Tanto Tiempo

So it has been such a long time! Sorry about that. I guess I´ll go with the saying no news is good news. But so much has happened.

Luckily, I wasn't affected by the volcano erruption a few weeks ago. It is pretty far south of Santiago. Its so sad though, many people have been displaced and the drinking water is really bad because of all the ash. They've been collecting lots of supplies for the displaced families at my school.

I've learned that in Santiago instead of snow days they have rain days. It rained a ton last week, its Fall here, and they cancelled school for a day and a half, I couldn't believe it! I think it was because they were trying to conserve clean water. Of course we had classes, I had 5 students show up.

School-wise, everything is good. I'm a little behind in my classes because we have lots of holidays and attendance isn't that great so I have to review stuff quite a bit. But I've gotten used to the laid back ways of my college, and I think my students are learning. They're so great. I can't wait until they're not my students and I can hang out with them! They're starting to find me and the other English teachers on facebook, its so funny. But I can't let them see my compromising party pictures, too soon.


We're in our 12th or 13th week of the first semester, I don't remember. The last week of classes is at the beginning of July, so we only have a month left. I can't believe it. My winter break is mid-July-ish to Mid-August and my best friends Tina and Keri are coming!!! I can't wait. I think by then I´ll be Chilean enough to be a good tour guide/host.

Living-wise, Chelsea and I moved into an apartment with two Chilean girls, Paola and Pia. It is right by the subway and we live on the 19th floor. The view is amazing. And since its been raining lately the air has been cleaner so I have a great view of the mountains from my window. We moved in about 3 weeks ago.

I haven't been traveling too much, its so hard to get away for a weekend because I work until 8:30PM on fridays and at 8:30 AM on mondays. But I did go to Curico with my boyfriend Francisco this past weekend. He was a Padrino, godfather, for his cousins' confirmation. Its a more rural town and soo beautiful. Its south of santiago close to the mountains so a little colder, but everything was so green. It reminded me of Paullina little bit. So, needless to say, I met the WHOLE family, they even made me give a speech in Spanish at the dinner after the confirmation. It was horrible, but hilarious. I think my favorite part was how everyone had to tell me the one English word they knew; beautiful, wrangler (like the jeans), bye-bye, very good. They use it, even if its in the completely wrong context. It was great to get out of the city for a weekend and I came back with a huge sack full of walnuts, kiwi, avocados, and apples. His whole family had to give me something to take back, I was not complaining!

I've also been seeing the sites in Santiago. We went to the Santiago version of the Science Center/Coralville Chilren's museum a few weekends ago. It was all interactive exhibits. I also went to a famous Bar called la piojera where they serve a drink called terremotos, earthquakes, made of wine, rum, and pineapple ice cream. They're super potent but a staple of Santiago.

I can't think of anything more for now. Write me an email, let me know how you are! brookeepalmer@gmail.com

I miss everyone! I'm not too homesick yet, which is a good thing since I'm here through the end of the year. Happy Memorial Day!!