Hiyo!
So it's been a couple weeks since I have blogged but my pictures pretty much cover a lot of what the heck I've been doing. Let me just say that the first 2 weeks here seem to have flown by yet it feels like I have been here so much longer than 2 weeks.... I have adjusted to city life fairly well and have started to get used to my walk/metro commute to school each morning. The metro does unfortunately make me sleepy so by the time I get to class I have to re-wake up. 13 stops between my station, Maquehue, and Republica where my university, Andres Bello, is. The university, one of the top private universities in Chile, is within walking distance of downtown and most of the main squares so the first week pretty much consisted of walking the streets and taking pictures. I just LOVE exploring new places. Cities are just so interesting and since Santiago is SO HUGE I know i'll never run out of things to see.
The first weekend here was, man.... I hardly have words for it, I guess FANTASTIC works. Getting to know all the USAC people a little more on friday night (On an apartment roof overlooking the city!), meeting almost all of my extended host family on Sat, then hiking in the Andes (See FB pics) on sunday was such a wonderful well rounded kick off to this semester. We haven't stopped talking about it all week and I know this weekend will only be better. Since school has kicked into a higher gear the weekdays have toned down a bit, which is ok as we are all learning to pace ourselves, but we all look so forward to the weekends. This weekend we have 3 days off because our USAC group is taking a day trip to the coast :D It may be a bit cold but I don't care, I just want to see the beauty that everyone keeps talking so much about! On top of that it is my new friend Madie's 21st birthday today so a bunch of us are getting a hostel to stay over Friday night and celebrate. Haha, she is just so cool. I called her at midnight to sing feliz cumpleaños and I'm about to head out to have her Italian birthday dinner. I'M SO HUNGRY!
Well I can't think of much else to say, maybe cause there is just SO MUCH. I love my little piece of the city with it's awesome (dangerous) german coffee shop, it's parks full of couples kissing, nanny's playing with adorable children, and dogs running around. The spring has brought everyone out into the sun and i get to watch as I stroll from school and back each day. The mountains never fail to take my breath away (well when I can see them). Also I am so well taken care of, my host parents are the perfect mix of parent/ friend and they are always encouraging me to go out and do new things.
I've also started up my dance class with everybody in USAC and while it is pretty easy I have A BALL with everyone there. We just smile and laugh and enjoy each others company. We seem to be a pretty tight group and I look forward to a trip to the coast with them all tomorrow. I have made a few Chilean friends but I am always in search of more because hey that's part of the experience too! All in all this year has lead me to a place where I'm probably the most secure and confident I can remember being in a long time. I miss you all and want to thank you for being a part of this incredible journey I have found myself on!
