Finalmente, escribo de nuevo :)

Title translation: Finally, I write again :)

Hola!!!

I'm going to start by apologizing a bit for not keeping up with my blog. It has been extremely busy here, and it's difficult to find time to write a bit, but I will try to be better at it from here on out! Okay? You have my promise!

Well, I guess I will try to recap my month of June and beginning of July a little bit...

June was a pretty crazy month of people getting sick and students getting used to their classes. We have had five students get sick this time around, which I really can't figure out why there has been so many this year. I was actually one of the ones to get sick during my third week here. And let me tell you, it was not fun at all! I had my family pretty worried, and I was pretty worried myself. After hiking the morro at night to see the city, Jack (guy from Wales), and I headed down to the centro to grab a bite to eat, and I think I must have eaten something bad because I got sick the next day, and continued being sick for the following four days. I became extremely dehydrated and was only lying in bed for all of the days. At times I felt like I was getting a bit better and could eat a little bit, but the next moment it would be another story. Eventually, I went to the hospital and my host mom's ex-husband who is a stomach doctor gave me a prescription for anti-biotics, but I couldn't get them until the next day because it was too late in the day. We went to the pharmacy and got them the next day, and I took one, but later in the night, I had just gotten too bad. I had no food or water in me, and I could hardly move. It was time to go to urgent care at the clinic. We waited for quite some time at the clinic, and I was completely misserable. I finally got a bed in the ER, and I had a really friendly doctor who was making jokes with his patients left and right. I finally ended up getting an IV, and as soon as I had that I started feeling a tiny better and started to get some energy. By the next day, I was even smiling and laughing...I was back to myself :) My host mom took such great care of me throughout the whole week. She used to be a nurse, so I have to admit, I was pretty darn lucky to have her! Sooo no worries now. I am healthy as ever now, and I'm eating and eating :)

I have had a few experiences that have been a little different this time around. Besides going to the clinic, I also went to my VERY FIRST soccer match, and Arica won!!! It was a really incredible experience to see the Chilean passion for soccer. I got goosebumps each time they scored (it ended being 3-0). There was one section at the game that just kept jumping and yelling the entire time! No joke! It was the entire time! I don't know how they do it. It was an important game too. Because they won, there will be teams that are more popular in Chile playing here in the future. Woohoo! I hope I will be able to see some of those games later on this year.

The crowd going wild after the win!

I also returned to the caves that are near Arica with Kristin (a friend from the group) and two other girls who are volunteers for English Open Doors-a program that takes volunteers in all of Chile who teach English at schools.

Kristin and I exploring near the beautiful cost

What more? I went to a play that was all in Spanish, I went out on a boat ride in the ocean with the group, ate some amazing "torta" a.ka. cake for my host sisters birthday that my host mom made, celebrated the fourth of July with a little dance party. Oh! yeah! For the 4th of July I was interviewed in the local newspaper here and for the televesion, and just the other day I spoke on the radio! I tell you, it is busy busy busy here! Which takes me to...I gotta go! I'm heading to the beach to soak up some sun. I will be writing you all more soon with hopefully more photos as well...ok a few more photos will follow this post, haha! Take care everyone!!!!

Besitos y abrazos desde Chile!

Katie

Oldest mummies in the world...found right here in the north of Chile!

Wilson (My friend from Arica that studies at UNI too)´s nephew who danced in the parade for the Aymara New Year...With a little bit of effort, he finally smiled :)

These are the type of bushes I get to walk by on a regular basis here...beautiful, right?

 My awesome group and I on our little boat!

 At the play that was all in Spanish, and feeling pretty classy with our glass of wine :)

Kristin, me, Gricelda (helper of one of the professors) and Shelby

That's all for now folks, Take care! 

Much love,

Katie