Winter. Fin.

Well it finally feels like winter in Santiago, and my classes just ended for the semester. It was really sad saying goodbye to my students, they all seemed genuinely sad to see me leaving, which is sweet. I am so happy I decided to come on this adventure, I had so much fun teaching, and realized it is something I can really see myself doing. I also met so many amazing people during my time here, students, gringos, Chileans, Portuguese, French. . . I am especially so glad I met my roommates; we really bonded quickly and became like a family, it will be so hard to say goodbye to them (and the amazing view). I am headed to the U.S. soon, so I can look forward to summer, which will be weird. Even weirder I think will be all the English speaking, I definitely am not used to that anymore. I will miss the crazy Chilean spanish, the wine and pisco, the cat calls because I'm an exotic "rubia," the completos and french fries and empanadas and palta, I will miss this city. I have learned so much here, and it will always feel like a home to me.

Strip club below our apartment

Urban art tour

Although classes are soon to be wrapping up for the first semester before winter break, it feels a lot more like spring in Santiago. After all the crazy rain and flooding two weeks ago, the weather is now back to sunny and 70s. On Saturday, we went on a guided tour of murals painted on buildings in barrio San Miguel. It was very cool, definitely a different way to see art. Here are just a few of the murals, all painted on the sides of 4-story apartment buildings. . .

Brennan visits

Last week, Brennan visited me here in Santiago. He was only here for a week, so we just stayed in the city. He came to one of my classes. . he even learned some Spanish :) We watched a Red Wings game at California Cantina, went to the TeachingChile barbeque at the hostel, took the funicular up to the top of Cerro San Cristobol to see the Virgin statue in the pouring rain (we had the place all to ourselves), and I even got him to drink wine and he liked it. I had a really great week, it was so nice to see him.

Familia visits Chile!

The first week of May, I got a very exciting visit from my parents, Shelly, Josh, Aunt Julie, and Uncle Craig. It was a week full of activities. We went to Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, and wine tour and tasting in the Casablanca valley at Emiliana, an organic vinyard. We also visited the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, Costanera Center (aka the coolest mall ever), Mercado Central, Plaza de Armas, Los Dominicos, and climbed the 2 hour trek up Cerro San Cristobol. My roommates and I even threw them a party at our apartment. I was so happy they had a good time in Santiago :)

It was a fun filled weekend in Santiago. Friday night we went with the roommates to a bar near Bellavista, there was a band there playing Cumbia, and I tried my first terremoto (wine, granadina- a sweet liquor, and pineapple ice cream). There was a lot of dancing :) Saturday afternoon, after an "American breakfast" of eggs, chorizo, french toast, Budweiser, and orange juice, we went to an asado (bbq) in a park. Here, I tried my first choripan (literally a chorizo sausage on bread). Saturday night, we went to a house party nearby. Sunday morning/ afternoon was spend making forts in the living room and playing the newly invented kiwi ball (a variation of baseball using kiwis and a broom, and standing on chairs for bases). It was a beautiful day, probably the clearest day since I have been here in Santiago. You could see the mountains clearly, it was also almost 90 degrees, so Sarah and I spent a couple hours at Sophie's place tanning on the roof next to the pool. It was a great weekend :)

Also, last night, Sarah and I had sushi near our apartment. We were sitting at a table outside, and before we left a man who had been selling jewelry came up and sheepishly placed a bracelet in from of me, saying it was a "regalo" (gift). It was the cutest thing.

Gringas making dinner

Our new plants :) 

My apartment

Finally found the perfect apartment! I am pretty much all moved in, my room just needs some decorations. I live with two other girls from TeachingChile, who teach private lessons for the Language Company, and two guys from Portugal. It is a lot of fun so far, we have had a couple small parties already, there is always a mix of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French going on here. And the best part is the apartment is only a ten minute walk to my work. Also, the view is amazing. The pictures here do not do it justice. We have pretty much a 180 degree view of the whole city, and the Andes mountains behind it seem like a fake backdrop. Usually they are hard to see behind the haze and smog, but it's pretty breathtaking on a clear day.

View from my bedroom window

Sunset

Park next to my apartment

Collage storage :) 

Living room/ dining area

View from living room window at night

Semana Santa

Classes at DuocUC ended Thursday afternoon, for Semana Santa, and Friday morning Sophie, Hasan, and I went to Concon (next to Viña del Mar) to visit our friend Nick. On Friday night he hosted an asado (bbq) at his condo, and he gave us surfing lessons on Saturday, it was a lot of fun. I am surprised to say I was even able to stand up and ride a couple waves, in between getting hit hard by them and swallowing mouthfuls of salt water. But overall, I am glad I got to try it, and I plan to visit again soon. 

Life and work in Santiago

I am into my second week of teaching now, and the more classes I teach, the more I love it! I love it when I feel like my students understand what I am trying to explain, or laugh at a joke I make. I am getting a feel for each of my classes, they are all different. Some students barely know any English, and I have to do a lot of explaining in Spanish, but others know a lot of English, and we have great conversations. So, I am just trying to figure out some fun activities to add to the book exercises, because the classes are 90 minutes each. I have Mondays off, I teach Tuesday/Thursday 11:30am-1pm, and 5:30-7pm, and 4 classes on Wednesday/Friday between 2:30 and 10:45pm.

Besides teaching, I have been trying to see some different parts of Santiago. On Monday I walked up cerro Santa Lucia, which is a hill with castle like structures leading up to a viewing area overlooking the city. Hostel life is getting a little old; it's like living in the dorms again, which can be fun, but also very cramped. I do miss my mom's cooking a lot already. Sadly, my diet so far consists of bread, crackers/chips, avocado, cheese, and cookies; good thing I am doing a lot of walking.

Ironically Cristal is probably the least classy beer here

Santa Lucia

St. Patty's Day Chilean Style

View from Santa Lucia

Adorable kittens in pet store 

Perros

Just a random thought I wanted to share about dogs here in Chile. Many people here own dogs, but there are also tons of stray dogs because no one neuters there pets. However, every single dog I have seen here is SO ADORABLE (not as cute as Missy though, so it just makes me miss her more). The stray dogs pretty much do whatever they want, such as sleeping in the most random places like the middle of the street or sidewalk, etc.

Bus parking spot

Park garden 

Bus stop

DuocUC orientation

I started orientation at Duoc this week, at the main campus, which is the same location I will be teaching at. The English program faculty that we met are all very nice and welcoming, and the building is very cool. We had meetings on the 15th floor, and there was a big balcony overlooking the whole city, it was really pretty. I am very excited, and nervous to start teaching. They told us it will be difficult and rewarding, and warned us about students not paying attention. I'm not sure exactly what to expect.

Looking all professional and sunburnt 

DuocUC, Antonio Varas location

one view from the top story balcony 

Santiago Arrival and Viña del Mar

I finally made it to Santiago yesterday, the journey felt like it took forever, but there were no problems, so I was happy. The hostel is really nice, my room is crowded, with 3 bunk beds full of girls, and the bathrooms are tiny too, I don't know how I am going to live here for 30 days. Anyways, I have meet some really cool people so far. Right after I got here and showered, I went wandering with Hasan (from England), Mike (from Miami), and Sophie (from Chicago. And we have the exact same birthday!). We got some food and drinks, then came back to hang out at the hostel, where we decided we should go to the beach the following day (I really pushed this idea). So I got up at 8, which is early for me, to make sure they were all up to head to Viña del Mar. It is a 2 hour bus ride from Santiago, very cute city. It was so nice to be laying on a beach, I got too excited and decided not to wear sunscreen on anywhere but my face in order to speed up my tan. Of course, now i feel like a lobster and it hurts to move, so in retrospect that was a horrible idea. I wish I would have known about the hole in the ozone layer here. Anyways, I just wanted to put some pics up of some stuff I've seen so far. 

View flying over the Andes Mountains

Near Hostel Providencia

Hamberguesa con palta (hamburger with avocado)

Beach at Viña del Mar

Me and Sophie (Birthday twins! Born on Mothers day 1990)