MY FirsT WeEk IN SaNtIaGo!

Hola amigos, familia, y apoyos!

On the plane ride, i thought, wow, i am really making a dream come true and I am doing it through God, because 6 months ago - I never thought coming here was on my to do list or God's plan for me - especially with knowing no Spanish, really! However, following Him, I am here, and once I got here I realized no one (mostly) was going to know English and it they did, it was going to be really little, and even if they knew it, they would not be speaking it, so I told myself, and still tell myself i want and need to learn Spanish. One reason being, when I got off the plane, and I was going through customs, the people who work for the airport there, we talking to me, and i maybe understood two words they said...well, i got out of there, but with one less bag I came with, and then God gave me the power to be calm, and learn calmness, Katy and William went back inside with me, to find and finally get my last bag, and that is a situation no one wants to go through, but I learned a whole lot from it, and i am actually happy it happened...because before i was not really a patient person, and through that i am much more patient! So, all the intercambios are in the van with Katy and Andrew Mosby- and they take us to see our families, but they had the wrong address for where Jaclyn and I are staying so it took some time, but we made it, and the family greeted us, and we ate our first Chilean meal with them, which was really GOOD! and for once, I did not have the most stuff, which is weird, but now, i am glad I didn’t bring a lot! Thanks mom! well anyways, we get settled, and then we meet the boys and we get a tour of the city by Patrick - his second semester in Santiago- and we went to crystal ball- i think that is what you call it, and we saw, the most beautiful part of the city, well the city at large, and we meet his friend, and now one of mine- Felipe Cartes Olivares- we came with us, and you could just see God working in his life, we was really open, and he knew English, actually really well, so I could actually communicate with him, but he also helps me out with my Spanish a lot.

The next few days-brief- cause I could talk or write forever-

Thursday-2nd-
My host mom, came in my room in the morning, and asked if I wanted breakfast, and i understood her, but I don't think she knew I did, so she had her daughter translate for her, which was really cool, and then i went to find Jaclyn, and my host dad told me i had beautiful eyes in Spanish and in English, it was sooo cute, and then we left and we went to the square in Santiago, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures, and then i thought i saw this statue minor, but he was real, i tired to walk closer so i could get a picture with the "statue" and me and he jumped out and scared me...that was funny, and then we walked into the most beautiful but freaky catholic church...there are people buried in the walls and stories behind all of them, and there were seats everywhere! and it was soooo ancient the first bishop was in 1561.
Then we continued to walk around, another part of the city-which seemed like a bad area, this women came up to me and told me to keep my bag in front of me, even though my hands were on it, we went to another park- and there is soooo much PDA in Santiago, wow... I learned today about the economy- and how and why the country is split really bad- the city- is split my incomes, the poor people live in towns where there are no paved streets and you can tell by the way a bus looks to what kind of part of town it goes to...hearing that was really sad, and it was like God showing me through words, how blessed i am. Tonight, i wanted to go explore but everyone one else was tired!

Friday- 3rd Day-

I think I saw the prettiest part so far- Santa Lucia- which is also the name of a metro station, they kinda of are linked, and one of four of our campuses is across the street. A man that was backpacking took a picture of all of us- his name was Derrin- and he said India was his favorite place so far- later on- Danny, William, Jaclyn, and I went out to a really cool club and we all got in for free!!! we played truth or dare- so silly- me the only one willing to take a dare- and we just got to know each other on a deeper level, and the funniest thing was William liked the waitress, and she spoke to us in English! Before we left, we Karaoke to "living on a Pray" and that was really sweet- randy's and my song by the way- and then we took a taxi back!

Saturday- forgot to write in my journal- i bet i did something awesome though- lo siento!

Sunday- 5th day

Jaclyn and I had breakfast with the family, and then we went to church, with our host dad, and Karina (who goes to El Oasis or she did-she just graduated) which was super awesome- it was really interesting to see how different things are done here and how more accepting Christians are in general, we came to church in jeans and nice shirts, we actually got their late, and we just walked in and sat in the back- and there were many teenagers getting baptized - and they looked like children, but as Karina put it, they are choosing their faith on their own so they are adults...later on we meet up with Felpie and Valentina- and i learned the word liar-mentiroso- which is sooo important?! But we hung out, and i meet Valentina for the first time- she is awesome!!! .... and we went to the this market near the mountains and then we had a long walk to the mall- we were all hungry and Felipe asked why I came to Chile, which opened up a good chance to tell him my story, and he thought it was the best reasons he has ever heard, which made me happy, and on the way i got a splinter in my hand, and I couldn’t seem to get it out, and then Valentina helped me order...which was really helpful, and i came back to the house, a long day, but an awesome one!!!

Monday-6th day-

My first day of Espanol class, it was ok, i am sitting in class zero, it just seems like review, but i am trying to learn how to speak correctly. Later we were setting up the house for the interns and i painted some, and then i had my first break-down- no real clue why - but Katy really helped me through it, and some really amazing Chileans pushed me up, and it showed me that God lives everywhere, which was really bacan! (great)

Tuesday-7th day-

I had to make it to class on my own today, William was sick, which i thought would be soo difficult because directions really aren’t my thing, but i made it! it was a really good test for me!! Later on, after a good meal and nap, i got ready for my first El Oasis event, it was fantastic, i made a huge fool of myself in Spanish, but it was alright, everyone just laughed with me!!! It was soo cool to be around such loving folks, we watched a really awesome video on relationships, God, and love, real true love, and what it means, and everything- it was- the song of the Solomon by Tommy Nelson, and it was kind of hilarious but it made sooo much sense, and then we split into small groups and discussed the video, and Valentina translated for me, which just made me want to learn Spanish even more.

The FIRST few days in Santiago, Chile

Hola!

The first few days in Santiago have been amazing even though my first experience here was almost losing my luggage. Since Tuesday the team and I have been traveling and seeing the beauty that everyone loves. However, there is so much beauty in the people here. My host family is wonderful, and they are teaching me a lot even though my Spanish is really bad; but i am working hard to learn. My host mom, Gabby, has already taught me some word's and she told me she wants me to help her learn English. Sometimes her sister translates for me but hopefully that wont last long because my language course starts on Monday. Also on Monday we will be getting the El Oasis house ready for the start of the spring semester. We and Jackyln (my roommate) will be working on signs and cleaning up the house.

Thanks for all your support. Please email me at ashley_g_dyke@georgiasouthern.edu if you have any questions!

serving faithfully,
Ashley