To the Post Office

$1.11 and a pair of fingers crossed that our postal service will come through on its most important mission (from me) to date: a packet of a dozen forms, one passport copy, and 4 passport-sized photos (why on earth ISA would care what I look like I have no idea).

I'm still not sure that I recognize the fact that I'm moving out of the country in just over two months. I guess I've been caught up in finals and stress and moving to Spokane, but Chile still seems to be merely a random place for which I have a couple of guidebooks. It's fun to tell people that I'm studying abroad there, to watch the "ohh wow" looks on the faces of anyone not facing similar adventures through their own universities, to perk up a little when I hear the proper noun spoken. But really, I feel as though it will never move past that level of interaction. On some level, I wish that it wouldn't.

Wanted: One Host Family

For the housing application:
"I am excited to live with a host family to understand Chilean culture more deeply. My ideal host family would accept me as a part of their daily living activities: socializing with their friends, family excursions, and just being around each other. At the same time, I am looking forward to meeting other young people in Chile, and I hope that my host family will understand my want to socialize and go out at night and on weekends. I suppose that I view my housing experience as a unique extension of my study abroad experience in general, and I hope to love and appreciate my host family as I do my own.
This will be my first experience traveling outside of the United States, and I am thrilled for the challenges and lessons it will bring. I find that I like and enjoy almost everyone that I meet, and I’m hoping to get to know many people while I am abroad. I like exploring cities, playing tennis, reading, cooking, outdoor activities, art museums, and politics. Living with the goal of trying anything once, I hope to be introduced to a mountain of new things to like while I am in Chile!"

Cheesy? Definitely. Likely to bait the perfect Chilean family for fun and learning? I guess we'll see...