Brrr...It's cold in here.

No, literally.

It's cold. I thought when I was warned that it would be cold here in August they were exaggerating. They weren't, I wear at least three layers a day and wear two shirts, sweatpants, and two pairs of socks to sleep. However, other than the cold it's going well.

I had my first day of classes last week. I work on Monday, Tuesday, and half day Wednesday. The first day was a little difficult, seeing as I have never had one-on-one time with two year olds, but I quickly got the hang of it. My first project was painting with primary colors, and it went fabulously! They were making the best shades of green, brown, and purple I had ever seen. After that the projects followed with a cutting lesson, life skills, and shape matching. It's weird that kids really have to learn everything. I know that may seem silly, but it never occurred to me that every day to day skills and action at some point was taught to you. I guess you just don't remember when you were 3 and someone was instructing you on how to properly wash your hands.

The big project for this semester is an alphabet chart that I am working on with Jim, we are alternating letters. The kids are making individual 6x6 inch cards with an art project and a letter that they will be able to hang up at home. It should be nice once we are done, but we're only on C's and D's right now, so it will take a while. Overall, I really like the school and working with children. I know no one really thought that I would have the patients for children, but I do. They bring a warm smile to my face and I enjoy my daily dance lessons from my favorite 4 year old Marianna, she looks like the cutest cabbage patch doll you've ever seen! It's such an enjoyable experience and I look forward to everyday. However... I was caught off guard when they asked me if I knew any children's songs and I started signing some little green frog song and all of a sudden I was singing into a tape recorder. As many of you know, I do not have the best singing voice and although the kids were enjoying the song it really just bothered me that my terrible voice was now on record.

In other news, we started our Spanish lessons this week and our Spanish teacher does not speak English. None. Zero. Zip. Although she is a very nice lady, it doesn't work out too well when we are attempting to ask her questions. We tried to play pictionary in Spanish and although I have mastered pictionary junior in English (shout out to Krissy, Paige, and Marcia), it was not the same. I was guessing in English and she kept looking at me very confused, but although my drawing and guessing skills are sub par, I have discovered that my Spanish is better than I remembered! I don't have all the verb tenses down, yet but I can fair in a non English speaking country just fine, and I think I'm getting better each day. Dema helps me a lot with my Spanish skills because she took it at University and remembers her classes. Jim on the other hand doesn't speak any Spanish, although his pronunciation is incredible. I've also discovered that after one, or two, drinks my Spanish gets even better.

The first week went by so fast and I know more has happened, but those were the big moments. I'm going to try and blog more because I feel like my full experience cannot be captured in a few paragraphs.

Until then...adios

The Arrival

Getting here was anything short of easy, but I'm glad I made it.

In less than 24 hours I have been in 4 cities and 3 planes. The first flight was from Chicago to DC, then DC to New York, and finally the 9hr and 50mn flight from New York to Santiago. Wooah, that was a lot, luckily the invention of sleeping pills allowed me to wake up just as the flight from Santiago was coming in and I got a good nights rest. Now, arriving in Santiago was a different story. I got off the plane to an airport with no heat and although I'm from Chicago, my Gap sweater wasn't exactly cutting it at 6:30 in the morning. As I arrive at the airport I find that not only do Americans have to pay a $140 fee to enter the country, but that my new suitcase is not missing on wheel. Oh joy, that was a good way to start my trip...but I went on.

Now for those of you that don't know me and don't know many details about my trip, I am not in Santiago, I am in Vina del Mar, which is two hours away from Santiago, so I had to take the bus. I was so worried when I got on the first bus, my Spanish is terrible and I knew enough to make out that the TurBus person said "No Vina bus at this terminal, must get on this bus to another terminal to get to Vina bus", so with a confused look I got on the bus to the terminal in Santiago, hoping that I understood the directions correctly. Luckily, I was right and the bus driver was nice and helped me get my ticket to Vina and my broken bag over to the new bus stop. All was well with the world again and I could stop being worried about being lost and stranded in Chile. After another two hours of traveling I arrived in Vina and was picked up by the principal of the school, she was so sweet, and got moved into my new place. It's quaint, however in order to take a hot shower you have to turn on the gas, light a match, move this thing over, and wish upon a star- well not technically wish upon a star, but it's more involved than just turning on the knob.



Once I arrived, I went to the Feria (an open air fruit and veggie market) with my roommates Dema and Jim- they are both really great and I'm glad that I lucked out and am living with interesting, intelligent, and fun people. The Feria was interesting, it was tents in a dirt parking lot and they sold every fruit and vegetable I knew of, and even some that I did not. I felt it was a very cultural experience because everyone knew everyone and it had a very warm atmosphere. My roommates kept talking about making food and asking what I wanted to purchase, little did they know that I can't cook so I was willing to buy anything, but as far as preparing it, my one Chicken 101 class didn't prepare me as well as I had hoped.

The lovely day came to a close with empanadas and a walk along the beach with Dema, I couldn't have asked for a better first day and I am looking forward to what Chile has in store for me.

By the way-THANK GOD I'm from Chicago, no where here has heating, if I was from a warmer climate I would be freezing!

On the way!

Okay, I'll admit it...last night as I was running my last minute errands I was about to break out and hysterically cry. I was a wreck. I did not know if I was making the right choice and every what-if came into my mind.I never actually cried, but I was about to a bunch of times-I honestly did not know if I was going to be strong enough to make this day long journey...however, I got my shit together and I'm doing it!!! Now I'm pumped!!! During my goodbyes yesterday I was nervous, but I gave each person a sound "see you later" and left, I know this is not a time to say goodbyes, it's just a long period without my glorious presence. haha. I'm looking forward to my new adventure, although certain things of summer were cut short (shout out to you know who), but hey that's how life goes I guess and I wouldn't be the Simone I have known and come to love if I stayed behind a moment longer.

I'll blog and post photos as soon as I get there! I hope you're for excited for me as I am.

Ps- Add me on Skype: Simone.Dyson

Worlds Shortest Dissertation

It is not about the political reasons behind Kennedy's assassination, an African spore than can cure cancer, or the social motivations of America's youth. This is about life and what I have learned thus far. I have come to the following conclusions through research and a lot of mistakes, and I would like to share my wisdom with you.

1). Mistakes are inevitable.

I will be the first to admit that I am not the person to emulate if you want your child to grow up to be a wholesome person who does not make mistakes. If I told you that would just be a lie, however I love my imperfections and I think they have allowed me to grow as a person. The beauty about a mistake is that about 90% of the time you do not think you are making one when it happens. You are certain that you know exactly what you're getting into and you are aware of the outcome. However, when you end up on your ass in the middle of no where and looking dumb founded about how you got there you will look back and realize "damn, I shouldn't have done that". Hopefully from that point on you will see the mistake and never relive it, if you do then you do not grow and if you do not have the capacity to grow, you will not mature.

2). Friends are the worst people you will ever meet.

Harsh right? haha, well I just wanted to grab your attention because although there is some truth to the matter, they are the worst people because they are the best. Let me explain...your friends always have your best interests at heart and want you to be the best person you can be, yet in the process of them helping your to grow they will challenge you to be the person you are not sure you can be, but the person they know you can be. They do this out of love, a lot of love, it is a selfless and honest love and even when the message is not delivered correctly and brings a tear to your eye, and let's you know that when you need them they will be there in your corner- helping you back up or cheering you on. A true and honest friend is hard to find and even when you are unsure of something they are there time and time again to help you the best way they know how. My friends are phenomenal, I know this because of my journey across the world they have been most worried about me. Not that my parents aren't (oh, trust me- they are) but friends just always have to "level" with you and even if you don't want to listen they will challenge you and make you see every piece of the puzzle. I don't necessarily always like this approach, BUT I appreciate and respect it more than they will ever know.

3). Life Happens

If you asked me one month ago what I would be doing a month from then I would not have told you that I would be packing to move across the world. I would have given some trite response about "searching for the perfect job" blah blah blah. However, as the time passed here I am...packing, moving, and blogging. I have been presented with a new opportunity and I am taking it by the reins and going full force. Chances like this are what make life so exciting, not just because I am moving to another country but because I am now allowed to experience a new culture and a new world. If I didn't go now I would be looking back on my life and wondering "what if". And let me tell you from the mistakes I've made...that's an awful feeling. I don't want to look back and wonder what-if. I am going to take the chances that life has given me and make the best out of them. Now, although I am taking this chance, this corresponds to point 1) because I do not know how this will turn out- I am flipping a coin and this could either be the greatest opportunity of my life or the worst, although I highly doubt that it'll be the latter. There is a possible opportunity around every corner and taking chances, in life and love (please don't crucify me for the cliche), allows each day to be more exciting, fulfilling, and glorious.

I know I am only 22 and three short paragraphs about life may not change any thing or anyone, but I just wanted to share my point of view on life and what I think makes it worth living.

Fear or Excitement?

I have always thought I was the adventurous type, however I don't know where fear makes it way into that equation. I am too young to know what percentage of risk taking is fear or if people that are truly adventurous just overlook the fear factor and brave the metaphorical fog, although they do not know what lies ahead. Am I capable of that? Can I leave my family and friends for the next 5 months without getting severely homesick? Can I be excited instead of being scared? I'll find out soon enough (I should have thought about these questions when I was applying two weeks ago). I've always wanted to do something like this, and now I have the chance, and I am finally getting what I want and I'm freaking out. But hey, I guess it's like anything in life, when you get what you really want- you never know what to do with it. When I woke up this morning the only thought in my head was " I know I have not left yet and it's still four days away however, but I'm scared."Are those the first words of a truly adventurous spirit? Even yesterday when I was supposed to hang out with someone (and it didn't work out) three million thoughts started running through my brain, I don't know how rational they were, but the largest thought was "I don't know when I will see them again". This is not the end up the world and it's not like I'm never coming back but it happened so fast and I just want to have time to do everything and see everyone. Again, I don't know if I am being dramatic or this is actually the process that comes along with taking chances and experiencing new things and fear and worrying are part of the "new adventure" care package....maybe it's too soon to tell.