Feliz Bicentenario!

I don't have any photos of the things I wrote about this time really, so instead I've just included a few at random. Rebecca, Jennifer, and Abi at Colon Market during Spanish class one day when we hunted down foreign fruits.

Hola mis queridos amigos,

I've officially survived a second week in Arica, although I'd venture to describe my stay as better than just survival. Even with our level of work being kicked up a notch, we've still been doing and seeing a million and a half new things. Wooden toys, traditional dances, and potluck Chilean cuisine have dominated our Spanish class this week. We learned to play with trompos and embuques, which were both deceptively difficult to master, we were taught a few traditional Chilean dances (why doesn't the US have a national dance other than the Cha Cha slide?), and we all tried our hand at making some Chilean food, which turned out better than expected with the help of our Chilean mamas.

Our attentions were focused on Chilean fun because tomorrow is September 18- Chile's Independence Day. This year is a big one, though, as 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of Chile's independence. For days now I have been trying to get an idea of what's going to happen during this celebration. So far my efforts have been while not fruitless.. well let's just say the fruits they've produced are lumpy and a little fuzzy. Things I've been told to expect:

• Eating- there will be food and lots of it, especially (?) grilled meat
  
• Drinking- after living in New Orleans I thought I'd seen what it meant to be the kind of people that like to have a good time, but hold onto your daquiris nola, I think Chile's about to give you a run for your money


• Merriment- I have been assured that although I don't really know when we are going where I will definitely enjoy myself

I do know that today I'm going to my "uncle's" house for an "asado" (barbecue) with Nancy's family. Luckily I think my Spanish is getting at least marginally better, but when groups of family or friends get together the speed of the Spanish tends to hit Nascar levels. Plus I've noticed that Chileans can literally talk at the same time and still understand everything that was said.. I do not possess this talent as of yet.

I've also been promised that I will get a chance to practice dancing the "cueca" today. The cueca is Chile's national dance- most people start learning it from about the time they can walk. Traditional country outfits are included, women where "chinas" which are very feminine floral dresses with big skirts while men where riding boots and spurs(which make pretty wind chimy noises as they dance) with a short coat, this nice poncho sort of thing and a hat. The entire dance is a flirtation between the pair. The man is pursuing the woman and has to try to show off his moves as he chases her. Meanwhile the woman gracefully evades his advances while teasing him a bit with moves of her own. The whole thing is very playful and fun.

People here in general love to dance, they don't get embarrassed like we do. In the short time I've been here I've tried a salsa class, learned the cueca and another traditional dance, been to 2 different dance clubs, and attended a Latin Dance workout class. I love it! And it isn't that all Latinos can dance wonderfully, its true that they're generally better at moving but I think its just because they're less inhibited and they all dance from the time they're little. The best part is that even all the guys here know how to dance! I anticipate seeing a lot of fancy footwork this weekend, and trying to keep up at least a little bit!

At Cafe del Mar, the unofficial favorite restaurant of everyone in the program, with Rebecca (there are 2) and Ian (there are all of 2 boys as well). The gorgeous view out the window of our program's office, which is actually an apartment: Casa SIT.

Mucho amor de Arica!