University, Lunch, Cemetery, Bar! All in One Day.

The night I traveled all the way here, I slept like a baby. It was amazing. I heard the same things from all the others. So,(a tip) If you want a good night sleep travel somewhere far away. When you get there you'll sleep like a baby :)

I had to get up early the next morning to go to Orientation. I met up with all my friends I met on the trip. We met our Director, Raquel, her job is to basically help us with any problems we have. When she started speaking I didn't even realize she was speaking Spanish, because I was understanding EVERYTHING! I interrupted my flow when I thought about this. I got so excited but then went back to listening right away. She was speaking very slowly, but still it was a great moment. Our counselors are all very nice. After we were hit with a ton of information we took a tour of campus where we were hit with MORE information. There's no way anyone can remember it all.

Later they treated us to lunch. Lunch in Chile is the largest meal of the day, so this is how it went. We got there and we were all starving! Before we arrived they asked us what we wanted to eat, there were three choices 1) Carne de res (a beef steak) 2) Pescado (Fish but today specifically it was Trout) 3) Fettutine. I went for the Trout b/c when in Chile you eat Seafood. BUT before we got our meal...They asked us what would you like to drink? They had a few options, I went for the Pisco Sour. Aqui en Chile es muy tipico. So I had to try it. I also was brought water, but water con gas! (carbonated water) I'm not a fan but it was just fine. So then they brought us our drinks and appetizers. They were meat balls that you dipped in a wine sauce and we also had little boat crackers with a fish paste in it. It was delicious. They also brought us bread. Then finally our meal. The vegetables were even to die for. Perhaps it's because I am biased (thinking this place is heaven), but for now they were amazing.

Even more interesting part of my day. The back story...My family's father passed away about 2 years ago. They go to his grave site maybe once a month(This is what I was told). So something I never even thought I would experience here. The cemetery and a funeral. There was a funeral going on and there were SO many people and SO many flowers. I wanted to take pictures so bad, but I made sure it was okay before I did. Some of the graves have 5 or 6 people in one. They said just staked on top of one another. There is also a wall of cement where there are different rectangular shapes to place the caskets in. They are not in the ground but in this wall. I didn't get a good picture of them, but they are in the distance in the pictures I have. I only tell you all of this because it was so different and to me interesting. We were at a very old cemetery and oddly enough I didn't have any weird feelings. I felt completely fine and safe.

Later that night I went out with the entire group! We all have to find our own way to and from these places, which at first is a little nerve racking. I live really close to everything, but I never want to walk alone in the dark(don't worry mom I didn't nor will). Mariana drove me there. It turned out to be a KARAOKE BAR called Strike! It was so much fun. I had a Pina Colada(It's so true that the drinks here are so much stronger than in the US). So I only had one drink. It was so much fun. All I did was speak spanish and laugh the entire time. One downfall is that so many people smoke in Chile. Almost everyone. So there was much smoke in the bar. I still had a good time, and I'm still able to breath. Thankfully. Even the taxi ride home was fun. My friend Maggie's new cousin was with us. They dropped me off first b/c I'm literally 2 min ride away from the bar. I didn't know the address, but I knew the road. It was all good. I got home safely, opened the gate and then door and I was off to bed.

I then slept for about 12 hours. Much needed :) Today is a new day. I'm ready for anything even if it is sitting here with my Chilean family all day waiting for the different meals. I have no obligations what so ever, except to practice Spanish.

Kelsey