Weather forecasters are usually wrong, but here in Chillan we have a pretty infallible system. If you can hear the train whistle that means there's a north wind, and that means rain. The train whistle sounded all yesterday and sure enough, in the evening it started to pour.
A lot of things have happened lately that I really love. Here are a few of them.
My 12 year old host sister Diana Margarita announced that she wanted to have an art gallery in our house. The idea was that everyone who lives here had to contribute some drawings, and then we would invite the extended family to a viewing. So Diana and I set to work creating art, and eventually got the rest of the family to join in. I thought it was the sweetest idea, and it turned out really great.
We had a winter solstice celebration at the Casa Ursulina with the women who are on the coordination team and in Ursulinas, and it was amazing how we were able to transform our big cold kitchen into a cozy cave. Andrea and I painted "cave art" to hang on the wall, we put cushions all over the floor, and lit tons of candles and luminaries. In the candlelight we all joined together to share winter stories and food and wine.
I am going to Peru to visit a good friend of mine in about 3 weeks!!!
I have decided to stay in Chile until my visa runs out in March. If anyone knows of work possibilities in Santiago, let me know :)
