Anteayer (29/7) fui una dia muy loca. En la manana fue necesario a llevantar muy temprano porque hubo un tur de los diferentes partes de la U. Hay muchas diferentes edificios de la U en todos los partes de la ciudad y en Vina tambien. Por eso razon fue muy dificil a eligir los clases porque es posible que una clase en en un edificio en Vina e el siguiente es en los cerros de Valpo. Gracias a dios los clases que es necesario que yo toman estan solamente en tres edificios que son cercas a los otros. En la tarde nosotros elijimos los clases que nosotros queremos tomar. Porque es necesario a obtener cincuenta creditos fue necesario para mi a hacer seis clases. Este es muchos clases para mi, en Roanoke la usual es cuatro pero yo he hecho cinco por un semestre. Tengo miedo de las seis clases porque es mucho y los son en una lengua entranjera a mi. Cuatro de mis clases son por extranjeros y los dos otros son muy advanzados en escuela normal. Empezaremos los clases en cinco de Agosto.

Ayer en la manana me llevantaba tarde porque fue posible y yo necesitaba mis horas de dormir. Otras chicas de ISEP y yo asistabamos a la oficina de registro civil para recibir la tarjeta de residente temporario estudiantil de Chile. Ahora yo tengo un RUN que es similar a una SS# en los EEUU. El proceso fue un poco complexivo pero despues de mucho tiempo nosotros recibimos la tarjeta temporado. Es necesario para nosotros a regresar el 14 de Agosto para recibir la tarjeta permanente. En la tarde yo corri a la playa, es solamente cinco minutos de mi casa a la playa. En la noche Rossy yo yo vamos para tomar chocolate calientoe y vamos para la mall y comprar ropa mas dura para mi. Este es todo para este dia!

Two days ago (the 29th) was a crazy day. In the morning I had to get up early because we had to be in Valpo very early so that we could go on a tour of the different parts of the University. There are a lot of different buildings that make up the University and they are spread through out Valparaiso and Vina. Because of this it is very difficult to make your schedule of classes because it is possible that one of you classes could be in Vina and then the other be in the hills of Valpo. To get from Vina to the cerros (hills) of Valpo can take up to an hour! Thanks God the classes that I need to take are only in three buildings that are somewhat close to each other. En the afternoon we chose our classes. Since it is neccesary to take fifteen credits I have to take six different classes. This is a lot of classes for me since at Roanoke we usually only take four classes, I have taken five classes before but never six! I am scared about taking this many classes especially since they are in a language that I am still in the process of learning. Four of my classes are for extranjeros (foreigners) but the other two are advanced classes in the normal university. We start classes on the fifth of August!

Yesterday I woke up late since I didn't have to get up early and because I needed my sleep. Some other girls from the ISEP program and I went to the Office of Registration Civil to get our Chilean Resident Card. I now have a Chilean RUN which is similar to a social security number in the United States. The process was pretty complex but after a lot of time we recieved out temporary cards. We have to return the 14th of August to recieve our permanent cards. In the afternoon I went for a run to the beach. The beach is only five minutes from my house! In the evening Rossy and I went to the mall to get me some warmer clothes and school supplies. We also had a hot chocolate and churros. Well that's all for now, hopefully I will have time to post more later!

Estoy muy cansada hoy, por eso escribire en ingles. (Since I am very tired today I am going to write in English.) Today was another day of orientation, my day started off with the micro that I was taking to school dying. Everyone had to get off and we had to take another bus to Valpo; this was an interesting way to start the day.

Some things I have noticed since arriving in Chile are:
1- How crazy everyone drives! Riding the micro is not for the faint at heart. There is no such thing as yield buses and cars alike push their way through. The horn is utilized often.
2- Chile is truly a conglomeration of different cultures. There are many elements that belong to the Europeans, and Americans. When I went to the pub, Club Jornal yesterday I asked what the best beer was and my friend Matthias (a Chileno) said Heineken. The only music that was played in the pub was american contemporary pop and many of the people knew the words but did not know what they meant.
3- Chilean men are very polite towards women and elders. In the micro men will get up if a woman or an elderly person does not have a seat. While in the streets or pubs Chilean men will stare at foreign ladies like they are meat at a meat market but unlike the Mexican men they will not really approach you. Part of this might have been because I was with an equal number of men and women.
4- Signs are only suggestions. There were no fishing signs on the pier that we went out on today but there were many people who were fishing and crabbing.

There are many more but I can think of them. That's all for now, it is short today so that I can go to bed.

Hoy fue mi primera dia de orientacion. Me levantaba a las 7:15 para desayunarse y prepar por mi grande dia. Rossy yo usabamos el micro (el bus) para ir a mi escuela. El micro es muy facil a usar y hay muchas parades en Vina y Valpo (Valparaiso.) Cuando yo llegaba a mi escuela yo veia otras estudiantes que yo conocian en el aeropuerto. En mi grupo de orientacion yo encontre una chica que vive en Roanoke que es la ciudad donde esta mi escuela de universidad. Ella conocen otras personas en la ciudad que yo conoczo. Hube un otro coincidencia este manana, cuando yo caminaba en el salon de clases yo econtraba una chica que yo conozco. Nosotros estuvimos juntos en un programa durante el verano en Nueva Hampshire. Es increible que nosotros estamos en Chile en el mismo uni e en el mismo tiempo.

En la tarde despues de una tiempo para descansar y comer un snack (chocolate, muy diferente que nosotros chocolate caliente y tambien un sandwich y galleta) e una exhibicion de bailar nosotros escibimos una prueba diagnostica para la escuela. Creo que fue bien pero yo no se. Con el llegado de este dia cree que el espanol fue imposible para mi a entender ni hablar pero despues de mi orientacion y conversaciones con Rossy y su hermana creo que yo entender mas que yo pensar. Esta noche saliera con amigos para bailar!

Today was my first day of orientation, I woke up at 7:15 so I could have breakfast and get prepared for the day. Afterwards Rossy and I took the micro (the bus) to my university. The micro is very easy to use here and there are stops in Vina y Valpo (Valparaiso.) When I arrived at my school I saw other students that I had met in the airport. In my orientation group I met a girl who was from Roanoke which is where my university is and she knows other students in Roanoke that I also know. Another coincidence was that I ran into a girl from New Hampshire that I know, she and I were in a summer program together during high school. Who would have thought that I would be 3000 plus miles away from home and run into someone that I know. It is incredible that we both are in Chile in the same uni (universidad) at the same time

In the afternoon after a time for rest, eat snacks (I had hot chocolate which was very different from the United States version of hot chocolate since it has spices added to it. Along with my hot chocolate I had a small sandwhich and a cookie.) and watch a dance exhibition we took a diagnostic placement test for the university. I think that the test went well but I am not sure. When I woke up this morning I thought I would never catch on to the Chilean Spanish but now I think I am finally catching on. Tonight I am heading out on the town with friends from the university to dance!

Hasta luego!

Estoy en el cielo!

Este dia fue fenomenal porque hay mucha sol. En vez del 0 degrados de ayer nosotros tuvimos 30 degrados y sol hoy! Despues de desayuno (comi una sandwich de queso, mantequilla, y jamon con cereal y te) Rossy y yo caminamos a la iglesia. La iglesia es muy grande y muy antiguo tambien es muy conservador. Yo no entiendo mucho del servicio pero me gusto porque fue divertido a ver los diferentes tipos de chilenos. Despues nosotros caminamos al departamento y recogimos Francisca y Freddy y fuimos para el almuerzo. Francisco y yo nos gustan la comida mexicana y por eso nosotros fuimos a un restauran de comida Tex-Mex. Yo he viajado a Chile e en vez de comer comida chilleno y he comido comida Tex-Mex. !Hay una problema aqui! Si la comida sea Tex-Mex pero tambien hubo elementos chillenos, por ejemplo Freddy y Rossy comieron Empanadas que son un aperatizo tipico de Chile. Una empanada es como un calzone, es pan con carne y cebolla en el medio. Es muy rico. Tambien nosotros bebimos Pisco Sour que es una bebida tipica en Chile. Es similar a un margarita pero en vez de tequila uso Pisco que es un liquor de chile (y Peru tambien dice Freddy pero no es realmente de Peru es de Chile!)

Despues del almuerzo nosotros conducimos la ciudad para tomar fotos de la playa y para introducir mi a la ciudad. Las playas y vistas son increibles. Creo que este es cielo!

Today was a wonderful day because there was sun! Instead of it being 0 degree C it was 30 and sunny! After breakfast (I ate a ham and cheese sandwich with butter and a bowl of cornflakes along with tea) Rossy and I went to church. The church is very big and very old and very conservative. I did not understand much of the service but I enjoyed watching the people. Afterwards we walked back to the apartment and picked up Freddy and Francisca and went out to lunch at a Tex-Mex restaurant. Who would have thought that I would travel all the way to Chile and instead of eating Chilean food eat Tex-Mex. While it was Tex-Mex it did have Chilean flavor to it. Freddy and Rossy ate Empanadas as an appetizer which is a very typical Chilean dish. Empanadas are like calzones, they have bread around them that surrounds beef and onions, they are very good. We also drank a typical Chilean drink that is called Pisco Sour. It is similar to a margarita but instead of tequila they use Pisco which is similar to a tequila. Pisco is a typical Chilean liquor although the Peruvians also claim it as a their drink.

After lunch we took a tour of the city and beaches in order to get me oreintated. The beaches and city is amazing. I truly think this is heaven!

Mi viaje a Chile

Hola a todos. Escribire este blog en dos lenguas, espanol y el ingles. A veces solamente escribir en uno de los lenguas. Este blog cubrire mi semestre en Chile.

Ayer yo empiezo mi viaje en el aeropuerto de Boston con mi papa y mi novio Ethan. Despues de un vuelo de Boston a Dallas Fort Worth y un otro vuelo de Dallas a Santiago yo estoy en la preciosa pais de Chile.

Antes de mi viaje yo tuvo sentimientos de mierdo y fue un poco timida porque seis meses es un tiempo muy larga para vivir en una nueva pais con una familia que no conozco. Antes de salir mi novio dijo "Tienes un nuevo familia ahora, desfruta." El fue correcta yo tengo un nuevo familia Chilleno y ellos son muy amables. Mi mama Rossy es muy amable y simpatica, mi papa Freddy tambien es muy amable. Yo tengo una hermana Francisca que tienes el mismo edad de mi e este es divertido para mi porque es facil a preguntar ella sobre los costumbres de los jovenes en Vina. Yo vivo en Vina del Mar que es una de los llugares mas famosos en Chile porque hay playas muy buenas aqui. Es muy muy bonita pero ahora los playas solamente ven muy bonita no es posible a usar mucho porque solamente es 1 degrada de celcius aqui.

Este dia fue muy "low key" muevo en mi nuevo cuarto y almuerzo y tambien hacer una siesta grande. Para almuerzo yo comi ensalada con limon, aceite, y sal y tambien pasta con carne en una mezcla de zanahoria y cebollo. Fue muy rico. Para la postre yo tuve helado de una fruta que sabor similar a cafe.

Este es todo para este dia! Hasta manana amigos.

Hi to everyone. I will be posting this blog in both English and Spanish although sometimes I will only have time to write in one language. This blog will cover my semester of studying abroad in Chile. My travels started yesterday in the Boston airport when my Dad and boyfriend, Ethan dropped me off. I flew from Boston to Dallas Fort Worth and from there to Santiago and now I am in the amazing country of Chile.

When I started my trip I of course had many feelings running through me. I was excited but also scared because I was nervous about living in a new country with a family that I do not know for six months. Before leaving my boyfriend told me "You have a new family now" which is so true. I have a Chilean family that is very nice. My Chilean mother, Rossy is very nice and simpathetic, her husband Freddy is also very nice. I have a Chilean sister Francisca who is the same age as me which is fun because then I can ask her questions about our age group and what they normally do in Chile. I am living in Vina del Mar which is one of the premier beach resort towns in Chile. It is hard to believe that the beach is nice though since it was only 1 degree celcius (33 F) today. I am definitely looking forward to the warm weather and beach days.

Today was very low key, I simply moved in, had lunch and took a nice long "siesta." The food here so far is very good. For lunch I had salad with oil and lemon and salt and then pasta with ground beef that had been cooked in a carrot and onion sauce that was amazing. For dessert I had ice cream that was made of a fruit that tasted like coffee. It was an interesting mix because the ice cream also had chunks of chocolate in it.

Well that is all for today. Until tomorrow!