Sorry for the delay...

Hello everyone!

I really fell down on the job this week, my apologies. It is 1:50am my time, and I ought to be sleeping or doing my new homework. I just got home from a really cool night club, but I'll get to that at the end. I'll start with last weekend. We went to this town which is one inch by one inch, called Olmue. It was a lot more fun than I had anticipated. I got really burnt but only on the right side of my body.... We got there on Friday and had time to chill by the pool then we got down to business with our first orientation session. Saturday was all orientation all day, except for that time we made up one of the CIEE intro classes that we missed cuz of the tsunami alert. It was a long, semi-informative day. Marcia (the director) is married to Glenn, who is American and has lived here for 7 years. His Spanish is pathetic and he gave the orientation, so much of the day was in English for a change. Where we were, there is really nice weather, so Friday night a bunch of us climbed the playground to see the stars. You can see the Milky Way here really easily. I also saw the Southern Cross, which is like the North Star of this hemisphere. It was gorgeous. There was also real coffee, which made my day!

We got home on Sunday afternoon and Kayla was visiting from Santiago. Mama insisted that she have lunch with us which was nice. I tried to take Kayla to a party thing that was going on for all of the exchange students at the Botannical Gardens of Vina del Mar. However, only one bus goes there and we waited for 35 minutes before giving up. It was gorgeous out so we decided to walk around Vina. It was an unlucky day however, cuz we were almost robbed. Twice. But I still have all my things :). I won't go into detail, but I will have you know that I am a champion, and next time any sketchball or gypsy comes up to me ill kick them. However, after that ordeal i'm seriously considering making like a Chilean and buying a fanny pack. A lot of them are really cute and not worn like fanny packs, if that helps. But I was definitely a target with my Vera Bradley, so I think I might try to fit in a little better. I bought a nice satchel in Olmue so I might start using that. Its very cute and it says Chile on it. But it has a flap over the zipper, ensuring that whoever wants my shit has to work for it.

I also went to the synagogue this week. Security here for the Jews is ridiculous. I wasn't allowed on the grounds. The man at the door took my info and phone number and when I asked to see the temple he told me no cuz I have to be accompanied by a member of the community. I am still waiting for them to get back to me. I might even have Mama call them for me tomorrow. I talked to my Jewish professor about it too, cuz he is a member there. He said he would vouch for me and also took my number so I hope he comes through. I guess its good to know the Jews are safe with all those measures they take!

I decided to drop three classes as well. I dropped Modern Chilean History, Urban and Regional History of Valparaiso, and some art class I never wanted. I added Pedagogical Psych of Learning and Universal Themes in Lit. I still haven't been to the new lit class because it was cancelled today so I need to wait until next week. I am loving my Literature class that I am in now with the Jew Prof. Last class I didn't look at my watch once! It's interesting but there is a ton of reading. However, we don't really discuss it in class; we're just tested on it. But I was assured all the exchange students do well, and there's quite a few of us. The girl who I was sitting next to was super nice and offered to show me where to find the photocopies. Remember, here they don't buy books, you need to know where the teacher leaves the material. There's photocopy places everywhere and it's really cheap! I took down the nice girl's email just in case I had any questions. A step in the right direction I think. In my new Learning class I am the only exchange student, talk about intimidating. The students here enter college in a certain "carrera" (track, I guess) and don't take other classes. So, when other students are in the class it's weird for them. The first thing we had to do was work in groups. So, I politely asked the girls next to me if I could work with them and they were very nice. I took down one girls phone number and email, again, just in case. It took me a while to figure out what the hell we were doing, but the class seems good and a good step toward 5th year. I like it a lot, its just tough cuz I don't think the teacher has ever had an exchange student. Today was a little better. We had to work in groups again and I must have looked lost because some other girls invited me to work with them which was nice for a change. They asked me if I was from another carrera and I told them I was from the US and they thought that was cool. I was also the only one in the group who new what the prof meant by "status quo" so I looked smart when I explained it to them :). One girl was very nice and asked me if I understood what Mechona was (it means first year, and they haze them like no other), and if I knew how to find the photocopies. She showed me where to go and how to ask for them. I also got her email and facebook info. She also explained how to find the assignments and announcements online for the class, which is a bonus. We have a ficha, which sounds like a fancy summary due wednesday. She added me on fbook then fbook chatted with me to see how I was doing. She ended up emailing me the assignment; needless to say I am stoked to have met her. Her last name is Hodges, which kindof made me giggle. Not the most Hispanic-sounding name.... I love my Folklore dance class. Its 2 hours in the classroom learning the history then 2 hours dancing. Theres 4 exchange students and about 50 chileans, mostly guys actually. Its in the Phys Ed Carrera, one of their required classes is Basquetbol ;). Sounds like a fake major but whatever floats their boats. The teacher is super intense but I introduced myself and she was a lot nicer. Its only 2 credits but there's a lot of work so far. I like it though! As far as school goes in general, so far so good.

I need to go to sleep because tomorrow I have to wake up because we are taking a day trip to Rabuco. I don't know much about it but we needed to bring a handkerchief for the traditional dancing we will be doing. Mama made me one special! Mama must also take me for a fatty, cuz the other day she packed me 6 sandwiches for lunch. She also gave me cake for breakfast and it was enough for 4 people. She's adorable, but feeds me A LOT. Quick note about tonight. I went to a place called La Piedra Feliz with a couple other girls. There was live jazz in one room and salsa dancing in another. They were bums and wanted to leave early but I was having a blast. The salsa guy taught Bar Mitzvah style. We all followed him on a cramped little dance floor, as I's sure you can all imagine. I loved it though! Every Thursday is salsa. I am ready to go back! I will update more soon when it isn't the middle of the night!!

Buenas Noches,
Carolina