Well it has been a long time since I have been on here, but I have been busy getting back into the routine of the home-life/work-life apart from the life in Santiago. I have been home for a month now, coming back into the US on July 7th. Today is my 21st birthday and right now I kind of wish that I could celebrate it with everyone that I met in Chile as well as my friends here.
I have been working at my old summer job off an on over the last four weeks while getting ready for school to start in 2.5 weeks. I have just finished my online classes for the summer and that means that I have finished my history minor. The approaching time of graduation (in may...long ways away but still close) is in the back of my mind. I have done so much in the last 3.5 year that I have been in college and for all the support I am forever grateful.
I have been able to volunteer, work with the Upward Bound/Trio program, taught elementary students spanish, completed 3 years of college, completed a history minor, and spanish major, travel abroad and learn so much and grow. By stating these few thing that I have done it blows me away by how much I have accomplished. But doing all these things did take hard work and a lot of time from me and those who continuously support me.
I have been running into many people back home who have heard about my travels and also those who have been reading my articles in the local paper. It is very encouraging when people give me feedback and tell me that they are proud of me for doing what I have done and that everyone in our community is backing me on this endeavor. I am in the process of writing my last article and making the last of my video blog movies. I would like to make a movie also to reminisce about my experiences and how I can hopefully encourage other people to strive for what they want. I would not be here talking about this without the Gilman scholarship and for that I am in their debt. They helped me immensely and I am finishing up my follow up project to raise the awareness of this scholarship and how so many people have and can benefit from this program.
So this month has been filled with visiting family and friends, catching up on lost times, wedding events for friends and family members, working, finishing summer classes and now enjoying the last bit of my free summer before my final year of college starts. I wish to revisit Chile someday and am hoping to reunite with many of my new made friends in the near future. I have a spring break this year that I am using for my pleasure and hoping to go see some girlfriends from my abroad trip and within the next few years hopefully just a short time getting out to Europe.
These friends with always hold these memories with me and I will cherish them forever. I have friends from all over the world and wouldn't change it for anything. I love what I have been given, who I have met and what I have done. Only thing now is I want to get back into practice speaking and listening to Spanish because it is hard coming back to an area where I am no longer surrounded by the language and culture and I miss this the most. So here is a thanks to everyone and everything. Viva Chile y saludos a todos mis amigos mundiales.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Holy Smolies
Wow time has flown by fast. I know I have been saying that for a while, but holy right now I have 7 days until I leave to go back home! I am super pumped and can't wait to get home, but of course I will miss Chile. It has been my home for the last 6 months, where I have made lifetime friends, shared stories, and had the time of my life. But like the others who just left for travelling I am not feeling that sentimental yet. I think it is because I am so excited to get home, that it hasn't really hit me that I will not be coming back to Santiago for a LONG time.
I made a last dinner for my Chilean family the other night and it was so good! Did it American style and they loved it. I will miss them so much, they helped me that first month and the next 5 so much. I felt homesick, but they helped me through it and worked with me with the spanish language. I am forever grateful to those who have helped me to the level of spanish speaking I am at today. I am scared to go home for this matter. I am not going to be around a lot of spanish any if that when I get home and it will be 1 month until I get back home. So the looming fear is that I am going to forget everything I learned here. I need to figure something out to keep working on it.
But just finishing things up here in Santiago. I have said a log of goodbyes and the last of them mainly will be this week. I am also at midterm and final time for my online classes which happened to be in my last week here. So for sure it will go quite fast. I am going to Atacama this weekend, friday after my final, and come back on the 4th. I am a bit sad to not be home on the 4th, but will be home just a few short days later!
But I don't have much to write about, just homework and more homework and goodbyes. I will cherish this time forever and am so thankful of the help I got while being here. Viva Chile!
Ciau from Santiago
I made a last dinner for my Chilean family the other night and it was so good! Did it American style and they loved it. I will miss them so much, they helped me that first month and the next 5 so much. I felt homesick, but they helped me through it and worked with me with the spanish language. I am forever grateful to those who have helped me to the level of spanish speaking I am at today. I am scared to go home for this matter. I am not going to be around a lot of spanish any if that when I get home and it will be 1 month until I get back home. So the looming fear is that I am going to forget everything I learned here. I need to figure something out to keep working on it.
But just finishing things up here in Santiago. I have said a log of goodbyes and the last of them mainly will be this week. I am also at midterm and final time for my online classes which happened to be in my last week here. So for sure it will go quite fast. I am going to Atacama this weekend, friday after my final, and come back on the 4th. I am a bit sad to not be home on the 4th, but will be home just a few short days later!
But I don't have much to write about, just homework and more homework and goodbyes. I will cherish this time forever and am so thankful of the help I got while being here. Viva Chile!
Ciau from Santiago
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Uffdah!
Well it has been about 2 weeks since the last time I wrote, but it is only because I am staying busy. I am just shy of finishing one online class, but the other is what is taking up most of my free time. I am behind in reading and just don't know how to motivate myself to get back on. I am getting stressed out a bit lately. I am done with classes here in Santiago, but still have 2.5 weeks until I get home. It is not a lot of time which is stressing me out. I sometimes feel that I have not done all I can here in Santiago, but if I think about all the things I didn't do I will forget all the things that I did do. I have 17 days left in Chile and I need to make them count. But I am also scared of going home. I am so ready to be home and know that I have been wanting it for a bit due to homesickness sometimes, but scared of being with all those I know again. It has been so long and while I have been here I have only talked to a handful of people. The fact that while I am here experiencing and don't hear from a lot of those I know makes me scared to go home. Like it matters. I haven't seen people for 6 months and just nervous to see them again...pretty much reintroduced into their lives after being absent for almost 6 months.
I have friends leaving here tomorrow..and tonight will be a lot of goodbyes. Possibility of a goodbye bash with classmates will have me saying goodbye to those who have made me feel comfortable here. Do I want to stay or go home. Here I practice my Spanish and have improved so much and my confidence has increased tenfold, but scared to go home, where am I going to practice and with a month away from school I am so scared that I will forget it. What happens then? All this for nothing? This is important to me.
Other than nerves and an ever changing mindset I am finishing my time here in Santiago. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart, cling to them as you would your life...For without them, life is meaningless.. This deals with me when I chose things over those who are right in front of me. Life is full of surprises and I am finding them everyday in my life. It is what makes life worth living. This opportunity has opened my mind to the goals that I can reach in my life. I am worth it, I am significant, and dang it I will succeed at what I do.
I will finish off my weeks here, with goodbye bashes, goodbye dinners, shopping, new restaurants, and a trip to the Desert. Now is the time to do it in the present. I will hopefully get another blog or two in before I fly out. 6th of July is the day I leave Chile, with hopes of coming back one day while making and sharing my experiences again.
I have friends leaving here tomorrow..and tonight will be a lot of goodbyes. Possibility of a goodbye bash with classmates will have me saying goodbye to those who have made me feel comfortable here. Do I want to stay or go home. Here I practice my Spanish and have improved so much and my confidence has increased tenfold, but scared to go home, where am I going to practice and with a month away from school I am so scared that I will forget it. What happens then? All this for nothing? This is important to me.
Other than nerves and an ever changing mindset I am finishing my time here in Santiago. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart, cling to them as you would your life...For without them, life is meaningless.. This deals with me when I chose things over those who are right in front of me. Life is full of surprises and I am finding them everyday in my life. It is what makes life worth living. This opportunity has opened my mind to the goals that I can reach in my life. I am worth it, I am significant, and dang it I will succeed at what I do.
I will finish off my weeks here, with goodbye bashes, goodbye dinners, shopping, new restaurants, and a trip to the Desert. Now is the time to do it in the present. I will hopefully get another blog or two in before I fly out. 6th of July is the day I leave Chile, with hopes of coming back one day while making and sharing my experiences again.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Busy...Busy...little bee
Well it has been a few days longer than I wanted to write this, but as I wrote: busy, busy. I recently started my second summer class through the internet and this has filled up all of my free time that I had. I have much to read as this class will finish my history minor and is challenging. My courses are about American Indians and the Crusades. I have to admit that I am a bit of a history nerd and like learning about this stuff, so it is interesting to me I just have to get into it. Other than summer classes through my university in South Dakota, things in Santiago are starting to wind down. I have 3 weekends left in Santiago until I take a trip to San Pedro de Atacama the just days before I leave. The time has gone by fast and I know I will have mixed feelings by the time its all done. I am ready to get home, but when am I going to have this opportunity again and then there are those people who I have bonded so greatly with in the last 5 months. But other than that things are happening at home. Summer vacation is there meaning summer sports, SUN, swimming and much more. This is what I am pumped for...WARMTH.
This week has been eventful in Santiago. Sunday I went running...28 minutes only one one minute stop!! and when I got back the consierge told me that there was an emergency alert for Santiago. The 'contamination' smog in the air had reached a critical level that running was not suggested and people were recommended to stay home. I realized that something was different for when I was running, it was extra hard to breathe and now I know why! So as I have 8 runs left in 30 days I WANT to finish...working up to 5k...so I'll figure it out. Other than that type of exercising I have started to attend Yoga classes. You know after my body gets stretched out and feels so relaxed it is such a nice thing to do. So I try to exercise everyday..but Wednesday's those are my relax days!! Got to watch the great..bread and typical Chilean food for a bit...again b/c its summer back home!
Today I went horseback riding for 2 hours with a few girls and we had a picnic afterwards. It was a great day and so fun. The thing I know I will have withdrawals from is the view of the mountains. The sights I saw today were just breathtaking and I know I couldn't get a just picture. I am trying to do stuff every weekend to make the time count. Tomorrow I will be going to Ruby Tuesday's here in Santiago..to compare...and then to see the new Hangover movie. Should be an eventful night again. The next event will be next thursday where I organized a group dinner for a bunch of us who have known each other since the first day, this will be at a famous restaurant here in town so cross fingers its worth it.
Nothing else besides homework and getting ready for final exams here. I do know my speaking has improved because people tell me all the time. Although I don't believe them a lot, they assure me that I speak like I have been here for a long time. So I got that going for me. Also it is quite funny to look back at my first videos to now and see the improvement. I have been watching baseball live on the internet and it is nice to finally see it again...even if I am jealous at the nice weather.
So time is winding down and I am becoming a little more busy with classes so I will try to keep these updated as much as I can. Thanks to those reading I appreciate it so much. Until later, Ciau from Chile.
This week has been eventful in Santiago. Sunday I went running...28 minutes only one one minute stop!! and when I got back the consierge told me that there was an emergency alert for Santiago. The 'contamination' smog in the air had reached a critical level that running was not suggested and people were recommended to stay home. I realized that something was different for when I was running, it was extra hard to breathe and now I know why! So as I have 8 runs left in 30 days I WANT to finish...working up to 5k...so I'll figure it out. Other than that type of exercising I have started to attend Yoga classes. You know after my body gets stretched out and feels so relaxed it is such a nice thing to do. So I try to exercise everyday..but Wednesday's those are my relax days!! Got to watch the great..bread and typical Chilean food for a bit...again b/c its summer back home!
Today I went horseback riding for 2 hours with a few girls and we had a picnic afterwards. It was a great day and so fun. The thing I know I will have withdrawals from is the view of the mountains. The sights I saw today were just breathtaking and I know I couldn't get a just picture. I am trying to do stuff every weekend to make the time count. Tomorrow I will be going to Ruby Tuesday's here in Santiago..to compare...and then to see the new Hangover movie. Should be an eventful night again. The next event will be next thursday where I organized a group dinner for a bunch of us who have known each other since the first day, this will be at a famous restaurant here in town so cross fingers its worth it.
Nothing else besides homework and getting ready for final exams here. I do know my speaking has improved because people tell me all the time. Although I don't believe them a lot, they assure me that I speak like I have been here for a long time. So I got that going for me. Also it is quite funny to look back at my first videos to now and see the improvement. I have been watching baseball live on the internet and it is nice to finally see it again...even if I am jealous at the nice weather.
So time is winding down and I am becoming a little more busy with classes so I will try to keep these updated as much as I can. Thanks to those reading I appreciate it so much. Until later, Ciau from Chile.
Monday, May 23, 2011
I can't breathe
So this has been the most frustrating last week or so...I HATE the post office and customs here in Chile. Thank you for holding on to my package for 3 weeks...then scanning it in to say it had arrived only when we started to search for it. As I am taking one summer class right now, the items in that package are very important to my class. The package has my textbooks for the class I am in right now and one that I start next week. Great so I have to reorder my books if they do not come this week. I have no option. Also to reorder and ship books here the fastest way possible...books that cost about $30...will cost me over $150 to get it here, if they don't get stuck in customs again.
This is the most frustrating thing ever. I can call and get told that my tracking number doesn't exist and that it is probably in customs and they can hold it however long they want. Oh and I think I have to pay if it ever arrives b/c it has been there so long. Seriously this is stressing me out and makes me miss just being home when I never had to worry about this nonsense. I hope it gets here soon but I am not going to hold my breath. With this it has ruined my mood and I do not feel like doing anything...studying or anything. Whats the point?
The title for this post comes from the air outside. This is a HUGE place and pollution is everywhere. This is the worst time of the year if someone wants to go running. Let me tell you it is so hard to breathe with all this smog and just bad stuf for the environment. And the other reason for the name is SMOKING! Wow back home I can pick where I want to go to avoid smoking, but here it is everywhere. KIDS...kids who are in school...like maybe 12 if that...smoke all the time. Outside of the school during the day and in front of so many people. But I don't think that it is a big situation here, but to me its disgusting that kids start so early, that I cannot go out at night without running into it or coming home smelling like it. Wow just wow.
Well if there was anything good that came out of this week or so was skydiving. I did this on Saturday and it was a blast. I still don't really know how to explain it, because it just takes time understanding what it was. I would highly recommend it to anyone...don't worry about screaming I did it quite loud and no one heard it.
But with classes going on a role now and these annoyances still here I am still passing the time here in Chile. I don't have much time left, and I hope that this HORRIBLE experience with my mail doesn't ruin my whole memory of my trip. Ahh so I am going to go and cook dinner and possible go to Yoga class to work off some anger.
Ciao
This is the most frustrating thing ever. I can call and get told that my tracking number doesn't exist and that it is probably in customs and they can hold it however long they want. Oh and I think I have to pay if it ever arrives b/c it has been there so long. Seriously this is stressing me out and makes me miss just being home when I never had to worry about this nonsense. I hope it gets here soon but I am not going to hold my breath. With this it has ruined my mood and I do not feel like doing anything...studying or anything. Whats the point?
The title for this post comes from the air outside. This is a HUGE place and pollution is everywhere. This is the worst time of the year if someone wants to go running. Let me tell you it is so hard to breathe with all this smog and just bad stuf for the environment. And the other reason for the name is SMOKING! Wow back home I can pick where I want to go to avoid smoking, but here it is everywhere. KIDS...kids who are in school...like maybe 12 if that...smoke all the time. Outside of the school during the day and in front of so many people. But I don't think that it is a big situation here, but to me its disgusting that kids start so early, that I cannot go out at night without running into it or coming home smelling like it. Wow just wow.
Well if there was anything good that came out of this week or so was skydiving. I did this on Saturday and it was a blast. I still don't really know how to explain it, because it just takes time understanding what it was. I would highly recommend it to anyone...don't worry about screaming I did it quite loud and no one heard it.
But with classes going on a role now and these annoyances still here I am still passing the time here in Chile. I don't have much time left, and I hope that this HORRIBLE experience with my mail doesn't ruin my whole memory of my trip. Ahh so I am going to go and cook dinner and possible go to Yoga class to work off some anger.
Ciao
Friday, May 13, 2011
Ooops...My bad
Oops is all I can say. With trying to stay busy, the website not working, and forgetting its been a while since my last post. It is almost the middle of May...what is that!! Wow time does fly when you are having fun...or when you want it to stop. I am actually not sure that a lot has gone on in the last two weeks besides normal school stuff. I did end up going to a festival that I mentioned in my last post and it was quite fun.
May day here was full of festivals of religion or the national dance. As I was at the fruit market that day I actually ran into the parade of the Cuasimodo festival in Santiago. This was the religious festival of the weekend. Also later that day I travelled on the metro tren to San Bernardo. At the San Bernardo plaza, community known for folklore, there was a large festival going on. There was no way that I could have gotten lost on the way from the metro tren to the plaza, but of course I made sure to ask someone to be certain, and the lady chatted with me to the plaza and was so sweet. There were probably thousands of people there and they were all participating, had participated, watching or getting ready to jump in. This was the festival of the Cueca Mil. Starting at midday on Saturday and continuing on Sunday until the goal was reached of 1000 Cuecas danced.
This dance is the national Chilean dance therefore pretty much everyone in Chile knows how to dance it. No I did not participate in the dance, because I do not know how to do it, but for my Culture class we had to interview people and investigate certain festivals and this is the one that I chose to do. I took many pictures, videos of people dancing. Now these people did not just dance in one area...too many people for that...but rather people danced anywhere and everywhere they could. The people that I actually interviewed began dancing right next to an ambulance...no pun...and did it because they love this dance. I learned a lot from the people I interviewed...and even received a little souvenior that I will have forever reminding me of this time.
Since this event nothing too amazing has happened...well i guess I did just buy myself a ticket for something that is going to be amazing...SKYDIVING. I am going next saturday at about 1:00 here (noon at home). I am super excited b/c it didn't work out in Argentina and I got it for a good price here!! So I have to go buy a ticket to take a bus there and then off I go!! I am super pumped and I am sure it is going to be a good time. Also this sunday I decided to have a good portion of my friends over to have breakfast for dinner. It is funny for those people who have never done that and think it is a strange idea. :) 20 people with french toast...eggs...and bacon..yummy and to have it followed with a movie.
I turned in my paper today about the Cueca mil....we are now playing instruments in class and it is fun to play trumpet again. I was supposed to have a debate two weeks ago...then this week and now I have to wait until next week. I just started one online class that I will be taking throughout the rest of my stay here in Chile. It is just the amount of time that I have left here so should go fast when I have something to do. I am starting my second online class at the end of this month.
So other than that...not much here..homework...trying to keep a schedule of running regularily...skipped this week...getting ready to feed 20 people and take my online classes. I have 7 weeks lefts and they are going fast. I would like to go visit a few places yet that I have not fully seen and to revist some of the other ones. But with that I am going to head and talk soon...hopefully it won't be so much time in between.
Ciau!!
May day here was full of festivals of religion or the national dance. As I was at the fruit market that day I actually ran into the parade of the Cuasimodo festival in Santiago. This was the religious festival of the weekend. Also later that day I travelled on the metro tren to San Bernardo. At the San Bernardo plaza, community known for folklore, there was a large festival going on. There was no way that I could have gotten lost on the way from the metro tren to the plaza, but of course I made sure to ask someone to be certain, and the lady chatted with me to the plaza and was so sweet. There were probably thousands of people there and they were all participating, had participated, watching or getting ready to jump in. This was the festival of the Cueca Mil. Starting at midday on Saturday and continuing on Sunday until the goal was reached of 1000 Cuecas danced.
This dance is the national Chilean dance therefore pretty much everyone in Chile knows how to dance it. No I did not participate in the dance, because I do not know how to do it, but for my Culture class we had to interview people and investigate certain festivals and this is the one that I chose to do. I took many pictures, videos of people dancing. Now these people did not just dance in one area...too many people for that...but rather people danced anywhere and everywhere they could. The people that I actually interviewed began dancing right next to an ambulance...no pun...and did it because they love this dance. I learned a lot from the people I interviewed...and even received a little souvenior that I will have forever reminding me of this time.
Since this event nothing too amazing has happened...well i guess I did just buy myself a ticket for something that is going to be amazing...SKYDIVING. I am going next saturday at about 1:00 here (noon at home). I am super excited b/c it didn't work out in Argentina and I got it for a good price here!! So I have to go buy a ticket to take a bus there and then off I go!! I am super pumped and I am sure it is going to be a good time. Also this sunday I decided to have a good portion of my friends over to have breakfast for dinner. It is funny for those people who have never done that and think it is a strange idea. :) 20 people with french toast...eggs...and bacon..yummy and to have it followed with a movie.
I turned in my paper today about the Cueca mil....we are now playing instruments in class and it is fun to play trumpet again. I was supposed to have a debate two weeks ago...then this week and now I have to wait until next week. I just started one online class that I will be taking throughout the rest of my stay here in Chile. It is just the amount of time that I have left here so should go fast when I have something to do. I am starting my second online class at the end of this month.
So other than that...not much here..homework...trying to keep a schedule of running regularily...skipped this week...getting ready to feed 20 people and take my online classes. I have 7 weeks lefts and they are going fast. I would like to go visit a few places yet that I have not fully seen and to revist some of the other ones. But with that I am going to head and talk soon...hopefully it won't be so much time in between.
Ciau!!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
¿Como Manejo?
My friends and I left for Mendoza Argentina last Thursday for the Easter holiday weekend. We left during the night to avoid the cost of staying in a hostel and we were planning on arriving in the early morning, but that is not what happened. We left Santiago at about 10:30 pm and we did not get to Mendoza unitl 10 the next morning. A 200km trip throught the mountains was a lot longer than anyone could have expected and the reason wasn't even bad...too many buses. We arrived at the border crossing at about 1AM, and we were told that we might as well get comfortable because we would not be getting through until at least 8AM!! What!?!!
This long, boring, cold wait was due to the Easter weekend. The amount of people that were crossing the border was very large. When we arrived there were 12 buses in front and 15 behind us. We waited for 5 hours at the border and finally got through and got to Mendoza at 10AM. When we got there we decided to walk around and get breakfast, but the town seemed like a ghost town...no one there. At this time of the morning there was almost no one on the streets and the stores were not open. We figured that it was due to it being Good Friday and that the shops would open on Saturday.We walked around Mendoza, had coffee, ice cream, chocolate, smoothies and finished the day off with an Argentinian steak. Lets just say the meat is great.
On Saturday we decided to do a wine and bike tour excursion and only had one small problem before we got to the vineyard....the vehicle broke down on the off ramp. I was so happy when I found the 'How am I driving' sticker on the van, priceless. 'Como Manejo' Of course this would happen to us and when we were actually close to the place, but we were not the only ones with problems. There were two other vehicles that broke down just down the ramp or on the side of the highway. Wow..it was quite an experience and just made the day more interesting. The vineyards were quite interesting the for the most part the wine tasted great.
Easter Sunday I sat in the hostal waiting for the skydiving company to pick me up...I had talked to them numerous times before and even the night before, but waited all day and they didn't come...Shitty. I had McDonalds for Easter dinner and we just hung out in the hostal. We were going to try to go out at night, but with the amount of food we ate and the fact that the people in Argentina don't go out until 3AM at the earliest there was no way. The trip was a success and on the way back the border only took about an hour. We went during the day and we able to see the Andes Mountains from the inside. The views were magnificent.
Spring semesters are over back home, graduations are approaching and I would like to wish all of them congratulations and good luck with the next step. Also have a great summer, I will be able to get in on the end of summer right after the 4th of July. I will be ready to see some familiar faces and it will be great. Today I am hopefully off to go see some festivals today, but we have to see how homework is going. I will be starting my summer classes in a week so here we go.
Ciao from Chile!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Exams/Pruebas/Quizzes
So as it is getting about that time for Finals back home I am just a little bit jealous! Just that they are almost done with school and summer is about to begin! I am not jealous for the amount of exams that my friends are having to take because here I am kind of lucky...barely any quizzes! I have only had 3 quizzes in total, but all were not the same as homes.
For my Culture class, obviously we learn about the culture of Easter Island and the people of Chile, but we also played a game similar to cats cradle. For our first quiz we had to choreograph a dance and incorporate our memorized songs and the game with the string. It was quite refreshing for a change in the style of our exams and I actually like it. We had to perform in front of the other half of our class, but we were all having a good time doing it that no one was embarrassed, but rather smiling the whole time. My next quiz in this class was like normal, paper quiz about the lecture material and the same for the quiz in my current event class. So it is not all that different here, but I like it when the teacher switches up the norm and brings in varied styles of assessments.
It is nice here. I am getting along with the people in my courses and I like all my classes, for the most part...literature not my fav. We have had a get together with the classmates a few times and it is good to get to know them as well. I plan on going to a futbol game here pretty soon. I have never actually experienced a soccer game before, one at DWU but no other, and I am excited. Futbol/Soccer is a major competitive sport in South America and about every country for that matter.
The major team in Santiago is the Colo-Colo team and I have heard that that team matched with the U of Chile is a pretty exciting game to watch. With all the fights and the crowd very aggressive it is a great atmosphere. Also thought I have heard to watch out cause there are those fans who absolutely do not like the other team so fan wear ahh is a sign of who is for what team, so I guess I will have to try to find something neutral. Some students from my current events class are talking about going and I will fore sure join them. I need to see what all this hype is about and hey if I like it I can spend my saturdays and sundays at the field!!
So as the semester is winding down back home, summer classes are about to start. I will be taking two courses online for the summer season. These two courses will help me finish a history minor without having to worry about fitting it into my full schedule when I return for the fall semester. One is through Black Hills State and the other through South Dakota State. The first class will begin in about 2 weeks and will be completed before I leave Santiago, so that is pretty good and the other will start at the end of May and go until August. Although that is pretty long I am going to work extra hard on these courses. I feel as though with having classes only about 1 full day a week, others only 1 a day, I have been slacking in my work ethic. I am used to having a full schedule and pushing myself, but here I have a lot of extra time so I have been taking advantage of it and not really completing what I have to do. So these extra courses will fill my free time and get me back in the swing of school.
I have about 10 weeks left here in Santiago. I cannot believe that the time has flown by so quickly and that by the end of this I will have completed so much. I went running this morning, after being sick for about 5-6 days and not running for a few days before that, and it was exhilirating. I went in the morning when there was not a lot of people, it was cool outside and it was pretty much me and Santiago. I am able to clear my head and just focus on myself when I go run. Later today I am going to go get a pedi and get pack for my Easter trip. I am going to Mendoza Argentina for la semana santa and will be back on monday. I hope that it is fun for all that are going.
Lastly I heard that my bf pitched a shutout last night and I couldn't be more proud of him. He pushes through obstacles and brought his team out of a long losing streak. He is pretty amazing and just wanted to give him props for that accomplishment. It is a little sad not seeing games live, but I try to stay updated through the internet and will be able to watch him play ball this summer when I get home. Go DWU!!
So with this until I get back from Mendoza...Happy Easter...good luck with egg hunts and be safe on this historical weekend. Ciao from Chile!!
For my Culture class, obviously we learn about the culture of Easter Island and the people of Chile, but we also played a game similar to cats cradle. For our first quiz we had to choreograph a dance and incorporate our memorized songs and the game with the string. It was quite refreshing for a change in the style of our exams and I actually like it. We had to perform in front of the other half of our class, but we were all having a good time doing it that no one was embarrassed, but rather smiling the whole time. My next quiz in this class was like normal, paper quiz about the lecture material and the same for the quiz in my current event class. So it is not all that different here, but I like it when the teacher switches up the norm and brings in varied styles of assessments.
It is nice here. I am getting along with the people in my courses and I like all my classes, for the most part...literature not my fav. We have had a get together with the classmates a few times and it is good to get to know them as well. I plan on going to a futbol game here pretty soon. I have never actually experienced a soccer game before, one at DWU but no other, and I am excited. Futbol/Soccer is a major competitive sport in South America and about every country for that matter.
The major team in Santiago is the Colo-Colo team and I have heard that that team matched with the U of Chile is a pretty exciting game to watch. With all the fights and the crowd very aggressive it is a great atmosphere. Also thought I have heard to watch out cause there are those fans who absolutely do not like the other team so fan wear ahh is a sign of who is for what team, so I guess I will have to try to find something neutral. Some students from my current events class are talking about going and I will fore sure join them. I need to see what all this hype is about and hey if I like it I can spend my saturdays and sundays at the field!!
So as the semester is winding down back home, summer classes are about to start. I will be taking two courses online for the summer season. These two courses will help me finish a history minor without having to worry about fitting it into my full schedule when I return for the fall semester. One is through Black Hills State and the other through South Dakota State. The first class will begin in about 2 weeks and will be completed before I leave Santiago, so that is pretty good and the other will start at the end of May and go until August. Although that is pretty long I am going to work extra hard on these courses. I feel as though with having classes only about 1 full day a week, others only 1 a day, I have been slacking in my work ethic. I am used to having a full schedule and pushing myself, but here I have a lot of extra time so I have been taking advantage of it and not really completing what I have to do. So these extra courses will fill my free time and get me back in the swing of school.
I have about 10 weeks left here in Santiago. I cannot believe that the time has flown by so quickly and that by the end of this I will have completed so much. I went running this morning, after being sick for about 5-6 days and not running for a few days before that, and it was exhilirating. I went in the morning when there was not a lot of people, it was cool outside and it was pretty much me and Santiago. I am able to clear my head and just focus on myself when I go run. Later today I am going to go get a pedi and get pack for my Easter trip. I am going to Mendoza Argentina for la semana santa and will be back on monday. I hope that it is fun for all that are going.
Lastly I heard that my bf pitched a shutout last night and I couldn't be more proud of him. He pushes through obstacles and brought his team out of a long losing streak. He is pretty amazing and just wanted to give him props for that accomplishment. It is a little sad not seeing games live, but I try to stay updated through the internet and will be able to watch him play ball this summer when I get home. Go DWU!!
So with this until I get back from Mendoza...Happy Easter...good luck with egg hunts and be safe on this historical weekend. Ciao from Chile!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Terremoto Reconstruction
This last weekend, I spontaneously joined a volunteer group and headed to the region of Pullay, south of Santiago about 8 hours. We were there to help reconstruct houses for those that were affected and victims by the earthquake of 2010. This region lied on the coast of Chile, so it also had some Maremoto...Tsunami damage as well. We left around 5 on Friday and we returned at about 2am Monday morning.
This trip was actually quite fun. I did know a few people that were going, girls from Denmark, a girl from Switzerland and a guy from Brazil. These were people from my intensive month class that I took in January. There were a lot of people travelling or also on exchange programs and a lot from Spain. Also I did get to meet 3 other people that were from the States.
We set up our tents when we got there...and all cuddled together for a cool evening before our first day of work. Umm it is a little cold at night in those tents...ahh dang, but I am alive and so it is ok. Saturday morning up at 8:30 am to get some grub. We made a bonfire and has some toast, with cheese, butter or manjar. It was good enough and then we got started on our work. These houses are similar to the adobe style houses of the Native Americans. So we made the material out of things that you can pretty much find anywhere so it kept the costs low for the team. We mixed dirt/soil with some sand mix and flour/water mix and straw. It was quite comical to watch the people mix this 'barro' and some who fell into it!
We then had fun where we would literally throw the barro at the walls of the house and then smooth them into the previous layer. It was fun when you can throw stuff at a wall and that is actually what you are supposed to be doing. We did 4 sides of 4 houses in the 2 days we were there. We got to visit the beach...a long way uphill on the return :(...and I saw black sandy beaches. It was so serene out there and I loved it. Water is such powerful thing that I do not underestimate it. Also there was an asado--BBQ with a bunch of meat and just some chit-chatting! Practicing my spanish was a goal this weekend and I believe that I did a fair amount of it. Also the fun part is that we all had fun doing this job, we would laugh, get each other more dirty than the inevitable and belted out songs...baby got back could we say ahaha.
I had a good weekend, and it was nice to do something for people who were affected by this natural disaster. One of the families, whose house was one of the 4, made us lunch the two days, helped a bit, and just watched us do our work. But again it is a good feeling to be doing something for others and not receive anything in return. Love it!!
This trip was actually quite fun. I did know a few people that were going, girls from Denmark, a girl from Switzerland and a guy from Brazil. These were people from my intensive month class that I took in January. There were a lot of people travelling or also on exchange programs and a lot from Spain. Also I did get to meet 3 other people that were from the States.
We set up our tents when we got there...and all cuddled together for a cool evening before our first day of work. Umm it is a little cold at night in those tents...ahh dang, but I am alive and so it is ok. Saturday morning up at 8:30 am to get some grub. We made a bonfire and has some toast, with cheese, butter or manjar. It was good enough and then we got started on our work. These houses are similar to the adobe style houses of the Native Americans. So we made the material out of things that you can pretty much find anywhere so it kept the costs low for the team. We mixed dirt/soil with some sand mix and flour/water mix and straw. It was quite comical to watch the people mix this 'barro' and some who fell into it!
We then had fun where we would literally throw the barro at the walls of the house and then smooth them into the previous layer. It was fun when you can throw stuff at a wall and that is actually what you are supposed to be doing. We did 4 sides of 4 houses in the 2 days we were there. We got to visit the beach...a long way uphill on the return :(...and I saw black sandy beaches. It was so serene out there and I loved it. Water is such powerful thing that I do not underestimate it. Also there was an asado--BBQ with a bunch of meat and just some chit-chatting! Practicing my spanish was a goal this weekend and I believe that I did a fair amount of it. Also the fun part is that we all had fun doing this job, we would laugh, get each other more dirty than the inevitable and belted out songs...baby got back could we say ahaha.
I had a good weekend, and it was nice to do something for people who were affected by this natural disaster. One of the families, whose house was one of the 4, made us lunch the two days, helped a bit, and just watched us do our work. But again it is a good feeling to be doing something for others and not receive anything in return. Love it!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Taxi...Taxi
Hey everyone. I am writing again and I am sorry if I have been slacking, but once I don't do something that I have gotten into a routine it is easy to forget about it. But I will have to get back into a routine of talking about Santiago!!
Last night I went to After Office. It is a place where the people go after working in the office. So if you want to go somewhere were you are going to have to dress up, After Office is the place to go. Sadly eventhough it was the Birthday of the place, we still had to pay to get in, but we received a free drink so it was the same as getting in free and paying for a drink. :) but it is a place where we can dance all night and have a blast. It is only open until 1:30 so it is nice, cause most of the time I don't like to stay out late, so its perfect especially when I go with people that live by me too cause then it is easy to get home.
So that is where the taxis come in! When we go out at night, sometimes we take the metro to the club, but it closes at 11 so we have to usually take taxis home if it is a ways from where we live. But one needs to be careful when they take taxis here!! If someone speaks with an different accent than Chilean it is easy to see that the person is not a Chilean native. Here is where the drivers get a little sketchy.
I had a problem one night leaving a friends house and I just think that I said the directions wrong or he couldn't understand me, but after about 4 maybe 5 blocks at the most my taxi meter was already up to $7.000!! that is like $14 USD. It was outrageous, but I was by myself and it was late at night, so I just stayed in the taxi and finally got out...threw the money at him, cause didn't know what would happen if I didn't pay him and started walking down a street by myself. At least I knew what street I was on...but I hailed another cab and was scared to get in and say directions, b/c I didn't want a repeat. But got in told him, and when he would do the slightest thing that I thought was out of the norm...having his blinker on like turning down a street I KNEW that we didn't need to go I freaked out. But he was a good driver. I told him what happened and he was disgusted. I got home safe, was a little shook up and just relieved that nothing happened to me.
But I strongly suggest not taking a taxi by oneself. Its just so easy to be distinguished as a foreigner here, that people try to take advantage of you. So usually I like to go with at least one other person which is pretty good, but what scares me the most is they can still jack the meter, because one guy did it by the touch of a hidden button, and they will do it if they hear English. Another night with 3 other girls in the cab, the meter just climbed and was double than what it should be, but again we were all speaking English. So when I get in a cab I prefer to not talk, or speak Spanish. I try to not feel so out of place like normally which I admit is quite hard.
So either negotiate the price before hand or clearly state your directions before getting in the cab. But during night never take one by yourself, especially being a female. Chile is quite safe for the most part, but then again it is a city of about 6 million people so it wouldn't be strange if something happened to a person one time.
But here as you listen to me it sounds like I am disgusted with Chile and saying all the negative things about it, and by thinking all these things is what gets me worked up all the time. I need to trust myself with my level of spanish and if I only think about the bad things I am never going to have fun. It is just like any other bigger city that I have been too, there is an amount of crime everywhere, but if I just dwell on that nothing is going to be accomplished.
So with this I just need to have a more open mind, travel smart and trust my instincts.
Ciau de Chile
Last night I went to After Office. It is a place where the people go after working in the office. So if you want to go somewhere were you are going to have to dress up, After Office is the place to go. Sadly eventhough it was the Birthday of the place, we still had to pay to get in, but we received a free drink so it was the same as getting in free and paying for a drink. :) but it is a place where we can dance all night and have a blast. It is only open until 1:30 so it is nice, cause most of the time I don't like to stay out late, so its perfect especially when I go with people that live by me too cause then it is easy to get home.
So that is where the taxis come in! When we go out at night, sometimes we take the metro to the club, but it closes at 11 so we have to usually take taxis home if it is a ways from where we live. But one needs to be careful when they take taxis here!! If someone speaks with an different accent than Chilean it is easy to see that the person is not a Chilean native. Here is where the drivers get a little sketchy.
I had a problem one night leaving a friends house and I just think that I said the directions wrong or he couldn't understand me, but after about 4 maybe 5 blocks at the most my taxi meter was already up to $7.000!! that is like $14 USD. It was outrageous, but I was by myself and it was late at night, so I just stayed in the taxi and finally got out...threw the money at him, cause didn't know what would happen if I didn't pay him and started walking down a street by myself. At least I knew what street I was on...but I hailed another cab and was scared to get in and say directions, b/c I didn't want a repeat. But got in told him, and when he would do the slightest thing that I thought was out of the norm...having his blinker on like turning down a street I KNEW that we didn't need to go I freaked out. But he was a good driver. I told him what happened and he was disgusted. I got home safe, was a little shook up and just relieved that nothing happened to me.
But I strongly suggest not taking a taxi by oneself. Its just so easy to be distinguished as a foreigner here, that people try to take advantage of you. So usually I like to go with at least one other person which is pretty good, but what scares me the most is they can still jack the meter, because one guy did it by the touch of a hidden button, and they will do it if they hear English. Another night with 3 other girls in the cab, the meter just climbed and was double than what it should be, but again we were all speaking English. So when I get in a cab I prefer to not talk, or speak Spanish. I try to not feel so out of place like normally which I admit is quite hard.
So either negotiate the price before hand or clearly state your directions before getting in the cab. But during night never take one by yourself, especially being a female. Chile is quite safe for the most part, but then again it is a city of about 6 million people so it wouldn't be strange if something happened to a person one time.
But here as you listen to me it sounds like I am disgusted with Chile and saying all the negative things about it, and by thinking all these things is what gets me worked up all the time. I need to trust myself with my level of spanish and if I only think about the bad things I am never going to have fun. It is just like any other bigger city that I have been too, there is an amount of crime everywhere, but if I just dwell on that nothing is going to be accomplished.
So with this I just need to have a more open mind, travel smart and trust my instincts.
Ciau de Chile
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Ice Cream!
Oh my goodness...let me tell you that I love ice cream! I think it doesn't help that I have a boyfriend who loves it too...and it kind of rubs off on me. But he isn't here with me and yet everyday last week I ate ice cream....even when I didn't have it I went and bought it...wowowow. But the thing is there is a place here called Bravissimo and holy man it is full of ice cream...I mean I am sure that there are other places but I have only tried this one out.
So this is a little weakness for me when I open the freezer and see Lucuma flavored ice cream. Now Lucuma is a fruit that looks like an avocado and oh my goodness is it tasty. So as you can see I have a little bit of an addiction to ice cream lately and holy crap it is hard to go cold turkey on it, I mean who can turn down a side of french fries with ice cream!?
But with that...the last few weeks have not been too exciting beyond regular duties of classwork and chillaxing. Actually tonight I watched a movie with my roommates, I love you, Man, and oh my some slang words like chillaxin and ridonculous came up...and it was funny to hear that my roommates asked me what they meant. Some slang words just don't make sense to others. :) I have a few projects that I am doing for my classes including biographias about 2 arquitects/historical people and reading for literature.
I hope that soon I will get back to a theme blog...but when I put it off it seems more easier to forget it so I will make it my goal this week to write another blog before the weekend, and NO Ice Cream this week...just finished mine in the freezer! Workout time tomorrow
Ciau
So this is a little weakness for me when I open the freezer and see Lucuma flavored ice cream. Now Lucuma is a fruit that looks like an avocado and oh my goodness is it tasty. So as you can see I have a little bit of an addiction to ice cream lately and holy crap it is hard to go cold turkey on it, I mean who can turn down a side of french fries with ice cream!?
But with that...the last few weeks have not been too exciting beyond regular duties of classwork and chillaxing. Actually tonight I watched a movie with my roommates, I love you, Man, and oh my some slang words like chillaxin and ridonculous came up...and it was funny to hear that my roommates asked me what they meant. Some slang words just don't make sense to others. :) I have a few projects that I am doing for my classes including biographias about 2 arquitects/historical people and reading for literature.
I hope that soon I will get back to a theme blog...but when I put it off it seems more easier to forget it so I will make it my goal this week to write another blog before the weekend, and NO Ice Cream this week...just finished mine in the freezer! Workout time tomorrow
Ciau
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Oops
Well it seems that I am getting worse at this...ahh don't stop now. I just keep forgetting and putting it off and that is why I can't really keep up with these things but we will make it work.
This week was ok...classes went better this week, except for my literature class. I had a hard time understanding the teacher but other than that ok...I do have quite a lot of free time, so these next few months I am going to need to find stuff to fill my time. But we had a few dinners this week for friends and had a little house warming fiesta...so there have been a few things to do this week.
I have recently gotten a little annoyed when people in my house....tell me oh what you are doing is costing us too much money. I am sorry but I reserved this place with all the stuff included for a set price, and if I have to wash my dishes in cold water and leave them not clean no thank you. It is getting a little annoying. Oh hey don't do that cause it is expensive, or that beacuse it costs us too much money. Well fine then I won't do a damn thing more...You can wash all my dishes and do everything else for me since I can't do it right.
Fed up with that...gee way to make my trip fun...now is the time when I am ready to be done with it and just go back to what I am used to. Starting now.
This week was ok...classes went better this week, except for my literature class. I had a hard time understanding the teacher but other than that ok...I do have quite a lot of free time, so these next few months I am going to need to find stuff to fill my time. But we had a few dinners this week for friends and had a little house warming fiesta...so there have been a few things to do this week.
I have recently gotten a little annoyed when people in my house....tell me oh what you are doing is costing us too much money. I am sorry but I reserved this place with all the stuff included for a set price, and if I have to wash my dishes in cold water and leave them not clean no thank you. It is getting a little annoying. Oh hey don't do that cause it is expensive, or that beacuse it costs us too much money. Well fine then I won't do a damn thing more...You can wash all my dishes and do everything else for me since I can't do it right.
Fed up with that...gee way to make my trip fun...now is the time when I am ready to be done with it and just go back to what I am used to. Starting now.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Religion
Well yesterday and today I went to the Templo de Maipu. This weekend was filled with religious festivals of dancing and worshipping. My friend and I have an assignment for our class where we had to interview people that are involved in these festivals. That was the easy part and was nice to learn a little about the other parts of Chile.
Yesterday I went to Isla Negra as a trip with our university and our first stop was the Templo de Maipu. We watch some of the ceremonial dances and then walked around in the museum that is on the side of the Templo. We just saw a lot of artifacts from the 19th Century and toured it for a little bit.
That was about the whole experience at the Templo de Maipu...ironically I saw a group of dancers that had headdresses and Native American symbols and on the back of their shirts said Dakota. So that was cool seeing that the religion and teachings of the Dakota people in our area back home are spread literally across the world. But unfortunately my camera died and I was not able to take a picture.
But with all this adventuring through the metro to the Templo and the Isla I am worn out and have to go make some videos before I crash. So this week is like actual classes begin...second week...so it should be a little more busy here soon. Until then...
Chau
Yesterday I went to Isla Negra as a trip with our university and our first stop was the Templo de Maipu. We watch some of the ceremonial dances and then walked around in the museum that is on the side of the Templo. We just saw a lot of artifacts from the 19th Century and toured it for a little bit.
That was about the whole experience at the Templo de Maipu...ironically I saw a group of dancers that had headdresses and Native American symbols and on the back of their shirts said Dakota. So that was cool seeing that the religion and teachings of the Dakota people in our area back home are spread literally across the world. But unfortunately my camera died and I was not able to take a picture.
But with all this adventuring through the metro to the Templo and the Isla I am worn out and have to go make some videos before I crash. So this week is like actual classes begin...second week...so it should be a little more busy here soon. Until then...
Chau
Saturday, March 12, 2011
First day of School
Well a little late...but will get into that later :)
First day of class. Wow I felt like I was in high school again and starting off at a new school without knowing anybody, but at least in a high school were everyone spoke English. It is a little difficult to walk up to a group of people and start a conversation in a language that you are still learning.
Getting to where my first class was a doozy. I was sent a mail that told me a list of classes at one site, but when I went there they told me it was at a different site. So then I get there trying to find what room my class is and with 30 minutes to kill before it starts. Yay. So as I sit there on the bench alone, I definitely remember the first days at new schools when I was younger.
The halls are filled with students at the school of architecture. But normally like first days it is all freshman and what appears to me that I am the only intercambio, especially the only one from the states and my native language as English. Boy do I have my first day cut out for me.
I am still out of the circle on when one of my classes is. It is at a nother site, but I don't know what day and what time. So however long this class takes I get to go there after and figure this out. But why me? Why can't the professor do it like he said, the director, or any other person? It is just a little annoying when I got to do these things all the time.
Well better get ready to see how this first class goes. While in a different language and I am sure I am going to hate the first day. How am I going to get at least a 5.0 (C ish) in this course if I can't understand the teacher? How am I going to pass and not have to take my exams, so I can do what I want and then go home earlier than planned but with finishing what iI can afford to do here? Lets go and try not to appear as American/White/Foreign as everyone else sees me.
Here goes Nothing.
This is what I wrote in my notebook while I waited for my class the other day. Wednesday was my first day of classes. My first class the teacher was 1 hour late, as me and some girls, whom I was conversing with, left the teacher showed up. Then I did finally find out when my other class was, but it happened to end the same time as my other class was supposed to start 20-25 minutes away. So had to go change everything yesterday but finally have things figured out.
Schedule is very nice! Classes only Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 3 on Wed...two 20 minutes apart and 20 min travelling apart, but here in Chile nothing starts on time...NOTHING, and Th. and Fr. I have the same 1 class, 1.5 hours thurs. and 3 hours, starting at 8 am, on friday. But I don't care about the length, because in this class, we dance and sing!! How awesome!
But Friday that 8 am class was rough. See I had went to the Shakira concert the night before and my body was tired from going out Wednesday night, After Office--club open until 1:30 and just dancing..awesome--, and then Thursday night. But I slept almost the whole day on Friday after I finalized everything for the semester kind of and today went on a field trip.
So tomorrow I will talk about what we did today and I will be going back to the Templo de Maipu, so will write about that. But so that is the last few days...and my first day of class...now got to see how it will go for the two classes I didn't go to on wednesday cause they were back to back...but its nice class is once a week!!!
Chau de Chile
First day of class. Wow I felt like I was in high school again and starting off at a new school without knowing anybody, but at least in a high school were everyone spoke English. It is a little difficult to walk up to a group of people and start a conversation in a language that you are still learning.
Getting to where my first class was a doozy. I was sent a mail that told me a list of classes at one site, but when I went there they told me it was at a different site. So then I get there trying to find what room my class is and with 30 minutes to kill before it starts. Yay. So as I sit there on the bench alone, I definitely remember the first days at new schools when I was younger.
The halls are filled with students at the school of architecture. But normally like first days it is all freshman and what appears to me that I am the only intercambio, especially the only one from the states and my native language as English. Boy do I have my first day cut out for me.
I am still out of the circle on when one of my classes is. It is at a nother site, but I don't know what day and what time. So however long this class takes I get to go there after and figure this out. But why me? Why can't the professor do it like he said, the director, or any other person? It is just a little annoying when I got to do these things all the time.
Well better get ready to see how this first class goes. While in a different language and I am sure I am going to hate the first day. How am I going to get at least a 5.0 (C ish) in this course if I can't understand the teacher? How am I going to pass and not have to take my exams, so I can do what I want and then go home earlier than planned but with finishing what iI can afford to do here? Lets go and try not to appear as American/White/Foreign as everyone else sees me.
Here goes Nothing.
This is what I wrote in my notebook while I waited for my class the other day. Wednesday was my first day of classes. My first class the teacher was 1 hour late, as me and some girls, whom I was conversing with, left the teacher showed up. Then I did finally find out when my other class was, but it happened to end the same time as my other class was supposed to start 20-25 minutes away. So had to go change everything yesterday but finally have things figured out.
Schedule is very nice! Classes only Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 3 on Wed...two 20 minutes apart and 20 min travelling apart, but here in Chile nothing starts on time...NOTHING, and Th. and Fr. I have the same 1 class, 1.5 hours thurs. and 3 hours, starting at 8 am, on friday. But I don't care about the length, because in this class, we dance and sing!! How awesome!
But Friday that 8 am class was rough. See I had went to the Shakira concert the night before and my body was tired from going out Wednesday night, After Office--club open until 1:30 and just dancing..awesome--, and then Thursday night. But I slept almost the whole day on Friday after I finalized everything for the semester kind of and today went on a field trip.
So tomorrow I will talk about what we did today and I will be going back to the Templo de Maipu, so will write about that. But so that is the last few days...and my first day of class...now got to see how it will go for the two classes I didn't go to on wednesday cause they were back to back...but its nice class is once a week!!!
Chau de Chile
Monday, March 7, 2011
Let it Begin
Well classes are about to start here in Santiago for me. Many people have already been at class but mine doesn't start until Wednesday. I had a meeting with my profesor when I returned last Friday. We talked about my classes that i will be taking and what site they are at. Actually as of now I have my 4 classes at 4 different sites, so that pretty much means that I will be getting to see a lot of Santiago on the way to classes.
La Serena was beautiful and it was just nice to relax and spend time away from the city. Also the tan I got is not that bad either. :) Now that I am back in Santiago it is time to get myself ready for the school year and start saving my money rather than spending it on who knows what. But I have done pretty good I think so just got to keep going on that. But unlike other countries in South America, Chile is not the cheapest country. So as the USD continues to go down the costs here are a little more than would like. But its hard because I am not working and so I don't have a monthly income, but I think that all will be fine.
It is now Spring Break at home, which means that Baseball season is starting. Sadly in Chile baseball is not as popular as 'futbol', soccer, and so I will be missing my man's whole season and most of the twins...how depressing. Reading the stats/outcomes is not as good as watching it in person. But that is what I am going to do as soon as I get home.
So all in all not much going on until the later part of the week. Hope the weather is looking up for you all and that these continue to interest you. Let me know if there are any questions about Santiago or if someone wants to see something I can post pictures as well.
Ciao
La Serena was beautiful and it was just nice to relax and spend time away from the city. Also the tan I got is not that bad either. :) Now that I am back in Santiago it is time to get myself ready for the school year and start saving my money rather than spending it on who knows what. But I have done pretty good I think so just got to keep going on that. But unlike other countries in South America, Chile is not the cheapest country. So as the USD continues to go down the costs here are a little more than would like. But its hard because I am not working and so I don't have a monthly income, but I think that all will be fine.
It is now Spring Break at home, which means that Baseball season is starting. Sadly in Chile baseball is not as popular as 'futbol', soccer, and so I will be missing my man's whole season and most of the twins...how depressing. Reading the stats/outcomes is not as good as watching it in person. But that is what I am going to do as soon as I get home.
So all in all not much going on until the later part of the week. Hope the weather is looking up for you all and that these continue to interest you. Let me know if there are any questions about Santiago or if someone wants to see something I can post pictures as well.
Ciao
Sunday, February 27, 2011
What? Can you repeat that please.
So as you who is reading this knows...I am here in Chile for a semester abroad. While here I am studying Spanish and getting to know the Chilean culture while I am at it. But getting to know all the different modismos from Chile I am having a fun time ordering things and asking questions in stores.
I am pretty sure that there is not more than one day gap when I don't get asked where I am from. It is definitely a let down when I feel as though I am not able to communicate and I have already been here for a sufficient amount of time. The fact that I do speak quite a lot of English is what is getting me. It is so comfortable that it is hard to throw away. Also when alone with friends it is more easy to do it also. But these are the things that get to me quite often. I am here to learn Spanish and all I speak is English. So when I get the chance to walk around alone or with a few people and have to talk to spanish speakers I like it. It gives me the opportunity to practice.
Like when we go to the grocery store, the cashier asks if you have like a card....to put like points on (how much you spend)...and we say no...then when you don't know where something is you need to ask people and they don't speak English. So it is an experience. Cuanto vale...cuanto cuesta...donde esta...those are the key phrases that are used. But yes when I go into a store my idea is to speak spanish...and when they speak English it is kind of a let down saying...oh well this is easier so I should do it. As for getting asked where I am from that happens everytime I get starbucks, buy a book, go to the tourist office and much other stuff.
But the fact that I am slowly getting used to the questions is ok and by the time I am done this will all be worth it. Coming to a different country has its purpose, mine is to study the language. Also when we are girls walking in towns that are in different countries then our home ones...English is a sign to those that live there that we are foreigners...and that kind of scares me. I don't want to stick out more than I do without doing anything...so it must be changed. We will see.
Ciao from La Serena Chile
Kim
I am pretty sure that there is not more than one day gap when I don't get asked where I am from. It is definitely a let down when I feel as though I am not able to communicate and I have already been here for a sufficient amount of time. The fact that I do speak quite a lot of English is what is getting me. It is so comfortable that it is hard to throw away. Also when alone with friends it is more easy to do it also. But these are the things that get to me quite often. I am here to learn Spanish and all I speak is English. So when I get the chance to walk around alone or with a few people and have to talk to spanish speakers I like it. It gives me the opportunity to practice.
Like when we go to the grocery store, the cashier asks if you have like a card....to put like points on (how much you spend)...and we say no...then when you don't know where something is you need to ask people and they don't speak English. So it is an experience. Cuanto vale...cuanto cuesta...donde esta...those are the key phrases that are used. But yes when I go into a store my idea is to speak spanish...and when they speak English it is kind of a let down saying...oh well this is easier so I should do it. As for getting asked where I am from that happens everytime I get starbucks, buy a book, go to the tourist office and much other stuff.
But the fact that I am slowly getting used to the questions is ok and by the time I am done this will all be worth it. Coming to a different country has its purpose, mine is to study the language. Also when we are girls walking in towns that are in different countries then our home ones...English is a sign to those that live there that we are foreigners...and that kind of scares me. I don't want to stick out more than I do without doing anything...so it must be changed. We will see.
Ciao from La Serena Chile
Kim
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Penguins in the Sun?
Well I have been slacking a little bit on this but the last week I actually did something everyday, so therefore was busy. ;) We finished our spanish course one week ago on Friday and we had a nice little going away fiesta, with cocktails and hours derves....not juice and make your own sandwiches. But it was fun to have accomplished something already, having been in Chile for one month already and feeling pretty accustomed to. So when I moved into my new apartment it was not too hard to say goodbye to my family, because they live about 25 minutes away and I know my way back home.
At the end of last week I completed the course, went to Cerro San Cristobal with one of my friends, went to Bravissimo...amazing ice cream, moved into my place, went shopping, and somewhere in the mix we had a Sex and the City movie night and catching up on some good old Biggest Loser. Other than that...I have had a seminar for the new extranjeros, exchange students, at our University. We spent time going through presentations, the advice on what to do and not to do in Santiago, along with getting to know a few new people, outside our intensive spanish course group. I have meet two girls from Mexico and they are very sweet, Ana and Beatriz.
This past friday, yesterday, my friend Colleen and I came to La Serena where we will spend the next 5 days. We arrived this morning at about 6:50, waited for our hostal to open, had a breakfast, put luggage away because rooms weren't done, so we decided to walk around to kill time. As we started walking towards the center we decided to head down to the beach, 20-25 minute walk from our hostal. As we retraced our steps we found ourselves in the mix of about grand total of 8 stray dogs. After hearing the stories of our classmates and their bad run in with dogs and that these dogs were kind of sketchy, it creeped me out. I mean I freaking love dogs...miss my Dozey...but these ones I was soooo not fond of. Well they followed us for so long...almost got rid of them twice...but still had a few dogs now and then. After we finally escaped them and went to the grocery store we returned to our hostal to eat some sannies and rest before heading back to the beach.
The beach was gorgeous. It was nice and warm there and hopefully got a tan. Met some new flatmates in our hostal, who are travelling/working around the world. It has been a relaxing day and tomorrow we are going to head out and sight see/ few things to buy and get our excursions ready for this week. I believe that we are going to Isla Damas---AKA---PENGUINOS...on monday or so, and then going to tour the Elqui Valley, where the famous Pisco is brewed.
Other than these few excursions we are just relaxing before we go back to Santiago and begin our semester here. We have meetings with our tutors, who I will be corresponding with via email, about our classes and just getting ready to start a school year here in Santiago. I will hopefully try to write tomorrow about daily activities...suggestion was what happens when I go to a store? Do I speak Spanish? That and some more.
Until later...and sometime spent at the beach
Ciao de Chile
At the end of last week I completed the course, went to Cerro San Cristobal with one of my friends, went to Bravissimo...amazing ice cream, moved into my place, went shopping, and somewhere in the mix we had a Sex and the City movie night and catching up on some good old Biggest Loser. Other than that...I have had a seminar for the new extranjeros, exchange students, at our University. We spent time going through presentations, the advice on what to do and not to do in Santiago, along with getting to know a few new people, outside our intensive spanish course group. I have meet two girls from Mexico and they are very sweet, Ana and Beatriz.
This past friday, yesterday, my friend Colleen and I came to La Serena where we will spend the next 5 days. We arrived this morning at about 6:50, waited for our hostal to open, had a breakfast, put luggage away because rooms weren't done, so we decided to walk around to kill time. As we started walking towards the center we decided to head down to the beach, 20-25 minute walk from our hostal. As we retraced our steps we found ourselves in the mix of about grand total of 8 stray dogs. After hearing the stories of our classmates and their bad run in with dogs and that these dogs were kind of sketchy, it creeped me out. I mean I freaking love dogs...miss my Dozey...but these ones I was soooo not fond of. Well they followed us for so long...almost got rid of them twice...but still had a few dogs now and then. After we finally escaped them and went to the grocery store we returned to our hostal to eat some sannies and rest before heading back to the beach.
The beach was gorgeous. It was nice and warm there and hopefully got a tan. Met some new flatmates in our hostal, who are travelling/working around the world. It has been a relaxing day and tomorrow we are going to head out and sight see/ few things to buy and get our excursions ready for this week. I believe that we are going to Isla Damas---AKA---PENGUINOS...on monday or so, and then going to tour the Elqui Valley, where the famous Pisco is brewed.
Other than these few excursions we are just relaxing before we go back to Santiago and begin our semester here. We have meetings with our tutors, who I will be corresponding with via email, about our classes and just getting ready to start a school year here in Santiago. I will hopefully try to write tomorrow about daily activities...suggestion was what happens when I go to a store? Do I speak Spanish? That and some more.
Until later...and sometime spent at the beach
Ciao de Chile
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Boring?
Ahh now this seems to be the hard part of the trip. Seems like I have gotten adjusted for the most part here and have gone through most of the first great impressions of Chile, but what do I do now. After having talked about my trip and what I have done so far, it seems like I have nothing left to say. I don't know how many times I can talk about the same thing, which is very interesting, but feel as though there is so much to do and why am I in a rut. Every couple days I talk to someone from home, but feel as though my daily routine gets quite uneventful, when not sightseeing, and there is not much new information to share. But also there is nothing new from back home. Ahh this is the hard part, how to you keep talking and incorporating new topics into conversation while continuing on a daily routine? Because I can't go out to new sights everyday, because then there will be nothing left to see for the first time, or look forward to. So what now. How do people do it everyday when we do it every couple days to once a week and still come up empty-handed?
That doesn't keep me from experiencing Santiago, but just unsure of what to share, when to share it and when to stop and start anew. I know that my next trip, next Friday (26), my friend and I will be in La Serena for 6 days to relax and pretty much do nothing. This trip is exciting because of the things that it has to offer: beach, observatory, japanese garden, and PENGUINS. This way with pictures and memories I will be able to talk for a few times about different things. I just get so excited that I want to share everything. But I would like to know if a person gets bored of hearing of my adventures while they do the same thing all the time; listening while I experience the world and they stay home.
Its just a little hard thinking about this a few times more than I should. I have been homesick a few times and return to be a little each time I talk to someone from home. But I would be worse if I never had gone on this trip, because I would be thinking that I need to do something with my life but what. There is a lot to do here, but I haven't found many things that are to my liking to do each day. I need to be filling my time up with activities that distract me from these thoughts and keep my intrigued here. I move into my apartment on monday and will be able to set my own schedule and be able to do things without worrying about a certain time to return, not that it is a big problem now, and just do whatever whenever.
This move will be a good change, because I will be with students who hopefully speak spanish at home which will help me so much. If I want to be the best at Spanish to teach it, but only speak english here for the most part, let me say that the improvements are coming a lot slower than expected. My main reason was to come here to study, learn, speak and live Spanish and I have yet to do all of those things or most at one time. If I can acheive that, wow I think I will be set.
This next trip will get me out of the city and into another city, but WAY smaller: 6.1 million vs. ~160,000: and nothing but a calm and relaxing atmosphere,like the country. Being free to do nothing, kind of what I do here, and be near the beach, sun and much more is going to improve my mood so much!!! I just like having time to myself, space to myself, and being able to just think or not think about everything on my own.
So there are things yet to see, but I want to take my time to enjoy the moment, but still find stuff to fill my time and distract some of these things called, emotions. This is the best thing for me now and that is what I need to think about. So action and excitement need to come my way...so what you say Chile?
Ciao de Chile
That doesn't keep me from experiencing Santiago, but just unsure of what to share, when to share it and when to stop and start anew. I know that my next trip, next Friday (26), my friend and I will be in La Serena for 6 days to relax and pretty much do nothing. This trip is exciting because of the things that it has to offer: beach, observatory, japanese garden, and PENGUINS. This way with pictures and memories I will be able to talk for a few times about different things. I just get so excited that I want to share everything. But I would like to know if a person gets bored of hearing of my adventures while they do the same thing all the time; listening while I experience the world and they stay home.
Its just a little hard thinking about this a few times more than I should. I have been homesick a few times and return to be a little each time I talk to someone from home. But I would be worse if I never had gone on this trip, because I would be thinking that I need to do something with my life but what. There is a lot to do here, but I haven't found many things that are to my liking to do each day. I need to be filling my time up with activities that distract me from these thoughts and keep my intrigued here. I move into my apartment on monday and will be able to set my own schedule and be able to do things without worrying about a certain time to return, not that it is a big problem now, and just do whatever whenever.
This move will be a good change, because I will be with students who hopefully speak spanish at home which will help me so much. If I want to be the best at Spanish to teach it, but only speak english here for the most part, let me say that the improvements are coming a lot slower than expected. My main reason was to come here to study, learn, speak and live Spanish and I have yet to do all of those things or most at one time. If I can acheive that, wow I think I will be set.
This next trip will get me out of the city and into another city, but WAY smaller: 6.1 million vs. ~160,000: and nothing but a calm and relaxing atmosphere,like the country. Being free to do nothing, kind of what I do here, and be near the beach, sun and much more is going to improve my mood so much!!! I just like having time to myself, space to myself, and being able to just think or not think about everything on my own.
So there are things yet to see, but I want to take my time to enjoy the moment, but still find stuff to fill my time and distract some of these things called, emotions. This is the best thing for me now and that is what I need to think about. So action and excitement need to come my way...so what you say Chile?
Ciao de Chile
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Rain Rain Go Away
Well for the first time that I have been here, it rained!! I actually didn't mind it, but I don't want it here for the weekend. Some friends and I are planning on going to a place that has rafting, ziplining, horseback riding, and hiking, (massages :)) on saturday so no rain!! I am pretty excited for that! Went shopping today and had to buy some flip flops, adidas, because my feet aren't used to walking all day in like sandals for dress and I packed all my comfy ones into storage. :(
I have not felt so American before today. I wore what I normally do in the states, but that is not the same here. The wear clothes that are somewhat 'dressier' than what I wear on a normal day. So today when I walked to school and was wearing baseball athletic shorts, tshirt, twins sweatshirt and a nike mesh bag jamming to my ipod...wow I felt right at home in the states. Too funny. All of my friends said today..."wow I can tell you are from America." Great. It is the same when I wear like running shorts or so with my nike sneaks...a little out of place, but oh so comfy to me. Dude I don't want to dress up when I am just going to sweat because I walk outside in the 80 degree weather everyday...no.
There is a special day that is creeping up...what could that be?...oh ya 2/14 Valentine's day, and a friends 21!, and let me tell you I feel like the people here are expressing their love to their 'others' everyday. As some of my friends say, Santiago is the City of Love. I know for a fact this does not happen in the states and I would not be caught doing it, sure a peck is ok but not the groping and tonguing in public. Yes, I said it. People on the streets just make out in plain daylight, today I saw a guy tounging his gf? with his eyes open and a girl looking around at the people while she makes out...so strange. I guess they just really love each other or something. I hope that it doesn't get worse on monday...??...Other than that and the constant stares because I do not appear to be from Chile :) and constant remarks from all the guys towards any girl...I love this city.
Every city has a few bugs...but the most part is awesome. I am just excited to travel and see Chile. This weekend I am not going to La Serena because there was not really a way to get back if I wanted to be back at class on monday. But a group of us are going to go rafting and have fun in a natural pool!! Next week is the last week of the intensive spanish course and then I got to get ready to travel and then hit the books with the semester. 3 weeks already down....won't believe it when my time is up.
Today at dinner my family and I talked about a movie I watched in class about a war in Chile during time of Pinochet...and then the comparison to our Civil war. Then we started talking about how a comedian, C. Willie Miles, believes that the people in the south are still practicing because they think that they are going to win the next civil war. ha. But ya just a conversation about the states and how it is different from other countries. Also the person that I had to talk to about our trip on Saturday was from New Jersey and she could tell I was from Minnesota!! Ahh do I have that bad of an accent?? Too funny.
Well that is all so far this week, just a lot of homework, anohter presentation next week and then done. Time to sleep and recuperate for Friday!! Talk soon
Ciao de Chile
I have not felt so American before today. I wore what I normally do in the states, but that is not the same here. The wear clothes that are somewhat 'dressier' than what I wear on a normal day. So today when I walked to school and was wearing baseball athletic shorts, tshirt, twins sweatshirt and a nike mesh bag jamming to my ipod...wow I felt right at home in the states. Too funny. All of my friends said today..."wow I can tell you are from America." Great. It is the same when I wear like running shorts or so with my nike sneaks...a little out of place, but oh so comfy to me. Dude I don't want to dress up when I am just going to sweat because I walk outside in the 80 degree weather everyday...no.
There is a special day that is creeping up...what could that be?...oh ya 2/14 Valentine's day, and a friends 21!, and let me tell you I feel like the people here are expressing their love to their 'others' everyday. As some of my friends say, Santiago is the City of Love. I know for a fact this does not happen in the states and I would not be caught doing it, sure a peck is ok but not the groping and tonguing in public. Yes, I said it. People on the streets just make out in plain daylight, today I saw a guy tounging his gf? with his eyes open and a girl looking around at the people while she makes out...so strange. I guess they just really love each other or something. I hope that it doesn't get worse on monday...??...Other than that and the constant stares because I do not appear to be from Chile :) and constant remarks from all the guys towards any girl...I love this city.
Every city has a few bugs...but the most part is awesome. I am just excited to travel and see Chile. This weekend I am not going to La Serena because there was not really a way to get back if I wanted to be back at class on monday. But a group of us are going to go rafting and have fun in a natural pool!! Next week is the last week of the intensive spanish course and then I got to get ready to travel and then hit the books with the semester. 3 weeks already down....won't believe it when my time is up.
Today at dinner my family and I talked about a movie I watched in class about a war in Chile during time of Pinochet...and then the comparison to our Civil war. Then we started talking about how a comedian, C. Willie Miles, believes that the people in the south are still practicing because they think that they are going to win the next civil war. ha. But ya just a conversation about the states and how it is different from other countries. Also the person that I had to talk to about our trip on Saturday was from New Jersey and she could tell I was from Minnesota!! Ahh do I have that bad of an accent?? Too funny.
Well that is all so far this week, just a lot of homework, anohter presentation next week and then done. Time to sleep and recuperate for Friday!! Talk soon
Ciao de Chile
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Try, Try, Try again is the only way
So today was my day for making videos to upload about my week, let me tell you it has been a long day with that. Woke up this morning and it was cloudy outside, but refreshing and I was loving it. I just chilled in my room working on a presentation and some other homework for class. Later decided to go to the parque to read and just relax in the refreshing weather.
Well first it got warmer when I went to the park, ok, then I was recording a video of mine and it told me I didn't have enough time left. So I deleted some photos and past videos and re-recorded, but then my camera died on me. While trying to upload my video later my internet connection would go in and out causing upload failure. So I thought well I should just record it on the viewing site, nope two tries later another failure. The second to last attempt was in my room, so not as creative as park, and got interrupted so had to cut video short and couldn't go back to where I ended. Finally I got it recorded, but I look exhausted and just gross, but whatever it is done. But other than having to retry it plenty of times I was not that upset. I had to think oh well I can't really control it so just try again. I definitely tried my patience today, which I have a record for not holding.
But the rest of the day was pretty well. I went out with friends on friday night and did not feel well all day saturday. Pati made homemade chicken noodle soup, the bomb, and just helped me all day, laughing now and then. But today was a pretty busy day with homework, videos and then tonight we went and saw Cerro San Cristobal. It was so gorgeous and we went when the sun was down, for the most part, so it was a cool breeze. Santiago is a really pretty city and it has so much to offer.
Tomorrow we are supposed to be making a decision on whether or not we are going to La Serena. I would love to so I hope we do. I hope to really begin improving because my intensive course is half over. I really want to come back home with no regrets. Speaking of home, I have gotten homesick a few times and have talked to people about it, but I am trying to stay busy so I don't really think of missing home as often.
Other than that it was a pretty laid back weekend at 'home.' My video is uploading so hopefully it works, cause I have class at 8:30 my time all week and maybe a test tomorrow...ahh. So I wish myself luck for tomorrow and thanks to my perseverence today. Oh and dang...too bad I missed the SuperBowl today, good thing I do not care one bit about either team. P.S. 7 days until Valentine's Day!! Yay
Ciao desde Chile
Well first it got warmer when I went to the park, ok, then I was recording a video of mine and it told me I didn't have enough time left. So I deleted some photos and past videos and re-recorded, but then my camera died on me. While trying to upload my video later my internet connection would go in and out causing upload failure. So I thought well I should just record it on the viewing site, nope two tries later another failure. The second to last attempt was in my room, so not as creative as park, and got interrupted so had to cut video short and couldn't go back to where I ended. Finally I got it recorded, but I look exhausted and just gross, but whatever it is done. But other than having to retry it plenty of times I was not that upset. I had to think oh well I can't really control it so just try again. I definitely tried my patience today, which I have a record for not holding.
But the rest of the day was pretty well. I went out with friends on friday night and did not feel well all day saturday. Pati made homemade chicken noodle soup, the bomb, and just helped me all day, laughing now and then. But today was a pretty busy day with homework, videos and then tonight we went and saw Cerro San Cristobal. It was so gorgeous and we went when the sun was down, for the most part, so it was a cool breeze. Santiago is a really pretty city and it has so much to offer.
Tomorrow we are supposed to be making a decision on whether or not we are going to La Serena. I would love to so I hope we do. I hope to really begin improving because my intensive course is half over. I really want to come back home with no regrets. Speaking of home, I have gotten homesick a few times and have talked to people about it, but I am trying to stay busy so I don't really think of missing home as often.
Other than that it was a pretty laid back weekend at 'home.' My video is uploading so hopefully it works, cause I have class at 8:30 my time all week and maybe a test tomorrow...ahh. So I wish myself luck for tomorrow and thanks to my perseverence today. Oh and dang...too bad I missed the SuperBowl today, good thing I do not care one bit about either team. P.S. 7 days until Valentine's Day!! Yay
Ciao desde Chile
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Play time
Wow so this weather here is pretty amazing to get used to. As I continue to enjoy the weather the suffering back home continues. With the nice help of the wind chill the temperature gets near -50 degrees. These are the days that I am glad I missed out on winter, but then again when it is 90 degrees here almost everyday and it is dry with no chance of precipitation that is when I wouldn't mind being back home in the cold...but for only a moment or two.
This week has been pretty laid back. There has not been a lot of homework, but we have been busy hanging out that there has not been enough time for everything. After our trip to Valparaiso last week we have been preparing to go on another trip next weekend, La Serena. Nothing but coast and there are penguins near by!! I am so excited because I never thought that I would see a penguin unless I went to Antarctica!!
The only downfall is that it is spendy, but its because it is 5 hours away and we would spend like 3 days there. Also we payed 700USD for this course plus homestay and airport fee that if we missed classes for this trip, it is not worth the money that I paid for the course. Because sadly a lot of us are prone to speaking English while all of us are here and want to learn spanish, so this is a reason for wanting to stay in class where we will be learning and practicing our spanish. So we will see, but I am sure that I will go no matter who does or not because I want to share my experiences with those who are stuck at home in the cold and make them feel warm with pictures of the sun. :)
My host family is like the bomb. The food is great, eventhough I have eaten things here that I don't ever eat in the states, and we play games and spend time together a lot!! Pati, host mom, loves to shop so that is AWESOME, Alvaro, host dad, likes to help me with my spanish and always asks how my day was and such and Diego, host bro, is full of energy and a ball of joy. Playing cards almost every night, shopping, watching movies what more can I ask for.
Their neice came over today and we went to the park, super upset that I didn't bring my camera, and saw lots of interesting things. Played ping pong with a 6 year old, so funny and entertaining, people feeding the pigeons, guy doing crunches in the middle of the park, a dog with a diaper on, a dachsaun chasing a lil bigger dog and a futbol game. And for lunch um we had homemade turkey burgers..yum!!.. and cake cake, homemade by gma!! Let me tell you I will not go hungry here.
Along with today, the girls and I hung out yesterday, went to the Black Swan, tickets cost 3.50USD and 2 extra for popcorn (kettle corn...eww) and a drink, but sadly only 7 tickets for us 7 when 2 more were almost on there way. But it was a awkward but good movie. Before movie, Colleen and I went to our friends, Annika and Laura, house to chill by the pool. Oh btw got sun burned but it doesn't hurt and turns to tan so fast. :)
So busy week, but I don't have a lot of interesting things to talk about. The empanadas are freekin awesome. Happy hour is every night, but we have to time when we go out because people don't eat dinner until like 9 and party until like 2 here!!! Tomorrow I get to sleep in and perhaps shopping before class. Then it is girls night out.
But if something interesting happens this weekend, beach?? ;), will be sure to share.
Ciao de Chile
This week has been pretty laid back. There has not been a lot of homework, but we have been busy hanging out that there has not been enough time for everything. After our trip to Valparaiso last week we have been preparing to go on another trip next weekend, La Serena. Nothing but coast and there are penguins near by!! I am so excited because I never thought that I would see a penguin unless I went to Antarctica!!
The only downfall is that it is spendy, but its because it is 5 hours away and we would spend like 3 days there. Also we payed 700USD for this course plus homestay and airport fee that if we missed classes for this trip, it is not worth the money that I paid for the course. Because sadly a lot of us are prone to speaking English while all of us are here and want to learn spanish, so this is a reason for wanting to stay in class where we will be learning and practicing our spanish. So we will see, but I am sure that I will go no matter who does or not because I want to share my experiences with those who are stuck at home in the cold and make them feel warm with pictures of the sun. :)
My host family is like the bomb. The food is great, eventhough I have eaten things here that I don't ever eat in the states, and we play games and spend time together a lot!! Pati, host mom, loves to shop so that is AWESOME, Alvaro, host dad, likes to help me with my spanish and always asks how my day was and such and Diego, host bro, is full of energy and a ball of joy. Playing cards almost every night, shopping, watching movies what more can I ask for.
Their neice came over today and we went to the park, super upset that I didn't bring my camera, and saw lots of interesting things. Played ping pong with a 6 year old, so funny and entertaining, people feeding the pigeons, guy doing crunches in the middle of the park, a dog with a diaper on, a dachsaun chasing a lil bigger dog and a futbol game. And for lunch um we had homemade turkey burgers..yum!!.. and cake cake, homemade by gma!! Let me tell you I will not go hungry here.
Along with today, the girls and I hung out yesterday, went to the Black Swan, tickets cost 3.50USD and 2 extra for popcorn (kettle corn...eww) and a drink, but sadly only 7 tickets for us 7 when 2 more were almost on there way. But it was a awkward but good movie. Before movie, Colleen and I went to our friends, Annika and Laura, house to chill by the pool. Oh btw got sun burned but it doesn't hurt and turns to tan so fast. :)
So busy week, but I don't have a lot of interesting things to talk about. The empanadas are freekin awesome. Happy hour is every night, but we have to time when we go out because people don't eat dinner until like 9 and party until like 2 here!!! Tomorrow I get to sleep in and perhaps shopping before class. Then it is girls night out.
But if something interesting happens this weekend, beach?? ;), will be sure to share.
Ciao de Chile
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Starting anew
I had tried different sites, but they just didn't seem to work so here I am bring my past posts here and trying again.
Chile is magnificent. The weather is quite warm, but I do like getting to escape the winter back home. The people here are great. Everyone is willing to help a person understand the conversation or whatever is happening. My host family is awesome. They help me with my conversation, shopping, and anything else that I might need. I am glad I am here despite whatever I might say later.
I made it into the advanced level of my intensive spanish course and we are doing a lot of things that are similar to what I just did in my last university class. But that is good to get a quick review and to continue with our speaking practice. Speaking of practice I do get a bit here, but it is hard when all of your friends and you resort to english. I would say that that is the only downfall here, when we get together we speak english to each other and sometimes it is hard to switch back to spanish especially when its a little rough. :)
I have done many things here for only being here a week. I have gone shopping multiple times, but able to hold myself back from buying stuff I don't need. We have gone to the park, little artisian villages, the mountains and mainly spending time with the family or sight-seeing. Also we just went to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar this past friday, awesome!! So yes I have done quite a few things and still so much left to do.
I can't wait until I get to experience more and will put it on here :).
This is a link to a video that I made about my first week here in Chile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKuEN2Yrd2k
Chile is magnificent. The weather is quite warm, but I do like getting to escape the winter back home. The people here are great. Everyone is willing to help a person understand the conversation or whatever is happening. My host family is awesome. They help me with my conversation, shopping, and anything else that I might need. I am glad I am here despite whatever I might say later.
I made it into the advanced level of my intensive spanish course and we are doing a lot of things that are similar to what I just did in my last university class. But that is good to get a quick review and to continue with our speaking practice. Speaking of practice I do get a bit here, but it is hard when all of your friends and you resort to english. I would say that that is the only downfall here, when we get together we speak english to each other and sometimes it is hard to switch back to spanish especially when its a little rough. :)
I have done many things here for only being here a week. I have gone shopping multiple times, but able to hold myself back from buying stuff I don't need. We have gone to the park, little artisian villages, the mountains and mainly spending time with the family or sight-seeing. Also we just went to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar this past friday, awesome!! So yes I have done quite a few things and still so much left to do.
I can't wait until I get to experience more and will put it on here :).
This is a link to a video that I made about my first week here in Chile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKuEN2Yrd2k
Chile
I made it to Santiago Chile early this morning. It is quite a change from a small town in Minnesota. As I stay here I am prone to a lifestyle of spanish immersion. While my spanish is very bad, I am living with a family who is willing to help me practice. I am excited to become quite familiar with the language and the atmosphere.
Today the family and I might go to the park and just hang out. I do miss home, but this is so beneficial to me. After 24 hours of flying I made it to my destination. I am ready for anything even if I don't understand.
So here we go...
Today the family and I might go to the park and just hang out. I do miss home, but this is so beneficial to me. After 24 hours of flying I made it to my destination. I am ready for anything even if I don't understand.
So here we go...
How this is possible for me and Counting down
I cannot believe that in just a few days I will be embarking on a journey that seemed so far away 4 months ago. I am about to travel to Santiago Chile for a semester abroad. This trip has been on my mind for as long as I can remember. I knew that while applying to colleges there was a need for a studying abroad program. I plan on graduating May 2012, and becoming a Spanish teacher. The process of organizing a semester abroad was time consuming, but in the end was so worth it.
I came from a rural town in northern Minnesota and from a single-parent household. I thought that these characteristics would put a restriction on my desire to travel abroad, but I was wrong. The cost of travelling seems quite overwhelming, but there are people out there willing to help for a good cause. By being from a low-income household and single parent family I thought that I would not have the funds to study, so I began my search for help. With the help of my study abroad advisor the Gilman Scholarship was an option.
In order to be eligible for this scholarship one needs to receive the Pell grant. This is the most important criterion for this scholarship. By receiving this particular grant, I was able to continue with the application. I needed to type an essay that stated why this opportunity was important to me and then propose a follow-up project that would be completed while abroad or upon return. The second week of December I received notice that I was awarded $4,000 to help fund my study abroad to Santiago Chile. I am not sure that I would have received this scholarship without the help of friends and family, who proofread my documents and pushed me to hope for the best. This scholarship will help me to reach my potential, become accustomed to a different culture and to improve my Spanish speaking skills.
As I said I am about to travel to Chile and am excited for what they have in store for me. I know that this experience will be filled with language immersion, travelling and cultural experiences. Although I am only human and am also nervous for this trip, but as so many people have told me and assured me this trip will be a tremendous opportunity. I want to encourage those who may be interested to study abroad and to help them reach their potential. This is only an introduction to my trip and I look forward to sharing my experiences with those who are interested.
Bon Voyage
I came from a rural town in northern Minnesota and from a single-parent household. I thought that these characteristics would put a restriction on my desire to travel abroad, but I was wrong. The cost of travelling seems quite overwhelming, but there are people out there willing to help for a good cause. By being from a low-income household and single parent family I thought that I would not have the funds to study, so I began my search for help. With the help of my study abroad advisor the Gilman Scholarship was an option.
In order to be eligible for this scholarship one needs to receive the Pell grant. This is the most important criterion for this scholarship. By receiving this particular grant, I was able to continue with the application. I needed to type an essay that stated why this opportunity was important to me and then propose a follow-up project that would be completed while abroad or upon return. The second week of December I received notice that I was awarded $4,000 to help fund my study abroad to Santiago Chile. I am not sure that I would have received this scholarship without the help of friends and family, who proofread my documents and pushed me to hope for the best. This scholarship will help me to reach my potential, become accustomed to a different culture and to improve my Spanish speaking skills.
As I said I am about to travel to Chile and am excited for what they have in store for me. I know that this experience will be filled with language immersion, travelling and cultural experiences. Although I am only human and am also nervous for this trip, but as so many people have told me and assured me this trip will be a tremendous opportunity. I want to encourage those who may be interested to study abroad and to help them reach their potential. This is only an introduction to my trip and I look forward to sharing my experiences with those who are interested.
Bon Voyage
Getting closer
So like I have told people in the last post I am headed to Santiago Chile next Friday. I can't believe that I am doing this, but I know it will be a good time. I know a little about my family: Mother, Father and an eight year old son. We live right next to a park and what do you know the girl from my school lives right across the street!! I know that we are more prone to English speaking with each other living close, but I think that for self security it will be good to be close to someone I know.
Chile may not appear to be a big country, on the west coast of South America below Peru, but we are going to be studying in Santiago, the capitol. Sometimes I psych myself out about going because of the distance and how long I will be there. I will be there for six months and believe that there is no way I can't come back home speaking great Spanish.
I am participating in an intensive month Spanish course, which meets five days a week and for five hours a day it is all Spanish. This first month is when I will be staying with my host family, then I will be staying in a residence with four rooms and I reserved one of them. So that way hopefully I can interact with others practicing their language skills and I can improve.
I just wanted to share a little bit about my trip and then continue when I get there. Again I want to share my experience as a student, a traveller, and a thinker. I want to interest people and show that this is possible if one sets their mind to it.
:)
Bon Voyage
Chile may not appear to be a big country, on the west coast of South America below Peru, but we are going to be studying in Santiago, the capitol. Sometimes I psych myself out about going because of the distance and how long I will be there. I will be there for six months and believe that there is no way I can't come back home speaking great Spanish.
I am participating in an intensive month Spanish course, which meets five days a week and for five hours a day it is all Spanish. This first month is when I will be staying with my host family, then I will be staying in a residence with four rooms and I reserved one of them. So that way hopefully I can interact with others practicing their language skills and I can improve.
I just wanted to share a little bit about my trip and then continue when I get there. Again I want to share my experience as a student, a traveller, and a thinker. I want to interest people and show that this is possible if one sets their mind to it.
:)
Bon Voyage
Almost the beginning
Hello to all. This is the first time that I am writing on something like this. I am not completely sure of how this is going to go, but am excited to experience everything. I am almost at the beginning where I am going to embark on a, for me, once in a lifetime experience. Towards the end of this month I will be flying from Minnesota to Miami and then on to my final destination of Chile. I will be studying abroad in Santiago Chile for six months. My goal is to become a Spanish Teacher after graduation and I think that by fulfilling this travel experience I will be able to enhance my language skills. I believe that being immersed in this language and culture will help me advance towards my goal. So I just wanted to share my experience with others, and to help bring my experience to others. Just hoping to get a feel for this type of posting and learn how to use it. So later videos of my trip will be uploaded weekly and I hope to interest others while doing it. Feel free to give me advice. :)
Bon Voyage all
Bon Voyage all
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)