Welcome to Santiago!

Hola mis amigos (hello my friends)!  I'm now in Santiago, comfortably settled in my third floor apartment with a wonderful family, attending classes every day, and close enough to walk to most of the major centers in the city.

I live on a tiny street that only runs one block called Capuchinos

After getting through three locked doors (harder than it sounds since each lock is uniquely difficult and requires special techniques to turn the key)...

... I arrive in our third floor apartment.  There are three bedrooms, one bathroom, one living room, and a kitchen, all of which surround (with a hallway in-between) the dining room.  My room is wonderful and fills with sunlight (and warmth) in the mornings.

Now... to introduce my family (from left to right):

Patty, my host-mother, works in insurance, loves to dance (in spite of a difficult knee), and is always friendly and inviting.  Alejandro, my "father", is a professor of music at a private university.  He plays guitar and piano and especially likes playing Jazz.  I've spent most of my time with my parents because my brothers are always busy.  They're wonderful!  We joke around a lot and cook together.  Living here is really relaxed, there are few rules, as long as I communicate my plans and don't do anything dangerous.

Sebastian (Ta-tan) is 25 and is studying film in Santiago.  He's in his 3rd year of university so he's really busy much of the time.

Javier is 20 and is studying drums privately (but for a degree).  He is in a serious relationship and has a daughter who is one year old and adorable (from the pictures, I haven't met her yet but I will soon!).  He works as a DJ every night (from 9 PM to around 4 AM) in a local bar.  Ta-tan also works there on weekends as a bartender and cook.

There is one other brother (27) who lives in France and plays cello, I don't think I get to meet him...

Most mornings I go for a run in a park that's about 10 blocks north of my house.  Hopefully this will help get me in shape for the pickup frisbee I play with some really good players on Sundays...

In the distance in every direction you can make out the mountains through the smog

On my way home I pass almost more taxis than cars (this is also my method of transportation around the city after 10 PM because it's not totally safe to walk alone late at night and the metro/buses stop around 10)

There is street art in a lot of places and grafiti everywhere!

Also there are stray dogs everywhere... I'll post pictures later.  Unlike most strays in cities I've seen most seem pretty well-fed and some sport dog jackets that were given to them by someone random.  They seem pretty comfortable and happy, like community pets :)

In the mornings I walk to school (~20 minutes).  I usually hang out in this sunroom before class begins

And then Roberto (our incredibly kind and loving academic director) gives lectures in our classroom

Walking home in the evenings is lovely

Today I walked to the top of Cero Santa Lucia, a hill in the middle of the city with an old castle

It was stunningly beautiful, and from the top you can see all of Santiago

Watching the sun set this evening was magnificent

And in the distance you can see a 17,795 ft. volcano called Cerro el Plomo

More research is needed but it seems like a very difficult, multi-day expedition sort of climb... if there's time....
The old castle is beautiful, with antique cannons, pools and fountains

So... that's my life in Santiago right now!  I'll leave you with this flyer I saw in an internet cafe:

(Dance, kiss, smile)  Adios!