Christmas is almost here and with the new year approaching it's only a matter of weeks until I'm boarding a plane to Santiago, Chile! In light of this, I've decided to go ahead and create a blog to keep in touch with everyone back home and to keep everyone up to speed on where I am and what I'm doing. I've never had a blog before, so if I don't post frequently enough, or too frequently, or if my posts are a little hackneyed, you'll have to forgive me. I'll try to keep things as interesting, informative and insightful as possible!
So you may be wondering why I called my blog "180 Degrees South", or you may be wondering what the hell it is I'm doing anyway that merits a blog. Well, I stole the title from
a very good documentary by the same name about a group of adventurers who, emulating a legendary surfing and climbing trek accomplished in the 60's, learn about environmental conservation in Chile. I took the name because, well, I liked the sound of it, but also because I think it describes how I came to this point. Until my senior year of college I figured I would try to find a good job and settle down right out of school. But as my final semester approached I became possessed by a certain restlessness that ended up turning into an intense desire to travel and experience life in another country. And so, heading down the path towards a career at home after graduation, I decided to turn 180 degrees and head in the other direction. It turns out that direction is South.
So, what exactly is it that I'm doing? I'm participating in a volunteer program run by the Chilean government called
English Opens Doors. The program, co-sponsored by the U.N., pairs native English speakers with Chilean English teachers in public schools to give Chilean students face time with native English speakers and hopefully improve their English. During my nine months I'll be staying with a host family who will also provide my meals. I don't know who my host family is yet, and I don't know where in Chile I'm going yet. In fact, I won't find out until just a few weeks before I leave (yikes). But, I requested to be placed somewhere in the southern part of Chile where the scenery and the fishing are supposed to be out of this world. If you wanna see what I mean, Google "Chilean Patagonia" and prepare to have your mind blown. I don't know a whole lot about Chile yet but from what I do know it sounds like a very unique and interesting place and I'm very excited that I'll be calling it home in just a couple months!
One week from today I'll be leaving for Chile! Lately my every thought has been about Chile and while I'm getting seriously excited, some nerves are starting to settle in too. Still, the excitement outweighs the anxiety by far. I received my regional placement and it looks like I'm going to be living in the tenth region, known as the Lakes Region. As you can see from the map, it's pretty far south. It's about 500 miles south of the capitol of Santiago and over 5000 miles south of North Carolina. It's generally considered the gateway to Patagonia since it is the starting point of Carretera Austral or Southern Highway that runs through Chilean Patagonia and because it offers crossing points to Argentine Patagonia. Most of what I've read indicates that it's an ideal base for outdoor excursions so it looks like I'll have plenty of chances to go hiking and fishing! I've read multiple descriptions that compare it to Washington or British Columbia both in terms of geography and climate. Apparently it's riddled with rivers, lakes, mountains, bays, islands, and volcanoes. It stays cool year round and receives heavy rains in the winter months(i.e. the entire time I'll be there), so it's a good thing I just bought a new rain jacket. What brand jacket you may ask? Patagonia, of course. 
