Welcome to my humble abode...

Hola!

So I realize I haven't shown you all pictures of my house yet!  It's actually an apartment, but we still call it our casa (house) in Spanish.  You don't have to read all the captions if you don't want to....sorry, I wrote a lot! 

My apartment complex is the building in the center of the photo...the one next to the big brick building (which is the hotel I was at the first days!)  It was funny when my host family picked me up, because they asked me, "Is it okay if we walk to the house--do you like walking?--it's not that far."  I was like, "Sure!"  Then we didn't even walk one block and there we were! HA!

My number is 42...so that's the 4th floor, right? well...there are also apartments in between flights...so I actually walk up 8 "flights" of steps!  Good exercise!

Notice that the door handle is in the center of the door!  And it doesn't turn--it's just used to pull the door closed.  Every time you open or close the door shut, you have to use your key.  Also, the black box looking thing on the wall next to the door is a garbage shoot!  Cool, huh?

here is looking down the hallway to the left when you walk in (but I'm standing in the living room, not in front of the door.)

here is looking to the right when standing in front of the apartment door.  Notice that the fridge is, well, in the living room!  (you'll find out why next!)

This is the kitchen!  Tiny (wouldn't fit a fridge!) but nice!  I made it my chore to wash the dishes after meals.  (Thanks mom for teaching me how to wash dishes! hehehe!)  My host parents always say that I don't have to wash, but I insist that it's no problem at all and that I actually want to do it!  They made me promise them that once I start having homework that I will let them wash the dishes. hahaha...so cute!

here's looking out of the kitchen across the hall at the front door.

Here's a glimpse of the lovely veggies and fruit we eat tons of!

This is the heater----that heats the water (not the house)!  You have to light it with a match if you want hot water, and yes, we want hot water (especially for the shower in the morning!).  

The view from the kitchen window.

Back to the living room...my host mom and her brother painted that painting!

Two nights ago, it was me and my host parents on that couch watching the news at night.  They both dozed off and started snoring! hahaha! Then they woke up and my host dad said he was "thinking" and my host mom was just cracking up, because she always makes fun of Julio for snoring, and there she was...snoring too!

here's the inside of the fridge! "Cribs" style!

Fruta!!! My host dad makes the bomb orange-banana smoothie/juice!

In the bottom cabinets are all the dishes!  Very convenient!  If we forget something, we hardly have to get up from the table...hehehe.

There's always instant coffee and tea...and hot water in thermoses.  It's one way to warm up in the house!

view from the living room window to the right

view to the left.  Beautiful day out today!!

Bathroom/Laundry room!

You can't flush the toilet paper down the toilets here....being in Mexico has prepared me for this...among many other things, of course.

HOLA!  The basket behind me is where I put my stuff. :)

The shower!--don't worry, the window isn't open when your actually taking a shower.  There are shower curtains on both sides of the shower...the one hanging out the window is drying off. 

My host parent's room and my host mom!  She's was looking for a piece of paper that had someones phone number on it...so it's a little messy right now. :)

There's that cutie again!  Always smiling!  That's also her desk where she prepares for class.  She makes jewelry and teaches classes as well!

Some of the jewelry she has made!

Finally...my room! (HOPE FRIENDS: notice the gray blanket on my bed!?!? YES, I brought the wheelchair race prize that I am sooo proud of to Chile!)

Here's the window...my towel is hanging out to dry!  It looks like such a nice warm sunny day, with the window open and all...but trust me...it's chilly here!  It's better to open the windows during the day to let the cold air OUT of the house and to let the sun in!  Weird, huh?  (You like the little bear carpet!? When my mom first showed me the room she said that it's welcoming me into my new room! So cute!)

not that great of a view...but hey...that sun feels sooooo good coming in from the window!  The fresh air is always nice too!

Looking out the window to the right.

And...my closet!  Perfect, eh!?

And to end, here's a picture from last night!  My friend from CIEE, Melissa, ate over and we had a great dinner!  Here are my host parents showing off the food!

Wednesday was my first day of classes.  I had Psychology of the Adolescent and then the literature class at the University.  For the psych class...it was just me and another American (friend from CIEE)!  No Chileans showed up!  I guess that's normal for the first day/week of classes.  The class is supposed to last about 2 1/2- 3 hours so she said that for next week we should come an hour or so late, because she will have to explain everything she already did to the Chileans and she doesn't want us to have to sit through it again.  She was super nice, easy to understand, she studied in France so she is very understanding of us as foreigners.  I think that class is going to be great--once the Chileans show up! 

Yesterday, I had my Juegos Mapuches gym class and this time...the professor didn't show up!  So no class!

Today, I have my first camping class at 5:20pm.  There are some other CIEE kids taking that class, so it should be fun to take it with them along with Chileans! :)

OH!  Also, one more thing!  I went out for the first time this week!  We went with a HUGE group of foreigners and the student helpers from the University to a bar/club type thing.  There was dancing and it was fun.  I came back home early with two other girls---early, meaning, 1:30am.  YES, that was early!  Chileans go until like 6am!!!!!  I could never do that!  I went right to bed when I got home and the next morning woke up and went running down by the beach!  Oh, the joys of having fun without drinking...aka...without a hangover.  Going out was fun...it was an experience...but it wasn't as much fun as playing cranium with Hanna!!! hehehehehe!!!!!  Tonight it is someone's bday so we're going to go salsa dancing!  Yay!

If there's anything that you want me to post about....let me know!

Hasta luego!

it's already been more than one week!

Check this out: I made it on TV!  (only for 2 seconds! at 0:58 seconds you can see me!)
http://24horas.cl/videosRegiones.aspx?id=28119&idRegion=5

OK....

First off: I hope you all are doing very well back home!  Please, just because I have a blog, doesn't mean that this is the only way I communicate....so if you want to email me, skype me, or facebook me...that'd be great! :)  Or...just leave a comment below.  I reallllyyyy do love reading them (thanks Bekah baby cakes!!)

I went to the dunes this past weekend here in Concon...which is right next to Vina del Mar!  Here are some pics (there's more on facebook!):

I registered for classes yesterday.  I'm talking 2 literature classes, 2 psychology classes, a gym class on Mapuche (the main indigenous tribe) games, and a camping class that takes weekend trips! Cool, huh?! :)  I start classes tomorrrrooowww!!!  Exciting!  I'm a little nervous, but I get nervous for the first day of classes back home too, hehehe!

ALSO, yesterday, while I was crossing the cross walk by the university with two of my friends I completely tripped and fell (didn't face plant though).  Luckily there were plenty of people around to see!  A micro (bus) and many cars were waiting at the light and were probably watching the red head cross the street! hahaha! It's a good thing it's winter here as I was wearing pants which helped me not scratch my leg as bad (no blood or anything!) and I also haven't shaved my legs since I left home...so I bet the extra hair helped as a buffer too. hahahahahahahah "Too Much Information," you say....sorrrryyyy!!!!!!!!!!

Alrighty....well I have to do homework that's due tomorrow for CIEE!

Ciao!

I'm living here...

That's what I said to myself while walking down the street today.  I went to the CIEE Office for class---by myself---today for the first time.  My host dad has been accompanying me so that I know where I am going, which is very nice of him.  He would also meet me at the office when the class ended and walk back with me to the house.  I knew my way around, so, I worked up the courage to tell my host parents that I can do it by myself now! When I got back to the house from class...with no problem...my host mom said that I'm a big girl now! hahahaha! 

Today, in the morning, I went to Valparaiso, via la micro, which is a mode of public transportation that I will be using.  It's basically a bus.  We went to the University there and had orientation with all of the international students and boy were there a lot!  More than 150 I think.  I'm horrible with estimating numbers of people....but that's my guess.  They also had some dancers and musicians come in to welcome us with a performance.  Here are some pictures and some clips!  I hope the videos work!

La Cueca, Chile's national dance...there are many different types of this dance.  My host mom said that she was going to teach me how to dance this--she already gave me my handkerchief! hahaha (I'll probably learn a more traditional type of La Cueca.)

address!!!

Here's my Chilean address:

Diane Hawke
Calle Viana No 253 - Depto. 42
Edif. Ipanema - B
Viña del Mar
Chile

en casa!

Hello friends and family!

Here I am, sitting in my room, in my apartment, with my Chilean family in the other room. :) I live with an older cute couple.  They are more like younger grandparents. :)  They welcomed me with open arms and huge smiles.  I was so excited to meet them just as they were excited to meet me.  Being in Mexico for two months has realllllly prepared me for living with a host family here...especially with the whole Spanish 24/7 thing.  Chilean Spanish is easier than I thought it would be, but I'm still learning a ton, and there are also still many times where I just nod and smile...nod and smile. hehe

It's cold here and there's no central heating...so that means no heat inside buildings.  It's not horrible though.  Right now it's about 62 degrees Fahrenheit in my room about now...if my travel alarm clock is correct, which it might not be.  Last night I was very warm in my bed, under 6 blankets...and boy were they heavy. There was one point during the night that I was too hot!  I turned back the covers, felt the very cold air, and pulled them right back over me.  Much rather be toasty than freezing.  I don't think warm showers have ever felt so good either.

Here are some pictures that I've taken so far....

view from the plane with the Andes to the left

another view of the Andes

 

 

 

 

 

Driving through Valparaiso (picture taken from the bus)

Vina del Mar (not the best picture, but it's all I have so far)

Part of my Chilean family.  The two cuties on the right are my host parents...it's just us three in the house. :)

there was sun today! I even got a little warm walking around! It's interesting how there are palm trees...but it's cold!

Cool Chilean flower! and no one knows what it's called!

a budding magnolia tree! horaaaaay!

Meet my friend, Melissa, she's another student from CIEE!

I love you all!  Thank you for your prayers....I feel them so close! :D

With tons of love,


La Diana

Ya llegamos!

"We're here!"

I got to Santiago around 10:30am and arrived in our hotel (Best Western) in Valparaiso around 12:30pm.  It's chillly here!  Right now I'm sitting in the hotel lobby and I'm wearing a sweater, my rain jacket, and a scarf....and I should probably be wearing more!  No central heating is well, interesting.  We'll see how it is at night, eh?

On my 10 and half hour plane ride from Toronto to Santiago I sat next to the sweetest Chilean lady who was coming home from visiting her daughter who lives in Canada.  One great thing was that we only spoke Spanish, and I understood everything she said...it was a great practice and encouragement before stepping foot off the plane.  She also led me through the airport in Santiago and gave me her email!  What a cutie!  Her name was Marcia.

We just ate lunch at 2pm...we had "salad" which consisted of lettuce, corn, peas, tomatoes, and artichokes?  separated on a plate and bread.  Then came the pesto pasta and finished up a yummy bowl of fruit for dessert.

It's pouring now right outside and it's cold!  So weird coming from can't-even-breath-it's-so-humid Chicago!

Well, I just wanted to let you all know that I am safe and already meeting lots of people!

Los quiero tanto!

Diane

hoy...me voy a Chile!

"Today...I go to Chile!"

Hello everybody!

So...today's the big day I guess.  Am I nervous? No.  Am I excited? I guess.  Am I ready? Yes.  I have been preparing and planning for this day since I started college searching!  The question I would ask during a college visit was: Do you have good study abroad programs?  Can I study abroad for a year if I double major? Etc....  And now, with the help of people at Hope, family, friends, and of course the gracious God, this dream is coming true!

My flight leaves O'hare at 7:25pm and arrives in Toronto around 10pm (Toronto time)...then at 11:40pm I leave Toronto for Santiago, Chile!  I arrive at 10:10am and then ride to Vina del Mar/Valparaiso!  So....I've packed plenty of things to do while I'm in the air a total of 12 hours! hehehe! Plus...I can always "sleep" or at least try to.

I finished all my packing two days ago and so this morning I had to shove some last minute things in my bags....I'm glad I got that done early though.  Word of advice:  If you are going somewhere for a long period of time, pack early!  It makes the process much less stressful!  Packing for a year was difficult, but, not as hard as I thought.  I can buy a lot of things in Chile, so I didn't need a year supply of shampoo or anything like that.  If you're wondering, I'm bringing two duffel suitcases and then for carry-on a backpack, a big purse, and a plastic bag stuffed with things. hehehe!

Well, I don't want you to have to read too much gibberish, so, on that note, I sign off.  The next time I will be writing from Chile! WOOOOOO!

I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLL VERY VERY MUCH!  Stay in touch, ok?!

Diane