So...

I have 12 days left until I leave. Two more days of work.
Still have not received a response from the host family, I hope that doesn't mean they're going to be the sort of family I never even talk to. Maybe the email just got lost in the interwebs?
It turns out one of the girls I'm traveling with has a family friend outside of Santiago, and it's looking like they might be willing to take all three of us in, as opposed to just her. I'm so excited to save money and not be in a hostel with thieves and loud European weirdos... although I'd like to stay in a hostel for some portion of the trip, it's much cooler to have "friends".