miercoles, 28 julio

Today I had issues with waking up this morning, but at 8:15 finally got out of bed. I was glad I showered last night so all I had to do was get dressed and head to the hotel board room for orientation. I stopped at this place called Natural Greens and got some fresh kiwi juice on the way. It was great! During orientation we worked on more lesson plans and I met some more people. I ate lunch at El Naturista on Paseo Huérfanos with another volunteer. El Naturista is a vegetarian / vegan restaurant. It´s a little pricey but good. It was kind of weird because when we arrived they gave me a menu in Spanish but the other volunteer one in English.

I have been having an easier time lately with speaking Spanish. I feel like I´m improving at it already. Part of me never wants to return the US because then I can stay here (or maybe go to another Spanish speaking country) where I can eventually become fluent. I really love it here and ever since going to Cerro San Cristobal, have felt enamored with this place. Before I´d felt captivated by Venice and its charm, enjoyed the magical city of Prague, but Chile is different. It´s like the mountains and the fog cast a spell over you and you`re completely taken in by it and never want to leave. I´ve enjoyed being here so much that I haven´t thought much about back home at all (although I actually want to get placed in one of the worse schools because I do miss working with my former clients at Arrowhead).

After orientation I was planning on going to Pablo Neruda´s house (La Chascona), but I didn´t have time since the last tour starts a little before 5pm. Instead I went on a shorter, 6 mile run to Plaza Italia and around Forestal before going back to the hostel to shower. I headed out to a vegetable / fruit vendor and bought a fresh avocado, kiwi, and some nuts for dinner. After that, Les, Sebastian, and I went to a place in Barrio Brasil for a drink or two. I couldn´t believe it because it was a Chilean bar that didn´t have pisco! I suppose maybe they ran out. Hanging out with those two has been a lot of fun and I´m going to miss their company when I leave Santiago on Monday.

I need to get some sleep...another early morning tomorrow awaits.

written by

Sara Florecita on July 28, 2010 from Santiago, Chile

from the travel blog: año de dos inviernos (Chile 2010)

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