Hi everyone. It's 3:20 and we just got done with lunch. I have studied for my upcoming final all morning, so now I am taking a break. I have a million things to remember for this test, so I'm staying in all weekend to memorize as much as possible. A lot of my friends are going out, having barbecues, going to soccer games, and trying to visit places in Santiago previously unseen. I think that is wonderful, however, I know that if I were to join them, I wouldn't be able to study as much. I'll do all those things after I get done with my exam on Tuesday morning. I will then have 2.5 days to bum around the city with nothing to do before my flight on Thursday night. Yes, everyone - we are at T-minus 5 days until I fly out of the southern hemisphere. Well, it is 6 if you count the rest of today. It is a little sad that this trip is ending, but at the same time, it is good to move on as well.

This week, I haven't done a lot except study. Although, I started a photo scrap book on Shutterfly.com which I'm really taking a lot of time making. I am transferring all my blog entries into it, as well as putting captions on a lot of pictures. I have 50 pages completed so far, and hopefully can fit the rest of my trip in the next 50. I think it will be nice to have a whole book to commemorate my trip to Chile.

A couple months ago, Cecilia asked me what I normally like to cook and eat when I am in the states. I told her my norms: spaghetti, enchiladas, soup, salad, tacos, etc. So last night, we were having dinner and she tells me that she would like to throw a small party for me tonight, because it is my last Saturday in Chile. And she was so excited to tell me that she is making... tacos! I think it's really sweet that she remembered a dish that I said I liked and that she never makes.

Since I haven't written in a while, I should probably give some updates as to what I have been doing. Last Friday, Kate and I went to Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso to visit my friend Sarah who is from Chicago. She teaches English in Vina, and was so happy to give us a place to stay on Friday. We arrived in Vina, after dark, by bus. The bus systems in Chile are amazing, because they go every where and at convenient times. For example, to Vina it is 6 dollars, it only takes 2 hours, and buses leave every 20-30 minutes. Sarah picked us up at the station, and we walked about 20 minutes to her apartment where she lives with her boyfriend and two of his friends. After we got settled, we went to dinner at a bar in Valpo and ate pizza. All of the bartenders and waitstaff watched us the whole time, were super nice, and invited us to an asada (barbecue) the next day. We didn't go, of course. Americans aren't uncommon in Chile, but you feel like a celebrity sometimes (not all the time), because you are treated differently. For instance, Kate found a tiny hair in her drink, so the bartender made her a new one, free of charge. Now, this wouldn't be weird in America, but in Chile??? That is absolutely unheard of! Normally, if you want a new one, you have to pay for it. So it was nice to have better service than we are used to. An example of normal Chilean service? Sarah said that a week prior to our visit, her roommates ordered 2 pizzas. After the delivery, they opened the box to one very cold pizza, and one pizza that was completely uncooked. They called the pizza place, and discovered that they could order more pizza and pay for it, but there would be no replacements.

After dinner, we met one of Sarah's friends, also an America, who is teaching English in Argentina. We went to a small bar that serves wine smoothies which is basically jugo natural (freshly squeezed juice) mixed with wine. They also serve hot wine, but we didn't try any. After finishing our pear and banana wine smoothie, we headed to another bar where we danced until 4 am. The other girls wanted to stay out later, but Kate and I were getting tired. We all talked about it and decided to go home, because Sarah's big plan was to go out even later the following night. By the time we got some McDonald's and walked home it was after 5:30!

The next afternoon, we took the bus back to Valpo to walk around and try to see the sights of the city. Valparaiso is a little town, built into the hill with windy roads, colorful houses, and a great view of the ocean. Well, the ocean is there, but it was so foggy that we couldn't exactly see it. I took some really beautiful pictures that I plan to turn into photo art at home. After lunch, we made it back to Sarah's apartment, and Kate and I decided to go back to Santiago. We were both so worn out from Friday, that we couldn't do another crazy night again. Plus, Kate's parents were coming in the next day, so it was a good excuse to go home. Sunday I slept in, watched a couple movies, and did homework. It was a really relaxing day. This past week of school went by super fast. I went out to lunch a couple times with friends, had dinner with Kate and her parents, and also went to the USAC program dinner on Wednesday. I bought some wine yesterday to take home with me, and that leads me up to today. I cleaned my room, and tried to start organizing my bags for my trip home. Anyway, I should get back to memorizing. Miss you and love you all! Emily

Hello

Hi everyone. I know I haven't written in a while - because my last entry was about how I had 29 days left in Chile - and now I have 16....

Tristan Prettyman's new album (called Hello) came out today. It is better than her first two. Everyone needs to buy it. $5.99 on iTunes. I don't know if that is a promotional price or not.

Well. I actually haven't been doing a lot around here. A lot of tests, not a lot of studying. A lot of class, not a lot of socializing. A lot of sleeping. Yes, I am getting more sleep now per day than I have ever gotten before. The sad part is that I don't think I will ever get this much sleep again (on a regular basis) ... until I retire.

Last week we visited the Chilean National Cemetary. Let's just say that it is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is divided up into sections according to how much you pay for your plot. It is a good physical example of the classism that is normal here.

This is for the rich people:

This is for the middle class:

This is for the lower middle class: More materialistic about their dead than any other class.

This is for the lowest:

Another example of the classism is the way people apply for jobs here (I think for college as well). Along with your resume, it is required to send "headshots" or photos with your application. So if you have dark skin, are very short, have distinguishing features, or anything else that is considered unattractive here - you won't be able to get a job. Another thing is if you have a last name that isn't considered a "good name" you aren't able to find work or do things. Also, depending on where you live, you can be discriminated against. It is actually really really sad.

Speaking of... I have officially applied to 5 jobs, like with writing cover letters, references, and the whole shebang - I don't know if it is because I am still in Chile, haven't technically graduated yet, or something completely random, but I haven't been contacted yet for any of them. No one has offered me a well paying job with great benefits yet. 2 of the jobs I applied for today... so I am very impatient with my expectations set pretty high, but I have never not gotten a job I applied for. I feel like it should be easier than it probably is in reality.

Last night I couldn't sleep, and I turned on my tv (with some effort, but I'll get to that)... and I figured out that after 3 a.m. I can get un-scrambled International CNN (usually it is scrambled). It was really nice to watch the news in English and not from BBC. BBC spends too much time showing you the weather and the time in parts of the world, and too little time reporting actual stories.

Tonight, I think my television officially died. For a while, it has been acting crazy - when you push the Power button, you can hear the electricity running through it. However, it doesn't turn on. It is as if it doesn't have sufficient energy. I used to be able to hold down the power button and then pull the power plug in and out of the wall. This would work sometimes, but now... no. It is kind of depressing, but I'm sure I will survive.

I learned 3 new crochet stitches and have made 2 shawls, one scarf, and a coozie (for cans) so far... Yarn isn't expensive here - and I have so much time. I have been to the "Lana" store at least half a dozen times in the past 2 weeks. With my tv dead - I'm really going to need more yarn. Anyone want anything?

I think I am going to start a new section for my Blog.

Things I will miss about Chile:

My host family.

Napping, because, according to Cecilia, learning a language makes you tired.

Cecilia washing my clothes every day, making me breakfast every morning, and making my bed.

Walking to school.
Being in a class with only 3 other students.

Spanish subtitles.

Avocados.
Jamon, Tomate, y Oregano Empanadas from Universitario Santiago.

Espanola Pizza from Voraz Restaurante.

Wine without preservatives (sulfites).

No responsibilities.

Things I will NOT miss about Chile:

The metro (though it is efficient and very clean - sometimes it's hot and crowded)

The milk. It is boxed and reconstituted. They don't really have cows here like they do in Iowa.

Nescafe. There is no real coffee here.

Commuting an hour to get anywhere.

The exhaust from the cars as you walk anywhere.

People smoking around you as you walk anywhere.

Skype dropping my video calls.

Sharing a bathroom with 4 other people. I can never get in when I really need to!

Seeing homeless dogs everywhere. It's so sad, I wish I could adopt all of them.

I might add more to this list as I think of more items.

I have to do some homework. My assignment is to write the story of Cinderella in Spanish. The problem is - I don't remember some of the details. It has been a couple years since I have seen the movie. Her evil stepmother/stepsister locked her in the attic/basement/a room when the prince was looking for the foot to fill the glass slipper?

Miss you all, I can't wait to come home! Lots of love, Em

29 days left

That's right... I have only 29 days left in Santiago.

It's a little weird to think that I have so little time left in Chile. I know it will go by very quickly. Everyone at school is starting to discuss how they feel about going home and I'm getting mixed emotions from everyone. Many of my younger friends aren't ready yet to go back to the states, but the older ones are getting to the point where they are counting down the days. Those students (like me) with definite plans after studying are itching to get back to their normal lives.

Well, I haven't been doing a whole lot since I wrote last. I was sick last week, but went to the doctor and I got on antibiotics. I'm much better. I took a midterm on Monday and did very well, which surprised me, because I didn't study a whole lot. We have 6 chapters to get through in my Spanish class before our final (we spent two months doing 8 chapters, and we have 29 days to get through the last 6, you get the picture) so I have begun really hunkering down to cram in all that I can for my last 3 exams. I want to get really good grades so that I can bump up my final GPA number that will define my entire undergraduate college grades.

Yesterday, I uploaded my resume on a couple job hunting websites, however the sites with better jobs for the Iowa City area, do not work in Chile. It is kind of annoying. Actually, a lot of U.S. websites don't work outside the country. So, I won't be able to apply for a lot of jobs until I get back home. Good news: I was contacted last week for an internship with Summer of the Arts in Iowa City, but I haven't heard anything since I told them my availability for a phone interview. The internship is unpaid. I'm sure I'll be able to help them in some way... it'll look good on my resume too.

Anyway, I'm going to get some homework done. Chao! Emily