1 month

So I'm now 1 month in Chile. So far it's definitely been an interesting experience. Interesting to see the difference in culture and the differences between a city such as Santiago or a small city such as Arnhem or town Geldermalsen. So far I still wouldn't say I'm loving it, but like I said in my previous post, that would require stronger friendships I think.

I had a difficult week in my 3rd week. I was quite emotional a couple of times and the weekend away got cancelled once again which was just frustrating as I was once again left with the concept of what shall I do this weekend... Luckily I was able to meet up with some friends from church and I got to know my new roommate Mirva, from Finland, a lot better which was nice, so still the weekend went quickly and it was nice to get to know some people better. Something that has just been quite difficult is the moments that I'm with a group of people at work or outside of work and they all speak Spanish. I can follow kind of the gist of the conversation, but I can't contribute to it, so I just stand there smiling for most of the time. At those times I just feel lonely although I'm with a group of people. So I find that hard, but at the same time I think to myself, if that's just what I have to do a couple of times a week (e.g. lunchtimes at work) for 6 months, then that's what I got to do, I can easily survive that haha. But yes at those times I just miss my friends back home a lot.

During that week I knew the next week (this week) would be much better as I would be moving to my new room and I would go snowboarding, so definitely something to look forward to. On top of that on Wednesday I got given a task at work which will take me a couple of weeks to do which is exciting as that makes going to work so much better! I have to do market research. The purpose of this market research is to research the Chilean hospital market and to identify all the products that the top 3 hospitals have which Droguería Hofmann sells as well. With that information, it can be seen which products they buy from Droguería Hofmann and which products the hospitals buy from Droguería Hofmann´s competitors. This shows Droguería Hofmann, my work, their market potential. As there's an online software that my work has access to, which shows all the sales in the public healthcare market, I just need to really filter that information and make it into a good accessible excel file etc. 

I also discovered that because I arrive at work at 8am and leave at 5.30pm, with only half an hour of break, I would be working much more than the 840 hours that we have in my contract for 21 weeks. I would be doing 955 hours in those 21 weeks instead, so that would mean I'd be working around 2 weeks too much. Now that's not a really big problem of course but that gave me the idea that maybe there is a possibility I can join my parents more throughout their time in South America, and we have now indeed planned that I'm joining them those two weeks that they are travelling! We will be going to Lima, Peru, doing to Inca trail to Macchu Picchu, seeing Santiago and seeing the Iguazu Fall on the border of Argentina/Brazil, and I will then fly back to Santiago, and my parents will have a last weekend together in Rio de Janeiro. As Philip will come in the first two weeks of October and I will join my parents the last two weeks of November and I leave Chile the 13th of December, those last months will fly by! 

So yes this week has been a lot better, my move went well and I feel at home and my room is nice and warm instead of sleeping in a full tracksuit with jumper etc, so that means I sleep better as well. Snowboarding with two girls from church yesterday, Teresa from Chile and Kate from New Zealand, was very fun as well and was a nice birthday treat for myself haha. Wednesday is my birthday, but don't have anything special planned, just work and at night the biblestudy which is always nice. I will bring cake to both, the way the Dutch people do haha, so I'm sure it'll be a nice day.