Puerto Montt

Last Thursday 15 exchange students from the south of Chile gathered for a reunion in Puerto Montt. We stayed in a Hostel like building. It was a church actually and I am still struggling to find a name for it in English. We all stayed until Sunday. The weekend consisted of eating lots of really good food, lots of chocolate, going to the newspaper editor, seeing the ocean, going to the oldest building in the city which was a church, going to the fish market and artisan market, and lots of laughing. My favorite part of the trip was being with the other exchange students. It is much different than being with students at home in Montana or in Coyhaique. For one thing, we all have the same struggles and we all understand the difficulties. And secondly exchange students are just a different breed of kids altogether. haha I say this because they have strength, independence,and intelligence like no teens i have ever meet before. And they are all a little "Loco".

Time For Change

Well this past week has been the hardest of my experience so far. I had complications with my host family and my family back home so we found that changing houses was the best solution to the problem. I have been living with my new family for three days now and they are some of the most kind, and generous I have ever meet. I feel very comfortable here. My new host sister and I were friends before and that is how i ended up here. We get along great and it feels like a sleep over every night! Next week I travel to Puerto Montt with the other exchange students that are living in the south, from Friday until Sunday. I am Excited to see more of Chile. I have been obsessed lately with my camera so there will be plenty of pictures. I am feeling very very optimistic now and I am sure that the remainder of my time here will be one of the greatest times of my teenage years.

Half way there

I am past the half way point and I think that time is going to go even faster now. I am learning a lot of Spanish and I am able to communicate  much easier. I have gained like 5 Lb. or more already. : ( but what the hay! this is a once in a life time experience and the don't have the same food back home. Last night i received some very sad, and difficult news. One of my mothers best friends and almost a second mother to me, past away this week. She had had breast cancer for 5 years. She is finally at peace. It is hard being away from my family in these times of tragedy but I know that in the end this will make me a stronger person.