VIÑA, ¡DÉJAME DORMIR POR FAVOR! (17 de agosto de 2014)

Reloj de flores

Sorry it took me so long to post a blog.  I’ve been enjoying my time here and doing everything else.  But I haven’t forgotten about you all.

Okay, for those who’ve already translated the title, let me explain.  Every morning and evening at 8:00, except Sundays, there is so much traffic that it wakes me out my sleep/nap.  People just honk for no reason.  If there is space in front of a car at a red light, another car will honk so that the car can scoot up.  I live on a one-way street and it seems like the entire city is trying to get down that street, los bomberos, los carabineros… todo el mundo.  Sometimes at night, there is a group playing music and singing.  It’s like a mini-concert out my window.

Overall, I’m doing just fine, still adjusting to this weather (-_-).  Stress-free, no schedules to follow (besides school), eating, and living in the moment…  It’s like I have so much time to reflect on life and myself.  I have time to think about yesterday, today, AND tomorrow.  Everyday I wake up and feel happy and excited about the day.  Not worried about a 8-hour shift, 16 hours of school, if there is something edible in the dining hall...I wake up and live in the moment.  I’ve realized you can’t always worry about yesterday and tomorrow,  you have to focus and live now.  It’s much more enjoyable when you live in the now!! I mean I am in Chile! :P  I always appreciate what God bless me with, and being here in Chile, I appreciate it evenmore.  Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what I got here in Chile.  There is a lesson in every class session of LIFE!  I love the life I’m currently growing in here.  I can say that I’m becoming a more well-rounded person.  This experience isn’t for everyone, must  I say, but I’m thankful I got it!  Oh, I do go to school btw… I had two papers due last week and I already have my first presentation due Monday.  So stop thinking that I’m partying everyday and don't go to school, because I do..  :P

So after I become fluent in Spanish, I’m going to learn French.  Apparently, I look French here.  I was out with my right-hand gringa, Kimmy Quick, and this French guy came up to me speaking French non-stop.  Umm.. yo no entiendo o_o.  And this other Chileno ask me if I was francés and Jenny if she was alemán.  No señor, sólo americanas.

Don't laugh,but I finally got my Chilean phone... you'll start thinking back between 2002-2008

"Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me!"

Okay...you can scroll now!!

Mi Actividades

So last weekend, Kim and I went out for the night and we had our 1st sleepover!  It was nice spending the night.  I had the opportunity to meet her familia chilena. We hung out again this week as well.

Mis Chicas

My Right-hand Gringa and I

Since I don’t have classes on Friday, Jenny and I decided to take a trip to the beach and check out the market there.  I found some things I want to purchase, and I got the rest of the year to buy it.

 

Alemán y Francés

When I came back home, I made panqueques with my mamá.  It’s like pancakes rolled up with caramel-like dulce on the inside.  ¡Que Rico!

(2/15 Panqueques)

My other sister, Kika, is in town, and for the past three nights, the family (including me) has been watching movies.  My sister, Leslie, did my nails and made me golden (sorry Mrs. Amy). Family time is always great!   Saturday, a group of us decided to go to the sand dunes near ConCon, and let’s say it was an awesome and painful time. I'm still alive and don't keep replaying the video...show some sympathy  We basically had a nap, picnic, and fun in the sand (minor turn-up), and ending it by watching the sun set!  It went from about  25°C to 9°C in a matter of seconds.  You know that didn’t go well for me.

Alec, I, Lucas, Josiah, Calley, Zane and Jenny

Alec making his sand chair

Relaxation

On "Campsite" Watch

 

"Kids Don't Try This at Home!"

Sandboarding Aftermath

BlogShoutout

So I want to give a BlogShoutout to my friend Alec.  He is a very kind and caring person.  He did two good deeds in the same day on our trip to and from ConCon.  While we were waiting for others to meet us at the bus stop, this lady’s vehicle stopped and he (along with Josiah) help push it to the gas station parking lot.  Then on our way back home, at the bus stop we saw a man who cut his hand on something and blood was all over his hand.  I’m sure already know what happened… Alec found a bandage in his backpack and gave it to the man.  I just wanted you all to know that Alec is a great person even abroad!

“Only by Giving are you able to receive More than you already have” - Jim Rohn

Well, that’s all for now.  Until my next adventures, stay tuned!

Chao!

Fotos de las semanas

Día del Niño

My Chilean Pesos

My brother Jon Willis

Selfie in the Sand

Sunset from the Sand Dunes

El primer día de escuela (04 de agosto de 2014)

Well, well, well....  PRAISE GOD MONDAY IS OVER!!  Now the week is about to be relaxing.  Two days ago I told you that school starts today for me.  Yes, I am starting school way before the primary and secondary schools.  I won't tell you when I'm done with school quite yet! ;) :P

I got up this morning at 6:50am, FOR CLASS.  Like my first and last morning class (8:30am) I've had during my collegiate years was 4 years ago, and I got up for that class at 8:10am.  Thank God I only get up on Mondays at 6:50.  The reasons I get up that early are: 1. extra 10 minutes of sleep, 2. 30 minutes to get ready, 3. 10 minutes for breakfast, and 4. 15 minutes to walk (cruise) to the bus stop to catch the bus at 8:00am (next bus comes at 9:00am) and get to school with 15 minutes to spare.

First Day of School Selfie

My first class is a 140 minute long Spanish course, Historia de Chile, with a 20 minute break in between.  Let me just say Le'Struggle is going to be real with that class.  My next class for the day is Literatura at 1300.  There are 6 of us from ISA in that course.  The class is 70 minutes, and we've already decided that we will be helping one another with understanding what's expected and due.  We already have homework that's due Wednesday... -__-.  After that class I have to find something to do with my life for 3 hrs. and 50 mins.  Why? Becasuse my last class of the day, International Business, is at 1800 and ends at 2040.  I'm at this school for 12 hours.  At least the class is in English and my mind won't wonder to much.

My "I'm ready to go, I'm hungry again, I'm tired" Face

Are you wonder what my class schedule looks like for the rest of the week?

Tuesday: Latin American on Film 1330-1610 (20 min break in between)
Wednesday: Literatura 1300-1410
Thursday: Marketing Trends and Strategies in Latin America 1330-1610 (20 min break in between)

That's it!!  One class Tuesday through Thursday that start around 1300, no classes on Friday, 3-day weekends every weekend... how great does that sound!??  Just pray for me on Mondays.  That's all I ask.  It's a few of us that live at UAI for about 12 hours on Mondays, so during our break we're going to start doing something product with our lives.

My view from the Patio

UAI

My view from the Cafe

School here in Chile is different but similar is some ways.  My first class, my professor said that he was old school.  Pen/pencil and paper, no electronic devices.  He does not like disruptive people.  One student was falling asleep, he called him out and told him to get coffee.  Two other students were messing around, and he separated them (thought I was back in middle/high school for a minute).  The professors have a schedule of how the class may go (similar to the US), but they don't necessarily follow it.  You either have Thursday and/or Friday off, or Monday and/or Tuesday.  Classes are either 140 minutes one day (back-to-back) or 70 minutes twice a week.  At Trinity, a semester is M/W/F 50mins, M/W 75mins, and/or T/R 75 mins, a maximum of 18 hours.  Oh I forgot to mention this... every day when I arrive to school, I have to look on the screens to see where my class are located.  They are never in the same room. -__-

Okay, I'm done complaining about my schedule and courses for now.  If anything exciting happens at school, depending on what it is, I'll let you know! ;)

CHAO!


ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

Guess what!?  I get to drop my 8:30am class!! Praise God!  Let me tell you, He's always on time!  So apparently that class wouldn't transfer back to the upper division class that I needed back at Trinity, so.... it HAD TO GO!  I may have to make some other changes, but we'll see.  PSA: Future study abroad students, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE always keep in contact with your home school advisor so that you can make sure that the courses you take abroad count towards your credits, because if you don't, those credits won't count for anything and it will be a waste of class time abroad.  When creating your schedule, take classes that will count towards your major/minor/common curriculum.  You are having an experience of a lifetime abroad, but don't forget you have to graduate on time!  Speaking of graduation.... (O_o) I just realized that I am classified as a senior at Trinity University.  Don't feel like it, and I like that it doesn't feel like it.  I'll realize it when I return to the states.  I'm just a student studying in Chile! : -D

Reporting Live From Chile (03 de agosto de 2014)

This morning you know I had to go to church with Pastor Haynes at Friendship West!

The sermon came out of Matthew 16:21-23, "Fatal Distractions."  That was a sermon I needed to hear.  I liked when he said that "we're in transition so that God can move us to a position and we can reach our destination!"  We have to go through the adversities in our lives to get to our destiny.  Let me tell you,  I went through a lot of adversities to get to Chile.  It wasn't an easy road.

Reporting live from Viña del Mar, Chile on this lovely Sunday, I'm Breanna Willis.  Thank you for tuning in with us today.  With beautiful weather today, my family and I took a stroll to the beach.  No better way to spend a lovely afternoon with the family in Viña del Mar.  On our way to the beach, we walked through the parks,  watch the ducks swim, and stopped for ice cream and cupcakes.

Can't really see ducks here

Doble Oreo

We get to the beach, and Esmerald and I started finding las Fragatas Portuguesas (very dangerous jellyfish) on the shore.

Fragata Portuguesa

As Emerald was poking at these Jellyfish with a stick, I'm observing her, I started feeling like I was being watched.  I look up, it's the news crew filming us.  How in the world did I, out of all people, end up being filmed by the news crew.  So I walked off (with Esmeralda still in my sight) so she could get her camera time.  As I started walking along the shore, I noticed the camera man ZOOMING IN on me!!  Sir! I don't want to be recorded.  Mi mamá y hermana were laughing saying that I was going to be famous.  Lolz...

Got them when they weren't looking!

So if I end up on the news, it's not because I done something wrong, I was just there at that time they were filming.  I'll post the video if I end up making the edited film.

After that, we headed home.  They waves were getting kind of crazy.

Mamá, Emeralda y yo

Leslie y yo

As we headed home, we saw some cool/crazy things.  There were "clowns" clowning around and street art.

  

I thought about adding a food post, but I thought I would just include it on my days.  So we went to the restaurant, and we had a "famous Chilean dish," Chorrillana.  Chorrillanas consist of french fries, strips of beef, eggs, onions, and sausages.  It was very good.  Another "famous Chilean dish" is los Completos.  It's the large hot dog in the background.  It's a hot dog with tomatoes, guacamole, and mayonnaise.  I'm going to just stick with "incompletos" (my version of the Completo with just a hot dog topped with mustard and ketchup)!

Well I have school en la manaña.  Chao!