Settling in...:)

Buenos Dias! I have arrived in my new town, which I believe is called Villa Alemana, but honestly I can't quite tell yet:) I am not living in Quilpue, rather teaching there! So I think I am located near Vina del Mar, which is a bigger city right on the coast of Chile....I am hoping my orientation improves!

I was so exhausted yesterday that I nearly slept till noon today...eeks! My house is located on the hill above the city and overlooks the beautiful town and mountains in the background. It is quite big and should have everything I need. My house is a 3 bedroom place, with 2 patios - it is so lovely and quaint. My new family includes Elizabeth mi mama, Carlos mi papa, and Emelia, mi hermana. My host parents are in their 30's (and newly expecting!) and my sister Amelia is 8. She goes to Colegio Montesol (by the way, colegio = school, grades 1st -12th) -  but I will not be teaching her in 4th grade because I will teach grades 5-12. My schedule is Monday-Friday 0800-1800, with breaks between classes, and I get done on Fridays at noon, which will help with traveling on the weekends!

If I had any doubts about Chilean food in the beginning, my mind has been changed! My family has already fed me some delicious food...and turns out, in Chile, I love fish! It is so different from the states....very fresh and tasty! I learned how to make homemade mayo today...which I realized I have not mentioned yet, but Chileans are obsessed with mayo.  Other strange food phenomenons worth mentioning since I am on the topic include:

-completos: hot dog + massive amounts of mayo + palta (avocado) = awful!!!
-excessive pan: white bread is a staple here. breakfast is always white bread with jam/butter
-yogurt, milk, eggs = not kept in the refrigerator....room temperature yogurt = unpleasant and watery
-vienneses: a.k.a hotdogs...chilenos love these things....no entienda!
-empanadas: delicioso!! I really like these...they are essentially pita pockets with all kinds of ingredients, meat, cheese, olives, ham, the occasional egg...you never know what you might find:)

The only other things that really throws me for a loop is the toilet paper thing...its never ever flushed, it is always placed in a garbage next to the toilet. need I say more....? My sister Alissa would freak...:)

Overall, I am very happy. It is very difficult to be in a place where nobody really speaks your language. My host family speaks very quickly, and I feel so ridiculous always asking them to slow down and repeat...I feel like a child, who knows few words and can ask for so little. I know this is part of the process, learning Spanish has become very important to me, and I know this means having patience and working at it, and above all, making a fool of myself. My family does a good job teaching me, and being patient...and when all else fails, there are laughs to be had. I remain content: I have hot water, the internet, a cell phone, and am very very comfortable...so much for roughing it! We will see how winter goes though;)

I miss home, and think of it often and fondly.
till next time,
lck