Saturday is Un Techo Para Chile day, walking there and back plus volunteering totals about 5 hours in the afternoon. It's a pretty big commitment and it is definitely challenging, but I can tell that it's worth it. It is really hard to make a six year old want to study outside of school on a Saturday for an hour and a half. Plus, I am trying to do it in another language...yeah, kind of tricky. That kid keeps calling me ugly too, so it's hard to know what to say in response to that one. He's been kind of a challenge for everyone though I think, so it's not typical behavior for the rest of the kids. Plus, when you think about how overlooked the poorer community is as a whole, I think some of this behavior is understandable. Not acceptable...but understandable. Throughout today I realized that I don't really know the words required to make small talk, or just chit chat with kids. I want to joke around with them like I would in English, but I don't know enough Spanish to do it. Working in that kind of environment pretty much exposes all of my weaknesses in Spanish to myself and others. It sounds bad the way I put it, but I don't mean it that way. Being in that environment forces me to concentrate super hard on what's going on because I don't want to make an absolute fool of myself. I think I probably learn more Spanish on Saturdays than I do during my classes in the week. I have also gotten to meet some nice people and now I get to go help construct a school next weekend instead of go with the rest of the gringos on a planned excursion. It will be just me and a bunch of Chileans my age, so I think that I'll meet a few people there and get some quality Spanish practice for three days straight. 

Before I forget, I have had a few experiences that remind how slowly but surely I am getting the hang of things here. For example, whenever my mom is about to start recounting a story that she's already told before, I can usually tell when she is still is "setting the scene" stage of the story telling process. For that, I give myself a little pat on the back. Also, I feel particularly proud when my mom and I are chatting and she can't think of quite the right word to say for something and I think of it! Also a few days ago I was coughing and clearing my throat for a long time next to some guy and afterwards we both simultaneously said "rico" (translates to delicious) as a joke. I remember little incidents like that because they are tiny signs that I am picking up on cultural and linguistic nuances here slowly but surely. 

Right now my host parents are having a blast with their granddaughter. I think she is about two years old, and she is pretty darn cute. She calls me by a multitude of names, Catalina, Tia Catalina, Cata, etc. All, stem from the name Catalina because ever since I got here that's what I've been telling people to call me. I learned a long time ago in Mexico that "Katelyn" is a combination of really difficult vowel sounds for Spanish speakers so I just decided to not use it while I'm here. The gringos still call me Katelyn, but to nearly everyone else I am Catalina Melvey and I like it that way. Anyway, getting to know the family of my host family is always fun because it makes me feel even more apart of it.

That crazy guy who cooks outside is on TV again. He just made mashed potatoes with his hands and then cleaned up by rubbing them around in some fresh snow. I also feel compelled to mention that he is wearing a military green overcoat, pale blue button up shirt, brown riding boots, silk scarf, designer watch, and a lovely hat.