I can't believe time is flying by so fast...it's monday, and then before I know it, it's already Friday and I can't remember how I spend my time. I've been in class for 3 full weeks, yet it doesn't even feel like i'm in class. While I'm not complaining that I don't have work to do all the time, i've always associated not-summer-time with school, and with school comes studying and the library. For most of my classes here, we have a lot of suggested reading, and there is so much that I have the option of reading, but don't know which ones are actually worth reading. In addition, i'm not being tested on what I read, which always makes it that much harder to do the reading. Most of my classes have one final project, or two exams, so while there will be weeks where I have a lot to do, it seems like most weeks I can read as much or as little as I want, something which I am definitely not used to. When it comes to November and I'm swamped with more work than I know what to do with, I'll probably look back and wonder why I ever questioned my lack of work, but I don't know, I kind-of like school? I've gotten so used to the work, that I kind of like it keeping me busy? I was with a Chilean earlier this week, and when it got to asking me what I do during the week at home in the United States, I said I study. That's what I'm at school to do, at least during the week. He called me "matea," chilean slang for nerd. Seeing as some people here go out every night, the idea of studying 5 nights a week I guess would be different. I'm pretty sure I can handle being called a nerd. Classes here a lot different than at WashU, I have one that I really like, the other ones are okay. While i'm grateful for this new experience in a different school system, and I know that i will learn a lot about myself, which is more valuable than any factual information I may learn, I won't lie and say I don't miss the classes at WashU. Maybe this makes me a nerd? That's fine with me.

Thursday I went hiking in Cajon de Maipo, which is about an hour to an hour and a half from Santiago. We took the metro and then a collectivo, which is a taxi that has a designated route and set price. It was really easy to get to, and it was really nice to get out of the city for a day. The hike was for about 2 1/2 hours and I learned a few things:

1. my hiking shoes are not waterproof. I'm pretty sure they are still outside drying.

2. It's time for me to start going to the gym.

3. Just because there snow on the ground, doesn't mean the sun doesn't shine. I got back to my house, and the first comments were how my face was sunburned. I can't say I should be surprised.

We hiked to 'la meseta' which means plateau, and is the picture above on the right. Once we hiked back down we were starving and went searching for a place to eat lunch. We found this place that one of my friends had been do before, but apparently was usually closed during the week. I think it was at this campground type place, so we found a woman who worked there, and she told us the restaurant wasn't open, but since the chef was in there cooking for the weekend, they could open the restaurant for us. So we opened up a restaurant. On the way back in collectivo we listened to the best 80's mix I have ever heard. It was atleast 30 mins long, with probably about 40 different songs and managed to blend every song together really well.

Last night for one of my classes, I went to a movie which was a part of the Santiago Film festival. It was about the Mexican President Calles in the 1920's, and the documentary was made by the presidents great-granddaughter. It was interesting how she compared the situation of Mexico in the 1920's to the present situation in Mexico. I have been to the movies more in 2 months then all of sophomore year, and probably more. I don't get what is so appealing about going to the movies, but I have seen at least 5 in theaters. I saw the proposal last weekend (movies come here later than they do in the States), and while I was expecting it to be really bad, I laughed the whole time.

Tonight I'm learning how to make empanadas and the how to dance cueca, the national dance of Chile. The dance is supposed to imitate the courting ritual between a rooster and a hen. This is going to be interesting...