Shot through the heart, and you're to blame...

I had to begin this entry with the strangest moment of my day, when I sang the lines to this classic Bon Jovi song with a La Riena Rotarian at the dinner table. As we became fast friends he told me how much he loves American music and began belting out some of his favorites. It was great!!!

Now, on only the second day I am already convinced that I will be eating more meat and drinking more wine than I have in the last few years combined. But it is all fantastico, so no regrets. :)

This morning I had my first vocational visit. I spent time with the Principal, Spanish and English teachers at the La Riena Technical High School. Our exchange explored the public school system and the additional vocational training that takes place within secondary education. At this particular school the students follow a traditional curriculum and then for the last part of their day they spend time being trained in a certain trade... even airplane engine repair (hence the photo!).

We also took the sky lift to visit one of Santiago's treasures, Cerro San Christobal. The pictures speak for themselves.














So, it's well after 1:00 a.m. and I still have to pack. Mike and I are moving out of our little apartment and will be placed in host families tomorrow. Until next time! :)

Hola from Santiago!

We have arrived! And for those of you who know me well, let me ease your minds right away: the flights were easy and smooth! :) Although the last 36 hours have all blended together as our team made their way to the bottom of the globe, I can tell you that each hour has been full of humor, rapport, and excitment!

Interestingly, once we arrived at the airport this morning, we were surrounded my a swarm of Rotarians, smiling and eager to welcome us to their beautiful country. One by one, each of our team members left with their host family. All by Mike and I, who are being hosted by the "Andes Suite Home." This is a hotel in the center of the city, owned by a Rotarian, who has graciously set us up in an apartment for the first two days. To the left you will see a tiny glimpse of our part of this very large city.

Mike and I spent a part of our day wandering the streets of our neighborhood, enjoying a fabulous "onces", laughing out loud at ourselves at our absurd Spanish, and taking in the city. We came back to the apartment, where the jet lag caught up with me and I fell into such a deep sleep, that when Mike tried to rouse me I actually responded in Spanish! Apparently, in a twilight state, I am more bilingual than one would anticipate. :) One of the best parts of our walking around were the random dogs, resting in the street (apparently exhausted from all the canine responsibilities that weigh on them).
I will say, that part of this experience is all about making new connections and friends. Tonight Mike introduced me to a wonderful couple, here in Santiago, that he has known for many years. They were gracious and fun and took us out to a fantastic authentic Chilean dinner. I not only feel embraced by the magnificent Andes mountains, but now by his kind friends. Thank you Mike, John, and Florencia! Here was our dinner:

Until next time, bueno noches!

One week and counting...

So, our departure is now just seven days away. Where have these last few months gone? I am both excited and nervous about this inevitable adventure. Just last week we were given the glimpse of our itinerary and it looks amazing! Although mystery shrouds the details, it is clear that our days will be full of adventure as we (the team) grow both professionally and personally in this foreign land.

Team Orientation

This past weekend (February 21 & 22) the team gathered in Asheville to work, play, eat, and get oriented to our upcoming trip. It was also the first time that we went "public" in our uniforms.



It was a fantastic time. During the formal program we met with a couple, Judy and Jerome Beck, that had just spent a year living in Chile. They were a fantastic resource regarding everything from what kind of electric adapter to use to avoiding cultural mishaps. We also met two former GSE team members who had traveled to France for five weeks. Although their trip will naturally be different from ours, the opportunity to hear about the day to day experience of being on a Rotary team was very helpful. Other highlights of the weekend included a decadent 3 hour dinner at Fiore's, watching a fascinating documentary on the indictment of Pinochet with Erin in our jammies, learning about the most extreme foods from the Santiago area on Bizarre Foods, and of course, just hanging with the team.

Sneak Peak: It turns out that when traveling through the streets of Santiago, you can buy fresh donkey milk to drink. I have been dared by one of my team mates to try it! Stay tuned.

Here they are... my travel companions to Chile (left to right): Erin, Adair, Mike, Stan, me, Michael. Go team!

Welcome to my travel blog for Santiago, Chile! Although our departure date is April 14th, my mind has already hit the road... or the skies, I should say. The opportunity to spend four weeks in the Santiago area is extraordinary! Thank you, Rotary, for this gift.

Beyond the thrill of the adventure that awaits, I have already met some incredible people through this process. To know that I will be traveling with a group of smart, interesting, and friendly people who each bring such individual gifts to the trip is wonderful.

Without reservation, I believe this will be a trip of a lifetime. Stay tuned!