Protests and Rain, Protests and Rain, or so it goes in Valdivia

Last night, Marisol made it very clear to me that if I ever went hungry it’s my OWN fault. Dually noted Marisol, dually noted. So this morning I woke up to more bread and jam and I even threw in a kiwi for good measure. Katherine and Erin and I had planned a day of bureaucratic conformism…aka, we went downtown to become legal temporary residents of Chile. They have our prints now, so we are in the system…this means no screwing up! I’ll try to remember that…anywho, we TRIED to see los lobos del mar, but they weren’t there!! I’m going to cry if I don’t see them soon. Or pitch a fit. Or both. Maybe. Really, I just want to get up close and personal with one of the grossly overweight sea lions that frequent the docks of the Valdivian fish market. Rodolfo warned me not to get too close because they can get aggressive, and then he acted out how a sea lion might attack me aka: in slow motion. “waaaa connn unnnn derechaaaaa (Rodolfo swings slowly with his right hand…). This guy cracks me UP fa real fa real.  He told me not to worry because they are too fat to move very fast, and I’m thinking the same about my lazy self of late. With all of this delicious Chilean food, my siestas, and this less than inviting weather….well let’s hope not anyways :)

Apparently, a daily protest is absolutely essential in this place. As we are walking downtown we see the street suddenly FILL with people, all carrying banners as if marching in a parade. Upon hearing the in unison chant of “educacion gratita educacion gratita” we realize that they are marching as part of the recent nationwide protests- yep the same educational protests that are setting us back a month. Part of me wants to jump in and say “heck yeah education should be free! Let’s do this thing!!” but then another part of me is saying “okay okay, how about we protest NEXT semester…when I’m gone.” Haha! 

After our trip downtown I came home to a lunch of lentil soup and longanizas (sausage) and then took a short nap. 

My bedroom: Yes mom of course the bed is made :) 

 I woke up to a torrential downpour, and I was supposed to meet up with the girls so that we could go to campus and turn in our paperwork in an attempt to matriculate. I saw someone standing outside of the front door, and thinking it was Erin I opened it (I was home alone mind you) and found a strange rando Chilean man standing by our front door. Um. You aren’t Erin? That rain jacket is red not pink. So I awkwardly closed the door, I felt bad that he was standing out there in the rain, but not too bad because he was creeper McCreepcreep by my front door. At least now I understand why Rodolfo is all up on me about setting the alarm…Anyways so we eventually meet up and go to campus and do the dang thing. We will have full student access sometime next week “quizas jueves” aka…whenever it gets done. Gotta love the time sensitive nature of…well, … life, and by life, I mean absolutely nothing, down here. I’m beat its been a long but productive day! 

Yes I know this is a lot of bloggage- no, I really don’t have anything better to do. I think we may take a trip to the beach this weekend with some of the other exchange students, we will see how that pans out!!

Cheers ch’yall. 

Me in front of the fish market on the bridge of the Valdivia River