The first week!

My first week in Chile has come and gone. My adventure started with only a few minor panic attacks, I don't have a visa, did I bring enough stuff, did I bring enough stuff, the usual. However, from my very first moments here I have felt extremely comfortable. I had no problems with customs in the airport, my baggage arrived, and I was able to find my group. We're a large group of gringos, about 50 of us, so its not hard.
For the first couple of days we stayed in a hotel together and got to know each other. Oh and do orientation stuff. But the most important thing that happened was we learned who are families are. They gave us folders with a whole bunch of information in them including letters from our families. After that everyone had a little bit harder paying attention.

I absolutely love my family. It consists of Maggie (the mom), Ronnie (the dad), Andrea (37), Camila (26) and Andrea's two children Matias (10) y Maite (4). Andrea and her kids don't live with us though, they live next door and frequently come over for lunch or la once (tea at night). My room is yellow, which is perfect for me. Oh we also have what feels like a small farm. We have 2 cats, 3 dogs, a rooster, a handful of hens, and some baby chicks. Which means fresh eggs! Only the cats live inside and they are free to wander around as they please. Also, we have a kindergarten. In our house. But really it's in another part of the house that we just don't use. My mom runs it during the school year she has up to 40 kids. All but about 10 of them are on vacation right now, but they don't bother me. Basically it means that they are a bunch of adorable small children running around in our front yard.
I feel that my family has been very honest with me. As in they don't change who they are for a hija gringa (American daughter). They have talked with me about their beliefs and have allowed me to share in difficult moments with them. They are amazingly helpful with all the changes. For them the biggest changes have been dietary. Since I am celiac- no wheat, rye, oats, or barley, we have to be careful with food. Here in Chile the laws regarding product labeling are not as strict. My first two days we talked a ton about how to manage this diet and now things are a bit easier for them (I hope?). They eat bread with everything, but I have my rice cakes (but actually I guess corn cakes).
Besides just arriving in Chile there have been a couple of exciting new things. Okay wait, it's all been pretty exciting! Cause I'm in another country. WHERE I GET TO SPEAK SPANISH ALL THE TIME!!!! I apologize there... I got a little too excited about my love for languages right there. We went to a bike race on Sunday and watched the riders practice. We messed up the times and thought it started around noon but it didn't actually start til after 4 and ended after 8. So we decided not to stay for the whole 8 hours. This was really cool because the riders were doing downhill in the cerros and they had different jumps and tricks they had to do. Once they had to Jump from one level to another and go over our heads. This is not the sport for me. I would die. I lack the grace and coordination on a bike.

We also went to La Sebastiana. This was one of Pablo Neruda's many houses. For being a communist he had a lot of houses. Pablo Neruda is a very famous Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician. This one though, is in Valparaiso, and has some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the city. The house is 5 levels high so each floor has a better and better view.
The most difficult adjustment for me has been language-wise. I have been able to say more than just "si" thank goodness. But a lot of words are different here from what I am used to. It's taking a little adjusting but I think I'm picking up on it pretty quickly. I don't sound like a complete idiot at least. Which you know is always good.
Anyway, that's my first week in a nutshell. Adios!

Starting off on a Journey

The day is almost here. I start my journey to Chile in less than 24 hours! I may or may not be panicking a little bit. I have yet to pack those ever so crucial things like socks and toothpaste. But you know, I'll get there. Hopefully. If not socks aren't really that important right?
Anyway the point of this blog is to detail my adventurous as I study abroad in Valparaiso, Chile. I am excited to learn an entirely new dialect of Spanish, and a little less excited to get to sound like the foreign kid who can only say Si- yes for the first week.
I'm excited to see what this semester can bring. My first goal is to improve my Spanish and perhaps fine tune my knowledge of some of the more delightfully fun grammar points. My guess is this will happen whether I want. I also want to explore the culture beyond the outer layers. For me this involves yes, and not being afraid of new situations. And finally I want to enjoy myself! I have worked hard for the last several years with my dream of studying abroad on the horizon. Now that it's here, I plan on embracing every moment of this. I am especially looking forward to a college semester where I don't have to be at work at 5:30 am (I'm looking at you Rec Sports).
I owe this all to my super supportive family, without them, I would not being able to have this amazing experience. My wonderful friends and boyfriend have cheered me on throughout this whole process and have listened to me and answered numerous questions.So thank you to everyone who has made this happen.
I hope to post on here every week or so until my return to Indiana at the end of July. So keep checking back to hear more about my journey!