It\u2019s been exactly two weeks since I left for Santiago.\u00a0 In the short amount of time I\u2019ve been here, I already feel like a Chilean.\u00a0 Their lifestyle fits me perfectly.\u00a0 They\u2019re casual, laid back and like to have fun.\u00a0 Above all, they know how to live in the moment.<\/p>\n
Chileans show a lot of affection towards one another.\u00a0 The first time someone went towards me for a kiss on the cheek, it definitely threw me off.\u00a0 However, it\u2019s how people greet each other here as well as to say goodbye.\u00a0 After two weeks, I\u2019ve come to like this custom.\u00a0 It\u2019s more personal and meaningful than shaking hands.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll admit, learning a new language is hard.\u00a0 Back in Chicago, I volunteer as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher.\u00a0 This is how my students must feel!\u00a0 It\u2019s frustrating not being able to express myself fully. However, this is one reason I came here: to learn Spanish!\u00a0 Mi mam\u00e1 only speaks Spanish.\u00a0 At times it\u2019s difficult to communicate, but it\u2019s good practice for me!\u00a0 Mis hermanos know some English, so we help each other learn the other language.\u00a0 My classes are dif\u00edcil, but I can already tell I\u2019m learning so much!<\/p>\n
Last weekend, I went to the coast to see one of the houses of Pablo Neruda, a famous literary icon from Chile.\u00a0 His home was unreal.\u00a0 Everything was so beautiful!\u00a0 Afterwards, I ate some of the most delicious seafood of my life and explored the coast.\u00a0 I also happened to stumble upon the largest pool in the world!<\/p>\n
Mi hermano, Ignacio (aka Nacho), has a friend named Nicol\u00e1s who happens to have a beautiful house!\u00a0 My friends and I compare it to a hobbit hole in the movie The Hobbit<\/em>.\u00a0 His front door looks just like Bilbo\u2019s!\u00a0 There\u2019s a pool in the backyard and it feels like a private resort, especially with the palm trees.\u00a0 The best part though is hanging out with the Chileans. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n The nightlife here is definitely in full swing!\u00a0 It\u2019s great to be able to dance to my favorite music in Spanish, such as Daddy Yankee\u2019s song \u2018Limbo\u2019 which is currently number one in Chile.\u00a0 Staying out late to dance is normal for Chileans.<\/p>\n People here don\u2019t say adi\u00f3s, they say ciao.\u00a0 So\u2026 \u00a1Ciao mis amigos!<\/p>\n
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