Dios Mío, I Have Internet!

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Between illness and feildtrips, it's amazing the amount of time I've been out of contact with the USA. About two weeks ago was the last time I could really sit down at the computer to write. I then got a stomach bug, went to the doctor, got better, immediately got a bad cold, went to Chillán with AFS, came home, again went to the doctor, went to Santiago for two days, went to the doctor again (noticing a theme here?) and spent the weekend pining for an internet connection in my sadly disconnected house. If you noticed the theme (if not, it's that I am ALWAYS at the doctor!), you may be able to figure out for yourself that Chileans are about the biggest hypochondriacs the world over. Wow, I spelled that right. The word in Spanish for "get sick" literally means "catch cold" and they believe just that; you can actually catch cold by not wearing high socks or not blowdrying your hair after a shower (what do they think people did before blowdryers? I sure don't know). My brother is sick today (as is his girlfriend - that means it's a virus) and mamá says without another thought that it's because he didn't take his jacket to school yesterday. I HAVE LUSTFUL DREAMS ABOUT WEARING SANDALS!!!!!
Pant pant pant

Sorry, this is driving me nuts. I can't wait for summer!
Speaking of summer... I've spent two months here now and the whole time the people around me have been very eager to tell me how hot and miserable their summers are. I'm quick to and counter this with small talk about old ladies dying of heatstroke in Tampa, but they are steadfast in their belief that they live in the hottest city in the world. Well, the other day it was about 30°C (that's about 80°F I think...) and suuuuper pleasant. Mamá was just about dying of the heat and told me that this was just like summer time! I think I kissed the ground with joy. Only 80° in summer???!!! Dios mío!!

So, I got the coolest package the other day. I must say I had no idea how much I missed peanut butter until I slowly peeled off the protective cover... And fell to. I have been eating Skippy All Natural Peanut Butter with every meal. Exaggerate I do not. Also included were PEZ candies (When I zipped one out for my Mamá she was scared to take it and asked if it was a joke... Not sure what the joke would be but she looked pretty nervous) and Goldfish and erasers and a sketchbook and a ton of other little things which just about made me fall out of my seat with explaining to my family what on earth it all meant (sí, ese tía de la Emily verdad debe ser una loca). Can't forget the chapstick THANK YOU
If you didn't figure out who sent me this little piece of heaven (the loca part didn't clue you in?) that would be Aunt Dierdre. I send a kiss and a postcard and a sincere hope to call you soon.

Hmm
I was talking on the phone with Mom and Dad yesterday (they called the house phone! Cool beans! PS if you can call the house phone, you can probably call my cell too... 81501657) and I kind of realized but more like remembered how funny it was to me when I found out the relationship Chileans have with other South Americans. First off, they're thought of in Spain as thieves and liars for God only knows what reason. I've been asked several times what the American stereotype of a Chilean is and I always answer that I have no earthly idea as there are just about zero Chileans in my city. Secondly, if you ever dare compare a Chilean to a Bolivian, Peruvian, or Argentinian, you will be delivering something akin to a deathly insult. They also hate practically every other country that speaks Spanish. I'm not sure how this works, as Chile isn't exactly on its own in the continent...

Another thing I remembered is that Chileans cannot seem to grasp several concepts about the US. One, that it is climatically diverse and quite large. I have been asked on more than one occasion if the whole country has the power knocked out when a hurricane hits (yeesss definitely). Also, no one will accept that there is no national dance in the States. The other weekend I practically fought with my Tío... No, it's not the robot! No, it's not country! Square dancing? Moonwalking?? We don't dance! And no, adults don't dance at parties!!!!

Want to hear about Santiago?
The English Debate team won its way to Santiago to the national competition. The team stayed in a hostel for five days last week and competed, went to museums, and toured the city. I didn't get to stay with them although I would have loved to (it's complicated...) but I went for two afternoons on Wednesday and Thursday. Wed I went with Pippi (my AFS cousin from Italia, if you forget) and Thu I went with some compañeros. I visited la Universidad de Chile and la Universidad Catolica. Both are beautiful, just like the rest of the city... We also walked through a street fair, stopped in shops all over the city, and visited a gorgeous park in the middle of the city which words cannot describe.
This is a fountain in the front with a huge statue of Neptune and lots of cool things which leads up a hill to the rest of the park. Woooo...

We didn't do a whole lot else, but on the first day when we rode back in the bus at 6:00 we rode in a DOUBLE DECKER and we were in the FIRST SEATS IN FRONT AND IT WAS AWESOME

Ho hum
Someone stole my shoes in school a while ago when I changed into my Cueca get up. I don't understand why they would take my shoes out of my packback and leave my camera, but I guess they weren't thinking very hard. I hold onto my stuff better now. Anyhow, I have another pair of shoes but they make my feet look really big when I wear a skirt. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but here I get weird looks... My feet are huge for Chile. They don't sell my shoe size in many stores. Wahhhh

Well, I've been writing for a solid hour. I think I've written mostly everything I can think of... I'm sending out some postcards as soon as I find the post office and I have a piece of advice which is DO NOT EVER USE FEDEX to send me things. PLEASE. I am going through hell trying to get my packages from them. UPS is way way waywayway better.
That is, if you feel like sending me a package. ;D

Emily, Emily, please don't go!
We'll eat you up we love you so!

Chao chao, talk to y'all later!!
Maria Emilia Café Arenas
:D