and sometimes we win.

I keep meaning to have a quiet weekend in to save the pennies but I always find something better to do. In Santiago there are always new places to discover and new things to see.
Last Saturday evening Charlotte and I met Ed and Aaron to go see a film in the Mall at Mirador Metro Station. It always amazes me how many malls there are in Santiago all with cinemas showing all the latest films in English. I’m not complaining though. We went to see the long anticipated “2012” which to be honest I was expecting to enjoy. Not because of the hype build up, but because I knew exactly how it would pan out: Lots of special effects with a loose plot thrown in to justify the happenings. I wasn’t disappointed. The acting was terrible and the whole idea was quite ridiculous (but I suppose what else can be expected from the guy who also directed “The Day After Tomorrow”?). Nevertheless I’m glad I watched it, if only for the awful clichés and hilarity of the whole thing. When it finished we had to sprint back to the metro station before it closed at 11.30 leading to loss of Aaron camera. He was understandably mortified but his insurance with Project Trust covers thefts up to ₤200 so with the compensation he will easily be able to buy himself a new one.
That Sunday we met again with Ed and Aaron, this time to see the Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum was strange to say the least and most of the “Art” I unable to understand the significance of but in going to a museum I always more cultured and it was nice to experience what the Chileans perceive as Contemporary Art. After lunch we decided it was high time we made some definite travelling plans for the summer. So we headed back to Aaron house and sat down to discuss destinations and budgets. We are very lucky in the fact that all four of us had more or less the same travelling idea. We are to set off from Santiago on the 2nd of January and set off to the South of Chile stopping in places on the way down. We will then cross the Argentinean border, work our way up the east coast of South America and then back over to Santiago for late February. I am soooooo excited!!
The next Friday was the graduation for the 4medios (18yrs). It was weird attending as a teacher having only graduated myself 5months ago. Charlotte and I used the event as an excuse to dress up as we hadn’t had the chance to make an effort in our appearances since we arrived here. What most surprised me was that in Chile they don’t use the typical formal dress for the School ceremony; instead they wear their regular school uniform and the day after they have a gala in which they then dress up. As far as the graduation goes, it was the typical speeches and calling out the students individually to collect a certificate and flowers for the girls.
On the Saturday Charlotte and I saw yet another film at the cinema. This time it was the new Twilight instalment “New Moon”. I shan’t comment on it as I don’t want this blog to turn into a series of film reviews. Film tickets are around about 3.50euros, a small price for a relaxing day out.
This week our Project Trust desk officer Ally came for a visit to see how all us volunteers have been settling in and are coping with our respective projects, host famlies etc. On Wednesday it was time for her visit to San Luis Beltran. Charlotte and I were pleased to hear that Ally always looks forward to seeing our school the most as it has the best English programme and lovely staff. After watching take a lesson with 6th Grade (11yrs) and a trip to our house to chat to our host mum Jessica, the three of us headed into the centre to the local supermarket. Ally has told us previously that she was going to buy a few home comforts that we wouldnt usually buy from the supermarket as a treat from Project Trust. Some volunteers bought things like fresh orange juice and jam but Charlotte and I, being the health-freaks that we are bee-lined straight for the Chocolate and peanut butter. We were lucky that our host family tried peanut butter last year with the previous volunteers and disliked it. More for us. :D
We had a 4 day weekend this weekend to had to do something special. On Saturday we had Project Trust workshop with Ally. We talked about how we had settled into Chilean life and our projects amongst other things. It was a really good chance to reflect on the two months I have spent here so far. Following a wonder round Bellavista post-workshop all us volunteers we treated to a meal at a restaurant on the main street in Bellavista.
Charlotte and I had been invited to test out our camping equipment at Tilly’s country house in San Alfonso about an hour drive out of Santiago into the Andes. We invited Ed and Aaron along with us as well, after all, the more the merrier. Arriving at San Alfonso late morning, we admired the tiny picturesque village and the stunning gardens at Tilly’s house. After putting our tents up at the bottom of the garden we all had lunch and spent the rest of the day relaxing playing cards and chatting about our plans for Monday. Tilly suggested we took a colectivo up to the “Baños Morales” and hiked up to the “Glacier Morado” in the national park. So that’s exactly what we did. The four of us were picked up at 10am sharp the next day and driven into the Andes to begin our hike up. I think it was fairly obvious that this was my first ever hike anywhere as the others climbed the 8km with little difficulty although Charlotte did suffer slightly with the altitude but I think that’s normal as we were about 2500m above sea level. I have never seen views like the ones I saw that Monday and when we reached the top I couldn’t help but have a tear in my eye as I realised where I was and how this was to be merely the beginning of our Chilean adventure. :) I can’t describe the views from the Glacier were incredible to say the least but I’ll let the pictures do the talking for once. On the 8km return we stopped for a picnic by the lakes and continued down, this time slightly more leisurely partly because I twisted my weak ankle a number of times and also because we hurtled up there at such a pace that I wasn’t able fully take in the scenery. We slept very well that night in out tents as we are all exhausted. It was without a doubt the best day I have had so far. :)

Title.. Waste a moment - Fightstar