Week 7

This week was another low-key time in Santiago, going to class and doing homework, as usual. However, there were a few fun events over the weekend and a lot of good times just chillin with friends, so as always, I am enjoying myself.

Friday I met up with my tandem partner and we went to the annual mining expo. This event is usually intended for people in the mining business, who want to discuss new technology, contracts, and other business deals. However, they have large displays set up all over the place, including some of the machinery used in mining and some simulators, giving you a feeling of what it would be like to driving the gigantic machines. Unfortunately we were unable to find said simulators, but even just seeing the machines was pretty cool!

Friday evening was the annual “World Party”, put on by the exchange student club at La Catolica. Students could make food and displays for their country, to share with all the guests. Having a crazy sweet tooth (and because I found fluff in the grocery store!) I made fudge, which was a huge hit with people from all nations! The best food I tried was from France, some kind of sweet bread: very tasty. Chile was also represented, with terremotos (an alcoholic drink that includes ice cream: very delicious.) The wine they used for terremotos comes in huge jugs: since I got there early they taught me how to drink from them! You kinda twist your arm to lift it, and then tilt your elbow to take a swig. It’s definitely a skill, but was a lot of fun to learn! Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera, so I don’t have a picture of me drinking, but I’ve added an internet photo of the wine jug.

Saturday I went to a fútbol game with my host brother and sister. While it wasn’t my first live game, it was a lot scarier than before: for whatever reason, it’s common for fans to get into violent fights at these games, before, during, and after. Because of this, they have tight security to get into the stadium, and even have separate entrances for the fans of each team! It was crazy, but luckily none of us got hurt, and it was fairly mild, all things considered. I was rooting for La Universidad Catolica: cheers included a lot of stuff about crusades and other religious references, which I found fairly amusing. The game ended in a tie.

That evening a Chilean friend invited me to get drinks with him and some other Chilean friends, which was a lot of fun. I had an entire terremoto (Friday night was just a sample). I now fully understand why they call it what they do! It was a great time to practice my Spanish and meet new people, and I hope to do it again sometime soon!