In the last few weeks, things have still been really busy! I have picked up yet another class, but it is only twice a month. It's on Friday evenings, though, which is a bummer! But it's with one of Jesse's students son. He is really really cute, only 8 years old. He's very calm and quiet, not a typical 8 year old boy! His dad is paying me cash, so it's a pretty good deal.
We bought a little electric heater for the apartment last week. It's gotten pretty cold here, in the 30's I'd say. And it's going to get colder! I have a hot water bottle as well, and I sleep with it every night. I love it. I am always cold, all the time, it's not fair. Jesse can be sitting in a tshirt, but I'm freezing.
Biggest news of all: We got internet in the apartment!!!!!!!! I had my Spanish teacher translate a note to my neighbors for me, asking them if we could pay them to share their internet. I got an email from a guy living downstairs who said he could help. Turned out he is a Russian hacker musician! He plays the French horn in the opera orchestra, which is just down the street. He came in and spent about an hour cracking our neighbor's passwords! We have two now. So we went from no internet to free internet! I am SO MUCH happier. I've been able to chat online to friends and use skpe more. It's great. And he gave us free tickets to see an opera, Ariadne on Naxos, which was great!!
We have been trying now for about a month to get our work permits. Each time we go to the notary and sign a work contract, we either found the date was wrong, or went to the Department of Interior, and they told us the amount we are making is not enough. We have been to the notary 4 times and to wait in line in the Department of Interior three times. And it's STILL not over. Right now we only have our 30 day work permit, during which, we need to apply for our temporary residents visa. It's SUCH a pain, considering we only have five more months in the country, but it will help us to save time and money since we won't have to leave the country again, and our boss really wants us to be on a work permit for legal reasons for his company.
Since the beach we haven't done much on the weekends. We went to a new club called Bal de Luc with our friends Leslie and David and Nico, and two other TEFL teachers came too. We went to a museum last Sunday, that was focused on old toys! It was pretty cool. Last weekend I was not feeling great, a bit of a head cold, so pretty much stayed in bed/couch. I did go to our friend Michelle's housewarming party on Saturday evening for a bit, and we met some new gringos, which was nice.
Also, last weekend the water in the whole building was out. There was some type of electrical issue and the water went off. It was off for a bit on Saturday night, then all day on Sunday and half of Monday. The hot water has yet to return fully. It was pretty annoying! We had to go out and buy water, and now live in fear that it's going to happen again. Apparently, some buildings were really affected by the earthquake, and we are thinking this is one, because it may have been built cheaply and quickly.
We are still cooking a lot to save money, and last week Jesse made pupusas, an El Salvadorian dish. They were really good! We are also making things like shepherds pie, fajitas, chicken soup, spaghetti, stir frys.
Next Monday is apparently St. Peter's and Paul Day, so no one has to go to work. Naturally. I am not sure if all my classes with be cancelled, but I'm kind of hoping they are. I am getting so exhausted! It wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't so much walking, Metro and bus riding involved.
Jesse's brother, Joey, arrives next Tuesday to stay for 3 weeks. On his last weekend here all of us will be going up to San Pedro de Atacama, the desert, to visit for 3 nights. I'm very excited! We are flying up to make it easier.
If you have read about the volcano in Chile, it hasn't had any effect on Santiago at all. I didn't even know about it for a day, since I don't read the papers or listen to the news here.
That's it for now! Hope you all are enjoying warmer weather! Lucky! :)
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