el concierto en el jardin botanico, la llegada de la guagua, y el principio del viaje a Mendoza

Hola my lovers!  I miss you alllllll dearly!  But here goes some rambling...I hope you enjoy it! :P Warning: long post. You may take breaks to use the bathroom if you like. hehe

First things first: School.  I mean...that is why I'm here, right? To 'study' abroad? eh? hehehe.  College is a lot different here.  Granted I'm only taking three academic classes (Psychology of the Adolescent, General Literature, and Latin American Stories)...still. (My other classes are a gym class where we play Mapuche games, a Mountain Sports class where we take field trips, and a dance class where we learn traditional dances).  Instead of being assigned to do readings and assignments for each class, we have to do more group projects and, readings on our own, and studying.  Sometimes it's hard though, because instead of having to have "30 pages read for next class" we have to have "three entire readings/packets plus a book read by next test."  Which isn't incredibly bad, as I can get it done, but when it's in Spanish it take a whole lot longer.  The classes that I do have homework/tests/projects in...I feel like my work needs to be top notch.  Especially for my General Literature class.  In that class I am the only gringa and find myself feeling like I need to prove something.  I feel like I need to prove my ability to do well in a Chilean class--I need to show the professor and the class that I'm not just studying abroad for vacation, but that I actually want to learn something!  I've been getting a lot of help from my genius brother William for that class...he's basically my tutor! hehehe!  I've already had two tests in that class and just finished a presentation due next week (which I thought was due yesterday! ahhh! but classes were canceled!).  I have my first Psychology test next Wednesday and I'm planning to study with some of my Chilean friends from that class.  It shouldn't be too bad as most of the information I have already studied when taking my Developmental Psych class last semester.

Volunteer jobs: They're hardly 'jobs'!  More like....Volunteer fun!  I'm absolutely looooving my job at the girls' home.  I now go there every Monday and Friday afternoons and am planning events (probably once a month).  Our first event is October 16th!  We're going to have a Girl Day!  We'll paint nails, do hair, do make-up, make bracelets and necklaces, eat snackies, etc.  Last Friday, I was helping Yamilet (6 years old) with her homework.  She's soooo cute, but can be a bit difficult to deal with at times.  As I sit next to her she holds my hand and presses her cheek against mine.  She then looks up at me and asks me, "Can you come just to see me, and only me?"  I look at her cute little face and say, "Siiiii!"  Then she looks back at me and ask me again, "...and only me? Some days..." (as in more than just once).  And I say, "Yes, of course!"  Then we get back to doing her homework.  On Monday...I was helping Airline with her homework (more like goofing off...haha) and then I went to go help Yamilet with something on the computer.  I put her on my lap and she says, "Stay with me..."  I give her a little kiss and return to Airline and her homework.  Awwwwww she melts my heart!!!


I also started another volunteer job at a primary school (which is elementary and middle school).  It's also an 'integration' school.  Where they integrate special needs kids into regular classrooms.  I'm working with those wonderful kids (ages 17-22) every Monday and Friday mornings.  They are a great group of kids (about ten), some have Down's Syndrome, Asperger's, and others have learning disabilities.  I help them with whatever activities they are working on, talk with them, get to know them, and basically be friends with them (my favorite). :)  On Fridays, I'll also be able to join them when they have their "Development Session" with the school psychologist!  So exciting! 

Other things I've been up to:

I went to a concert in the Botanical Garden last Sunday with my host dad and my friend from CIEE, Melissa.  I'm convinced Chile is stuck in time...many times at that...there's still a lot of Hippie influence here and this concert definitely was a testament to that.  ALSO...Chile is stuck in the 80's...fashion wise.  Everywhere I look I can find many with bleach washed skinny jeans, mullets galore!, rat tails (nasty!), etc.  It doesn't seem that weird when I type it out...but it is!  I'm not saying that everyone is like this either or that it's a 'bad' thing...it's just an observation.  Back to the Botanical Garden--it was beautiful!  Such a contrast from the city and only about 20 minutes away in bus!  It was so calm, smelled so good, everything so green, etc!  Here are some pics:

beautifuuuuul! springtime here it comes...for real!

MA' O MENO'!  That's the name we gave this dog (it should be 'mas o menos'...but we do it Chilean style...means: more or less.)  It was THE spectacle of the concert for me.  It ran around the crowd, which was sitting in the grass, wearing a red necklace!  It crraaaaacked me up! Ma' o meno', you will not be forgotten.

It was actually pretty cool music...one song was about 'puta esperanza' ("#$%! hope).  (Sorry Bekah, here I go swearing again in my blog! oops!)

Melissa y yo!

My host dad and Melissa...look at that GREEN!

Smelling the beautiful scents!  Soak it up, Melissa!

NEXT:  Last Thursday, my new baby nephew was born!  Esteban!!!!!  He's the cutest littlest thing I've ever seeeeen!  My host dad and I went to see Sonita (host sister) in the afternoon.  We got to the clinic and minutes later they brought in Esteban for Sonita to hold him for the very first time!  SOO CUTE!  What a little miracle he is!  My host dad also told me that he should take me to a public hospital some day so that I can compare what it's like between a private clinic (where we were) and then the public system.  From what I know, the whole health system here is complicated, because all the good health care you can get is private...the public system is really bad.  I think this also goes along side with education.  Basically, there is a big gap between private and public here...the rich and the poor.  As a whole, the middle class is very small here in Chile.  Now...onto the the baby pics:

Mommy holding baby for the first time!  Look at Grandpa's excitement!

I got to hold the little one for quite some time!  Sonita's arm was swollen from the IV so Julio and I took off turns holding Esteban!  I got to held this only-hours-old guagua (baby)!

Big sister hold baby brother for the first time!

The kiddies and Osy came after they got out of school!

He opened his eyes!!!!

What a cuuuuutie patooootie!  (If you look closely...he has long nails! hahaha)

The other family that came to see the lil guy!

What a little bundle!  This is after his first meal! heheh!

From the clinic that day, I went home, ate dinner, and then off to the bus terminal and on my way to MENDOZA, ARGENTINA (next blog post...WAY too many pictures to add to this post!)  Crossing the border!

This is us in the bus waiting to leave Santiago!  Look at these seats!  We're on the top of a double decker bus RIGHT in front with the best view evaaaaa!  At some points in the trip it felt like we were on one of those virtual rollar coaster rides! haha!

Saving the best topic for last--God.  He's sooooooo good.  I go to bed and wake up thanking thanking thanking Him for allll he's done for me!  Here I am...in Chile...speaking Spanish...part of a wonderful host family...learning so much...experiencing so many new things...and it's all for Him.  There's no need to worry about a thing, because the 'big guy' is right by my side!  I appreciate all your prayers SO MUCH and would appreciate if you keep praying for me.  I also love the church I go to here with my host parents, but it has been a little difficult trying to get involved there, but just this week I found a friend who happens to go to the same church!  She then told me about a Bible study she's in and said that I can get together with some of the friends she knows from church!  An ANSWER to a prayer right before my eyes!  Thank the Lord.  Ya, know...even when you don't think He hears us...He always does....even for the little things.  It's all about being patient (which I've been learning how to be a lot these days).  God is good, all the time.

Sending my love---from me---in Chile---to you---wherever you may be. MUAH!

Diane