counting down the minutos

so i paid off the program fee and i purchased my plane ticket to Chile. And it required about the same amount of energy to earn enough money for my wanderlust spirit, as would be needed to climb an endless set of stairs. I feel very relieved. ive reached my final ascent and i will soon be able to feel the free, south american air.

This semester was an arduous one. My hectic schedule consisted of teaching first grade full time, slaving at Alamo part time, and creating lesson plans, all which accounted for about 70-80 hrs per week. Yes, i did squeeze in some laughs, some nights out at bars, some days reading outside in the sun, BUT i did not spend ample time with my parents, keep in touch with distance friends, nor did i have the time to prepare for Chile. All in all, i was a busy mf.

Thus explains my natural inclination to take this last month to rest. I have been very successful with sleep lately. And i've been fortunate to catch up with loved ones and enjoy Austin before my big journey.

Although there are the necessary Chile preparations, I do not feel the weight of them.
I've been productive already: I've finally found the chance to read up on Chile from books ive checked out at the library; im working on the novel, "The House of the Spirits" by Isabel Allende (a Chilean author, also niece of the late Chilean president Allende); i spoke with a good friend who studied abroad in Chile; i got some helpful pointers from a native Chicana (she works with me!); and i've begun checking off items on a lengthy shopping list.

The one thing i am still worried about is my spanish speaking ability.

I met with my Columbian friend, Gerald, in College Station last weekend. I know Gerald through an international organization, to which i was a mentor and leader. I tutored him in English, and later we switched roles, he became the instructor and I became the language learner. I have spent many coffee shop outings conversing in spanish with Gerald in the past year. But this weekend, I had begun the feel the pressure of my trip. I didnt have the confidence to speak with him, so i solely asked him to write down "fraces importante" for me.

After our short study session, Gerald and I went out with some of his friends from Latin America. I was adamant about us speaking in Spanish over lunch. His friends agreed and spoke spanish unceasingly.

"So...this is only a taste of what Chile is going to feel like for me. (sigh) I was incredibly lost." i said frankly after our check was brought.

They all said, "poco a poco, Cori, poco a poco". (little by little)