Public holidays and parties.

Hola all,
I don't really have that much to write this week! It has been fairly quiet really with no good stories to tell. Routine almost....

Classes this week were good. My new classes are going along really well and the students seem to be enjoying them which is the main thing (oh and learning something along the way which I guess is also somewhat important). Thursday was a public holiday as I have previously mentioned. I think it was some commemoration of a naval battle at Iquique in the north, but I couldn't be totally sure. There are a lot of public holidays here... And then two of my three classes cancelled on Friday to take a "sandwich" day. I kid you not, that is what they call it. I think it is a genius term and encourage everyone to use it! Basically it then becomes a 4 day weekend which is pretty cool.

On Wednesday night we had a teacher's party at Joannes house. Not everyone was there which was a little disappointing, but it was good to put faces to names of the partners that I keep hearing about. Was a nice night, with good food, wine and company.

On Friday night I went out for a drink with my housemate, and then to some music with Shawn and a couple of other people. We saw Federico Wolf, and he was amazing. Talk about a human instrument! Beat box, scat, trumpet and trombone, rain sounds, as well as beautiful singing and playing guitar. He isn't well known in Chile, and it was a pretty small intimate crowd, but it was really amazing music. I would buy his CD anyday. It was certainly a contrast to last weeks mad music!

Yesterday, (Saturday), I went to a asado at Anne and Rodrigo's house with all Rodrigo's cousins and a couple of other teachers. Was really fun, and of course the food was amazing (have I mentioned how much I like Chilean asado?!). Was a lot of Spanish talk of course, and I understood a lot which was good. Conversation is still ultra frustrating though, and all my stories have to be modified into something I can actually say, which usually means they aren't so interesting! People are fairly patient though which is lucky for me. I was exhausted after 8hrs of Spanish though, so came home at the very respectable hour of 11pm.

I have a full week of classes this week. It looks like I might be going to pick up another private class with a friend of a friend too which would be good. From what I can gather (in my limited Spanish) it is helping her 7 yr old son with his English homework and generally trying to improve his learning in English. Could be quite challenging, but hopefully fun. And once you have one or two privates word starts to get around, and the money is much better!

My trip to Peru has been postponed. They couldn't get me a pass for the Inca trail, and decided that they really want to give me the opportunity of doing the Inca as that is what I won. So I am going at the end of September instead (hopefully - pass permitting!) It was a bit awkward though as I had bought non-refundable plane tickets (ie the cheapest that I could get), so Intrepid have agreed to refund those too. In the end it might end up cheaper for me as I will be able to watch for cheap flights. It is all good, and probably suits me a bit better as I will have some time to save a bit more money etc.

Today I am off to the shops to try and hunt out another pair of shoes and some more work clothes. With the weather getting colder one pair of work pants just doesn't cut it. Some of my classes I could get away with jeans, but not with any of the new classes so I really need business clothes arrgghh! I pretty much have three black or white tops, one pair of pants, and just change the color of the scarf or jewellery that I wear. It works out well and means that everything matches which is important when you are working on a wardrobe out of a suitcase as I am!

Better go, as shops probably shut fairly early on Sunday. Might have to venture out to the bug mall with the other million people who will be there. Fun times. I just love dealing with crowds of really slow moving people (not!)

Chao chao,
The adventuring kiwi.