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I consider myself quite lucky. My host family has provided me with many comforts that other students in the program don’t receive. For example, my family has two estufas (gas heaters) and one electric heater, the latter of which is in my room so I can heat my room when necessary without the danger of leaking gas. When I asked me close friend in the program, she told me her family only has one gas estufa in her entire house and only her host mom turns it on and off.
Having control over my own heat is wonderful, but it also comes with great responsibility. I have caught a cold recently, as one might expect when transitioning suddenly from 90 degree weather to 50 and below. The couple days when my cold was the worst I stayed at home practically all day to rest, which meant I used my estufa far more than I usually do. Later, my host mom asked if I had left the estufa on all night. I told her the truth, which is that I hadn’t. Nonetheless, I realized that even using the heater more during the day significantly impacted the energy bill. It will take some time to adjust my high-consumer habits, but I am looking forward to trying to use less and being more sustainable!
Conversing with my Chilean family has been an entertaining challenge. They speak very fast...and with many “Chileanismos” (chilean slang). I’ve been realizing that I often don’t actually understand the words my host mom says, but I am able to figure out what she is saying/asking based on context and body language. Sometimes I become frustrated that I have to ask my host brothers to repeat themselves so often, but I try to reassure myself that I shouldn’t be embarrassed because how else will I learn? I am curious to see how I will feel by the end of this semester.
Another reason I am lucky to have been placed with this host family is because I usually have multiple options when it comes to food. My first impressions of chilean food were positive. We have large bowls of fruit and bread is nearly always in stock. Cazuela, a typical chilean soup with chicken, veggies, and a light broth, came especially welcome since I’ve had my cold. When I have classes, I take a “colación” a lunch that I can heat up in the many microwaves on campus. Some meals my host mom makes are Peruvian which is always a wonderful reminder of my time in Lima. Breakfast is typically toast with butter and occasionally some avocado; however, since avocado prices have been raising, my host mom has limited the family to half an avocado per week per person… so now avocado toast is more of a rare treat. I am also lucky because I have access to the kitchen and I’ve began making myself eggs in the morning.
My host family makes me laugh often—whether it’s my host mom pestering my host brothers, or my own struggle to communicate—and I couldn’t be happier to be in their company for the next half year!
