Los dias primeros en Chile

So this is the first time for everything. I just commented on my facebook that I'd never put up pictures before and now I have. Whatever, on to the important stuff. I knew I was really in Chile when I googled how to make a blog and everything came up in spanish, then when the entire blogspot website was in spanish and I had to figure out how to set it up. Pero estaba bien y ahora tiene un blog. (but its ok cus now I have a blog) Today was the first day that it really hit me that I am in another country speaking another language all the time and living life completely differently. I watched the sun set over the pacific, while sharing a pitcher of beer with my brother and one of my new friends Ned.  I'd never seen that before, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Now we are eating dinner and going out for a neighbors birthday. I'm gonna hop back and talk about the beginning of the trip now. It all started with a long and restless plane ride from atlanta to santiago. When I got there and made it through customs I couldnt find anyone until luckily anna came out ten minutes later. We then wandered around together for a while until we finally found the program coordinators. Off we went with the grupo to Olmue, a tiny little town (medium sized for Chilean standards) in the mountains of the coastal range. We had our orientation there and we were introduced to traditional Chilean food. El pastel de choclo is a corn bread cake with beef chicken vegetables and potatoes and it was delicious. Then we had our first taste of Chilean culture with a Salsa dance lesson. It was hilarious to see the suave Chileans bailando with us gringos. The next day was more of the same, with a trip to a national park sandwiched in the middle. the park was beautiful and a great introduction to the medioambiente (environment) in Chile. More great food and salsa lessons, and the five of us students were ready to crack the pisco, a local liquor that has the sting of tequila and the taste of wine. Two bottles and some great conversation later we were ready to go to bed. This morning we woke up and drove to Vina del Mar, the Ocean town north of Valparaiso where we all live. We met our family's and were taken away to our casas nuevas. After a great lunch of beef potato and squash soup with salad and corn on the cob, I relaxed and unpacked before hitting the bar by the beach for the sunset. Which brings this post all the way back to the beginning. So this is the first of many posts. I will try to stay on top of it but I dont know how it will go with travel and classes and everything. A mi me encanta la gente la cultura y la vida Chilena. Estara un experiencia buenisima. Hasta proximo.