Things have been a little crazy here this past week. There have been a group of men at the apartment all week tearing down wallpaper, painting the walls and tearing up floor tiles to replace them with new ones. This is all due to the fact that the earthquake in february caused some minor cosmetic damage to the apartment and my host mom decided to fix it all! At once! So, I've been coming home all week to a torn up apartment with no place to sit or even put my things. Plus, everything is covered in this horrible dust from all the sanding they've been doing and its starting to get to me. Luckily they seem to be finishing up so hopefully by the end of the weekend everything will be in place and I can have my own space again.
In other news, I had my first experience going out with Chileans last weekend and it was really fun! We started off the evening at an asado with some friends of Ashley and Eduardo. At first, everyone was busy socializing and talking in really fast Chilean Spanish that I couldn't understand. But, as the alcohol kept flowing and people loosened up, everyone was less shy and more interested in talking to me and getting to know me. By that point, I was also able to keep up with the conversation better. I thought all along that we were going to end up at the disco at some point but that didn't end up happening. Instead, everyone hung around drinking, eating and talking until 4AM (which is when the discos close here)! But, lucky me, I happened to be with a group that has the hook up for an after party. Basically what happens is: after the clubs close around 4, other establishments (mostly hotels) send out a chain of text messages to certain people inviting them to their location for what the Chileans literally call an "after-hour," that runs from 4-10AM! So, I was invited to this after party and it was a blast! It was pretty much like going to a disco except girls get in free, the drinks are way more expensive, and the DJs mostly play 80s music which apparently Chileans are crazy about, lol. Although, I didn't make it until 10AM- I was back home and in bed by 7:30 ;)
Then, on Sunday, Paloma and Jaime took me on a tour around the city. We visited the neighborhood of Bellavista, which has a bohemian look and feel to it with tons of restaurants and night life to be found. It also happens to be the place where the famous Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, lived (one of his three houses in Chile). I am actually going to visit his other house in Isla Negra tomorrow! Afterwards, we headed back towards el centro and walked through an area close to Santa Lucia. That was my favorite part of the day because we got to visit some museums and walk through a few markets, etc. The Chilean Independence Day/Bicentennial is coming up on Sept 18th so this is an especially nice time to be here. It doesn't matter where you are: on the streets, on the bus, in the metro, strolling through a park/plaza . . . there is always some kind of celebration going on somewhere. I've heard so many types of folk music and seen so many folk dances. And everyone is so happy and excited, its really contagious!! Plus, I have a four day weekend to enjoy all the festivites next week :) I'm so excited!!
Pablo Neruda's House in Bellavista
Neruda's poem "Pido Silencio" is written on these columns outside his house
A mural across from Neruda's house. This type of artwork is all over Bellavista.
A famous folk singer . . . whose name I don't remember :(
Street performers
Meanwhile, Classes are going okay. I'm feeling better about my Literature class- I can actually keep up with her now and participate in the discussions. But, I just had my first exam in my Spanish class and I don't think I did very well. It really stressed me out and made me feel sad because I felt like I was doing so well in her class up until now. I'm trying not to let it bother me since I know the experience of being here and immersing myself in the culture is what really matters.
Tomorrow, I am going on a group trip to Pomaire and Isla Negra. I will be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you all.
I love and miss you guys!! I hope everyone is doing well.
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