My one year anniversary

Wow. I can’t believe that it has been a year since I left for Chile. I remember feeling nervous and excited and unsure to embark on what ended up being the best semester of my college career. A lot has changed since Chile. I have a new job. I am postponing law school to work for a year. I joined new student orgs. I am entering into my last semester of college. But I decided that on the anniversary of the day I left, I would reflect on all of the things I took with me from Chile. Some of them I expected, most of them I did not.

 Souvenirs: Yes, I did bring back your typical artisanal knickknacks, and the “salmon leather” purse and floral scarf that I occasionally get compliments on. But I also proudly display my hospital bracelet and an empty Austral bottle on a high shelf and have a $1 Catolica sticker adhered to my Wisconsin water bottle to showcase my favorite team. Not to mention, my beautiful blood-splattered iPod, which I pull out and marvel at from time to time.

  Scars: Speaking of blood-splattered, I have three new scars from Chile—two on my forehead and one on my thumb. I like them. They remind me of my strength, and they make me feel like a badass. Someday I hope to go back to the spot where my blood stained the sidewalk and see if I left a lasting mark there as well. I doubt it, but wouldn’t it be awesome.

Photos: I’m not just referring to the hundreds of pics in my iPhoto library. I also mean the beautiful physical photobook (yes, I still use them) that makes me smile every time I flip through it. The photos I have from Chile help remind me of all of the wonderful moments that may have slipped my mind otherwise. Plus, I like having them in print. Just in case.

A new vocabulary: Chile taught me a whole lot of new words—cachai, po, jote, al tiro, weon, palta, flaite, wea, pucha, pololo etc.—some of which were more unsavory than others… Still I like to add them into my Spanish conversations from time to time. Just because. And sometimes I don’t even notice I’m doing it.

Reggaeton: Okay, so I already loved reggaeton, but Chile made me OBSESSED with it. Thanks to Gonzalo (see below), I probably doubled my reggaeton collection, and it is basically all that I listen to when I work out these days. I am more determined than ever to see Daddy Yankee in concert even if I have to fly to Miami to do it.

 Mis monos: Gonzalo and Chilean Max. 

My experience in Chile and this past semester would not have been the same without the two of them. They have made me laugh so hard, they have supported me when things got a little rough, they have taken many crazy snapshots with me after a few too many piscolas, and they helped me explore parts of Santiago that I would never have seen on my own. They are two people I hope to stay in contact with for many years to come and hopefully visit in Chile in the near future. Un abrazo y un beso a los mejores chilenos del mundo. If only one of them would have offered to take me back in their suitcases…

New friends from my program: I wondered whether or not I would be able to stay in contact with people from my program after I left Chile. We were all from all over the country, and I wasn’t sure how it would go. But just tonight I skyped with Nona, and it was nice to catch up and rehash our awesome memories from Chile. We all shared such a crazyawesomesometimesfrustrating experience and so whenever I see one of my fellow UW program-mates on campus or get an update from someone it is a pleasant surprise.

And last but not least—This fool: 

When I got to Chile, I was completely out of my comfort zone for the first time in my life, but at the same time, I was open to new experiences and to meeting new people. Little did I know that the very best thing Chile had to offer me was standing right in front of me when I arrived at the airport. I left the US looking for a fresh start and I came back with a best friend who I share everything with. I left Chile with a boyfriend who would sit with me for twelve hours in a stuffy hospital room, backpack with me for five days through Southern Chile, travel thousands of miles to visit me, roll his eyes at me when I am being ridiculous, and laugh with me (and at me) at the stupidest things. And for that (and also for all of the stuff listed above), I am eternally grateful.

So thank you, Chile for everything you gave me. Looking back at my experience a year later, it was still the greatest adventure of my life. And in spite of the protests, the crazy drivers, the terrible food, the pickpockets, the catcalls, the cramped metros, and the incredible inefficiency, I am pretty sure I wouldn’t change a thing.