Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my blog! I decided to start this for 3 reasons. 1. I want everyone back home to be able to share in my experiences. 2. I want to remember years from now all of the minute things that made my trip what it will be. and 3. I express my feelings best through words...and in a country where I barely speak the language, it looks like a blog in English will be my best outlet. So here it goes..

Jon and I arrived in Santiago last Thursday morning. We had until yesterday (Tuesday) morning to explore the city, immerse ourself in the language, and spend our last days with each other. Our home for 5 days was a hostel call La Chimba in Barrio Bellavista of Santiago. This hostel is pretty great in terms of its location. It is right next to San Cristobol, a beautiful monument on the top of a very large hill. Our first full day in Santiago was spent hiking up to San Cristobol and enjoying the views. It was very surreal at the top, because all in one picture, you see snow-covered mountains, spring tree blossoms, endless buildings, and smog. The view was beautiful and awkward all at the same time.
Other than our hike, we have spent countless hours on our feet, exploring the city. Although Santiago has an amazing metro system, we decided we would learn more and see more on foot. Although this was true, it got pretty exhausting....Santiago is huge. My favorite highlight thus far was visiting the zoo in Santiago. It is built into the mountains and has countless beautiful animals, including PENGUINS. If you know me well, you know how exciting that is for me!!!
Overall, we had a pretty great few days together, but then yesterday morning came. I was dreading it. Jon had his first day with his study abroad program, which meant that our status as roomates was over.
They left for the coast early yesterday morning to begin their orientation and to enjoy in the must-haves of Chile. The second he left was when my new journey began...flying solo in a place far from home. I'm not going to lie...it has been hard. I thrive when I am surrounded by those I love. I enjoy learning, seeing and doing new things, but not alone. When I am alone, that is when I find I learn and experience the most, because I have no other choice.
That being said, I am enjoying this new alone time, because I am keeping myself busy. I have been in Spanish class for 3 days now, and am exTREMely overwhelmed. For 6 hours a day, its solo espanol. If I have a question, I have to ask it in Espanol. If I say anything in English, it is rarely understood. My level of Spanish before I came here was pretty low. Although I have only been in class for 3 days, I already can see an improvement. A class where English isn't an option is most definitely the best and only way to learn. It is frustrating, but it is helpful.
Although Santiago has treated me well and has been interesting, I am very anxious to move on to Part II of the trip. I leave for my city, Valdivia, on Friday night and arrive there Saturday morning. Although it will be further away from Jon, I am excited to finally reach my destination and to settle into my new home. Word on the street is that Valdivia is muy tranquillo...I think that is what I need. Calm and quiet. Santiago is a bit much for this little northerner who is used to glasses of Malbec on my quiet deck next to my fiance.
All in all, I couldn't be happier that I am here. It is good to put yourself out of your comfort zone. It had been a while since I did that, so here I am. With every passing day, I get a little more comfortable. Hopefully, I also get a little more fluent.
Until next time, I would love to chat with all of you whenever! As is probably obvious, I get lonely and love to share in the happenings of things back home.

Take care everyone!

La Gringa