Hello New York crew!
Hope all is well. I hear that things have maybe been a little bit warmer in the 518 area as of lately but please stay safe out there because we all know that can change at a moment's notice.
As for me, I've been good. Chilean summer is definitely winding down though and I can feel it. This past week or so a lot of my Chilean friends have been on vacation with their families so I have been hanging out at the house a decent amount, venturing out on occasion for some small adventures.
For example, the other day I went to lunch with Isaac's girlfriend, Sara, and we ate some really delicious sushi. Make sure to check out the picture I posted.
It was really nice to get out of the house and spend some time with her and we talked about all kinds of things. Marriage, food, traveling, school, you name it. Sara is someone I really look up to here in Chile. She has a quiet strength about her that I admire and she is always someone who has given me the time of day even when she doesn't have to. I am so grateful for that.
Gonzy picked us up in the plaza that afternoon after we did a little bit of shopping and got some cold drinks to sip on. It was a bazillion degrees outside and I felt like I was melting as we wandered down the sidewalks looking for embroidery floss so I could make a birthday present bracelet for Ornella. Sara suggested we get some boba because she likes that and I agreed even though it's not my favorite. Luck was on my side though because they had this delicious pineapple and green tea option that almost made me forget about the heat.
On the ride home with Gonzy we cruised with the windows down, listening to his preferred beachy-vibe music. I'm not sure what it was about the moment but I felt so calm and happy to just be riding around with my Chilean host brother just after dusk. I think somewhere in my brain it reminded me of the evening drives I sometimes take with Dad or Molly.
When we got home that night, it was just me, Nacho, Gonzy, and Abuela because Claudia and Gonzalo had gone on a little mini vacation for the day. We ate some take out food, watched a little bit of TV and all went our separate ways for bed. To be honest, I loved it. My Chilean brothers are so chill and I feel very comfortable around them. When my host parents aren't home they talk about work less and are more relaxed too which makes my heart happy.
Recently I also hung out with my host cousin, Ornella. She came to the water park with her mom and grandma (Her grandma is Abuela's sister and that is how she is related to my host family) and we went swimming for a little bit before going into town. Her birthday was actually on February 10th but I hadn't seen her since then because she just had a small celebration with her family, so I was finally able to give her the present I made.
It was nothing fancy, just a friendship bracelet and a nice handwritten note but I think she really liked it.
After swimming we decided to hit up the mall and get some Starbucks because Ornella is a sucker for an ice coffee. Unfortunately she messed up her order and accidentally got a hot one, but we just laughed about it and sipped our drinks on the patio before heading back into the mall to poke around some of the stores.
After about an hour of shenanigans, Ornella decided that we should stop by the plaza and see if the ear piercing place was open because she wanted to get her second hole done. We ordered an Uber and headed over, but unfortunately the shop had already closed down for the day. As an alternative, we decided to stop by a little cafe and get a sweet treat. I opted for a piece of lemon pie, because it's always to die for in Chile, and a glass of strawberry juice, while Ornella chose a red velvet cookie and an actual iced coffee this time. Told you that girl loves her caffeine.
After that it was creeping in on 9pm so I ordered an Uber and headed back to my host family's house. Overall a really successful day. I love spending time with Ornella, she makes everything so fun and lighthearted.
My final notable outing of the past week or so was going to Viña del Mar with Isaac and Sara to do some shopping for my upcoming Patagonia trip. We got to Viña around lunch time so we made a Wendy's stop for some hamburgers before starting the mission. We stopped by a bunch of different stores aiming to buy a rain jacket/jacket of some kind, some athletic layers, a hat, gloves, and a long sleeve that was breathable but also would keep me warm if it got cold.
I'm pleased to say that we found all of the necessary items, albeit the prices weren't exactly my favorite. But I will be properly prepared for the trip and that is what matters :)
I'd like to take a moment for reflection because we are coming to the end of a phase of my exchange, and that is my Chilean summer.
On February 28th, 2026 I will turn 19 years old and officially complete 6 months living abroad.
Those words are so simple and the sentence is so short but the weight they carry for me is undescribable. I can't believe that I'm going to be turning 19, I can't believe it's happening in a different country, and I can't believe that I've made it this far into my exchange.
No one talks about 19, at least not from what I've heard. We talk about 16, getting your license, 17 is the classic age of every American teenager, 18 is the year you finally become an adult. 19 is like a blip in the radar before life turns you over to 21 and you can legally poison yourself with alcohol consumption.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. I feel like I write that a lot on this blog, forgive me.
As for the end of my Chilean summer, on one hand I am excited. The end of Chilean summer means we are entering the last 3 months of my exchange, I'll be going back to school, and before I know it I will be back home with all of the people I love the most.
But on the other hand I know that I won't ever have a summer like this again in a lot of ways.
A summer with minimal responsibilities, in a different country, in between two big phases of my life. A summer where Abuela is still here and before all of my Chilean friends head off to college. A summer where I journal, and run, and think, think, think, about life until my brain hurts and I have to go to sleep.
That kind of summer won't be coming around again for a long while.
I feel content with the time I've spent, and I am very prepared to jump back into a New York summer in the Adirondacks (I got a job working at NY FFA's summer camp and I'm so excited!) but it there is still a sense of melancholy at the thought of an era ending.
I'm not sure if any of that makes sense to someone who is not inside my head, but that is where I'm at as of lately.
I miss you all dearly as always.
Yours truly,
Anna
