cosas generales

I just realized that I haven't really written about what my daily life will be like when I actually settle into a schedule, which is starting to happen now that I've registered for classes and gotten used to getting around Viña and Valpo.

So...breakfast is whatever you want whenever you get up because everyone does different things in the mornings. Sometimes Marce works, Wale goes to do her residency, Maca has classes or sleeps in, and Pame always has school. There's only instant coffee here, I've seen one coffee brewer deal since I arrived -- in the CIEE office in Viña. They also don't really understand why anyone would want cold coffee, so iced coffee isn't an option unless you make it yourself.

I'll have class starting next week Monday through Thursday. They all start at 14:00 or 16:00 except for one at 8:15 on Tuesdays (everything here is done according to the 24 hour clock system except for when you're talking with someone...more or less). I'm taking a course on Globalization and Chilean Identity through CIEE (the independent study-abroad program), Comunicación y Cultura Chilena (through PIEE, the exchange program at the university), Historia Urbana y Regional de Valparaíso, Cultura y Literatura Brassileña, Historia del Arte Chileno, and Geografía Social (which, from what I know so far, is a lecture once a week and then excursions to teach children in the community).

Claire, a friend from the program, and I also signed up to work with Un Techo para Chile. It's a government-sponsored program whose goal is to eliminate encampments by the year 2010. They build mediaguas, which are buildings shared by the community for classes, town meetings, or whatever, as a basis for community-initiated growth in the future. Volunteers also work with the community to help them realize whatever goals they feel most important,working toward the formation of a strong community and integration into broader Chilean society. Anyhoot...

I'll be commuting to Valparaíso for some of my classes, but it's easy; I just take a micro (bus). The history building is right by our apartment and it's amazing. It looks like a castle...I'll take pictures soon.

Lunch is between 1 and 3pm and is a big deal. Salad or vegetable of some sort, bread (basically 70% of food that's eaten here), a main course, and dessert. 'Once' is between 7 and 10 and is usually tea or coffee, bread (of course) with jam and butter or simple sandwich fixings.

If I have the afternoon off I can go jogging by the water, to the beach, or exploring. Nothing is very far away -- walking and buses are all you need. However, I'm expecting to have a lot of reading and prep during the week because classes are way more self-directed here than in the states. My PUCV classes only meet once a week and everyone has told me that it's up to the student to read everything on the reading list on their own time and prepare for whatever they think will be on exams.

Then it's the weekend! So far, that means hanging out with my host family, then going out with my host sister and friends or a few students from CIEE. Sometimes we just hang out at friends houses until 2 and are back around 3ish, but usually we go dancing...for hours and hours and hours. Then sleeping...not very much. It's actually pretty ridiculous...I'm always amazed at how many people are out, even during the week. But the hours and hours of dancing are great :) I've met some really nice people around our age and am a bit nervous (but also excited!) to start classes and hopefully meet some more friendly people. It's really challenging to understand everything that's going on when I'm in a big group of people all talking at once, but it's always a good time and I'm sure it'll get easier in the coming months...

I'm off to make tortillas with the familia. Tortillas here = a quiche-like dish, so I'm making them tortillas gringo-style :P ¡ciao ciao!