Soup for the soul...


So here I sit...having just made myself a bowl of soup and what I'm calling a Chilean english muffin --The standard bread here looks very similar to our english muffins...or maybe more like the muffin you get for an egg mcmuffin sandwhich from mcdonalds --but faaaar better of course. They're these flat little circles that peel apart in layers sort of like a crescent roll. And they taste amazing when they're toasted (which I did of course --but in a frying pan, since my residence does not have a toaster..I have to go back to the olden days of toasting things over a gas stove that is lit from a match...no joke). Food here is relatively similar to back in the states (yes...i'm using the term "states"...if you say "america", some people here are offended since they're technically americans as well, being from south america), but the things that are different, are pretty bizarre. For example, it's harder to find normal water here than it is to find carbonated water. Everying is "con gas." You have to speaclly order "agua sin gas" at restaurants unless you want carbonated water. Also, I tried to buy peanut butter in the supermarket the other day, and it was outrageously expensive for a teeny tiny jar. But then today, I found what i believe is refrigerated peanut butter (I'll get back to you once I try it), but in pouches in the butter and margarine section. I'm slowly getting used to things though. Today I made a solo trip to the mall down the street where I bought a frying pan a couple of knives. I then proceeded on to the "panadería" for some fresh Chilean english muffins, and then to the supermarket for a general shopping trip --all of which were successfully completed in spanish.

Today also marked my second day of classes here in Chile. I now have a new found sympathy for foreign exchange students. I have never been so frustrated in my life. It feels awful to be the "dumb kid" who has to have things repeated about four times in order to understand. And even then, I sometimes just smile and say I get it when in reality, I still have no idea what was said. Having said this, I really can't complain too much. Everyone has been extremely nice and helpful, which apparently hasn't been the case for most of the other exchange students. Apparently other people have been pointed at, laughed at, and completely ignored by people. I, however, have been much better received --which only solidifies my love for the arts and my fellow artists (I'm the only exchange student out of a bout 20 or so studying art). My first class didn't exactly jump to be my friend, however by today, people were speaking with me, and I received a great number of the kisses --people here will give a kiss on the cheek for both greetings and partings. My class today consisted of a whopping four people (myself included) which I will admit was insanely intimidating. At least in the other classes I could shrink back and not speak if I wasn't sure what was going on, but this is certainly not going to be the case here. I believe there are a few more students who should be in the class, but for today...it was a bit difficult. But once again... the artists pulled through, and everyone was extremely sympathetic. My professors have been great as well--one actually bought me lunch my first day and gave me a ride home (it's about a half hour bus ride and half hour walk...so at 9pm when my class is over...walking alone could be a bit sketchy for a blonde girl here).

I set out after class today all excited to explore and take pictures since I was done with class at about 4 (or 16 as they would say here), but to my dismay, when I got off the bus and crossed the street to my first destination, the rain began to fall --and it has not stopped since. I managed to snap a few quick pictures of the university before I left today, which are here, but that's all I was able to manage.





Here are some other pictures I've taken in the past couple of days. This first one is of one of the guards outside of what I believe is the Chilean version of the White House. It has about three courtyards in the middle that are open to the public.




Here is a view from the top of San Cristobal Hill. This hill is rather large, and the top allows one ot view the entire city of Santiago --cloud of smog included. There are little "pods", similar to those of a ski lift, that will take you up and down the hill. I haven't ridden in them yet --our "orientation" for the university drove us to the top-- but i definitely intend to do so.




This is a view of the sunset on Providencia, the main street in Santiago.



Here is a view of the Andes from the building where I applied for the cedula de identad --country ID card...similar to a driver's license. The place reminded me of the DMV (I waited for over two hours with one of those arrowhead-shaped number slips), although with amuch better view.




This final image is one of the foot bridges that cross the river which runs through the park in the median of Providencia (did you follow that???)