whatup

Beinvenidos

Alright, there's no way I can write one cohesive essay and tell you how everything is spectacularly perfect. I have a plan though so just stay with me... I'm going to write on topics, if you're not interested in the topic just skip to the next one (more than likely you won't be missing anything). So here we go...

July 23rd/ Friday Traveling
I'm Amazed - My Morning Jacket

So, flying is nothing short of amazing. I was in Carolina del Norte and twelve hours later I was straight up kickin it in Santiago, Cheee-leyyyy (Chile). I need to give Pippi Keen mad props for calling Delta Airlines and threatening them their lives if they let that plane take off without me... I arrived in the ATL at 10:00 pm which happened to be the same time my flight out of Atlanta was leaving. The minute we touched the ground in Atlanta I was grabbing my awesomely awesome pack and hauling ... to my second flight. I was smelling so nice by this point. I made my first impression to Kevin by calling him and asking/shouting if he would mind telling Delta Airlines they actually weren't going to be flying out of Atl at 10:00 and they needed to just deal. Cute right.

When I was sitting on that plane waiting to take off the reality of my decision hit me like a pound of bricks. So, I popped a dramamine in order to avoid my thoughts which worked out pretty well for me.

There were three other EOD -ers (English Opens Doors) on my flight: Keeley, Sarah, Kevin... all of whom ending up being pretty spectacular.

We made our connections easily... well thanks to the three fluent/conversational Espanol speakers. We stopped by the hostel and then went on our first of many walking tours of Santiago.

Hostel International/Food
The Crystal Method- Keep Hope Alive

Hostel living is much like dorm room living. There's four of us in my room living on top, underneath, and across one another. In all there are 64 EOD -er's and we're all staying in the same hostel. Check it... 64 people who threw caution to the wind and traveled down to Santiago to teach a little Ingles... you couldn't ask for a better crowd or more divertido. Hostel International is providing our meals and I must give you the menu:

Breakfast:
Roll/Piece of bread
Instant coffee

Lunch:
Spaghetti
Ensalada
Bread

Dinner:
Chicken
Mashed Potatos
verde sopa y floating particals
Flan
Ensalada

oh yeah... I haven't quite gotten my sea legs back yet pero the verde sopa con floating particles is really helping.

I will tell you one thing Chile has got me sold on... BEEF BEEF and well, BEEF. We took ourselves out to lunch yesterday and since I couldn't read the menu anyhow I asked the waiter for his recomendation... donde recomiende? A short time later I was presented with a plate of nothing but ... wait for it... BEEF. Well, if you have ever had the pleasure of having a meal with me you're very aware of my inability to order descent food. So, when my plate of meat arrived I just shook me head and dove in fork first.

Well. let me tell you Daddy... someone's got you beat in the steak department... BIG TIME.

Night life de Chile
Hot Like Sauce- Pretty Lights

Hands down, literally all hands down... Best night of my life. Discotheque, yes please. We have been lucky to have a Chilean man by the name of Roberto showing us around the city for the last two days. Well, he also introduced me to Blondie el dicotheque therefore I will never be able to love because Roberto stole my heart with the simple broken english words... do you want to go dancing?

Mom- we traveled in a pack of 20... don't worry everyone was very safe.

Life as I know it now:
Head full of doubt- Avett Brothers (like you didn't know that was coming)

I don't even know where to begin... I'm gonna go emo (emotional for all you old folks) on you here so deal.

Life as I have known it for the last 23 years will never be the same. I have more emotions than one can imagine... but what lays beneath all of the others is the most pure form of happiness I have ever felt. Beauty is surrounding me in broken buildings, street vendors, strangers, smiles, Spanish, and the fact that I am able to experience it all.

I love you all but I can't say I miss you yet.

wait... what

44 lbs... For those of you who didn't catch the last blog that is the MAXIMUM amount of weight we are allowed to travel with from Santiago to Patagonia. Therefore, I currently have every item I plan on taking rolled up and strewn across my bedroom floor. Progress. A few of these items include: quick drying underwear, thermals (shirts and pants), hiking boots, wool socks, sandals and stiletto heels…
Each day this week I have walked into my bedroom with the determination, “TODAY I WILL finish packing”. I turn the music up (much to my parent’s disapproval), begin dancing immediately (usually around the piles of clothes), try on every cold weather outfit I own -throw them in the pile, continue dancing (I have now perfected the Soulja Boy), check facebook then my blog, Asses, and usually come to the conclusion it’s been a good days work.

Well my mom has had enough of what she considers shinanigans, I can tell… well and she has told me repeatedly.

Here’s one thing I have learned since I moved back into my parents house … dancing around piles of clothes does not constitute real effort… all I have to say is -some people just don’t understand.

Okay, so obviously packing isn’t going splendidly and if you were reading closely you’ll notice there are a few unusual items on my list… stilettos and sandals. What you need to understand is my inability to comprehend cold weather. Seeing as how I have lived in South Carolina my entire life (yikes) my decision to take on the Antarctic Region has me befunddled. Hence, the stilettos that now lay claim in my pile of clothes to pack.
My list of things to get done before I leave grows longer with each sunrise… so you can imagine my anxiety levels.
…
Whatever, all that matters is this: A whole new country and a whole new perspective… I say BRING IT ON!

One day at a time

I found myself in Naturally Outdoors (kind of like a Half Moon) late this afternoon with my hands planted firmly on my hips perusing through bicycles, hiking boots and other outdoor oddities whilst molding a hipbelt onto my body. I turned to look in the mirror and found this shrimp of a person staring back at me with this insanely large pack strapped (literally STRAPPED) to her back and it occurred to me momentarily that I looked like a nature girl poser. Well, the thought luckily passed as quickly as it came, especially when my wonderful sales assistant told me he would knock off a hundred bucks… since it was last season anyway (who knew nature people were such fashionistas). It was all I could do not to jump into that mans arms and plant a big one on him… but seeing how I had this enormous backpack STRAPPED to my body and a vague idea of personal space I restrained myself. So, I now am a proud owner of the Osprey Ariel 55 Women’s Pack. Of course I had to call home and tell my family about my huge victory but since they aren’t even nature people posers their interest on lay within my happiness… which is fine by me.
On a travelers note I have made contact with a young man by the name of Kevin whom I will be traveling alongside starting in the ATL. Small blessings my friends… one of my biggest worries has been the traveling aspect of my journey. Seeing as how I am by no means a frequent flyer and when I get flustered I either a) laugh (my friends tell me it’s actually pretty creepy) or b)start talking in circles and usually say something extremely inappropriate. Although, I am an exceptionally independent person I don’t feel I will have a problem following in this man’s shadow as he hopefully leads the way out of the Santiago Airport.
I learned today that I will be flying out of Santiago on Sky Airlines… and … I can only check 44 lbs. and have about a 7 lb. carry on… riiiiiggghhhht on. I have decided that these silly facts will from now on be referred to as wilddogs (read “Where does the time go” if you want to understand).
Buenas noche

Where does the time go...

Welcome!

This is basically my test run blog. I have been typing, organizing and fretting over this for the last few hours... hopefully my endeavors will be worth it. It is Tuesday night and the full force of the fact that I am leaving the country in less than two weeks has sunk in like submarine or better yet a torpedo. I have been frantically scanning the internet for evidence that Chile infact does exist so that I am able to come to terms with the adventerous decision I made to travel/live there. The paperwork alone has been a nightmare not even to mention the multitudes of goodbyes alreadys given and in the near future. FEAR NOT MI AMIGOS I plan to outright ROCK this trek I'm about to embark on.

I mentioned the paperwork I have been having to read, sign and fax for the last two months. What I failed to mention are the nice footnotes on every few pages... most of them giving us an outline of temperature changes or maybe a map of Chile, even a few fun facts. One of the "fun" facts included was: How to protect yourself from the wilddogs. It goes on to say that whenever traveling on foot to always carry one-two sticks with you so that when approached by a "wild" dog you are able a)Quit walking b) Face the "wild" dog directly c) Point the stick at him/her d) Yell very loudly and clearly for him/her to leave you alone

Gosh I feel better already.

Until next time.

If you're interested in what is going on in Santiago right now I am following a fellow blogger named Angela who is already there.