While talking to Dad the other day I mentioned that we had purchased a tent and sleeping bag so we can camp while traveling around South America. He said I should put that on my blog. To which I replied, "I'm not sure how anyone would find that interesting." But here it is anyway!
Jesse says that we will be saving money by camping while we are backpacking. Even after the money spent on the tent and sleeping bags. Some of the hostels have campsites on location, and some campsites are out of town a couple miles. I am mostly concerned about showering then sleeping in a tent...
We also have signed up for couchsurfing.com. It's a community of people who have rooms/couches in their houses that they let travelers use, so that when they travel, then can do the same. We actually have a couch surfer on our couch here in San Francisco right now! His name is Antoine, and he is from France. We are hoping he will write a nice review about us so people in South America will know we are nice and normal people. :)
We have found a flat in Santiago to rent a room in for the first couple months. We got it through an agency that sets up houseshares for foreigners in locals homes. The place we picked is close to the school and in a good neighborhood. Let's hope the owner doesn't mind getting up at 6am to let us in when we arrive from Colombia! :) I will post a picture of it.
I have been studying Spanish AND English. The school gave us a study guide to work on that will help us get started on the course. Grammar is still as boring and difficult for me as it was in 8th grade! Do you know what an auxiliary verb is??
Jesse has bought 2 water purifying gadgets.. One is for taking water out of streams and rivers and the other is for purifying tap water. Apparently we aren't supposed to drink the tap water in Santiago. He also got a back pack for himself. I am using the one he used in Asia. It's still in good condition. The one he bought himself is pretty big since he'll put the tent in it. We then will tie our sleeping bags on the bottom. I have been working out (now and then) to try and get my back and shoulder muscles stronger! Hopefully I'll come home not only speaking fluent Spanish but looking like She-Ra. :)
I got my shots a couple weeks ago. Tetnus, Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid. Ouch. My arm hurt for a week! I couldn't lie on it or touch it the first couple days! And it all cost $440!
I am trying to sell my car... not going to well. I wonder who would want a scratched up Chevy Metro with 114,000 miles... but am only expecting $1000.
Only 4 weeks until I leave for Kentucky!
Hasta Luego!!
