Finally back to Curicó, Chile!

After coming back from Pucón, I spent the rest of my time in Chile in Curicó. The city isn't really a tourist destination so there isn't all that much to see, but it is very important to me because it is where I lived for a year during high school. 

I stayed with my host family that I went to Pucón with for a few days and then spent the rest of the time with my first host family. They are very sweet and have always taken me in as part of the family. My sister, Su, and brother, Manolo, and I went to the mountains to find a waterfall, but I will write about that in a different post. My sisters, Cata and Su and I went to visit their cousin who had been in a bicycle accident. Pedro, Cata and I also went to another cousin's house and had an asado (Chilean barbecue) with his parents and a bunch of cousins. 

Their house is beautiful and very different. It was very rustic, with the wood treated but the natural shape of the trees in came from. The mantle/fireplace was a tree, and the floor was inset with slices of a tree. It was really neat! 

On my last day the whole family (except Naty who was in Santiago) and I went to a restaurant that served typical Chilean food- in enormous portions. I had humitas (ground corn, seasoned and wrapped in the husks and boiled). 

It was really hard to say goodbye and I wanted to stay longer, but I had to leave and go to Brazil.

Susana, me, Manuel, Pedro, Manolo, Su and Cata

Manuel, Su, Cata, me, Pedro, Susana, and Manolo

I also got to spend quite a bit of time with my best friend here, Belén! We became friends in the school I went to during my exchange and have stayed in pretty close contact over the years. We hung out and cooked and watched movies and met up with some of our other high school classmates. It was so great to see everyone! I also went with Belén to her family's country house, but I will write abou that in another post. 

 

Stuffed peppers and wine with Belén

High school friends, Valentin and Diego

I caught up with Ernesto, my Rotary Youth Exchange counselor, and other friends Joaco, Valentin, Diego, Jesus, Montenegro, Simón, Richie, Dodo, Pabloski, and Yaye-- after a couple years this was so great!! I really missed them all so much!