Chile Week 2 - Gray Cressy



The first weekend in Chile offered a welcome experience in Chilean culture that lies outside of the school and the house. Also, it was very nice to be able to sleep in, waking up on high school time is having its way with me. Saturday night I was able to enjoy a taste of the Concepcion nightlife with some members of my host family. I felt much more cultured than I actually am while comparing and contrasting the political and social environments of Chile and the United States sitting outside of a restaurant in Concepcion Saturday night.


The next three days of the holiday-gifted long weekend were filled with family and relaxation. Sunday comprised of a birthday barbeque in which much of the family congregated at my host family’s house. The food was delicious and the people incredibly pleasant. Each person I meet in this family is nicer than the one before. The family is very close and they couldn’t help remind me of my family back in Louisiana. Monday involved a trip to Dichato to eat some sandwiches on the beach and play in the sand. The host family and I drove to Santa Juana to visit the abuela, who could not have been any sweeter. Santa Juana was a charming town on the Bio Bio River and surrounded by mountains. It was a great experience last weekend getting so much first-hand time with members of the extended family who were all so amiable.


It is crazy to think that I am soon entering my final week in Chile. It simultaneously feels as if I hopped off the plane three days ago and as if I have been here for a month. Thankfully, the powers that be have planned an activity filled week for us gringos. My host family has continued to be fantastic and I am looking forward to getting a weekend of sleeping late and absorbing as Spanish and Chilean culture as I can while my departure date grows ever nearer.




El primer fin de semana en Chile ofreció una experiencia bienvenida en la cultura chilena que se encuentra fuera de la escuela y de la casa. Además, fue muy agradable poder dormir, despertar en el horario de la escuela secundaria es lo que me está pasando. El sábado por la noche pude disfrutar de la vida nocturna de Concepción con algunos miembros de mi familia anfitriona. Me sentí mucho más culto de lo que realmente soy al comparar y contrastar los entornos políticos y sociales de Chile y los Estados Unidos que se sientan fuera de un restaurante en Concepción el sábado por la noche.


Los siguientes tres días del fin de semana largo para las vacaciones fueron llenos de familia y relajación. El domingo consistió en una barbacoa de cumpleaños en la que gran parte de la familia se congregaba en la casa de mi familia anfitriona. La comida era deliciosa y la gente increíblemente agradable. Cada persona que conozco en esta familia es mejor que la anterior. La familia está muy cerca y no pudieron ayudarme a recordarme a mi familia en Louisiana. El lunes hubo un viaje a Dichato para comer unos bocadillos en la playa y jugar en la arena. La familia anfitriona y yo fuimos a Santa Juana para visitar a la abuela, que no podría haber sido más dulce. Santa Juana era una ciudad encantadora en el río Bio Bio y rodeada de montañas. Fue una gran experiencia el pasado fin de semana obtener tanto tiempo de primera mano con miembros de la familia extendida que fueron todos muy amables.

Es una locura pensar que pronto estoy ingresando a mi última semana en Chile. Al mismo tiempo, se siente como si hubiera bajado del avión hace tres días y como si hubiera estado aquí durante un mes. Afortunadamente, los poderes que se han planeado para una semana llena de actividades para nosotros gringos. Mi familia de acogida ha seguido siendo fantástica y estoy deseando tener un fin de semana para dormir hasta tarde y absorber la cultura española y chilena que pueda mientras mi fecha de partida se acerca cada vez más.

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