Antofagasta

I am finally in Antofagasta!  My flight out of Santiago was delayed several times yesterday, and I was worried that I would have to spend the night in the airport again, but this time without Dorothy.  THANKFULLY,  everything worked out and the flight was only delayed a few hours.  All of my luggage made it too!  My host parents (Veronica and Jorge) were at the airport holding an "Emily" sign.  They are incredibly kind and very patient with my Spanish!!  When we got out of the car Veronica asked me if I liked cats.  That was an easy answer for me!!  His name is Nino and has quite the personality.  They have two sons (Jorge... easy for me to remember!, and Fran), both of which are are getting an engineering degree at another university here in Antofagasta.  Their house is beautiful, and from my room I have a view of the ocean.  It's like being at a resort!

I have been doing a lot of hanging out today, which is slightly difficult for me.  Jorge is at work (he works at IBM), and Veronica, Fran, and I are at home.  Veronica and I just got back from walking to my university ( two blocks away!) and I got all of the information that I need at the international office.  I will get signed up for all of my classes on Monday, and then on Tuesday I register at the police station.  Those are the only two things on the agenda for now and I am not very clear when classes actually begin because from what I understood before I came it was on the 7th, but I am thinking they begin on Wednesday now.

It is very hot here and that is why the house is a nice place to be currently.  I will be getting my own key to the house today, so I will be able to walk down to the beach :)!!  It is even closer to my house than the university!  I am going to buy a cell phone tomorrow when Veronica and I go the town center so that I have an easier way of communicating if I get lost.

Well, I guess that's it for now.  Everything is absolutely wonderful here and the people are so kind, even though I can hardly understand anything that they say!!  I am going to attempt to post some pictures now.