Togas, Wine, and... CHRISTMAS?!?!?

On Wednesday evening our director organized a wine-tasting event at a great local vinoteca where he loves to buy all his wine. Upon arrival, our group of 10 was seated around a large table. Placed in front of each one of us were five wine glasses in addition to a glass of water. Two of the men who worked there led the event. Both of them were extremely knowledgeable in wines and they were able to answer all of the questions we put forth. They started by describing the best wine valleys in Chile as well as the wine making process as a whole. We learned which types of grapes are used to make which types of wine as well as why some wines are "drier" or more tinted than others. The drier or more tinted the wine is, the longer the skins of the grapes were left in with the liquid portion. Did you know that it is possible to make a white wine from red grapes? All you need to do is remove the skins of the grapes before you start the fermentation process. After learning about all of that we moved on to the wine-tasting! We started with a smooth, sweet white wine and ended with a dark, dry red wine. While tasting, they described each one to us in-depth as well as which types of food go best with which wine. After we had finished, my director asked me which one was my favorite. I thought about it for a minute and told him that I couldn't decide and that it would depend on the situation and what type of food I was eating it with. Each one of them was a high-quality wine and I honestly enjoyed trying all of them. I can't wait to get back now and cook a multiple course meal and pair each food with the perfect wine!

Yesterday afternoon two of my friends and I went to Valparaiso to do some exploring. We had a picnic lunch in Plaza Victoria and then proceeded to do some shopping! We ended up at Lider, a grocery store here, to buy some snacks for our upcoming trip to Chiloe. When I walked in the first thing I saw were Christmas decorations hanging up in the store. They weren't just selling the decorations, no... the entire store was decked out in garland, wreaths, and bulbs and it wasn't even Halloween yet! I think what made it the most strange for me though was the fact that all of the green decorations in the store were modeled off of conifierous, or evergreen, trees like ours are in the U.S. However, Chile doesn't even have coniferous trees around here! That color of green does not exist here! In addition, I don't think Christmas would be the same without the snow and cold and whiteness that we have in Minnesota during that time of the year. Right now though we are heading into summer here and the temperatures just keep going up! Anyways... I just wanted to tell all of you, "Happy Halloween!" er... I mean, "Merry Christmas!"

This past week was "Greek Week", or something like that, at our university. Last night we all dressed up in togas and went to our university for a Greek dinner. The night started with a theater production put on by other students. Then we all headed out to the patio where multiple tables were set up under a big tent. There were traditional singers, dancers, and even a bagpipe player to entertain us throughout the night. Supper was various types of quiches and dessert was a torta layered with the most manjar I've eaten in my entire life! It was all delicious as usual, and it was definitely a worthwhile event.

This afternoon I went with my host-sister and her boyfriend to his cabin in Horcon which is about 45 minutes north of here. We met up with a bunch of their friends from their university beforehand to buy all of the food, and then we all carpooled to Horcon. His cabin was a beautiful little cabin located right by the ocean. All of their friends were so nice, and I had such a great time with all of them. I hope that I can hang out with them again! They're all staying there for the entire weekend, but I unfortunately had to leave early to catch a bus back as I am leaving early tomorrow (actually this morning) morning for Chiloe. Actually we're leaving in about 6 hours so I need to get some sleep! Buenas noches!

Goal for the week: To stay warm in Chiloe! (For those of you who don't know... I am ALWAYS cold!)