Heat

Se me olvido.. I have forgotten to tell you that they don't have heat here. It's really expensive to have it so instead we have an estufa.. its a little heater thing that i believe uses oil or something work. they are also called calefactores. It's your best friend when your hands are freezing. I also bought some slippers to keep my feet warm during this chilly weather.

But I'm going to go, I think later tonight I am going to go and see April's house with Jessica.

They cut the s's off of everything

HAY! tengo sueno! I'm sooo tired. I'm trying to remember what i was going to say. The language here is soo different than the spanish in the classrooms at home. They speak a lot fast and cut the s's off of words.. so quieres is sometimes quiere? I don't really know, but it makes it harder to understand. But I'll get used to it, after all I'll be here until Dec 23rd.

The people here are really nice too. You can ask almost everyone where something is, but whether they know what they are talking about is the real question. My friend Rebecca, who is sadly leaving tomorrow, was showing us around the center of Santiago today. Since the City is so big a lot of people don't know where everything is.. it makes sense, so instead of just saying I don't know they'll tell you where to go. So you have to be careful and ask more than one person sometimes.

But Ayer (yesterday)

Well, it was more last night. Jessica and I went to a bar almost next door to our houses for a drink. It's so weird to order a drink somewhere without getting carded or with out my parents. We got the beer that was on tap...then when we were about to leave Jessica was talking to some boys and they ended up buying us a shot of tequila. We talked for a little bit, but headed home soon after.

El proximo dia (the next day)

Rebecca took Jessica and I to go register our passports with the Government. We took the metro to almost the center of Santiago, and when we finally found the place a guy working there told us it moved. So we had to walk somewhere else. Right now I am so lost with the streets, this place is so big but, I'm sure I'll get a hang of it.

When we were done registering our passports Rebecca was taking us to Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia. It's this little market place where you can buy almost anything. I'll have to go back before I leave. It took us a while to find it though, we ended up walking around Parque Forestal and passing el Museo de Arte Contemporaneo (an art museum). It's one of the only parks in Santiago and is really pretty. (I didn't have my camera with me today because it wouldn't fit in my purse, so I'll have to put pictures up later.)

Rebecca then showed us around Bellavista and where one of Pablo Neruda's houses (there are 3 all together). I'm going to go back and take the tour there. There's also a hill in Santiago where a Zoo is. It's supposed to be really cool. We also ate empanada's from a little tiny resturant. I guess it's one of the cheapest things you can get here.

After we ate we ended up walking up el Cerro Santa Lucia. It's another big steep hill that has all this old ancient buildings on it that you can go in and explore. Don't worry I'll be going back to that. We finally made it To Santa Lucia with plenty of time to spend before our orientation started for La Universida Catolica.

Orientation:
Was really boring, I'm not going to lie, you could barely understand the presenter and everything she was saying was word from word off the power point! and also in the book that they gave us too. We did met another girl there from Seattle. Her name is Sarah and she lives like 4 blocks away on Ave Apoquindo too. She was really nice and spoke spanish really well.

After orientation, Jessica and I headed back to our homes via the metro, and made a stop at burger king. There we met the nicest woman in the world! I'm pretty sure she was a manager, but she was so kind! We then headed home.

Last night was also the first time I have every tried Sushi. Vale and I went to go get some last night. It wasn't with fish though, it had chicken in it and cream cheese and other stuff. It was really good. I also tried Pisco for the first time last night. It's made from distilled grapes. Pisco Sour is another type of liquor down here. It's has a strange taste and I'm going to have to get used to it because it is very popular. I also had Piscola, which is just pisco and coke mixed together. It tastes like rum and coke and I like it much better than the Pisco Sour.

I'm going to have to buy some wine before i return to the states, and also bring back some pisco for people to try. But I'm going to go...maybe try and plan a trip to somewhere next weekend. Right now I only have class 2 a week. on Tuesdays and Thursdays so it will leave me with plenty of time to travel. I just need to budget my money really well.

Hasta
<3 Leslie

19 hours of delays and a long sleepless 10 hr flight later, I'm in Chile at last

Hola! oh this is weird, whenever i type i start thinking in spanish and typing in it too... but i'll keep it in english for now.

The view from my window.

It's my second day in Santiago. You can see the Andes Mountians from my windows. It might be cold in my room, but at least I have a good view.
My room is smaller than my room at home,but it's cozy, and less room for me to make a mess. I also sleep with a hot water bottle because it does get soo cold here at night. I'm also glad I brought my snuggie from home because it helps keeps me warm as well and is comfy to snuggle up with.

Yesterday I arrived at around 2:30am yesterday. We had to go through a police security check thing, I can't remember the name I can look later in my passport. But there they stamped my passport and took some papers with my information about where I would be staying, and I think they just made sure I was me and not trying to pretend to be me. Now that I look at it, the picture of me for my visa looks nothing like me.. my hair looks darker and its a crazy pic.

After getting my passport stamped I headed to the Baggage claim with Quinn and Erin. Rachel was no where to be found. I think it was because her school told her to wait to get her student visa down there (I guess it was less of a hassle than in the US) so she didn't have one. Our luggage was sitting there waiting for us as we got to the claim. I found mine easily..a little tooo easily. But after having a heck of a flight down here I think anything going with out trouble is tooo easy.

We then went through customs and just had our bags sent through the x-ray machine again. I thought it was going to be a lot harder to get into the country that it was. I parted ways with my new found friends and found my new host mom Maria. Her boyfriend Patricio was also there and helped me with my luggage. When we got home I had something to drink and fell asleep. Or tried to that is, it's hard to sleep in a new place the first night...

I'll write more about my first day in Santiago later. Right now Jessica C. and I are going to get ID cards and register our passports.

Hasta luego
Leslie

Don't Stop Believing (Dallas flight to Santiago Take #3)

So, I think I left of yesterday with saying I met a few people who are going to study abroad in Chile too. But first I say this is Dallas take number 3 because we were supposed to leave at 12:30pm this afternoon, but due to a malfunction with the backup to the backup hydraulic pump we have been delayed until 4pm. I’ve come to the conclusion this flight is costing American a lot of money, they gave out free hotel and meal vouchers to us last night and then when we had to leave the plan again they gave us $10 more dollars for lunch… So that multiplied by a lot of people probably cost them a pretty penny…


On my flight down from MKE to DFW I overheard a girl talking about going to Santiago, so I naturally asked her if she was studying there. It turns out Erin (sp?) is Spanish/Soil Science major from UW-Madison and is  Boldivia, and she actually has to take an eleven hour bus ride from Santiago down there. She was such a nice girl and I’m happy I met her because otherwise the 3 hour layover would have been sooo long and boring.



We ended up getting dinner together and just chatting, that’s when we met Quin (Sp again?) who is from Mississippi and goes to ole Miss. He’s been to Chile before, Valparaiso, but only for a few weeks over winter break. He’s helped us out soo much but telling us about the culture and how they speak there.

Well when the flight got delayed until 12:30pm today, we were waiting in line to get vouchers for the hotels/meals when we met Rachel (sp?) who is from North Carolina and is also studying in Valparaiso with Quinn. She’s an education major like me and wants to teach Spanish too.



I’m so happy I met a few people on this flight b/c it really does make the time go by faster when you can talk instead of just reading a book… but I gtg right now we’re about to board! Wish me luck! Write Later!

Estoy en Dallas.. i should be in Chile..

GREAT! oh well im not tooo mad. I'm closer to Santiago than I was 12 hours ago....but alas the plane decided to have a mech. failure and make the flight be canceled  (b/c yes planes have their own minds) anyways I can't be tooo mad I have a sweet! room in Dallas I'm staying at the Park Inn Hotel...

I have a king size bed alll to myself! You walk in through a little entrance room to your bed, T.V., Chair (the usual arrangment) and then theres a little hallway on either side of the bed, one for the Bathroom and one for a little Kitchen area. If we ever have a bowling tourny down here We are SO staying here! :)

hall to bathroom

to the kitchen, on the otherside was the bathroom

Sorry if the layout description didnt make sense, I'll post pics. I'm tired after traveling all afternoon and sitting around, thats the only down fall of traveling. One can only be cooped up for sooo long before they need to move. We're leaving for a 9 and half hour flight down to Santiago, Chile at 12:30 tomorrow. So if I do fall asleep on the plane (if we even leave on time/at all!) for a long period of time... I just hope I'll be able to sleep that night when we arrive in Chile.

in the Kitchen we are

I've meet some people on the way down too. Some interesting people with interesting stories, but I'll write about them en la manana. Tengo sueno y necesito dormir!

Hasta

Leslie

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars.

I so love my job at the rec center more than McD...I don't know if it's because trying to fix pinsetters is more in my interest than flipping burgers, or if it's the fact this job is way easier to deal with that McD. It's a combo of both.  But, alas, this is my last night in Milwaukee for 5 months.. Until Dec 16th to be precise....

I'm getting nervous about going. Don't get me wrong, I am really excited about traveling and studying in Chile, and am really fortunate to have this opportunity. I guess you could say I have a couple of things on my mind that are probably everyone thinks about before they make a big trip like this. (At least I hope so, if not then I'm just a weird person). Mostly I'm just afraid that I won't be able to make friends easily down there. When I first meet people, I can kinda be quiet and shy, and have that vibe I'm a stuck up b*itch... But people who do know me that is completely not true.. unless I'm really mad at you? but I have to be like super mad....

But anyway.. It's taken me a long time to build the relationships with people that I have, so I just hope I'm able to push this aside and be more  outgoing down in Santiago.. I think it's a good thing that April is down there, and that I am living like right next door to another girl from UWM too. We can work through and figure things out. Or at least I hope we can do that. 

I guess once I get down there and actually living and get through my culture shock I'll be fine.. I think that's where most of my nerves are coming from not knowing what it is going to be like... 

Besides this.. on my way to Milwaukee today right by the airport I got stuck in traffic because of a pretty bad car accident (It blocked 2 of the 3 lanes). Just as I passed that a little bit down the road from the entrance of the airport I hear a squeal of tires on pavement and a loud thunk.. I turned my head just to see another car in the oncoming traffic hit another car and possibly a light pole.. I hope everyone is ok, it's just that with all of these accidents on the road I hope I don't get into one *knocks on wood* before Monday... Please people who are driving in southeastern WI be careful and don't hit me! 

Anywho I think that's all I have right now.. Only 4 and a half hours left til im free! see ya

<3 Leslie 

New hair, New Shoes, New Sunglasses... I'm Ready Lets Go!

I've been super busy.

I had a group of friends over last week to watch movies and hang, otherwise I've just been working, sleeping, packing, unpacking, repacking, organizing, and waiting for July 26th to come! 10 days left in the good ol' USA. My times limited right now so I've just been trying to make plans with friends and spend time with my family before I'm gone for 5 months. Oh that reminds me I have to teach my parents how to use Skype, I should probably get on that.

I got my Visa! On Monday my parents went down with me to the Consulado General de Chile in Chicago. We took an hour and a half train ride down there for a 10 min appointment at the Consulate. Ok, so the time wasn't a complete waste, we also went to the Crate and Barrel outlet and I got some shot glasses for real cheap there. We also stopped at Trader Joe's for the first time too. 

My last day of working at McD is next Wednesday! I'm soooo excited! You can really tell I like my job. It'll suck not being able to make money when I'm gone, but who knows if I will ever get to see Chile, or even South America again in my life. Besides if all my classes are in Spanish I am probably going to need more time to spend studying than working... 

Well I should get ready, I'm going out to lunch with Brittany and then hanging out with Doug and his Family! So, I'll talk to ya'll later! 

<3 Leslie

16 days and a little ranting about work :)

Maybe keeping this blog is going to be harder than it sounds. It's hard to believe in 16 days I'll be flying out of Milwaukee and on my way to Santiago...I never thought these final days would come, but in reality the beginning of summer seems so far away and school starts in just about 3 weeks. Over the past few weeks nothing new has been happening I have been trying to visit and see people before I won't be able to for four months (This is turning out to be difficult b/c almost everyone has moved near there schools and there is barely anyone left in Racine)

As these final days of summer are winding down I am beginning to realize I am soooo not ready for this. I still have sooooo many things to gather, get, and buy. An electrical outlet converter thing is on that list and I have yet to find anyone at any store to actually know what I am talking about when I ask the question... Oh well I'll find one sooner or later, but hopefully it's sooner. 

I've also been working a lot these past few weeks. I really didn't expect to be getting 32-34 hours a week at McDonald's, but I'm not complaining since I need all the hours I can get so I can pay for all the trips and things I plan on doing down in Chile. (I am sooo planing on going to Machu Picchu when I am down in Chile, It's already decided and I don't care how or when I go, but I am going.) This summer I am also taking a new way of thinking at work: leave work problemas at work, they don't matter outside of it. It's been working, the thing i do wonder is: Why do some people act as if it's the end of the world when someone makes a simple mistake on your order? Ok, so yeah I know its REALLY annoying when people get things wrong that you pay for and what not, and it is a waste of time, but honestly ppl it is just food. It might be Ok to get a little upset at us, but cussing and swearing won't help any at all, in fact we don't have to help you if you treat us like that  (you might just get asked to leave and the police called on you((if you get violent enough)))....


Oh, my friend April is also down in Chile right now. She had some issues with the flight, but actually made it to Santiago safe and without having to make any major changes (except for the fact she had her carry-on left in Atlanta). I'm glad and can't wait to join her for some cool adventures in a few weeks. but for now: sorry for that rant it was a little longer than expected and there's only 8 shifts left at Mcdonald's, and 2 at the Rec Center separating me between here and there.


<3 Leslie