I wanted to try something new, so I signed up for an extracurricular Salsa class at the university. I figured it would be a great way to meet people. Plus, I had been interested in learning to dance Salsa for a while, but I could never gather the courage to sign up before. Something about the anonymity of traveling alone to another country makes it easier to face fears and deal with nerves.
I was definitely nervous though. My first class did not go well. The teacher, Zamira, walked in, turned on some music, and told us to start dancing. Zamira would show us a move, and we would all attempt to copy her. I pushed through the class one awkward step after another. Eventually, the class was over and I felt like I knew less about dancing than I had before showing up to the class. Zamira invited another guy and me to stay for another class to see if we felt better about it.
Class with Zamira
I stayed for the second class. Then I came back every week. I made friends. I started going to Salsa clubs with them. I learned a lot. I had so much fun.
I also started meeting with a group that danced salsa at a plaza in the center of Santiago a couple of times a week. It was the type of thing one sees in the movies: dancing Salsa outside!
Salsa on the streets!
It was a unique adventure to find myself lost in a foreign rhythm, laughing at my clumsiness, all while taking in this joyous culture that brought strangers together dancing in the streets.