Que lastima!

Ok, first and foremost I have something very important that I need to address here. I've been in Santiago for just under 24 hours now and this is really weighing heavy on me.

I regret to say that I can't tell you whether the toilets here flush in the opposite direction or not. I'm very sorry, here is my explanation:

Firstly, I have only had the privilege to use two toilets thus far in Chile and they were both inconclusive. The first one I used had such a hurricane-force flush that it was impossible to determine a direction at all. After doing all sorts of experiments, including floater divination and even coloring some floss and lowering it slowly into the frothing bowl to determine a current, all I found was the bowl was tumultuous and violent. The second toilet was far less violent and more like the normal household friends we keep so dear in Los Estados Unidos, however the water descending into the bowl wasn't just a freeflow of cleanly fluids; the entire tide was predetermined by angeled jets. I know this because I used one of the smaller students as a sounding board for my splashy theory... I guess he hadn't had that happen to him since high school. Anyway, the jets emit water at an angle that prompts a specific spin of the water in the bowl.

Secondly, even if I hadn't done all these timely and costly experiments, I forgot which direction the water flows in the US. I probably should have checked that out first.

I'm staying tonight in a hotel in one of the nicer neighborhoods of the Santiago suburbs (I'd give you the name but I've forgotten). The houses here all have high iron or wooden fences blocking in small yards and brightly colored houses. All the driveways have slide/swing gates with intercoms and more than on has a vociferous dog letting you now how important he is every time you come close.

I've broken away from the group a couple of times today to do some quiet exploring on my own and in addition to the neighborhood we are currently living in I've discovered a bit about the hotel itself. I've never quite seen anything like it; it is a not-so-small three story place with about 10 rooms on a floor and a couple of short wings. It seems like USAC is the only occupancy right now (which is probably for the best as we're pretty loud). The front drive is guarded by a pleasant guard in a booth who lowers a chain on the approach of cars. A gravel driveway flanked by a massive antique steam locomotive in red and black leads up to the granite ramp and steps to the lobby. The entire place has a theme of antiquity with its dual buggies, ancient harp and various small machines decorating the lobby. The dining room starts next to the sitting area in the front and follows the glass walls back and around a few corners to comfortably seat around 50 people. 

Now, everyone in the USAC program has at this point seen the interior of the hotel, and most have even ventured to the various bars and clubs that are nearby, but I'm fairly certain that few if any have explored with any interest the grounds that surround the hotel; at least I haven't seen any. Walking past a mason re-bricking the walkway I was suddenly aware of the moss-covered path I was on. It twists to and fro through the thick foliage behind the main building, probably a full 5 minute walk from one end to the other. Thick, old, trees line either side and are covered with vines and decorated at their bases with thick rusty chain that leads to a massive anchor. The path takes several routes, one to a large stained glass gazebo, another to a pool; still another leads to a 40 foot barbecue pit and a giant earthen oven. This place is beautiful!

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Ok, it's definitely getting close to my bedtime, but one final thing before I go: I'm having a blast with the challenge of speaking to people around here. My Spanish is just good enough to eventually get my point across but, as someone so accurately put it, it is somewhat like a Helen Keller impersonation with Spanish syllables. I feel lucky that I am outgoing enough to be willing to go make a fool of myself with people who will help me to improve in the end, there are others here who know far more Spanish than I but don't have the loquacity to encourage confidence in their speaking. This place is definitely a challenge, but it's a fun one.

Oh, and I want to hike some of the mountains before I leave... maybe at the top of them the smog won't be so thick...