estoy aqui!

I'm finally here! After a first day that spanned two continents, forty hours, and seven meals, I can really say that I am in Chile. All the nervousness and excitement, packing, getting stressed out... it has already been worth it. If you've never traveled abroad, then there is no way to understand the feelings that wash over you the first time you set foot in a new country. My first step outside was into an amazing sunrise, coming over the Andes mountains. Can't get much better than that!

My group (which consists of eleven girls and one guy) is currently going through orientation in the beautiful ocean town of Algarrobo (here's the view from my room). Spanish is already incredibly easier than before I got here - it's actually a bit strange to be speaking only in English. I keep having to translate it BACK... which is very unusual but also quite encouraging. They finally told us what the structure of our ISP is... basically, the last month we're here we are completely separate from everyone, finding our own living area, paying our own way (with their money), and making all of our own connections. Completely separate from EVERYONE. The whole calendar page is blank. Did I mention how intimidating that is? Also exciting though. I have an idea for my research already, and my Fellows will probably love it. I want to go to Chiloe (which has an indigenous population) and study the positive and negative effects of education as a service, whether they desire it, and whether because of their separation, size, and resources if it is even beneficial or only a masquerade. I'll develop it, I'm sure, but right now that sounds like an incredible project!

Today we went to the Pablo Neruda House in Isla Negra. Neruda is THE poet of Chile, and very talented. I suggest you look him up! He was a huge collector and his house is full of insects, figureheads of women, giant shoes, interesting bottles, strange instruments, pebble mosaics, and all sorts of nautical objects. I wish I lived there. Yesterday we went walking all along the beach. There are so many people here! (and it's not even close to Santiago's size) It's really hard to be American without complete understanding of what people are saying, because it all ends up being lots of people staring at you and talking. Very disconcerting.

Actually, I wish I just lived here. Chile is amazing! There is beauty everywhere you go, nature spilling into the streets, vibrant colors, people walking, sunshine, everything imaginable. The city might be a bit different, but we'll see! The group I'm with is awesome - already I know that we'll be fast friends by the end of it. Even with one guy, there is great dynamic. We all have very different backgrounds, ideas, etc and very different views of the world, yet have enough in common that there is no hostility, and a genuine interest in getting to know each other. They also speak English. (Here's a picture of us, minus Lauren who met us in Santiago.)

Chile won a big soccer game last night against Argentina, and the streets and bars were positively packed! It's so exciting. There are so many little things here that are different - hairstyles (lots of mullets and rattails.. Nate would fit right in), roads (no traffic lights), walls, advertisements. The language is also very different from Spanish in classrooms. They don't pronounce the s if it comes before a consonant (like in estar, esperar, buscar..) and lots of vocabulary is different.

Time for the cocktail! Have a fabulous weekend, all!

PS - check out what we found written on the back of the car... Fame travels!