1 Weekend- 347 Photos

Just check'n in from over here in the Southern Hemisphere! This weekend we went to Santiago to take Leo to the airport. We left on Thursday after school, and after a great weekend got back at 11pm last night.

Our first stop was the police office in Las Angeles (where my dad works as a carabinero). It was here that I had my first Completo, as well as an adorable Chilean coke in a glass bottle. Below is a picture of a completo. It's a chilean hotdog. And way better than a US hotdog, as I told them. On this journey, I also ate my first chilean empanada (for lunch at the beach house) and it was pretty darn good. 

Ok, fast forward. On Friday evening, we took Leo to the airport in Santiago. After saying goodbye, we were standing there watching him go through security, and I realised: A) just how much I was going to miss this great guy that I had only known for two weeks, B) how much I wish I could have got to spend more time with him, and C) how my family must have felt, ten fold, when I left. And I cried. Not a lot. It was actually the first time that I've cried since I left. Which is kinda weird...

So... I was standing there trying not to explode, when we see a bunch of dudes with arm tattoos and giant speakers. Mi mama dice, "Es una banda". Dijo, "Mhmm." Camila dice "Sleeping with Sirens??" Dijo "oh my gosh!!" and we run and I end up takeing a picture with Nick Martin, the Rhythm Guitarist from "Sleeping With Sirens". It's pretty weird and goes to prove that 95% of the time, I have absolutely no clue as to what is going to happen the next minute of my exchange.

After that, we drove to Lali's (my grandma's) beach house. Saturday was nothing but amazing and relaxing. The beach was sooo wonderful. The water was beautiful, the sand was great, the views were amazing, the sun was warm, and it smelled so refreshing! Ahhh. 

Our beach house. Not where we stayed.

Disclaimer: He was half joking, but my host dad said to make sure that everyone understood that this is Chilean beach. So, there you go.

When we got back to the beach house, I took like a 5 hour long nap. So, yeah.

Here's some other pictures from the drive back on Sunday. So pretty!

Life is Good. :-)

Feeling pretty good. I've been here for like 12 days? (It feels like more) School is fun, the only bad part is that I can't understand half the classes because they are in Spanish. In true chilean fashion, my classmates are really nice and inclusive.  In the US I had like one group of friends whom I hung out with all of the time. But here, there aren't really groups, and I hang out with all of the ones that do exist.
Por exemplo: (which chileans say a lot)

• Today I went to Pizza Hut with 3 other girls in my class by invitation. For $500 pesos, you get as much pizza as you want. Because it's a Wednesday. They bring the pizza to you a piece at a time, and they have all different kinds. They spice and topping it differently than in the US, but it looked the same. As we talked, (well, mostly they talked and I listened) we commenced to eat 7 pieces a piece. Plus a glass of Coke-a (tú sabes, like coke-a-cola). Let's just say that 4 hours later I definitely don't need "Once". It was super fun and they are really nice to me. (Is it sad that that was actually my first time at a sit-down restaurant in Chile?...)
• I was also invited to go to the mall after school on Friday, by 2 other girls, but Sadly I'll be in Santiago. 
• We are doing dance routines in gym class, and yet another group invited me to be part of theirs. We are dancing to "Worth it" by Fifth Harmony.
• So... yeah.

Here's my school. Minus the green stuff, 'cause it's winter. And it's bigger than it looks, but not much.

My chilean mom and brother, as well as my mom and siblings in the US think that my Spanish has improved a lot. Even though it has only been 12 days. I don't really know about that. I guess maybe, but I can't really feel a difference.
Yesterday we had a youth exchange student "press conference" of sorts with the National Television of Chile. They were interviewing all of the outbounds, and I said, "Oh good. They're just interviewing the Chileans. 'Cause my Spanish is definitely not good enough for that. And I don't really need, or want, to be on TV." Yet, after they were through with all of the outbounds, guess who's the only inbound they interviewed??
So... yeah. I have no idea how to find the actual thing that aired, but if I do, I might not post it... (JK. I will. But feel free to look, and if you find it tell me.)

Today I saw a Black-faced ibis in the school yard. At least that's what I think it was. Here's a picture of one, not the one I saw mind you.

I also saw a super pretty sunset. I think they are signs that everything will be okay.

I made a list of all the things I miss. But of all the things that are in the US and not here, I miss my bike the most today.

Also, my English is already failing me. I'm going to be a hot mess in IB English.

me amo temuco

I have done so many things this last week. I don't know what to blog about. I had my 1st day of school on Friday, and everyone seemed really nice. This has become a trend with Chileans. They are all super nice and cordial. My classmates were understanding of my Spanish, and asked me a million questions. One of the girls sat next to me and explained the questions to me, in English. I just hope that all this cordiality lasts and isn't just a "hospitality to the gringa thing".
I also went to m 1st Rotary meeting, and it's an all women's club. Which I was not expecting. But I got to talk to a few of the inbounds. In English. God I miss English.

I went to downtown Temuco to get my ID card, and while my mom was working me and Leo (my host brother) went on the roof took pictures and I told him about prom and school lunches. Temuco is so beautiful. The Chileans will tell you otherwise, but I love it. It's not beautiful in the way Hawaii is, or even in the way South Bend is.  Instead it is beautiful in only the way that South America, no only Chile, can be. Only a way you can try to understand if you've been here. Colorful, picture worthy graffiti covers everything. Mountains loom wherever you look and are just as mystical in the smog as in the sunlight and in the rain. I never expected this. I guess I just thought in my mind Chile would be just like, I don't know, a slightly different version of the US where they speak Spanish. Now I have realized that each country, and each of it's various regions, is a different person. Different and beautiful in her own way. Made even more beautiful because of her flaws and imperfections. And I love it.   <3

That thing in the background... yeah. It's an active volcano.

My 1st Trip to Santiago

On Monday morning, 1 day after I met my host family, we took a 8 hour long bus ride to Santiago to get my host brother's VISA. There is so much I want to say! But I don't want to be here super long, so I'll cut it short.

1. Buses here in Chile are really nice. Think business class on a plane... without the free food. 
2. Water to drink, is "Agua con Gas". Meaning that unless you ask for "Agua sin Gas" you will get bubbly water.
3. It gets really wet here, and fairly cold. Especially if you go south. So you will need a decently thick "parka" or coat that also protects from rain.
4. I live in the "Zona Sur"
5. They do not speak Spanish at the USA Embassy in Chile. That makes us (as in the USA) look really great. 
6. If you are a tall, skinny girl with long arms like me, you will probably have to buy guy's jackets and limit your shoe purchases. No joke. Because, even in the XL women's "parkas", the arms were not long enough, and it was way to big everywhere else. Also, in shoes, I am a women's 10 in US sizes, but a 42 here. And stores have a women's 42 in about 0 pairs of shoes. I did have more luck in the "zapatilla" section. Or sports shoes. 

#5 led to an interesting, but expected, problem. Because the dude at the VISA counter did not speak Spanish (how do you even do that when you have lived in Chile for God knows how long?), and my brother speaks fairly good but still limited English, it was bound to be interesting. I was able to double check the answers mi hermano gave, and badly translate some of the questions the dude asked, and all was well.        

Here are some pictures.

Santiago. The capital of Chile.

The outside of the US embassy in Santiago, Chile. This building is basically a security room and they took my camera. So no pictures of inside, even though it was super cool.

Me in my new "parka"in the Santiago mall with a replica of what they used to rescue the Chilean miners.

New shoes. A present from my host family along with the parka.

First Impressions

When I woke up this morning in a real bed with four blankets in the middle of winter, I had that one feeling you get when you wake up in a strange place. And then I remembered... I'm in Chile. I am currently sitting in a hotel room in a park for a Rotary Conference. I am hearing strange birds, mostly that sound like "Keeeee Ki", and one not-so-unfamiliar rooster crowing in the background. It smells like burning wood, which is probably because of the giant log pile outside being burned for our heat. It's the temperature here of about mid-October in Indiana. And right now since I am in the middle of no-where, its almost exactly like Halloween Camping (except I have a warm "house" to stay in that's heated). It's not actually not that cold, but coming from Summer, I am wearing two layers of socks, and a sweater over my jacket. Everyone seems really nice. And I sleep all of the freaking time because of my travel. We went on a really awesome nature walk today and it was sooo pretty, wet, and different. Here's some pictures.

Packing

Never underestimate the power of, or your need for, vacuum bags.

That's one bag with more stuff than I would believe possible. Including a jacket, a sweatshirt, and 2 pairs of jeans.

Packing doesn't take that long, maybe a 3 hours, but I suggest doing it a few days in advance so that you have time to remember anything you forgot. Also, invite a friend over. It makes it so much funner.

And you might end up having a little bit too much fun with Photo Booth.