Being a Happy Camper

     I'm going to try to keep up with blogging generally once a weekish.. maybe. So as a lot of you have seen photos on Facebook, I'm going to put some on here as well with some stories about what I've been doing.

CAMPING

Our tents for 8 people each

     My host sister is in a group called "scout" it's like girl scouts, but for boys too and all together. It's very similar, but they don't sell cookies sadly. Maria wanted to introduce me to her scout group before she left so that if I liked it I could join. So last Friday the 17Th they had a camp and I went with her. We first went and got a bunch of snack food to eat at the camp from the grocery store and at this time it was like 9 o clock pm. Finally around 10 we went to my schools' brother school Don Bosco to meet with the group, there were about 18 kids and 3 adults. Maria's dad took a couple of us to the beach that is south of Iquique, called "Playa Blanca" which is White Beach and we parked. At this point it was pitch black and we were in the middle of the beach which is also let me remind you all part of the Atacama desert. The DRIEST DESERT IN THE WORLD. Aka welcome to my life. We got there and it was only around 50 degrees and I was freezing, we set up 2 tents only and then we made a fire and had snacks. We played a bunch of games and had a little goodbye ceremony for Maria (Chile is really big on parties for all occasions). Then finally we went to bed around 4am with about 8 of us in a tent, which made it super warm.. aaahh. The next morning we woke up had breakfast, and took down the tents and we played more games. Later around 1 we began our "hike" we walked through huge hills of sand all along the beach and it was extremely beautiful. It was only 63 degrees, but they made sure I was covered in sun block. I really like hiking and I loved seeing all the pretty views that you can't see driving through our city 

it was extremely cool. After about an hour and a half my feet were starting to hurt (wearing a 9 year old boys hiking shoes will do that to you) and I had taken a lot of sun. We took a few breaks, but all I could see in front of me was more and more sand. This was the first time I was wishing I wasn't where I stood since I got to Iquique. After a total of 3 hours of hiking you can imagine how much of a "happy camper" I truly was. Once we got back to the city we took a bus to the school and we all got food together. I was a lot more content once I could sit, see civilization, and most of all eat. 

FIESTA EN MI CASA

    So like I said earlier in this post Chileans do a lot of goodbyes and parties in general so here goes to explain my Saturday night. After hiking 3 hours on 4.5 hours of sleep with no nap I was reminded my host sister was having a party at our house to say goodbye to her and her friend Nico whose going to Michigan. She said it was also so I could meet her friends and get to know a bunch more people. She was having in out on the patio and such in our backyard. My bedroom is right there with huge windows let me tell you. So around 11pm some of her closest friends were there and by 1am there was about 90 people in my backyard. Also, we had a DJ outside my window directly.. awesome and there were people everywhere. Around 2am I thought that I was truly going to fall asleep standing up. Two of my friends and I went to my bathroom so I could change and do bedtime stuff but first I was greeted by a crowd of 15 people waiting for the bathroom. After waiting for 3 people I was crabby and told people to move this is my house. SOMEHOW I'm not really sure I went in my bedroom shut the door and lights off and managed to sleep. Apparently people where there until 4am or so and I was only woken up once. The next morning I walked sleepily into my bathroom to find a disaster. There was no floor, only dirt and random things of peoples (hats, earrings, towels?, etc) So as I was going to go to the bathroom, there was no toilet paper and when I brushed my teeth, there was cigarettes plugging the drain. I thought about what my mom would do if I ever had that happen at our house. (Love ya Mom) It was interesting to say the least, and I was glad I was able to sleep through it and luckily I was not on the clean up team. My host mom told me I didn't need to worry and Maria and Nico cleaned for a few hours. 

FIRST MINOR INJURY

     On Monday Maria had to do some last minute shopping for her trip so me, her, and her dad went to the town plaza to go to the bank and do other misc. things. Right when we got there I got out of the car, but my thumb didn't. I slammed it right in the door, I tried to pull it out and then was in a quick shock that it didn't come out. I didn't yell, I just looked at my host dad and said "Mi dedo, mi dedo". Of course just my luck he had already locked the door and apparently doesn't use the automatic unlocker and had to find the key. Then unlock his door and then unlock mine and open mine. It felt like 5 min which was probably only like 45sec. Which is actually a long time to have your thumb in a door. Luckily it wasn't in the hatched part where the door actually slams, it was more on the outer part so it was just pinched in there. It got me right below the nail, and I just had a deep purple indent.Of course I took a photo so that will be below. 

Deeper then it appears

Well after having that lovely beginning to a day, it got a lot better and my thumb ended up being totally fine a few hours later. It's still bruised and sore, but I'm all fine and dandy. Later that night Maria had her LAST goodbye party, which was the 4th that just I attended. She had some family over and some of her closer friends and we had complete hot dogs (her favorite). It's hot dog on a bun add the following: mayo, tomatoes, avocado, ketchup,mustard, whatever you like. Anyways, I ended up staying up late again.. and it was the night before my first day of escuela (mom that means school). 

MY 2nd LAST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

     The beginning of September last year I remember thinking I couldn't believe that it was my senior year, as much I was ready for college, I had grown up extremely fast. Thinking that I would leave my safe, small, comfortable high school was kind of scary and I mostly enjoyed being in high school. Boy did I really mix around my plans. I went basically the exact opposite of what I was used to when it comes to safe, well known, comfortable place. I was looking at exchange then, but I had never really thought about what it'd be like to be accepted. On the first day of senior year I put my status on Facebook as something like, "My last First day of High School". Little did I know..

     Monday (yesterday) was my first day at a private, catholic, all girls school. ( Charlie loves that last part). Where I have to wear a uniform, no make up, and my hair can't be in my face (or all the way down). Surprisingly I was really excited to wear a uniform, so that I'd blend in and it'd take a lot less time with no choice on what to wear every day. I really like the uniforms at my school, they definitely aren't bad. I am very glad that I visited the school a few times and that Maria introduced me to her friends, because they helped me a lot. Already, I've met some girls that I will never forget, they are so loud and fun. They have WiFi in the classrooms, so everyone's always on an application called "what's app" and we have a group chat on there with the whole class, sending pictures of each other around, it's super fun. YELLING. It really never stops, I like it though, because then I don't look crazy. All the girls are super nice and interested in hearing all about me and the USA and all the celebrities. 

THE REBEL

The Roof 

      My classmates call me "Russia" pronounced Rue-C-Uh it means like really blonde and light eyes and skin, etc. They also call me "monja rebelde" Which means rebel nun. The school is run by nuns and my friend Vale and I tell everyone that's what we want to be. All the girls always ask me to say the lord's prayer in English and it's really funny.  They say that I'm a rebel because I "want" to be a nun, but I have a boyfriend and I use my phone during class (which they all do). Also, a few days before I started school I was visiting the school for some event and some of the girls took me to the secret places of the school. We went in the chapel(a mini one), and up to the second level and then up again and then up again!. Most of this was traveled by sketchy ladders and I had a major fear of falling through the floor. We ended up going up to the bell tower and it was really cool and old and fun. Afterwards, we went over a few gates and up a few flights up stairs and they showed me the roof. My 

Vale and I the monjas :)

school schedule is crazy and I have like 12 different classes some of them being; English, Literature, Language, Math, History, Politics, Religion, Biology, Chemistry, Argumentation, Gym, etc. So Monday is my gym day and I have to wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants to school (yay one comfy day a week). On Mondays and Fridays we also get out of school "early" early to them being 245 with no lunch break. We do get 10min breaks every 2 hours though which is really nice. Tuesday through Thursday though I get to go to school for 9hours 745-445pm. We do however get lunch. The school does not actually serve lunch, but has a small cafeterias. There are small concession stand type things that sell snacks, or you bring your own lunch. OR, my mom pays someone to buy/make me a lunch and drops it off in a room with my name so I can go find it everyday. :) 

MISC.

     There will most likely always be a misc. section on my posts since I am a random talker and I don't always have the best organization as a writer (Even though my sister-in-law and brother are both teachers). So I would say that overall I have really enjoyed myself the last 11 days. My sister Maria left for Wisconsin on Tuesday after I went to school, I was sad to see her go since she was really helpful, but thankful I didn't have to go to the airport. Seeing other families go through what I did would just make me sad and miss home. I am also planning on joining the school volleyball team to fill sometime. Which for Chile is only once a week for 2 hours maximum.. :) I might just join a club team too! why not? Anyways, I'm going to upload a photo of my house :)

Most of my house (my twin bros & sister)

Arrival Alas

So. I have already learned that the more often you write the easier it is to keep up with things and get in all that you want to say. So here we begin.
LEAVING
Friday morning I woke up in complete denial about leaving the United States, it just didn't feel real. I said goodbye to my sisters at home and then me my mom, Charlie, my brother Kendall, and my best friend Amber took off to the airport. I met my oldest brother Cullen there for a short goodbye, and the waterworks began there. After checking my two huge 50lb suitcases (my mom doesn't call me princess for nothing) and carrying my 20lb carry on duffle I began to say goodbye. Hugging Amber and Kendall was sad knowing that I would see them both soon and talk to them tons, but my mom is another story. She's the only parent I still have and she's a huge part of my life. So saying goodbye to her was really hard and of course naturally we cried. Saying goodbye to Charlie was a complete struggle and yeah there were many, many tears. I walked through the security and waved goodbye with a smile on my face and after nobody could see me I cried. A lot. Some man on a golf cart saw me struggling and brought me to my gate (once again, princess). I met with another girl going to Chile and we boarded soon after. The trip to Atlanta was quick and then we spent the night on the plane to Santiago where I couldn't sleep. We met 18 other exchange students and drove to Vina del Mar an hour and a half from Santiago to stay for the weekend.
VINA DEL MAR

 We had a few orientation meetings about rules and such and got to know each other well over the weekend. We had some free time to explore the city and we also went out to eat a lot. The city was super pretty right on the ocean and had millions of hills. The hills were really extreme and people had houses sooo far up the hills and really close together. There were houses as far as I could see. It was a really cool city and there was a lot to look at with not a lot of time. It was really strange to see a "Ruby Tuesday's" there as well.
DRIVING IN CHILE

Well basically there must not be rules and you don't wear seat belts if you're in the back seats, because then that you means you think the driver is bad. Everyone drives in the middle of the road, literally right through town over the lines on one ways. You just move over if someones faster then you and there's honking every 3 minutes. Our bus driver was passing someone but a car was coming the opposite direction but we kept on passing the person and the car went into the ditch and continued to drive on. It's very strange, but apparently everyone here is just more relaxed about this.
FOOD
People here eat SO MUCH, I'm definitely going to gain a good ten lbs if not more. The food in Chile is constantly meat. We have had it at every meal that I have had here and it's usually beef for lunch and dinner and then ham for breakfast. Water is not free at restaurants and all the pops (coke, diet coke, sprite, or orange fanta) comes in a glass bottle and so does the water usually. At most restaurants you have an appetizer, main course, and dessert. The desserts are usually ice cream and are very delicious. The wierdest thing I have had yet is a COMPLETE TACO, it was a soft shell taco with avocado, mayo, tomatoes on the inside with a hot dog in there. A HOT DOG. I was expecting taco meat, but nope and it was surprisingly really good. Well, as most my friends/family know I am a french fry addict/expert and the fries here are barely cooked and never really warm, something I miss a lot. They do eat a lot here, however they eat generally healthy I have mango juice fresh pretty much everyday.
HOST FAMILY
Meeting my host family went super well, at the airport they had  a huge sign and I was picked up by some guys from rotary, my host dad (the rotary club pres.), my host sister Maria, and 4 of her friends. We went to there house and had a small welcoming with snacks and drinks, it was very late so we pretty much went to bed soon after. My room here is pretty big and my family has a nice house. My dad drives a Hummer, which is pretty sweet (probably not on gas). The bathroom I use, has a shower, a pink jacuzzi, a pink toilet, and two sinks. My house has the sweetest porch that is outside, but still is concrete walls and such, we have no yard really, but in the back they are in the process of building a bigger pool. My mom and dad are super nice and my sister has been very helpful, she will go to Wisconsin next Tuesday. The twin boys that are 9 are afraid of me and have yet to speak with me.... We also have a live in nanny from Peru, her name is Cruz. My Spanish has been pretty good and I have managed to have no major problems with my family. I will start school on the following Monday.
MISC.
Random things that I have to say, Chile has stray dogs EVERYWHERE. Literally per city there is thousands, I've asked. They aren't starving or super skinny either, they are normal dogs and they just live on the streets. They know how to be in the city and they cross the streets like humans, it's super bizarre and nobody pays any attention to them either. There are these parks that look like they are for little kids and they are out in the open and the "toys" are work out machines that adults just go and use, they are outside near the beach. Little kids are playing on them, but adults use them as an olyptical and things, it's weird I need to take more photos. In between the big cities are a lot of pueblos. These areas make my American life seem extremely well off. There are run-down shacks and places that I can't believe are even liveable. The strange thing to me is that some of them have really nice cars, even though they barely have walls. Another thing I noticed is outside the city there is A LOT of garbage, everywhere. There are mounds and then there are just scraps everywhere,  in the bushes, the trees, on the ground, it's very extreme. I think these are some things that are definitely common in a developing country. I did expect to see this of course, but it's crazy to actually see with the human eye.
FRIENDS
I have managed to meet friends through my host sister, aka all of her friends, which I really like them all. On my second night they took me out to the disco and that was super fun. We sat around and talked and got ready at a girl's house til 1am then FINALLY we wen to the disco and we didn't get home til 430. This is common in Chile so I better wake up. They had some American music and a DJ and there was some famous Chilean reality TV show person there too. Anyways, I'm excited to start school, and make new friends.

Adios Amigos

     Tonight is the night before I leave and there's no way I'm going to be able to get much sleep. However, I have shed enough tears to fill a fish tank so maybe all that crying will put me right out. Like everyone else I'm going to begin by saying how quickly time has gone. Thinking back on filling out my application and going to my first interview is crazy. After my dad died in November, I wasn't sure that I was going to continue my dream of doing rotary and even go to my interview later that month. However, with a lot  of support from my mom and friends I was encouraged to follow through with my dreams. I chose all European countries on the deciding day; Switzerland being my top, and that's why when I read "Chile" on my acceptance letter I insantly thought of my dad. My dad had wanted me to go to somewhere in South America and he was interested in Argentina and Brazil and here I was reading my letter going to the continent that he wanted me to. It's crazy how things like that turn out. But here I am 7 months later and I'm almost on my way. After a few days of attempting to pack, and throwing out some of my favorite shoes and clothes out of the suitcases I'm packed. Of course I just completely finished like ten minutes ago :). I have two suitcases and a duffle bag. Yeah I'm probably over packing and I already know that, but packing for a year is not an easy thing when you've been a shopaholic for the last few years. How my 120lb self is going to carry around my weight in luggage, I haven't really decided. My first attempt will be to look lost and helpless and hope someone will come to my rescue. But, in reality I'll  be regretting it after my first flight.
     Tomorrow I will take off from Minneapolis with my family, boyfriend, and bestfriend and that will bring to me Atlanta, which then leads me after 2 and a half hours to Santiago a 9 and half hour flight (......). I'm thankful that I will be getting to fly over night so that I can sleep. My jet lag shouldn't be bad since it's only one hour ahead. Which most people cant' seem to grasp, but after looking at a map it makes sense. Anyways, I am excited to meet other exchange students once I get to Santiago and am sure that they will be comforting. My host family just informed me they are building a pool, just another thing that makes my Chilean life all the better. I am very excited to meet them, and I'm sad that I will have to say goodbye to my sister Maria as she comes to Wisconsin after a few weeks. I'm getting really excited and really sad, however I think I'm shocked and it definitely hasn't hit me. I'm not sure how I was supposed to prepare myself today, but I saw a few friends and got stressed out packing with family. My mind is literally numb and I'm not sure what to feel. However, this will be my last blog from the US (i've used that phrase "last ____ in US" a million times today) so I hope the next will be more exciting.
     Goodbye to all my friends, family, and anyone who is out there reading.