Getting Prepped

My only job this summer 2022 has been one thing: getting ready for Chile. From VISAs to Spanish tests, sitting on this Chile-bound airplane feels well deserved. Although I have been working to moderate the workload throughout the summer, from the moment we returned from the Law Family Reunion on July 12th to now, I have been entirely focused on the trip. Attending the webinars and messaging with my various advisors regarding customs and international insurance, there was a lot of work to do. I had over 30 pages of material to look through thoroughly, as each page read led to 1-3 tasks. It was an entirely overwhelming and daunting task for this mostly inexperienced traveler to do, especially had I been on my own. But I wasn’t alone. I fortunately had two wonderful helpers who sat with me through practically every step – my parents. Taking over the breakfast nook, my mother read every single page issued to me by my study abroad agency and then stayed with me until I completed each step. Whenever my voice would peak with stress, my mom would brush it off and help me get back in control. My dad would come up with new resources and ideas for packing or general preparation for the trip. He helped me visualize and realize my place in Valpo during this process. I, affectionately nicknamed Last Minute Lucy, could not have done this trip without my parents and I feel utterly blessed to have such wonderful supporters and teammates.   

 

Once the paperwork was finally done, I could finally focus on packing and enjoying my last few days. I limited myself to two large checked hard-shell suitcases and my school backpack. I am not one to bring a bag to the overhead bin during travel, as it proves to be too complicated for me. I didn’t want to have to worry about accidentally leaving a bag at a gate during one of my two layovers, so this is what seemed simplest to me! As a chronic overpacker, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to consolidate five months of my life into two suitcases and a backpack. But alas, I feel okay about it now. Besides that, I finished packing on Monday (7/25) in time for a sweet send-off dinner with my family in Sierra Nevada that evening.

 

I had a few different restaurants I had wanted to visit before leaving town, and here’s my list of quintessential Chico/American food:

• All-American Barbecue from Smokin’ Mo’s/Kinder’s BBQ
• Thursday Night Market Food Trucks
• Sushi (We went to Aonami, Big Tuna is also great!)
• Priya Indian Cuisine

 

As a semi-foodie, these are places around my hometown that either strike a happy memory or have food I wouldn’t expect in Chile this semester and wanted to get a fill of before leaving. 

 

Anyway, attached are some photos from my send-off with my family. I went back and forth with my host family last night, July 26th, and they seemed so lovely ! I am going to be living in Viña del Mar, a suburb of Valparaiso city, a 17-minute bus commute from my college campus. I am excited to integrate into a true Chilean family and soak as much Spanish immersion as possible – hoping to write some entries in Spanish by the end of the semester. 

 

As said in the Introduction Blog Post, studying abroad in college has been at the top of my bucket list for as long as I could remember. And, although I am ecstatic, what comes after you complete your bucket list of items? I find myself in uncharted territory as I am studying abroad this semester. A true college kid’s dilemma, perhaps my first crisis of my twenties. But, of course, it’s not a true crisis thanks to my family and friends who help keep me afloat. I look forward to continuing these blog posts and seeing where they lead. Thanks for sticking these out with me!

 

xOxXoO

Lucinda