So I believe I left off with my supposed run and trip to Bellas Artes on Saturday, neither of which ended up happening, but it’s okay. I have felt so sick the last couple of days that I could not muster up the energy to go on a run. However, it was a beautiful day yesterday (75 degrees and sunny!), so I simply could not justify being inside, even if I did feel sick. I finally forced myself outside at around 3:45 and took an hour-long walk around the area. I’m so glad I did, because the weather was beautiful and I discovered an absolutely perfect four-mile running route that I am definitely going to use when I stop being sick… if that day ever comes. Anyway, I returned from my walk at 5 and spent the rest of the evening hanging out with my host mom until it was time to go out for a friend’s birthday at 11.
A group of about a dozen of us met up at the metro station nearest to the Barrio Bellavista, an area known for its relatively cheap bars and dance clubs. From there we decided to go to a low-key bar/restaurant to start the night and then go to a dance club from there. As we walked along the streets a guy ushered us into his restaurant saying that he had room to seat all of us. Although it was a tight squeeze, we all fit, and I was happy to have a place to sit and chat and enjoy a drink. I got to have a great conversation with one of the girls in my group, and it was nice to learn more about her and everyone else in a more low-key setting than the classroom sessions. I also particularly enjoyed the musical samplings in this establishment and was very happy to show off my reggaeton knowledge as I sang one of my favorite songs, “Te Regalo Amores” word for word. I think it always surprises people that I love Spanish rap music so much, but what can I say? I try not to be predictable. After we had all had our fill at this slightly sketchy dive, the birthday girl said she really wanted to go dancing, and I couldn’t help but agree with her. So we all set off in search of a dance club. Unfortunately, the only good dance club in the area had an hour long line in front of it. No thank you. So we decided to head to a karaoke bar down the street. Sadly the karaoke bar only had seats for all of us away from where the karaoke was being done, so we basically ended up just chatting again and listening to the background music. Finally at around 2:30 we all decided to turn in as the dance club still had a ridiculously long line. I definitely had a good time, and I was happy for the relaxed atmosphere while I am still recuperating from this unending illness. However, next weekend I am really hoping to hit up a dance club. I did some searching for some good ones in the area, and I am more than ready to break it down when I am at full strength.
After quite a bit of sleep, I woke up this morning feeling sicker than before with a headache and toothache to accompany my nasal congestion. Hooray for sinusitis! However, I was able to laze around all morning, which I greatly appreciated, and by afternoon I was itching to do something. My host mom obliged by taking me to what I originally thought was going to be a park, but ended up being a super huge modern shopping mall. Thus began my first trip to the Chilean mall. I’m not going to lie, Chilean malls are just like American malls except everything is a lot more expensive. A lot of the stores are even the same and they play American music in the shops (see: Invisible Touch by Genesis and Stronger by Britney Spears). We saw Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Aldo, and Nine West among numerous other stores. People were bustling around all over the place chatting and eating ice cream. Though I didn’t buy anything for myself, I did purchase un regalo for Peter, and I fell in love with a Chilean store called Foster. Too bad everything here is way out of my price range. I’ll have to be on the lookout for super great sales. Well after four hours of shopping I was both exhausted and hungry (the ice cream that people were continually walking around with looked so freaking good), so my host mom and I bought a few groceries and then headed home. Tonight I talked to Patrick for the first time, and it was nice to be updated on the goings-on with some of my mejores amigos in Madtown. Other than that, I am going to head to bed because I have to get up tomorrow for another doctor’s appointment. Although this was just supposed to be a quick check-in on my progress, I’m interested to see what he has to say about my newfound sinus infection. Ugh. What can I do besides sleep well, eat a ton of vitamins, and take my antibiotics? But such is life, I suppose.
No comments:
Post a Comment