El inicio

I made it! After a long overnight flight from Dallas to Chile’s capital, Santiago, our program director, Vilma met us at the airport and we took a bus to Viña. The highway into Viña curves through the hills overlooking the city and neighboring Valparaíso. The first thing I noticed was the number of houses covering the ground. And once they ran out of room on the ground they started to build up, towering apartment buildings sprouted up everywhere from the colorful houses packed into the hillside and along the coast.  Then I saw the ocean, absolutely beautiful! You can see so far our and quite a distance down the coast either way. There are five cities right in a row in the bay that Viña sits on, News Years on the bay is said to be spectacular with each city putting on their own fireworks shows and great festivals.

My stomach was already uneasy from the long flight and the sharp turns into the city but when Vilma started talking about how our host parents were waiting to meet us and take us to our new homes, it felt like my insides were doing somersaults. My friend Bre was sitting behind me and we just gave each other a look like what did we get ourselves into? My host dad, Rodrigo, came and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek (Chilean custom) and we picked up my giant bags and walked to find my host mom, Graciela. Another kiss greeting and stood on the street to wait for a taxi. There are many modes of public transportation in Viña, taxis being the “swankiest” and most expensive. It took quite a while for the run-down Hyundai taxi to arrive but then we were on our way to my new home.

I now live on Calle Alverez, one of the busiest streets in Viña. The house is surrounded by an intense gate to keep the dog (some kind of lab grey hound mix) Niña in and the random Chileans waiting for the bus out. Niña has a small patio to inhabit and do her business on so be careful when crossing it if you return home after dark. The first floor of the house is a small living/dining room and the kitchen which Graciela asked me not to enter if she’s home because if I need anything she will serve me, an idea I’m still getting the hang of. Upstairs are the four bedrooms and bathroom.

My host family is absolutely great. They are so kind and patient, always willing to repeat what they said so that I can understand and they talk slow just for me. The 10 year old daughter, María José, is so sweet. My first afternoon here she sat on my bed and chatted with me as I unpacked and she quickly learned to read my face for when I had no clue what she was saying. She would giggle and crawl over to my computer and put it into Google translate so that we’d be on the same page. She loves to play Uno (and loves to make up her own rules like any 10 year old) and do card tricks. I’ve had fun helping her with her English even when my brain gets confused trying to spell English words with the Spanish alphabet. She is so curious and inquisitive about the US and is determined to “dance in Times Square someday.” Turns out my family here loves Ke$ha, the Black Eyed Peas and Katy Perry even if they have no idea what the songs are saying.

I spent my first few days getting my bearings in the city and trying to understand the public transportation but most of the time I just walk, it’s good for me, right? I went to my first Chilean pub and then club and got crap from the Chileans for leaving at 2:30am because I was absolutely exhausted. In Chile the clubs open at 12 or 1am and close at 5 and most Chileans would party til they get booted out. Even my host parents were surprised to see me home “so early.”

I walked down to the beach with some Bennie friends, it’s absolutely gorgeous and you can see so far down the coast, pictures truly can’t capture it. Note to self; wear a scarf when near the water during Chilean winters (like right now). We Minnesotans thought we’d handle the climate just fine seeing what we endure for six months of every year but it’s actually cold here and the houses don’t have central heating and both the space heaters in my house are currently out of commission. My toes haven’t been very happy the past couple days.

Today was our first day of classes at UAI so I hopped the bus early in the morning to avoid the long trek up the hill to where the new UAI campus sits, overlooking the city, the view is the definition of picturesque. I had my art and culture class and Chilean history class this morning. I think I’m going to like both of the professors a lot and the way they talked about needing to know where we came from so we can understand where we are and how we fit into the bigger picture struck a chord with me from things I’ve heard in my favorite classes in the US. The history class seems that it will be a great international relations class about the US and Latin America while dealing with a lot of issues surrounding personal and national identity. Then this afternoon I had my literature class, I’m apprehensive about the professor but I love to read so we’ll see where it goes.

Long story short, Viña has treated me very well thus far and I’m excited to see what the next four months will bring! I miss everyone back home but am doing my best to keep busy so that I’m not constantly aware of that fact. I hope your little corner of the world is treating you well today and always!

Cariñas,

Mackenzie