Hola mis amigos! So sorry for not writing in so long. I have been super busy having lots of fun, and also doing lots of homework... ew. Let's see if I can remember what I have been doing since the last time I wrote. Ready... go!
I spent Halloween night at Casi's house watching movies with her and Kenna, and also handing out candy to the kiddos. We discovered that children here are more greedy and rude when it comes to candy. Instead of knocking once, or ringing the doorbell once, they ring the doorbell about five times, and then proceed to pound on the door until it is answered. After said door opens the kids push their way passed each other over the threshold and hold their bags out to you. Most don't even bother saying trick-or-treat, or thank you. We would put candy in their bags and then they would continue holding them out, like we were going to give them more, till we started closing the door. We even saw some children twice, and at that point just stopped answering the door. But, it was still a very fun night.
The week after Halloween I didn't really do much except school and homework. The next weekend we had a joint birthday party for Ruby and Sarah at Skylar's place. When I got there it was just a few girls, and Tiara and Jessica wanted to do my make-up and hair over, so I let them, then when Casi was going to take a picture Kenna decided I needed to look like I was double fisting it. Although one of the drinks in the picture is alcoholic it is Kenna's, and the other is just a coke. Haha. So here is what I have really been doing in Chile...
It was a very fun party. Many jokes, and lots of horseplay, of course. At one point I was helping with the choripan, part of the BBQ, and Sky's mom had to go inside to get something. She was smoking and couldn't take the cigarette inside, so she turns to me and says, "Can you hold this please?" then disappeared into the house. I started laughing and called Casi. Then Kenna turned around and hands me her drink again while shouting, take a picture, take a picture. I started laughing hysterically, and the first picture wasn't very convincing...
I got it right on the second one, and it looks more real. But, I was very red from laughing so hard. So now I have been drinking and smoking in Chile!! Except not. Haha. After the party we went to Biblioteca, a pub, for a few hours because Matt and David were going to be playing a few songs. David played drums, and Matt sang and played electric guitar. They called themselves Pan y Palta, bread and avocado, and played pretty well. All in all it was a very enjoyable night, although I was very tired when at Biblioteca.
The next week I still didn't do much other than school and homework. The school was still in Parro so we had classes late, from 5 to 8. I got up late every day and went running, then ate lunch with my family, did some homework, and relaxed a bit. I went downtown a few times, got some more gifts for family, and took a bunch of pictures. It was a very nice week.
Last weekend all of us gringos, plus Florencia and her kids, went South to Valdivia, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, and Frutillar. We only stopped in Valdivia on the way down and had lunch at Kuntsmann. I tried some of somebody's beer, and everyone was ooing and ahhing that I was being so brave. They were not disappointed by my grossed out face afterward. Haha. After that we stopped at a fuerte called Castillo de Niebla, which had some very pretty scenery. We got in to Puerto Varas around 8 and went to dinner all together. We stayed in some very nice cabins while there, so that was cool. On Saturday we went to Puerto Montt and walked around a little mercado for a while. It had some very neat trinkets, and I finally found something for dad and for Danny. Yay! I was worried I would never find anything. After that we went to lunch and then to a National Park near Volcan Osorno. I cannot for the life of me remember the name, but it was amazingly beautiful. Here is just a glimpse of the beauty we encountered...
We stayed there for a few hours and walked around. There was a lake with a waterfall in the middle of the park, and Florencia told us that every year someone jumps in. Jimmy and Rhett decided not to disappoint, so they took a little swim in their underwear in the frigid waters. Very entertaining to say the least. After that I went trailblazing for a little while as everyone sat around. I met Jessica doing the same and we went together. It was very beautiful and we got so many wonderful pictures.
When we got back from the park we went to dinner in the same restaurant as the night before. It was a very nice quaint, homey restaurant with delicious food. I had great steak the first night, and Chupe, which is shredded crab meat in some cheese and other things, the second. It has the consistency of very thick clam chowder, and actually tasted a bit like it too. I loved it. Saturday night I went out to a pub with some of the crew, and we danced the night away. When we got back to the cabins Casi, Ashley and I went to watch Up with Jimmy and some of the other boys. Jimmy is a light weight, and had a bit too much wine with dinner. Everyone else was pretty out of it too, so it was very entertaining. They had fed Jimmy some stale bread with cheese on it to get some food in him. They had him convinced that it was a pizza, and he kept raving about how amazing it was. Said it was heavenly, and that he would long for it's amazing sauce every night for the rest of his life. The boys all went to bed before we even reached half way, so Casi, Ashley and I went back to our own cabin. We ended up staying up till 6 in the morning just talking and doing whatever. We got up at 9 and left for home later in the morning. We stopped in Frutillar on the way home for lunch. We walked around for a while beforehand and found some fun stuff. We got home around 10:30, and I went to bed around 12:30. This week our class schedule is different, so I had to get up around 7. It was a very fun weekend, and I only told about half of the stories I have from the passed few weeks, but I am pretty tired after all the fun.
The school is still in Parro, so we are taking classes at Club Ñuble now, from 9 to 1:45. Spanish 311 started this week, so my schedule has become busier and my homework load has grown. My other classes all end on the 26th though, so that will be nice. I am no longer going to Santiago with my family this weekend, because it's my brother's graduation from "colegio" which is high school. Instead we will probably have another gringa's night on Friday, and my family and I might be going to a beach town on Saturday to play. Next weekend is the Killers concert. Casi, Kenna and I are leaving that Friday to go site seeing with Casi's chilean sister. We will be staying in her apartment. The concert is on the 29th at 8, and we return Monday afternoon. Then we leave for the airport Friday that same week so I have a busy few weeks but I am looking forward to them. I am having an absolutely wonderful time, and I am going to miss Chile, and my chilean family when I return. But, I also cannot wait to get back.
Anyway, I believe that wraps up the highlights. It is time to finish this novel, and get to work on some homework. I hope everyone is doing well. I miss each and every one of you so much, and can't wait to see you in less than 3 weeks!
Chao for now,
Kayli
Once we got there we watched from the top of the cars.
Afterward we walked onto the main field, and watched a helicopter take off, and then went home. Here is the group. On the right is my brother, Andrei, on my dad's shoulders and Maxi, Andrei's best friend. On the left is Maxi's little brother on his dad's shoulders.
I got all my homework for the week done, so that I wouldn't have to worry about it, and could just study for my tests. This is my last week of Español 213, Cultura and Gramática. The next 10 days will probably fly by. I have two tests tomorrow, then am heading over to Florencia's to play some piano and sing for her. After that we are having Thanksgiving dinner at Florencia's made by all the students. Friday morning I leave with Casi and Kenna for Santiago to site see all weekend, and go to The Killers concert on Sunday night. We will get back on Monday around two. Tuesday I have class in the morning, then my family and I are throwing a huge asado (BBQ/party) for all the gringos, it should be very fun. Wednesday and Thursday I have class again, and will be packing up and getting my last gifts from the mercado. Then it's bye bye Chile, and hello America on Friday. The students and I may be going to Santiago on Thursday night next week to the American bar and watching the Civil War game there, we shall see.
