Realizing that I was long overdue for an update, I saw the appearance of these photos on the internet (seeing as I am still camera-less) as the perfect opportunity to deliver. This past weekend I went with two friends from my program and a new Chilean friend to a professional soccer match between Universidad Católica and O'Higgins. The experience simply cannot compare to any sporting event I've ever attended. As you can see, we were sitting with the most passionate of fans (of Católica) and their songs/chants started on the bus ride up to the stadium and never stopped (minus a short break at halftime) until the end of the game. Some fans didn't even bother to watch the game, because they were so focused on leading the cheers. To those more familiar with soccer matches, this might not come as a surprise, but for me it was definitely a new experience..It might be hard to spot me in the top photo, but for those of you who have known me for a while , I'm wearing the same green track jacket that I've worn in temperate weather for a good five years. I like soccer, but I never thought I could enjoy a 0-0 tie so thoroughly and I can only imagine how great it would of been had they scored. I couldn't find a photo that does the stadium justice, but it is located on the outskirts of the city really close to la cordillera (see the photo from the previous post), the imposing range of the Andes that borders Santiago (and unfortunately causes all of its smog). In the stadium all you could see was the field, the crowd, and the mountains in every direction--really beautiful.
All in all, that was one of my highlights of my first month (almost--I can't believe it) in Chile. For the most part, it has been an adjustment period--getting to know my new host family (mother, father, sister of 4, and brothers of 18 and 22), figuring out my classes, and getting to know my way around the city. My family has been very welcoming and I am starting to really settle in here. As for classes, I am taking courses at Universidad de Chile and Universidad Católica, the two of which could not be more different. The old U. Chile campus and its abundant murals of Che and revolutionary quotations stand in stark contrast to the pristine, modern, campus of the private university, U. Catolica. When I have a camera handy, I will be sure to get some photos of the two campuses. Seeing firsthand the differences between the two schools is going to to be a really interesting experience . In addition to everything I have mentioned, I took a short trip two hours south to Curicó to visit a friend and friends of friends. Curicó is a smaller city in the midst of the country (correct me if I'm wrong Logan) and has a completely different feel from Santiago. Getting a taste of another place made me very eager to travel more and hopefully I will have more to report on in this department in the near future. Hope all is well..
