Hello a todos! The earliest and longest day of class has ended - every Thursday we'll have class from 8 am - 2 pm. THEN we go home to eat our lunch. Today wasn't as bad - our middle class met downtown en La Feria, the temporary fair with artists and craftsmen from all over Chile and other parts of South America. We have been a few different times, but this time we learned the cultural aspects of it with our professor Miria Luque. She is part Aymara - an indigenous tribe still present in Chile. Saturday she's taking us on a little excursion to El Valle Aymara to learn more about their culture and ways of living. Please await some good pictures :)
Classes are sure moving forward quickly - I have a good 2, 3 hours of homework tonight just due for tomorrow. I know I know, I knew it would be intensive, but we were sure spoiled with that first week of goofing off. Now down to business!!
Coming home from La Feria today we took a bus because we needed to get back for our 3rd class in time. This bus would not be ALLOWED to run in the U.S. Hopefully I will get a chance to take a picture next time I see it - it's called the Micro and it cost 350 pesos - our equivalent of maybe 70 cents. I thought we were going to explode.
All the professors are really great and interesting, it's just long class periods! There are always 1 1/2 - 2 hour blocks because we have such a short amount of time here. Today it was rough - the weather outside is more perfect than usual and I just wanted to walk all day long.
I have been having great food still - no repeats yet! Today's lunch was something very similar to your tuna noodles, Mom, and yesterday we had a delicious brothy soup with rice and a mix of veggies and meat to follow. I have also developed a strong attachment to avacados - "paltas" here. They are fresh and we just eat them like it's a piece of fruit - peel and eat! I had one for breakfast and yesterday another one with my lunch. I can't get enough! I ate a snack at Nolan's last night and his mama Karla had these small yellow fruits - guayava I think - that were DELICIOUS. The cheese here is better too, have I mentioned that?
I drink the coffee here, but I've been spoiled by Elly's and my coffee and school. It is bitter and instant, ALL instant. I drink it and it is just fine, but I can't wait for that first cup of Starbucks in the airport in Atlanta on August 4th!
Tonight we have nothing crazy planned, more classes tomorrow! I think we'll go the El Centro to hang out and walk around - Nolan and I want to try some more foods in restaurants. Love the food at home but curious to see what they serve here.
Time for homework!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Weekend fun
Last night was the celebration for Arica's 200th birthday, so we went down to La Plaza near El Morro (a huge cliff) and watched the dancers and singers and fireworks! Before that I did....absolutely nothing. This weekend has been so relaxing! Saturday, we went to the beach and walked the whole way (about an hour) and ran into a parade celebrating the weekend. We couldn't find the rest of the group on the HUGE beach so we just plopped down and ate our almuerzo! After awhile, we walked back the way we came and finally found everyone. A very few of us were brave enough to get into the cold water - I mean COLD. the only reason I could stay in it was because the bottom half of my body went numb :P The waves were awesome, too! There were a lot of wind surfers that were fun to watch too. I will never have the strength or the courage to do that!
Yesterday, once again, we had nothing we had to do. It feels so good to say that! I got up early and went to church with my grandma; I actually understood much of what was said - that may have been because I had a program with all the words in it too, but still. I sat with her boyfriend Carlos and she was up front where the rest of the lectors sat. After Mass I went back to bed for about an hour, then Nolan came over for lunch. The room was FULL with family members and we had a great meal. Salad (their style with little lettuce and a lot of veggies), rice, chicken, potatoes, and of course started with ceviche, the Chilean dish of lemon fish - actually quite delicous! Aside from the orange guts mixed in, yucky. After we ate I went for another snooze up in my room and later on watched a movie in bed with my mom Soledad while we ate chocolate. Ended the night with those fireworks by El Morro and went to bed!!
Today we did a whole lot of nothing again (I'm getting way to comfortable with doing whatever I want all day long) but we did have an orientation at the school. We met some profesoras, got to know the library, and walked a little around campus. After that, a whole lot of nothin :) Tomorrow classes begin, we'll see how I feel after a whole day of those!!
The pictures here are of El Morro - the place where Chileans beat Peru 200 years ago, and some of the group at a local hang out place called "Chill Out," where you go and literally just...chill out. Aaand a toilet at the university. Without toilet paper. And without a seat. Enjoy!!
Yesterday, once again, we had nothing we had to do. It feels so good to say that! I got up early and went to church with my grandma; I actually understood much of what was said - that may have been because I had a program with all the words in it too, but still. I sat with her boyfriend Carlos and she was up front where the rest of the lectors sat. After Mass I went back to bed for about an hour, then Nolan came over for lunch. The room was FULL with family members and we had a great meal. Salad (their style with little lettuce and a lot of veggies), rice, chicken, potatoes, and of course started with ceviche, the Chilean dish of lemon fish - actually quite delicous! Aside from the orange guts mixed in, yucky. After we ate I went for another snooze up in my room and later on watched a movie in bed with my mom Soledad while we ate chocolate. Ended the night with those fireworks by El Morro and went to bed!!
Today we did a whole lot of nothing again (I'm getting way to comfortable with doing whatever I want all day long) but we did have an orientation at the school. We met some profesoras, got to know the library, and walked a little around campus. After that, a whole lot of nothin :) Tomorrow classes begin, we'll see how I feel after a whole day of those!!
The pictures here are of El Morro - the place where Chileans beat Peru 200 years ago, and some of the group at a local hang out place called "Chill Out," where you go and literally just...chill out. Aaand a toilet at the university. Without toilet paper. And without a seat. Enjoy!!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Hey to everyone!
Still no internet, so this will be a short one :)
Another great few days in Chile! Went to the beach yesterday, got a little sun, and fully numbed from the freezing water. The food here just keeps getting better and better - we went out for a little bit en El Centro last night and had pizza napolitano - it was flatbread, raw tomatoes, ham, and slices of cheese just literally melted on top! Que extrano! But it was delicious. My family had Nolan and I over for almuerzo today and we ate sooo much food but all of it was delicious!! I have been chosen by Nolan's mom to cook him his dinner and feed him because her mom is sick and she's going there. Ha. I have to go buy bread for her and cook! Whoo hoo!!
We start our school stuff tomorrow already - I can't believe we've been here for almost a week! We have an orientation to our program tomorrow and Tuesday classes begin :) Hopefully by then I will have my own internet at home to be able to update and go into more detail.
I am still doing ok with the language, they say I can speak pretty well and always understand me! I even went to Mass this morning with my abuela and understood a lot of what was said. Her boyfriend went with us and I can't get a single WORD that he mutters...so I just try and smie and say "Si" when it seems appropriate.
All for now, keep checking for better updates!!
Still no internet, so this will be a short one :)
Another great few days in Chile! Went to the beach yesterday, got a little sun, and fully numbed from the freezing water. The food here just keeps getting better and better - we went out for a little bit en El Centro last night and had pizza napolitano - it was flatbread, raw tomatoes, ham, and slices of cheese just literally melted on top! Que extrano! But it was delicious. My family had Nolan and I over for almuerzo today and we ate sooo much food but all of it was delicious!! I have been chosen by Nolan's mom to cook him his dinner and feed him because her mom is sick and she's going there. Ha. I have to go buy bread for her and cook! Whoo hoo!!
We start our school stuff tomorrow already - I can't believe we've been here for almost a week! We have an orientation to our program tomorrow and Tuesday classes begin :) Hopefully by then I will have my own internet at home to be able to update and go into more detail.
I am still doing ok with the language, they say I can speak pretty well and always understand me! I even went to Mass this morning with my abuela and understood a lot of what was said. Her boyfriend went with us and I can't get a single WORD that he mutters...so I just try and smie and say "Si" when it seems appropriate.
All for now, keep checking for better updates!!
Friday, June 4, 2010
La primera semana
I’m hoping to get internet by next week in my house, but until then I’ll just have to keep using other’s! Another day in Arica, Chile. The weather is exactly what we were told: it’s chilly in the mornings, hot in the afternoons, and as soon as the sun goes down you need a jacket again. I’m loving every minute though! The first 72 hours are over, and things are starting to click. My family still talks at the speed of light, but they are patient with me. This morning my Tia Lila (Aunt Lila) brought breakfast to me in bed and we talked a long time. Yesterday, I only understood every few words. Today, I understood almost everything. It could have been the subjects we were talking about, but I still felt good!
Last night we had a fiesta at one of the “parent’s” homes. All the families and all the students got together and had pizza (you wouldn’t have liked it Mom, it is sauceless and is literally bread with a sprinkle of cheese and raw veggies…DELICIOUS!) and dulces (cakes) for a student’s birthday coming up. We toasted with a pisco sour, it’s their signature drink of brandy and some lime and lemon and continued to party. We all decided we should probably familiarize ourselves with the discotecas of Arica, so we all went to a club called The Drake that’s on the beach. The cab cost the equivalent of $6 for FOUR of us, and it cost another $4 to get into the bar and that came with a free drink. We got there at about 1 a.m. and it was still pretty dead…yep. Dead at 1 a.m. They don’t close until 5 in the morning here but I came home a little early at 4. It’ll take some getting used to but I was a trooper!
On my way now to tour the campus and then the afternoon is free. We’ll probably go for some more walks and explore El Centro – the downtown area that is the place to be.
For those of you waiting to Skype, I’ll keep you updated! My house is having internet issues so please be patient and content with a blog update!
Chao!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
We made it!
We made it!! I do not have internet in my home, so I am at Nolan's house using his internet currently. Hopefully I will be able to access it freely once we start classes on Monday.
So far so good! Chileans speak sooo fast but I catch a word every few minutes :) No, but seriously, the Spanish is difficult but it is getting easier and easier already. My family is so very kind, 8 of them live in one home plus me!! Full house, but it is spacious and everyone is friendly.
I wish I had more time, but I don't!! Highlights from the trip so far: Seeing Lil Bow Wow in the Atlanta airport (truth), seeing Senator Grassley in the Des Moines airport, and getting lost on the way to the Centro on my first morning here....by myself. More to come, chao!
Ani (their name for me here =))
So far so good! Chileans speak sooo fast but I catch a word every few minutes :) No, but seriously, the Spanish is difficult but it is getting easier and easier already. My family is so very kind, 8 of them live in one home plus me!! Full house, but it is spacious and everyone is friendly.
I wish I had more time, but I don't!! Highlights from the trip so far: Seeing Lil Bow Wow in the Atlanta airport (truth), seeing Senator Grassley in the Des Moines airport, and getting lost on the way to the Centro on my first morning here....by myself. More to come, chao!
Ani (their name for me here =))
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