We'll call this summary a "List of Firsts".
First Earthquake March 11th: I had felt tremors since landing on the 7th, but this day in particular we had a tremor that was actually an earthquake. A 6.9! We were in a new teachers training meeting and we all sat around just staring at each other wondering when it was going to stop. It started with a small tremor, then the 6.9 which lasted about 45 seconds(?), then another smaller one. A lot of the staff was pretty freaked out because the cell towers were cut off and they had family close to the epicenter. Last weekend I was in a sky-rise apt. and we had a tremor then too. The whole building was swaying...I cannot imagine what it would have felt like during the real thing.
First National Power-Out March 15th: Last Monday some friends and I went out to Barrio Bellavista to get some dinner. I don't think I have ever been hungrier in my life, so it was crucial that I get food in my system. We walked around for a while not able to decide as a group where to eat...finally we found a restaurant (finally? the whole neighborhood is full of cafes and restaurants!) and when were just about to be seated the power went out! We left the place and realized the whole city was completely dark. It was so weird walking down crowded streets with our cell phones lit up to see where we were going. And even in the total darkness, strangers still noticed that I was an American. I couldn't see them! How could they see me? Is my super-white skin reflecting light or something?? Anyways, a bag of street vendor Churros and 50 minutes later we were finally eating some delicious traditional Chilean food.
March 18th: First time riding on a motorcycle. It was totally unexpected, I almost didn't get on. But I had a helmet and I am getting so sick of public transportation....(mom, don't freak out.)
(1) new preferred form of transportation, new friend Jorge.
(2) Jordan and Colby's sky-rise where we felt the tremor. Nice view of Las Condes.
(3) Eating "Cazuela de Pollo" after several hours of starvation.
you mean, Dad don't freak out, right?
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