Week #4: How Chile made me hungry to learn more about the world.

Wow, I can't believe I've been home from Chile for almost three weeks now. The country taught me a lot about myself, and I came home ready to start a career in English teaching. As excited as I was to come home, I find myself missing the most amazing things about Chile.  I miss the fresh fruit that you could buy for two dollars from the man across the street from my apartment (the strawberries were to die for!), walking the tree lined streets of Providencia on a Sunday afternoon, the stunning views of Valparaiso, and all the friends I made there.  I think what I miss most though, is my host family.  Throughout my stay, not a day went by when they didn't ask me how I was doing, things about my family, if I needed anything, or how my course was going. I will never forget their amazing generosity and hospitality during my short month in Chile.  It's for this very reason that I stay with host families while I'm in a foreign country and I've been fortunate to have two great stays (in Chile and Costa Rica).

Chile made me hungry to learn more about the world, not only because of Santiago's rich history and architecture, but because I went there alone, not knowing anyone, and managed to come away from the experience with a deeper understanding of Chilean culture and the people.  I now have a handful of friends and a host family there, and I can't wait to go back.  I want to see more of the country, and I'm hoping that my next experience there will be as equally exciting and stimulating as my first trip.

Week #3: How much Chile made me realize I don't like earthquakes and how Valparaíso/Viña del Mar made me love Chile!

Week #3 started off a little shaky...ok I'm under-exaggerating a bit.  After being awoke by a "tremor" early Saturday morning, an even bigger "tremor" hit around 8:00 pm in Santiago on Sunday night.  I was actually just about to talk to my parents via Skype when I heard a car alarm go off...which is not an uncommon occurence here in my neighborhood.  Feeling the ground shake is something that I would have to get used to, but as of now, I'm not a fan of these "tremors". The earthquake was about 150 miles away, close to where the big one two years ago was.  Luckily, no deaths were reported and only about 14 people were hurt.


Getting out of town for the weekend was exactly what I needed.  Valparaíso is now one of the coolest places I've ever been too.  I loved the layout, probably because it reminded me a lot of San Francisco.  The streets suck to walk up, but nevertheless, I decided to walk to one of Pablo Neruda's other houses, La Sebastiana.  Boy, was I glad I did, even though I was sweating profusely once I got there a half hour later.  This house was where most of his poetry was written, and I can see why.  The house is situated in one of the nicest neighborhoods of Valparaíso, and he had a full view of the ocean port with ships coming in and out regularly.


The next day, I went to Viña del Mar, which reminds me of Florida or California.  I didn't spend but two hours there, and I wish I would have stayed there longer because it was much cleaner and a little more touristy than Valparaíso, but one of the best beaches is about 10 minutes away by taxi, and I didn't have a chance to make it there.  I'd definitely have to stay a week to see all that Valparaíso and Viña del Mar have to offer.