Rockford, IL

So over the past couple of weeks I've been working a very beneficial internship in Rockford, Illinois. This is definitely a positive experience in my life. I've been learning a lot about economics, business, and government. It's not all as simple as we assume it is. It's a long strenuous process that we often over look. But really I've been having an amazing time here. I've meet a congressman, several people in the local government, and several people in the state government. It's been pretty wild. It's a very cool internship I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity I was given, it was well worth it.

Also, while being here I saw a scuba diving shop where they teach scuba diving! I had to take advantage of this, because there's no place like this in Alabama that I could find. So I took the classes, made a couple dives, and now I am Open-Water Certified! I have a scuba diving license now! This is something I've really wanted to do for a couple years and I finally did it. Now to dive around the world!

Also due to unfortunately circumstances, my camera has broke! :( I will not have any pictures. I'm going camping in a week I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I would like to get a new camera but I do not have the money right now.

What am I doing now, you say?!

Well, not much has been going on. I've been in a rut with school and I'm in the process of joining a fraternity. I've also been writing a lot of new music, I'm not sure how that's going to fly, but hopefully well. I'm moving to Rockford, IL this summer for an internship. I'm pretty excited, it's going to be 6-? weeks. That's why I'm most excited!

Pictures from Chile!!

There is now a link for pictures from Chile! Feel free to check them out!

Late for an update? Oh well

I know I'm a bit late on filling in on how my trip ended up, it was great. I'll put pictures up as well. There will be a new link soon. Anyways my trip went like this:

After the Valley, we were going to Calama in the north by bus, but Pablo, Ignacia's older brother, had to go there as well and couldn't get a bus ticket, so we refunded our tickets and he drove us up there. It was only a 12 hour drive crossing over the Tropic of Cancer. But we arrived in Calama around 3a.m. and I went to sleep A.S.A.P. The next day, with no break, we loaded up a rented van and headed for Perú! Which was another 8 hours north. It wasn't that bad of a drive, until we got to the border. At the border, I needed a piece of paper that I got when I entered the country, which no one ever told me to keep. So after convincing the border control to just stamp my passport, we finally got through! We went through the border and headed into Tacna, Perú, where we stayed at a nice hotel. We went to a very nice restaurant and had dinner at like 11p.m.
The next morning when I woke up, I felt uneasy. I didn't know what it was, but my stomach just felt queasy. I ignored it and we ventured out into the city. After about an hour and a half of walking, I couldn't ignore it any longer, I told Ignacia that I didn't feel good and wanted to go lay down at the hotel. So I headed back, they went and got me some medicine. I slept for an hour or two, and woke up in a sweat. I had a fever, I felt like vomiting, and I felt horrible. This persisted throughout the day. To be honest, I don't really remember much of that day. I slept and periodically woke up, but I just remember vague things such as being offered a drink or more medicine.
The next day though I felt better, so we took a taxi to the middle of the city and walked around some markets. I still felt weak from the lack of food, but I couldn't eat anyways because I didn't feel well enough to eat. Though, the markets, I believe are the epitome of cheap. 10 DVDs for 10 Sol. ~3 Sol = 1USD. VERY CHEAP!!! We went through the markets for a couple of hours then got back in the van and headed back to Chile. When we got to the border though we were up for a surprise.
The security guards were on strike. We waited roughly 4 hours to get through. Exciting, right? After getting through border control, we drove around the city that's on the other side, Arica, the city of eternal spring. It's the same temperature all year and it's a beautiful city. At night we went to the cliff that overlooks the city and viewed the skyline, which was amazing. We left there and headed for a family friend's house for a nice visit then drove throughout the night back to Calama. They are driving machines in Chile.
The night after we got back to Calama, we headed to the Casino! This was my first experience in a casino, actually gambling. I lost all my money I had with me. I'm not to good with the slots, but Ignacia's uncle was. He multiplied his money five fold. He's incredibly fortunate by my standards.
The next morning after the casino, I was informed that Ignacia's dad bought me a plane ticket back to Santiago the next day, instead of taking the 24 hour bus ride, which was very good since I didn't feel completely better yet. (I didn't get my appetite back until I got back into the states.) But that day, we went to San Pedro de Atacama, which is an absolutely beautiful city. Very Chilean. It was very traditional with everything and it was based near a volcano, which earned it brownie points. After there we headed back to Calama. Slept. Then the next day I went back to Santiago.
I was greeted at the airport by Ignacia's dad, he made this trip so much better. Ignacia's entire family made this trip so much more amazing for me, I am eternally grateful for everything they did for me. I've never experienced this magnitude of hospitality, I am deeply grateful for absolutely everything. Anyway, we went back to his house, then had some R&R. The next morning was my last day in Chile, but my flight wasn't until 11:05P.M. So we ventured out and went to the Zoo, which was phenomenal. I always enjoy a good trip to the Zoo. After that we went out to eat at an Argentinian steak house, which are very very good! Then we went to his factory where they produce rope for stores all over South America. I thought it was very interesting to see a factory because I really had a vague idea of how rope was made and it was neat to see the machines that make it. I learned something! After that we went back to the house to get my bags and I headed home.

Another great trip. Another place that has opened my eyes to how amazing this world really is.

Chile is amazing.

Okay so it´s been a few days and of course, much has happened. So I´ll start it out like this.

New Years Eve & Day

We woke up and ate then we went to downtown. Let´s just say, this was a real market place. There were literally hundeds of tiny shops, shopkeepers and even more people. It was amazing, and everything was cheaaap! After walking around there we headed back home and prepared for the night to come.
At around 11 we left the house and headed to the beach, Ignacia´s family and I. There were thousands of people on the beach, lining the water, waiting for the new year to come. When the New Year did come, everyone cracked open champaigne bottles, shot off streamers, and then the fireworks stared. It was a brand new experience, I loved it. After that we went to a beach party at around 2am, then danced the night away.
The next day at around 5pm when I woke up we ate lunch, then headed out to the beach for some rest and relaxation, then headed home a bit early because of our future travels the next day.

The Observatory & The Valley

We woke up around 7.30am and headed out around 8am to the Observatory. The Observatory is an astrologist dream. It´s on the top of a mountain which is about 2,300m high. Also in the mountains where we were, there were no clouds. Ever. There were multiple observatories up there, we got to tour 2 of them. One had the biggest telescope that was in South America for a while, but now there is a bigger one in northern Chile. The diameter of one of the lense was 8 meters, which is HUGE.
After touring the observatories, we made our way into the Valley. I´m not to sure of the town´s name, but I know it wasn´t big, and all the native citizens there knew each other. Reminds me of somewhere... Anyways, in this valley, it was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Here, they grew all the grapes for Pisco (Chilean Liquor). It´s what this are thrives off of, besides tourism. We got there and went for a swim, ate 2-day freshly killed sheep. It was pretty tasty. After that we went star gazing because of the motivation we got at the observatory then went to bed.
Today, we went fishing in the valley. We took off-path unpaved dirt roads. It was about an hour and a half bumpy ride but we finally got there. This place was stunning. It was the most beautiful place I´ve ever been in my life. It was between two rows of mountains, the mountains were probably around 4,000 meters tall. We were 3,000 meters above sea level as is. The valley we were in was like a meadow with rivers running all through it, with the huge Andes mountains sheilding it from outside contact. It was beautiful to say the least. I walked all through the valley, and sunk into some mud, but it´s all good.

After the fishing mission, we headed back to the place we were staying and later hopped on a bus back to La Serena. Tomorrow I´m going to the Atacama Desert, I´ll update when I can. :)