Oh the future.

Well I have been studying in Valdivia, Chile for about 4 months and absolutely love the city and my wonderful host family: Cecilia, Gustavo, Christian y Valentina. I have decided to make a change though and move on to a different aspect of South America. I am officially un-enrolled from Central for 2 quarters. I am going to spend December in Valdivia with my friends and host family here and then after New Years in January, I am going to Argentina to work on an organic farm with an Argentinian family who loves music, dancing and crafts who doesn't know English. Then in March to May I am going to Peru to work in an orphanage. I am especially jazzed for this program because I will get to work! And talk in Spanish and spend time with children. I have decided to do these programs instead of returning to school because I am having a hard time in my classes, and my GPA is diminishing. In addition, the teachers are not the best for my learning style and I am surrounded by English all the time. All I want to do is learn Spanish fluently, so I am heading somewhere to make that a reality. Un-sure when I will return to the US, but as my travels progress I will continually update my blog. Thank you for all the suppport hearts!

Things that don't make sense.

While being abroad I've learned some things that don't make sense and have decided to make this new segment that will continue as I discover more.

1. Hollow chocolate
2. The option of paper towels and air dryer in a bathroom
3. Non-alcoholic beer
4. Diet, cafeine free pepsi
5. Dolls that poop and pee like really babies
6. 12-16 year olds singing about love
7. Pocket dictionaries that don't fit in your pocket
8. Washing your face with an anti-acne wash and waking up with a pimple
9. Sweeping a dirt floor
10. Washing dishes with tap water you aren't supposed to drink ever

Chile Blog Numero 7

Well today is Thanksgiving. My first holiday away from home in 20 years. It was really weird waking up this morning to go to class while wearing a skirt and T-shirt. By this time, I'd wake up in my room, no school, put on a sweater and jeans and get ready for Thanksgiving dunch with my dad in the kitchen making pies and what not with it being freezing outside. I really missed being with my family today. But I'm doing really well in Chile. I had a revelation about the rest of this year, and I am very excited to see how it unravels. Once I have everything figured out, I'll post it for you all to read. :) I did have the blessing of the opportunity to have a  Thanksgiving dinner with some of my gringa friends and chilean friends as well. We had chicken, stuffing, potatoes, gravy and salad. It was absolutely divertido! (fun) We played cards just like I would back home, and enjoyed each other's company. I really love my chilean friends, and I am going to miss them when I leave. School is increasingly harder. It feels all my profs thought hey, lets colaborate and give all the students a ton of homework to do in a week on a weekend they are all leaving! Ya! So they did. I am swamped with homework and tests coming up, and I don't know how I'm going to do it all...coffee and patience I guess. Maybe living on a prayer. Take my hand and we'll make it I swear. :) I can do it. Ready to pwn those tests though and be free. Yay summer! On the plus side, my Spanish is improving greatly even if my profs don't notice it, and that feels really good. Plus I'm understanding more than 50% of what I hear. It is hard studying abroad, but I am so glad I'm here,and I'm going to enjoy the rest of the time I have here and get the most out of it. I love you all back home, and hope your Thanksgivings were great. hearts!

How to annoy your Spanish profs while studying abroad.

1. Use english words in your writings.
2. Answer incorrectly multiple times
3. Cry when you mess up
4. Be honest when asked how you feel about a test... i.e. I'm scared
5. After your tests when asked how you did respond with I think I did bad.
6. Don't show up to class
7. Arrive ridiculously late to class
8. Ask ridiculous questions
9. Don't do your homework
10. Argue your wrong answer until they get too annoyed to continue the debate.
11. Explain your issues in English.

Chile Blog Numero 6

So these past two weeks a different Natalie has inhabited my body. I do not really know what happened, but I learned much about my self because I didn't know this side to Natalie existed. My struggles in class is not helping and my emotions of missing home and people whom will will always love me no matter what make is difficult being far from home for this long, However, I am making connections with Chilean students and have decided to try harder. I know I can do this. I have made it this long, and know I can make it the rest of the way. I'm pushing through, and will hopefully come out of this even if I'm in the middle or bottom, at least I will come out of this. My emotions and self are back and I know I can do it. I am not a quitter. Que fome! That's chilean spanish for that's lame! Chilean slang is my favorite. I have also come to the decision that there are different ways to improve in Spanish. Not just with books, but my communication and accent out of class has improved greatly. So, maybe that's what I will get out of this trip. That is just fine with me. I know I am in Valdivia for a reason and this is an opportunity many people never get to have and I'm blessed in more ways then one. Watch out Chile! Natalie is back and she's going to win. My favorite quote right now is by Lady Gaga. "Sometimes in life you don't always feel like you're a winner. But that doesn't mean you aren't a winner." <3

20 Thanks

So right now I feel all I am doing is failing. I hate that and I know I'm not, but, I'm going to list off 20 thanks God has given me cause nothings as bad as it seems with him.

<3 Nat

1. My Family

2. My passion to help people

3. A wonderful group of friends

4. An amazing opportunity to grow and learn

5. Supplying what I need

6. A compasionate heart

7. Really great hair

8. My love of fiddling

9. My flippin' spectacular sense of humor

10. My laugh

11. Strength to overcome everything eventually

12. Every day I wake up

13. My converse

14. Candy

15. Fantastic leaders of my life

16. Improv

17. Making people laugh

18. Getting over anger quickly

19. Struggles in Spanish

20. Every tear I've cried

Ya even the last two I'm thankful too cause I'm learning.