Exhausted from fun, but still going (al Sur)

So I'm about to pass out in my room, hoping I can avoid a Winnie the Pooh movie night. I have kind of a head ache too. However, this weekend in Valparaíso and Viña was amazing! We spent almost all of Saturday at the beach, and Sunday too. We went to this beautiful beach in Reñaca. I'm really really burnt in some places now, but it should turn into a tan soon if I keep applying aloe. We also went to two discotecas friday and saturday- superbien. First- kareoke, which was ridiculous. Grafton competed for the Piña colada (her 21st bday). we all sang. Saturday = El Huevo, a 4-story club with different types of music on each floor. Valpo is so beautiful and unlike any other city I've ever seen. Jray is going to be soo happy i think.

Today we had an interesting lunch in a Mapuche community, the indigenous people of Chile. I was so tired though. I got up early to do homework that didn't get collected... We also had a spanish test to see our level. I didn't try too hard, so we'll see. But I'm not planning on taking the grammar class since it won't count towards graduation and I've already taken a very similar class at Oberlin two semesters ago.

Also, i do love my family, but it is hard to adjust to the constant screaming tantrums that seem happen every evening. I wonder if I should or could anything. I sort of just go to my room after a while. The screaming and crying is really a lot sometimes and I come home so exhausted sometimes, you know?

AND- some of us made plans to travel south this Wednesday! wahooo! Three of us are flying (cheap tickets) into Puerto Montt, staying in a hostel there but spending the day in Puerto Varras, then the next day going to Chiloé (a gorgeous green naturey archipelago) where we will hike, kayak, and maybe see a penguin colony, and then to the national park to camp on saturday night. I know I'm not the best for 'roughin' it, but I think I should be ok. It only gets down to about 50 degrees now and I'm borrowing some stuff.

So now all I need is lots of sleep and I should be good to go:) I miss you all!

early to bed for Chile Contemporeana

So we're putting ourselves to bed early tonight (with lots of screaming and crying on the part of la Fernandita and la Maria Jose) because la Paulina and I are getting up early to go meet CIEE. I have to register my student visa. Then the week long mini course, 'Contemporary Chile' starts, from 10am to 6pm each day.

We all spent the weekend with our familias. I met la abuela, el abuelo, el ex-marido, amigos, etc. I went on forced runs with la Jose while she rode her bicycle. Paulina showed me the metro and the supermarket (I learned she is wierd and loves pnut butter- yes!). So far I've watched Barney goes to the Circus (in español), Flushed Away (Lo que las aguas se la llevó), and Home Alone (Mi Pobre Angelito). I've also done a lot of coloring. I watched a really excellent film yesterday called Machuca. Te lo recomiendo mucho. I am tired, but still ok and happy I think:)

Here is a link about Machuca:
http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=284562&reviewId=20877

I meet my family

I'm in my new home, in my new room. My family is great. My mom is really cool and the kids, Maria Jose and Fernanda (6 and two) are adorable. big talkers (and Maria Jose, six yrs old, speaks very quickly). They gave me a stuffed dog they named blancito, a bar of chocolate, and a homemade card that's says 'bienvenido hannah.' The mom called them to come down and meet us otherwise she told me "te van a matar," (they're going to kill me). they brought the cat on its leash and their nana, who lives in full time. I brought flowers to add to my airport gift (very thoughtful and heartfelt but still from the airport). My room is very nice. The house has wi-fi. Mom is taking me around to do stuff on sunday while the girls are with their dad. Right now they're watching a movie.
I'd really like to take a nap, but I feel I ought to go and watch with them and bond some more. I hung out for about 20 minutes before with the girls in their room. maybe i will sleep for just a little. I'm still a little nervous, pero estoy bien contenta.

Second day in Santiago. yeah.

hey all! So I've finally arrived in Chile, after all the planning and worrying and freaking out and being excited:) I'm here to take classes- I've decided to probably take them at the University of Chile (La Chile, known as the the less conservative, more hippy, compared to La Católica, school). And to travel, and have a great time. I'm having a pretty great time so far, the plane trip was nothing to report. We're (the CIEE group of us American students) is staying in the (actually lovely) Rent a Home hotel here in Providencia, a fairly wealthy neighborhood of Chile, during our 'orientation'.

I do have some excited news. I finally saw a picture of my host family today! They look like a single mom and two little girls; one maybe eight and the other maybe 4? In the picture they're both wearing princess dresses. adorable, no? si. We're meeting our families tomorrow and leaving the Rent a Home.

I've finally figured out skype and I really like wearing my fancy headset- so get on that people. skype is cool stuff. I'm in Chile and you can talk to me for free.