Bienvenidos, Max!!!

"Bienvenidos, Max" was what greeted me on a big sign as I finally cleared customs in the bustling Santiago airport.  On it, were the Chilean and American flags, la rosea (Chilean national flower), and a big, fat alligator-- my host family knows me so well, and they hadn't even met me yet.  Let me start at the beginning.  

I left Jacksonville Interational Airport on Friday afternoon, after saying goodbye to my family, and after they wished me a "buen viaje".  Upon clearing security, I grabbed a quick dinner to-go from Chili's-- the irony in the name being better than my sandwich.  

From Jacksonville, I met up with another group of outbound students going to Chile who would be on my flight.  

Me, Cady from Massachusetts, Matt from Canada, Rachel from Kansas, and Bradley, an American living on a military base in Japan.   

The flight from Atlanta to Chile was definitely the longest flight I have ever been on.  I tried to sleep, but found it near impossible from the adrenaline running through my veins.  We must have crossed the equator sometime after midnight, and I found myself admiring the cordillera, or the Andes Mountains, just after sunrise.

La Cordillera

 After landing in the airport, all the Rotary students were escorted through customs together after uniting with a group from Germany.  There, I met with my host family.  I was expecting just my host parents and their daughter, but instead they were there with my abuela, 3 aunts, uncle, and cousins.  It was overwhelming, to say the least.  At the airport, one of the Rotary clubs performed la cueca, the Chilean national dance for us.  Then, I went to get breakfast with my host family.  We went to my cousin, Marcos' apartment in Santiago.  It had an incredible view. We were on the 29th floor overlooking some of the tallest buildings in South America, and the Andes still towered overhead.

Santiago Skyline, with a cathedral in the foreground. 

Santiago Center, its just as busy as New York, but with less traffic.

   After visiting Santiago for the day, we took my host sister, Tamara, back to the airport to begin her exchange year in the USA.  At this point I was so tired that I nearly fell asleep on multiple occasions. 

 After Tami left the airport, the whole family piled into a borrowed van to make the long drive to Talca.  There were 15 of us, and 12 seats.  No seatbelts.  My luggage was on the roof.  It was terrifying, but I didn't care because I slept through a lot of it.  

Three hours later we arrived at my new home in Talca.  I haven't taken many pictures yet, but I will soon, not to worry.  

Chao for now, 

Max