I told you guys I'd be back once a week so here we are.
I don't have anything too dramatic to report, but I will give you the weekly rundown.
Monday was a long day of classes yet again, but it went by quicker this week because I'm getting used to the schedule. Chile has been playing this weird game of hot and cold though, where it's been absolutely freezing in the morning and then by the afternoon it's so hot you feel like your scalp is going to burn off because the sun is beating down so strongly. Not my favorite, but I know that it will start getting fairly cold pretty quick so I'm trying not to complain too much.
Tuesday was a little bit more enjoyable. I had history class with my friend Trini and we were feeling very unfocused and played silly games most of the time. Don't worry, I wasn't distracting her from too much learning because we were just going over the diagnostic exam that everyone has to take at the beginning of the school year, not any new material.
Wait, I just realized I didn't put my school schedule in here last week so let me give you a quick run down.
I have a lot of the same classes as last year, like Math, Science, Social Studies, Religion, Philosophy, Linguistics, and English. Out of that list my favorite's are probably Linguistics, because I feel like I learn a lot, and Religion because the professor makes it very interesting but digestible.
As for electives, I chose to take Geography, Music, and Biology of Ecosystems. I enjoy all three of those classes quite a bit, especially because I'm with my friend group in each of them. Orne, Seba, Javi, Trini, and Isi are all in a different section of our grade, which is why the only time I have class with them is during our electives, for those of you wondering.
And in regards to the history class I mentioned, I got thrown into a few classes that are specifically to help Chilean students prepare for their university entrance exam (called the PAES), and history happens to be one of them.
Wednesday was a little more exciting. After theater (which I have Tuesday, Wednesday AND now Thursday because I'm going to practice with the younger students now too), I went for a run and when I got back to the house my host dad, Gonzalo, told me that we were going to go out to dinner with Isaac because he just got back from his week shift working in the mines.
I'm not saying that phrase metaphorically, my host brother genuinely works in the Chilean mines programming bombs and harvesting copper. It's pretty freaking cool.
That's besides the point though. Wednesday night, we went out to a pizza place and it was heavenly. I know I'm not a "New Yorker" in the sense that I have the right to comment on the quality of pizza, but please believe me when I say that these pizza's were heavenly. Plus, I was hungry because we showed up to eat at 9:00pm and the food didn't come until closer to 10:00pm. We also ordered this Spanish style cheesecake for dessert which was to die for as well.
Thursday, the week was starting to kick my butt a little bit. I was definitely tired and ready for Friday. But in the afternoon before I went to theater rehearsal, my friend Marti invited me to go get coffee and study a little bit for our math test. She has math classes in the afternoons at 4:00 on Thursdays with a personal tutor, and theater doesn't start until 4:30, so we kept each other company and chatted about life. Not a lot of studying happened, but oh well. Such is life. She's such a sweetheart and I was more than happy to spend the afternoon with her.
Friday was a good day because I finally got to leave school by 2pm. When I got back to the house, I ate lunch with Abuela and Gonzy, took a much needed nap, and caught up on a little bit of schoolwork. It was a good day.
Saturday was also a good day because my little sister turned 16. Yup, you read that right. 16. I'm screaming inside, how is it possible that she is a full fledged teenager and can get her permit and have a long term boyfriend and oh my gosh I just feel so grown up and I don't like it.
Just yesterday we were playing with our stuffed animals in the front yard and cutting Barbie's hair into a horrendous bob. And now, I'm living in a different country and she's scaring people with her wrestling moves and taking the world by storm. Is this what getting old feels like?
Anyway, if you see her, please wish her a happy birthday and give her a bear hug for me. I miss her terribly.
Saturday night I ended up going out with Seba. We cruised over to Javi's house, played some ping pong, and watched a horror movie, but I had to go before it could get too scary thank goodness. It wasn't anything wild or crazy, but I'm slowly realizing that these days that are "nothing wild or crazy" will be missed dearly when I return to the United States. Only 65 days left. How wild and crazy is that?
Today, Sunday, was also a good day. I went to mass with Abuela and Gonzy and since it was Palm Sunday there was a special service that was very beautiful. Afterwards we went to visit Abuela's sister, Virginia, and we also stopped by Ornella's house quickly (Ornella is my best friend but also cousins with my host family which is why we stopped) because her brother was visiting so we wanted to say hi.
Claudia and Gonzalo went to a concert tonight. Soda Stereo, an Argentinian band that Ornella also loves. She actually tagged along with them because she bought a ticket and needed a ride.
However, that means that it is just me, Abuela, and Nacho home tonight. We are currently watching the Kingdom of Heaven, in English because Nacho likes to practice.
I asked Abuela if she understood what was happening, and she told me "Of course. Not the words, but I understand."
She's so funny.
It's creeping in on Autumn here in Chile. Did you know that the smell of falling leaves is the same here as it is in NY? I didn't.
I hope you have a lovely week, and I will see each of you soon enough.
Much love always,
Anna
