#2: Thursday, January 11, 2024

 Where to begin? 

On the evening of Monday, the 8th of January, it began to snow in Iowa City. We had only had one “real” snow prior to this, a few weeks previous, and it melted off quickly. This snow was different; it piled on, and didn’t stop. Tuesday afternoon, we needed a team of five to clear our grandparents’ driveway. Tuesday happened to be my last day to pack before leaving for Santiago. I had sublet my apartment, so was spending Tuesday at my moms. The snowstorm knocked a power line down in front of her house, so I was forced to pack without power. I finished packing and (only then) the power came back on. After a long Tuesday of saying goodbyes to friends and family, I came to rest around 11:30. At 3:45 a.m, I awoke. My mother, stepdad, and I had breakfast, said our goodbyes, and my dad picked me up at 5. By 5:45 we were at the Cedar Rapids airport. 

7:00-9:00 a.m: Flight to Minneapolis, short and frantic layover. 

9:00-1:00 p.m: Minneapolis to LAX. 

3:00 p.m-6:30 a.m: Overnight flight to Santiago. This is where I was meant to get back the rest I had missed on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, I decided instead to sit in discomfort for ten hours, watching Titanic as the night passed me by. 30 mins of sleep maximum, then coffee generously provided by LATAM Airlines. I mustered enough energy to get through customs, get my bags, and get to our group chaperone around 7:00 Thursday morning. Over the next hour, people flowed in and assembled. We took a bus to the city center, where our host university is. Orientation, meet-and-greet, brief tour, and we were off to our housing. Then, grocery shopping. And now I am here. It is 7:00 Thursday evening as I write. I have gotten five hours of sleep total in the last two nights. But, I have gotten a glimpse of the place I will be living for the next four months, and it was very exciting. 

When we rode the bus from the airport to the city, we spent a long time on a road that runs parallel to Santiago’s Mapocho river. I was fascinated by it. The water level appears low, and trash was gathered at various points on the river’s edge. But the river still flows, through a strange path; the river appears to run dry at various points, but does not end. I am struck by the question of how the river works. Looking the opposite direction from the river, I saw many mountains. And walking through the city, I saw streets that looked new, cars that drove differently, and a warmness in the air that was impossible to fathom just a couple of nights ago. I feel that I have a lot to learn about this place that I am in.