It is approximately 11:50pm the night before I leave for Chile. Hopefully writing this will help me wind down some and get some sleep tonight. As the title indicates I'll be boarding a plane in 16 hours.
For everyone that does not know exactly why I'm going to Chile, and what I'll be doing (this may or may not include my parents), here is the run-down:
I will be participating in a study abroad program through UNCW in Valparaíso, Chile (That's VAL-PAH-RA-EE-SO, for all you non espanish espeakers). The program is being lead by Valerie Rider, a spanish professor at Wilmington, with whom I have had the pleasure of taking two previous (spanish) courses. She by far the best professor I've had since I've been away at college. We will be taking two courses for six credit hours; SPN 305 Conversation and Composition and SPN 203 Intermediate Reading in Spanish.
There are 27 students going on this trip, and each of us will be housed with a different Chilean family. We have been warned that these families will actually speak spanish... all the time! We will have 3 meals a day with our families, and have also been warned that they will try to overfeed us, especially if we complement their cooking. Class is 8:30 to 1pm every weekday, and around 2-2:30pm we should be back home to have the big meal of the day with our families.
In addition to going to the occasional class, (actually that part is mandatory) we will also be taking day and weekend excursions around town, to a winery, and the mountains. Usually a group of students takes a weekend and goes to the Andes for some world class skiing and snowboarding, you can bet that I will be one of them.
Our study abroad program will end in Buenos Aires, Argentina where we will spend some time exploring the city, seeing shows and going to a cattle ranch. At this point which should be Aug. 3rd, everyone will be getting back on the plane and heading home to the States. Myself on the other hand will be boarding a different plane and more than likely heading to Peru.
I am staying after by myself for 18 days to do a little "exploring" on my own. Tentatively my plan is to fly into Lima, Peru and work my way by bus and train back to Buenos Aires, Argentina where my return flight home will leave on Aug. 21st.
The next time I post, will more than likely be from the Southern Hemisphere!
4 comments:
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2:00 A. M. June 29, 2007
Dear Justin,
We are so excited for you. We have visited most of the places that you mentioned, but not in the depth that you will. You will love it all.
We will be thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
Love,
Grammom and Grandpa David
Justin,
I cant believe you are gone...i am so green (with envy). I know you are going to have the best time. I hope you had some nice sleeping pills for the plane ride over. I can wait to read all about your little family that you stay with and all your spanish learning, althought i am not looking forward to you only speaking spanish when you come back-becuase i never know what you are talking about. I am however looking forward to you being over fed, what is this losing 10 lbs after moving back down to wilmington! haha! I still would like the occasional post card- althought knowing how you are with a camera i'm sure your pictures will be just as good if not better than a post card! Try not to get into too much trouble and i look forward to reading your blog!
love ya and miss ya!
Lindsay
Justin,
Glad you are safe in Chile. Tell me when you start thinking in Spanish and even dreaming in Spanish! It will happen!
Love,
Grammom
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