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'.  :)