November 13, 2010

Finalllyyy, a Blog Update

Hello boys and girls!

I am sorry for being a terrible blogger recently. I could blame it on lack of Wifi during our excursion in Temuco, but really, I just kind of forgot to update for awhile. 

Anyway, we our officially in the Independent Study Project portion of the program. I am super stressed about this because I am not still not exactly sure of my research question, nor exactly how we are supposed to go about carry out our research. I feel like there is a ton to do, but at the same time I can't do very much until my research question is set in stone. So, I went to the beach today. (My work strategy is very different here in Chile than it is in the U.S..)

Jenn gets a surf lesson from our friend Mijahel

Woo-hoo! She's upright!

Jenn, me, and Mijahel. Don't be deceived by the wetsuit-- I did not surf, just wearing it for fun!

One would think I actually went surfing...

...but in fact, I spent most of my time playing with my beach dogs Sonny and Cher.

Who needs extreme sports when there are stray dogs to divert one's self with?

Mijahel, Jenn, me, and Sebastian. (With Sonny and Cher nearby as always.)

November 3, 2010

Still in Temuco

Learning lots about the Mapuche. 


 As I have already alluded to, the South is way more verdent than the North of Chile. While my dusty, little Arica is beautiful because it is my home here in Chile,it was nice to get a break from all the sand.


In addition to be lovely and green, the South is also quite cold. Each of our "cabanas" (suites) had a fireplace that was supposed to keep us warm. Too bad neither I nor any of my dear cabana-mates knew how to start a fire.

Jenn and Maria try AGAIN to build a fire.

Jenn and Maria fail AGAIN at building a fire.

Leo, the assistent director of our program, comes to save us.

Like all of the other girls in our program (and like the boys, too, I think!) I have a litttttle crush on Leo.