Hi Friends and Family!
First things first: we have a new washer! YAY! Now, just waiting to have hot water. The girls living in apartment 82 are getting the reputation of being pretty dirty and stinky, but now, we're just stinky with clean clothes-a definite improvement.
This week flew by as usual. Tuesday was a busy day. That morning, I road with Noah and his colleague to the school San Nicolas and observed some classrooms. (I wrote about this day in my last blog!) Tuesday night I had a private lesson which went really well. We are a lot alike and talk about health and fitness, holistic medicine and yoga, etc.- so it is fun! I then met with Emy at bar called, "Sport Bar" for the Spanglish conversation club. It was a really fun place and I ended up talking to guy in Spanish and English of course, who was really missing his girlfriend. She had just left Chile to go back home to Sweden. It was nice talking with someone for an hour about our significant others (instead of being asked for my phone number.) He was very poetic, saying his girlfriend's and his heart, "Were beating to the same rhythm," and he talked about how much he missed her. We exchanged information, so we can hang out and talk about how we miss our lovers, ha!
Thursday I was anxious all day about going to my new private lesson with the couple. The last time I tried to find their place, I got lost and had my phone stolen, so to make sure I found the right place, I emailed the couple a picture of a map and asked them if they could meet me at where the bus dropped me off and then walk me to their house just for the first time. After some confusing translation back and forth, they decided that they would not like lessons anymore. I was a little confused, but a bit relieved. I talked with a Chilean friend about what happened, and he said that it was most likely that they were embarrassed that I couldn't understand them and they couldn't help me-and instead of clarifying, it was easier for them to just refuse lessons. He also told me that Chileans do not like to be wrong or not be understood typically. So....I'm just hoping it was that and I'm trying to not take it personally. (I think I might have been too much of a hassle when asking them to meet me...but, I was nervous, so I thought they wouldn't mind...oh, well!)
Friday my classes were cancelled all day, so I cooked and prepped for the next week and waited around for someone to come fix the water heater. (Which no one came...why am I not surprised?) That night, Noah (who is soooo awesome and reads all my blogs so I can't sound too pessimistic all the time) invited us to try out this typical Chilean bar called Piojera. None of us had been there before...and little did we know, we were in for a real treat. A few metro rides away, near Plaza de Armas, very close to downtown Santiago, we found Piojera. After waiting in a line to get it, we soon found out why there was a line! It was so crowded, it was like being in the metro during rush hour. I couldn't help but just laugh as I was being pushed from side to side in a sea of people. Now that I think of it, it was kind of like being smashed around by ocean waves...Noah, Erin and I tried to hold on to each other as we made our way to the bar. We ordered three of the famous "Teremotos" which means earthquake in Spanish. I did some research and the earthquake is a traditional Chilean cocktail. The drink was invented after the 1985 Chilean earthquake. It remained a 'secret' cocktail, and was eventually expanded to more popular bars. The drink is composed mainly of white wine, fernet (I don't know what this is), grenadine, bitter liqueur, and my favorite part-pineapple ice cream. It was delicious! And the drinks only spilled on us a few times while we were in the sea of people. After talking for a bit (more like yelling) we sat with a few Chileans. We then ordered typical Chilean bar food called Chorrillana which was french fries, steak, and then eggs on top! It was delicious! (And totally on my Bombshell meal plan...ha NOT!) After another round of drinks, Noah, Erin and I walked and took a bus back to our neighborhood while arguing about Harry Potter books, movies, and singing Ingrid Michelson songs.
Saturday, Erin, Emy and I went back to Plaza de Armas and bought postcards and went to the vega which a big indoor market with cheap fruits and vegetables. That night we all relaxed and watched Save the Last Dance, one of my favorite movies. Today I slept in and have been lesson planning and writing this blog! This upcoming week I start my training at San Nicolas, which should be fun. Also, Thursday is a national holiday, so Erin, Emy and I will be looking for something fun to do!
Miss you all,
Ciara
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