Sipo :)

Hello again :) Sorry for the lag in updating my blog. I named this entry Sipo because literally every Chilean says "sipo" after almost every sentence. It is just a filler word in between sentences or words but I have become addicted to saying it as well. I have pretty much just been working (teaching 3 classes, 1 private class, and program coordinator at Integra Limitada) and staying in Santiago. I would like to travel more but I also need to save money and I traveled a lot last year so I am okay with not traveling as much this year. I have also been running at the gym a lot and have improved my time significantly. On the treadmill I can run a 5k in 23 minutes! And at the end of April, I ran a 10k in 48.44 which was my best time ever! I felt GREAT! I ran it with my friends Marco and Heather and it was a free race because it was through the National Institute of Sports and the program wanted to motivate people to get out and be active so thats why it was free. I know the Bolder Boulder is tomorrow on Memorial Day and I wish I could be there to run it, but I know the altitude would definitely get to me. Here are some photos from the Tourind Race in Santiago with more than 25,000 participants!

As I have mentioned before, the seasons are opposite in South America so right now it is fall (and let me tell you it definitely feels like fall). The leaves are changing and the temperature is dropping. It is still about 65-70 degrees during the day, but at night it gets cold and there is no central heating in the buildings so the buildings stay cold and trap it which is not very fun. It is usually colder in my apartment than outside, so it is hard to escape the cold unfortunately. But during the day it is still beautiful out. A few weeks ago, I went to the Museo Interactivo Mirador (which is basically like the Children's Museum) and took some beautiful pictures outside in La Florida (the area where the museum is) and inside the museum. I felt like a little kid again! I was worried I wasn't going to understand the Chilean Spanish (even though my Spanish is improving tremendously), but the Spanish was more for little kids so I understood pretty well :)

Most people who know me know that I love food and love trying different things. I am not the greatest cook, however, but I love cooking with other people because it is so much more enjoyable. This past month I have had a couple really great meals. In Santiago, "Día de trabajador" (Labor Day) is celebrated on May 1st. Darío, Holly and I made "Torta de fajitas" which Darío learned how to cook. It is basically layered tortillas with pretty much every ingredient (rice, avocado, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, cucumbers, corn, carrots, ground turkey, mustard, ketchup, mayonaise) and it is delicious. You just layer each tortilla with the ingredients and there you go! We also made fresh strawberry juice. We went to La Vega (the giant produce market) and bought all the ingredients for super cheap.

Next, Heather and Marco (who I ran the race with) can prepare delicious sushi. I didn't help with the sushi but next time I would love to learn how to make it! I met Heather last year when I was teaching and she also decided to come back to Santiago this year to teach. So it is nice having friends who I know from last year (especially friends that know how to cook!)

Finally, Holly (another friend from last year who returned to teach this year) decided to throw a birthday party for Abel and make American food. Holly is an excellent cook and she has really helped me expand my cooking knowledge. We spent all day last Saturday preparing for the birthday celebration. We made coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, guacamole, pebre (pico de gallo), hot dogs, brownies, and cake for about 25 people. It was a great celebration and all the Chileans loved trying the typical American food.

On a sad note, my friend Rachel Breland died last week. She was my boss when I was an intern at the Colorado Rapids. She was a great boss and an even better friend. She was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioblastoma multiform tumor in September 2011. She never complained about having a brain tumor and was also happy and fully accepted her tumor. She died peacefully at home last week with her family at her side in Texas. I was deeply saddened to hear the news, especially because she was only 26 years old. I am sad I didn't get to say goodbye, but I know that she is no longer suffering and in a better place. Rest In Peach Rachel Breland.

Overall, I am enjoying being a working woman in Santiago. It is nice having a more constant schedule. Teaching is better than last year because I actually know what I am doing this time around and I enjoy having smaller classes. My Integra Work and Travel job is great too because I get to practice my Spanish and do something different. I do miss the States and my family and friends. But it is nice being able to Skype and have such easy access to communicate. I don't know what I would do without Internet! I hope everyone is doing well :)