Two Week Update (give or take a day)

Once again, all over the map.

I’ve been in Chile for about two weeks. I’m feeling comfortable with my host family and my classmates. People are pointing out how much my Spanish has improved. I’m feeling pretty settled in.

I met my second host mother, who happens to be the other inbound from my club's current host mother. She’s very nice, very welcoming. Doesn’t speak any English. I like where she lives: In a little apartment in a little apartment building right by some stores and vendors. I will be moving in with her in about 4.5 months.

I had the orientation yesterday, which was great. I didn't know what to expect. All the students from the district were there. The district is huge. It stretches from Santiago to at least as far as Talca, which almost a 5 hour drive. We arrived in Rancagua at 9:30, registered, and sat through a few hours of presentations. The presentations were almost exclusively about rules. I met tons of students from all over the world and gave out and received lots of pins and cards. We also saw the traditional Chilean dance, la cueca, performed after a lecture about drugs or something. 

After the presentations and dancing, we had a good lunch of beef, potatoes, salad, and an amazing juice. If there’s one thing Chileans have got down, it’s dessert. The dessert yesterday was awesome. I don’t know what it’s called, but I need a recipe (along with the recipe of every other dessert I've tried here so far).

Last week, my school took a field trip to the History Museum in Santiago. I did not realize how tragic the modern history of Chile is. The late 20th century was a violent, tumultuous time. It was a sobering trip.

On a totally different note, there are almost no police in this part of Santiago. I think I might have seen one police car around here. There are police all over downtown Santiago, though. Makes me appreciate living in a gated community.

I'll probably post again sometime this week. Chau.