4 Day Weekend!

Well, happy readers of christyinchile, I'm glad to tell you that my week turned around after my rough Tuesday. So here's what I did.

Tuesday was also Mom's birthday. I just want to say that she's an incredible role model for me. I wouldn't be the person I am today, without her example of love and service. I try to be a happy, helpful, and loving person with everyone in my life, just like she was. So a big Feliz Cumpleaños from Chile, Mom. I love you lots and lots!

On Wednesday, it was my host mom's and grandma's birthday. I sure do have a lot of awesome, strong women in my life.

We had a little party for them with my family, aunt Ellie, and cousin, Francisca. We had these appetizers and these little empanadas! 

Since they're so little and cute, that means it's okay to eat like 12 of them right?? (cierto?)

Wednesday was my last day of school for the week! I'm not exactly sure why... but I'll take a 4-day weekend anytime! Like I said before, we had planned to go to Argentina, but it didn't end up working out because we didn't make a reservation soon enough. But I guess that's how things end up sometimes. Instead, I had a nice relaxing weekend (fin de semana!) and had lots of time to go running. Just to let you guys know, I'm gaining weight but I'm doing all the exercise I can to lessen the gain. Haha.

Thursday I slept in finally! (por fin!) and then went for a run. Thursday was Halloween too, but we didn't do anything for it... :(  Lame. I had been invited to a party, but I forgot about the invitation because I thought I'd be in Argentina and all. And we didn't end up getting to the store to buy candy until 9:30 or 10 so they were all out of candy. Instead, we just went home for once (pronounced own-say, which is when you have tea, bread, avocado, tomato, etc. for dinner).

Friday I went for another run. I love getting out of the house and exercising. When I have the extra time to think, I am really happy and I think a lot about how awesome it is that I'm able to be here in Chile, going on a casual run. I went to the store with my dad and brothers. Then we went to the feria to buy some fish for dinner, where my dad realized that he had lost his wallet. After a mad search of the car to no avail, he dropped us at my grandma's for lunch and was off hurriedly to go check to the store. Yep, it was there.

A couple pictures of when I was bored on Friday:

On Saturday, my legs hurt a lot in the morning from running so much and so I just slept in. I slept for 11 hours! It was the most sleep I've gotten consecutively since I've been here! I later regretted that a bit because I was feeling pretty sluggish later. For lunch, we went as a family to a nice restaurant a few minutes outside of Curicó. When we got back, my dad went to work, my mom back to ironing, and my brothers back to video games. Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself. I don't want to be that exchange student who's on her computer all the time, so sometimes I take a book and read alone in my living room. I was in a really happy mood and I didn't want to sit there with nothing to do. So I took my ipod and told my mom I was going for a walk. I was so overly excited that she asked me who I was going to meet. I told her no one and I'm not sure she believed me... I walked about 4 miles (approx. 6.5 km for all my metric system friends) around the city. I smiled like an idiot for a lot of it, because I was so happy to be here. I love days like that.

Sunday!
My family didn't know where else to go to get out of town, so we headed to the beach we went last Sunday. Pichilemu! (<------ get it!?)

From the drive there:

We stopped in Lolol and had some lunch.

In all restaurants for the appetizer they have bread, butter, and a spicy (picante!) salsa stuff. It is super good and not too spicy for me. Although the rest of my family thinks I'm crazy. 

MmmMMmmm.

And a picture of my meal. Carne con arroz.

Then we went to lay on the beach for an hour. :)

See that sock tan line from tennis?

We went to the main part of town, and walked around a market area. Souvenirs everywhere! We spent a good hour and a half looking around. When I was buying some little gifts, the vendor gave me a necklace for free (libre!). :) Oh how I love being a blonde in Chile. My mom bought me a ring and this little surfboard knickknack. 

We started driving home and then stopped.

The sign told me to take pictures!

So I did.

My mom and I! Aren't we cute?

The sunset was beautiful: 

In the car! (en el auto!) 

For dinner, we went to a different restaurant where I ate a taco (it wasn't like an American taco sadly, but it was good!) and watched El Rey León. That was fun! By that time, it was 10 or so and we still had an hour and a half left in the car. But I wasn't that tired from the good night's sleep I had gotten on Friday night. The stars were GORGEOUS. We were in the middle of nowhere and so a lot were visible. I was sad that the pictures didn't capture the beauty.

That's it for the long weekend! Thanks for reading!