Karrah's Chilean Adventure: October 2012

Oh hey. So once again I'll probably end up apologizing at the beginning of most of my new posts, but yes I am sorry I got a little side-tracked and lazy to blog. But here I am and I'm going to try and make it an interesting one. I think since life here is getting super normal I truly just forget what things are super different to write about. I also have been lacking at taking pictures, but I promise to post the ones I do have. Anyways, I have now been in Chile for 2 months or 9 weeks! Life in Chile has been pretty normal for me now, I feel pretty Chilean at heart, although I'll never fully accomplish going anywhere without people, staring, pointing, or talking about me.

FIESTAS PATRIAS

Feels like forever ago I was celebrating Chile's independence, and man to Chileans have some pride like I've never witnessed. We had a week off of school (I was okay with that) and we celebrated with lots of different people about Chile. There was lots of dancing of the "cueca" and tons and tons of barbecue's. First we had a special day at school and each classroom had a little tent set up with information and lots of food and things to show to judges for a grade. Lots of girls were dressed up in their "wuasa" dresses and we watched a few acts. That week with my family we had a lot of bbq's aka lot's of food. One day there was a barbeque (idk if that's spelt right) at our house with family and friends and the next day was at the neighbors' house. Then my friends had one. There were Chilean flags on all the houses and every store had decorations up and I heard the national song a million times along with dance music like "Viva Chile". When everyone asked what we do for the 4th of July I was almost embarrassed.. We definitely don't take a week of vacations and celebrate as much as the Chileans do that's for sure. I also for my gym class had to perform a dance with a group that had typical Chilean moves in it, I thought I'd for sure mess that one up for the group, but we ended up doing really well and getting the highest note.

Where's Karrah?

EL GIGANTE

Look at the hill, in the back

My host mom is in a group with other small business owners from my city and they randomly go out on day trips and meet and have a little club type thing. One day my host mom said I could miss school to see some really cool hieroglyphics and an especially old, famous one that is in the middle of the desert. It is on a hill and is called "The Giant of Tarapaca" Tarapaca is the state/region I live in in Chile. It used to be more visible, but of course people have tried to tamper with it. The reason that it is not destroyed, is because it almost never rains here and so it hasn't been washed away like it would have in another location. It was really cool and then we went to other places in the desert to see hieroglyphics that were done on rocks and old buildings that were have knocked down from the wars and things like that. We also went to a lot of small pueblos and ate some snacks at their small stores. It was really interesting to see the old towns, and some were really abandoned with few residents. Afterwards, once back in our city we went to a restaurant that sells typical "northern" food of Chile. Everyone ate the same thing, except me cause my host mom knew I wouldn't finish the huge serving. Everyone around me was eating a soup/ brothy thing and it had a lot of meat in it. Most people seemed to enjoy it and finish it up quickly. Afterwards, the waitress came and thanked us for coming in and said these foods were things that her mom still continues to cook and keeps her culture. She told us that the soup had five meats in it. They were bunny, llama, pig, cow, and chicken. Let's just say that I was thankful that I did not have to eat that one.

SIBAYA

Well as many of you know Rotary is a group that helps out with many things, and not just exchange. My rotary club here has a small pueblo that is the pre-Andes mountain range and is deep in the hills that they sponsor their school. The school has under 30 kids and it just up til 6th grade and the only school for miles and miles. My club goes there and gives them gifts and a good lunch and plays a lot of games with them. We donate things such as clothes, food, and just any necessities. We traveled their a few weeks ago and it was 3,000Meters of altitude with is 9842.52 feet. I was surprisingly fine and had no issue with the altitude and didn't get sick. It was an extremely cool experience. When we got there (on a saturday, kids went to school just cause we were coming) the kids were waiting at the entrance with extreme excitement and as each of us walked in they all ran in for a huge group hug. After spending time there (all day) I became a little choked up at times. I can't really explain the feeling, but I've just definitely never seen anything like this situation. Northfield is definitely not third world. I was extremely happy and okay with dedicating my time to being there and playing with the kids. We also cut their hair, I styled it, gave them tons of candy, brought a mime to do a show, it was just really, really cool. Rotary does some amazing stuff I'll tell you.

VOLLEYBALL
If you didn't know, which a lot of you probably don't I play on the school volleyball team here. Some of you are probably like okay random.. you don't play volleyball. Yeah I definitely don't, but I love to play for fun, so why not use this super-senior year to play the sport I always wish I never quit. Anyways, so my team practices once a week... and we are usually cancelled about every other week. So I've been here for 2 months and I think we have had 4 practices and 0 games. However, I think that a game is coming up sometime at the end of October. This shows you Chile's not really into sports it's all about the studies.

EARTHQUAKES
So I have lived in Minnesota my whole life, and of course never have felt an earthquake, well my family here told me that would change and I'd experience at least 10 over the year. So I felt my first one September 19th (I think) I was trying to sleep and my door started to rattle almost as if someone was shaking the handle a lot. I woke up and looked around and everything was moving a little it was a really quick one, I believe like 45 seconds, but it was a strong little guy. Anyways, my family instantly ran to my room to make sure I wasn't dying of fear, and laughed when they found me still laying in my bed trying to go back to sleep. I felt ANOTHER one a week or so ago, and it was the same thing pretty much, but I think it was even shorter. My mom once again came to check that I was okay and I was. They don't actually scare me I kind of think they're cool. Apparently there has been 3 others or so since I've been here that I didn't even notice.

SURFING

Well, title's self-explanatory I went surfing. I have actually gone 3 times, I joined a surf school so I paid for 8 lessons and let me tell you that is not an easy sport. Especially when I have a big fear of the ocean, fish, and sea weed. However, the very first time I attempted I was on my feet and I was very proud of that. Now I've gone the 3 times, and I can get up every other time basically. We have instructors in the water to help us out and also they pick the waves for us so we don't get mauled and killed. While trying to return to the ocean after getting to shore I've almost died a few times. (love you mom).
No, but seriously yesterday I saw a wave coming as I was trying to head back out and it broke right on top of my head, I saw it coming so I held my breath and went under. However, the second I came back up another one was right there to greet me. That time I didn't have my board in my hand so it went the opposite way and I was connected so I got pulled around that was not fun. Luckily I came out on top and the ocean spit me back out. Surfing is super hard, but really fun and I'm really glad that I knocked that one off the bucket list! Those wet suits though, man I tell you.. takes like 20min to take off especially since they're wet. My body also is going to need a weeks' recovery from 3 days in a row. I'm SO sore right now.

MISC.
First off SHOUT OUT to my boyfriend Charlie and my wonderful mother for their packages. I am still attempting to savor the candies I received, not going so well. Always nice to get a little piece of home, even just seeing both of your cards was awesome. So my time here is been awesome and I can't believe I'm 1/5 done with this experience. It comes in both ways, though. I feel like I've been here and away from home for 5 months and that I know all my friends here super well and everything. But at the same time, I feel as though I've only been here for 1 month, like I still have so much to learn and to see and time has flown by. Exchange is a crazy thing. I received an e-mail from Vicki Dilley telling me the names of those who are applying for the following year, and it's crazy to think that they already have turned in their applications and started what I started one year ago. I can't wait to find out whose going where and talk to them about my experiences.
Well anyways, I am crazily in love with the beach here, and I cannot wait for summer time. Sorry to be that person, but yes I will be posting lovely sunny, ocean side, pictures while you're all drowning in snow. I am definitely not sad about missing a Minnesotan winter :)

PHOTOS