Today was the first official day of orientation. Prof Leon told us about himself, his days hanging out with the Jamaicans, looking at history, and Chilean and Mapuche history. He was entertaining! Then lunch at the cafeteria nearby, ick ish, then talk by another professor who was much less animated. Oh gosh takes soooo mjuch energy to understand these academics, I was jus so tired. We walke daround during lunch and saw a craft artisanl market. Then after the second talk, we went to bella vista the bohemian ish place in front of hte first mtn we went to. Some had [View Full Entry]

---

---

- European architecture - Agua sin gas o con gas? - sparkling water vs. normal - Much history, coup in 1973, socialism to democracy - Police on horses - Chacarero - sandwich - Tropical plants amgst snow capped mtns - Many stray dogs - Lil dog houses on the streets for these stray dogs? - 10% tip in restaurants only - Santiago is divided into zones - Metro is super fast hehe - Smog to be seen.. - Prong shaped outlet 220 V must buy adapter - Many chinese restaurants with chinese signs but are they Chinese owned? I hear [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we had lunch at “Mi Rancho” in a far far part of Las Condes, Santiago that they said we would probably never visit again. Program alumni came to talk to us and give us advice. As we were taking the bus there, the view was really beautiful. We could see the ice capped moutains. It’s so strange, to think we’re in “winter,” but there are so many tropical plants here! like palm trees, aloe vera, etc. And as we got closer and closer, the mountains appeared before us closer and closer. So there was some wine on the table, but [View Full Entry]

---

---

Dinner at Vacos Gordos After just sitting there and kinda zoning out due to tiredness, I just ordered whatever sounded appealing. Pil pil con pollo. Hrmm… which is this: * 4 diente(s) ajo(s) cortados en láminas * 3/8 taza(s) café de aceite de oliva * 1/2 ají cacho de cabra sin semilla, cortado en pedazos * 3/4 taza(s) agua * 4 cucharada(s) perejil sin tallos, finamente cortados * 1/2 pizca pimienta * 3/4 kg kokotxas To me it was basically chicken chunks with some spices garlic and such. I think some people went out tonight. Oh well. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Maybe it’ll be too boring to describe the plane trip here but I’ll describe what Chile is like to me now. We can see snow capped mountains from here! It’s beautiful. But I have no clue what mountains they are, if they are the Andes or what. We are in the alamada? in santiago. It’s cold freezing if I weren’t still so hot and sweaty from moving suitcases up and down the stairs. I have to buy quite a few things: converter, phone, and… can’t remember now. And open bank account? Later we’ll have orientation which I’m looking forward to. [View Full Entry]

---

---