New Semester

Well, my second and last semester at the Universidad de Concepción has begun. I am taking a continuation of my Mapuche testimony and poetry class and Social Development in Latin America and Chile. The latter is a really cool class. I like the sociology grad students, because unlike the history ones, they are around my age and are not commuters. I actually went to a bar called The Beer Place (clever name, huh?) with three of the students from the class the other night. I think that my classes this semester will be fine, just like last semester, but I have the added stress of writing my thesis and applying to grad schools on top of everything else I'm doing. Somehow, though, I still manage to be bored and stay in on a Saturday night catching up on blogging rather than going out and having a life.

I've been a little bummed over the past couple of weeks. I'm pretty homesick at this point, and I get stressed out very easily. I am sure that comes from my additional responsibilities of thesis-writing and grad school applications, but I just don't like it. I want to enjoy the months I have left in Chile, but at the same time, I just really want to go home and see my family and friends. I feel pretty lonely here a lot of the time. I do have friends here, but back in the U.S., there was usually somebody to hang out with any time I was feeling bored or blue. Now, I just watch Sex and the City episodes that I download from iTunes and pretend that Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha are my friends. How pathetic!

I can't help but wonder if this experience would have been different had I lived in Santiago instead of Concepción. I like Concepción, but it isn't exactly very conducive to having new cultural experiences every day. When I was in Santiago, I felt like there was always some new part of town to see, another museum to visit, another pub to check out.... Here, it's pretty dull. I can see why the Chileans who live here prefer it to Santiago: it's more relaxed, has fewer people, etc. I just think, as a foreigner, that Santiago has more to offer for those who which to be culturally stimulated. There is a saying here, ''Santiago is Chile.'' It's kind of like saying that New York is the U.S. I guess by living in Concepción I get to experience life on the periphery, which, in this country, is any place but Santiago.

There are many good things going on here, besides. Diane and I are working on a project to implement a library in the rural school where we both volunteer, and I am still enjoying teaching the little kids. I helped coach the debate team for the high school where I volunteer (the debates are in English), and they won first place at the last competition! I am very proud of them. I think working in the schools has been the most rewarding part of my time in Chile. That is probably what I am going to miss the most when I'm gone. That...and empanadas.

Termas de Chillan

A couple of weekends ago (still trying to catch up on the blogging), I went to Termas de Chillan with Diane, Mauricio, and two of Mauricio's friends. Unlike the first time I went to the termas in March, it was snowy! It was really beautiful, and I had a good time, except for catching a cold or getting a sinus infection...not sure which one.

Both nights we had asados (cookouts/barbecues) with Mauricio's friend Lily's co-workers, who were in the cabin next to ours. That was some tasty steak. And chicken. And choripan. It's a wonder I didn't gain 10 pounds just from that weekend.

On Saturday, we went to the area where the thermal pools are and where people go to ski. I got a massage and 20 minutes in a private jacuzzi, both of which were nice. The only thing was, whereas in the U.S. the masseuse leaves the room for you to get undressed, apparently in Chile she just stands there and watches you.

I really enjoyed seeing the snow. I sang Christmas carols to myself a couple of times. Now it's the beginning of spring, but since it's September, it feels like fall to me. I'm very seasonally-disoriented at the moment.

We also went to the market in Chillan proper, and I saw some really cool things there. I want to go back sometime when I have more time to look and shop. I want to get Christmas presents from there, but I'm not sure who would want a huaso hat or spurs....

So, in sum, Chillan was short and sweet, and I hope to go back before I leave Chile, which is in a few short months.