Point of Transition

We have officially ended our first, and largest, section of the semester. Well, I suppose I still have a test to send into my professor, but for all intensive purposed, we are done. No more Spanish classes at Casa SIT (where we have our classes) or seminars at Santa Maria University. Our six solid weeks of this routine has come to a close and we leave on Monday for our excursion in the north or south of Chile. I have chosen to go south to live with and study the Mapuche, Chile's most significant indigenous population that like many other indigenous groups around the world, has suffered incredible discrimination and strife. We have learned some basics about the Mapuches and the challenges they face here in Valparaiso, but after two weeks in the south, I will know so much more. It is a bit odd to be leaving Valpo, especially considering I will be spending most of November in Santiago. Right when I have come to know and love this city, I am leaving. But, I know I will be back.

To finish off our Spanish classes right, our professors spiced up classes this week. We have had many classes in cafes and such (which has been amazing), but this week included a graffiti walk of Valparaiso and it was AWESOME! Valparaiso is the second graffiti capital of South America and incredible murals and graffiti line the streets. Although I have passed by plenty on my own, our teacher showed us new spots and told us all about the artists.

Keep in mind this is just a normal loading dock.

To make the graffiti walk that much more amazing, there were wonderful views of the ocean and town the entire time.

Yesterday,I traveled up the coast to Horcon, a hippie beach town with absolutely amazing seafood empenadas. The bus ride was longer than we expected but the vistas made up for it. Surprisingly enough, the chilean hillsides are covered with "california" poppies. We spent our day eating shrimp, crab, and scallop empenadas at various seafood shacks, laying on the beach, buying sweaters from trift stores, and eating more seafood. All in all, a great day.

Now I am in the mindset of getting things done before I leave for my excursion. I will not be bringing my computer and thus, I need to make sure that all my technological duties are up to date. I need to pack lots of warm sweaters (some of which from the Horcon hole-in-the-wall of a thrift store, patch one of my two pairs of jeans, buy fresh jam for my Mapuche host family, and soak in the amazing life that is Valparaiso.

Love to all!!!