Woah...

Its over. In a few hours I get on a plane and I say chau to Santiago (I know it's a weird spelling of "chau", but that's how they do things here in Chile). I can't believe it's been a year. I remember taking off from the San Francisco airport, thinking wow, a year is a long time, and it definitely is, but it FLEW by. Time has never slipped through my fingers so quickly. 

On the plus side: I really feel like I lived every moment to it's fullest. Yes, there are still things I wish I could have seen, places I wish I'd gone, but overall I think I did a pretty damn good job of exploring this year, not only Chile and South America, but myself as a person. I am so stoked to head back home and to be with my family and I know i will have a better appreciation for my life in California. This place has changed me, but all for the better, those of you who see me when I get back, will definitely notice a change and I hope it doesn't bother y'all too much :)

There's this song, by this Chilean artist, and there are these lyrics that say "Pedazos de ti incrustados en mi, pedazos de mi, tirados en el camino." I have become obsessed with Fernando Milagros over this year, so it only seemed fitting that his words helped me convey my expereince. "Pieces of you embedded in me, pieces of me strewn on the road." Even though I am pretty sure Fernando's words about being strewn on the road weren't positive ones in the song's context, I'm taking some creative license, and interpreting it as me leaving a part of myself in Chile, but in a good way.

It's been a roller coaster of a year, that is for damn sure, but Santiago has seen me through it all, for that I am incredibly thankful. There are so many things that I want to list and talk about that happened over the course of this year, but half of you will loose interest, so I just want to say that it's been amazing and more that I could have imagined.

See ya on the flip side Santiago! No doubt in my mind that I'll be back, I'll try to bring a GIANT fan with me to blow away the smog :)

Final Countdown

It's the Final Countdownnnnnnn!(Please take a second to sing/hum/whistle Europe's classic 80s hair metal hit) The countdown actually started a while ago, but as of today, and this blog post, it's only 9 days until I leave Chile for good. There is no doubt that I will one day return, but chances of me living permanently in Santiago again are pretty slim. For now, I am just taking advantage of every moment that I have left and trying to live it up.

Today is Monday, last Tuesday I finished with 3 of my finals and they all went really well, even that oral final for Teatro Chileno that I was freaking out about, but I still have one more to go on the 9th of July. Why my professor decided to have the final so late, I have no idea, but I do know that it will be the same old, same old, and I will not be studying until the day before the test :) 

Here are some pretty photos and some tidbits from life:

 Santiago has been killing it with the sunsets lately and I am totally diggin it. I took this one from my balcony.

 Lauren, Michele, and I went out for Mexican food and margaritas and they were delicious. I still have my heart set on a Rancho Grande chicken burrito as soon as I get home, but Taxco was decent enough to hold me over until then. Thank god these two chicas live in California, the semester wouldn't have been the same without them and I can't wait for our adventures up and down California!

 A huge plus for the winter in Santiago are days like these, clear blue skies and snowcapped mountains. After if rains, ALL the smog disappears and it is just the most beautiful sight. I was walking to the metro and I saw this couple just stop and stare, and at first I thought they were really weird, and then I turned around, it's a damn good view. Good thing I carry my camera in my backpack or else I wouldn't have been able to shoot this beaut.

My littie kiddies at ParvuNautas, I am really going to miss them! Last Friday was my last day and it was really sad. It was happy too though because I made them yummy snacks and they made me the most adorable card and framed a photo for me, but it was still sad to say goodbye. It's official, I have to work with kids in the future, it's amazing how much they brighten my day. (I mean, how could you be sad in a classroom painted lime green?)

This blog is turning into a random compilation of random last moments from Santiago, but I still hope you enjoy reading! More to come from my last days in Santi Town.