Fame and Fortune

Well we've been quite busy this past week which is actually quite a nice change.

We were supposed to be doing something with Danay at the weekend and when she didn't get in touch with us all weekend we began cursing Chileans and their laid back, non-responsive attitude. It turned out that her phone and car were broken so she couldn't go anywhere, so it was alright. Instead we went for a lovely walk up the hill next to Lautaro, that has been calling to us from day one.

I also tried to make gran's brownies at the weekend. Now this was a bit difficult to cook seeing as they're temperamental enough with an oven when you know what temperature it is at... I had to use a fire-burning stove. Thankfully Ruth was there and she knows how get the oven to a certain temperature so it was ok. I just cut the overall cooking time in half. After about 3 minutes the top was burnt to a crisp but we just cut that off with a bread knife. I was just left deeply confused when the brownies turned out so different from how they do at home. They were more... cakey. I don't know, quite why they were different but they were and it was strange. Ok, enough ramblings about brownie.

On Monday we had breakfast with the mayor of Lautaro. In typical Chilean style this consisted of chocolate cake and a TV crew. The alcalde was lovely and friendly but he spent the whole time talking to the volunteers from Finland. But oh well. We managed to escape before anyone could interview us and we went to the hairdresser's instead. Finally got all that hair chopped off! (Although it took a class of 14 year old girls to notice - big surprise). The only thing that happened is I think she cut off more than I wanted and did so in some strange way but at least it's cut. And it only cost me about £3.50 compared to £25 back home! And the people were so lovely. I was so relieved that my hair had turned out alright that I gave the hairdresser a huge, relieved hug as I was saying goodbye. I think that shows how much I've gotten used to Chilean ways - I've never hugged my hairdresser back home.

Last night we met up with some work colleagues and went to watch some traditional dances of Latin America. Mexico and Chile were really good. They had bands and dancers and the costumes were great! It was so amazing. We were invited to sit with the alcalde but we forgot our invitations and ended up sitting in the stands with everyone else. But we preferred it that way because we were with friends. Afterwards we were hanging around with the others and Amina was serenaded by one of the Mexican band members and he tried to kiss her because apparently it was some Mexican game. We really didn't know what was going on!

One of my favourite things is when two people say something in Spanish and then say to each other "she doesn't understand" and I go "I do understand!" and everyone laughs. It was nice today during a break, when one of the teachers came up to us to get us to talk to them - we didn't have to go to them! Yey! It only took two months but we have friends. Which is good because they were attacking each other with cake today which was funny to watch.

Sadly fame seems reluctant to let go of me so soon. I was interviewed today for the newspaper. It's Races (human races) Day on Monday (woo day off!) so I had to give some sort of meaningful comment at the end of the interview. I think I said something like "everyone may have different skin but we're all the same" or something. I think she changed it. I'm really not sure. It's hard to remember things that are said in Spanish.

So that's fame covered. Limited as it is to Lautaro (though I have avoided seeing myself on TV so far). As for fortune... we like to treat ourselves, on our volunteer salary, to bread and yoghurt by the river. Mmm. Que lindo.

Chao! Besos! xxx