Short Life Update

So I've decided I'm really not that good at this whole blogging thing.

But some quick updates-October=good month. But I really hate global warming-I was so excited for this month to be hot and sunny so I could spend the whole month at the beach, but no-it's been overcast and sometimes cold for the last two weeks. I'm becoming too much like Jules, I need the sunshine. So today was amazing that I got to wake up from a nap and see the sunshine out my window. A beach afternoon on the pier was required.

Mostly this weekend I just realized that I'm practically leaving. It's November 2, Jules gets here in 3 weeks and on November 28 we're leaving Chile. And then I have three in a half weeks on traveling in Peru and Ecuador before going home.

Now it is starting to get real-and I want to make sure I make the most of the next weeks. My spanish is semi-conversational, but it could definitely be better. And I want to spend more time with my host family, cause in some ways I feel like I don't know them yet. But I am really happy being here. Taking a break from your life and going to a place where no one knows you is liberating, although scarier than expected when you don't speak the language. I'm so glad I had this opportunity. It's funny, I was out a friend's house on Friday and her dad asked me "what have you learned other than Spanish?" I think I'm still in the process of answering that, but mostly about myself. Learning what it's like to be alone, or truly independent, when you security blanket of school and family isn't there; learning how to really be outgoing, when you have a small command on the language; and learning to let go of the little things.

I love how Chilean culture runs on it's own time. What that time exactly is mostly remains a mystery to me, but makes perfect sense to all Chileans. For example, stores in Valpo don't usually have a set schedule. Sometimes they're open. Many times and anything remotely resembling a holdiday they are not. And lunch can be a half an hour, 2 hours, or the rest of the day. I thought this would annoy me more, but I like how people don't see the need to worry about profit and productivity every second of the day. I once tried to explain my schedule at school and what I would do on any normal day, and my sister's boyfriend looked at me like I was crazy. He didn't understand how I went to classes, lived on campus next door to boys, worked, had extracurriculars related to school, and had time to spend with friends or not being busy. The idea of multitasking and effieciency were not translating and not because of a language barrier. It's literally undesirable to have that many commitments here. "How do you have time to breathe?" he asked me. I know I was busy last year, but I saw that as a desirable thing. Now, maybe having nights with nothing to do is a good thing. Life doesn't need a constant plan-the best things are the unexpected.