So, my apologies for having completely disregarded this blog over the past 5 months. My computer ended up dying and I was without access to a computer for most of my time in Iquique. Fortunately, I have the most amazing parents and they brought me a new laptop when I met up with them in Buenos Aires.
I'll start by saying that the rest of my time in Iquique was, well, interesting. After almost getting kidnapped in a taxi and having a few family issues, I was very ready to leave. But putting aside the negatives...my almost 6 months in Iquique was some of the most unforgettable moments of my life. I learned so much through the people that I met and my experiences in Iquique will always have a very special spot in my heart.
BUT, new and exciting beginnings! I am now living in Santiago, the capital of Chile and I am absolutely LOVING it. I moved into an apartment with two Chilean guys, one an architect, the other in a band and a guy from France who is researching mathematics? (I've asked him a few times to explain what that means-I still don't get it). Anyway, the apartment is situated in a neighborhood called "Providencia." A very relaxed area just outside of the city center.
I know I know....next question....do I have a job? The answer is no. Not yet. I took my first three weeks in Santiago to "get to know" the city aka make friends, go out, and explore! However, in my defense, we are in the middle of summer here and there is very little hiring going on. I have networked my way into a few interviews that have gone very well. Today I finished "psychological" exam for a job teaching English in a private school in Santiago central. (It is mandatory to have psychological exams here in Chile.) I had to answer 560 questions in two hours......in Spanish. I left completely brain dead! If I pass this exam, I will have to go back in at the end of this week to do another exam. From what I heard I will have to do the Rorschach Test...which is looking at ink blots on a paper and interpreting them. I think I'll be fine if I stick to rainbows, flowers, and hearts!
I also have a tentative job lined up to begin in March working part-time for an E-Learning company. I would do online Skype conferences with businesses teaching English. Decent pay. I can't complain. We'll see how everything works out.
The next two weeks I will be participating in English Summer Camps. The first week I will be going to Ovalle, Chile which is located in the Coquimbo region about 7 hours North of Santiago. The second week I will be here in Santiago. I reallllllly look forward to the extra cash! The camps are also really fun, always high energy, making English fun. They were probably my favorite part of working for the government!
And how could I not mention...my trip to Buenos Aires was probably the best vacation I have ever been on!!! Not to mention, it was INCREDIBLE to see my family. It is hard never being able to make a weekend trip home to see the folks! I was treated like a queen the entire week and it was such change from my normal grungy hostel living. We were able to do so many fun things together! Not only did we all explore the city... (a few of the highlights) we went to a Tango show (kind of a bust, but overall a great, cultural experience), a wine tasting...you have to try Malbec wines (dad liked it so much he got a case shipped to him, typical), a bike tour into Tigre, the suburbs of Buenos Aires, and ate TONS of steak all week! I cannot express in words how thankful and appreciative I am to have received this trip from my parents =)
My new years was spent here, in Santiago. I would have liked to go to Valparaíso to celebrate with my host family from two years ago- but after a long day of traveling and a lot of plane delays, I decided it would be best to stay home. My friend Cristián ended up inviting me to his house to eat and celebrate with his family. We laughed, sang, and danced. To be taken in by such a warm, open family felt really great and it was a very memorable new years. Cristián and I later met up with other friends at a party in "la lampa" which is a town about a half hour outside of Santiago. We celebrated until about 11am the next day and we went to the Mercado Central to eat our first meal of the New Year! ñom ñom ñom
I could continue writing for hours but I am going to stop myself here. I am so excited to have a computer so I can start writing again. For the past few months I have been writing all of my experiences down by hand...I'm excited for a break ;)
I would love some New Year's updates from everyone back home! I will also be sending out "Thank You" emails for everyones generous cards and gifts during the holiday season. I am glad no one has forgotten about me! Miss everyone a lot!
Some photos of the end of my Iquique experience and Buenos Aires for you to enjoy:
This is what happened when the students would protest & take over the school-no one could get in!
