Santiago!

So! We got back from our trip in the south on Thursday the 13th. On Friday, we got a call from the host mom of one of the other exchange students in town. And she said that they were ready to do the switch and that it should happen the next day. My family and I had been planning on the following weekend. Also, I had been invited by my uncle and his family to stay with them for a week in Santiago. And I would be leaving with them on Saturday. And so we worked it out and that the switch would happen while I was in Santiago, and then I'd switch when I got back. So on Friday night and Saturday morning, I packed up all of my things!

It's like I came here with less things... huh.

On Saturday morning, I was off to Santiago! In the community called Lampa. The week was filled with lots of sleeping in, relaxing and watching tv. And the week just blurred together so don't ask me to remember what day I did what. ;)

One day we went to the mall. We got some ice cream.

And then shopped in Falabella's for a while. I bought a pair of skinny jeans. yay! And then we went to the grocery store. We filled up the cart to the top and just as we were standing in line to check out, they said there's a fire in a different store in the mall, you have to leave. And so we had to abandon our cart and leave! I didn't smell or see any smoke...

Every night I was there, I went running! They run as a family a lot and I love it. A few times Fernanda and I went out alone. After dinner at like 10. It was so nice. And really nice to have someone else to run with! We'd run a 20 minute loop and then workout in the patio on their ab and weight machine for another hour or so. I even woke up early one day and went and had myself a Mrs. Burchell-style workout class. So I felt pretty good that week. Yay for working out!

 And one day we made cookies! We wanted to balance the working out with getting fat.

 Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies! I used the Reese's that Dad sent me and the peanut butter that Katie and Diane sent!

 First peanut butter in 6 months!

 Mmmm!

I had planned to leave on Thursday. But then I talked to my mom and she said that the change would be on Saturday. So I stayed another day.

Maricel and I went into the city. We took the micro and walked around a lot. Plaza de Armas is the main plaza in Santiago.

 We set out for "La Moneda" and we lost it! We walked and walked and asked people. But apparently no one really knows where it is. Because they sent us in all directions. hahaha. But after a while we finally found it!

They do tours, but on a different day. Bummer.

Then we went to the museum.

 Maricel said that it used to be different and actually be a museum. And now they just have a few gift shops.

And theses big plastic cut outs of random things.

 Pigs.

 Cheese graters.

Cloth line clips! (Perros!)

 Yay Chile!

On Friday night, it was time to go home. And so at 8 or so, we went to the bus station. And luckily got a ticket for a 8:20 bus. When we called my mom to tell her I was leaving, she said that my dad was working and wouldn't be able to pick me up, so she'd call a taxi. They told me the name of the place I had to get off, Aguas Negras, and I was off!

I really loved the week at their house and had a fun time!

I slept a little bit but was too nervous about missing my stop... The bus driver told me when we got there and dropped me off. Dropped me off as in dropped me off on the edge of the highway. Great. At 11:15 at night. I don't see anything wrong with that. In a part that I didn't know where anything was. So I called my mom and told her I was ready. And she said that the taxi was on his way. But... the taxi didn't come. And I called my mom again and she said that the taxi was there. And I explained to her where I was with very limited landmarks. I pulled up my hood and hid my hair. I was actually feeling pretty scared. I was on the phone with my mom and said that I'd go and walk for a block or two to see what else there was. And so I did and there was a gas station a bit further. All the while being yelled at by creepy guys in cars saying "qué linda mi reina!" My beautiful queen! Umm. No. I'm not your queen, don't talk to me. And so the taxi met me at the gas station. Phew. That was a relief. When I got home my mom was relieved and gave me a big hug. She had been so worried she called her friend over to keep her calm. So it was Friday night at 12:30 or so when I got home. And I had one more night in my house. The change was set for 11 the next day. I didn't sleep much that night. Nervous, excited, ready, sad, happy; you know.