to countdown. or not to countdown? or do i even have a choice in the matter? THAT is the question.

As a little girl, I was known in my family for making countdowns...countdowns for everything.  I would even make those paper chains and hang them in the doorways so that each day I could tear a link off.  I made countdowns for Christmas, my birthday, until school ended, trips, etc etc etc.  In fact, for Christmas, we also have this Christmas calendar in which there is a pin with a star that you have to move along each day and when you get to Christmas Eve you have to put it over the stable where Jesus was born.  I was (and still am) the one that always moves that star -- when I was a girl I don't think I even gave others a chance to do it (as it was always the first thing I did in the morning after waking up), and now...I think they have simply given up on trying.  

Now I bet you're all wondering, "Did Diane make a paper chain countdown in Chile?"...hahaha...ok, maybe you're not thinking that.  A better question would be: Is Diane counting down the days until she leaves Chile?  Is she counting down the days until she gets home?  

Am I?  Will I?  ...honestly, I don't think I have a choice.  This time around, I don't want to countdown...but so many people around me (either them being sad that I'm leaving) remind me and tell me..."Don't goooooo!!" and ask me, "When will be you be back?!?!"...or (being extremely happy and excited for me coming home) tell me..."Get ready for some football tackle size hugs!" and, "We really miss you back here!"  And I don't hear this just once in a while...I think I get this everyday.  So, let me tell you, it's hard.  Today is May 21st, and coincidentally, it is around 9pm here in Chile, meaning that I will be in Chicago, IL, USA exactly two months from, well, now.  Two months.  (You can say that again.)  Two months.  Yeah.  I said it.  One side of me is soooooooo incredibly excited to see my family and friends back home...but the other side of me is sooooooo incredibly sad to leave my family and friends here in Chile.  

It's interesting how our minds work.  Last semester, when my American friends here had two months left, they were all very conscious of the date and time in general (as they were either ready to go home by then or trying to make the most of Chile the best they could).  And then there was me...not even sure what day it was!  And now...here I am...and I know exactly what day it is and how much time I have left.  Crazy how our minds work...how our concept of time changes when we are expecting something to happen.  Kind of like the car ride to the pool and how it always seemed to take soooo long to get there, but then the ride home seemed to go by so fast (especially when us kids would conk out as soon as we buckled our seat belt from swimming all day).  

My birthday is June 20th...meaning that exactly one month from that date I will be getting on that plane--the one leaving this beautiful country.  My mom did ask me to do her a favor though.  She told me that I'm not allowed to be sad on my birthday.  Wait, was that a favor?  Or a command? (hahaha!)  Oh well.  So....that I will do.  My birthday will be great!  I just know it!  That one will for sure be a blog post! hhaahaha!

Don't get me wrong, folks, even though I'm thinking about the time I have left here in Chile, I am at peace.  Even though I actually know what the date is and what that means...it doesn't mean that I'm obsessed with it or anything.  In fact, I very much recognize that time is, well, just time.  And truth be said, there is a time for everything:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 a time to be born and a time to die, 
 a time to plant and a time to uproot, 
 a time to kill and a time to heal, 
 a time to tear down and a time to build, 
 a time to weep and a time to laugh, 
 a time to mourn and a time to dance, 
 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 
 a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 
 a time to search and a time to give up, 
 a time to keep and a time to throw away, 
 a time to tear and a time to mend, 
 a time to be silent and a time to speak, 
 a time to love and a time to hate, 
 a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him." Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

"He has made everything beautiful in its time...I know that everything God does will endure forever..." Wow. I know that I will have to leave Chile, and that it will be good, even knowing that it will be hard.  Even though it makes me sad to think about leaving my loved ones here, I know that God continues being good...and that his time continues being perfect.  

So peeps, two months.  Time to live it up!!!  Just like I've been doing for the first ten months I've been here!-- and I have the reason to do so now more than ever!  The good news: I won't fall asleep on the way home like I did as a girl coming home from the pool...in fact, I'll be wide awake for the entiiiiiiire riiiide!!! yeah baby!!

This weekend:

FRAN!!!

Las niñas from the girls' home!!!

 VIDEO with las niñas: CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME MAGIC!

^ Thanks to that video (and the time it took to download it), this blog became really long...but I hope you enjoyed it! hehehehe!

        

you learn something new everyday

So....I'm not JUST learning SPANISH here...

1st Semester:

I've learned some Chilean dances (one being La Cueca, Chile's national dance):

(I unfortunately don't have a picture of myself)

With the help of mom's recipe and loving advice -- I've learned how to make an apple pie on my own: 

...and then eat it on the beach (that part not on my own though).

I've almost learned how to surf:

...I never could stand up on the board, even though I tried very hard.

I've learned how to throw a 'trompo' (Chilean top): 

...not very well (if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can notice that it's going to land wrong on the ground...but it was SO worth it as I got to keep the trompo! haha! yay for free souvenirs!)

In class, I learned how to scale a natural rock wall with rope pulley system thing:

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Summer:

I've learned how to jump...or at least how to show off that skill...haha:

And here's a video too!: Diane Jump  <--click link (I hope this works!)

For new years...I learned how to stay out all night:

(which was especially difficult for me! haha!)

While in the north of Chile, I learned how to eat a copao (cactus fruit) and get it all over me...hehehe:

With my best friend, Fran, I've learned how to shop at the fruit and veggie market:

I love, you, FRAN!!

Estafanía, my Chilean niece, taught me how to make flowers out of real petals:

She made sure to only use petals that had already fallen from the flowers!  So eco friendly!

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2nd Semester:

My friend, Felipe, taught me how to make pie de limón (Chilean Lemon Pie):

(And I taught him how to make American Chocolate Chunk Cookies!)

I've learned how to be a flaite...in other words, a Chilean gangsta:

My chilean twin, Andrés, and my best friend, Cony, and me.

My host mom and I learned how to make homemade alfajores as I wanted to make them for my dear friend, Cony, for her birthday (they're cut up in this picture): 

What they should really look like. 

And to top it all off, most recently I have learned to andar en moto...aka...ride a motorcycle: click here for a quick video --> Diane Bikie

My friend, Pablo, 'La Gorda' (the motorcycle's name is 'the fatty' as it has 'XL'  printed on it...hahhaa!), and me.

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Now...these are all things that I have learned to DO...but let me tell you, I have learned way way way wayyyyy more than just these simple verb-type-things.  God has been teaching me so much about Himself, myself, and my relationship with Him.  He has been faithful.  ...and the best part of it all: there's still a LOT more left to learn...not only in Chile...but for the rest of our lives! WOO!!!  God is sooo good, eh?  One thing I realize through writing this blog is that in order for one to learn, one must also be willing to be taught -- to be molded -- to be led -- to persevere.  For example: I've learned a few things, but they still need practice in order to perfect them.  OR  Sometimes it takes some courage to take the first step.  OR  Many things can only be done once you get rid of your pride.  Learning Spanish (and any language really) means getting rid of your pride...means messing up.  But you know what, that's okay!! :)  Spanish is just one of the many things that I'm learning how to perfect here in Chile!

Well...that's all for now, folks!

P.S. OH!  I thought this was funny...but I'm not sure if all of you who read this will:  My friend, Becky, from back home pointed out after I had told her that I've been in Chile for more than nine months now that I could have had a baby already without anybody back home knowing!  HAHA!  Good news: that did not happen.

I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLL MUUUUCHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!

2 months and 10 days left..

^^^ Can you believe that??  I've been here for so long already, but the time has just FLOWN by!  I'm trying to fit in so many things in the time that I have left here in Chile.  That means...busy weeks and crazy fun weekends.  My classwork really isn't that bad, but I AM still studying here...that means that I DO still have work to do.  I try to do it all during the week so that I don't have to worry that much about it on the weekends.  Good plan, eh?  :)  It helps that my classes with the most work are on Thursday and Friday. hehe! 

I haven't written in a long time so there is just so much to talk about!  I think I am just going to have to accept that I can't write about EVERYTHING.  So, I won't.  Lucky you. :) 

Okay....how about with Easter Sunday!  We had a nice day with the family...and even did an Easter egg hunt--which was so low key!  Our Easter egg hunts are rockin' awesome in the states! haha!  I was pretty much the only one dressed up for church too. hahaha!  I guess they don't dress up for Easter Sunday here!  We had a really nice lunch and I could finally eat sweets!  The first sweet thing I ate after giving them up for lent was--drum roll please--a chocolate eater egg! haha!!  It was a really nice day to spend with the whole family!

One of my very good friends here, Felipe, turned 23 so of course we had to celebrate!  Me and two more of my very good friends here (Andrés and Cony) surprised him at his university on his actual birthday with 23 balloons that I pretty much had to blow up all myself (as Cony can't and Andrés...well...I don't remember, but he did blow up maybe 5).  It was a great day to be with Felipe and let him now how much he is loved.  Then he had a party on the weekend and I made him American cookies (Chocolate Chunk and Oatmal Raisin) and they were a HIT!  They don't really have cookies like that here...so it was a new experience for a few.  This past weekend I taught Felipe how to make them and in return he taught me how to make Lemon Pie!  Delicious! 

Wow....I haven't written about the retreat I went on with my youth group yet!  That was probably a month or so ago...oops!  Well, let me tell you about it.  For two days we stayed at a huge school that used to be a boarding school in a city further towards the mountain range...but still close to Viña.  It was nice to be out of the city and spend time focusing on God and building relationships within the youth group.  The theme of the retreat was ''Die to Live.''  Which means that in order to live in Christ, we must first die to the world and ourselves.  God thus makes us a new creation -- restoring us -- freeing us!  And it is so so so soooo true!  Easter weekend it kinda hit me as I had time to really meditate on all that I learned during the retreat.  The depth of how He heals us...how He forgives us..and how He helps us forgive ourselves really struck me.  It's difficult to explain, because it's something that goes so deep in my being.  If you want to know more or are just interested/curious...let me know and I can try and explain it to you more profoundly (in person hopefully...or by skype at least!)

Let's seeeee....oh yeah!  I'm ALL BETTER!  I had been sick ever since I went on vacation to the north with my host family.  I came back to Viña with a horrible cough that lasted more than a month...then I supposedly had 'allergies'...then I got a virus and had to go to the hospital because my fever was really high...then I think I caught a cold...then I got an ear infection which ended up being 'Glue Ear'.  The worst part of it all: not being able to ride my bike.  haha!  Sounds so...trivial...but I'm being serious.  Anyways...thanks to God...I am allllll better!  I was suppossed to have had glue ear for at least 3 months...6 months...and it could have lasted up to a year!  It usually takes a really long time to cure and the options of treatment are 1. time and 2. an operation.  So...with all that said, Thank you, God...for healing me.

Well, I have to head off to my French class now...I'll write more soon! :)  I love you and miss you all back home!

The "Usual"

When I started my blog...I was so excited to write about everything new...new experiences...new people...the new language..new adventures...etc.  Now, here I am, as I sit down to write this blog, thinking, "there's nothing really to write about...I'm just doing the usual."  My 'normal' has become Chile.  It really hit me last week when I got on a micro (bus) to go to Bible study and the micro driver didn't stop at my stop...uuuugggghhh!  I gave him enough warning and everything...I asked him why he didn't stop and he just mumbled something under his breath...I was like, 'What!?"...and he just kept mumbling.  Anyways, I got off at the next stop and had to take another micro to back track.  I got on the next one and couldn't remember the name of the stop so I tried explaining it to the driver and he was just like...uuhhhmm....ok.  Either way...I made it perfectly fine to the Bible study...and basically ran up the million stairs of the hill as I thought I was going to be late.  (I need to stop thinking that...I'm in Chile).  Nope, I was the second person there.  Even though it was a pain to take two micros, I felt so confident to have done it -- not knowing exactly how to get here -- etc.  It sounds so...little, but things like this each day make me feel more and more...at home...more and more...Chilean...making everything more, well, normal. 

I went back to the south of Chile!  You know, the usual!  I went back to Valdivia (to visit my friends) and Pucón (my second time with CIEE -- my study abroad program).  I really do love the south.  It's so green and refreshing. I bet I could write an entire post about my stay...but I'll just show you a few pictures:

Spanish fort, on the island, Corral.  We had to take a boat to get there! FUN!

The famous 'sea wolves'.  In Spanish...instead of translating 'sea lions'...it's sea WOLVES! haha!! And I think that brown one is a sea elephant! haha!!

My friend, Maca, and me...picnic in the botanical garden!

An old Spanish watchtower.

Zip-lining in Pucón.

Pucón. ohhh...el sur de mi querido Chile.

Monday...Jill and I went all over Valdivia...but EVERYTHING was closed!  No one told us that Monday was their day off! hahaa!! 

Captivated by the 'blessings' the Lord brings me...

Hellooo!  Yes, I'm back to updating regularly...summer. is. officially. over.

Here is my class schedule:
Monday: Music History 2        
              Spanish Grammar 3        
Tuesday: French Language and Culture 1         
Wednesday: Spanish Grammar 3
Thursday: Family as a Reality and Project
Friday: Ecology of Sea Communities   

As you can see, the only class that I have more than once a week is my Spanish Grammar class.  Which is one of my easiest classes, if not the easiest (thanks for being in Chile more than eight months now :O ).  I have a total of 15 credits which is a really light load for me.  Because this is my second semester here, I have to have a minimum of 15 credits instead of 16.  One credit makes the difference of one more class, so I'm really happy about that.  I explained in my last post about why I'm not taking a psychology class nor a gym class.  All in all, I'm pretty happy with my schedule (minus the fact that I have class on Monday and Friday at 8:15am...meaning I have to wake up at 6:30am...hahaha...but hey, brings me back to the good ol' days of high school. oh my. haha).

The rest of my week will consist of Bible studies, youth group, and volunteer jobs.  I'm not sure my volunteer job schedule, but I will be continuing to work at the girls' home this semester and probably working at a school or other program with special kids....I love them!

WOW!  It's March 22nd today!  That means...that in exactly 4 months from today I will be back at home in Warrenville, IL.  CRAAAZZIIINESSSSS!  I'm really not sure what to think about that.  I will be absolutely ecstatic to see all my family and friends back home...and that it will be summer (as I will be leaving winter here).  But, then, I try not to think about all the good bye's that I will have to say...oh boy...is that going to be hard or what!  Really, though, God has blessed me INCREDIBLY here.  I can't even describe it...I can only try.  He has given me everything I've ever imagined and SO MUCH MORE.  First off, He gave me an absolutely wonderful host family.  I feel so much at home...around ALL of them.  Also, God has blessed me with such amazing Chilean friends here.  I feel like I've known them for so long!  I feel like I'm never going to leave them...along with my host family...like I just live here and that they have always been apart of me.  Yes, I am living here right now, and maybe they always have been apart of me and I just never knew it. haha. Or maybe not.  But one thing for sure is that they WILL be always apart of me.  That's certain.  I don't know what I'm going to do when I leave them.  I'll drown myself in my own tears, but when I get home, my family and friends will be there to save me. :)  One of the very best parts of being here in Chile is realizing what I have back home waiting for me.  My family and my family of friends.  My parents.  Ohhhh...my parents are "DA BOMB" (I told them that in an email I wrote earlier today). haha!  But seriously, they are the best evvvaaaaa!  They love unconditionally, they are so different from each other, but together, they make the best team in the world.  I most definitely want to be just like them when I'm a parent.  I'm so thankful for such wonderful examples to follow...again, God just keeps on blessing me.

I'd say the worst thing that has happened to me here in Chile was last week.  Last week I went to the doctor's on Monday as I had this annoying cough for more than three weeks then.  The diagnosis: allergies.  What?!  So now I'm taking an allergy pill once a day at night and an inhaler (both for a total of 15 days).  The allergies should go away by then...I sure hope they do.  Then the next day, Tuesday, I slept most of the day and did just enough to go to class in the afternoon.  I thought that I wasn't feeling the best due to the medicine I was taking (as I never take medicine, so my body isn't used to it).  Then, that Wednesday, in class, I got the worst chills I've ever had...my skin and nails turned a purple color...I started shivering.  I looked around to see if it was cold in the room or if it was just me.  I saw everyone else in short sleeve shirts---yep, it was just me.  So I stuck out the class and right when it finished I got up slowly and headed home.  Going home isn't as simple as walking across campus.  I had to walk across busy streets, wait for the metro, take the crammed metro standing up as it was rush hour, walk up tons of stairs, walk across the busiest streets in Viña, and then I made it home.  On a normal day, that's a no biggie...but I was feeling so weak and dizzy.  The whole way home I prayed, "Lord, protect me...Lord, protect me...Lord, protect me..."  And, He did...as I knew He would. :)  I made it home just fine and then just as I got home I told my host parents that I thought I had a fever and wasn't feeling the best.  Sure enough I had a 101 F fever.  They took me to the Clinic (a private hospital, as the public hospitals here are really bad) and we had to wait over an hour to see a doctor.  My host dad was more impatient than I was...me being the sicky.  He would complain about the wait...get up and ask why it was taking so long...until I told him to be patient.  I told him, "I'm being patient and I'm the one that's not feeling good, so, you can be patient too. :)"  And I said it with a smile. hhehe  He laughed and settled down.  When we finally got to see the doctor.  They took my temp. and it was 102.9 F.  I didn't know how to say, "Codeine" (a medicine that I'm allergic to) in Spanish...so that made a scene.  Then a pretty strong tremor hit and the Clinic shook.  I was not feeling good at all, so when it hit, I was like, "T e m b l o r..." (most monotone voice ever with no emotion) and my host mom got a little worried but it passed in a couple seconds. [I've gotten so used to tremors here as they are very common.  I actually kind of like them--they're fun.  BUT, I've never experienced an earthquake, so I don't know what a tremor can become...which can be a good and bad thing.  But to make everyone back home okay feel okay: I do know what to do/where to go/etc. in case of an earthquake and tsunami.  So no worries.]  Back to my story:  Then they gave me ibuprofen for the fever and I started feeling better.  It wasn't a reaction to the medicine I was taking.  It was just a viral thing.  I had to stay home and rest all day Thursday and if I was feeling okay, I could go to class on Friday...which I did. :)  I was calm the whole time, besides a few tears of frustration and wanting my mommy.  God is sooo good though.  This is the first time I've been sick these whole eight months...so, I'd say I was on a roll up until now.  Haha.  I'm feeling a lot better today.  My cough is pretty much almost gone (Thank the LORD!).  I'm a little stuffy, but that passes quickly.  :)

 

God is good. All the time.  Todo el rato. jeje

I'm in this picture--I'm in the middle of this mob.  You can see a piece of my hair.  Behind the right shoulder of the guy in the striped shirt.

"Hospital" majors! haha! We have: Nurse, Pharmacist, Doctor, Psychologists (Andrés and me), Dentist, and Physical Therapist.

hahahaa!!  My Chilean 'niece' and I.  We rode in the trunk of their car to the train station. hahaha!

Vallenar, Copiapó, Huasco, La Serena, Coquimbo, El Valle de Elqui. EL NORTE DE CHILE (The north of Chile) plus other random business.

Would you check out that monster of a title! ^^

Random Business

Hi everybody!  It's been a while since I've written, as I have been really busy lately.  I was on vacation in northern Chile for two weeks with my host parents and other family, then I came back to Viña to greet the new study abroad kids, then I had a week to prepare for the new school semester, and then, well, classes started!  Last week was my first week of classes and I still don't know exactly what courses I will take.  This semester is really weird (as there is a new boss) and we are only allowed to drop classes, not add them.  Last semester we could do both.  So, I signed up for ten classes--yes, ten. And I know some other people who signed up for like twenty!  Anyways...it's no big deal as in the end I will end up with only five classes.  And three of them only meet once a week.  Surprisingly enough, I won't be taking any psychology or gym classes this semester (I took three gym classes and one psych class last semester).  I'm not taking a psych class as last semester I was disappointed with my psych class.  I didn't really learn anything--besides how to say things in Spanish...which is not a bad thing.  Also, I have to take other more difficult classes this semester (a science lab and an art history), so I didn't think I would have enough time to invest in the psych class--which I would have liked to do if I did take one.  Plus, I don't need to take a psych class, so, no worries.  About the gym classes...trust me, I wanted to take one or many gym classes, but they just didn't quite fit in my schedule.  Bummer, eh?  So....I won't tell you what class I have now, because I don't even know for sure.

The arrival of the new CIEE kids!  The second-semester bunch of American students studying abroad through the program, CIEE, arrived the week I got back from the north.  Because I've already done everything and know everything (well, almost), I helped out instead of participating in orientation.  It was so much fun to see how they all were...just like I was...picked up and plopped in a foreign country, culture, language, etc.  It was so much fun to talk to them and to answer ALL their questions!  I also got some fun questions myself.  Many had thought that I had already graduated and was working here in Chile for CIEE or that I was even Chilean!  Crazyyy!!  But it made me feel sooo good...so, it was appreciated!   

Vallenar, Copiapó, Huasco, La Serena, Coquimbo, El Valle de Elqui. EL NORTE DE CHILE (The north of Chile) , 

All the photos are on Facebook.  Go to my picture albums, and they are under three albums titled, "Viaje al Norte"

I stayed in Vallenar, a small town in el Norte Chico of Chile, for the first week of my vacation.  There is where my host parents raised their two daughters (my Chilean sisters, Ingrid and Sonita).  They also have lots of family there--so, naturally, we stayed and visited with them the whole time.  It was absolutely wonderful!  I stayed in the house of my host mom's niece (who has two super cute little boys) and my host parents stayed in the house of my host mom's brother.   While in Vallenar, we also went to Copiapó (the city where the 33 miners were) for a day.  We also went with the family to Huasco, which is like a mini-Valparaíso.  It was really interesting to see the difference between the north (and this isn't even that far north) of Chile and the south of Chile (Valdivia, which either isn't that far south).  They are so different!  The north is dry, the rivers (if they exist) are small, the green you see is very few,it's hot., the sun is really strong, etc.  The south is full of green, water, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, grass, rain, etc.   It was sad to leave as the time went by so fast and I really felt like family there.  Wilsito, the three year old little boy that I shared a room with (he called me Iliana as he couldn't pronounce, Diana...so cute!) bawled when we said good-bye and got on the bus.  He cried, because he didn't want me to go and was saying that he wanted to come with us!  Soooo cute!!

For the second week, we were in El Valle de Elqui (Elqui Valley), which is where my host mom was born and grew up.  This is also the land of the famous Chilean poet, Gabriela Mistral.  When we arrived in El Valle de Elqui, my jaw dropped and hung open practically the entire car ride.  The mountains, the fields, the agriculture, the valley, the sky, the everything was simply incredible.  I've never seen such a thing in my life!  We stayed in a house of a family there which was located in Pisco Elqui, a small town in the Valley.  The house, just so happened to be located, smack dab in the valley!  I would walk out the front door and see a huge mountain in front of me, behind me, and the valley to my right and left!  At night, uuuufffff, it was so beautiful!  I also met one of my very close little friends there, Josefa.  My host mom is her great aunt.  Making her my second cousin?  Right?  Anyway...that's what we said we were...cousins! haha!  She's nine years old and for about three days we were inseparable!  She was more like a little sister...the little sister I always wanted!  She would ask me sooo many questions about me, the USA, and English.  She was so fascinated!  When it was time to say good-bye, she started crying--and of course, so did I!  I really don't like good-byes...I don't know what I'm going to do when I have to leave Chile in July!  I'll probably bawl my eyes out until I go blind or something.  Anyways, Josefa and I are going to be pen pals and write letters to each other!  I received my first letter (she made me a book!) from her just two days after I arrived back in Viña.  I sent her a letter last week. :)

  

Highlights of the trip: 

-Seeing Julio!!!  He had gone to the north about a month before we did as he had a job there.  It was so good to finally see him again! 

-Meeting more family!  I felt so much at home my whole time I was in the north, just like I do when I'm in Viña.  In fact, I'm going to try and go back to the north by myself to visit the family one more time before I head back to the states.  Oh, also, Mom and Dad, I've already invited them all to come and stay in our house in Warrenville....hehhee...I hope that's okay! :)  Josefa really wants to come!  Mom, I know you won't have a problem with that....Dad...you'll be fine too, as you've had tons of practice already. 

-Seeing the contrast of scenery...between the north and south of Chile.

-Seeing where both of my host parents grew up/were raised/and where they raised their daughters (before moving to Valparaíso). 

-Being in el Valle de Elqui.  Seriously, I could live there.  I HIGHLY recommend going there if you ever get a chance some day!

-Trying new fruits!  I ate: copao (a cactus fruit that is kind of like the kiwi), sweet cucumber, natural figs (not dried and not Fig Newtons..haha), peaches, pears, and grapes picked straight from the tree/vine, and there was something else I tried, but I don't remember.

Vallenar

The ''river'' in Copiapó

Copiapó

Huasco

La Sererna (It's known for it's Colonial architecture)

The beach in La Serena (it's also know for its coast line) and across the water is Coquimbo.  La Serena and Coquimbo :: Viña del Mar and Valparaíso

Horcon, el Valle de Elqui, almost on the border of Argentina.

Josefa and me in Pisco Elqui!  (Look what the sun has done to my hair!...really, the sun is a lot stronger here, thanks to the depleted ozone layer above Chile).

Copao!!!

Natural figs! picked right off the tree!

Valdivia (el sur de Chile) [the south of Chile]

Hellooooo! Jelouuu! 

One of the things I did this summer, was teach English in Valdivia, Chile.  I've been meaning to write about my experience for the longest time, so, here it goes!

I was in Valdivia for one week (Jan 9 - Jan 15), teaching English through 'English Opens Doors' English Camps.  I met up with one other American who has been teaching in Chile since last March and then three Chileans who live and study in Valdivia (studying to be English teachers).  Within our team of five, we planned, taught, and led for a week of English Camps.  Camps started at 10am and ended around 5pm each day.  The goal was to speak English the entire day.  For me, easy, right?  Kind of.  I mean, of course it was easy for me to speak English, but when the kids didn't understand, it would have been SO MUCH easier just to say what I had just said, but in Spanish.  Instead, I had to work really hard on speaking slowly, pronunciation well, not saying too many 'ums' or 'uhs', and using lots of hand motions. haha.  Also, just because you know how to speak a language, doesn't necessarily mean you know how to teach it--explain it--make it comprehensible.  

There were many 'pluses' to working for this program.  One being that the kids that participate have to have received good grades in English along with having good behavior.  Oh, the kids were High School aged, as well, so it was a lot less babysitting and lot more teaching/learning/interacting.  Another 'plus' was that everything was paid for!  For the kids and for me!  The camp was free for the kids, along with two snacks and lunch per day and a t-shirt!  The program also paid for my transportation, my hotel, food, and also gave me a little bonus.  I'm still considered a volunteer, because it's not enough to say that I 'worked', but it's nice to get something extra. :)  And really, I would have done it with out the bonus.  It was so much fun!  The Chileans that we worked with were absolutely wonderful!  I miss them!  We all worked together and got along so great!  They were also really nice and took LeighAnn (the other American) and I around Valdivia so that we could squeeze some turisty things in our trip as well.  The first day we were there, we went to the beach, had seafood empanadas (that I liked!), went to Niebla (an old Fort), around town, and to the Fish Market.  It was great!  Throughout the week we visited the Botanical Garden, the biggest University in Valdivia (where they go), the Kundstman Brewery (Valdivia has a lot of German influence), and the Chocolate Festival!  We had the opportunity to see many things, but I still felt short on time there.  Short on time to see the city and surrounding areas and short on time to spend with my new Chilean friends.  Valdivia is also known for it's RAIN.  It rains A LOT. "On average there are 201 days per year with more than 0.1 mm (0.004 in) of rainfall (precipitation) or 17 days with a quantity of rain, sleet, snow etc. per month" (http://www.climatetemp.info/chile/valdivia.html).  Yes, lots of rain.  Luckily, the week of English Camps it only rained Thursday morning and then all day Saturday (the last day).  I never though I would miss rain, but it was so refreshing!  It's doesn't rain much in Viña, well, at least not during the summer.  The only bad thing about it raining on our last day, was that we couldn't do the touristy things we had planned that day, nor, make it to the fair to buy souvenirs.  So...for that, I must go back!  Some day!  I absolutely LOVED Valdiva (aka the South of Chile) and I know that someday, I will be back, baby!  My favorite part of the south, everything is green!  It's also a lot less like a city.  I've been lacking some nature, and there, it was abundant.   

Here are two pictures (if you click on them, you can see them bigger) of the River Calle Calle that runs right through town.  Our hotel was located right next to it and it was absolutely beautiful to walk along the river everyday!  (For some reason I ran out of space or something, so I can't put up more pictures on my blog right now.  I guess that means that I shouldn't put so many pictures up!  I'll try and figure it out later.  Meanwhile, ALL of my pictures from Valdivia and the Camp are in three albums on Facebook...so check them out!) 

 

News: I'm going NORTH!  I'm heading to Vallenar which is in northern Chile.  My host dad is there now working, so I'll be going with my host mom and meeting him there.  They are from that area so they have lots of family up there.  We are leaving February 8th in the morning around 10am and will arrive around 8pm (via bus).  I'm so excited to meet their family and to see Julio again (it will have been about a month)!!!! WOOO!!!!!!  I miss him!!  It's going to be a great opportunity to meet more of the family, see where my host parents are from, time to spend with my host parents, and to get to know another part of the country.