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Theresa's Country Journey
My time here keeps flying by with three day school weeks and travel weekends! I cannot believe I've been here close to 2 months already, but then I think back on how much my spanish and world perspectives have progressed and it's not hard to recognize anymore. Students in my program have been asking one another hillarious questions from being out of the english realm for so long.. 'what's the past tense of bike ride?' not kidding.
I've never slept so soundly and dreamt so clearly as I do here, it must have something to do with the amazing star gazing I'm lucky to have in Chile.
I've made some closer Chilean friends and have been enjoying the time with my host family more and more each day. I forgot to give my host mom a kiss goodnight one evening and now I'm forever reminded how my conscious will feel and how terribly I will sleep if it happens once again, she is so cute. I went to a birthday party for a fireman I volunteer for and met all his friends from work, the firefighters here work without a salary.. they're compensated by donations, talking with them about their work was enlightening. I went to the new bowling alley with some friends and I've tried out a few new dance clubs and restuarants (especially love this sushi place..) I've also been watching more spanish movies with subtitles trying to get a better grasp on the language. October 4th and 5th my friend Casey and I went on a trip. We took a bus to Osorno about 2 hours away then rode a smaller bus to Aguas Calientes for another 2 hours or so. Without a car we walked most of the trek up to Antillanca, 10km of the 18km. We walked adjacent to forest terrain, streams, lakes, volcanoes and waterfalls. The road was pretty deserted and I immensely enjoyed the first hike since I'd been here! In the beginning we saw the Andes peeking through the break in the trees. At the top was a very quiet ski resort, restaurant, and cabanas.. it's just about the end of snow season for Chile. We walked around in the snow and relaxed. We got a great student discount on the room that included dinner and breakfast. A man at a neighboring table asked where we were from.. the typical question, after we responded he told us he used to go to our rival college.. Oregon State University. This is when the huge world feels small. My program and I went to the Pucon volcanoe for two days the following weekend; October 10th and 11th. We went to a Mapuche Museum, walked around downtown Pucon, ate well, visited waterfalls, walked over a very shaky bridge and learned more about the Mapuche culture from typical food and customs, & spent a couple hours at lovely hotsprings next to a beautiful river. I was hesistant to go on this trip because I'd already visited Pucon twice, but I've realized all experiences in a new country will be different even if you visit the same cafe daily.I'm off to Chiloe Island tomorrow with a couple friends, first stop Puerto Montt then we're continuing on until Sunday. Classes are becoming more rigorous, but I'll make good attempts to write soon!
Un besito,
T
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