Arrival:
Getting onto the red-eye flight, meeting up with a fellow teacher, Grayson, in Santiago, and then the 3 hour bus ride to our guest house in Talca was easy enough. However, the day didn't stop there. The family Grayson and I are staying with kept us all until 3:15 in the morning, showing us around Talca, giving us plenty to eat and drink and making us laugh.. -- oh my it was a whirlwind of breath-taking fun!
A bit more settled...
This is a view from my front door in the morning. It is a beautiful place! I now feel a bit more settled in my new home, making some new friends and enjoying the last bit of summer weather.
My classes start two weeks from tomorrow. In the meanwhile I'll be in an intensive spanish course. I really looking forward to being in class and learning again, not only learning Spanish, but learning how to teach. It's an exciting time.
Some last bit of fun before the real work begins..
Had a last-minute vacation this past weekend, too short, but completely worth it! Went to the coast and stayed in a small city called Pichilemu, to go surfing. If you have never been, I highly suggest going!! It was an amazing weekend! Grayson, friend and fellow teacher, came up with me and we had such a great time in our very short visit there. We stayed in a hostel called Surf, Eat, Sleep. Now, I must say that I've stayed in a few hostels, so I am experienced when I say this: it was one of my best experiences! nuf said.
Spent Saturday morning in the Pacific, and drank way too much salt water. Surfing was a ton of fun! Although, I can't give you any advice and honestly from all the people i've asked about surfing, its not something you can learn through other people's explanations. You can teach someone to drive a car and that usually turns out ok, but surfing, that's all done personally and by feel.
No one can tell you how to catch a wave. Instructors can show you what to do once your on/in it. But when your in the water feeling the wave move you with such a force...you really have to let go of the control you think you have over the situation and feel your way through the wave. Letting go and just relaxing into the chaos of the waves takes some practice...I was just started to get the hang of it when the session was over -- its funny how that always happens, eh?
Anyways, if you ever find yourself in Chile, take a bus to Pichilemu and stay there for awhile. Feel the waves carry you, feel them toss you then sleep at the hostel..it truly is a fantastic place! Delicious food, generously hospitable people and an ocean that will take your breath away!
Spent Saturday morning in the Pacific, and drank way too much salt water. Surfing was a ton of fun! Although, I can't give you any advice and honestly from all the people i've asked about surfing, its not something you can learn through other people's explanations. You can teach someone to drive a car and that usually turns out ok, but surfing, that's all done personally and by feel.
No one can tell you how to catch a wave. Instructors can show you what to do once your on/in it. But when your in the water feeling the wave move you with such a force...you really have to let go of the control you think you have over the situation and feel your way through the wave. Letting go and just relaxing into the chaos of the waves takes some practice...I was just started to get the hang of it when the session was over -- its funny how that always happens, eh?
Anyways, if you ever find yourself in Chile, take a bus to Pichilemu and stay there for awhile. Feel the waves carry you, feel them toss you then sleep at the hostel..it truly is a fantastic place! Delicious food, generously hospitable people and an ocean that will take your breath away!
That's all for now! Hope your enjoying your moments, big or small, well planned or last-minute...
take care,
-rinn
