I've been gone for awhile, sorry about that. Life is pretty crazy busy here in Chile. Here's the update in an A-Z format.
A - Acceptance
I watched an incredible talk by Chimamanda Adichie about the dangers of single mindsets about countries and cultures. It relates a lot to my time here in Chile. I would highly recommend watching it. She talks about the importance of seeing cultures and life styles from a different perspective and the dangers of the "single story". WATCH IT!
B - Buenos Aires
January 7-11 I will be in Buenos Aires, Argentina for my last vacation in South America. It's the capitol of Argentina, and basically the most European city in South America. I'm traveling with some of my best friends here and it will be a nice way to close out my time here in Chile.
C - Christmas
For Christmas, we rented a house in Olmué. It's about an hour and a half north of Viña and out in the country. 29 other international students and I will be spending 3 days pool side for Christmas. Everyone is bringing some type of food as well from their country for Christmas dinner.
D - David Guetta
January 13th 10pm DAVID GUETTA CONCERT IN VIÑA!!
E - Europe
I'm currently planning my trip to Europe in August. Here's the schedule as of now: Aug 1-7 Barcalona and Madrid, Aug 8-14 Paris, Aug 15-31 Germany. I still exploring options, and I might squeeze London in there.
F - Fútbol
We are playing a game today at 6:30 and Tuesday we are even going to play American Football. I managed to find someone with a ball! I searched for 3 hours here trying to find one, but finally a Chilean friend brought up the idea and informed me he knows where to find one. I'm going to flip out when I finally feel the pigskin in my hands.
G - German
I've started studying German. My Spanish is at about 75% fluency. I understand everything, but I'm still missing a few words. After meeting so many Europeans who can speak 3 or 4 languages, I decided I wanted to do the same. I debated a long time between French and German. French is more practical, but German was much more interesting. I love how it is like nothing I have ever heard before. Hopefully before I go there in August, I will be able to get around. I'm picking it up pretty quick too.
H - Humor
I think I've made my last big achievement in Spanish. I'm finally able to show my sense of humor. I don't feel like anything is lacking anymore, and that's a great feeling.
I - I hate dogs
It finally happened. I found my reason to hate animals. While walking home from a friends place, I managed to get bit by a stupid dog. They say the violent ones are more likely to have rabies, so you know where this story ends... HOSPITAL! This was easily my worst experience in Chile. We arrived at 3:30 in the morning to the public hospital around the corner, and immediately I realized why my advisor told me to go private and pay the extra money. I was put in a room with 3 drug addicts screaming and moaning. I won't ever go back. I can get hit by a truck, and I will crawl 2 days to a private hospital. The doctor wouldn't even give us his name. I'm still not sure if he gave my a rabies vacine or syphilis. Good news: It was free. The bite and the rabies shot.
J - Jumbo
Jumbo has made life soooo much easier in Chile. It's a huge supermarket where you can find all kinds of international food. I've finally found Ranch dressing, Twinkies, Bagels, and most importantly Cookie Krisp. You don't realize how much you miss the basic food back home until you leave.
K - Kilometros
I still don't understand the metric system. I have no idea how far anything is when people describe it here. Why do we learn feet and miles in the US if nobody else uses this system? Dumb.
L - Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde is a beach about an hour south of Viña. We went there last week to send of Brian, my old roommate. Great day on a gorgeous beach. It is officially my favorite place in the Viña/Valparaíso area.
M - Moving
December 28th is our last day in the apartment. After that, I'm moving into my friends house/hostal in Valparaíso. It's got a great view of the town, and I'll be living with a ton of friends. I'm pumped.
N - New Years
New Years is supposed to be the craziest day in Chile. The coast is lined 3 cities long with fireworks. We are going to spend midnight at my friend's place so we can see all of them and then at midnight everyone floods the streets and parties there until the sun rises. People from all over Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina flood to Valparaíso for this day. They literally close every single street. I can't wait. Apparently, the big New Years tradition is the dinner on the 31st. It should be interesting.
O - Only Gringo left...
They've all left (almost). It's pretty strange, but I will have 0 opportunities to speak English until I head back home. It won't be hard, just strange. Expect my English to get a lot worse.
P - Patagonia
Patagonia was INCREDIBLE! I will write a blog on it soon. I promise. Until then, look at the pictures on my Facebook.
Q - 'QUAKE!!!
Yesterday I felt my second temblor in Chile. It's not really a big deal because they happen all the time here, but normally I'm asleep or don't feel them. The weirdest part about was that I was reading my friend's Facebook status about an earthquake the night before when it happened. Very strange and creepy.
R - Reimbursement
After 2 months, I finally received my reimbursement from living with a Chilean family. The process was ridiculously long and tedious. I don't believe they had any intentions on ever giving my the money. There are a ton of students still waiting for theirs in the US. I had to go to the head of finance and basically threaten to call the police to finally receive a check. This university is a gigantic scam. I can't wait to inform OU about my time here. I love Chile, but man do I hate UVM. It's a private school, and I've quickly learned it's only here to make a profit. For example, we had a ton of events for the international students, but they were much more chances for UVM to take our pictures and use them to try to attract more international students. Complete and total failure. I won't miss their terrible campus, or half-assed classes. I now completely understand why Chileans protest for a quality education.
S - Surfing
Finally went surfing for the first time in my life. It was.....difficult to put it lightly. I managed to get up a few times, but it seemed like it always ended with me falling on my face. Actually, I think the falling was the funnest part haha. I don't think I have ever laughed so much while failing so badly. It was a great time and I will definitely return.
T - Time Flies
I can't believe I only have 3 weeks left in Chile. The last 5 months have gone by quicker than I could have imagined. I remember the day I landed like it was yesterday.
U - Uruguay
With my trip to Buenos Aires, we are also going to explore Uruguay Jan 11-13. It's a little country, with about 3 cool cities: Montevideo, Punta del Este, and Colonia. I'm actually flying in and out of Montevideo because it is a lot cheaper than trying to go to Buenos Aires. I've got to pay a nasty $140 entrance fee to go to Buenos Aires since the United States decided to tax the whole world to enter our country. I could rant about these stupid fees for years, you have no idea how hard it was to plan this vacation.
V - Vacations
Vacations are starting to pile up for the future. It seems life 3 next three years are officially booked, every single break and budgeted.
2012- Argentina, Uruguay, California, Chicago, Spain, Germany, France, and Mexico
2013- Costa Rica and New York
2014- World Cup in Brazil for a month
W - Weather
The weather here right now is AWESOME! It's summer, and it is absolutely gorgeous. We've been at the beach at least 8 times the last two weeks. I do not miss the snow back home. It's hard to get in the holiday mood when it is 85 degrees outside, but I really don't mind.
X - X amount of days left in Chile
It feels like everyone here knows their number of days left. The end is near, and we all feel it. There is a strange tension in the air. No one wants to leave, but everyone wants to go home. We've created a second life, but haven't forgotten our first. It's a strange emotion. I'm working on a big project to explain this emotion. Stay tuned.
Y and Z - are stupid letters.
