http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Chile , Santiago Region , Nunoa en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:58:05 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:58:05 UTC Tonight we leave on a wonderful adventure. Classes are over so two other girls from the program and I are taking a week and a little bit to explore the country south of Santiago. We're taking an overnight bus to Pucn a small tourist town near Lago Villarica and Volcn Villarica about 10 hours southwest of Santiago I'm not sure how many miles or kilometers. We don't have a definite plan. It's g http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-307694.html Irsquom sorry that itrsquos been so long since I updated. I canrsquot even remember the last thing I said. Irsquove been busy but you probably wouldnrsquot know it based on what I recount here. Keep in mind that the average commute to any given place is between 30 and 45 minutes depending on time of day and how I combine Micro buses and Metro subway. And Irsquove also had homewor http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-303774.html Tuesday in Santiago there were a large number of people protesting mainly education. It started as a peaceful march but then according to my friend who was nearby someone threw a rock and all hell broke loose. The march was never oked by the government so the police were more or less just waiting for something to happen. Sewage water was sprayed and tear gas released. I just missed most of i http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-298215.html First of all I just finished some homework. Yes. Homework. Santiago is not all fun and games. It's only mostly fun and games. Second of all tomorrow I'm leaving this smoggy city to explore Via del Mar and Valparaso We'll be there all weekend probably. I'll take lots of beautiful pictures and have lots of beautiful experiences. There are a couple really cool cemetaries we'll probably check ou http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-295129.html I started classes today. My schedule could not be sweeter unless the days here were longer. The sun sets about 615 or 630 so it gets dark fairly early. I have Latin American History MW 35 and Chile's Native Cultures of the South TH 35. I never have to wake up earlyWord on the street is that some students are taking over a building tonight and there will be some protests tomorrow. For those of http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-293773.html I finally figured out this whole internetcomputer set up they have going on here. I'm wearing new shoes but I'll be packing them soon when I pack for our trip to San Pedro de Atacama. Despite having to wake up at a ridiculous hour tomorrow it should be a good time. We're going to Valle de la luna Socaire and el Reservo nacional flamenco where supposedly we'll see lots and lots of flamingos http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-290441.html here i am. its on the chilly side no pun intended. i managed to sleep a little on the plane from miami which was delayed just like the flight from chicago. but sleeping on planes is never good enough. the seats are uncomfortable my neck cramps up my butt falls asleep. maybe if i could afford first class with those fancy seats that recline i wouldnt be complaining. as it is i was in coach. and http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-290155.html RodeoOne day while flicking through the channels on TV I came across what I at least considered the slightly bizarre spectacle of Chilean Rodeo. That being two Huasos Chilean cowboys on horseback sandwiching a cow between them guiding it and then ramming it into a wall in an arena. This feat was graded on a point scale of one to five and I spent the rest of the afternoon transfixed to the TV http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-274215.html Colo Colo Colo Colo is the most popular soccer team in Chile and historically the most successful. My girlfriend and her family have the team in their blood hence it wasnt long before I found myself with the clan at Monumental Colo Colo's home stadium. Colo Colo Chiles best team was playing La Boca Argentinas most famous club. The experience was phenomenal and rivaled my last South American so http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-265070.html On Wednesday I met the family Ill be living with for the next month or so and possibly longer if things work out. Theyre pretty great so far and their house is very nice and close to the campus where Ill be taking a Spanish review class for the next 3 weeks. It looks like the house is even relatively close to the campus where Ill be taking classes for the semester so prospects for stayi http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-240137.html 32607Happy Birthday GrandmaI just want to add a couple things about SantiagoMicros Piratas and self service1. selfservice. Santiaguinos don't believe in it. I don't know whymaybe they're trying to create more jobs maybe they don't trustpeople not to steal things I don't know but I don't like it. Ithink my dislike for it and the ustedtu dichotomy is part of myblossoming culture shock http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-152616.html 3607 931 PMWell thatrsquos a real long time to go without writing about anything. Well Irsquove already started an email that has all the details about Torres so Irsquoll skip over that. Whatrsquos important about that is that Tiara Christina and I are now very good friends with a lot of inside jokes which is good to have. Itrsquos great to have people to laugh with even tho http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-152611.html 2707 424 PMRiding buses in Santiago is quite the experience. I donrsquot remember very clearly how the combis were in Chiapas did we even take real buses I just remember combis but Irsquom pretty sure that they waited until people were all the way in the vehicle before they took off. In the past all of the buses in Santiago have been privately owned and the micreros bus drivers a http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-152609.html 2207 854 PMHi everyoneItrsquos still light here at 9 PM but darkening. A few shades before twilight. Itrsquos very nice and purple. Wellhellip. I have a list of things to write about so Irsquoll just follow it for now. Santiagorsquos really a pretty interesting city. You can find all kinds of strange things on the streets. The best example is La Pequea Gigante or ldquo gia http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-152606.html 13107 1250 PMHi. Life is going pretty well here. I just cleaned my room today and it feels a little cleaner but not really. I guess probably just because itrsquos so small that itrsquos hard to make it feel clear. School started on Monday. We have 4 hours of Intesnive Spanish class MondayFriday. There are five different classes and 3 levels intermediate intermediateadvanced and http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-152605.html 12807 1117 PMHola. Irsquom watching TV for the first time since I got here. I kinda wanted to watch something American cause I imagine that Chilean TVrsquos bad. But I also wanted to watch something in Spanish. So Irsquom watching Latin MTV. That one cartoon thatrsquos really vulgar with the black chick in orange with fox ears on her hat and the black and white Betty Boop looking http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-152604.html 12307 1151 PMHola queridosI am in Santiago Chile. Today was my first day here. The internet connection is weak in the hostel and I donrsquot have ALL that much to write about but today was an eventful day nonetheless and I want to write about it so I think I may start keeping a log or something and sending it out periodically. The whole trip went pretty smoothly. Mom and I drove down http://www.travelblog.org//South-America/Chile/Santiago-Region/Nunoa/blog-138642.html