10 days down...

...and 10 more to go. It's weird that it's getting so close. I'm at that point where I know it's real but I don't quite feel it hitting home just yet. You know, like you've been planning something for so long and doesn't seem like it's going to happen until that day arrives. But all the plans to come back are in full swing.

I've finally eaten the best ice cream in the city...so yummy! I made it Fuente Alemana, a restaurant that everyone has told me was a must since the beginning. They're know for their completos (hot dogs topped with sauer kraut, mayo, avocado, pickles, tomatoes, ketchup and hot sauce), and wow was I in heaven. I know what I'm ordering on my next dog at Happy Dog in C-town!! On Monday the people from my University here had a farewell dinner for me at a restaurant called Don Quijote. I knew that they had invited my classmates but I had no idea that my professors would be there as well! It was a little awkward but a nice gesture and the food was good...and free ;) I'm spending as much time as possible with my closest of friends, Susana (god I'm gonna miss that girl), Salvador, Ryan, Jorge & Ximena. I was planning on going to Rangcagua this weekend but work offered me a few shifts to cover for another teacher and I could really use the money on my final check, so I'm putting that trip on hold until I return in December! Not much else on my to-do list before I leave the city. I just want to enjoy my students, friends and the final days of the life I built here.

Final grades have started rolling in for my classes. I got an 85% in Operations Management, it's a B but a high B so I guess it'll do. There is a final group presentation being done Saturday morning in Management Models that I will not be participating in, but my participation is not necessary because I contributed to the research in the project. I'm pretty sure that I'm getting an A in that class because I got A's on both of my solo presentations (the most recent grade I received yesterday, 6.8 out of 7) and I got an A on my exam. Spanish class, well who knows. Still haven't heard anything from that professor! But I think CSU will be proud of their first representative of the university to go to Concepcion and hopefully I can help encourage other students to study here as well.

So the next week will involve my last couple of classes at work (my last day is Wednesday), spending time with my Chilean families (both of them), doing some souvenir shopping for my loves back home (which I started doing today) and then begin packing and cleaning my room. Saturday is my big going away party with all my co-workers and friends. Susana and her family have offered to host my party at their home which is beyond awesome! We're going to have karaoke, drinks and chat...and I'm sure someone is going to make me cry! Then Sunday my flight leaves at 4pm. This may be my last blog before I leave, so those that are reading, I will be in touch when I get to Columbus. My phone will be active again at midnight on the 22nd but I won't be in Columbus until 9am. Until then...

Not ready for it to end...

I can't believe my time here is almost over. The closer it gets the more saddening it becomes. Funny when you settle into a new life in a new place how comfortable you get without even realizing it. You get so caught up in the day-to-day routine of working, studying and spending time with the people who have become part of your new life that before you know it, 5 months have almost passed you by. Thinking back on previous travels...when I left for Spain in 2007 it was exciting and new. I was going to learn a new language and culture, 3 months seemed like a fair amount of time. I liked my life there and the country is one of my favorite places in the world but I was happy to return to the U.S...no regrets and I had the time of my life seeing part of the world. Fast forward to 2009 when I started planning my trip to Chile. I was filled with all the same excitement but also a bit of fear. This time I was much older, the duration of my stay was going to be longer and I was really not sure what to expect...not to mention the huge earthquake! Even once I arrived here I was a little unsure. I didn't know many people, didn't have a lot of money to spend and the dialect was super hard to catch onto, depending on the person. But then I got comfortable in my classes, found an amazing job and grew attached to some of the most caring people...a few of which will be life-long friends without a doubt. And now the time to leave is growing near and it's truly going to break my heart to leave this place. I've noticed how I look around the city and how I have become aware of my surroundings again...like it's all new and wonderful, feeling that appreciation for being here. Weird how you forget to do that, appreciate things, when you're wrapped up in your own world. I have a feeling it's going to be a hard adjustment for me to come back to the states this time. I mean sure, the routine will be the same and I will be absolutely thrilled to see my friends and family again, but I will miss my life here. Actually, I'm already planning to come back and visit. I would like to try and come on my winter break after Christmas. Get to see a little bit more of the country, and this time see it in the summer! Already started looking at plane tickets today...and this time I know how to travel cheap ;)

Now that I've gotten out the sappy 'this is how I feel' part of the blog, here's the life update as of today. Classes are officially finished. I had my final exam on Friday and my final presentation on Saturday. I probably won't know grades for a couple of weeks and won't get my official transcripts until the 1st or 2nd week of September. But I feel pretty confident that I did well. As far as school goes in the states, I'm registered for the fall semester and ready to roll. As some of you know, I work as a graduate assistant in the business college 10hrs a week to receive a tuition waiver to pay for my degree. A few weeks ago I received an email from my boss there saying that they had finished the budget for the fiscal year and unfortunately they could not offer me the position. But being the wonderful people they are, and especially since I worked for them for a year, they said they would do their best to find me a position elsewhere. Well as luck would have it, I received an email from my boss today saying they have decided that they CAN offer me the position again this semester. I may be working in a different office with a different boss and maybe a few different responsibilities but hey, I'll take it! So they're drawing up a contract and will have it ready for me to sign when I return!

My work and social life here moving right along as well. Now that I don't have any classes to study for I have officially made myself the 'on-call' girl to pick-up classes whenever someone wants a day off! Gotta put in the those last few hours where I can. I'm still trying to contact the Berlitz in Cleveland about teaching when I return. I got an email address for them and wrote an email but haven't gotten a response yet. Figuring I'll write a follow-up email tomorrow. Now it's time to try and do all the things I can before I go! Today Susana and I went to visit the cathedral here in the city. It had been closed due to damages from the quake and they're still working on the inside, but it was open to the public. I took some photos but they were with my phone and not the greatest quality...but you can get the gist. Next weekend I'm planning on going out of town to visit an old friend. It's a guy that used to live above La Tortilla when we were open. He left and moved back to Chile right before we closed. I've stayed in touch and already know quite a few members of his family so when I arrived I sent an email with the hopes to going to visit. He wrote back right away, saying their house had been destroyed in the quake but a new one was being built and when it was ready he would contact me. Well I never heard anything, so last week I sent another email letting him know I was leaving soon. He said the house is not quite finished yet but they'd love for me to come visit. So I started looking at bus tickets today. It's really inexpensive and the it's about a 6-7 hour ride to the north, heading towards Santiago in a little town called Rancagua. It's near vineyards and mountains so I'm game!! Think I'm going to buy my ticket and confirm with him tomorrow!

Well today is officially 20 days and counting till I step on that plane. I can't wait to see you all again soon...but I can't wait to come back here and visit again either. Oh, and don't forget to click on the picture for more photos!!