Of course not! Apologies for the time spent away! To be honest, I've had little time to sit down and update this site to the best of my ability since I'm more a fan of doing everything in one go rather than a little here and a little there. Well, there's a lot to cover, so it's time to get started!
After the last blog, I spent 2 rather mundane days going to class and coming straight home to do homework. The real fun began on Thursday night. Our coordinator, Evelyn, had sent us a flyer with information about the International Festival for Contemporary Music taking place that weekend at the University of Chile campus. It seemed like a cool opportunity, so I asked the other students in the program if they wanted to get dinner and go to the performance. We first went to a Peruvian restaurant, El Ahí Seco (click here for the yums!), and boy, was it amazing! I'm seriously considering working in Peru in the future partly because the food is so good. After the delicious meal, a group of us headed to the performance.
After the last blog, I spent 2 rather mundane days going to class and coming straight home to do homework. The real fun began on Thursday night. Our coordinator, Evelyn, had sent us a flyer with information about the International Festival for Contemporary Music taking place that weekend at the University of Chile campus. It seemed like a cool opportunity, so I asked the other students in the program if they wanted to get dinner and go to the performance. We first went to a Peruvian restaurant, El Ahí Seco (click here for the yums!), and boy, was it amazing! I'm seriously considering working in Peru in the future partly because the food is so good. After the delicious meal, a group of us headed to the performance.
So here's the flyer for the performance. Pretty straightforward, right? A guy totally focused on his cello, artistically arranged staffs and notes--this looks like a flyer for a wonderful night of classical music. WRONG. Well, wrong for those who don't look twice at the word contemporánea.
We were a bit late and so the performance hall was full with people even standing at the stairs leading to the seats. We were hit with a blast of hot, stuffy air when we squeezed our way through the standing figures, which only meant one thing: no air conditioner. Through all this we weren't focusing on the sounds coming from the stage until we stepped out of the hall to figure out whether whether or not we would stay and find seats. I think Charlotte put it well: "It sounded like bees in there!" Curiosity got the best of us and we went in to find two seats--and we were five people. Somehow we all managed to squish ourselves in, either into the seats or against the wall. So much effort for...well, this:
We were a bit late and so the performance hall was full with people even standing at the stairs leading to the seats. We were hit with a blast of hot, stuffy air when we squeezed our way through the standing figures, which only meant one thing: no air conditioner. Through all this we weren't focusing on the sounds coming from the stage until we stepped out of the hall to figure out whether whether or not we would stay and find seats. I think Charlotte put it well: "It sounded like bees in there!" Curiosity got the best of us and we went in to find two seats--and we were five people. Somehow we all managed to squish ourselves in, either into the seats or against the wall. So much effort for...well, this:
This song goes into a silence about a minute long and then starts up again. And trust me, this wasn't the worst of it. However, I can say that our group did have a pretty good time. It was pretty funny siting in that room and trying to stifle our laughter. There were people in the audience who actually liked this stuff!
After about 30 minutes of contemporary nonsense, we headed off to find the area crawling with carabineros (click here for more info about these scary people!). All crises were averted, but we found ourselves in other interesting situation. Let's call it Politically Incorrect Clown vs. Surprised Miki (check out her blog!). This very same clown later decided to make a NSFW balloon--shape--for Charlotte (and her blog too!).
After about 30 minutes of contemporary nonsense, we headed off to find the area crawling with carabineros (click here for more info about these scary people!). All crises were averted, but we found ourselves in other interesting situation. Let's call it Politically Incorrect Clown vs. Surprised Miki (check out her blog!). This very same clown later decided to make a NSFW balloon--shape--for Charlotte (and her blog too!).
The next day Evelyn took us to start the process of validating our student visas. The hours from approximately from 9 am to 3 pm were spent doing boring but necessary things in order to get our identification cards. However, this blog is for fun stuff, so here's a list of the more interesting things that happened that Friday:
Saturday night was yet another night of surprises. Pablo and Alvaro took us out for more sightseeing, and we went to see a play called El centauro y el animal. O__O Talk about contemporary, abstract, weirdness. The theatre was pretty though!
- I was dumb and put yogurt in my purse. It exploded in there while I was in the most inconvenient of places: in line at the police station.
- I had some really unflattering pictures taken of me. And no, I will not be showing proof. For some reason, when it comes to government photos, I'm not very photogenic.
- We went to the mall and I tried some amazing frozen yogurt from Yogen Fruz. Oh my goodness, so good! Fresh fruits of your picking are mixed into natural yogurt or chocolate fro-yo, making for such a refreshing taste!
Saturday night was yet another night of surprises. Pablo and Alvaro took us out for more sightseeing, and we went to see a play called El centauro y el animal. O__O Talk about contemporary, abstract, weirdness. The theatre was pretty though!
Afterward, we had a very fun time in the Bellavista neighborhood (bars, cafes, clubs, and lots of gringos!). What a night!
On Monday after classes, I went with a group to Cerro San Cristobal, the principal hill of Santiago topped with a 45-foot statue of the Virgin Mary. What a climb! I was definitely not expecting such a tiring walk, but I was very thankful for the fact that Manina had packed me refreshments specifically for the climb.
On Monday after classes, I went with a group to Cerro San Cristobal, the principal hill of Santiago topped with a 45-foot statue of the Virgin Mary. What a climb! I was definitely not expecting such a tiring walk, but I was very thankful for the fact that Manina had packed me refreshments specifically for the climb.
On Wednesday we went on another fun-filled tour with Pablo and Alvaro. We went to La Vega (a large market for fruits and vegetables--their fresh strawberry juice is just the thing for a hot day), El Mercado Central (the prime place for fresh seafood), La Piojera (a bar cantina where we happened to spend the bulk of our time being the rowdy gringos that we are...based on my sober observations, everyone got tipsy within 30 minutes), and La Estacion Mapocho (a beautiful old train station with a temporary art exhibit for us to play with!).
And since I love slideshows...
And since I love slideshows...
Two days later on Friday the host moms and students had a get-together at one of the homes. We were on the 13th floor (not unlucky here!) and had a beautiful view of the city lights, sunset, and purple mountains. It was especially nice to laugh and talk with everyone with tons of food and good company!
Afterward I had an unfortunate experience on the taxi ride home. Not to worry, nothing terrible happened! More irritating than anything in fact. I was the last person out of four tobe dropped off, and this taxista didn't seem to have a clue about my neighborhood. He was also driving quite fast, which made it even more difficult for me, someone who still has a shaky sense of directions when it comes to this vast city. It even got to the point that he was telling me that I didn't know where I lived and that I must have the wrong street number. Well EXCUSE ME MR. TAXISTA BUT THIS GURL BE KNOWIN' WHERE SHE LIVES AND IF SHE HAS TO TAKE ANY MORE OF YO' LIP SHE AIN'T PAYIN' YOU NADA. Yeah, if only I could have said that. My Spanish skills are still insufficient at this point, and I had to pay my full fare despite my stammered attempt at bringing the price down. In time...in time...
The next day, Saturday, we went to the beautiful Valparaíso, land of seafood, hilly neighborhoods, amazing graffiti, and overall wonderfulness. Go to my new section, Beyond Santiago, for the full story and pics! Later that night, when we were back in Santiago, a few of us went out with Pablo and Alvaro. Oh, the shenanigans! Let's just say that my first experience of culture shock was when I saw the bus stops in downtown Santiago filled with partygoers returning home at 5 am. Honestly, I felt quite safe on the bus, which was packed with people! This is definitely not a common occurrence in the U.S.
Sunday was spent in a haze of relaxation. Cynthia and Juan Renee (Jr.) took me to Paine, a small pueblito out in the countryside 40 minutes from Santiago, to hang out with the rest of the family at their previous home that they still own. I walked into the courtyard and saw such a cute sight: all three babies (Damian, Emilia, Renato) splashing around in the pool! Eeee!!!
Yesterday was the first day of the last week of orientation classes. We're almost at the finish line! I've learned quite a bit within the past month about Spanish grammar, Chilean vocab, literature, history of the dictatorship, etc. However, 6 hours of class every day is difficult. I've woken up a few times wanting nothing more than to stay in bed, but I have to push myself so I don't give in to that desire. With the end of this week (two finals on Friday!) commences Part 2 of this grand adventure! Until then!
Afterward I had an unfortunate experience on the taxi ride home. Not to worry, nothing terrible happened! More irritating than anything in fact. I was the last person out of four tobe dropped off, and this taxista didn't seem to have a clue about my neighborhood. He was also driving quite fast, which made it even more difficult for me, someone who still has a shaky sense of directions when it comes to this vast city. It even got to the point that he was telling me that I didn't know where I lived and that I must have the wrong street number. Well EXCUSE ME MR. TAXISTA BUT THIS GURL BE KNOWIN' WHERE SHE LIVES AND IF SHE HAS TO TAKE ANY MORE OF YO' LIP SHE AIN'T PAYIN' YOU NADA. Yeah, if only I could have said that. My Spanish skills are still insufficient at this point, and I had to pay my full fare despite my stammered attempt at bringing the price down. In time...in time...
The next day, Saturday, we went to the beautiful Valparaíso, land of seafood, hilly neighborhoods, amazing graffiti, and overall wonderfulness. Go to my new section, Beyond Santiago, for the full story and pics! Later that night, when we were back in Santiago, a few of us went out with Pablo and Alvaro. Oh, the shenanigans! Let's just say that my first experience of culture shock was when I saw the bus stops in downtown Santiago filled with partygoers returning home at 5 am. Honestly, I felt quite safe on the bus, which was packed with people! This is definitely not a common occurrence in the U.S.
Sunday was spent in a haze of relaxation. Cynthia and Juan Renee (Jr.) took me to Paine, a small pueblito out in the countryside 40 minutes from Santiago, to hang out with the rest of the family at their previous home that they still own. I walked into the courtyard and saw such a cute sight: all three babies (Damian, Emilia, Renato) splashing around in the pool! Eeee!!!
Yesterday was the first day of the last week of orientation classes. We're almost at the finish line! I've learned quite a bit within the past month about Spanish grammar, Chilean vocab, literature, history of the dictatorship, etc. However, 6 hours of class every day is difficult. I've woken up a few times wanting nothing more than to stay in bed, but I have to push myself so I don't give in to that desire. With the end of this week (two finals on Friday!) commences Part 2 of this grand adventure! Until then!
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