Happy New Year, Family and Friends!
I know it has been AGES since I last wrote, but this past year was a bit of a roller coaster and the past few weeks have been tough. Because it was so much here is a short-ish recap:
Kaia's Medical Tour of Chile:
- In June I developed hives (itchy red spots all over my body) that changed place every 6 hours or so and eventually covered every part of me -- from my toes to my scalp. Still can't figure out what caused the reaction but I had spots for two months approximately. In my attempts to get rid of the spots my lips swelled up, along with my ankles, and I was itchy itchy itchy! It was exciting.
- During my hives episode I also got a stomach infection. Still not sure if it was related to or had anything to do with the hives but it was very unpleasant and left me bedridden and on a strict diet for 5 days in June I think it was.
- Then, just as I was recovering from the hives, on July 18th I opened a glass door at work only to have it explode on me. This just happened to be JUST before I began the afternoon session of the International Student Orientation with the 70 students that were awaiting me inside the auditorium. So it was back to the doctors for the 7th or 8th time for me! Fortunately you can hardly see the scar on my forehead from where the glass cut it (thankfully they were able to "glue" the skin together so stitches were not needed).
- A few weeks later my lower back began troubling me so much that I couldn't lean down or put on my socks and shoes. So back to the doc again to learn that I have inflamed articulations in my lower spine and a vertebrae that is a little too far forward (they think it is genetics and I think it may also be that I had bad posture that was too far back, putting incorrect pressure on my spine). After 10 days of physical therapy I am better but if I don't do my daily exercises and use my stomach muscles like I am supposed to, then my lower back still bothers me a bit.
Life at Work:
- I love my job, my bosses and coworkers love me, the students seem to love me, and all is wonderful. :)
- This past semester I took on the job of coordinating the 8 guest speakers which are part of the seminar series for the Advanced Business English course at FEN (again, the Facultad de Economia y Negocios or School of Business & Economics, which is where I work). So I get to invite native English speakers or fluent English speakers to come talk to between 23 and 150 Chilean university students about a business, economics or politics-related topic. And the best part is that the first Seminar of each semester is done by me! During the March to November school year that means I present to 150 or so students on the importance of learning English, how it will help them in their future work, how they can practice it on campus, and what learning a language means. During the summer session (from December to January), the class is smaller so I only spoke to 23 students. But it was still fun! Love speaking in front of people!
- This past school year we launched "Let's Chat" a program that offers international students and Chilean students to meet in a casual setting – over lunch, and that enables the Chilean students to practice their English in the process! It has been a big success and though it was not my idea, I like to think that my efforts have helped its success.
- Next semester we will welcome a special group of students: 11 US students from the University of South Carolina (USC) that will be here for two semesters, as part of the International Business of the Americas program. The Chilean cohort of 8 students that spent last year (January to December) at USC, will also be here so I will get to know both groups intimately through special activities that I coordinate. This includes a retreat that I am leading and organizing at the end of March in the Colchagua valley, one of the most famous wine valleys in Chile. There the wine professor at FEN and I will teach the students about the wine history and culture of Chile through a vineyard tour, authentic Chilean food, wine tasting and participating in the grape harvest. And I will lead two hours or so of group activities in leadership, flexibility and teamwork under the shade of avocado trees! I am super excited.
Okay, now for the more difficult part...
Kaia's personal life:
- These past few months have been really difficult for me. As you all may remember Antonio and I moved out of his Dad's house at the end of February. I thought that this process would help Antonio to mature and change but after several months he was not that pleasant to live with. In October I realized that I could not live any longer this way and broke up with him for two days. The experience made him realize his actions and he requested a second opportunity so I gave him one with the condition that he work on 14 points. While he did become much for fun to live with after that, I finally realized in December that if people are shapes, a shape can stretch but it will still remain the same shape. Antonio and I are different shapes. We have different likes and dislikes, many of which prevent both of us from being as happy as possible and achieving our full potential in life. I realized then that I was no longer in love with Antonio, but was in love with an image of what I wanted him to become. And that is not love.
- So on December 22nd at 1am I broke up with Antonio. Timing was not perfect but I had wanted to wait until after he finished the final exams of his university career (now he just has the bar exam and an internship to do). And after that, I realized that I could no longer wait anymore and pretend that everything was okay in our relationship. It was a really hard thing to do and the last week of December I cried nearly every day. But despite the tears I know that I made the right decision. While Antonio is still in love with me, he now does recognize that we both have development and growing that we need to do separately, though it took him a bit to realize that. I still care for him as a friend but we both need time to recover and carry on with our lives.
- My apartment is now my own. Yay! There is still some stuff that belongs to Antonio but he will be taking it out in the next week or so. Saying goodbye to Lukas (the dog) was the hardest. I really do miss that dog! But it was also the best thing for Lukas as I work a lot and will be traveling so it would not be the best quality of life for him.
- Now I am enjoying my freedom, learning to live alone again, and slowly re-finding myself, my likes, my hobbies, my taste in decoration. I have realized what I need in life and that being me is the most necessary. Some day I will find someone that has more similarities to my style of life but for now I shall enjoy re-discovering me!
Plans for 2015:
- As some of you may have heard I will be in Portland in 21 short days! I arrive January 22nd and leave February 25th!!!! I am soooo excited and looking forward to spending time with as many of you as possible! My good friends from college, James and Rachel are also returning to Portland to see me, which I am really thrilled about as well. I might end up flying down to San Francisco at some point, as well but we shall see.
- This year I plan on traveling more and discovering the beauty and culture of Chile outside of Santiago. I have lived here for a little over three years and yet I have been to hardly any other city. So I shall change that! I look forward to traveling by myself and enjoying the diversity that this country has to offer.
- Future plans: For now I am going to enjoy where I am in life – the job, apartment and friends I have and love here in Santiago. I will also start to think about next steps. This may include returning to Portland and finding an international office to work in, but we shall see! Who knows – the sky is the limit for me!
I hope that this year is filled with many wonderful surprises and joys for every one of you. Thank you for all your love and support. I love you all very much and promise to write more often! Oh, and photos will come soon!
Biig hugs and happy new years greetings!
Love, Kaia
