A Bit Of A Rambly One...

Hey guys.

Things have remained as busy as usual. Last week was so rainy. Winter is just as rainy as in Scotland there's just no snow here in Lautaro. Everyone here that knows where Scotland is thinks there's snow all the time. They also think that because I'm from Scotland and it's cold there, I must be so used to the cold that I don't feel it here. I'm like "yeh it's cold but I'm still cold now!"

It's weird on the Spanish front. I've obviously learned loads, but I think I forget that sometimes. I still don't know loads of words. The only thing is that know they're different words or more difficult grammar tenses that I'm missing. We keep reminding each other that we do know more than we used to. Amina is really good because she enjoys studying languages. As much as I like learning Spanish and being able to speak another language, I don't think I could say I enjoy studying it. I prefer talking to friends or reading.

I have been reunited with my Kindle. In Amina's words "how Bety's social life died". And yes I may have read three books in one day but I wouldn't say I've become a recluse. And I definitely won't become one. I enjoy meeting up with our friends too much. But I do enjoy being able to read again. I even found a free book of Spanish stories on Amazon, so I can still study.

Last week passed really quickly because with every spare minute I was busy painting a poster for capoeira. Our teacher asked for pictures to decorate the sala so I did one of the cords. I think it turned out alright. We're getting back into fundraising, selling raffle tickets, to raise money for our capoeira group. We both don't really like asking people for money (unless it's you or dad, mum ;) ) but it was easier than we thought it would be. Sold 20 tickets today. I suppose it helps that they're each about the equivalent of 12p.

Ruty and Agustin are both quite ill at the moment which is a shame. Agustin has bronchitis and is going to be off school all week. I think I've become too pampered here with Ruty. When we found out she was ill I thought we might have to prepare once, and I completely forgot that I could cook. I was like "ahh just bread and egg for dinner then" haha. But Lilli sorted dinner out.

We went to visit Margot after school today. Showed her pictures from the summer and have tea. I keep forgetting that when people say "tea" they don't just mean the drink. We were served juice, tea, bread, avocado, manjar and pork. Yummy.

The tigers at escuela 6 are well. Classes are challenging but they pass. I think I don't want to be a teacher in the future, but it's nice to be with the kids now. They are sweet and annoying. It's a bit like having hundreds of little brothers and sisters.

We were visited by a couple of Mormons last week. The stranger thing is that one of them was a gringo! They just keep springing up here in Lautaro. I don't know how, it's like the most unlikely place for there to be foreigners. So yeh apparently someone told them that there were some gringas that lived around where we live and they tracked us down. Nice lads. One from Utah and one from Columbia. We were having a nice chat over some once. Mormons can't drink coffee or normal tea, don't give cheek kisses (a very strange thing here in Chile) and aren't sure if they're allowed to text us. Then they started talking to us about Mormonism and religion. Interesting stuff but I couldn't help from feeling a little uncomfortable. I guess I'm just not interested in being converted. Anyway they're very persistent. Ruty's told us many times that we need to be firm with them. Tell them to only call once a week or something. The thing is we're genuinely very busy so I don't know how often we're going to be able to meet up with them anyway.

We went to Chol Chol again last weekend. It was really nice. Spent time with one of the vols there. Their little house is so much cuter and homelier now. It's really nice. Made lots of tasty food and watched some British sit-coms. Just what you need to relax.

A sleepy Beth

A crazy Amina

These pictures reminded me of my Amina. Oh what a gal. We really do get on rather well. It's nice to have such a good friend here. Although we're getting rather eerily similar. For example, during the last period of last week we were both feeling quite tired and sleepy. The teacher asked the kids who'd finished their work. We both ended up raising our hands at the same time, without realising that the other one had. The kids found it quite funny.
I think I could say we've both tough each other things these past 10 months. She's taught me to expand my music collection and how good capoeira is. I've taught her to chill a bit I think. At least she doesn't get up at half 6 in the morning any more.
It's funny because she grew up in a city and me in a wee village so we had quite different times growing up. But even thought we're not really similar, we both get on. I think it's good we're not too similar, it keeps things interesting. And as much as we are getting closer and more alike (in certain ways) we're also still very much different people. Eso es lo que me gusta.

Sorry about how random this blog's been. It's probably just come across as the random flow of thought in my head but I thought I'd put out a wee update. Off to read now and prepare myself for the horror that is octavo B tomorrow.... Have a good day guys!