1. Update on the hogar.... Things have been going pretty good recently. The girls seem to all be warming up to us and are used to us being there everyday. It's tricky though because their moods change every day. One day a girl is hugging me and wanting to hang out the whole day and then the next day all she is saying is "no mira me" and "suelta me" which mean: don't look at me and don't touch me. So every day when we say hello to all 30 girls if also a test to see if they will give me a hug or ignore me.
Since we've been there a while now and know the ropes we have started to plan an activity every day for the girls to do after homework. This week our big hit was making puzzles. They loved it and it felt so good to have them engaged in something and have them like it! Some days they think our crafts are lame or they just want to be alone. So that was a huge hit! The low point of the week would have to be our first english workshop. We had 3 girls who finished their homework and joined us for the workshop. We played hot potato and when the music stopped they had to say "Hello, my name is ____". Well this was also the day that they all have about 4 ice cream cones after lunch so they were so jacked up on sugar it was an impossible task. So it was horribly frustrating, BUT one little girl has been saying "hello, my name is..." everyday I see her so I think that is a mild success. It's also hilarious because with their accent they sound Chinese and I have to hold back my fits of laughter listening to these 10 year old Chileans sound Chinese. It also makes me realize that I probably sound ridiculous with my spanish accent as well.
2. Salsa classes..... I have been taking beginner level salsa classes for about 1 month now and it's awesome! My roomie Nola and I go twice a week to the dance studio down the street from us and last night we completed our beginner level and have just signed up for level 2. It's so fun and we're getting slightly better. The class is about an hour and for the first half we learn steps and then the second half we get in a big circle with women on the outside and men on the inside rotating in a circle. We practice a dance with all of them and it is hilarious. Some of the men are so off the whole time and since I'm supposed to let them lead I just go with it even when they completely screw it up. AND it's getting hot in Chile so this dance studio is like a sauna an everyone has sweaty palms. It's like middle school dances all over again. Awkward and sweaty.
The best part is always when the instructor uses me as an example to teach the next part of the day because he's this insanely good dancer and doesn't ever tell you before you do it with him to show the whole class. AND guess what.... it's all in spanish. I can't ever understand any of so look like a moron when he uses me as the example, but oh well it's funny! I just want to look at him and say you should probably get somone who understands you beceause then you wouldn't have to say "turn, yes turn. ok now you turn this way" 10 times until I just figure it out based on his arms.
Nola and I are going to try to go to a salsa club next week to test out our new moves!
3. Church..... last Sunday Elisabeth, Jess and I went to Santiago Community Church, which is a local church mostly for expats and gringos. It was so great! Everyone was so nice and friendly. They had us sign the guest book and then made us stand up and wave during the church service! We were a bit embarassed by that, but oh well! It was all in English and it was just so refreshing to be there and feel a little bit like home. They also have all of these pancake dinners and things for Thanksgiving and Christmas so we were all really excited.
There has been lots more going on..... birthdays, language exchanges meetings and I've been matched with a local Chilean family to meet up and experience more of their culture. I have to leave for work in about 20 minutes so not too much more time to share.
This weekend I'm off to the Andes... even though Santiago is right on the Andes they feel so far away so I am SO excited to get to see them and spend a little time closer to nature. We are having our half way point "Jornada" retreat to celebrate our 2 months and to reflect a bit on how it is all going. I am very excited to get out of the city and relax a bit. Can you believe it's already been 2 months???? I can not! It feels like I've been here for 3 weeks!
I haven't taken many photos lately, but here's one of a gorgeous sunset we had recently. Taken right out of my bedroom window.
Ciao!
Yay for Salsa dancing and the Andes! Maybe you should show your salsa teacher your beyonce moves....then he will know you're legit.
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