¡Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas!

This Christmas was extremely different than what I'm accustomed to, to say the least. No holiday music was listened to, no cookies were decorated, no Christmas movies were watched, no trees were picked, no driveways were shoveled, no turkey was stuffed, no stockings were hung, no fires were lit, no carrots were placed for reindeer, no cookies for Santa, and no time was spent with my real family. Yet I still had a very nice two days, just very different than what I'm used to.

Christmas here is basically just not that big of a deal. In the States the whole month of December is filled with holiday cheer and almost everything evolves around Christmas. Here the only signs of Christmas coming are holiday music playing in grocery stores and their attempts to bring commercialized Christmas to Chile. Beyond that you wouldn't really know Christmas was coming. Christmas Eve was a completely normal day- I slept in, ate, tanned by the pool, and watched a movie. Than at 8:00 I went to Christmas mass with my host siblings which was actually very nice. Towards the end they started singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" in Spanish and it was the first time in Chile where it really felt like there was Christmas spirit, I almost started tearing up.

Christmas mass

manger scene

When we came home from mass we had a really nice family dinner. For appetizers we had asian food and salmon, then for dinner turkey with orange sauce and rice. We finished dinner a little after 11:00 then waited until midnight to open presents (or more like my host sister and I made them wait). In Chile they open presents on Christmas Eve- or technically on Christmas Day and they think Santa comes when they are out at night. Presents here are not a big deal- everyone only gets a few things and they don't use stockings. My host family gave me a really lovely scarf/wrap thing and a nice bar of chocolate. 

my first fake Christmas tree

Christmas day was completely normal. Just did our own separate things all day and then went to my host grandparents house with the extended family for dinner (which wasn't anything special because we do that all of the time). It was a very nice few days but definitely did not feel like Christmas. Nonetheless it was a nice experience! I had my first Christmas summer in the summer and tanned by the pool. 

The best part of my Chilean Christmas: skyping with my family and receiving my Christmas package from my wonderful Grandparents that arrived on time. The first thing I did on Christmas morning when I woke up (at 11:30, the latest I have EVER woken up on Christmas) was open it. It contains two huge boxes of mac & cheese, two enormous jars of jiff peanut butter, and a big bag of reese's cups. I now have enough 'tastes of home' to last me for the next 6 months. Thanks Gmom and Gdad :)

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!

XOXO

Casey

Happenings

Here's just a few things that have been happening this month. 

I've been hanging out a little more with the other exchange students. December is a really hard month for exchange, homesick is at its worst with Christmas around the corner and having 90º heat doesn't exactly spread Christmas cheer. I've been going to Santiago, making cookies, eating American food (burgers and bbq wings at TGI Fridays), shopping, and just hanging. 

Made chocolate chip banana pancakes with real maple syrup with my friend Emily. Yummmm.

Sitting in a 1962 pickup. One of my classmate's dads has an obsession for antique cars. 

Prom!

My school had their version of prom last week. Every senior and their date has a fancy dinner with all of the parents at 9:00. Then at 12:00 all of the friends arrive (I didn't get there until 1:00). Major differences between this and American prom: here everyone wears only short dresses, theres an open bar, and it ends at 6:00 in the morning. After the dance everyone goes and has breakfast at someones house. I got home at 8:00 the next morning. Needless to say, my fellow gringa Macie and I were completely exhausted the next morning. 

Talca!

This Thursday I went to Talca, a city 3 hours south of Santiago, with some friends in Santiago to visit our exchange friends who live there. Talca is really small with just over 200,000 people so we could walk almost anywhere. It was awesome seeing the girls who live there again and just hanging out, eating lots of completos (hot dogs with avocado, tomatoes, mayo, and ketchup), watching movies, and just catching up. Also met a short-term exchange student from Botswana who is only here in chile for 1 month. It was really cool meeting another foreigner and learning about another completely different culture. 

Christmas in two days and cannot believe it. Christmas is just not a big holiday here and Christmas cheer is NOT in the air, but that's okay. All just an experience!

Summer Vacation

I've officially been on summer vacation for one week and it has been amazing. This is the first summer since I was 5 that I won’t spend every day at the pool because of swim team, working in the concession stand, or lifeguarding. I basically have no official responsibilities or anything or real importance to do this summer except for do as many cool things as possible, which is pretty great.

I’ve started going to Santiago a lot to hang out with the ‘old’ exchangers (the girls from Australia and New Zealand who have been here since January and are leaving in a month). They live in Las Condes which is the nicest area of Santiago, and where I live (San Bernardo) is one of the worst areas. Las Condes is well kept: they clean the streets and sidewalks, there isn’t graffiti everywhere, and it is not of full of stray dogs. Taking public transportation there is quite a hastle and takes well over an 1 and a 1/2 but its worth it. The other day we went shopping in a market that sells ‘traditional’ Chilean stuff and I bought my first pair of Chile pants (which are ridiculously comfortable). We ate a bunch of fast food and then in the night went out in Santiago. 

with my friend Elise from New Zealand

Had an end of the year pool party/cook out with my class which was awesome. We had a bbq complete with hot dogs, chorripan, pebre (like salsa), potato chips, cheetos, chicken, steak, salad, tomatoes, drinks, watermelon, marshmellow, and an incredible cake. In the states we would have just ordered a bunch of cheap pizzas, here they really go all out which is awesome. I've really started to feel like a party of my class and connect with them, which is so bittersweet because I just found out that when I change families I change schools. 

some of my classmates

I am changing families after Christmas and I have the unlucky situation of also having to change schools (might I add I am the ONLY exchange student who has to do so). I live in San Bernardo and have to live with other families in San Bernardo, but my current school is in Buin, a city farther south that is about 20 minutes away. Because its so far I have to change to a school closer to my next host family. I'm pretty upset with Rotary in Chile, its extremely disorganized and does a very poor job of taking care of their exchange students, unlike Rotary in the US which is absolutely amazing. But I'll just have to make the best of the situation. I'll get to see two very distinct ways of Chilean life, go to two extremely different schools, and make twice as many Chilean friends. Its all about the way you look at it. 

Normal Life

My Chilean life now just feels so normal. After my amazing trip to Patagonia I'm back to my "normal life," which is still pretty awesome. I've kept on helping out with the English classes in the girl's school. They are all so incredibly enthusiastic- when I enter the classroom they all start shouting out "CASEY CASEY CASEY!"

Two girls gave me a necklace and a pair of earrings (I tried to not accept them but they didn't give me a choice) and I have a whole new collection of drawings which all consist of saying "I love you" and a picture of me with one of the girls. I only have less than a month of the classes for this year because their school ends in late December and then we have summer break, but when the new school year starts in March I'll continue helping out. 

Next week is my last week of school then I have a 2 and a 1/2 month summer vacation (yeah, be jealous). Its been pretty weird. Back home its snowing and everything is all about the holiday spirit. Here its in the upper 80's and its almost summer break. This Friday there was a big cookout with the majority of people in my class to celebrate the end of the school year. There was a pool so we all got thrown in (without bathing suits)- its a Chilean obsession; if theres a pool somehow you will get thrown in. Saturday I hung out with two friends and made sushi (with avocado and sushi- interesting combination that is actually really good) then went to a party. 

Its been really nice to start having a routine and feeling normal- getting closer with all of my classmates is amazing. Its a lot easier now that my Spanish is a WHOLE lot better and I can keep up with most conversations (although they still constantly make fun of my American accent and language mistakes obviously). I definitely feel a lot more comfortable here. Now I only have a few days left of school then its summer break!

PATAGONIA

Last week I had my first Rotary trip to Patagonia for one week with a ton of other exchange students in my district. It was one of the best experiences in my life and was one of my favorite weeks in Chile.

We hiked a total of over 42 kilometers (a little over 26 miles), 18 km without backpacks and 24 km with the backpacks. Considering none of us have done any physical activity since being in Chile it was a bit of a challenge but still amazing. We stayed in cabins for 4 nights, tents for 2, and a hotel for 1. It was a pretty sweet backpacking trip considering we always had hot showers and real food.

It was a big week, on November 21st I completed my 3rd month in Chile with 5 other exchange students who I flew with. Also celebrated Thanksgiving by hiking in Patagonia and then eating a bunch of Snyder's Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzels and crackers with peanut butter. It was really nice to spend it with all of the other exchange students and a bunch of Americas, it definitely prevented horrible homesickness.

Patagonia is so amazing people come from ALL over the world just to backpack it. We met people from Germany, France, Holland, USA, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain.

Its impossible to describe how beautiful Patagonia is, even the pictures don't do it justice but here are a few to try to show it. :)

Patagonia

hiking to the torres

The Torres de Paine

U.S.A.

first day of backpacking

swimming in freezing glacial water = epic

hiking to a waterfall

the Chilean flag and the Patagonian flag

Punta Arenas

cemetery in Punta Arenas

mausoleums

with a bunch of firefighters in Punta Arenas

kissing the foot! means you'll return to Patagonia

matching alpaca sweaters

the bros

It was truly an incredible week. Even though it was only 8 days we've all become so bonded. When we arrived back in Santiago and had to part ways it was pretty sad, especially because some of the students live 3 hours away so its difficult for us all to hang out. Just being able to speak in English (even though we weren't supposed to) and not having to think about every single thing was just plain awesome. And its a universal rule that all exchange students love other exchange students. It was amazing to make so many amazing new friends while being able to travel to the end of the world. I love my life.

English Classes

A couple of exchange students and I have started helping out with an English project in an all girls public school in San Bernardo. In Chilean public schools, they don't begin teaching English until 5th grade. However they're trying to start earlier and in this school they just started an English program for 1st-4th grade. The English teacher asked for us to start coming to ask as a kind of inspiration for the girls, so they can see people who actually know how to speak English.

the 4th grade class, me, and my friend Warren

I go two days a week to a class of 1st graders and 4th graders. Its been an absolutely amazing experience. My gringo friends and I are literally like superstars in the school. During the break time at least 50 girls will come up screaming and latching onto us, trying to give us hugs and kisses. They all actually asked for our autographs. It was so insane that we had to be moved into the principal's office, and even in there all of the girls had their faces pressed against the window trying to see us and were banging on the doors to try to get in. They were also obsessed with my hair and eyes, saying "dame tu pelo!" (give me your hair). 

This school is SUCH a different experience from my Chilean school. I go to a really expensive Catholic private school that is one of the best in the area. In general, Chilean public schools are absolutely horrible. This all girls one is one of the better ones, and its still pretty bad. It lacks good teachers, supplies, and has basic infrastructure problems. But the girls are absolutely incredible, they are all so excited to see us and are incredibly eager to learn English. Its amazing being able to help people :)

Exchange Students

Some exchange student made this and its been going all around the exchange groups on facebook, its absolutely perfect :)

I am an exchange student:
How are you gonna know what a dream is...if you've never completed one.
How are you gonna know what an adventure is...if you never undertook one.
How are you gonna know what anguish is...if you never told your family and friends "see you soon" with your eyes full of tears.
How are you gonna know what desperation is...if you never arrived in a place, alone, withou...t understanding anything the others were saying
How are you gonna know what it means to miss someone...if you've never been away from home
How are you gonna know what diversity is...if you've never shared under the same roof with people from all over the world
How are you gonna know what tolerance is...if you've never had to get used to something different, even if you don't like it.
How are you gonna know what independence is...if you've never had to make decisions for yourself.
How are you gonna know what it means to grow...if you never quit being a child to start in a new direction.
How are you gonna know what disability is...if you've never had to urge to hug someone, but the computer screen got in your way
How are you gonna know what distance is...if you've never looked at a map and said "Wow, I'm far"
How are you gonna know what a language is...if youve never had to learn one to make friends
How are you gonna know what patriotism is...if you've never shouted "I love my country" holding a flag in the hand.
How are you gonna know what a party is...if you've never traveled hours to go to one
How are you gonna know what true reality is...if you've never had the opportunity to see many different ones so you can create your own.
How are you gonna know what an opportunity is...if you've never taken advantage of one
How are you gonna know what pride is...if you never felt it for yourself when you realize what you've accomplished.
How are you gonna know what it means to seize the moment...if you've never seen how time passed through your hands with great strides
How are you gonna know what a friend is...if the circumstances never taught you which ones are real
How are you gonna know what a family is...if you've never had one that supported you unconditionally
How are you gonna know what your boundaries are...if you've never passed them to see what lies beyond.
How are you gonna know what money is...if you never had to manage it to get along.
How are you gonna know what imagination is...if you've never thought about the moment you get back home
How are you gonna know what the world is...if you never were an EXCHANGE STUDENT.

And lastly,

"You know that being an exchange student is taking years off of your life, but you're living more in one year than many live in ten."

Miss/Love

Things that I miss in the US:
-my family & my friends (obviously)
-my dog
-being able to drive
-being able to leave the house alone
-my mom's food
-not being catcalled
-salad dressing
-my own room
-free refills
-how safe my town is
-free water
-spicy food
-working
-real milk

Although most of the things I miss about the US are pretty small, its still makes it really difficult. Like when all I want is to go on a run outside but I can't because its too dangerous. But I just have to keep reminding myself about all of the amazing things in Chile and how incredibly awesome my exchange is.

Things I LOVE about Chile:
-my friends
-the other exchange students
-my host family
-parties
-manjar <3 (like caramel only a million times better)
-empanadas
-reggaeton
-chorripan
-not doing anything productive during school
-having a nana (maid) (I don't have to cook, clean, or do laundry, woop woop!)
-bread (love/hate relationship-its a little too much)
-having 4 meals a day
-dancing all the tme
-driving next to the Andes mountains every day
-having two summer vacations in one year

Exchange is really hard. Every day is a challenge and I have to think about EVERYTHING. I'm tired all of the time because of talking in Spanish (its like I'm in school 24/7-only way more fun). My host family is absolutely amazing, but its still difficult living with a family that isn't your real family.  Most problems that I have I have to solve on my own (and in Spanish) and can't simply go and complain to my mom. Making friends is still a challenge but its not very hard because people here are so welcoming (and my classmates are absolutely amazing). There are definitely times when I would give just about anything to be able to see my family for a day, but I never want to leave Chile. In these past two months I've had some of the most incredible experiences in my life.

I LOVE MY LIFE.

Concepcion

This weekend was a 4 day weekend because of Halloween (which they don't really celebrate) and some other holiday. I went to Concepcion, a city 5 hours south of Santiago on the coast, with my host family and with Macie. The south of Chile is much more relaxed, less crowded, and really really beautiful.

In 2010, Concepcion was hit by a really horrible earthquake and you can still see the effects, There are a lot of parts that are almost completely destroyed or just trashed.

the beach

Sofi, Macie, Ricardo, Me, Nicolas

On Monday we had a huge family reunion on the farm with all of the extended family, more than 50 people. We ate more than I previously thought was humanly possible, climbed some hills, picked strawberries, are some more, and just hung out with all of the family.

view from a hill

Halloween was weird, no costumes, no trick or treating, no carving pumpkins, overall a little sad. But I celebrated by going to my first disco with Macie and one of my host cousins, so better than nothing!

Adios IVº Medio!

Last week was the final week of classes for IVº Medio (the senior class). But in December they have the PSU, which is the Chilean equivalent of the SAT only its basically the only thing that universities look at, so even though they have technically graduated high school, they still have to study for over a month which kind of sucks.

Its a really big deal when IVº Medio leaves, especially because my school is so small and they have all gone to school together for their entire lives. The graduating class was around 30 people! There was a big going away celebration with the entire school. On Friday we had 'alianzas' where the school was split into two teams and competed in mini competitions just for kicks. My class also made a dance for IVº Medio that most of the high schoolers performed, complete with neon shirts and face paint. The teachers also made a dance of IVº Medio, their own rendition to cats which I originally thought was a joke (the combination of seeing all of the teachers decked out in skin tight black clothes with cat tails and attempting to sing in English).

me and my classmates

teacher's dance

It was a really different experience seeing the senior class leave here. It was basically the same process as CHS, only a lot smaller and more personal. Instead of yearbooks, the student council made notebooks that everyone wrote in. The teachers gave a mini speech for every member of the senior class. There was a 'king' and a 'queen' for the senior class that was simply announced during school. Overall, it was just really 'cute'.  :)

Normal life

This weekend Macie came over to my house to spend the night! Saturday we hung out with my host brother Tomas and my friend Agustin and made pizzas and played carioca (a Chilean card game)

Sunday we hung out, skyped with my host brother in Germany, tried to watch Mean Girls, went to Santiago and walked around a park then went shopping, and finally ate at McDonalds. And a random lady in McDonalds walked up to us and asked "Do you guys want these french fries? My son doesn't want them..." so we got a free thing of giant fries from McDonalds, being a gringa here rocks.

Overall my life here is getting more normal, which is nice. School, hanging out with friends, parties, eating more pan than I previously though was humanly possible...I've also started running with my friend Emily (another exchange student in my school from the US) to get in shape for upcoming trip. In a month we're going to Torres de Paine, in Patagonia (the way far south of Chile) for a week with our exchange program. We're trekking/backpacking everything, 8 hours of walking every day. And considering we do absolutely nothing right now we're attempting to get back in shape.

Much love from Chile!

More Exchange Students (:

Have a new exchange student in my school! Christina (Tina) from Germany. We're now both in Tercero Medio, which means we have all of our classes together. It's amazing! I still can barely understand anything in school, thus it can get incredible boring. Because Tina and I know almost the same amount of Spanish, we can talk practice with each other during school. Its great to have another exchange student around. And this week I was in Cuarto Medio (the senior class) because my curso was in Easter Island for a study trip (I'm going in April with my exchange program). Shout to IV Medio for everything!

This weekend my friend Macie, from North Carolina, came over for most of the weekend. We flew together from Atlanta to Santiago and have been talking a lot on facebook since and decided to finally meet up again. It was such a blast. We are practically gemelas (twins), with the blonde hair and blue eyes, and we have so much in common. Its amazing to have someone to talk to about all of the homesickness (we've both been hit pretty hard) and small frustrations with everything. And like Tina and I, we know the same amount of Spanish so we can practice with each other. We get along SO well, its awesome :)

Saturday there was a giant chorriparty at my house with all of the companeros of my host brother. Its basically a cookout with chorripan, kind of like sausauge, its absolutely amazing. Then went to a party and Macie slept over.

My host brother Alvaro finally left for his exchange to Germany (only 2 months late). He has been absolutely amazing and has helped make my first month and half of exchange incredible. Its really sad to have him go, especially because I don't know for sure when I will be able to see him again (I cried my eyes out in the airport), but its time for his exchange to begin. Te quiero Alvarito y gracias por todo!

Un beso! <3

Exchange Student Orientation

Today was the exchange student orientation for my district in Chile- 4340 which is HUGE (it spans from Santiago to Talca which is 3 hours south of Santiago). Had lots of presentations about cultural differences and safety and all of the boring stuff, but for most of the time just we just talked. There were over 50 exchange students from New Zealand, Finland, Holland, Germany, Mexico, France, Brazil, and of course the USA.

It was absolutely amazing to finally be able to meet and talk to other exchange students; to finally be able to talk to people who completely understand %100 of what you're going through because they are going through the exact same things: culture shock, homesickness, language frustrations, host families, making friends, awkward situations, school, ext... It was an amazing feeling knowing there are over 50 people who I can completely relate to. Even though we all come from different countries, cultures, and completely different personalities and interests, there's just this automatic bond between all exchange students that I can't really explain, it's one of the most amazing things in the world. I love youth exchange <3

Un Mes en Chile! & Fiestas Patrias

Ive officially been in Chile for one month and a day, its amazing how fast time goes by.

Last week I didn't have school to celebrate Chile's Independence, so basically spring break (: I was finally able to catch up my sleep. I've been completely exhausted here, every time that I simply want to talk with someone I have to think and trying to understand my classes completely fries my brain. But every day is easier and now I don't have to think for basic conversations, the spanish words and phrases will come before the English ones which is pretty awesome.

The 18th (Chile's Independence Day) means asados asados asados! (barbeques) And they eat so much food here. Before lunch there will be empanadas and choripan (kind of like sausages). Then for lunch there is salad, carne, carne, and more carne. For this special occasion we had cordero asado, which is an entire pig pinned to a cross like the crucifixion then slow cooked for 6 hours. Then after lunch there were the most amazing desserts in the world.

cordero asado

And the fondas! Fondas are kind of like a fair/carnival. Every city/town has their own fonda and they are only open for 3 days (the weekend of the 18th, Chile's Independence Day). There are booths to buy clothes and tchotchkes, restraunts/bars with bands and dance floors, discoteques, and lots and lots of empanadas, anticuchos, and terremotos (drinks with wine and ice cream). And everything here is much later. Parties don't being until around 11 and will end anytime between 3 and 5. We didn't leave one of the fondas until 5 in the morning and that is completely normal. I love it.

¡Colegio!

I’ve officially been in school for one week and one day, woop woop! I’m in Tercero Medio A, which is like Junior Year (so when the new school starts in March I’ll be a Senior) Every grade is split between girls and boys so I’m in III Medio A, however electives and English class are mixed. They take so many classes here! I have Literature, Math, Religion, History of Chile, World History, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Philosophy, English, PE, Elective Chemistry, Elective Biology, and Art. I still cannot understand the majority of what the teachers are saying but every day I can understand more.

mi colegio!

Everything in my new school is different. I’ve gone from having over 1200 people in my graduating class to under 40. I’m used to not knowing half of the people in my grade and here EVERYBODY knows EVERYBODY. You stay in the same class all day and the teachers rotate. The only classes you can choose the electives history or biology, philosophy or chemistry, and art or music. There is absolutely no heating in the classrooms so in the morning when its 32º outside, its 32º inside the school. All of my classmates are incredibly welcoming and are helping me so much. 

September 18th is Chile’s Independence Day, like the 4th of July. This Saturday my colegio had a Dia de la Chilenidad to celebrate Chile and the other countries in Latin America. Every curso (grade) performs a dance together, even the kindergardeners. My class performed a dance from Venezuela complete with huge red skirts. There is a huge dance culture here and everybody knows La Cueca, the national dance of Chile. I think la Cueca is absolutely precious, I can’t wait to learn it. 

with my host brother Tomas

As part of the Dia de la Chilenidad there was traditional Chilean food, which I absolutely LOVE. Empanadas are the best food on earth. Its a baked pastry/bread stuffed with meat and onions or with cheese. Anticuchos are like kebobs. Chilenitos are a cookie sandwich with manjar (similar to carmel) covered in powdered sugar. 

with my host sister, brother, and cousins

I’m loving absolutely everything: my host family, my classmates, my school, the language, the culture, the food. Sometimes it still hasn’t really sunk in that I’m in Chile. Like in the morning when I’m driving to school parallel to the Andes mountains at sunrise, all I can think is “Wow, I’m in Chile!!”  I love my life. 

¡Estoy en Chile!

I'm finally here! And I absolutely LOVE it.

My flight here was great. I flew from Atlanta to Santiago with 8 other exchange students, so we were lost and confused together with our awesome rotary jackets. After we all cleared customs and immigration we followed the crowd out of the airport to find our families. I found two of my host brothers and my host sister with a Chilean flag saying Bienvenida Casey (:

Ricardo, Alvaro, Yo, y Sofi

Mi casa

Yesterday my host brothers Ricardo and Alvaro took me on a grand tour of Santiago. It was amazing! We went to all of the typical tourist spots. I love Santiago! The old buildings are so beautiful, its unlike anything in the USA.

 La Moneda (White House of Chile)

 La Catedral 

 Cerro de Santa Lucia

Right now in Chile there are riots about education. University is super expensive so the riots are trying to change the system. In front of La Moneda (the White House of Chile) there is a group of students who are running a sort of relay around the building until there is change. And in different parts of the city there are people outside of buildings with horns and signs making lots of noise. Tomorrow there is una huelga nacional (national riot/strike) so a lot of stores and companies are closing. Its really interesting to be able to see all of it.

Today I figured out all of my boring paperwork so I don’t get deported. My host brother Alvaro took me on a tour of my colegio (which my host sister also goes to). Its SO small, it only has about 600 people, grades k-12 so everybody knows everybody. But I like it a lot! And everyone is super friendly. My host mom got my school uniform and Im so excited to wear it. I will probably start school on Thursday.

Everyday I’m learning more and more spanish. When people speak really slow with some english I can understand it, but as soon as they speak normally with all of the slang I am completely lost. But everyday my spanish is improving (: 

Ya me encanta Chile. 

Chao!