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.