Santa Isabel #41

Thursday was pretty quiet. Normal day or so I think? I don't quite remember, but only Jose Luis was at school today. He did sound/look pretty sick. Let's just hope I don't catch whatever they have.  I had company from a gringo buddy, Lucian on the metro to school. He works, or should I say worked at my sister school, Hanover. He just quit this week so his last day of school was on Friday. Just when I had another friend at school... it gets taken away. So the school is desperately trying to find a replacement so all you gringos who want to move to Chile, apply asap and use my name! We also had an English Department meeting at Colegio de Alma Mater, I hitched a ride with my vice principal and had a nice long broken Spanish conversation. The meeting was supposed to go until 5:30, but some of the teachers had other obligations...so they left early. Oh well, that's how things go here. Went home and went to get a drink with other TeachingChile people. Sopaipillas on the street are soooo good, too bad they aren't healthy. Just some flour pastry that is deep fried and delicious. Oh yeah and thanks to Piper and Kelsey I am hooked on this candy bar called Super Ocho. Have to say, they did warn me...

Friday was also a pretty standard school day. Nothing out of the norm, but I did take the metro back home with Lucian. I love that the kids make noises any time I walk around or talk to any male. We both saw our students on the street. Students either yell "Hello MISS," make cat calls, or avoid me. One of my students at the metro looked like he wanted a hug. I gave him one and one of his classmates goes "He loves you." I replied with I love you ALL! Lucian and I then went into the same metro car as them. Lots of random looks toward us the rest of the trip.

I went back to the loverly hostel just to move out. I was getting pretty used to it. Ideally, I would have had my apartment secure and milked out my entire stay at the hostel.  It was a really easy move. My first trip there, I took my rollie suitcase and backpack. The reception man asked me questions and then proceeded to call my apartment to make sure that I indeed was moving in. Now when I see him he is super nice and says my name. I went back to the hostel, hung out for a bit before I fully moved out. I met a really sweet couple from Ohio who are TeachingChile, but are only in Santiago for a bit since they are moving to a town near Pucon. Its funny, the hostel set them up in a private room, but it has two twin beds. They thought they were brother and sister since they have the same last name. In Chile, you don't take your husband's last name.

The wall once you enter the hostel...

I got the last of my groceries and my laundry and walked on back to my new place. I unpacked all my things and took a nap. I went back to the hostel and met up with Lucian, Dan, Amber, and Arden. It was cute, the staff there cheered a bit when I walked into the hostel. I felt like a celebrity. Gotta say, I will miss that place. It seemed like there were a lot of new people there--- I liked meeting new people there. Oh well we went to Cafe Dosciento dos to listen to Lucian's friend DJ and drink some beers. Then we went to this place called Urban Bar by BellaVista/Cerro San Cristobal. We had a free pass to get inside, compliments of Hostal Providencia, and did some dancing. There were some hostel staff, us, and then Piper, her boo, Kelsey, and Cori also arrived. Good night overall...

Lucian, Amber, Arden, Dan, me at Cafe Dosciento dos

Saturday I had plans to meet with Ronna, Karen, and Megan to go hike up Cerro San Cristobal. I was obviously thinking of home since I wore my Ale n' wich t-shirt and Rutgers hoodie. While I was waiting for them at Plaza Italia I got to see from start to finish, the man who dresses up like Homer Simpson. He has long hair and two children that help sell photographs and help him get dressed in his suit. It was fun people watching everybody walking by him in awe. It was also kind of sad to watch him with his kids. Something about going there every weekend to sell photos on the street...

Well the four of us went to lunch, got some lovely fresh juice and I actually had a piece of chicken that had vegetables on it! Granted the fries were super greasy and gross. I am not all too impressed with Chilean food yet. It is good, but I am glad that Santiago has other types of restaurants. I really miss Korean food. I need to find out how to cook rice on a stove and find some kim chi. Ashley met up with us and we started our hike up Cerro San Cristobal. It took a little over an hour to walk up there. The views were really pretty, pictures don't do it justice. I want to do a real hike soon and not just a walk up paved roads up a hill... I love walking around. At the top of the cerro is the Virgin Mary. You can see her on the streets of Santiago lit up, so obviously she is quite big. 

Karen, Ash, me, Megan, Ronna below the Virgin Mary at Cerro San Cristobal

View of Santiago from the top of Cerro San Cristobal

At the top, I got a drink called Mote con huesillos, it is a tea with wheat and peaches. Quite sweet, yet something that is normal up at the top of the hill. It was so sweet being at the top of the hill during sunset. We took the lift back down since it was getting dark and got to watch the city light up against a purple and pink sky. I went home and met up with Regina. We hung out for a bit and she got to see my apartment. We walked to the Santa Ana area to go to Megan and Laura's apartment, which took about 45 minutes... yikes! They were having a little pregame party and then we were going out for Laura's birthday. We all hung out there for a bit and then were asked to leave since there were too many of us. We went to a salsa club and danced some salsa and bachata. Reggie and I slept in my little twin bed together. Somehow she got up in the morning so she could go back to her apartment in Rancagua and move into her new place!

All of us at Laura and Megan's apartment

Sunday I went to lunch with Ronna and Hannah. They haven't been out of the house much since this pair of roomies is always sick. They both needed a shot of penicillin for their sicknesses. We went to the hostel to visit the people. I was out of the house for two days and already visited it on Saturday and Sunday. I left to do some grocery shopping, and some laundry at the house. Its nice to have a washer in my place. However it will probably take 3 days for my clothes to dry... I did not enjoy being at the market today. I tried to buy some soda in a glass jar. In Chile, you have to bring back the bottles. The lady at the store was not very nice and she gave me crap for not having a bottle to exchange. How am I ever supposed to get a bottle to return if I can't buy one to begin with? Luckily there was a guy behind me that knew a bit of English to translate what the mean woman was saying. Some days I feel like my Spanish is improving a lot... and then I have moments like that. :(

The door leaving the hostel

Even though I moved out of the hostel, I still miss it in some ways.
(some of the little things I will miss)

Monday, there was no school since it is a national Chilean holiday for the Virgin Mary. I woke up with a runny nose, hopefully it doesn't progress any further and I don't catch what everyone around me had. It was pretty cold outside so Karen and I went to the mall in the La Florida neighborhood. We walked around a bunch and I got a dry erase board, pillow, speakers, and a few more groceries. I came back to my place and put up some decorations. Oh yeah and I also printed some photographs to make my home more homey. I spent quite some time trying to put a tack into the wall to hang my dry erase board. Carolina later told me that that wall was made out of concrete so it is impossible to put a nail in there...

My new baby room. Miss you all very much!

 

Oh yeah and I think I mentioned this but I don't remember... I am living with two Chillean women who are also teachers. And my official address is Santa Isabel #41, Departamento  807, Santiago de Chile. Only one block away from the metro!!!