Curico o Curico.

I havent been back to school all week. The other 4 english volunteers and I have been busy running errands, shopping for winter clothes, and mainly, attempting to obtain our work visas. We are the first foreigners that have come to Curico to work, thus, it will take some time to process. In the meantime, we are all enjoying the city and the FRESH AIR. There is no smog here, like in Santiago. The nights and mornings are quite brisk, but the days are lovely. I am tempted to take off my jacket while I walk in the streets when the sun is out, but it is not customary to shed clothing even if the day warms up...because it's winter, "you silly Americans!"

I am very proud of myself for becoming acquainted with the public transportation system, despite my poor spanish speaking skills. I have become very adept with taking the "micro" (bus) and "collectivos". Collectivos are similar to taxis, except they pick up multiple people and drop people off at bus stops. For example, if if you are in a collectivo, and someone hails the car, the driver will pick up that person too. It is much cheaper than by taxi. Also, it is more fun because people seem more open to conversation in a collectivo than in a taxi or on a bus.

Every day I walk around Curico by myself. My Chilean family thinks Im a big girl because of this. They are very impressed. They are always asking me "How did you get there? And how did you get home? By bus or collectivo?" like they are astonished that I could manage such a task!

Curico is a extremely quaint city. It is the type of city that someone may wander into and end up staying forever. Many people I chat with on the street say they are from Curico, and their parents and parents' parents as well. The people here seem very friendly to us, foreigners, and of course, very curious. We are all constantly gossiped about, literally right behind our backs. They assume we dont speak any spanish! No one here speaks English. Not even the English teachers we work with.

The town has one main plaza called the "Plaza de Armas". There is another Plaza de Armas in Santiago and it seems like many of the street names here are recycled from Santiago as well. They have 1 small park, 1 large hill, and about 2o main streets that make up the entire town. They have about 100 independent shops, 20 corporate stores, 1 mall, and 2 main groceries. One of the grocery stores even has a cinema on the second floor!

At night, many of the town's teenagers and college students go out shopping. There are 3 very small universities here and maybe about 10 high schools. I havent seen much to do besides shopping. They have a few internet cafes (but no coffee), video arcades, and i think ive seen only 4 bars.

Also, Curico has a futbol team called "Curico Unido" or Curico United. I may go check-out a game this Sunday evening. It will be great to feel like a local!

The main difference between Curico and Santiago is that the people in Curico are more warm. Every single person I've spoke with has been super patient, kind, and interested. Even though there is less to do here, I am loving the small town feel.