It’s taken a long time and a lot of effort to get here.

About two weeks ago, I had a homestay in the township of Gugulethu.

Hola!! The past few weeks have been filled with adjustments, adventure, and new amigos. School began about 2 weeks ago at both the IES center and at the university we are all enrolled in (La Catolica). School here is similar to the US in a few ways, but for me, the differences have been the best part of the school experience so far. Firstly, I have a commute!! It takes me about 30-40 mins to get to IES in the morning, and about one hour to get to San Juaquin (our campus) from my house. This would be a drag if it wasn't so much fun.

There are fourteen hours before I get on the plane to China. My suitcase is almost packed and I feel like I have packed both too much and too little, but at this point I don't think I'll remember anything I might be forgetting. I'm exctited to improve my language skills and learn more about Chinese culture. I've been to China once before, a little over three weeks ago, for a little more than two weeks. We visited Beijing, GuiLin, YangShou and Shanghai, but it was mostly tourist activities.

A year and a half ago I sat in the Gãleo international airport in Rio de Janeiro and cried my heart out.

Purpink 

As a member of the Myaamia Native American tribe back in Oxford Ohio, living in a bicultural society has taught me heaps about what it’s like for an indigenous culture to be respected and treated equally. When our group visited a wildlife preserve, we were greeted with a very loud and vibrant chant from a group of Māori dancing and singing a Haka. We had a guide that told us that many of the women and the men would be shouting, however the meaning behind the shouting was very warm and welcoming in their culture.

Before coming to Ecuador, I thought that “Culture Shock” would hit me right in the face. You hear the word thrown around a lot, and at times, there is a negative connotation to it. But I’ve come to find that Culture Shock can be subtle, surprising, and also…Fun. 

How so? Well, Toilet Paper, Quarters, and Carbs certainly taught me some important lessons these first few days.

Last Thursday at 19:00, I embarked on a 20 hour-long bus ride from Buenos Aires Retiro Station to Puerto Iguazú, located in northern Argentina at the border of Argentina and Brazil. Although 20 hours on a public bus may sound daunting, it was nothing some Pizza Pringles and a bottle of vino couldn’t help (just kidding…?).

Today marks exactly one month since the IES Abroad Summer 2015 in Santiago Program has come to a close.

As sad as it was to leave Chile, finally being reunited with my sister after two months of being abroad (and an entire spring semester of studying) was such a great feeling!  Also, being able to spend some time with my puppy, Fenway, felt pretty special too.