C-H-I...CHI...L-E...LE...CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE...VIVA CHILE!

No, I did not just make that title up off the top of my head.  hahaha.  Being that it was Chile's 200th Independence day on September 18th, everyone would chant this in the most random of moments.  Mostly when waiting for something bigger to happen. hehehe  For example: waiting for the concert to start, waiting for the fire works to begin, etc.
One person: C-H-I
Crowd: CHI
One person: L-E
Crowd: LE
All: CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE. VIVA CHILE!

I guess some people sometimes add a swear word at the end of the chant which is "mierda".  But my host dad taught me a better/funnier way...instead, you can say: "mier-mosa patria". So it sounds like you're about to say the swear word, but you end up saying, "mi hermosa patria", which means "my beautiful country" instead of, "poop" (but the swear word).  I guess my host mom had forgotten about this, so the entire weekend after someone would say the chant she would say, "mieeeeeeer-mosa patria!" hahahaha it was funny!

Here are some pictures from last weekend's huge celebration:

Why not start out the weekend (Wednesday) at the beach? :)

From the beach, we then went to the CIEE office for a little fiesta!  Of course there was...CUECA!

Gloria and me dancing Cueca!

From there...off to my friend's (Victoria) birthday party!

On Thursday we went to a party at my host sister and husband's (Ingird and Alan) office.  They both teach English and run classes here in Viña del Mar.

Alan is in the gray polo and Ingrid is the white striped shirt.  There they are with all the other English teachers.  The girl to the right of Ingrid is Chelsea--William's friend from high school!  What a small world!

After the party, I went to the beach again, and then walked along the sea with my friend as the sun was setting.  So pretty!

The next day (Friday) we went to the Ramada en Playa Ancha...and of course...there was CUECA.

My host dad and me in front of a "fonda."

Playa Ancha (a neighborhood of Valparaiso).

Juegos!....and churros!

I got to go on stage and throw a "trompo"/embarrass myself. heheheh...but it was worth it, because they gave me the trompo as a souvenir!

Then we went to La Quinta Vergara (venue in Viña del Mar) to see Los Jaivas!

Los Jaivas are an electronic-fold music band!  It was SOOOO cool!  and it was free!! :)

Saturday- off to Villa Alemana to spend time with the family! :)

Estefania dancing CUECA.

Choripan!  A popular Chilean food...sausage in bread! And I really like it!

The men working hard (resting) at the grill...hehe

In Limache: tons of kites!

Estefy flying her kite!

Here's us 4 kids...Sami on the way left, then me, Estefy, and Cami.

VIVA MEXICO! They did a Mexican dance...notice the traditional Mexican dresses, suits, and sombreros!  My two countries together....Mexican dances with Chilean flags. hehehe

The fireworks were wonderful!  We watched them from Ingrid's (host sister) house!

And then to top off the night: sleepover! :)

Sunday at the Sporting Club: This is the name of one of the "fondas." It says, "Dancing cueca with your sister."  Along with "mom jokes"...here they also have "sister jokes" .... :P

Got BBQ??!!

Cami and me on our favorite ride!

Cami demonstrating a 'completo'!  It's basically a hot dog, with tomatoes, guacamole, and mayo.  I, of course, had it without the mayo. :)

This was at the 'Revista Naval' in Viña del Mar.  Look at all the tons of people on the street and beach!

Tons of people and tons of cool boats/ships like this one featured here.

Left to right: Julio (Cuyin), Ingrid, Sonia (Osy), y Cami

The planes formed a star in the sky!  This was SOO COOL!  I have videos too!

The President was on the huge sail boat, La Esmeralda!

This was just this past weekend...el "Mesias Bicentenario"...They showed the "Messiah" by Handel here in La Quinta Vergara!  More than 500 voices and 80 instruments!  It was incredible!

For the sugar on top:  home-made empenadas!  They're JUST like pasties...but instead, filled with cheese!

I could have made this blog a TON longer and you know I have a TON more pictures, but I'll spare you. :)  I love you alllllll sooooooo much! :)

Also, I'd like to tell you all that I've decided to stay the entire year.  Meaning, I won't be coming back in January.  :(  I'd LOVE to see you all SOOO much, but after discussing the pros and cons, I feel it's better if I stay.  I'll still keep my blog, we'll still keep in touch, and if you want to see me....we have SKYPE! :)

With all my love to you,
Diane

I like to time things.

Hola mis chiquillos!

So, living in the city, and well, now that I have a watch that has a stopwatch...I find myself timing many many things.  I time how long it takes for me to get from place to place...walking to a friend's house...walking to class...on the bus to class...on the metro-train to Valparaiso...how long it takes to blow dry my hair...how long it takes to climb up the mountain...etc. hehehehe!  It's fun!  Last week, it only took me about 12min to get from Valparaiso to my house on the train!  The reason being...I had just come from my basketball game (we won! we came in third place as a team! hahaha...it was only the 2nd game I played and I only played a grand total of 3 minutes!) and was walking to the station and I saw the train coming! AHHH! If I had missed it, I would have to wait 12min for the next one.  I started walking faster, but then gave up in my head and accepted that I was going to have to wait.  Then...I was like, no...I'm going for it!  So I ran!!!  I swiped my card and ran all the way down the platform and jumped in the doors as they were closing!  I wanted to rejoice, jump up and down, do a little dance....but everyone was just looking at me...sweaty (from the bball game and that little jog) as I was so proud of myself.  It took me only 12min to get home! YAY!  One time...on the bus/micro...it only took me 5 min to get from my house to Valparaiso as the bus was going SO FAST! FIVE minutes...FIVE...it was LOCO!

The public transportation here is wonderful, especially the metro/train.  It's reliable, safe, clean, smooth, great!  The busses/micros are everywhere...so you'll always have a ride, but they're a little more expensive (without the student rate, which I can't get, because I'm a foreigner), a little more dangerous (but faster!), much more crowded, dirtier, and in general the experience is more stressful.  The taxis/colectivos are also reliable, safer than the micros, more expensive than the micros, but faster than the micros.  And then...there's walking.  Obviously, a lot slower....but a lot more relaxing, exercise, and it's FREE (my favorite!!!).  I really just don't like spending money...as most of you know.  Even though the most expensive way of transportation is 400 pesos (colectivo) which is about 80 cents and on the train is 121 pesos to get to Valparaiso (which is about 25 cents).  I always take the train to Valpo...as I can afford spending that quarter...it's worth it.  But when even I have to go to Sausalito (the train doesn't go there), I opt out of public transportation, and walk instead.  It takes me about 45min-an hour to walk there...give or take.

On Wednesday, I had my third meeting with my "intercambio de idiomas" (language exchange) group!  This is a great group of people, both foreigners and Chilenos that are interested in learning each others' language.  We went to two different cafes the first two times and this time we got ice cream...which was delicious! (and HUGE).  This coming week, on Wednesday, I was invited by one of my Chilean friends from that group to her birthday party! FUN!

On Thursday, we had a "Noche de Mujeres" (Girl's Night!) with all of the American daughters and their host mothers/sisters.  We went to a Mexican Resaraunt, called Margarita.  My host mom and I had just had dessert there and then we all sang Karaoke!  My friend and I sang, "Ave Maria" by David Bisbal...and it's hard to sing Karaoke in Spanish!  But it was so much fun!  My host mom got to meet my other friends and other host moms too, which was great!

On Friday...I went to a friend's house to visit her, her family, and her puuuupppiiiesss! We then went to the beach here in Vina del Mar!  And then to the youth group at church!  The youth group is great!  There are a lot of people that go, so it's a little difficult to meet people, but it's still great!  The worship is also wonderful.  We sang "Mighty to Save" in Spanish...which I already knew... :)

look at how cute he is! I think this one's name is Gonzalo, or Pepe...jaja

I rolled up my pants, and STILL got wet! No bueno!!! :)

another sign of Spring! I don't think I can go without taking a picture of all the flowers I see! hahaha you're just lucky I don't fill my blog with them!

On Saturday, my Mountain Sports class had a field trip to go rock climbing on actual mountains!  None of that indoor rock climbing back home. :)  We learned how to belay, tie knots, repel, climb the mountain, ascend with just a rope, etc.  My host mom packed me a sack lunch which of course, consisted of hard-boiled eggs.  My host dad said that, it's not a trip without hard-boiled eggs!  When it was time to break out our lunches....all the Chileans had their hard-boiled eggs...and then there was me!  YES!  I'm now more Chilean for having mis huevos duros! jajaja!  There are a lot of gringos in this class, as it's a great class to explore other parts of Chile doing adventurous things.  It was sooo beautiful there and so much fun!  I love being in the fresh air, getting dirty, and having fun!

 Well, folks, that's all I have to share with you this time.  I hope you like the stories, even though they might be much and my English is not the best right now....sometimes I just don't make sense.  I hope you like the pictures too!  I love you all very very very VERY much!!!!!

With all my love,
Diane