Repatriation...

After two months spent in Santiago, Chile I have returned back to Naperville for a week of fun before my final semester of school. Chile was absolutely amazing. The people and the places are something I will never forget. It is strange though, after my first foreign study my eyes were really opened up to the world that exists outside the USA. After traveling to Chile I had another realization about Latin America. Before Chile, I had believed Latin America to be poor and sad like Guatemala and El Salvador. However, Chile has shown me that there is a Latin America that exists which has a high standard of living with a middle class and a strong democracy. I am glad to have seen this other face of Latin America, it makes my opinions much more well rounded.
Though I learned many things in my two months in Chile, the trip wasn't quite as revelatory as my previous time spent in Latin America. I haven't returned this time wanting to incite socialist revolution or anything of the like (I also avoided a parasite). I did however learn a lot about myself and others. It was nice to be removed from my small circle of friends at school. I realized that a lot of people I never would have gotten to meet are amazing people and I am better off for having had the opportunity to meet these people. Additionally, I learned a lot about my habits and my ideas of fun. I realized that going out doesn't always involve massive quantities of beer and that I can have more fun dancing until five a.m. than I ever would have imagined.
Enough about Chile. Being back in the U.S. brings me back to the real world. This week I will spent a lot of time at the Doctor trying to get together my Peace Corps medical clearance. Additionally, I am starting to realize that the real world is fast upon me. I did my taxes yesterday and I started looking for insurance for this summer. These things depress me slightly, but I think when it comes time, I will be ready for the next step in my life. I guess thats it for now. Hasta pronto...