Stash!

I feel like I have so much to write about. First I wanted to say that this blog is really helping me through this experience, good times and bad. I feel like it is connecting me with everyone back home. I've never been much of a diary person so it really helps to know that I am writing to someone. I want to apologize if I sound like I'm complaining all the time. This is my personal blog and I express my personal thoughts no matter what they are. By doing this I feel like I'm being more honest and giving all of you a more honest description of my time here. That being said, this one might be a downer. Then again it might not..I haven't quite figured out what kind of mood I'm in yet.

I had a bit of a breakdown last night. It was different than in the past though. Usually I'm homesick and miss everyone and want something familiar but I'm happy to say that being here is familiar now. I don't really dream desperately about going home anymore, though I still do miss everyone a lot. My breakdown was due to a lack of sleep (spent the night before throwing up all night), lack of food and lack of my people (Luke and Mom had been unavailable for 3+ days). Laura and I always talk about culture shock and not knowing what it is exactly or if or when it's going to hit, but I think it has. It has come in the form of lack of control.

I thought that my body was adjusting to the eating schedule here but this weekend I became increasingly aware that it hadn't and it probably wasn't going to. After spending the night before incredibly sick (medication+no food=sick sick sickerson all night) and then wearing my pants without leggings for the first time (the weather has been amazing) and realizing that they are getting way too big (did I think to bring a belt? noo...) I realized something must be done or else I'm going to waste away to nothing. So today I made a trip to the grocery store so that I might be able to take my eating into my own hands and make my life easier.


Since I have no class till 4 today I had lots of time to go into town. I wrote a mental list and ended up getting a lot of things for my stash. I even got some healthy stuff! Mom insisted that I get peanut butter so I could have some form of protein but could I find peanut butter? No. Gloria (host mom) said it was more of a seasonal thing...Like it's sold in the spring...which I find really weird. Anyway I'm pretty proud of what I've put together here.


This is a before picture of my stash before I got mom's package in the mail. Now it's this plus a lot more good stuff. Almonds, crackers, brownie mix (that's not really part of my stash, I was just excited to find it because Laura, Natalie and I have been trying to find it forever!), chocolate (I said some healthy stuff), starbursts, wafer cookie things, energy drinks...you get the idea. Anyway I'm pretty confident it will last me awhile. And if you're wondering, it's all hidden in a shoe box in my closet. I figured that's pretty much the best place for a stash.

I woke up this morning to discover I was sick. This was destined to happen so I wasn't surprised and with all the stress I've faced in the last couple days it was bound to happen. Luckily I came here fully stocked with cold medicine (thank you Cosco) so I'm good to go. Unfortately I forgot to buy kleenex at the store. Toilet paper here I come.


Thanks a ton for all your support. It's really helping me out. My next post is going to be dedicated to the bicentennial of Chile because tonight I'm going to a celebration event at the kids' school. Be excited!