Tranquilo (Calm)

Things I’ve learned so far:
1. Chileans DO NOT speak real Spanish. They shorten almost every word. They use the first person singular when they actually mean the second person singular. And they have slang words I’m trying to learn, just like any other country/language.
2. When people told me that Chilean’s eat big lunches, they did not do these lunches justice! They are huge and one of the main foods is bread. I have never felt so bad about not finishing a meal as I have at pretty much every meal we’ve had here so far. If you don’t know already I don’t really eat all that much. What can I say, I’m little.
3. Most of the people in my program are from either Colorado or Northern states. I’m the only Texan and they were all incredibly disappointed that I didn’t fit all the stereotypes. Sorry…?
4. Polvo, which you learn in school means dust. It also means sex, so be careful of what context you use it in….awkward.
5. Chileans go out later and stay out longer when partying than Americans do (well for the most part I guess). Some of the siblings in people’s host families didn’t return to their homes until 6 in the morning! It’s crazy, no wonder they eat dinner so late!
6. Americans are terrible at soccer (futbol). We played a game during orientation against the male employees of the hotel we stayed at. Basically it was embarrassing. But since I don’t play I just watched and laughed!

So now a little information about my host family! I live in an apartment in Vina del Mar with my Chilean parents. My parents are Nancy (I know NANCY!!! So white) and Adrian and they are the absolute best host family ever! It’s just the three of us because they are grandparents and their only son lives in an apartment with his daughters on the floor above us. Nancy and Adrian are so patient with my mediocre (at best) Spanish. (side note: Chileans don’t call it Espanol they use the word Castellano to mean Spanish.) And luckily Adrian speaks a little English so I can ask him for words I don’t remember or know in Spanish. In their apartment I have my own room and my own bathroom!! It’s totally awesome (or as the Chileans would say “que bacan!”)
Today Nancy took me to buy a cell phone and show me around. We even took the bus (micro) to Valparaiso! I saw the university I’m supposed to go to but couldn’t go in because all the doors are locked and blocked by furniture because of the strikes. There are also signs all over the schools saying things about not paying for an education and taking action. So I’m still not sure if I’ll be able to take classes there. I might only take classes through the international programs.
Nancy and Adrian are so sweet and keep telling me how Vina del Mar is so “tranquilo” or calm and quiet. The city is bigger than I had imagined but so far I think they’re right. It’s a quiet little beach town. They tell me (in Castellano) to not be nervous that Vina del Mar is very tranquilo and they are here for me if I have any problems of questions. In short I’m loving it here already and it hasn’t even been a whole week yet! Hopefully, I still love it when classes start August 1!!
Besitos,
Gaby

Antes de la Salida (pre departure)

As most of you, dear readers, know I will be spending this up coming semester in Valparaiso, Chile. What you may not know is that I leave for this grand adventure in four days!!!!! (side note: I use an excessive amount of exclamation points! Get used to it!)

How do you prepare to spend an entire semester in South America? Well I am about to tell you, get excited!

First, you read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Spanish. This was a great idea because I got to re-live my childhood and use some brain cells! So now I know how to say wand and owl and cupboard in Spanish. These words should be incredibly useful when I arrive J In addition I’ve also been listening to lots of Shakira and watching the occasional telenovela!

Second, you wear your awesome new hiking boots everywhere in order to break them in and not get blisters and look silly when you trek across South America. I’m sure my hiking boots becoming my newest fashion statement didn’t embarrass my family one bit!

Third, you must be successful in acquiring your student visa. This means you become besties with the people who work for FBI customer service while they process your background check (side note: I have their number saved in my phone because of this.)

Fourth, you go to Target to buy everything imaginable! I just did this as my first step in the packing process and have that feeling that I must have forgotten something! Hopefully it wasn’t important!

A few more things before I leave,

1. Vive el Idioma (Live the Language) is what I intend to do in Chile. The question I get asked most often when I tell people I’m studying abroad is “What will you be doing?” Living the language, that is what I will be doing.

2. I sign up for classes once I get there, so I have no idea what classes I’ll be taking. And there is a strike in Chile so the classes I take at the Chilean University (not through my program) may not start on time. More play time for me!

3. Shout out to Jessie Burch, Morgan Dudley and Paul Byars, who answered my many questions about Chile and packing and traveling! Y’all are the best!

On a more serious note I am finally realizing that this is not just a short little vacation, I will be in Chile until December. This is so strange to me and I don’t think I’ll fully wrap my head around it until I arrive and get settled. Don’t get me wrong I’m incredibly excited for this new adventure and slightly nervous, which I think is a perfect mixture of emotions at this point in time.

Well that’s all for now! Let me know if you like my blog and I will keep posting. Hopefully once I get there I will have some crazy/awesome/funny stories to entertain my devoted readers!

Besos y Abrazos (hugs and kisses),

Gaby