A year in review, only one week left!

A strange thing happened this morning as I was about to get in the shower, my bracelet that says “Lorena” broke and fell off. Even though not many people call me that anymore like in the beginning, I’d been wearing that bracelet pretty much the whole year I’ve been here, and now, less then a week before I go home, it falls off. I cannot believe I have come to this point in my study abroad experience. This year has been so incredible and it is so crazy to think that this journey is coming to a close. The year has had so many distint chapters and ups and downs and although I feel like I still have a lot more to reflect on from this past year, it is amazing to me that I can see clearly how much I have changed, grown and learned. Thinking about one year ago when I was getting ready to come to Chile for the experience of a life time I had no idea what I was getting into, the people I would meet, the places I would see, and the experiences I would have. I was just so open to everything and anything that could come my way. I got to Chile, and I was scared and nervous, but I was recieved so welcomely by my host family, our study abroad directors and the 40 other EAP students who were just as scard and nervous as I was. We all came here not knowing anything but eachother with this one aspect of our lives, of coming to Chile, we were bonded so strongly and our common characteristics of loving the spanish language, traveling, new experiences and adventuring helped us to make really good friends within the group. I am so greatful for the other UC people who came to Chile, because they brought a small bit of comfort, of home. After the first month flew by, my first day at my new University had arrived. I will never forget how scary it was, learning a new big campus, listening to the lectures in Spanish while trying my hardest to follow along and take good notes (That definitely had to come with practice!), and just trying to meet and talk to people in my classes. During that semester I had the opportunity to travel all around South America, alot and just see so many different incredible places while bonding with certain people I’d met here. We would also just go on adventures exploring around Santiago and go out on the weekends and it seemed like every minute was full of new and exciting things! It was somewhere in my first few months that I decided to stay for the year in order to really experience real life here where everything isn’t so new and exciting, and do better in my classes, work on my Spanish skills and meet more people from Chile to learn more about them and the culture. On my summer break (December to March) I had the opportunity to go to Raul Marin Balmaceda in the Chilean Patagonia and live and work with a family for 2 months. If anyone asks me what my best experience in Chile was, I would hands down say that two months. I was in the most beautiful place and I was basically living my childhood dream of living in the middle of nowhere, riding horses, star gazing, being on the water, and having lots of family time. I got to know this very caring family really well and it was in Raul Marin is where I feel like my Spanish exponentially grew the most. After that it was a few more summer travels with my Dad and then to start the real test, and most internally challenging part of the whole experience for me: my last semester. In my last 3 months I got very involved at school and outside of school to keep myself as busy as possible, I took a heavier load of classes, and moved out on my own. The last semester was difficult but in ways completely different from what was challenging first semester because the newness of everything started to fade, and the homesickness sunk in, on top of that my best friends from the program now had gone. Although it has been hard, this last chunk, I don’t regret staying even one bit because the amount that I have learned is so great and I feel like it has help me to become a stronger person and I know that when I am done I will feel so proud of what I have accomplished for myself and like I can do anything.

Coming to Chile I had thought before about how different the world was in other places and how much one person’s life experiences vary from anothers, but for me that didn’t really sink and become real until I came here and I tried to put myself in another shoes for a year. I know that there are other places on this planet that are a lot more different then home then Chile is, but it still has been a very interesting and rewarding experience. I have had the opportunity to see the world from another perspective, by becoming a member of another society. It is so crazy to see how much I have learned about Chile and the people in Chile over my year here and to think about what my perspective was and how it has changed at different points in my experience. I’m sure if I was to stay here longer my perception would continue to transform even more to understand that reality that Chileans live everyday and our born into. One of the advantages of being an outsider is that I have been able to experience many different realities of Chile in terms of living in different places, from working in a really poor town to studying at a top University to living in one of the most secluded places in the world. I have been able to form my perception from the accumulation of many different perspectives and ways of life. I think it is going to be really interesting to go back home and see California, at least for a short while, from the outsiders perspective.

In addition to a new perspective of the world and the realities that people live, I feel like I have gained a lot of independence, self-confidence, and strength as a person living outside of my comfort zone and having to really establish myself in a new place. Of course I had many handicaps such as skype, and friends from California, but I feel like this has really been an accomplishment for me and helped me to grow as a person. I also think that a lot of things that I believe, certain values, and aspects of my identity that were internalized and fixed have been challenged by being here and out of my context at home because I have been able question them and see what I really do value and what things I may have just thought or believed to be true because that is what my society and the people around me believed. It is kind of a complex process, but basically I feel like I have been able to learn a lot more about myself here as I have been able to meet new people who were plucked out of their context (friends who are foreigners) at home and also people who live here and learn about their values in life.

I am so grateful to have had this experience abroad, and have so much to be thankful for, mostly from my parents and my support from home to allow me to have this selfish experience because I know without them I wouldn’t have been able to go through with it or had the opportunity. I just hope that I am able to give back from all that I have learned to my family and friends, to EAP, to Chile, to California, to my Chilean families, etc. so I can in someway repay the people who have made this experience amazing for me. It has been one of the most valuable experiences of my life both from all that I have learned and just all of the exciting and fun times I have had and one that I will never, ever forget.

See you June 26th Fresno :D

May Flowers? Nope.

oh blogging, what a wonderful procrastination strategy you are. hello everyone, here we are in the middle of may where there are no may flowers, but the beginning of a very cold winter. well, not THAT cold, but for a california girl with central heating and a nice fluffy comforter in the winter time its pretty cold. I've just been crusin' through this semester number 2. Doing lots of normal stuff, tests, studying, assignments. I just took my midterms which I'm still waiting to get the grades on. I definitely did better then on my midterms last semester but we'll see just how great those grades come out. I actually did get my first "7" on a quiz last week which was really exciting for me!! (A 7 is basically an A+ in confusing Chilean grade terms) I'm still loving my swim class and have that 3 times a week which is great. The best part is that the pool is covered by this huge circus tarp type thingy which means that its not freezing when i get out of the pool. Its actually really warm in there.

My oil painting class is still going really well and now I've started working on this mountain scene of the kings river and the forest in the background. It is really challenging, but I enjoy going there and forgeting about everything and getting lost in my painting for a few hours.

I've also still been enjoying my internship at the high school with the English classes. I still go 3 times a week and even if they don't have anything in specific for me to do its good for me just being there and observing the classes and also talking to the girls. But for the most part I help with the assignments or with projects and usually take a group of girls outside to just practice conversing in English. Its definitely really challenging especially when they are all on different levels, but its good.

Let's see, a couple weekends ago was a three day weekend and I went to Valparaiso again which is the famous port city an hour and a half from Santiago. It has a very unique style and when you are walking in the hills you just get this warm, happy, content feeling which is really nice. It was good to get out of Santiago for the weekend. The next weekend I went Rock Climbing in Cajon del Maipo with a few friends. I had never been REAL rock climbing before, and it was extremely hard but really fun. The people that we went with go practice in a gym 3 times a week so I've been trying to go to some of those. But yeah, that was really random, but it ended up to be a great day. My arms were extremely sore after though.  Last weekend I went to a Fernando Milagros concert who is a Chilean band that I actually first saw that the Lollapalooza music festival at the beginning of this semester.  I really like them and it was a great concert.

So yeah, thats about all that's been going on. The closer I get to coming home the more excited I am. I can't wait to see my family and friends and sleep in my own bed. It's been a long time coming but I've learned so much from my language skills, to life in general, to being on my own and the struggles/ empowerment that I feel after having completing something so difficult, to the Chilean culture, and people, and history as well as all the things I've learned in my classes. Even though my grades haven't been great, I feel like I've learned so much and really taken some meaningful classes. I love learning and seeing and this experience has just been so incredible. I feel so lucky and so happy with the decisions I've made.

me wandering the streets of santiago (thats the plastic bag i carry my materials for painting in, i feel like the bag lady every time i carry it)

rock climbing group

fernando milagros concert (we had the best seats in the house)

March/ April (for the lack of a more creative title)

OK well I’m a little behind on the blogging as we all can tell. To be honest I’m a little over the blog, but I guess that one of the good things about only having 2 months left. Well I haven’t done too much crazy stuff since the last entry. It seems that last semester was more like crazy adventures and ditching school to travel and staying out late on the weekends and now I’m a little more back to reality focusing on my classes and internship. It definitely isn’t a bad thing, just a new, distinct stage in the study abroad experience.

A few weeks ago I did have the chance to go to one of the days of the Lollapalooza which is an outdoor music festival that actually started in Chicago 1991 where mostly rock bands play with a few exceptions. This was my first music festival ever and I really enjoyed it!! We got to see Foster the People, MGMT, Foo Fighters, a couple techno DJs, Fernando Milagras (not sure if I spelled that right) but basically a Chilean group who I really liked. 

The day before that I went on the EAP (my study abroad program) trip/ excursion to Pomaire. I didn’t go last semester but heard really good feedback from my friends who did go so I decided to make the trip this semester. Pomaire is a small town outside of Santiago originally inhabited by Quechuas, who are the indigenous people from Peru. I was surprised because I didn’t think the Quechuas had established so far south. The main source of income in the town was and still is through clay. They would dig it from the ground and make buildings and other pottery items. We got to see how the process worked and hear different stories about the town. After, they served us a nice Chilean lunch and we got to make our own pottery pieces. Then we could go to town and buy some if we wanted. The town was really cute and had all kinds of precious pieces. I was very tempted to buy a lot of things but I had to keep reminding myself that everything I buy I have to carry home! 

A couple of weekends later we had a holiday Thursday and Friday so I traveled with my host brother from over the summer who goes to school in Santiago down to Puerto Varas to visit the family I stayed with during the summer. We got to stay in the apartment that is attacted to the new house they are building. It was decorated very rustic and cabin like, and had a very homey feel. It was nice to see them and spend some time with them and just relax. We had a nice visit and they took me to see the next town over as well called Fruitillar. They also had a new german shepard puppy that I absolutely fell in love with!!! He was so adorable. So yeah that was a really nice little getaway, and they played “the proposal” on the bus, which was great, haha especially cause it was covered with Spanish talking.

In regards to my internship, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! I’m not sure if I explained this before but I go to this all girls high school and help out with the English classes. The girls are so cool and into it and always really happy to see me, almost as happy as I am to see and talk to them, haha! The other day I went and it turned out that the teacher had a meeting so they gave me an assignment and I got to teach the class. We had to translate some sentences and I had us all do it together on the bored and it was just really fun for me. The girls were really cooperative and participated too, which was great.

me with one of my classes, where's lauren?

That’s about all that’s been going on for now besides school and my oil painting class, that I am really liking. My first painting I gave to that family when I went to see them in Puerto Varas, I thought it would be a cool and personal gift and especially make sense seeing as they’re building a house. So yeah, stay toned for more updates hopefully in less then a month like last time. 

Back to School 2012

Hello everyone! I’m officially ¾ of the way through my study abroad experience. I’ve been here now for 9 months and will be going home in 3… but whose counting anyway?! I’ve now been in school in my new semester for two weeks and its going great so far. I am taking a swimming class, a “Chilean culture” class (to really seal the deal on my Chilean cultural knowledge ;) ) and 3 psychology classes. My Chilean culture class hasn’t started yet but I love my other classes so far. Everyone in my swim class is really cool and it is really nice to be back in the water and having fun while getting some exercise too. I also love my psych classes, before this semester I was dreading a little bit having to finish my psych major cause it just wasn’t interesting to me anymore especially after my really bad psych class last semester, but all that has changed now. My teachers are all really good and the topics are interesting as well as all three classes intertwine in some way. I am really determined to do well in my classes this semester and I think I can do it. I am managing the language barrier a lot better now as compared to last semester. I am able to get through my readings a lot easier and I am able to follow in class. In addition to my classes I have also decided to do an internship helping with English classes in a all girls high school here in Santiago. It is very different classroom dynamics compared to my internship last semester, but I love it. Today I showed the girls a power point about me and then helped them with some class activities. They are all very into it and really sweet. I am really excited for the semester working with them. I also found out today that I’m going to be taking a painting class on Wednesday nights, it is separate from the school with a company that I had heard of last semester. I’ve picked out a picture that I want to paint that reminds me of Chile and I’m just really happy that I’m going to be able to do that. As you may have noticed, I am keeping myself very busy this semester and the schedule is a little different from last semester where I only had class tues-thurs so I could travel on my 5 day weekends every weekend, haha. It sounds a little ridiculous now that I share that with all of you but this semester is going to be different. Like I said, its not different in a bad way its just that now I’ve already been here 9 months and I’ve realized I’m not the “new foreign lost girl” anymore. This is my school, this is where I live and I have to be focused to be successful and prove to myself that I can do this and this trip was worth it. The other small reason I’ve jam packed my schedule is that the homesickness has finally caught up with me. Once summer was over and my dad left I’ve really been missing my family and friends and just my home in general. I love having adventures and learning new things and meeting new people but in the end I am a home-body and I am very excited to go back and just be surrounded by my loving friends and family who I know miss me as much as I miss them. Well I guess that about wraps up the update. I wish I had a picture to post, but I’ve got nothing. Until next time!

End of a great summer, Duke and Lauren style

Well, I just realized that my last blog post is titled “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” it now being March and all I would say that I’m past due for a new post. I have realized recently that when I feel like writing a blog post its usually because I am bored and with nothing to do which usually means there is not much to talk about but when I get behind 2 months, its because I have been doing a lot, haven't had any time for blogs and so much has gone on that it is nearly impossible to fit it in one blog post but I'll give it a shot.

For starters, I finished up my time in Puerto Raul Marin Balmaceda in the Aysen Region of Chilean Patagonia. I caught the ship early in the morning on February 9^th about 2 months after I first met the family. The whole family was up at 5:30am to get me to the dock where it comes in and say goodbye. We closely calculated how long it would take me to get to Santiago to be there February 13^th at 10:00am to meet up with my Dad so that I could stay in Raul Marin as long as possible. I didn’t want to go. We had so many good times that I will always remember. Some days were slower and others were packed with lots to do and people to entertain. Not only did I get to know the family really well, I got to meet many people who stayed at the lodge and was able to learn a little about them as they questioned me with curiosity of what I am doing and what I think of Chile. I also got to hear a lot about the political and economic issues of this desolate area of Chile through many long conversations at the home with guests and friends. It is a difficult issue because there are so many aspects of the area that are inefficient for example travel and the access to food, electricity, water and jobs and there are actually big protests going on in the area right now where people are blocking roads and causing disruptions that started just a few days after I left to get the word out about these problems. But I think too about how one of the main charms of the whole Patagonia area is how untouched it is and how few people there are. This is what makes it so beautiful and what has attracted it to me so much. It is a difficult to find the balance between making the lives of the people who live there better and easier and keeping it natural and not making it so artificial and touched by people. I think that has to be one of the most controversial and challenging topics and problems. Needless to say I fell in love with Patagonia and my family and Fundo Los Leones Lodge and will definitely be back to see more some day soon.

Me and Mama Mery

Me and Nico before our kayak down the Palena River

The whole kid clan

my little furry friends Mota and Pelusa

The house

Once I made it back to Santiago I finally met up with my Dad! I was so excited to see him watching the monitors of the people exiting the doors. When I finally saw his royal blue hat I ran to go catch up with him as he was bombarded with taxi drivers and people yelling. He had brought a whole suitcase of things with Christmas cards, valentines cards, birthday cards and presents and of course a plastic jar of my Nina’s snickerdoodle cookies. When he pulled out the jar he said he had asked Nina, “Why can’t I just take them in a plastic bag so it takes up less space” and she insisted they be in a jar so that they wouldn’t get here smashed. Needless to say, they were delicious and in perfect form. The next day we headed to Iguazu Falls, we had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning for our transfer to the airport, but we got there and mom had booked us a nice hotel with an incredible pool where we lounged the whole next day. We went out to some nice dinners for Valentines day and my 21^st birthday and had some delicious Argentine steaks! I’m not even a big meat eater and they were amazing. On the day of my birthday we spent the whole day at the falls and took the boat that drives you into them. It was awesome. The sight was so beautiful in general and I was just so happy.

Were in Argentina, Brazil is on the right, Paraguay on the Left 

After Iguazu we headed back to Santiago and spent a few days here seeing some tourist sights and doing some prime people watching. Then we took a night bus to Pucon, Chile which is about 10 hours south of Santiago in the mountains. Pucon does tourism right and I think if anyone wants to see the best of the south this is the place to start! The town is very small but the buildings are very cute, there is a big lake and on a clear day you can enjoy the view of the famous Volcano Villarrica. Actually my dad and I ended up climbing the Volcano on the most beautiful day, no joke. There are tons of companies that take you up this second most active Volcano in Chile and we decided that we couldn't miss it. I’m not going to lie some parts were really freaky and I thought to myself what am I doing and who would have ever thought I’d be here with my Dad, but it was so worth it. We spent the rest of the time relaxing at the lake, bike riding to waterfalls, going to the hotsprings, eating out, watching Chilean Elvis at the casino or should I say “El Rey de Rock”, and of course our favorite rock back right on the corner of O’Higgins and Ansorena. It was an amazing trip and I’ll never forget it, we had such a great time and it was the perfect way to end my summer. I’m now officially back in Santiago, with my last semester or 4 months to go. I don’t know what this semester is going to bring me and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. But it will be an adventure and I’m ready so bring it on. Later alligators.

Look, what a pretty volcano...

Alright LETS DO THIS!

Chillin' at the top like a champ ;)

Hot Springs with our Uncle John Shirts, R.I.P. we love you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I´m still down here in northern patagonia, been here for about 2 or 3 weeks. The house is full of life and people again! Right now in the house it is the two parents, Mery and Mauricio, my two new hermanos chilenos, and me. We were laughing the other day cause I told them I´ve only ever had brothers ( Garrett and my Chilean brother in Santiago) and I´m finding that they are all pretty much the same! We´ve had some guests here at the Ecolodge and it was busy and a lot of work, but very fun and entertaining. The whole property here we are living on is actually owned my an American man who has several properties in Patagonia and dedicates them to conservation of the environment. The family I´m living with has lived here now for 14 years, taking care of the land, and just about 5 years ago started accepting tourists in their cabanas on the beach. It is definitely a family run buisness, with Mery and Mauricio doing all the cooking, and the sons doing the kayaking, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding excursions. I´ve been fitting in great here and help out wherever I can. They have had volunteers before and actually weren´t going to have another this year, denying about 10 people until they got to me and I reminded them of a girl that they had 2 years ago, last year it was her brother who came to help. So now I answer in the house to Lauren and every once in a while, Emily, the girl who was here before. haha. I spent Christmas here with the family which was hard because I missed my family alot, but they made me feel very welcome here and part of their family. On Christmas Eve we made a big dinner and had some of their traditional foods and drinks. They house was decorated (still is) and we had a little Christmas Tree in the living room. After dinner we opened the presents under the tree. Mery was so sweet and bought me a scarf and ring. On Christmas Day we ended up having 4 French guests for lunch so we made their lunch and once they left had another nice dinner together. On the 26th 2 American couples came to stay in the cabanas for about 5 days. I got to help out alot with them making them feel comfortable and welcome. It is a lot easier without the language barrier. I did a lot of translating during the week and got to do a lot of the excursions because I was able to talk to them in English. After we were all dead tired, but it went very well. On New Years Eve they had some friends over, made empanadas, which were delicious, and rang in the New Year with Champaigne hugs and kisses. It ended up to be a great night! Our next guests come the 3rd so we´ve been resting alot getting ready for the next group. I´ve been getting to ride the horses about every night which is like a dream. They hadn´t been ridden in about 7 months when we got here so we´ve been trying to break some bad habits but its been great. There are also two young horses that have never been ridden so we are working on  making them more comfortable with being around people. I love them, they are so sweet. Last night we rode the others down the beach as the sun was setting and it was so quiet and beautiful. Its absolutely amazing here and I´m having an amazing time. It was a little more difficult through the holidays not being around my family, but I´m so lucky to have this experience. Also my Dad will be coming in a little over a month for my 21st birthday which I am looking forward to so much! I´m officially over the 6 month hump of my trip and am still as excited to be here as I was when I first came, especially now that school is out and I´m finally getting some summer sunshine. Just like everyone says, `No one studies abroad to actually study`!! I´ve been taking lots of pictures and will up load them as soon as I get to Santiago. Until Later. <3 Lauren

P.S. Small Chilean News Update: In southern Chilean Patagonia they had a horrible forest fire, started by a tourist in their National Park of Torres del Paine. Right now is their peak season and they had to close the park for all of January. So far it has burned about 12,000 hectors. I´m so bummed I didn´t make it down there before the fire, because it is supposed to be absolutely amazing and one of the most beautiful places in Chile. A lot of wildlife have fled the area without homes. The fire is now officially under control but I´m not quite sure if its been completely put out. 

Livin` it up! Patagonia Style

So I made it on to my first summer adventure, FINALLY!!! Right now I´m chillen in Raul Marin Balmeceda in the Aisen region of Patagonia. About a month ago I got in contact with the family who lives and runs a ranch out here in Chilean Patagonia and they agreed to let me come stay with them for a month helping out with whatever needs to be done. They also have 4 tourist cabanas for recieving guests. This place is amazing, I absolutely love it. After the 10 hour boat ride, 5 hour drive down the (dirt highway) carretera austral, 5 min ferry, and 10 min drive to the front gate of the ranch we made it here! (And mind you this was all after i took a 12 hour bus from Santiago) The entrance is really long to the ranch, about 2 miles. First thing you see is lots of trees, greenery and open fields with foresty mountains and hills in the background. The as you continue driving you start to see some of the 100 or so sheep they have grazing. Keep driving and you get to another gate, get out of the car to be welcomed by the dogs barking and wagging their tails. Enter through the garden (biggest garden i´ve ever seen) with carrots, all types of lettuce, spinach, green onions, lavender, other spices, just to name a few of the things I can think of off the top of my head. As you walk through and out the garden gate to the path to the house you see on the left rows of blueberry plants, as well as potatoes growing. And the country style 2 story, 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house in front of you. Walking around the house to the right you get to a sort of backyard where they´ve just built and enclose BBQ area with a table and seats. Keep walking straight and you see 2 of the 4 cabanas. Walk past that and there it is, a strip of ocean (no waves, looks like a lake in that way) and sandy beach. I´ve walked up and down the beach with the dogs now everyday and seen groups of dolphins swimming twice. I have yet to go kayaking but they have a bunch of kayaks that can be taken out too. The first couple days the weather was nice, i did a lot of weeding on the paths and some help with cooking in the kitchen. Then a couple days ago the family i´m with left to go back to the city where I met them to turn in their winter rental house and pick up their sons to come back here for the summer, so I´m left here alone for almost a week!! I´ve spent 2 nights here alone so far. It is nice that the sun rises before I wake up and goes down about 11:00pm when i go to sleep, cause usually I´m most scared when its dark outside. In the house, the electricity runs on a generator that we only turn on for a couple hours in the morning and a couple hours at night so needless to say, its been pretty quiet. Probably the most silence I´ve experienced in my life, ever. But I´m taking advantage of it and actually getting pretty used to this life. Ive been doing lots of reading, baking, and long walks on the beach which can probably all three qualify in my top 10 favorite things to do. At night the stars are absolutely incredible, so bright and so many!! I have yet to go star gazing though, not that comfortable outside in the dark quite yet ;). But needless to say, its been a great kick off to my summer, as well as the fact that I improved my grades on all my finals from my midterm grades, which makes me excited to do even better next semester. I´m going to miss my family lots over Christmas, but I´m so glad I found a great family to spend the holidays with and a beautiful place to live the next month. Living on this ranch I am living my dream and am so happy to be here having this experience. I wouldn´t have it any other way and everyday I just feel so blessed to be able to do all the things I´m doing. I wish I could upload some pictures but i haven´t really figured that out yet on this desktop. So for now, Chao and Feliz Navidad :)