We just had a few hours worth of essential information training, all of which was in Spanish. I understood about 70% and I think I could have done better if I weren't so tired. Our coordinators speak slowly and without a strong Chilean accent, which helps. We'll see how i do in the "real" Chile. Our resident Director, Hector, is from Puerto Rico. He told us his first year in Santiago he only understood about 1 out of every 3 words he heard because in Santiago, they don't speak Spanish, they speak Chilean. He then quickly reassured us and told us not to be discouraged if we struggled at first.
The other students in the group are great. Mostly international business/studies/relations majors or some similar liberal arts major. They are from all over the country and quite a diverse group. Everyone seems really excited to be here and ready to go on awesome adventures. Trips to Argentina (Buenos Aires and Mendoza), Brazil (Rio), Peru, and other cities in Chile (Pucon and Valpariaso) have already been discussed. Some boys are really excited about one of Santiago's soccer teams Colo Colo, which starts playing in early August. Apparently the stadium holds 80,000 crazy, uncontrollable fans. I can't wait to go!
The first two rules CIEE gave us were 1: you must attend class. and 2: you cannot participate in any protests or marches. Welcome to Chile!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
11:30 am
I am officially studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. Thanks to storms in Washington, DC, I almost didn’t make it here on time. I was going to miss my
connecting flight in DC b/c of the delays so US Airways then Delta spent about 30 minutes each trying to transfer my flights so I could fly directly from KC to Atlanta. After a bit of a scare, I made it to Atlanta, then Santiago safe and sound. I arrived this morning after a 10 hour flight from Atlanta. There were about 15 others students in my program (CIEE) on the flight with me and we had a great time getting to know each other. Most of the other students are claiming to be as bad at Spanish as I think I am, so we shall see. It makes me feel better to know I’m not the only one to feel completely unprepared. I have used a little Spanish and I think I’ll get by for now.
Right now I am in Rent a Home Hotel in Santiago with two other girls, Kali and Sam. They are both from Boston. We are staying here until Friday, then we move into our host family homes.
Chile is a beautiful country. Flying in we watched the sunrise over the Andes Mountains while the coast line slowly came into view. Its an incredible sensation
looking out the right side of the plane and seeing the Pacific Ocean and out the left side of the plane and seeing the Andes Mountains, spanning the entire width of this skinny country. Santiago seems to be the picturesque Swedish town tucked away in the snowcapped mountains. The buildings aren’t huge, but they are all beautiful. You can tell it is a very old, but well kept city. The view from our hotel is incredible (see the picture).
I am officially studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. Thanks to storms in Washington, DC, I almost didn’t make it here on time. I was going to miss my
connecting flight in DC b/c of the delays so US Airways then Delta spent about 30 minutes each trying to transfer my flights so I could fly directly from KC to Atlanta. After a bit of a scare, I made it to Atlanta, then Santiago safe and sound. I arrived this morning after a 10 hour flight from Atlanta. There were about 15 others students in my program (CIEE) on the flight with me and we had a great time getting to know each other. Most of the other students are claiming to be as bad at Spanish as I think I am, so we shall see. It makes me feel better to know I’m not the only one to feel completely unprepared. I have used a little Spanish and I think I’ll get by for now.
Right now I am in Rent a Home Hotel in Santiago with two other girls, Kali and Sam. They are both from Boston. We are staying here until Friday, then we move into our host family homes.
Chile is a beautiful country. Flying in we watched the sunrise over the Andes Mountains while the coast line slowly came into view. Its an incredible sensation
looking out the right side of the plane and seeing the Pacific Ocean and out the left side of the plane and seeing the Andes Mountains, spanning the entire width of this skinny country. Santiago seems to be the picturesque Swedish town tucked away in the snowcapped mountains. The buildings aren’t huge, but they are all beautiful. You can tell it is a very old, but well kept city. The view from our hotel is incredible (see the picture).
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