Starting with item #1, I’ve officially completed my junior year of college! The last two weeks were busy with work! Aside from tests and small papers, I had to make a movie and write a 15 page research paper. My friend Annie and I did our movie about ‘artistas callejeras’ who are street performers who literally perform in the middle of the street during red lights. It was pretty interesting interviewing the various break dancers, jugglers, magicians, and more! I also helped my Chaz & Jacob film their movie about quick & cheap places to eat in Viña and Valpo. We found some pretty interesting hole-in-the wall type places, it was fun and delicious! As for my research paper, I chose the topic of income disparity in Chile (it has the 14th worst Gini coefficient, which just shows how much of a roadblock it is Chile’s path to becoming a developed nation.
Since arriving, I’d always wanted to take the 3 mile trek from Valparaíso to Viña by foot (normally we ride the bus). So one sunny day, I did it after class! Some parts were a tad sketchy, but mostly it was a beautiful walk and I saw some really nice angles of the two cities. If you’re wondering about other things on this List of things to do before leaving, well I tell you that I can officially check off taking a photo of el reloj de flores, getting my fill of pisco and also using ‘cachai’ while talking to a Chilean.
Item 3 is la gran aventura that I am literally about to leave for! I’ll be travelling with friends Annie, Chaz and Jacob. We’re heading to Calama and San Pedro de Atacama in Northern Chile first. Then a tour of Salar de Uyuni’s awesome salt flats should bring us to Bolivia, where we’ll head through Potosí, Sucre, La Paz and Copacabana, which is on Lake Titicaca. Then we’ll go to Cusco and hopefully see Machu Picchu, then Arequipa and Colca Canyon in southern Peru, and lastly Arica before heading back to Santiago. It’s an ambitious plan, and I’ll admit I’m a little nervous, but with a great travel group and completely new terrain I know I’ll at least be able to set free my adventurous spirit!
Lastly, IFSA hosted a goodbye dinner at the fancy yacht club with all of the host moms and students. My host mama and I had a really fun time together (as always) and sat with Jacob, Chaz and his wonderful mom Alejandra.
Host mama and I getting ready for dinner!
That’s all the update for now. Hope you are all enjoying your summers!
