"Exactly the shit you see on TV!"

There was a protest on campus today! IT WAS CRAZY!
So Jess and I were trying to get to the micro on O'Higgins today so while we're walking past the artes y humanidades building we notice a bunch of people standing around, apparently watching something around the corner. Well Jess and I decided to go INto that building to go pee and we're halfway up the steps when some people start shouting and people behind us are running and pushing us into the building! We saw ROCKS flying through the air! People panicked and so did we, kinda scooted into the building real fast. It seemed like things calmed down for a bit after, we were really confused at that point. So we go up to the second floor to pee and when we come back down again there are people running around outside EVERYWHERE. Some of them have hoods and scarfs on covering their face, some run into the building, everyone is just scattering. I'm hearing things breaking outside. At this point me and Jess are a little shaken. We stand in the lobby and look out the window at Chilean Police chasing people dressed as terrorists! Some people run into the building we were in and the Police chased in after them! They've got the SWAT clear sheilds with the Chilean Police logo on it, helmets, guns drawn, it was scary as hell!
Things appeared to calm down and me and Jess had to get home so we leave the building and walk outside to broken glass, rocks, and paint scattered in front of the building and on the pathways of campus. We see some policia take a few men away and there are just trucks and trucks of police. Walking past the damage we found ourselves in the background of news reports becuase there were reporters on the scene. Scared the shit out of me!

The rest of my day was pretty great! One time last night when I was saying something to a Chilean on skype I accidentally said "Tengo mierda" for "Tengo miedo." One means "I'm scared" and one means "I have shit." Guess which one I used, ha.

Well I was supposed to have two 3-hr classes today but they were both cut short. I think these two will be my favorite. One is Latin American Studies and the other is like, an area studies seminar where we talk about langauge, culture, and people of Chile.

Random story: When people say "oh he's on chilean time" it means he's just running late because he's gotten used to chileans being late all the time. Its funny, and frustrating, but nobody here is on time, EVER. No wonder there is no schedule for the micros and colectivos.

For my first class I practically had to climb a MOUNTAIN to get to this building! All we did let the prof get to know us and then we left. We climbed back down the practicallly mountain and chilled in the center of campus on some stairs. It rocked. We all just had such a good time telling stories, joking around, being dumb. I love the people on this trip with me! And its not because I have to because they're the only other Americans: I honestly love them, its great.

I've decided "borracho/borracha" is better sounding than the word "drunk."

Today in our second class, which by the way the professor of this class is my host mom's brother, we heard drums outside and demonstrations and our prof told us people were practicing for the crazy independance day activities (September 16).

According to Al, the sun is hotter here and there's less air. He's convinced we're really elevated even though we're right by the ocean. hahaha

I'm gonig to take a siesta now so I can hopefully hang out with the rest of the gringos later at a pub or club.