MUCHOS BESOS!

  Oye! Wednesday, I took the red-eye from Atlanta down to Santiago.  I couldn’t sleep the whole 10 hours until the end of the flight, and of course that meant I slept through breakfast.  The descent into Santiago was absolutely incredible.  We flew level with the coastal range for a majority of the stretch.  The coastal range is unlike any mountain range I’ve ever seen.  Contrary to the rolling hills I envisioned, the range was more like an endless stretch of super sharp, snowy peaks.  Even the small hills below had sharp ridges.  In other words, it was very very pretty.  Also, I think I saw a mountain goat.

            For my week in Santiago our 56-student group rented hotel rooms downtown, which are actually two bedroom suites with kitchen. The city is absolutely beautiful. It sits directly at the foot of the Andes Mountains.  We took a cart up el Cerro Cristobál (a hill) to an outdoor church where mass takes place over a view of Santiago.  The view of the city is indescribable and the pictures I took could never do the view justice (cue: check the pictures).  We almost had a 360 view of the entire city which is home to almost 6 million people.  It was huge to say the least. To get down the hill we took a sky rail which is like an indoor ski lift seat.  Another great way to see downtown Santiago from above.

Another great excursion was a visit to the home of Paulo Neruda. Paulo was one of Chile’s greatest poets as well one of the world’s most widely read under Shakespeare. He is also a Nobel Prize winner.  He had an obsession with boats, and his enormous and alternative home resembles a barco both from the inside and out. We also went wine tasting at a local vineyard. The vino was delicious and the grapes were so good. (P.S. The fruit in Chile is unbelievably good.) 

At night, my friends and I usually went out to the discotecas in Santiago for a night of dancing.  I’ve taught a few of mis amigos the simple steps of salsa, and we’ve all had the best time.  Usually Chileans hit the nightlife at around 2a.m. and stay out until 6 in the morning. I’ve called it an early night each time, as have the rest of us.

            My friends here are incredible people.  We’re from all over the US and everyone gets along so well.  We are having the most amazing time together.

            Today we drove from Santiago through the mountains and valleys to the coast where we live.  A local forest fire has made Vina del Mar fairly smoky, but hasn’t endangered many homes. The drive into Vina and Valpo was again, beautiful.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  The cities stretch several miles along the Pacific coast, and the buildings begin at the coastline and continue up the top of the hills.  I’ll post more pictures of the cities when I explore them.

            I finally got to meet my host family tonight, and I must say, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect situation.  My family hosts students often, and they communicate so well.  They know how to use simple clear Spanish with me, rather than the insanely fast and blurred Chilean slang.  I was crazy nervous, but when I met them I was put to ease instantly. They are absolutely wonderful.  Mi madre is always asking if I’m hungry or need something, kissing me, and keeps taking photos of me while I unpack.  I think we’re up to 9 pictures now.  She also just poked her head in my room and started dancing with me to let me know she learned some Portuguese tonight from her sister and she was trilingual. She’s fantastic. 

            I also have a baby sobrina (niece) named Andeaze pronounced A-na-ya.  It’s an African name because her father was Africano.  She is 6 months old and is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She likes to imitate faces you make at her, and she laughs all the time. Also, she never cries at night. BUENO! My host-brothers are so funny, and they love that I play futbol.  Everything is perfect. I’m convinced that this will be the best time of my life.