Reflections from Abby One of the best parts of living in the Southern Hemisphere is the flipped seasons. While my mom and dad were barely surviving the bone-chilling rain of the Pacific North West, I was on summer vacation from December to March. 85+ degrees every day! Here are some of the things I learned during my second summer 2017! 1. How to Penguin In December, Rotary took myself 30 other exchange students and I to the marvelous Patagonia Chilena. We hiked through gigantic caverns, sailed past a 1000-foot-tall glacier, and took a day trip to an island inhabited entirely by... PENGUINS! Coolest day ever. 2. How to Move Two days after Christmas I moved to my second host family here in San Fernando. I surprised myself by tearing up when my little host sisters had to say goodbye. Between these two homes I have had the opportunity to peer into the lives of a middle working class family as well as a very comfortable one. Both have taught me much about how money does (and as often doesn't) change one's quality of life. 3. How to Beach This new family brought me along with them on their two-week beach vacation. We laid out on the sand, watching the waves, for at least two hours everyday. Memories of this trip are tinted by ice cream cones and hours upon hours of pleasure reading. 4. How to Reconnect My first host family was presented with the chance to spend a weekend in the southern city of Valdivia. Confirming my belief that we will remain close for a while to come, they graciously invited me along. All six of us squeezed into their car, (made for five- yes I made sure to wear a seat belt!), and made the nine hour trek. Our weekend was a whirlwind of fireworks, historic battle sites, fish, and the happiness only time with family can bring. 5. How to German I can now officially count to ten. On a good day, I add "I am Abby" for a flourish. Seriously though, what a tricky language! Thankfully my two best German friends speak English gooder than I do ;) We spent an afternoon baking cookies to share with our host families. My chocolate chip ones were definitely the best, yet for the sake of diplomacy we'll say they tied. 6. How to Grow This one is still a work in progress, though I see its fruit more clearly now upon reflection. I recently saw two movies entirely in Spanish and understood enough to laugh at the jokes. My first host parents explained the history surrounding the birth of their country in a language foreign to me a short six months ago. What in the heck would I do without exchange! Abby says "Thanks Rotary#8"
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