Week One

Well folks, I did it! I have made it through week one. This post is really mostly a review of what has happened already, and a big thank you to all of the people that are supporting me through this journey.  Existing doesn't sound too hard since I have been doing it for twenty years. However, existing in a new environment is difficult. It wasn't too hard, but it has definitely been an adjustment. Going to a place that is foreign to me is fun, but having the courage to leave everything I love behind has definitely been a challenge for me. I will continuously be challenged every day for the next few months and there will be times when I will struggle tremendously. It has definitely been a lot more difficult than I have seemed to publicly express, but thanks to all of you wonderful people, I have the courage to continue what I do from day to day.

The week started out really awkward because I wasn't sure how to react to not being in my own home and in my comfort zone. But after the first day or two, it was a lot easier. It got much easier especially after talking to both my host family and my real family. Both families have helped me tremendously so far. Going to a new place, no matter where you go, there is a lot of adjusting to new traditions. As a small town girl, one of the things I had to really get used to is riding public transportation. Before this week, I had never ridden a public bus, besides a school bus of course, by myself. It was a new experience trying to get used to people being uncomfortably close, and knowing where the buses actually stop. Believe me, figuring out the bus system in a foreign country is harder than it sounds. Although it isn't the most ideal way of transportation, I would rather take public transportation than walk or try to drive a car on these busy streets. Before this week, I had also never ridden in a taxi. Thanks to my friends Kira, Shivanni, and Michaela, I now know that a taxi is a better choice to take with friends than it is to take alone. Through public transportation, I have also figured out that I would rather take the bus every day 3 times a day than a taxi because taking a taxi is still more expensive than the bus.

Another thing that I have had to get used to while here in Chile is that 60°F does not always feel like 60°F in Georgia weather. I figured that out the hard way when I arrived in Valpo, and shivered for two days straight because I was not prepared for winter. Along with it being winter here, I also didn't know that not every house has central heating and the only way to cure your winter shivers is more blankets and layers of clothing. As strange as it sounds to me, not having a central heating system is actually a thing in more than one country around the world.

Something I don't think that I will ever get used to is how openly open people are here with their Public Display of Affection. I cannot even count how many times that I have just been riding the bus or walking around town and see people displaying their love for one another in front of me. I mean, we have PDA in the U.S., but it is nothing like it is here.

Having blonde hair and fair skin in a country where blonde is very rare is very difficult. I stand out everywhere I go, and that is very unusual for me. Everywhere I walk or ride, I get the most intense stares. It will definitely take some time to get used to.

Although there has been a lot of acclimating, I have also learned that no matter what time of day it is, Valpo is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. My family is just fantastic. They have helped me out this week more than they probably know. It's safe to say that I think my seventeen-year-old host sister is more mature than I am, for more than one reason, but mainly because when it comes to figuring out directions on a map, I am a child. My family has explained to me where to go and drawn me maps so I don't get lost when I am walking around the city by myself. Another beautiful person is my dear Chilean friend, Israel. I got to see Valpo through his eyes, and thanks to him, I can recognize where I am. Well, not completely recognize where I am, just on Cerro Alegre.

There is still so much more to see, and only five months to see it all. This experience has already taught me that I have a lot of growing up to do as a twenty-year-old, and with this blog, you all will get to watch me grow.