you live right in front of the mountains (and other important facts about chile)

On Monday, all the AU students in my program started orientation. During the next week and a half, we'll basically take a crash course in Chilean language and culture. Some good things I have learned so far:

• Las Condes lies to the east. The Andes are also in the east. So basically, head towards the huge mountain range to get home.
• When ordering a torta (a traditional Chilean sandwich), ask them to hold the mayonnaise. You won't be sorry.
• Don't worry about bundling up for the commute to school, because the metro is always so packed that the body heat from the closest 30 Chileans will keep you very warm.
• Traffic rules in Chile are up for debate. Buses clear a path for themselves by honking until cars get out of their way. Cars may or may not decide to make turns while pedestrians are still in the crosswalk. There are lines painted on the street, but none of them seem to mean anything important.
• No matter what, it will always be colder inside the house than outside. Even if you enjoyed walking around in the sun in a short-sleeve shirt during the day, you will always need 9 blankets at night. There is no scientific explanation for this other than that Chilean weather is crazy.
• Even though there are some light-haired Chileans, you will always attract attention as a blonde. People will stare at you like you're an alien. No matter how good your Spanish gets, you will always be the biggest gringa ever.
• You will not understand Chilean Spanish. You will try your best to decipher the "caichai"s and the "po"s and the slurred words, and you will fail. Chileans joke that they don't speak Spanish; they only speak Chilean. You will come to believe this with all of your heart.