride a bike.
Mainly an 11-year old Bianchi Boardwalk Hybrid (white). I lock it with a kryptonite lock which someone tried to saw through recently, and that made me mad, but they didn’t get my steed. Mwahahah. I ride around the city and go on longer jaunts, and ride the overnight bikeride to Valparaíso on December 7th almost every year. Yes, it’s 120 km. No, that’s not the most I’ve ever ridden. I’ve done self-guided, multi-day tours in the United States, Chile, Costa Rica and New Zealand.

I love language.
I studied theoretical linguistics in college, and half of a Master’s in English language teaching pedagogy, and about five years of English teaching experience. I don’t teach English anymore, but I still love language, and write about it often, particularly my relationship with Spanish. My favorite thing I’ve written about language learning to date is this, and it’s set to be republished in a textbook next year.

I am from Brooklyn, NY.
My living trajectory has looked like this: Brooklyn–>Amherst, MA–>San Francisco, CA–>Amherst MA–>Central America–>Portland OR–>Washington, DC–>Portland, OR–>Cuenca, Ecuador–>Washington, DC–>Santiago, Chile. I left home when I was 17, graduated from college in 7 semesters and have been living in Chile for seven years. Almost every place I’ve ever lived has had a 5 in the address. Want to know more? Just ask.

I have a Law Degree.
It seemed like a good idea at the time. I am frequently asked why I would be a writer/journalist/web content developer when I could be a lawyer. In a ridiculous moment of clarity and snark, I once said to someone “Don’t you wish you had a job you loved?” I’m nicer now, but I still urge you to ask yourself that question.

I tweet.
@bearshapedspher In English and Spanish about Chile and not.

I answer questions.
Got one? Let me know, and I’ll see what I can find out.

Wondering why this blog is called bearshapedsphere? Seek and you shall find answers. Here.