I made it!

 

My first view of the Andes

I have never felt like more of a california girl in my life. We touch down and there is snow on the ground... I´m wearing flip-flops and my toes are painted bright yellow, the disneyland sweatshirt added to the cali vibe too. Needless to say I was a little cold, but I got my luggage and my boots soon enough.

Nine hours from Dallas and I`m finally in Santiago! What was supposed to be an empty flight, turned into a really crowded one when another flight got canceled and all those passengers hopped on ours. Two people on the plane asked me if I was excited to go home, I guess it's a good thing I blend. 

Arriving in Santiago seemed like a whirlwind. I just went with the crowd without really paying attention to where I was going. They knew where they were going though and soon I was waiting in line at customs. Explaining my major to the customs guy is so ridiculous. People don't really get what Global Studies in English so Spanish isn't much better. I proceed to get my bags, once again just letting the crowd direct me. For the first time in my life, both of my bags were some of the first off the plane! Incredible. Getting a Taxi was next. You have to wait in line at a desk in the airport instead of on the curb, it's not too bad considering it's 42 degrees outside. Then once you have your receipt you walk out the doors to a rush of cold and and about 50 men yelling out their taxi company name, it`s kind of overwhelming.

I find my guy and he drives me through town. It looks so similar to California, I like it. I'm staying in Hostelling International Santiago for the night, but I feel like I'm at Dashain (The Co-Op in IV). It`s a pretty cool place. I`m digging it, but I`m only here for one night until I meet up with my group tomorrow. (Forgive the punctuation, it takes a little getting used to on a spanish keyboard.)