All the Despedidas

This week has been full of goodbyes. 

I had my last day of school and my friends surprised me with a cake. It was delicious and everyone hugged me and made me feel very loved. During an assembly, the principal called me up on stage and gave me the school pin and flag. He said I had been a positive contribution to the school and that he can tell everyone will miss me. The pin is now on my blazer and I will surely hang the flag up in my room!

On Friday I went to a goodbye party Alex's friends threw for her. It was fun but I hated thinking about Alex leaving. I started feeling lonely but I had a pretty good time anyways. 

On Saturday night, Eduardo drove me up to Katie's house to say goodbye to her before she left for the airport. We passed eachother letters and then I hugged her and left. I wasn't feeling super sad until I started talking to Eduardo after. We went to get ice cream and were sitting in his car talking and I just began to cry. I cried because Katie was leaving and because Alex was leaving the next day and because I didn't want to say goodbye to anyone. He hugged me, which made me cry harder because I reallyyyy didn't want to say goodbye to him. We planned on that being our goodbye, but saying goodbye was too hard so we made plans for a few days later. When I got home, my family through a goodbye party for Alex and I and everyone came. I was tired and sobby like the entire night, and ended up going to bed early (at like three). Before going to bed, however, I enjoyed my last evening with Alex and ate a lot of desserts and joked around with my beautiful family. 

The next day I went to the airport to say goodbye to Alex. We almost didn't make it in time, because my family left super late, but we got there just in time to hug her one last time. It was painful watching Alex say goodbye and knowing I would have to do the same in one short week. 

Yesterday I went to Talca to say goodbye to Franco's family and I got to meet Robin, a German exchange student who had lived with them 2 years ago. We spent the day talking and eating yummy food and watching movies together. It was a simple goodbye, but an important one. I love that family a lot and I know I will see them again in the future. 

Today I have plans to meet up and have lunch with my friends from Coya and after that I will try to say goodbye to Eduardo again. Today is my last day in Rancagua, because tomorrow I will leave with my family to see the south of Chile. I am excited to go with them and have a few adventures in my last days here. I seriously can't believe this year has gone by so fast! 

I know this blog doesn't sound as bubbly as I usually do, but this stuff isn't very fun for me to write about. I am getting tired of saying goodbyes. I am still happy and I am not going to be depressed at home in the US or anything, it's just at some point I got tired of got tired of crying but realized I couldn't stop. 

The good thing is, I am going to make the most of my last days here. And I'm going to start right now! Bye. :)

School Swaps and a Big Surprise

This last week Alex and I decided to mix things up a little bit. We come from very different schools  and therefore live very different exchanges, so this week we decided to get an inside look on how the other lives on a day-to-day basis. We got permission from our teachers for me to go to school with her on Thursday and for her to come to school with me on Friday, and those two days ended up being very fun! 

On Thursday morning I got up and went to school with my siblings because they go to the same school as Alex. Alex's school, Instituto Ingles, is known for being one of the top schools in our city, and just from one day of visiting I could tell why! The school was huge compared to what I am used to, and I was kind of nervous because I didn't know anyone but I knew I'd be fine because I was with Alex. During the classes, the students were all very quiet and respectful and the teachers gave lectures in deep voices and everything felt very serious. However during the breaks, the students were fun and nice to talk to and it was great meeting all the people from Alex's stories! Her school was so organized and fancy and I had such a great day visiting! After school we met up with the other exchange students for the last time as a group. It probably should have been sad, but it wasn't. It felt so normal like nobody would go home and nothing would change. I think it will be a lot harder when we have to accept that we are all living in different countries and can't just take a taxi and meet up in the center for ice cream. At this point, however, I just feel numb. Happily numb, but still very numb hahahah. 

On Friday morning Alex and I went to my school together so she could see my exchange life. She was shocked at how incredibly small my school was. I would say that Colegio Quimahue is known for being the tiniest school, but because it's so little practically nobody knows it even exists hahaha! Alex really enjoyed her day there, though. She met all my friends (and I don't know how anyone could meet my friends and not fall in love with them as quickly as I did) and she got to see how we are kind of like a big family. A bunch of little kids came up and asked me if she was my sister hahahah and she was surprised that all the younger kids knew me. After school we went and at sushi for lunch with Paula and Helena and had a lovely time hehe. I eat a lot of sushi in this country...wow. 

Now for the BIG news:

On Saturday morning, my host mom recieved a call from a police officer saying that one of her son, Cristobal's, suitcases has been left behind in the airport. She was confused because Cristobal was supposed to arrive a week later, but soon realized that he had tricked her to come home a week early as a surprise. I had known about the surprise, and keeping it a secret was so hard! She had missed her baby boy soooo much and I just wanted to tell her but I never did. When she found out, though, she was furious! She stormed the house wanting to know who knew about the surprise and why nobody would tell her. My mom is one of those people who loves surprising others but dislikes being surprised herself hahaha. I sat her down and told her that the best thing she could do was get over herself and be happy! I told her she shouldn't be mad because she was going to see her beautiful boy again for the first time in a year and that if she wanted to surprise him we still had an hour! She told me that he loves lemon pie, so I agreed to make him one while she got ready and took a shower. I started to make the pie and then realized we didn't have butter, so I ran over to the jumbo. When I got back, he had already gotten home and was waiting for me in my room! 

Monse was probably the happiest to see her big brother again! Unfortunately, that didn't stop her from trying to tickle me to death for not telling her the big secret!

Cristobal's family loves him a lot and really missed him during this year. You could feel the house practically bursting with happiness and I was surprised at how much energy he had after such a long trip! I was so happy to see him after so long and he greeted me with a big bear-hug hahaha. He then went around town surprising all of his best friends at their houses while Alex (who had come over to the house after hearing the news) and I finished making the pie. We all sat down and had a big happy family lunch together that day and ate delicious food! 

After lunch, Cristobals friends and Alex and I all went to play a game of soccer. It was sooooooooooooooo amazing! I hadn't played in forever and it was just so so so fun! His friends are way better than me, but I actually scored a few goals and they were impressed because girls don't okay much soccer here  hahaha. It ended up being one of my favorite days of my exchange so far!

Seeing Cristobal get home makes me wonder about what it will be like for me. I mean I know it will be very different, for we are from two very different countries, but it's still comforting to see how grateful his family is to have him back! I know my family misses me and wants me home, and seeing his experience makes me look forward to going through the happy emotions he is experiencing. Leaving this country will be hard, but going home is just another part of the experience, and my plan is to make the best of that part of my exchange. 

Sooo yeah! We are all pretty happy over here! Freezing, but happy hahahha. I love this family and this country and this year so much. :)

Friends, Food, and Chocolate Fights

This last week went by really slow and really fast at the same time. It is very very cold in Chile now, and I am almost always shivering no matter what I am wearing. I don't remember it being do cold when I got here, but I guess I just didn't pay attention to it that much. I had a lot of distractions, maybe. Now I am absolutely freezing alllll the time and it's almost annoying hahaha. I want to slap cold in the face and just be like "no I have had enough of you just stop."

This week I went to crossfit for the last time in Chile. I had a good workout, and I was surprised that the crossfitians were actually bummed about seeing me go. The owners of the gym hugged me goodbye and sayed they were glad they met me and that I am good at crossfit and that they wish me well in life. It was cool for me that I had made connections even just by joining a gym!

On Friday I invited Paula, Fran, and Helena over to my house to make Oreo bonbons. I had never before invited a Chilean over to my new house because all my new friends live so far away! I was kind of nervous about being a good host, but we ended up having a great time. Actually, Paula and Momse began a chocolate fight in the kitchen because they said I need to loosen up when I cook. It's true, I get a little stressy when I try to cook with other people (or mostly just Monse because she doesn't do the whole "listening to people" thing very well hahaha). I might have gotten mad at them, but I love them all so much and chocolate tastes good so what's wrong with having it stuck in your eyebrows, right? Hahahaha. After making the dessert we called my mom and Molly so that my friends could meet my family. My family soon discovered how adorable my friends are, and my friends loved getting to know my mom and sister after hearing so much about them! I live for these little connections. 

After skyping them we skyped Hugh and that was even funnier! It was interesting watching them try to communicate and I wish they could all just meet in person! Maybe someday! 

(Helena, Paula, and Fran took some selfies on my iPad)

After a huge tickle fight my friends went home and I spent the rest of the weekend with my family. During the Chile game, Juliana and I were messaging eachother a lot and we were both so nervous! When Chile lost in penalties, all of Chile was pretty bummed out, but I was happy they had played so well. I was honestly impressed by how everything played out, and I'd say that if Chile had to loose, that was the absolute BEST way I have ever seen a team lose a football match! 

GO CHILE

This week Alex and I did something that I am extremely proud of. As many of may or may not know, I have had many problems with Rotary in Chile this year. The other exchange students and I have felt betrayed, unsupported, and abandoned by our clubs this entire year and we felt that something needed to be said. Alex speaks Spanish phenomenally and felt very strongly about this, so she decided to give the presentation. I was shy and didn't want to complain about anything at first, but then I was thinking about it and realized that of we didn't tell them how we felt, all the future exchange students were going to have the exact same experiences and that wouldn't be okay. Alex and I put on our bravest faces and walked as two teenage girls into a room filled with powerful middle-aged men to offer our not-so-pleased personal opinions in a second language. Alex had prepared her presentation and I went to support her and show them that she wasn't only speaking for herself. You guys couldn't possibly understand how amazing Alex is. She walked up there and spoke like the President. She spoke with grace, patience, and respect the entire time. The point we were making was that we have had the most amazing and wonderful years, but they were good because we made them that way. We were trying to express that we felt like they didn't care about us and that they should show more interest in the kids that leave everything they know to come overseas and represent their countries and learn about other cultures. These Rotarians didn't know our names or anything about us before we walked into that meeting, and we have been living here for over 10 months! During the end of the presentation, the Rotarians began to interrupt her and say things that were kind of attacking her and not letting her respond to her comments. They said that no exchange student has ever complained before and that they aren't interested in the program or getting to know us. Alex and I were feeling a little hurt but then one Rotarian stood up and said that even if he had to do it alone, he promised to get to know the new exchange students who will arrive in August. In the end we may have only changed a few minds, but even that felt like a great success. We didn't want to offend anyone, just protect the future exchange students from the unfortunate experiences we had had with our Rotary club, and to some extent I think we did that. 

That same day, Chile beat Spain in the Mundial! All of Chile was practically screaming. Cars where honking and I swear all of Chile was jumping out of joy! Alex and I got into my host moms car in red Chilean soccer jerseys and stood up through the sun roof with a Chilean flag and screamed and celebrated with all the Chileans as we drove through downtown Rancagua. It was probably one of my favorite moments of my exchange and I will remember it forever! 

Later in the week I went over to Alex's house to spend the night and visit my old family. Manuel was off in Curico visiting his father, but Alex and Lilian and I all had tea together and then Lilian and I did some catching up while Alex wrote some weird essay about the chemistry of potatoes or something. It was nice to sit in the old kitchen of my old house with my adorable little host mom again. I miss the Onces in that house so much so I made sure I enjoyed every bite! 

I have spent this entire weekend lounging around with my host siblings and being lazy. It's freezing outside, and when it isn't freezing it is pouring rain so we are happy to sit inside with hot chocolate and cuddle and watch movies. I spend a lot of time at home now, but it's okay because I never feel lonely. I see my friends at school and sometimes have lunch with them but I spend a lot of time with family now. In this family, I love spending time in the house, cooking delicious meals, and just feeling comfortable and like I belong. :)

Goodbye Katie Ward

This week I had to say goodbye to one of my closest exchange friends, Katie Ward. In Rancagua there are two Katie's whom I love very very much and I hated having to say goodbye to one of them so early. All the Rancagua kids are very close, so we kind of made her goodbye a week long thing. On Tuesday night we went over to her house to eat pizza and hang out and then on Wednesday we all took a trip to Santiago together. Before getting on the bus, however, we got into our matching Rancagüino hoodies and had a photo shoot for the last time we would all be together. 

We spent the day roaming around the markets in Santiago, having a nice lunch, and going ice skating. It was a beautiful day and we all took away some great memories!

On Saturday morning we all met at Katie's house to say one final goodbye. I went over there with the expectations of crying and crying but it didn't end up bing that way. Sitting in her house felt so normal, and even right now I still feel like I could take a Santa Teresa micro to her street and eat peanut butter with her while watching movies. Katie and I have very different personalities, but she has been such an important part of my exchange. During the summer when we never seemed to have any plans, we would always find eachother and then figure out ways to have fun. She was the shoulder I cried on when I found out I had to switch schools and has been ther for me this entire year even though she may not have wanted to hahahah. Arizona isn't that far away from California, but I am going to miss our days together in Chile. It's a good thing we have millions of hilarious memories to look back on, and I know we will make some more in the future. 

We call this picture "Katie Gets Thrown off the Island" or "And Then There Were Five." 

I love Katie a lot. I know I will see her again and I know there is Skype and I know I am lucky to love someone enough to miss them like I will miss her, but I will still miss annoying her and our jokes and just everything about our in-person friendship. 

Another Happy Little Semana :D

Oh my goodness guys! This past week was absolutely amazing for two reasons: I am in love with my host family and my Chilean friends are the most delightful people ever. Nothing super special happened this week, but it was just a super happy week and I had such a fun time living it hahaha. 

This week was filled with a bunch of little silly moments that I will probably sound ridiculous for telling you about, but I don't want to forget them, so I am going to write them out anyways. 

On Tuesday I went to crossfit alone because nobody else wanted to go with me because it was pouring rain and freezing outside. I however, was determined to get a good workout so I bundled myself in about a million jackets and stepped out into the stormy Chilean night. It was dark outside before I even began my journey to the gym, and because of all my clothes I probably looked like a fat man waddling down the street so a lot of cars splashed me as they drove by leaving me pretty wet with rain water. I shook it off and continued because I'm tough hahahah. I arrived at crossfit eventually and did my workout, but the journey home was even crazier. The rain had stopped and was able to catch a taxi pretty quickly. The ride was normal but when I went to get out, I stepped ankle deep into a muddy puddle. Embarrassed, I hurried to try and close the door and walk away and that is when I slipped and landed pretty much face first in the puddle! The taxi drove away and I got up all muddy and soaked and flustered. I was appalled at what just happened, and didn't even know what to think of myself. That's when I looked down at my feet and just started laughing. I probably looked like a crazy person, standing there in the gutter all dirty and drenched and just laughing, but I didn't care. I laughed because I never ever imagined I would find myself in a foreign country alone, standing in the rain, completely soaked, completely pathetic, and completely happy. What was there to be upset about? My day could only get better from that point and the only thing I had in my near future was a warm meal and my family waiting for me down the street. I like that I found a way to smile in that moment, because if I could find a way to be happy during little experience, I have faith I will be able to be happy no matter what life throws my way! When I got to my house, Maxi opened the door to a wet-puppy-looking freezing cold Sally and was super worried. He brought me a jacket and some warm slippers and told me I should shower hahah. My brother takes care of meee! He is the cutest. While I was in the shower he even put my wet shoes by the fire so they would dry! 

On Thursday Alex went to crossfit with me for the first time! She loved it but she doesn't want to pay to actually go as often as I do hahah. Still it was fun going with her and we had a lot more luck with our travels there than I had on Tuesday hahahha! 

This week I learned something in chemistry! I don't even know what I learned, but I learned it the day before the test and actually ended up taking a chemistry test! I was so excited because I love learning things and I wanted to show my teacher that even though I understand nothing in her class, she still matters to me. Also, now I can say I took a chemistry test in Chile! I don't know who I would ever end up telling that to, but I still like saying it hahah. 

I don't know why I am putting this in my blog, but Paula came to school with this little stuffed animal heater hanging out of her jacket like a little Joey in a pouch and it was so adorable that we took about five million pictures with it. What was even cuter though, was that the day after I ran up to her to show her that I had made the picture the wallpaper on my phone and she pulled out her phone to show me she had already done the same hahahah. So cute :D

Paula, Fran, and I have a whatsapp group now called "the bad girls" and it is seriously the most hilarious thing  you could ever read. It's mostly them trying to talk to me in English and then a series of Chilean and American cuss words jumbled together, but it is amazing. I promise. :)

This weekend Eduardo messaged me on Saturday morning saying that he had come back early from the Air Force Academy and that we had to hang out. He gave me about an hour to get ready, and then he came and picked me up and took me over to his house to have sushi with his family. His stepmom talked the ENTIRE time and she is the most hilarious person ever. We seriously had an entire lunch conversation about the pros and cons of fake boobs and I was trying so hard to control my laughter the entire time! 

After lunch I went home and my mom, sister, and I went to Santiago so I could meet the rest of their family. It was fun driving down there as just us girls hahahha. It reminded me of my road trips with my mom and Molly, just a lot less weird hahah. When we got to Santiago  and I finally met the family I instantly fell in love. They are all such warm and inviting people and I felt right at home right away. I recieved a lot of hugs and compliments on my "gringa smile" and I felt very content all weekend. We spent the night there and on Sunday on the way home, we stopped and ate completos in a gas station on the way home at like midnight on a school night because people in only need about 3 hours of sleep every night hahaha. 

That is about all that happened this week. It was a simple little week, but definitely a good one. I am so happy in this little country :)

Supermarkets and Goodbyes and Manu and Roses

This past week was kind of really fun because I had barely any school. From a combination of Rotary events and tests I didn't have to take, I spent the majority of the week hanging out with exchange students, Chilean friends, and family. It was a nice week. :)

On Wednesday I spent the afternoon with my friend Manu writing about a million essays. By a million essays, I mean we had to do a group project and then he helped me write one essay. I just want to take a moment to express how deeply grateful I am to have a friend like Manu. He sits next to me in class everyday and is always always there for me and all of my questions. This boy is a genius, but he is also one of the best people-persons I have ever met. Our conversations never bore me and he is used to all of my silly habits and tolerates me anyways. Manu is just someone who I feel like meeting made me a better person, and I could honestly see him being the president of Chile someday. I mean, I would vote for him! I am going to miss this kid too much, but I was more than lucky to even get to know him in the first place. 

(Unfortunately the only picture we have together...)

On Friday I met up with the other exchange students to take a bus to Santiago for a rotary goodbye party. We left at noon and spent the day riding the metro, eating rose flavored ice cream, and enjoying eachothers lovely company. I used to be afraid to hang out with exchange students too much, but in these last weeks I have with them, I try to cherish every minute that I get to spend with them as a group. It's so hard, now, to not think about all the goodbyes and to just disfute the last happy days have left with eachother. The party ended up being really boring, but it was nice to see everyone of course. 

These days I have found myself feeling very tired. I still have thirty-something days left in this amazing country, and I am so happy to be here and I love it so much, but the goodbyes seem to be silencing me a little too early. I get so confused when I think about leaving, and I know I shouldn't think about it so much, but when I don't it's still there pressuring the back of my mind. I don't know. Hahahaha. 

Today I went to the supermarket with my host mom for the first time, and wow! Chileans live so differently from one another. While my old family went to the supermarket everyday, my new family goes once a month and buys everything for the huge family. We had three carts filled to the rim and spent over three hours looking at food. Luckily, I had Monse to entertain me and ended up running into some friends from Coya, which was soooo nice because I miss them now more than ever. 

This seems like an ubrupt way to end a blog post, but I am very tired and have a chemistry test tomorrow. Goodnight! Bye!