Last Day in Santiago... :) / :(

So, today is my last day living out of my suitcase in Santiago. I have one more private spanish lesson in an hour, and then I officially graduate from a seriously intense week of Spanish instruction. It has been quite to week. I never thought that I would naturally begin to think in Spanish, but that is all I have been doing. Hearing and speaking Spanish 6 hours a day has really had an impact. Although I still sound like a child raised by wolves when I speak, I have indeed improved. I have also made a few new friends, which is always nice. Today, as it was the last class, we all brought in treats. It was fun to celebrate the tough week with people from all around the world. To be specific, there was Callum from Australia, Malissa from Thailand, Juana from Germany, Emma from Australia, Cherryl from The Phillipines, and Sandra from Italy. Being in situations like this, it makes you realize how great of a world we live in, and that although it is big, we are pretty much just like one another. This is getting slightly sappy, but this is why I love traveling. Meeting people from corners of the world you could only dream of visiting is pretty interesting. Sharing travel stories, asking about recommendations of their home countries, and poking fun at each others' cultures really never gets old (lots of Obama comments in the past week...). Overall, this has been a great experience thus far.
I am excited to move on to my new home in Valdivia, but sad to leave that guy I am marrying. The good news is that he is going to escort me to the bus station tonight! I didn't think he would be back in time, so this is indeed, a very pleasant surprise. I saw him only 3 days ago, but it feels like a month.
So, now that I have been in Chile for over a week, I figured I would share the top ten funny/odd/interesting/uncomfortable/endearing things I have learned about Santiago.

1. If you cook onions and/or garlic in your house, be prepared to be shunned by your neighbors and yelled at by your landlord. Apparently it counts as a "very smelly" food, which is not allowed. Controlling??
2. Public displays of affection in Chile make all Americans look like the awkward teenager with braces that has never been kissed. Seriously...I've never seen so much rolling around in public as I have here. In a totally non-creepy, non-perverted, non-molestor kind of way, I find it kind of sweet.
3. Stray dogs are equals. The butcher gives them fresh chicken. 50% of them are wearing fleece sweaters. They know when to cross the street, and when to wait for the signal. They seem to sniff out the "Extranjeros", and follow them...hoping that our sympathy bone kicks in and we share our empanadas with them.
4. When you build a city in the middle of the Andes, expect smog. Lots of smog. I was even told that when children in schools here paint a picture of the city, the horizon is in grey. When the smog is not as bad, it is beautiful.
5. You can try your hardest to dress, act, and talk like a local, but everyone knows you are not. I have accepted this, and find myself laughing daily at the awkward stares I get.
6. Chileans are classy. They dress nice, and they seem to be polite.
7. Chileans have eating habits figured out. Big lunch, small and late dinner. Cheap wine, whenever you please. These things...I love.
8. Although they talk REALLY fast, it seems as if the people of Santiago are willing to help you if you are willing to help yourself.
9. Department stores make no sense. At least to me. The TV's are next to the boys' clothing, and bed sheets are by the heaters. Como?
10. This place loves, LOVES avocados. You can smash it up and put it on just about anything. When you buy an avocado and slice it open, it is a heavenly, perfect green. It is spread on hot dogs (as we use ketchup), it is spread on bread, slice on a salad, mashed in your beer (kidding. but wouldn't be surprised). It is everywhere, and that makes me very, very happy.

Santiago, you're pretty cool. Take care of Jon for me. See you soon.

Adios,

Ashley