Why Everyday is an Adventure

Last catching up post. After this I will be better about posting. :)

Interesting happenings that I want to talk about from living in Arica. First...the reason why I was so behind on blogging and am not able to post pictures. A couple of weeks ago I had lunch with my family and then walked to class to take my final oral exam about the public health system in Chile (se llama FONASA...muy interestante si quieres mas información...pienso que es mejor de los Estados Unidos...entonces). When I got back my plan was to pack up my things and finish some homework because our program was heading to Peru for the weekend to have classes and such. When I got back to my room my plans were diverted a little because it literally looked like a tornado had gone through my room. All of the drawers were pulled out of the dresser and everything was dumped on the floor. My mattress was pulled off the bed. Everything from the closet was pulled out and thrown into the next room...and of course...I was missing my computer, computer case, charger cords, chilean power adapters, camera, cell phone, license, credit card, and all the money I had taken out that morning to take to peru (in soles) some pesos, and my sad little $20 american dollars that I had for the plane ride home. We figure that someone climbed in my window easily because under my window is the roof of the first floor. I decided that I couldn´t be upset because it wouldnt help any...and I still had clothes and my passport so I was all set. I had two hours to talk to the police, fix my room, pack for Peru, and get myself to the University to meet the bus to Peru. I did not, however, bother to finish my homework. :) Its been a pain without those things...but nothing I cant handle. I am just sad because I lost all my pictures. :(

Going with the theme of this post...everyday...even when we are not going to Peru really is an adventure. The week after we got back from Peru was the 21st birthday of three of the girls in our program. We, of course, had big plans for celebrating their 21st´s in Chile. Unfortunatly most of us were sick from something we all ate in Peru. No one was really up so a big bash with all our stomache sicknesses. We had a little party in the evening at the house of one of the girls. We were sitting around just chatting and not eating the cake when one of our program directors says "I have a surprise for you". He opens the door and an entire band of seven mariachi men come in playing instruments and singing. It was one of the biggest shocks I think any of us have ever had!! I was hilarious. They stayed and played and danced for a good half hour and then left as though nothing had happened. After we were all sitting there like..."WHat just happened??" It was very funny and very amusing.

The best part of this Mariachi story is that bacause Arica is such a small city, and everyone knows everyone, we of course ran into four of the Mariachi guys the next night at one of our favorite bars. They invited us to go salsa-ing with them. One of the them is a salsa instructor when he is not busy being a mariachi guy...which was great because it was like I had my own personal salsa lesson all night. Oh Chile...

As I am writing this it is Friday, April 24th. I am leaving on a plane tomorrow to go to Temuco (way more South)...so next time you here from me it will be from the green part of Chile. :) We are out of the desert por un rato.

Ciao Ciao
-Laura