another week of learning

This week I have learned some cool tricks that make some of the irregularities in the language a little easier. I also leaned a lot of new things about the political system in Chile. I have one profesor that is very liberal and one that is very concervative and it has been interesting to hear them both talk about Augosto Pinochet and Chilean history. Seeing both sides made me understand politics in the USA a little bit better.

I went to institute tonight and it was really good. I realized that I had not been praying for the gift of tonges! I am going to repent and get on that tonight. I am enjoying my time here but I feel like I am at a standstill as far as understanding things goes. My familia had cable installed in my room today and I watched part of a show in spanish. I liked being able to listen to what they were saying and not have it super fast or super slow. Ale said that the news is really good to watch because they speak very clearly. As soon as I can understand enough spanish to figure out the guide I will give that a shot.

On Monday I realized that I made it home from school without thinking about it. Normally I have to process each step of what I am doing and on Monday it all became routine. It was nice. I felt a little more like a belong here.

Today before school my madre rewelcomed me to Vina and told me that today was a regular day here. She said before that I brought the sunshine with me :) but for today at least the cold was back. She had me wear a wool coat and gloves and a scarf and a hat. I felt like a stuffed turkey. It turned out not to be that cold outside and so I felt a little rediculous, but once I had been sitting in my classroom for a while I got really cold and was greatful for the winter gear. It is very expensive to have indoor heating here and so most places do not have it. Also, they do not have very big pipes here and so you have to put your toilet paper in the garbage and not in the toilet. That was a big shock for me the first couple of times. And when it comes to taking the bathroom trash out I am grateful for a maid that does it.

All in all things are going great and I can't wait to understand a whole TV show in spanish!!