I Haven't Gotten Dressed In a Few Days



This is what happens when we try to pack. It turns out we all end up acting really insane, and do impromptu talent shows. Fun times :) Also, I end up in boxes, because I'm little

But also, guys, I'm super-sad. I haven't really lasted in real clothes at all today. I tried, but I ended up stripping down to wear a mens t-shirt instead.

Anyway, all I want to do right now is eat Mac and Cheese and watch Sleepless in Seattle

Pretty much

Love, Sarai

SO MANY PROTESTS!!!

The education protests are becoming a lot more frequent here. Tear gas is becoming a familiar thing... Gosh, i hate that stuff. Today we went to the congress and were able to witness the protest at its climax from the top story of the building. There's very few people who try to cause violent and they always just look dumb throwing rocks and being crazy.

In Chile they have this tradition of banging pots in protest at night which hasn't been done since Pinochet (their famous military dictator) until now. I guess you could say its a sign that the people are really serious.

The protesters beginning to disburse

So much tear gas!

The police look like ninja turtles. haha

Some of the aftermath

It sounds like everything is just protesting right now but that's only a small part of our lives here! We still do really cool fun artsy and social oriented things too! Today our mentor was telling us all of our roles in the group (or family) and mine was the overlooked oldest middle child that was independent, artsy, and listens to the beat of my own drum. I didn't agree with the last part until a few minutes later i said 'my body feels very strange right now' instead of 'i dont feel well'... Everyone just stared at me for a minute. hah 

The other day we all went alpaca crazy at the feria so we made it alpaca monday :)

At Santa Lucia in Santiago (old but i like the picture)

When we leave, i'm going to miss all of the amazing grafiti! The city is full of it. It's like a little reminder of everyone's need for something beautiful. Sorry, that sounded really dumb. I don't know what i'm trying to say.

Hailey and I have really cute clothes in this picture so i had to post it! haha

Outfit Details:

shirt: H&M

blazer: store called Paris here in Chile

pants: F21

boots: delias i think

scarf: random feria in Pomaire

PEACE!

I shall be seeing the wonderful Vancouver Washington in exactly a week! Stoaked!

-Nancy

Yes, I Am That Girl



{Disclaimer: I know this guy. And I knew he was there}

Outfit Details:

Cardigan-unsure

Dress-thrifted

SHOES-Ross :)

Last night I pulled an all-nighter with some good friends of mine. We went to see Crazy, Stupid, Love. Let me break this down for y'all. I am Emma Stone's character.

1. I proclaim my nervousness every time it occurs. Which is often

2. I talk while kissing. As in, I interrupt kissing sessions to ask random questions, and point out things that I was thinking, or whatever. Awkward

3. Everything I do is prefaced by a speech, lest someone else misunderstand

4. I definitely delude myself into thinking I should date guys that I shouldn't just because they are 'nice'. Don't worry, that's not what's going down with me and the guy I like hahaha

5. She was just super-awkward. So me. And talks a lot

A lot of these awkward things that I do have been witnessed moer than once by that guy that I like. He has seriously seen way too many of those things happen, and it was hilarious sitting next to each other at the theater, watching that movie, and I kept turning to him and saying "Oh my gosh. Is that what I sounded like last night???" to which he would reply by laughing and nodding. I knew it. It was so funny, but slightly embarrassing to hear exactly what I sound like to normal people. Normal people does not include me.

Also, this sensation has occured before. When I first watched "He's Just Not That Into You", I realized I was Gigi. The awkward one who's head over heels for every guy she meets. That's me. I'm not as bad as she is, calling every ten seconds, but I'm still a bit pathetic about love and like. I really just like people, okay?! Truth is though, in the end all I want is the grand romantic gesture, and to be the exception. I would LOVE to be someone's exception, just saying.

Oh, and things with the guy? Going well :) We're not really moving past friends at the moment, but I'm not giving up hope. At least now we both know how we feel. 

Oh, and he's a redhead. I kinda LOVE redheads

{Just a pic of my shoes and Trevor's shoes to show how cool we are}

{and a picture that I just like, of me being nervous. That's why I'm sitting down. I got all jumbled}

Love, Sarai {or gigi, or hannah}

An Update...

I'll write more tomorrow, but here's what's going down, told how I would and did tell my best friend, with edits, of course:

....I told him....

that i like him..

and he likes me....

but we

are not going to date

because it would be too complicated with the not being in the same place thing

but i'm really happy :)

and he said he likes me because I talk his ear off, and I'm so nervous and stressed out about stuff. He thinks I, and my quirks, are cute, and adorable

which you of all people know is EXACTLY what i want

and he gave me a super-long hug, and kissed me on the cheek :)

which is so him, and so sweet

and i did an angry little short person jump

i did the jump cause he was frustratingly stressing me out...long story. i wasn't really mad

just nervous

and he told me that if he can sit next to anyone at the movies, it's me, and if he can walk next to anyone, it's me

So that my friends, is the summary. I hope you enjoyed that delightful little exchange :)

that is me being happy, with a belt wrapped around my head. which is exactly how i shall wear my hair tomorrow!

Love, miss Smitten

The Gem of the Pacific

The Gang in beautiful Valpo!
left to right: Sebastian, Michelle, Nico, Hailey, and me!

Valparaiso is the most beautiful city i've ever been to. No lies. The other day we had a meeting with an expatriot, poet who now works to preserve Valpo. and he used the perfect term to describe the feeling here, 'Slow City'. He likened the term to the concept of 'Slow Food' but i'm sure you all catch my drift without me going into the long explanation.

A little side note, i loved how Todd (poet man) talked. His vocabulary was amazing and his rythm made everything he said, even when it was solely informational, sound like a poem. I was so romanticized the whole night. ;) Plus, this was right after we visited 'La Sebastiana', one of Pablo Neruda's homes.

Hailey and I looking stupid at the protest... there's better pictures but i'm having difficulties with technology right now.

Yesterday, we 'observed' the student protests going on here in Chile for better education. (the protests have become a lot more tense since we've been here). It was a little unreal to be right in the midst of something like that. You only ever hear and study big movements like this but never actually get to experience it. We didn't go all the way with the protestors to congress because it always gets really crazy once they get there (tear gas and such). Later in the day though when we were driving up to La Sebastiana, the breeze had carried the tear gas up the hill, and hit us kinda hard. That stuff is not fun but it could've been worse. It made me glad we hadn't gone all the way to congress like some of us more wreckless ones wanted to.

Today was a little slower of a day. We visited Santa Maria University and a government daycare so I was content playing with the little babies :) And the five of us had a little cuddle session in the lobby of the north american cultural institute... we all love eachother a lot :)

Michelle and little Maria at the daycare

My host father is german, so its like a little piece of home since i'm so comfortable with german since my sister speaks it and i took german for four years. He's really sweet too and got me slippers yesterday. He always makes sure that he comes in and asks me about my day and sees if i'm comfortable in this cold. It's quite nice to have some familiarity since i'm in a hosue full of boys which i'm not used to at all! And the language barrier... I try but sometimes it just doesn't work. haha 

Con Amor

Nancy

It Felt Like One of Those Coming-of-Age Ice Cream Days



Outfit Details:

Blouse-Borrowed from Sarah

Skirt-Thrifted

Belt-Thrifted

Sandals-Thrifted

Today was a day that required a great amount of ice cream. Not at all because it was a bad day, but because it was simply an ice cream day. These pictures below are from our adventure to Sub Zero to eat some delicious liquid nitrogen ice cream :) It was such a lovely girls night outing, and it definitely was only the beginning to a perfect night.

Right after we ate ice cream, we "researched bodies of water" so that we could make some crazy fun happen....And crazy fun definitely did happen :) We were all pleased with our decision, and I was happy that I finally could check something off of my bucket list ;)

It was a bonding experience to be that exposed and having so much fun. It was a classic college experience....One to certainly be remembered!

In the last few months, on my journey into college, I have grown up a lot. Not just in the sense that I'm more mature, but also because I have experienced a good many rites of passage. Those rites of passage have been each one an adventure that made me feel older, and wiser, and fantastic. I graduated, bought cute sexy underwear, experienced some things I didn't think I would, and also I bought a capelet, which has nothing to do with anything, but I just like it a lot...

This is my face when I was told that the heaviest guy in the world, the one from Mexico, apparently died. I used to watch him on TLC :(

Love, Sarai

Hello From Santiago!



At San Cristobal with Hailey on her Birthday

Taken from the top of Santa Lucia (where Santiago was founded). The Andes are gorgeous!

Just like the guy in Portland :)

Outfit Details:

Pants: F21

Top: Dress Barn (yes, i went there. hah)

Coat: Delias

Boots: Delias, i think

Hat: sister's

Today is our last day in Santiago and tomorrow we leave for Valparaiso, a port city just west of Santiago. The group going to Concepcion already left today so tonight i'm with my host family all alone. Another girl in our group was in the same house as me so we shared a room and had lots of giggles. haha.

We've done and seen so many amazing things, I can't wait to share more! The trip to DC was incredible too! You'll probably be hearing about this for the next three months... Today we're going to a little village and doing some work with the children there. I couldn't contain myself yesterday when I found out! We've all been wanting to see more of the poor part of Chile which we've only gotten glimpses of. Plus, I miss being with kids all the time. At the top of Santa Lucia, this little baby kept smiling at waving at me and then he grabbed my arm like he wanted me to hold him. I was so sad that I couldn't :( Anyway, I took a picture of the adorable child!

I'm going to try and post more often but who knows since our schedule is always so crazy!

Have fun with your summer and warm weather while I freeze with no central heating! I have a new appreciation for fireplaces and heat.

-Nancy