Departure Date: August 17th, 2010!

Yep, I finally booked my flight and have an official date that I'll arrive in Chile! That means I only have 54 more days in Canada before I leave! I have to try and fit in so much before I leave, family vacation, seeing the Inbounds before they leave, family time, hanging out with friends, getting everything prepared, saying goodbye... it's going to come so fast!

Last week I had to say goodbye (at least for a month) to Mickey and Karla, the Inbounds in Cambridge. They`re on an amazing Cross-Canada Trip starting in New Brunswick all the way to Vancouver, I don`t think many Canadians can say that they`ve done that!

Mickey, Myself, and Karla at a Rotary meeting a while ago

Today I have officially finished high school! Well at least Canadian high school because I'll be going right into my new Chilean high school when I arrive in August. But my class did not go out without a bang, we pulled a Senior Prank last Friday and played a big game of road hockey in our student parking lot... it was amazing!

Erica, Laura and I ready for some road hockey!


GOAAAAL!

Chile Pride!

In the meantime I've been trying to get as much stuff ready as I can. I now have all my forms to get my visa, but due to the craziness in Toronto I'll have to wait until next week when the G8 and G20 summits are over. I've also been busy trying to get pins to give away while I'm down in Chile but its pretty hard to find inexpensive ones, not to mention the federal government likes to give out the really tiny ones!

Yesterday I also raided the dollar store and got a lot of Canadian loot! One of the best finds - a Canada flag that plays the national anthem.... haha I had to get it! I don't know how I'm going to bring everything down with me! Then when we were driving we saw a sign that said "Chile Soccer Tees Here" so we obviously had to go in. It was weird that there was actually a place around where I live that sells Chile stuff, I've only seen one other vehicle besides my own that has Chilean flag on it! The lady in the store was so sweet, she was from the South of Chile and asked if I needed references or anything when I went, and then she went on to warn me about how cold it will be when I get there (there is no central heating). So sweet!

Chile vs. Spain on Friday.... VIVA CHILE!

Go Chile!

Yep - I went there... FIFA World Cup fever!

Chi-Chi-Chi-Le-Le-Le

Viva Chile!

I love my Chilean family already!

Last week I received a package from Chile! Thinking it was my guarantee forms I was pretty excited because that means I'll actually have a set time period of when I need to arrive in Chile! But instead it was addressed from my host mother and inside was a t-shirt and a note written in Spanish! How sweet is that!? Today I finally had my note translated by a guy in one of my classes since he's Colombian, but even then he couldn't really understand the Chilean Spanish! Anyways I'm so blown-away by how sweet and nice my host family seems!

Outline of Chile and Easter island

On the back the part of Antarctica that is owned by Chile

This is Chile

While I'm waiting for school to eventually end, and waiting to receive my guarantee forms back from Chile saying when they want me in the country by... I spend some of my time finding pictures of Chile!

Santiago separated into all of it's neighborhoods/cities - Las Condes (where I will be living) is in the North East

Atacama

Patagonia

Easter Island

Plaza de la Constitución AKA Government Buildings, like Parliament Hill

So much city!

Llama or Alpaca?

Patagonia - can someone say tourist?

Moai and ahu on Easter Island

Erindale Final Rotary Meeting

This past weekend was the final Rotary function where all the Inbounds and Outbounds were together. We were at Erindale College at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus and finally had some nice sunny weather.

I drove up with Karla (Ecuador) and Mickey (Germany) who are the Inbound students in Cambridge along with Raquel (Ecuador). Saturday was spent sitting in a lecture hall and learning things to hopefully help and enrich our exchange experience. We were also issued our Rotary blazers and took pictures later with our spiffy new red blazers - it's official now! Yet again we had another "dance party" at night, also all the Inbounds brought/made food from their home country. I also made a bunch of cupcakes since they were such a hit at Wanakita!

Inbounds

Outbounds

South America Bound - Tammy (Brazil), Me, Maddy (Ecuador)

Mickey and myself being normal

Sunday our parents arrived and we were in the lecture hall again learning about the nitty-gritty stuff about insurance, booking flights, etc. Also we were able to break-apart and talk with the Rebound, Inbound and my parents about Chile and any questions I might want to know. Also that morning a bunch of us had fun seeing how many exchange students we could fit in a tree - we managed to get 12 successfully!

"It's because we're exchange students"

At the end of the weekend the Inbounds received a certificate and it was really emotional especially since this may be the last time before they go on the Cross-Canada Trip or leave to go home that we get to see them! :( Needless to say there were many tears and hugs to go around.

The days are ticking down but I still don't have a date of when to arrive, or my forms back, or a visa... but things will come together eventually!

Adiós