Orientation Begins

My SIT orientation formally began yesterday at our hotel in Viña del Mar. After traveling to South Africa, some of the information (like the safety tips part) seems really straightforward. I'm starting to learn much more about how the program works, and I'm getting really excited about meeting my host family, going on the rural excursion, and conducting my independent study project.

We went to downtown Valparaíso for the first time yesterday and I fell in love with it! Our group took a bus (which Chileans call the micro) downtown and walked to the harbor. The view was spectacular. Here are some pictures:




We all hopped into a boat our program rented and got a tour of the coast. Our guide (pictured below) was such an amazing man! He explained that he did not have the finances to formally study English; nevertheless, his English was incredible. Clearly, it was a skill he had to learn in order to make a living that relies so heavily on tourists. He told us entertaining stories, often in Spanish because we insisted on improving, and pointed out the sights.






The highlight of today was our trip to downtown Valpo. We were each assigned groups and had to approach random Chileans in the street in order to learn about common phrases and slang. It was a bit intimidating to have to approach strangers and speak with them in Spanish! Nevertheless, Teshka, Peter, and I had a blast! We sat in the Plaza Echaurren for a bit and soaked in the sun and the view. Then, we took a cable car (called an ascensor) up one of the hills. There are a total of 15 ascensores in Valpo, of which only 7 or 8 are in operation. Although the area was a bit touristy, it was also beautiful! We also had a very interesting discussion with one of the shopkeepers about Augusto Pinochet's military regime. Every bit of Valpo I see makes me want to experience more! I'm so glad I have the next 6-7 weeks to do everything!