so much to write about......

HELLOOOOOO!

So I feel like things to write about just keep piling and piling up!  I keep a list of topics to write about on my blog and it just keeps getting longer and longer!  So much to share!  I think I have to realize that, well, I can't tell it all!  I'll try to tell you all the best, most interesting, things, ok?! :)

Have you all heard about the Miners here in Chile???  Basically, 33 miners are trapped inside a mine!  For more than 2 weeks we didn't know if they were alive or not!  On Monday, they sent up a note saying that the were in the Emergency Refuge in the Mine!  Thank the Lord!  They still don't know how they're going to get them out though...and it's going to be until DECEMBER until that happens.  CRAZY!  It's on the TV and all over the news everyday!  Click on the link to find out more: After 17 days, trapped Chilean miners send note they're alive. 

I was checking out my university's website and look what I've found: CLICK HERE.  I'm one of 279 international students....and I got in a picture!  (I'm on the far right in a white jacket with glassy eyes..hehe!)

ALSO....I've joined the basketball team...and made it on the website yet again!  Click the link to check it out and to see a picture of the team: our mascot is a sea horse! HAHA!  It's not the university's team, by the way.  It's just an intramural type team of foreigners.  Each "carrera" (or "major") has a team, so all the extranjeras (foreigners) get put on a team.  My only advantage: my height!!! hahahaaaaa!  Thanks Dad and Stephen, for the quick pointers!  They really helped!

Here is another link to a cool video about University Life in Valparaiso/Viña del Mar.  It's in Spanish AND English and it gives a pretty good look at the cities and the university.  :)

So far I've been going kind of link crazy in this post, but it's because I've been finding things and saving them! 

Here are some pictures to help explain what I've been up to lately:

I've been eating...a ton! like usual! right? This here is an EMPANADA de queso (of cheese!) and side of lettuce! hahaha

I got my Chilean ID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm so legit! (good American slang usage right there! yeah boii!---hard to translate to Spanish.)

El Congreso Nacional en Valparaiso! We also got a tour of the inside of it, but I won't bore you with those pictures.

CHILE! (p.s. you can assume that's me, right?)

My chilean sisters!  Ingrid, in the colors, and Sonia, in blue.  This was at Sonia's baby shower.  They play silly games here too!

Me, Sonia, and Osy (my host mom) on the couch together opening presents.

Riding the Funicular up to Cerro San Cristobal in Santiago.

Cool pic with the track in the background!

La Virgen on the top of San Cristobal.

She looks so tiny so far away....but when you get up close--she's giant!

Pretty Andes! Got smog? That entire gray mess is definitely not a giant storm cloud hovering over the city.

View of Santiago. Or...Santiasco!

This past weekend we went to Isla Negra! SOO beautiful and tranquil!

The group of us that went...on the beach! I just wish it was warm...again!

Got crab leg? Got it up your nose? I do.

Sun set!

Here's some evidence....it's spring here! FINALLY! YAY!

Alrighty, all, I must get going as I'm super tired.  I'll try to to post again during the week as it will be less busy than the last!  Hasta luego!!!!!!

P.S. I updated the last post with some more pictures and captions....so if you didn't already, go back and check them out!!!!! :)

MUA!