2 weeks

Some more impressions:

- Lots of street dogs in Chile, however they are all taken care of by the population, they are fed, given medicines and given blankets to wear throughout the winter

- Quite a few homeless people

- Most of the houses in Chile are built for warm weather, so when I'm in my room, I have a hot water bottle on my stomach, I'm under my blankets and have the heater on. 

- Avocados are Very popular!

- Lots of public holidays for all the Virgins in the Catholic religion

This week went pretty quick. Sadly I still didn't have a lot to do at my internship, I'm continually waiting to get given something else to do and usually when I indicate I have done something, it takes another day if not more to get me another task. I thought I would just let it be like that for 2 weeks and after this really point out I want to work hard and therefore would like more on my plate. However it seems that when they give me a task, they expect me to take 2/3 days and instead I take 2/3 hours, so I guess I work at a different speed than what they're used to? 

Furthermore, my colleagues are all really nice and welcoming so that's great! Wednesday we had a public holiday, So I went to hike with some people from my church in The Andes!! It was good, felt great to get off my bum instead of 5 days just working. I might start looking for a gym near to my new apartment from the 1st of August, because YAY I got the room I wanted! So happy! My new roommates also invited me over yesterday to join them with friends to have sushi and a drink etc, and it was great! Looking forward to living with them.
My new address is:
Padre Alonso de Ovalle 868 - Dpto 303B Santiago
Santiago, Chile 8330182

I got told yesterday that on coming Monday and Tuesday they have an ISO certification check with which they will check every employee's line of work and what they think of everything etc and so I got told that I can stay home. I was meant to be going away this weekend with Germaine, but something came up for her so we are moving that to next weekend. Therefore I suddenly had 4 days without plans. Still very strange to not be able to call up friends at that point and start making plans for that weekend. So I thought I should still plan something otherwise those 4 days will drag on, so I'm now in Valparaiso. Not sure yet how long I will stay, Monday some time I think. It's a really interesting city, definitely a cultural highlight of Chile and it's on the coast so that gives some nice views! The city is full of colour and paintings, see below.

So yes still feeling a bit strange in Chile, it definitely isn't my home yet as 'home' requires relationships etc as well. But I know that this will grow and grow so that'll all happen I'm sure:) Not thinking yet YAY Love it! but not thinking I want to go home Now! either... 

Here you can see how bad the smog is in Santiago, and that's even after we had lots of rain 2 days before. This was looking down on Santiago during the hike. 

the hike

The sandwich I've fallen in love with, avocado with cheese

The rest of the photos are taken in Valparaiso