Chillin in Chile

So I had a pretty calm weekend. Nothing planed and no where to be. It's really hard for me to just sit around here. I still feel like im on vacation and I should be out doing something every hour of the day. The reailty that Im here for 3 and a half more months hasn't set in and to be quite honest I dont really think it will. anyways back to the story of my weekend.

Friday was an international meeting with the Mayor of Vina. There was pictures being taken and interveiws with studends happening all around. They had a little press conference, some dancing and the main attraction wine, cheese and chocolate truffles. Im not much of a wine drinker but they did have some really good pineapple juice that was so so good!! Also friday I finally got my Chilian ID card. Since we were on student visas the police came in and got all our info and stuff and made us a card that we can use instead of carrying around our passports all the time Saturday was such a good day. We did nothing much at all. I meet up with 4 of my friends and we just explored around the city. We tried to go to a park here but it was closed. Then we headed off to find the museum that has the Easter Island statue out front. It was super easy to find but was closed so we didnt get to go inside and see what that was all about. Oh well! A boy here bought a guitar so we just sat outside the museum for like an hour or so and he played on that while the rest of us just listened and chated about. Up next was Leders. Its basically walmart here in Chile. They sell great value stuff and some other brands from walmart. We went in with a mission for some pj pants and came out with a some snakcs to. Its just so hard to resist pringles and candy!
Sunday fun day!
Jesse found a church so we this morning. I couldnt understand but I did recognize some beats to the songs. I dont know if I was saying the words right either but I just kind of sang alond anyways. We meet another boy after church that was from Alaska and found out there is a Bible study on mondays and a collge service on fridays. So now were have a little more stuff to add to our not so busy scheduals!! Later on in the after noon I meet up with some friends at a cafe called Mangos and had some really yummy chocolate cake! Then one of my friends came over to my house and taught me spanish. I find that everything I know I am learing from my friends outside of class. kinda frustrating since im paying a wad to be here but oh well there nothing I can do about that!! Sundays are pretty chill here everything is basically closed so there isn't much to do but hand around watch movies and catch up on some home work so thats been my day today.
Sometimes I don't know what to say on here and as I wrote this little blog I realized that I was just basically giving you a play by play of my day. Thats kinda wierd but what ever its all I got for now!

there sunsets are so beautiful here. I know I say this so much but seriously they are. I can't look at one and not see Gods amazing fingerprint on this world.

hope eveyone has a wonderful Monday!!

Stumble & Pin

I told myself all summer I was NOT getting into Pinterest. I knew if I started I would get hooked. Well last night in started and I just love it so so much! I started planning a party and looking for porjects for my new apartment in Charleston. I'm having so much fun looking for stuff and making my dream boards as I call it.

And then last night Tawni introduced me to stumbleupon.com and its just so much fun! we sat or like and hour and just surfed throught that thing. You sign up for it and mark you interest and it will bring you to random websites for your interest its so fun. If you like something it will save it for you in a little file. You just press the little stumbe button at the top and then you off to another site. Its totally random and totally fun!!

Simple Lovely Day

{1}
I love that I've had the oppertunity to travel the world this year

{2}
I am so greatful for the wonderful friends I've made here in Vina I love them so dearly!

{3}
my 50 min skype date with the fabulous Kelsey
who I miss soo soo much

(this is months old like I think April at a concert down in Charleston)

{4}

Lazy days spent watching Pretty Little Liars

I'm almost caught up finally!

{5}

this is a short n' sweet post to go along with my

short n' sweek friday I'v had

When Monday Comes Around

Wheww what a weekend!

I did't travel anywhere but I was away from Vina all day saturday and sunday.

Saturday UVM took the international students to the capital of Chile, Santiago. We had to be at the school at 8:30 that morning. That was exceptionaly hard for me because I didn't fall asleep till like 3 that morning, stupied dogs and cars, but I made it to the school with time to spare. We had to take a bus for about an hour and fourty five minutes to the city. We spent the day walking around. We went to the National History Museum, a Church, A modern art museum of some sorts and Parque Metropolitano where they have a huge statue of the Virgin Mary. My favorite place was at the statue there were some breath taking views of Santiago with the Andes in the background we sat up there for about an hour just looking out over the city as the sun set.Tawni and I

the protesting is still going on here. Someone said somthing about our school going into protest I sure hope this dosent happen! The Virgin Mary Statue

Sunday was my Sylvia's grandsons birthday so we went to el campo (farm) where they lived for his party. We left around 12 and didnt get there untill about 3. I loved the farm they had cows and chickens it reminded me of Lindsey Cards house so much! The little boy had about 8 friends over and they played non stop from about 3 till around 7 when we left! I was really excited to have some cake Ive been craving some forever now. So when they sang "happy birthday" I was pretty stoaked. The kids didn't eat any cake at all just the adults. They sang and all the ninos went back outside to play and they set the tabel for all the adults to have the cake. I thougth that was a little funny definitely not american style! On the way home my friends invited me to the movies to see Horriable Bosses. it started at 10:10 and on the way back I was a little nervous we wouldn't make it back in time but we got back close to Vina and we hit a curb so hard that I fly up ( they dont have seat belts in the back seats) and shreak a little bit. it was like 9:20 when and the movie started in like 45 min and here we were sitting on the side of the road. Sylvia was trying to get help and franchesco didn't want her to so it was deffinatly a sight I must say. But they got that tire changed and I made it to the movies in time! It was neat to be inthe movies there it was in english and there were moments when i would forget that I was in chile while I was watching the movie. found out that wednesdays is the discount days for the movies so probably going to be seeing a few movies here!

Its been 3 weeks since I left America for Chile. My spanish is gradually getting better. My time here will be over before I know it. So im trying to go and do everything I can while Im here!

Lastly Happy birthday to one of my most dear friend Lindsey Knight. I can't believe that she is 22 today. I remember when we were in 8th grade just like it was yesterday. She is the friends that no matter how much time goes by I know I can call or see her and it's like no time pased! I treasure our friendship more than she know!

Frustration

that is the word for my life right now.

Yes I am having such an amazing time here. I am forming lifelong friendships and seeing things I never in my dreames imagined I would get to see.

But I am also having such a difficult time here as well and it all centers around the language. When I signed up to Study Abroad I knew that I wanted to go to Latin America and learn spanish. I had in my head that I would come here pick up the language super fast and be fluent by september. Well lets just say that is not going to happen. I am having such a hard time learning the language here. My class is tought only in spanish which is where my frustration comes in. I can't understand the teachers so I find my self just in my own little world. So this is when the frustration really sets in. I want so badly to be able to just comunicate and understand but when Im in class im not getting anything accomplished. So Im trying to teach myself which isnt going so well. I talked to our advisors and they are working on getting me a tutor so hopefully I will be able to get extra practice and start pickinging Spanish up! Also a friend gave me a spanish software to learn from so I am starting that up tonight and I am determined to be able to communicate by the time I leave Chile!

I'm going to leave you with the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen I am compleatly in love with this City!

Pictures Speak Louder Than Words

sunsets, Andes and 21

{1} I love watching sunsets here in Vina there absolutely beautiful. Being and east coast girl watching a sun set over the sea is a rarity in my life. {2}unexpected trips! Two friends and I took off to the Andes mountians this past weekend for some ski time. It was totally unplanned but that made it all the better. What a fun couple days it was up in the mountians! Me and one of my friends had hour first Hostal experince. I only fell twice while I was walking around the lodge it was super slippery! It was really hot up there to suprisingly I kept taking layers off after each run! I bought a $4.50 coke and $7 plate of french frys at the pricy lodge! Everyone was car sick on the ride down due to a really curvy road and a super fast us driver. We got lost on the way to the bus from Santiago to Vina just ended up on some pretty skech back roads and lets just say I we were all a little nervous about that! But we made it home safe and sound and had an amazing time!

{3} My 21st birthday was sunday. Didn't really feel like my birthday but I had a wonderful lazy day. Me and a friends went to the beach and watched the sunset and then to meet up with another friend for a birthday McFlurry from the famous McDonals. My mama here in Chile bought me the delightful chocolate cake that she put a big ol candel you use in a candel stick in for me to blow out. Good thing about having this cake was well Cake for breakfast this morning!

{4} you can still send in you thought on where im going for a chance to win an awesome prize from the place!

The Truth Behind Studying Abroad

So its kind of understood that when you study abroad most students are there for the abroad part of the experience. Well I've decided to fully embrace this! Of course I'm still learning and going to classes but with a spring break and lots of holidays we are left with lots of time to travel to different parts of Chile. So me and two friends have been full force in planing our 2 and a half weeks of travel time we have. I'll reveal where were off to later once everything is booked and finalized. But just know that I am getting to do some of the most amazing things while I'm down here. I'm making memories and snaping pictures that I will tresure forever!

So to leave you with today I'll give you a little sneak peak of where Im going and lets see who can guess what I'm doing this semester! The first person to guess the two trips correctly will get a prize when I get home!

Some of my family and friends already know where Im going so if you do don't guess!

Right Now

So right now the home sickness is sorta setting in. We I signed up for Chile they told me no knowledge of spanish was required. But that was really a lie. I'v already been struggling in class becasue the begginers spanish is tought in Spanish so learning is freaking hard becasue I have no clue what there saying. thats been super frustrating for me here so far!

also when I first signed up I was suposta stay in a house with just exchange students but they canceled that last minute so I was placed witha family that dosnt speak any english. It's wierd living with a family here Im not really liking it so far they cater to your needs. Which probably sounds nice but it't kinda frustrating I like doing my own lundry and stuff and I cant do that here. She is always telling me stuf and doing things I don't understand so I just nod and go on with life. I really wanted the casa stay becasue we would have had our own house and had a little more freedom. I'v been here for almost two weeks now and I'v not had a single conversation with the person Im living with. Luckly I got a roomate so that has been really helpful she can speak spanish so she helps out alot.

I understood when I came here that they spoke spanish. And I tried to learn stuff befor I got here but its hard for me to learn from books so I didnt learn very much and Chilians speak very slopy and fast so Its just extra hard for me to pick up on things.

this is just a little rant that I need to post to relieve some stress!

First Day

Well yesterday was the first day of classes down here. I really don't know how to take it. It seems like what they are going to require from us is going to be super easy. I'm hafe heartedly hoping for this becasue I am getting to travel to some amazing places this semester and having to take a few days here and there off school. So if its not that hard this will be an easy thing for me to do. Anyways back to school my class only has 4 people in it for right now and then 2 more from different countries are joining us in september. we already started learning yesterday and so far im doing ok. I made like 50 flash cards last night so the studying is starting and I am determined to be able to get by in one month!! Whats good about the classes im taking is one is specifically for conversation and then the other is just to learn grammer. So that will be the big help here having 2 6 hour classes just for learning spanish!

Also yesterday me and my two friends started planning our spring break trip and our patagonia hiking trip. I am so SUPER excited for this. I will do a post spicifically for that later and let yall know whats going on. I really just can't wait!

well off to school for another day of spanish!

Also

Im just going to say this now. I know that my grammer and spelling is a little off the spell check here is in spanish so basically the whole thing comes up wrong and then also my computer dosnt have word or anything like that on. So yea thats whats going on

New Places, New Friends

Its been a week since I left home for Chile. Its been such a good week and a wierd on to!

Getting used to livng in a new place with new people is always hard. But I'v had such an easy transition so far. I am so thankful for my roomate Monica. Im so glad that we've been able to get used to living with Sylvia together. The homestay part has been the hardest part for me becasue I can't communicate with her so alot of times im just left sitting in my own little world here. Were no longer allowed to use English in the house. I see the purpose of this but also right now its lfet me pretty frustrated bacasue I'v never studied spanish so im compleatly clueless when they try to ask me stuff and i end up just say Si to everything. So thats my little frustration right now but other than that Im really loving it here. I could use some good ol' American food though!

OOHHH Technology

I've had a pretty eventful week with all the electronic stuff I brought with me. First my computer and then today well my camera decided to act up. The lens was stuck for like 4 hours inbetween open and closed. I was getting really frustrated with that thing! It would not open or close it just kept saying Lens Error. But luckly it started working after I took the hair dryer to it. I think there was some sand in it maybe. I was at the beach yesterday evening watching the sunset so thats a pretty big possibility.

Other than the camera issue today I had a pretty fun day!

We got our class assignments today and drum roll please im in Basic spanish. Its going to be such a different semester. I only have class 3 days a week for 2 and a half hours so Im pretty excited about that. It leaves alot of time to travel! We are already starting to plan our spring break trip for september were going up north! Im really SUPER excited that I found a good group to travel with.

Anyways today we went over to the next town called Valparaiso. We took a boat tour around the harbor and a walking tour throught the city. It was such a beautiful city! Very old and rustic. They have these really old elevators that take you up the hills they were interesting like 200 years old and still running. I really wish that I could put pictures up but I can't so come september I will have lots and lots to put up!

Welp its like 1 am here so im catching some sleep for a relaxing day at the mall tomorrow

miss everyone

Its About Time

as I type now I fianlly have a new computer that actually worksafter 5 days!

My dads friend was so kind and brought me a computer all the way from the capital of Chile which is about and hour and a half away this evening! i am so greatful becasue other wise I would have been without a compter for about a month and a half. I can't buy one here because its a spanish operating system and I wouldnt be abe to use it! so thank you Phil for letting me use your computer until I get one!!

other than the comptuer issue everything is going wonderfully!! I really love it here. We live in such a central area it is literally inbetween everything and only a 10 min walk to the unversity. I am really glad about that becasue other students are having to walk a long distance or take a bus to school and I really don't know if I can handel that!

The only thing that sucks about where we live is that its really loud. Its right on the main drag so it is nosie all the time I keep getting woken up all hours of the night from differnt stuff out side. But im sure that once im used to it it will be all good!

Today started orientation for school. We took a writen exam and I basically turned it back in empty. I had a freak moment becasue when I told the lady that I did not speak any spanish at all she kind of looked at me like really. So when I turned the paper in I asked her if you needed to know spanish to be there and she reasured me that we didnt and they would teach us, That took my stress away!

Well I am off to bed we have to be at school at 9 am to take an oral exam, haha im gona say no habla espanol and walk out, and register with the police. We will get actual Chilian ID's while we are here im pretty excied about that!

Miss you all