The land between the mountains and the sea; the land of wine, tea, family, and community. Chile.
The way choosing a country worked in Rotary (year-long exchange program) is: I picked my top 5 countries from a selection, then of those, Rotary chose for me.
To be well and truly honest, I wasn’t all that excited to go to Chile. At first. My top 5 were Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and Chile. Chile seemed like such a… safe option—a boring option.
This was before I got accepted into the NSLI-Y Indonesia program, and I really wanted to learn a new language and a new culture. I've mentioned before that, “I just want to throw myself into a completely new environment”, and I was foolish enough to believe that Chile wasn’t it. Ohhhhh boiiiiiiiiiiiiii was I WRONG. I couldn’t have been MORE WITLESS.
First, it’s a blessing—an absolute life-saver—that I’ve already been learning Spanish for 5 years. I can not even fathom going to Chile not really knowing the place, the people, the culture—AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK?!?! Nuh uh. Chances of survival = 1%. Charades can only get you so far.
The more I learn, and the more I talk to my host family, the more excited (and terrified) I get.
Here's why terrified.
Travel Clinic (a.k.a. Doctor's Appt.)
Just last week, I had to go to the travel clinic to get allllllll the vaccinations I would need (for both Indonesia & Chile), malaria medication, and some basic info.
Said basic info included: you will get sick; you can not pet the animals (this one was particularly difficult to adjust to) because one bite, one scratch, counts as a medical emergency (rabiiiiies); avoid dairy (the milk isn't pasteurized or somethin'); the altitude will probably make you nauseous for a while; and the worst, don’t drink the water. Do not brush your teeth with it, open your mouth in the shower, consume rinsed vegetables/fruit, or down any beverage that could have water in it, including smoothies.
WHAT. I kept asking, “I can’t even approach the dogs???” and “ok, am I gonna die from this or…?”. Will I spend the supposed best time of my life bedridden and puking myself dry? What will I eat? How will I know if they rinsed the veggies in tap water?
What will I do?
Bright Side
I've been exchanging emails with my first host family. It's a family of five, and they have a lil dog (thank gosh). They seem so kind and warm; I can't help but trust them.
In other words, everything is going to be eyyyyy ok.
If not... welp.
Edit: I've tossed most of those rules to the wind. They could've just simplified it: do as the locals do and yee shall be fine.
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You are the adventurer! You will adjust. They are going to love you!