Chilean vacation life is very interesting. I come from a family that full every minute of vacation with activities or outings. My family in Chile is the exact opposite. The day to day schedule would be similar to this. Wake up at 9:30, eat breakfast, go to the beach at 11, come back to the house at 1:30 and eat lunch till three. Take a nap till 6 or 7 pm, go out to dinner or eat once and sometimes go to the zofre, a huge shopping mall without import taxes.
After a day of this I was already going crazy with house fever, side note, the house didn't have WIFI. So I spent most afternoons after lunch at the beach by my self or with other exchange kids to occupy my time. Which, I must say I loved, and by the time I left, I am pretty sure that all the lifeguards knew who I was, because I mean english speaking gringas are pretty rare here in Chile.
One of the most amazing experience I had Iquique was being able to go paragliding off the high dunes that rose behind the city. It was an amazing experience recommended by my host uncle here who has gone 7x. It was oddly tranquil and super relaxing even though you are floating thousands of feet off the ground. I was accompanied by a guide who was harnessed in behind me. I had almost 20 minutes of airtime and they are probably the best minutes of the entire vacation. When I finally landed I just wanted to go back up and do it again. There was an extreme silence when in the air, all I could hear was the wind rushing past and it was a sensation like no other. I guess next on the list is skydiving.
Iquique words a great experience and definitely good bonding time with my host family. It's also one of the times that makes exchange even more real. Because laughing with my host dad as Maximo thros sand at us is an experience I'll probably never have the pleasure of enjoying another time in my life. Sure, I can come back and visit in a few years and they could come to the US and visit me but it will never be the same as me living in their house with me and having the daily rituals of a normal life that a family has. It is just taught me to enjoy it while it lasts because it has flown so fast. I have hit the sixth month mark so now if it now longer, "wow, I've been here for 3 months" but, "shoot, I leave in 5".
