Home stretch

Well it's now November and I can't believe it. Time flew by so fast, and now I am just trying to rush in the last bits and pieces to my trip and my experience down here. Hopefully I will have enough time. I am been so overloaded with school and work lately. I am know just trying to make sure my calender is all lined up before I jettison.

Tuesday the 28th of October was an interesting evening for me because I went to the Clasico Universitario futbol match between Universidad de Chile and Universidad de Catholica. The national stadium was totally packed and the match excellent. For some strange reason they decided to switch the usual entrances for fans and I headed to the Catholica entrance with jersey, hat and face-paint on, and was randomly martial-arts, high-kicked to the face by an opposing fan in front of a cop, who then escorted me to the appropriate entrance. Stupid. Luckily I got the last laugh since La Chile won 2-1 and essentially clinched the regular season #1 position.

That Wednesday was a sad day because my neighbor and her two kids moved down the Pucon. It was really sad to see them go, but I was able to spend a good deal of time with them before they left. So sad that such a random tragedy can instantly change the life of the entire family so drastically. Luckily I set the older son up with a skype account with a webcam so I can keep in touch with them as long as there is an internet connection (which they probably won;t have in house, but there are tons of cyber cafes)

It is interesting to be able to see my three classes beginning to converge. Granted they are two history classes and an economy class as related to Chile, but the same topics are starting to come up, and it allows me to draws parallels between subjects as well as discover more marco themes.

Friday was Halloween, which is not too heavily celebrated in Chile but this year the government declared the 31st a religious holiday (no school, optional work) and in turn the younger crowd is starting to practice the goofy American tradition of trick-or-treating and partying. Basic Bar threw a party with a DJ, which was pretty fun except for that fact that I was working rather than enjoying myself. It was entertaining though cause it gives you a different perspective when working behind the bar. Staying 'till 4:30 a.m., not as much fun. I worked on Sunday and Monday was well.

Tuesday was the big election night, with practically every eye on the planet focused on the outcome. I personal takeaways from the night: 1. I wasn't surprised by the outcome except for how close the popular vote was 2. Expectations are high, but Mr. Obama deliver. From the sounds of it, results are only going to take place in the long term, and it might take multiple terms. Not good. Hope he is the next reincarnation of Lincoln/Roosevelt for the sake of of the overly optimistic American public.

I had two tests this past week, one for Social History on Latin America on the industrialization period of Latin America, and one for Economics on Friday on Monetary policy and the current financial/global economic crisis. Both went well, but it took a lot of energy out of me with all the studying and stress that I had this past week.

Saturday I took ym host parents to see the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. I thought it would be a good idea considering that 40 minutes of the film is from northern Chile. Unfortunately credit was only given to the country and the end of the credits since in the plot, the area is considered Bolivia since they have to incorporate a fictional dictator and I am not sure that would work so well with Chile. I had work that evening and the following day (today).

I have a final essay to turn in for my Gringo 101 class on Tuesday and then I am essentially work free until the last week of November in which I have another Social History of Latin America test and an essay for Contemporary History of Chile. I am trying to visit a family friend of mine who lives in Mendoza the last weekend of November, then take some final exams that week, head down to Patagonia for two weeks, coming back on the 20th to spend one final day in Santiago before going to Buenos Aires. Flight prices are dropping everyday, so there is no big rush. My last day of work at Bar Basic on the 24th. It's going to be a tough final month, but I am always up for the challenge.