It's been about a week!!!

Hi everyone!

It's Sunday, and this time last week we were getting to the airport. Oy. And I still havent unpacked everything. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a few days. Things here are starting to pick up, so I will jam my last couple days into this one.

Friday was course registration. I have never seen a system so confusing! Pretty much they gave us a cd with a list of all the courses on it that we had to look over. no descriptions or anything. And, instead of listing what time the classes are at (cuz that would just be too easy) they put block numbers. For example, block 7-8 is 2-3:30 in the afternoon. It took me a few hours to figure everything out because of that. The university has a lot of majors but I'm sticking to my Lit classes and History. Also, the university has no campus. There are just a lot of buildings spread b/w Vina and Valparaiso. So, if I were to take a class in Valparaiso that goes till 3:50 and then wanted to take a class that is in a Vina building at 4 it would not be possible. So not only do you have to figure out what to take without understanding what the class really is anyway, and managing the time codes, you need to make sure you have time to get to where you need to be. very complex. then, the actual course registration was stressful and chaotic. all the exchange students go into this classroom where there is a rep from every department and you sit and talk with them about what you were thinking of taking and they give you advice. then they write your name on a little piece of paper and you're in! I am taking a lot of classes but I plan on dropping a bunch. We have a month-long add/drop period. They strongly recommend that we take a PIIE class which is the exchange student dept. However, the class they put me in based on my diagnostic conflicts with my CIEE class. and the other two CIEE classes conflict with two classes I want to take. So, I won't be taking a PIIE class. They had put me in Advanced Writing. Oh well. I am taking a literature class and a whole bunch of history classes. and i'm also taking a class called Folklore Dances. Should be good, I hope!

Yesterday I was in the local paper. I'm still trying to track down a copy; I was too stupid to buy one and the other girl that was in it took the copy CIEE had in the office. If I can figure out how to get it on the internet I'll post the link. The picture is god-awful but the article is cool. they interviewed me and another girl because of the aftershocks. they wanted an american perspective ;).

I went out the last couple of nights. Here in Chile when they go out, they do it up. The word here is "carratear." So, I have been carrateando. Anyway, I'm legal here which is kinda weird but awesome at the same time. Friday night we went to a club in Valparaiso called El Huevo ("The Egg"). What a terrific name for a club.... It's 3 floors with a bunch of different rooms that all play different music. At home, I go out between 10-11 and I'm generally home by 1 or 2. Here, many clubs don't open till 1 or 130 and they close at like 8am. Huevo opens earlier but doesn't get busy till 1 or 2. It's a lot to get used to. It was fun until Martin got pissy. A lot of my friends live in an area called Recreo which is super (relatively speaking) far from me. Allyse and Sonja live near me but on the other side of the city. Like, they are 2 blocks from me one way, but actually 10 blocks away. they live near the water. so even going home with them is tough. so all my friends had left and I was alone with Martin, who was acting like an asshole, and a few of his friends. I was so flustered and confused and I just wanted to leave. It was 3am. All of my friends were also dancing with locals and I wasn't, so I felt a little weird. Oh well. It was one night.

Yesterday was a great day! I had a class at the office about the history of Valparaiso. Then we all got on the Micro and went to La Sebastiana, which is one of Pablo Neruda's 3 houses. It was awesome. The day started chilly but by the time we got into Valpo it was hot out, and we were all wearing pants! anyway, the house has been turned into a museum and we took a self-guided tour. technically you are only allowed to take pictures of the views (Neruda was inspired by the amazing views from all the rooms in the house), but when the guides weren't looking I got a few pictures of the house :). It was gorgeous. In every corner of the house there is something to see. We also got a tour of the gardens around the house. After that, we went on a tour of the hills of Valparaiso. The city is very hilly, and there are murals all over the place by famous artists. So, our teacher showed us some of the important ones. I took TONS of pictures. I think yesterday alone I took over 50. Poor Chris is still really sick, so I tried to take extras for him too. When I got home I had lunch at the house and then a bunch of us had decided to go to the beach. I walked over to Allyse's and then we walked there together. Sebastian, one of the other host brothers, had been planning a jam sesh on the beach anyway. I got there and tanned for a bit (my chest is fried...) and then Sebastian and his friends brought their drums and a couple girls from the program had guitars. It was so fun and so relaxing! Then a couple of us left to buy school supplies. Mama said she would meet us, but she never leaves the house and therefore, knowing I was in a group, did not leave the house! She is adorable and sweet and takes good care of me, but literally never ever leaves the house. Then, last night we made plans to go out in Vina. We went to a place called Hollywood Pub for a birthday party of one of the peer advisors from La Catolica. Martin, naturally, was also there cuz he knows EVERYONE! We can't walk down the street without him saying hi to at least 6 people. When I got to the bar there was a Michael song on that is never played at home. I knew it was going to be a good night :)-. I tried my first Pisco-Sour which was delicious and also Mango-Sour. drinks here are about 4 dollars. And only a handful of places have cover charges. So we stayed at Hollywood for a bit then went to a club called Stingray. It was really fun. For some reason Martin only wants to teach Julia how to dance which kinda pisses me off, but I made a deal that if he teaches me how to dance I would teach him more English. I ended up leaving the club at 4 with Sonja and Allyse. They walked me halfway home. Luckily, where I live, its really safe to walk, but Martin ended up finding me when his friend drove him home. I didn't go to bed till 5! Woke up around 12:40. Good stuff. I still need to get used to how late they party here!!!

My camera battery is charging so I can post my pictures!!! I have no idea what is going on today. Not much, probably, cuz in Catholic countries Sunday is a day off. Just as well, gives me time to chill and shake this cold that I feel like I'm getting from my host mom. Oh, brace yourself for the mullets you will see in my pictures. I try to take candids. Some of them even have dreads. Don't worry, I won't get one while I'm here. Please send me emails and stuff about life.

Love,
Caroline