As i´m writing this i´m sitting on my luggage in the SAntiago airport. It´s 11:30 pm here...exactly 11 hours after we were supposed to arrive...the good news:I´´m in CHILE!!! Now let me tell you about my trip.
The flight to Dallas was a breeze. I got to the airport and bought my last meal in the states for a very long time. Well I get to the gate and check in and SURPRISE! the captain is sick, but no fear, another guy is on the way and it will only be delayed 2 hours. whew. So I started talking to the people next to me...turns out they were going to Santiago for the wedding of the daughter of 2 religion profs at luther...what a small world. Well they became my temporary family for the next 2 days. So I got on the plane...sitting in the LAST row by the window thinking to myself , this is FINALLY happening. So the plane takes off and I finally get to doze for a while. About 1.5 hours later the captain gets on the speaker:
"Folks, we have a light in the cabin that needs to be checked out, the safest way to do this would be to fly back to Dallas and have them check it out. It shoudl only take 20 min and we´ll be back in the air"

Ok, a bummer, but no biggie...rather be safe than sorry. About 20 min later:
" This is your captian, don´t be alarmed but safety and rescue vehicles will meet us on the runway just as a precaution."
hmmmm, ok, it still doesn´t sound too bad

About five minutes later the flight attendents come around and review the safety information, explicitly showing parents how to hold their children if we were to crash. Ok, getting a bit more nervous. Then:

"I would like to remind every one toe fasten their seatbelts tight acrros their laps, TIGHT AND LOW! give it an extra tug. " THis is when i started praying

We we began our decent and I could see the fire trucks out my window rushing towards the plane, the wheels hit, we went back up , then they hit again, and we were on the ground. WHEW. That night I stayed in a hotel and the flight left the next morning. AND we just landed in CHILE!!! YAY! So now i´m just waiting for some friends to get through immigration, then we´re off!
Love and miss you all
Cristina

Mi familia!

Chile is getting closer and closer and actually starting to feel real! I just got information on the family I will be living with. I'll be living in Vina del Mar with the Ordenes. I have two host brothers... Nicolas (16) and Felipe (23) who are both students plus a host mom (Ana Maria) and dad (Guillermo). Crazy to think I'll be meeting them in two weeks! Still NO word on the visa...defiantly starting to get worried. We've called the consulate and e mailed them and they have not responded at all. I'm not sure what will happen if I can't get my visa on time...they even have my passport so there is no way I can leave for Chile with out flying to CA first. BLAH. Oh well, I'm sure it will work itself out. Hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday! Adios for now!

Less Than a Month!

Hey all!
So I leave in a little less than a month and am excited/very nervous! The visa process is crazy and I'm crossing my fingers that I get it on time...I have to fly to LA over break to pick it up. Right now Chile is just an image in my mind I really have no idea what to expect. For those of you who don't know, I will be taking an intensive class over Jan. and will get to travel for most of Feb. A couple of friends and I are planning on going to Patagonia and backpacking for a couple of weeks. We're also hoping to spend some time in Buenos Aires (Argentina) , and of course, enjoy time on the beach. When I come back at the end of Feb. I will be starting classes at the Catholic university in Valparaiso, Chile. I will be living in a host home with a family in either Valparaiso or Vina del Mar. Both cities are right on the coast. I will be in class until July 14(ish) and then will be comming home and hopefully finding a job for a few weeks! I will try to keep this updated every week or so...but right now I better get back to focusing on finals!
Adios!