Some Random-ness

Arranged by topic of conversation! :)

LUGGAGE:Well, we are leaving Santiago today. At first we weren't very excited at the aspect of traveling afterward (well we were when we bought the tickets originally). Basically, who wants to travel with 8 months worth of stuff? Not I! I love to pack light and so the idea of us lugging around two good size suitcases each sounded a bit lame. I checked into luggage storage but all that I could find was at the airport and they charged about $5,000 pesos per piece per day. At this point $5,000 pesos is pretty near $10 US...yes the dollar is becoming worth nothing. So, 2 pieces of luggage for 8 days...thats $80,000 pesos...close to $160 US. Mmmm, I don't think so. Then we asked our hostel and they said they would take them for $500 pesos per day and the 1st day is free. So, it would be $7,000 pesos, about $14 US. Now THAT'S more like it. So, we are traveling light again and I'm once again excited to travel.

THE PROGRAM: So, the program is over. It officially ended on Friday. It was weird to realize that we are no longer affiliated with English Opens Doors. For the last 8 months it has been a part of our identity. Now we are "just travelers". I'm ok with this fact but it's still strange. I think that the hardest part of it was the lack of closure. The way it ended seemed abrupt. Then everyone started leaving and flying home. I guess we were just used to having the hostel full and bustling with people so that when everyone started leaving it felt weird. The hostel felt a little desolate! I'm not sure how much sense that makes. I fell tired! haha

SANTIAGO: So when we came into Santiago a the beginning of the program we looked around and thought, "huh". We didn't find it to be that nice of a city. It was interesting and big and all that jazz but it was a little dirty, there were street dogs and yada yada. Well, when we came back this time the 1st thing that struck us was how orderly Santiago was, how clean it was, and how few street dogs there were! hahaha. My how your perspective can change! We are enjoying the city but it will be nice to move on and do a little traveling.

COMING HOME: So, it really, really weirds me out to be thinking that we are coming home in 8 days. I have never lived away like this. I didn't go away to college. I have traveled some but I've never been away from home for so long. So, the concept of "going home" seems super strange to me. I'm excited but all of us volunteers were talking and most of us said that we are more nervous about going home than we were about coming to Chile. This is so true of Jason and I. I'm kind of one of those "dive into it head first" type of people and so the idea of Chile sounded so cool. I knew that it would be hard but in general I had the "bring it on" attitude. I'm excited about going home but we are also a little nervous. That probably sounds so strange.

FOOD: I'm hungry and want some. So, that means that I'm going to get off the computer and eat! See ya in 8 days...well, some of you at least! :)