Well it turns out that occcccasionally when you go through airport security your credit and debit cards can get demagnetized! So basically my credit card and atm cards don't work and it will take over a month to get new ones...sooo that sucks!!
Today I rode the micro (aka bus) for the first time alone! An adventure! Me and Kata live really close to Lider, the big Walmart type store. And I couldn't remember which stop was ours, so I just got off and Lider and walked home.
Classes start tomorrow! I only have classes on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday which is pretty awesome! But I have an 8am class on Wednesday which blooows. Liz and I have all the same classes and Kata and I have two classes in common. I hope that the classes aren't too hard and that I can understand what the professors are saying!
It is soooo fricking cold here! SO COLD!! And it was literally crazy down pouring today, like TSUNAMI status! So odvi I layed up and was wearing my rainjacket! Kinda wish I had brought my rain boots! But oh well! We went to la Oficina de Policía Internacional today to register as temporary Chilean citizens, which wasn't nearly as scary as it sounds!
I am taking four classes. One cine class, one composition class, one class on Chilean culture and one survey of literature class.
Audios
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
In Valdivia!
Well, I'm officially in Valdivia, and barring the couple of obstacles I've encountered so far (all of which revolve around machines! Aye dios mio!) having a great time!
First there was a plane highjacking attempt at SFO while I was waiting for my first plane! So all the planes were grounded and police were whizzing everywhere on Segways and some people were being escorted off the plane bound for NY in handcuffs! So they then had to change the GPS codes of all the planes, so basically my first flight of FOUR was 40 minutes late and I was supposed to have a layover of 40 minutes!! EEK!! Totally thought I was going to miss my plane, buuut luckily we hit a rockin tail wind and I threw some elbows to get off the plane first and RAAAN through the airport and they re-opened the gate doors so I could get on!
Then I sat with a really nice and funny old Chilean woman which was good so I could practice my Spanish a bit before I landed, then after like 30 hours of travel I arrived in Valdivia! Which isn't really an airport, more of a landing strip, so I could not exchange my money there. Then after like 40 minutes of sleep in two days we were brought straight to our host families. MINE IS AWESOME!
Me and Kata (the other girl in my homestay who is from St. Louis) had lunch with the fam and then unpacked our stuff and approx froze to death! I had a converter thing which was the wrong size, which sucked, so my comp died! Then Sat we had orientation at school! and then me and kata went to a market called Lider so I could exchange money, get a converter thingy and buy some slippers (cause it's FREEZING, inside!) and a phone (which was an infamous FAIL) but the machine ate my ATM card (which after lots of pleading and playing the dumb gringa I ended up getting back! thank goood!). But I ended up with no money, no phone and a converter, but my computer still wouldn't charge.
After LOTS of panic and fear, I figured out how to fix the charger! Odvi cause I'm using my comp now...
Then the whole group went out to a bar called STRIKE last night with some local Chileans which was hella fun! and Kata and I were brave and took our first cab (well half-brave, we had a Chilean call the company for us...) and then so far this morning I have showered and eaten! I'm really excited for school to start on Tuesday, but not at all excited for the placement exam we have tomorrow....
need to go study!
-Erin
First there was a plane highjacking attempt at SFO while I was waiting for my first plane! So all the planes were grounded and police were whizzing everywhere on Segways and some people were being escorted off the plane bound for NY in handcuffs! So they then had to change the GPS codes of all the planes, so basically my first flight of FOUR was 40 minutes late and I was supposed to have a layover of 40 minutes!! EEK!! Totally thought I was going to miss my plane, buuut luckily we hit a rockin tail wind and I threw some elbows to get off the plane first and RAAAN through the airport and they re-opened the gate doors so I could get on!
Then I sat with a really nice and funny old Chilean woman which was good so I could practice my Spanish a bit before I landed, then after like 30 hours of travel I arrived in Valdivia! Which isn't really an airport, more of a landing strip, so I could not exchange my money there. Then after like 40 minutes of sleep in two days we were brought straight to our host families. MINE IS AWESOME!
Me and Kata (the other girl in my homestay who is from St. Louis) had lunch with the fam and then unpacked our stuff and approx froze to death! I had a converter thing which was the wrong size, which sucked, so my comp died! Then Sat we had orientation at school! and then me and kata went to a market called Lider so I could exchange money, get a converter thingy and buy some slippers (cause it's FREEZING, inside!) and a phone (which was an infamous FAIL) but the machine ate my ATM card (which after lots of pleading and playing the dumb gringa I ended up getting back! thank goood!). But I ended up with no money, no phone and a converter, but my computer still wouldn't charge.
After LOTS of panic and fear, I figured out how to fix the charger! Odvi cause I'm using my comp now...
Then the whole group went out to a bar called STRIKE last night with some local Chileans which was hella fun! and Kata and I were brave and took our first cab (well half-brave, we had a Chilean call the company for us...) and then so far this morning I have showered and eaten! I'm really excited for school to start on Tuesday, but not at all excited for the placement exam we have tomorrow....
need to go study!
-Erin
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Airport!
Well, the day has finally arrived!
I am currently sitting in SFO (wearing a dress, legging, a tanktop, a sweater, a sweatshirt, a coat, sunglasses, knee high socks, Uggs and a 25 pound backpack! ) awaiting the beginning of my journey! My 51.5 pound suitcase and 30.7 pound bag are being screened and handled. Liz and I have been texting all morning, my phone buzzing with excitement. We are hoping to spot each other before customs, but have an official meeting place at the gate of our last flight from Santiago to Valdivia.
It is 12:52:29pm California time, and I will arrive in Chile at 1:34pm Valdivian time, tomorrow. After nearly 20 hours of travel time (23 if you include the time I arrived at SFO!) I will land on Chilean soil.
My plans for returning are still hazy. Whether I will be in Chile for the short 4 months I had originally planned, or if I end up staying for 8 months, or 10, or even if I will end up flying from Chile to Finland I don't know. But what I do know is that the paddle is contacting the sediment for one final push off sending me on my way South.
If I have internet when I arrive in Chile I will update. If not, I will update later!
Audios amigos!
I am currently sitting in SFO (wearing a dress, legging, a tanktop, a sweater, a sweatshirt, a coat, sunglasses, knee high socks, Uggs and a 25 pound backpack! ) awaiting the beginning of my journey! My 51.5 pound suitcase and 30.7 pound bag are being screened and handled. Liz and I have been texting all morning, my phone buzzing with excitement. We are hoping to spot each other before customs, but have an official meeting place at the gate of our last flight from Santiago to Valdivia.
It is 12:52:29pm California time, and I will arrive in Chile at 1:34pm Valdivian time, tomorrow. After nearly 20 hours of travel time (23 if you include the time I arrived at SFO!) I will land on Chilean soil.
My plans for returning are still hazy. Whether I will be in Chile for the short 4 months I had originally planned, or if I end up staying for 8 months, or 10, or even if I will end up flying from Chile to Finland I don't know. But what I do know is that the paddle is contacting the sediment for one final push off sending me on my way South.
If I have internet when I arrive in Chile I will update. If not, I will update later!
Audios amigos!
Monday, August 16, 2010
August 16th, 2010
Hello World!
I am currently sitting in my room sorting through the final options of what shoes to bring to Chile. My love of heals has me saddled with three pairs of stilettos and a pair of Uggs. This feel highly extravagant and impracticable considering it is currently the dead of winter in Chile, and the the book I have tossed on my bed (titled CULTURE SHOCK! A Guide to Customs and Etiquette) has informed me that "the rain in the south of Chile feel like an endless unrelenting downpour".
I am unpacked and unprepared. And I certainly don't have enough room in the one measly bag I will be totting the 18 hour trip to Chile for all my beloved heals. But all of this will seem like a foreign dream lost long ago when I am snuggled up in the warmth of tradition values and family, nestled in the German/Chilean town of Valdivia (hopefully wearing something other than heals).
That's all for now,
Pudds
I am currently sitting in my room sorting through the final options of what shoes to bring to Chile. My love of heals has me saddled with three pairs of stilettos and a pair of Uggs. This feel highly extravagant and impracticable considering it is currently the dead of winter in Chile, and the the book I have tossed on my bed (titled CULTURE SHOCK! A Guide to Customs and Etiquette) has informed me that "the rain in the south of Chile feel like an endless unrelenting downpour".
I am unpacked and unprepared. And I certainly don't have enough room in the one measly bag I will be totting the 18 hour trip to Chile for all my beloved heals. But all of this will seem like a foreign dream lost long ago when I am snuggled up in the warmth of tradition values and family, nestled in the German/Chilean town of Valdivia (hopefully wearing something other than heals).
That's all for now,
Pudds
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