You know it's a small town when...

1. The town is out of sandals because winter is coming.
2. Trips to the dentist take 4 hours. (My host brother Nacho! recently had his braces removed in Antofagasta. After he explained he was off to Antofagasta I asked, why? He casually responsed, ¨Voy al dentista¨.)
3. You check out both clubs, or discos, and see your students at both.
4.Your mailman hangs out at your house for 10 minutes after delivering the mail. He also requests beverages and snacks, asks for family members if missing, and comments on other people's mail
5. You can photograph it in its entirity from a nearby point.
6. You can familiarize yourself with the town in about an hour.
7. When returning from a weekend trip everyone asked you how it was, even though you told nobody you were leaving.
8. Many cars are from the 1980's
9. The mailman, or Señor Cartero, calls your name while strolling on a nearby street and hand delivers your mail.
10. Simple market runs can take up to an hour because your host-dad has conversations with at least five people
11. Parades travel a distance of about half a kilometer.
12. After telling someone the last names of your host-family he or she knows exactly where you live.
13. No fast food restaraunts.
14. After asking 3 teachers until when is the registro civil open, each responds with a different answer, 1pm, 12pm and 2pm. (Turns out it is open between 12pm - 2pm depending on the day, person working, and possibly weather?)
15. You can hear the school bell ring from your front door.
16. The nearest city is 300km, or 185 miles, away.
17. This is actually one of my favorites, though it is not a problem for me. A former volunteer, now full time teacher, used to have to travel that 300km...to use the ATM because her card did not work in the one in town.

I am sure that I will think of many more in the months to come, but that is it for now.