One thing I’ve learned from traveling so much is to basically never have a plan. This is because if you have a plan, it will without a doubt go wrong somehow and you will have to just go with the flow. Which is exactly what happened when I tried to get home Tuesday night. EVERYTHING went terribly wrong.
My flight was scheduled for 11pm Tuesday and I would get home at 6 am Wednesday to spend the day shopping and hanging out with my mommy (she took the day off work and everything for me!) So I’m just chilling at the airport in Santiago for what I stupidly think is the last time, when they tell us our flight is cancelled! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING! Is what I was thinking to my self/saying out loud. I was so ready to go home and see my family after five months but I couldn’t I had to wait at the airport for them to decide what to do. So even though we knew the flight was cancelled at around 10:35 we had to wait around until 2am. WHAT THE HECK?! Not only did they not let us leave until 2, but American Airlines claimed it wasn’t their fault and wouldn’t pay to put us in hotels or for transportation. Well that was just the cherry on top of the crappiest sundae ever because I had no cash left to pay for anything and was not about to take out more money for one day that I didn't even want to be there for.
Never fear I made friends with some crazy American girl who lives in Santiago and just so happened to have an extra room with a futon in her apartment! What are the chances?! So I, along with a kid from my program and another gringa we picked up at the airport, went with this girl to stay at her place for the night. So it was close to 3am when we finally got there and made ourselves beds…well sort of. The next morning I woke up with the AWESOME realization that I still had some leftover pancake mix, chocolate chips and peanut butter in one of my ridiculously large suitcases! #winning We made a delicious pancake breakfast, stored our giant maletas (suitcases) in her bodega (storage unit) and wandered around Santiago one last time. After an afternoon of eating at a restaurant named California and walking around Santiago (I’m not really sure where all we walked because I recognized nothing), we decided to go back to the airport and check in early just to make sure there was a flight leaving that night.
AND THERE WAS!!!!! Thank goodness, I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I’d been stranded practically homeless in Santiago for another day. I arrived a day late and was picked up at the airport by just my dad instead of my whole family like originally planned. But it didn’t even matter that it wasn’t how we planned it because I made it home!!
So there you have it. The somewhat shortened tale of how I finally made it home to Texas. Too bad it was rainy and gross when I got home; it made me miss the beach more than I had anticipated. I also noticed that Americans are very very loud. I’m still adjusting to some American customs that I lost and getting caught up on pop culture and trends. But I feel at home. (you know, until I leave for Italy on Thursday). I am truly a citizen of the world now! Oh you’ll be happy to know that my first lunch home was a #1 from chickfila complete with a dr. pepper to drink!
Thanks for reading my blog and following my crazy/sometimes boring adventures/daily activities in Latin America!
Besitos,
Gaby
P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS/FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Ciao (Farewell to mi segundo hogar)
I leave tomorrow to go home to Texas. It’s weird saying that because for the past few weeks I’ve been so anxious to leave and see my family and eat American/Mexican food and have normal Christmas-y weather and now that the time has come I wish I had more time here to enjoy the beach and explore the cerros of Valparaíso. But I guess that means that I like it enough here to come back one day. I don’t think I could ever permanently live in Chile but I would love to come back and visit again, maybe next time my family can come with me so I can show them the place I’ve called home for the past 5 months.
Even though I’ve traveled a lot this semester I feel like there is still so much to see and do not just in Chile but also in Latin America. Which makes my future travel plans a bit more complicated since I still want to travel Europe, Asia, and Africa, Australia basically the world. Every time I go somewhere I think to myself “Next time I come I should do this instead of that and I must eat there again” because I like to think that one-day I will be back. In regards to traveling I also found some great quotes to hopefully better explain how I feel about it:
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living”—Miriam Beard
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people’s cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”—Maya Angelou
So after seeing Machu Picchu, visiting Buenos Aires, backpacking across the end of the world and all the smaller travels in between I feel like even though I have beautiful pictures and memories, I learned and experienced so much more than those pictures could ever show.
Next post will be written in TEXAS! I still can’t believe I’m getting on the plane tomorrow night! Soon enough I will be at chickfila and drinking a dr. pepper. It’s the simple things you miss when you’re gone for so long.
Besitos,
Gaby
Even though I’ve traveled a lot this semester I feel like there is still so much to see and do not just in Chile but also in Latin America. Which makes my future travel plans a bit more complicated since I still want to travel Europe, Asia, and Africa, Australia basically the world. Every time I go somewhere I think to myself “Next time I come I should do this instead of that and I must eat there again” because I like to think that one-day I will be back. In regards to traveling I also found some great quotes to hopefully better explain how I feel about it:
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living”—Miriam Beard
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people’s cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”—Maya Angelou
So after seeing Machu Picchu, visiting Buenos Aires, backpacking across the end of the world and all the smaller travels in between I feel like even though I have beautiful pictures and memories, I learned and experienced so much more than those pictures could ever show.
Next post will be written in TEXAS! I still can’t believe I’m getting on the plane tomorrow night! Soon enough I will be at chickfila and drinking a dr. pepper. It’s the simple things you miss when you’re gone for so long.
Besitos,
Gaby
Thursday, December 8, 2011
PATAGONIA. EXITO. (Success)
Before leaving on my big backpacking trip to Patagonia I thoroughly fried my stomach at the beach and fell out of the bus. So as you can probably already tell, I was off to a great start. (If you have a sunburn on your belly and no access to aloe lotion, deodorant is a pretty good substitute!)
Anyway, when we arrived at Torres del Paine National Park I couldn’t believe our luck because the weather was perfect. Blue skies, hardly any wind, good temperature. I thought to myself that it was just a fluke and tomorrow we would have winds that blew me over and freeze our butts off. But it wasn’t! We had casi (almost) perfect weather all 6 days! Que suerte! Day one was fairly easy and we had plenty of time to enjoy the weather and hangout by the river near our campsite in the glorious Patagonia sunshine. However since we were so far south the sun didn’t set until 10 o’clock and then it rose at about 5:30 or so. Which made sleeping schedules difficult!
Day 2 we hiked toward Glacier Grey. IT WAS AWESOME! We saw icebergs and avalanches. So cool!!!!! It was a pretty long day of hiking so we rewarded ourselves with a delicious dinner of chili in Chile! (okay I can’t take credit for this it was all Andrew’s idea. Emily and I didn’t want to carry all the cans.) But I’m so glad we did because it was delicious! Que rico!
Day 3 we had to back track a bit so we passed by all the icebergs again and let me tell you it was still totally awesome the second time around! Even though I’d walked that path the day before I was still in awe of how beautiful it all was. Day 3 was kinda long too so we soaked our feet in the freezing river and it was glorious! Except for when I took my shoes off I discovered a few blisters. So I went to the Guardaparques and he bandaged me up! What a swell little man named Mauricio he was. Props to him for touching my nasty feet!
Day 4 was a shorter hike up in the Valle Frances! It was just a day trip without our packs because we stayed in the same campsite as the night before. Everything was still beautiful and amazing and life was good! Instead of our normal pb&j tortillas we splurged and had sopa de zapallo (pumpkin soup) with some noodles. But it accidentally turned into something that tasted like mac n cheese! A happy accident if you ask me.
Day 5 My blisters were at their worst and we had a long haul. But with the encouragement of Emily and Andrew I made it to the base camp of the torres! I am very fortunate to have such patient friends! Not to mention the breathtaking views that would put even the grouchiest person in a better mood. Those helped distract from my feet that were on fire
Day 6. Our last day did not exactly go as planned. I ended up getting sick and feverish. I wasn’t able to do the 45 min climb to the Torres because of this. And we still had about a 4 hour hike back down the mountain to catch the bus back into town. So I very slowly made my blistery feet and fevery body move down the mountain. Once again Emily and Andrew were the best friends to backpack with because they were so incredibly patient and understanding. And even though it took longer than originally thought we made it down in one piece safe and sound!
After six days of backpacking in Patagonia I can say that without a doubt it is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. And the perfect ending/last hoorah of my time in Chile. The good, the bad and the ugly included, it was the most incredible journey ever.
Besitos,
Gaby
Anyway, when we arrived at Torres del Paine National Park I couldn’t believe our luck because the weather was perfect. Blue skies, hardly any wind, good temperature. I thought to myself that it was just a fluke and tomorrow we would have winds that blew me over and freeze our butts off. But it wasn’t! We had casi (almost) perfect weather all 6 days! Que suerte! Day one was fairly easy and we had plenty of time to enjoy the weather and hangout by the river near our campsite in the glorious Patagonia sunshine. However since we were so far south the sun didn’t set until 10 o’clock and then it rose at about 5:30 or so. Which made sleeping schedules difficult!
Day 2 we hiked toward Glacier Grey. IT WAS AWESOME! We saw icebergs and avalanches. So cool!!!!! It was a pretty long day of hiking so we rewarded ourselves with a delicious dinner of chili in Chile! (okay I can’t take credit for this it was all Andrew’s idea. Emily and I didn’t want to carry all the cans.) But I’m so glad we did because it was delicious! Que rico!
Day 3 we had to back track a bit so we passed by all the icebergs again and let me tell you it was still totally awesome the second time around! Even though I’d walked that path the day before I was still in awe of how beautiful it all was. Day 3 was kinda long too so we soaked our feet in the freezing river and it was glorious! Except for when I took my shoes off I discovered a few blisters. So I went to the Guardaparques and he bandaged me up! What a swell little man named Mauricio he was. Props to him for touching my nasty feet!
Day 4 was a shorter hike up in the Valle Frances! It was just a day trip without our packs because we stayed in the same campsite as the night before. Everything was still beautiful and amazing and life was good! Instead of our normal pb&j tortillas we splurged and had sopa de zapallo (pumpkin soup) with some noodles. But it accidentally turned into something that tasted like mac n cheese! A happy accident if you ask me.
Day 5 My blisters were at their worst and we had a long haul. But with the encouragement of Emily and Andrew I made it to the base camp of the torres! I am very fortunate to have such patient friends! Not to mention the breathtaking views that would put even the grouchiest person in a better mood. Those helped distract from my feet that were on fire
Day 6. Our last day did not exactly go as planned. I ended up getting sick and feverish. I wasn’t able to do the 45 min climb to the Torres because of this. And we still had about a 4 hour hike back down the mountain to catch the bus back into town. So I very slowly made my blistery feet and fevery body move down the mountain. Once again Emily and Andrew were the best friends to backpack with because they were so incredibly patient and understanding. And even though it took longer than originally thought we made it down in one piece safe and sound!
After six days of backpacking in Patagonia I can say that without a doubt it is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. And the perfect ending/last hoorah of my time in Chile. The good, the bad and the ugly included, it was the most incredible journey ever.
Besitos,
Gaby
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
TWO WEEKS NOTICE
I LEAVE THE PLACE I'VE CALLED HOME FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS IN EXACTLY TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!
Guys this is huge! I will soon be able order my food, ask for directions, talk to everyone in ENGLISH.
But for one of my last weeks in Chile I will be traveling down south to Patagonia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C52vyEKnDeM
^click that to watch a movie trailer about Patagonia
Guys this is huge! I will soon be able order my food, ask for directions, talk to everyone in ENGLISH.
But for one of my last weeks in Chile I will be traveling down south to Patagonia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C52vyEKnDeM
^click that to watch a movie trailer about Patagonia
Monday, November 21, 2011
NOTICIAS (And then I climbed a glacier)
Things here are winding down and wrapping up. I only have three short weeks left in the place I’ve come to call home over the past (almost) five months. I’m getting super excited to go home and see my family and friends. But it’s a strange mezcla (mix) of feelings because I’ve grown to love my Chilean family, friends and culture and I feel like there is so much left for me to do and see and learn here. Since my life right now is made up of final papers and final trips I’m going to give a few quick updates!
1. My program took us on a trip to La Serena (a city in the north of Chile) for a weekend. While there we went to the pisco factory because pisco is the drink of choice here in Chile. People love their pisco, which according to Wikipedia is a colorless grape brandy. We also went to an observatory in the desert and looked at the stars and Jupiter! I don’t really remember anything we learned at the observatory because I just kept thinking about the song from the Disney Channel Original Movie Zenon (video below!!!)
2. When we got back I found out that we now have classes in Casa Central, the actual university building instead of in the tiny little empty high school we’d had classes in the whole semester. So with two weeks of classes left we got to experience what it was supposed to be like all semester long. And let me tell you this building is so much bigger and nicer and full of real Chilean students! It’s still school but at least it’s a change for the better.
3. I’ve also been taking advantage of living by the beach! Since I’m in the southern hemisphere its Spring and the weather has been (for the most part) beautiful!
4. The things I miss most about home (after the people of course) are food. Specifically Tex-Mex, Fried chicken/fried food in general, Chinese food, fast food, like Whataburger, Taco Cabana and Chick-fil-a. I’m going to make a list of all the restaurants I must go to when I get home! (sidenote: MOM I hope to come home to some of your Christmas cookies too!)
5. And this past weekend was my last mountain sports class excursion! We went to Andina Juncal, which is in the Andes and only 5 kilometers from Argentina. It was so remote and peaceful there because no other campers were around. We hiked to a glacier and even climbed it a bit (side note: We couldn’t climb all the way up because for that you need ice picks and crampons). So now I can say that I’ve eaten lunch on a glacier! I’d say that’s pretty neat. However, as much fun as the mountains are I have to admit that I’m more of a hot, dry desert type of person at heart. I would rather be in the boiling hot weather than in the snow. But maybe that’s because I’m from Texas…who knows. Either way, mountains or deserts, they have their positives and negatives and both are gorgeous. I appreciate nature so much more after all this camping.
So here’s the break down of my time left here. This week I have all my final papers due. Next week I head south to Patagonia (google image it. it’ll take your breath away). The week after that is my last and I plan to spend it on the beach and exploring the cerros of Valpo. Well I guess that’s all for now. I should probably get back to writing those pesky final papers I’ve been telling you about.
Besitos,
Gaby
PS here's the video!!!! It's about intergalactic love...totally relevant to the observatory. right?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KygD_QLpKeU
1. My program took us on a trip to La Serena (a city in the north of Chile) for a weekend. While there we went to the pisco factory because pisco is the drink of choice here in Chile. People love their pisco, which according to Wikipedia is a colorless grape brandy. We also went to an observatory in the desert and looked at the stars and Jupiter! I don’t really remember anything we learned at the observatory because I just kept thinking about the song from the Disney Channel Original Movie Zenon (video below!!!)
2. When we got back I found out that we now have classes in Casa Central, the actual university building instead of in the tiny little empty high school we’d had classes in the whole semester. So with two weeks of classes left we got to experience what it was supposed to be like all semester long. And let me tell you this building is so much bigger and nicer and full of real Chilean students! It’s still school but at least it’s a change for the better.
3. I’ve also been taking advantage of living by the beach! Since I’m in the southern hemisphere its Spring and the weather has been (for the most part) beautiful!
4. The things I miss most about home (after the people of course) are food. Specifically Tex-Mex, Fried chicken/fried food in general, Chinese food, fast food, like Whataburger, Taco Cabana and Chick-fil-a. I’m going to make a list of all the restaurants I must go to when I get home! (sidenote: MOM I hope to come home to some of your Christmas cookies too!)
5. And this past weekend was my last mountain sports class excursion! We went to Andina Juncal, which is in the Andes and only 5 kilometers from Argentina. It was so remote and peaceful there because no other campers were around. We hiked to a glacier and even climbed it a bit (side note: We couldn’t climb all the way up because for that you need ice picks and crampons). So now I can say that I’ve eaten lunch on a glacier! I’d say that’s pretty neat. However, as much fun as the mountains are I have to admit that I’m more of a hot, dry desert type of person at heart. I would rather be in the boiling hot weather than in the snow. But maybe that’s because I’m from Texas…who knows. Either way, mountains or deserts, they have their positives and negatives and both are gorgeous. I appreciate nature so much more after all this camping.
So here’s the break down of my time left here. This week I have all my final papers due. Next week I head south to Patagonia (google image it. it’ll take your breath away). The week after that is my last and I plan to spend it on the beach and exploring the cerros of Valpo. Well I guess that’s all for now. I should probably get back to writing those pesky final papers I’ve been telling you about.
Besitos,
Gaby
PS here's the video!!!! It's about intergalactic love...totally relevant to the observatory. right?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KygD_QLpKeU
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Perú
So before going to Peru and hiking the four-day Inca Trail I honestly couldn’t tell you much about the Incas or Machu Picchu. Now hopefully I remember enough to give yall a brief history lesson! (Please keep reading! I promise its all really interesting stuff!)
Machu in Kechua means old and Picchu means mountain or summit. Machu Picchu literally means Old Mountain. Pretty cool, huh? But most of the names of the cities that are now ruins were changed when the Spanish came, so the original names are lost forever.
Near the city of Machu Picchu they found 173 mummies/dead people and of these bodies around 150 or so were women’s, which means that Machu Picchu was probably built for women.
The Incas only made human sacrifices when they were going through incredibly difficult times. Then they would sacrifice the prettiest little boy and the prettiest little girl in the town by feeding them plants (aka drugging them) and then burying them alive or putting them in the river. This sounds awful to us but for them it was an honor to be chosen for sacrifice. Occasionally they would also sacrifice teenage girls in the same way.
Machu Picchu was divided into two parts by a geologic fault line (I know all about these because I took Environmental Geology). The two parts were the agricultural and the actual city where they lived.
The American Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu on accident.
No one knows for sure how long it took the Incas to build Machu Picchu because some of the buildings were found unfinished. Also the whole community worked to build it and they weren’t on a time schedule so that’s why everything was built to last.
Now my experience in Perú was absolutely AMAZING! I hiked the four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and stayed a day in Cusco. The trail was difficult because its all stone steps or mostly and the altitude is so incredibly high that I got a few headaches from it. The hiking was tough but the archeological sites we saw along the way and the moment when Machu Picchu came into site made it worth it. Seeing Machu Picchu in person is breathtaking. Just thinking about the Incas and the hard work they put into their city and the fact that 80% of it is still the original buildings.
Cusco is a very touristy town, yet I didn’t feel like it gave off a cheesy vibe. It was still very authentic in some places. I went to the San Pedro market where they literally had EVERYTHING. Alpaca sweaters, fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, flowers, cheese, other knick-knacks and more. I could have stayed there all day. I seriously just fell in love with Peru and think if I ever had the opportunity to study abroad again I would go there.
Besitos,
Gaby
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Vino (Wine)
Degustación- tasting
Corcho- cork
Chile’s wine valley Casa Blanca is (in my opinion) a hidden treasure. Most things that in the states would be super touristy and expensive with signs screaming in your face to go there are much more subtle and even difficult to find here. Tourism in Chile isn’t exactly a priority, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. I like that about this country it makes me feel like an insider when I do find these hidden treasures that most tourists have never heard of and would get lost going to. Which made my experience at the Casas del Bosque vineyard that much more enjoyable.
Saturday morning I met some friends at the bus terminal in Valparaíso to take the 45 minute bus to Casa Blanca (which is about half way between Viña/Valpo and Santiago).The Casablanca Valley has some of the vineyards that have recently grown in popularity here. Once there we hopped in a colectivo (taxi) to take us to the actual vineyard. It was so beautiful and the weather was perfect! We asked for the next tour when we arrived and even did the tour in Spanish (because we are such proactive and eager students!) However, having zero prior knowledge of wine and how it’s made proved to be a bit of a struggle with the vocabulary.
Then came the actual wine tasting! On the table with our wine glasses were other glasses filled with things like vanilla, pepper, bell peppers and mint to compare the smells of the wine with those basic things. There was one vino tinto (red wine) that definitely smelled like pepper but other than that I couldn’t really pick out the smells in the wines….maybe I just need more practice ☺
Other than the awesome wine tour this weekend things have been fairly calm here. The big news is that the Chilean University (La Catolica, the one I was supposed to be attending here) has reached some kind of agreement and started classes Monday. After being in paro (strike) for 4 months it’s about time they settled things! I also found out that on ESPN VIVO I can watch the World Series! Only downside is that the commentary is all in Spanish, kinda takes away from the All American-ness of baseball. BUT STILL I’m able to watch the games!
I LEAVE FOR MACHU PICCHU (the trip I’ve been looking forward to since before I even got here) ON THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t contain my excitement. It’s gunna be TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!
After I get back from Machu Picchu things will get pretty crazy with final papers and exams right around the corner and my travel plans taking up almost every weekend until I go home in December. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been here for about 3 months. Sometimes I think where did the time go? I still haven’t learned anything or seen or done anything?! And other times I think WOW, I’ve learned and grown and seen so much in such a short time. It’s a very strange mix of emotions, especially when you add in the occasional homesickness or feelings of wishing I were staying a year. (Don’t worry I’m not staying a whole year, y’all will see me back in the states in December). So a strange mix of emotions and about a month and half left here is where I stand right now. I hope that made some sense to those of you haven’t studied abroad before, it’s difficult to explain.
Besitos,
Gaby
Corcho- cork
Chile’s wine valley Casa Blanca is (in my opinion) a hidden treasure. Most things that in the states would be super touristy and expensive with signs screaming in your face to go there are much more subtle and even difficult to find here. Tourism in Chile isn’t exactly a priority, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. I like that about this country it makes me feel like an insider when I do find these hidden treasures that most tourists have never heard of and would get lost going to. Which made my experience at the Casas del Bosque vineyard that much more enjoyable.
Saturday morning I met some friends at the bus terminal in Valparaíso to take the 45 minute bus to Casa Blanca (which is about half way between Viña/Valpo and Santiago).The Casablanca Valley has some of the vineyards that have recently grown in popularity here. Once there we hopped in a colectivo (taxi) to take us to the actual vineyard. It was so beautiful and the weather was perfect! We asked for the next tour when we arrived and even did the tour in Spanish (because we are such proactive and eager students!) However, having zero prior knowledge of wine and how it’s made proved to be a bit of a struggle with the vocabulary.
Then came the actual wine tasting! On the table with our wine glasses were other glasses filled with things like vanilla, pepper, bell peppers and mint to compare the smells of the wine with those basic things. There was one vino tinto (red wine) that definitely smelled like pepper but other than that I couldn’t really pick out the smells in the wines….maybe I just need more practice ☺
Other than the awesome wine tour this weekend things have been fairly calm here. The big news is that the Chilean University (La Catolica, the one I was supposed to be attending here) has reached some kind of agreement and started classes Monday. After being in paro (strike) for 4 months it’s about time they settled things! I also found out that on ESPN VIVO I can watch the World Series! Only downside is that the commentary is all in Spanish, kinda takes away from the All American-ness of baseball. BUT STILL I’m able to watch the games!
I LEAVE FOR MACHU PICCHU (the trip I’ve been looking forward to since before I even got here) ON THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t contain my excitement. It’s gunna be TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!
After I get back from Machu Picchu things will get pretty crazy with final papers and exams right around the corner and my travel plans taking up almost every weekend until I go home in December. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been here for about 3 months. Sometimes I think where did the time go? I still haven’t learned anything or seen or done anything?! And other times I think WOW, I’ve learned and grown and seen so much in such a short time. It’s a very strange mix of emotions, especially when you add in the occasional homesickness or feelings of wishing I were staying a year. (Don’t worry I’m not staying a whole year, y’all will see me back in the states in December). So a strange mix of emotions and about a month and half left here is where I stand right now. I hope that made some sense to those of you haven’t studied abroad before, it’s difficult to explain.
Besitos,
Gaby
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)