Finally I have internet of my own!

I finally have internet access in my house! It will be much easier to keep up this little old blog of mine.

Today we started classes! The teachers were so much easier to understand than the majority of the other people because they have taught English students before and realize that we need them to talk much much much slower than usual. Both professors have studied and taught in the United States for a period of time, and seem like really great teachers so far. They have a lot of passion and we will be doing much more than simply sitting in a Spanish class for hours and hours a day. Written Spanish (Español escrito) will be the most intensive, there are several assignments and class every day. The other class, about culture (Cultura hispañolamericana), will have a lot more interaction and field trips within the community and all over the region. Can't wait!

A few of us did our homework together today and it was just like the worksheets we had in high school only 3 times as much of it!! Oh well, that's why we're here I suppose. My prima (cousin) Constanza found us for a little while today in between classes - there are many students from Tarapaca that have chosen to help us with our time here and kind of take us under their wings - all of them study English. So we speak Spanish, they speak English, and we correct each other. It works quite well!

I am still receiving very strange looks and stares for my red hair and odd habit of exercising - no one does this here. There are a few gyms, but only men go and they only have a few weights to lift and that is all. When a redhead is seen running the streets for FUN, most people think I am a crazy person who has lost their way. Oh well, maybe they'll get used to me!

Tonight will be an early night for me, more class bright and early at 9 am (this is VERY early for Chilenos). The next time I write hopefully I will have a few more pictures to show you of the city of Arica!

Buenas noches.