Day 6

Sorry, it's been a while since I wrote. I hope you have all been able to see my pictures and videos though. I am with my family now, mom, dad, aunt, and sister, 18 years old named Charlott (Charley). Charley has a friend named Connie and they are really sweet to me but like to laugh at me when my Spanish stinks. I got pretty sick today so I couldn't go to the beach like my mom had planned and instead hung around in my bed all day and did homework and slept. I was really disappointed to cancel our plans but they were all super understanding. I couldn't help but feel like I was doing this whole thing wrong. I promised myself that no matter how difficult the Spanish got, or how much I wanted to just stay in and watch Netflix all day, I would keep going out and trying new things. Then, less then a week in, I'm laying in my bed alone all day, sleeping and watching TV. Tomorrow though, I will be out of the house by 8:30, getting my Chilean ID, then taking my Spanish placement test, then lunch with my family, then class, then hopefully joining Charley's gym and signing up for salsa classes!

So, weird things about Chile:
You cant flush toilet paper. Their plumbing isn't strong enough to handle it, so you have to put it in these little trash cans next to the toilet.
They have a cereal called Monkey Balls. Legit. 
It is rude to yawn without covering your mouth, not finish all the food you are served, leave to toilet lid up, or leave the bathroom door open.  Also, utilities are very expensive here, so showers have to be short and never leave the lights on. Heat isn't a problem cause they don't have it. Nor AC.
There are dogs running lose all over the city. We got yelled at by Leo, our program assistant, so many times during orientation because we all wanted to pet the dogs. They look nice, but they supposedly bite.
A lot of the TV here is just American TV dubbed over in Spanish. So far I have seen Up, Toy Story, Hey Arnold, and NCIS. My family thinks its hysterical how funny I find this.
All they styles are pretty much American but a decade or so behind. A lot of the guys are rocking the emo look, wearing all black with long hair and chains on their pants, and Connie pretty much dresses in 80s workout gear. It is amazing.
Hannah Montana and Justin Beiber followed me here. It's not fair. 
They call black tea "te", but chamomile, mint and other kinds of tea have another name and are only for when you are sick. They wont let me drink them whenever. My mom actually took the tea I made, poured it in the sink and was like "It's ok, we all make mistakes," and I wanted to say "No, its not a mistake, its my teaaaaaaa." I think I will have to pretend to be sick a lot.

Now, a couple wierd things about my family:
My sister has a tongue ring and a tattoo behind her ear and her parents have not noticed for 3 months. She does nothing to hide it either. Like, she had her hair up all day and I am just waiting for the screaming to start, but they never noticed. And its not like her mom pays no attention to her. They are all very affectionate. Crazy. I just hope there is no fight, at least that I am here for. Awks.
They think it is so weird that I walk around the house in socks or in bare feet. Every time I do it they point and go "typical gringa!"

So, I am loving it here! I am learning lots, and tomorrow classes start, so I am sure I will be learning lots more there. I hope to post more frequently, but I can't make promises. Email me and let me know how all you are doing at home!