Moving in with the "Brady Bunch"

I was so excited to move in with our host families last weekend. When I asked Carmen Gloria (our director) about my family she said that other students usually called them the Brady Bunch. Why? Because they have 5 kids!

All of our host parents picked us up from the hostel Saturday afternoon. My mom drove me to our apartment in Las Condes. My building is the middle one that is white and rectangular in the picture.

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I unpacked my bags and got settled in my room before lunch. Weekend lunches in Chile are family meals so we all sat down to eat together. The were 7 at the table:

-mom: Carmen Gloria

-Grandma

-Sister: Consuelo- 18

-Sister: Carmen Gloria- 19

-Brother: Federico- 23

-Brother: Nicolas- 25

Missing from the table was my other brother (Pable Pedro/ Pedro Pable?) and the 2 other "estudiantes". They were very confusing at first. I couldn't figure out who they were, where they were, or why there lived here. I still haven't met them but I know a little bit more. They are brother and sister and they are from the Chilean countryside. They are 19 and 20 and are studying in Santiago. Right now I think the brother is here (and has been for 2 days) but I haven't seen him. The sister is travelling.

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Lunch was crazy. I had no idea what was going on. They were all speaking so fast and with a chilean accent and chilean slang (chileanismos). Occasionally they would look at me and say, "Si?" and I would nod. I expected them to be a little more interested in me and want to ask me questions and talk to me but maybe that will come later. For now I have one crazy living situation!