Empieza SIT: ARICA, CHILE

Okay, I apologize. I have been here almost a month and have only posted one blog update (mostly pictures and very few thoughts), so here we go.

So, I luckily found a family that is just as goofy as mine is (what a relief!) and they don't think I'm crazy here, yet. This is my little sister, Daniela, who is both an excellent teacher and a constant source of entertainment. We do her kindergarten homework together, which is actually a huge help for my language skills. The first phrase she taught me was, "¿Juguemos?" which means Are we going to play? I hear this phrase whenever I walk in the house, and it will be impossible to forget.

So, while trying to do something sweet for both of our familias, Karman came up with the idea of making spiced cereal balls (and new all-time favorite of mine) and chocolate chip cookies. I didn’t see it through to the end of the chocolate chip cookies (which apparently turned out great), however, our spiced cereal balls were terrible! I believe Karman put it best when she said, “Play-Dough”. Between not having cups/tablespoons, changes in ingredients butter between countries, and no marked degrees on the oven, the normally crispy and delicious cookies came out like ugly little mud balls. (Or maybe it was just the fact that I was there…) Anyway, my new challenge is to make a recipe for the family that does not include baking…I’m thinking French toast.

So the girls on the trip are all great. Everyone gets along and in general we all walk around in one mass mob, though are starting to branch off a little for convenience sake (not many restaurants/cafes here are ready to serve 15 ppl at a time).

Meet some of the girls on the trip, starting from the left. Sara: Really cute skirts and tank tops always. Katie: Can dance like no other I have ever met. Claire: She’s from Holland and is saving us from being “the ugly American Group” Karman: My goof-tastic friend of 3 years, whom most of you already know. Laura: Luckiest girl on this trip has an entire floor to herself! Shira: Always cheerful and up for doing something. Mei-Lani: Lived in Alaska and is my running buddy! Emma: Has lived all over the US (Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Kentucky) and has the most interesting Accent I have ever heard. We also surf together.

Goldie, the family Golden retriever, and I are really great Pals because she’s the only one who speaks less Spanish than I do. She’s also the best ice-breaker ever. Whenever things get too quiet, just say how cute Goldie looks.

The party scene in Chile is crazy. People don’t leave their houses until 12 and getting back at 4am is considered leaving the party early. This particular fiesta was held for the Chile Ayuda a Chile (Chile Helps Chile) campaign the weekend after the big Earthquake in Santiago. All the proceeds and canned food donations (which got you partial off your ticket if you were a guy) went to help out people who lost their homes and families down South. I must say, I am way more impressed with Chile’s response to this earthquake than I am with the response Americans made to Katrina. Chile Ayuda a Chile is written on cars, shop windows, in the sand- everywhere. On my way to school I pass two donation drop off sites which are still loading crates of food and other supplies, and the Telethon Chile’s top artists put together exceeded its goal by double in less than 24 hours (half the time they had planned on doing it for).