On a clear day I can see a very long way.

We didn't go to school on friday as I had to go and order my ID card, it also gave Charlotte the chance to pick up hers. We met Ayoolu in Las Rejas metro station and carried on towards our destination. I was surprised at how quick it was to get everthing sorted out. No queues, nothing. Impressive.
We arrived home around lunchtime and proceeded to make Chocolate Brownies for Jessicas birthday party the day after. They don't use weighing scales here so I had to do alot of guess work. I had raved a bit about the amazingness of my chocolate brownies so I felt slightly under pressure to impress. They didn't last untill the party so I'm thinking thats a good thing. Charlotte and I are thinking of cooking something different each week for our hosts, so they could taste a bit of our background aswell. Charlotte, for instance, is going to prepare suishi next week.
That evening we headed into Santiago center again to meet Naomi and some of the other volunteers. We met Aaron, Tobias and Naomi outside the metro station and proceeded on to Bellavista. Bellavista is basically student central. It a lovely area with parks, buzzing bars and, for me, a good first look at Chilean nightlife. We hadn't sat down for five minutes when we bumped into one of the brothers living in Aaron and Tobias' house. He and his friends we're then with us for the remainder of the night. It was a good night all in all. I met some young Chileans who were all really friendly and it gave me and Charlotte the chance chat to some of the other volunteers and see how they were doing.

We slept in pretty late on Saturday. We had plans to go out during the day and see more of the city but we wern't sure what time Jessicas party started. Chilean families make such a lot of effort for birthdays. The house was decorated wth streamers and baloons and there was even a "50" made out of real flowers. Everything kicked off around 8 O'clock when all the family started to arrive. It was a really good evening filled with lots of laughs and abundant food. I was slightly worried about our present. We bought her a box of Lidnt Chocolate as she only like two varieties, Lidnt and a Chilean brand. It turns out, we didn't do so bad. She really liked the gift, even though she only got one as the rest of the family took it upon themselves to fill their boots. Nevertheless, it was brownie points (excuse the punn) all round.

Sunday was a very lazy day. As it was raining, we couldn't really go out so we decided to get some much needed RnR and chill out with a few films.
This gives me the oppertunity to introduce the family. There is Jessica (Mum of the house), Jorge (Dad of the house) and their 3 daughters, Jessica (31), Carolina (27) and Camila (18). This is where it gets slightly confusing. Jessica (daughter) has 2 children, Paula (9) and Benjamin (3 months) and she is currently married to Gabriel (Benjamins father). Apart form this, there are various sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles etc that are also worth a mention, but there are so many I cannot remember the names of most. Charlotte and I have been very lucky to be welcomed into this family. Project Trust weren't joking when they said that Chilean families treat you like one of their own.

Title.. Scrubs, Season 2, Ep 3

These winding roads will never lead me back to the place where I belong.

On my first morning, I was introduced to the school and officially my first day of volunteering. San Luis Beltan is a local school about 20 minutes walk from our house, so it's quite convienient and it means that me and Charlotte get a gentle morning exercise, which is never a bad thing. It's a lovely school and when I arrived all the teachers started to intoduce themselves and say "ohhh, so you're la nueva". I was famous, or seemed to be. haha.
Sadly, the doorman at the school had passed away the day before so all the school was slightly downbeat. The was a memorial service held for him the playground complete with hymns and Bible passages. I hadn't met the man but I was honestly moved by the whole thing.
We did very little during the morning, some small jobs involving the creation of a last-minute powerpoint presentation for one of the english teachers and some general cuboard sorting out. After break I was introduced to my first class, well, it wasn't my class, but Miss Loreto (an english teacher) used us as assistants. I was introduced as "Miss Laura". I love being called "Miss Laura". The loud group of 12 year old boys one table were refering to me as "Miss Pretty" because of my blond hair, which I liked less. At least during that class, bar the whistling and name calling, I got to actually teach something help someone.
I was intoduced to Naomi, a ex-vulunteer who is back in Chile for a year as part of her university course. After school, we all went into the center to get me "Bip!" card. A "Bip!" card is basically like an Oyster card in London that you put credit on and then can therefore travel on the metros and buses without having to hunt for loose change.

The next day at school was a half-day as the town were holding the funeral in the schools chapel. That morning, aport from doing very little yet again, I met Oscar and Cathy, two university students also volunteering as San Luis Beltran. They are very nice and have invited both Charlotte and I to a barbeque at Cathy house in the coming weeks.
We left school at noon and headed into Santiago center again to see more of the city. We arrive in Baquedano and walked around the park there. It's amazing how the city can cahnge so dramatically within a half hour bus ride. We also took some nice photos of the scenary. :)
Dinner that evening was not the norm. The conversation took a turn into Chilean sexism. The women in Chile no longer accept the tradicional ways of living. They, like most cultures believe that men and women should share things like house chores and the cooking. Jorge (my host dad) has other views. He is very stubborn and won't accept change. He said and I quote "If the women of the house won't cook for me, then I will just go hungry." He pulled an amusing face and everyone else at the table starting giggling. It just shows that most Chileans are ready to move with the times, be it a little late.

Title.. If bigger scars make better stories, then you should see the scars on me - Search the city

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Well, what can i say on the eve of my first day in Pudahuel. I already feel like i've learnt so much about Chilean culture. Its incredible how two countries so alike in language can be so completely different in ever other way. Like the whole "supper" routine. Last mean at 7.00? unheard of in spain, that's like merienda time. haha. I've learnt some Chilean slang words too like "palto" is avocado and "jugo" is juice amongst others.
The flight here was epic to say the least. Malga - Heathrow - Sao Paulo - Santiago. At least I managed to recover my suitcases at the end og the journey, whish I was slightly worried about. :) And ofcourse the films on the way helped, not to mention tea and Ice-age and Uncel A's! I also got some great mugs shots to upload. You'll see what I mean by "mug shots" when you see the photos. Also, the views of the Andes from the plane were AMAZING (yes, it needed to be in capitals). I was greeted by Charlotte and one of the teachers from San Luis Beltran and they took me home. It feels wierd callign this home, will though it will be for the next year. All the home comforts I brought helped too.
I had a family meet and greet, followed by lunch and picking little Paula up from school.
I honestly cannot believe that I'm finally here. It all feels so surreal, but at the same time, very real indeed. I am incredibly lucky to be in such a place.

Title.. Straight towards the sun - Newton Faulkner