Some Musica!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1aHsYIBjI0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7ergd3ZaV0


Here are two of my favorite songs right now, the first link is in Portuguese, and the second in Spanish...There are a lot of popular Portuguese songs, since we are so close to Brasil!

Pictures near the port of Valparaiso, I just can't get enough of the boats and the ocean....

Alpargatas!!

I bought my first pair of alpargatas yesterday off a little old lady on the street.  If you have ever heard of the shoes TOM's, they are based off the alpargatas.  The only bad part of buying off the street, is that you can't return or exchange.  I made the mistake of only trying on one shoe, and the other shoe is a little bit bigger. hahaha But I don't mind, I plan on buying another color when I find them. These alpargatas were hand made, so they never are going to be exactly the same size like other shoes that are made in factories.  Lesson learned: purchases are always final!! haha

Valparaiso's Song

Listen to the song of Valparaiso, "Valparaiso De Mi Amor," and take a tour through the city :)
P.S. This is where my university is located.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDNpmvcV4Zw

Bilingualism

Thought this article in The New York Times was interesting, it's about bilingualism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html?_r=2

Stray dogs

This is a dog that was dumped on the street near my house.  My family is taking care of him until we find a home for him.  It's normal for families to buy puppies, and then when the dogs are older they don't want them anymore, so the dogs end up on the street.  Usually, the street dogs are older, but he's so tiny!! So, in this moment, we have 3 dogs and 3 cats!!                                                

One month

I have now been living in Chile for one month, time definitively flew!  I haven't posted much recently because I have encountered so many new and unique situations that it is hard to choose what to share. I could be on the computer for 3 days retelling everything! haha..But, one of the main things I have come to love about this country is the people.  All the Chileans that I have crossed paths with have gone out of there way to either help me, or make me feel welcome in their group.  My host siblings consider me a sister, and always include me with their friends. And if I can't make it to lunch at the normal time, my family will sit with me for my lunch, until I'm finished.  My classmates want to know where I'm from, if I understand the material, and if I know how to find my next class.  If you were to run into a friend (or even a mere acquaintance) on the street, he or she will cross the street to hug and give you a kiss on the cheek, and ask you about your day.  Where as in the states, many people mess with their iPhones or iPods and don't even bother to wave.  Making friends definitely isn't a problem here because once you are introduced, you are treated as a great friend.

Pablo Neruda

Yesterday I went to Valparaiso to visit Pablo Neruda's summer house "La Sebastiana"  Which was a good experience since I have studied a lot of Neruda's poems in my literature classes. His house was five stories tall, and still has all the furniture in it.  unfortunately I couldn't take pictures inside.  The other pictures are just murals and graffiti around Valparaiso.  Valparaiso is a very artistic town and there is artwork everywhere.

 Pablo Neruda--"Writer, Poet, Thinker, Politician, and Chilean Diplomat"

Views from Neruda's patio

Pablo Neruda's house

 Theatre that is connected to Neruda's House

Neruda's summer house- "La Sebastiana"

So much artwork in Valparaiso

 My new whip, 0 to 60 in 3.5