Turning 23 in Chile

If you're close with your family and friends, it can be kind of sad to wake up so far away from home on your birthday. My family is so big on celebrating birthdays so I was a sure that I would be homesick on my birthday. However, I could not have been more wrong! I woke up in the morning to presents, a cake, and my entire host family singing me happy birthday in English and Spanish! How thoughtful??? I truly felt like I was with my own family. Of course I still missed them at some moments, but thanks to my host family my birthday was amazing.




After eating CAKE FOR BREAKFAST (the sign that it's going to be a great day), we got ready and headed to Valparaiso. If you have never been, put it on your "to travel to" list, because you won't be disappointed. It was utterly beautiful. We rode a tour boat and saw the colorful houses on the hills, navy ships, cargo ships, and Santa Maria university. Then we walked up a hill and ate an amazing restaurant overlooking the water. The view was breathtaking. After eating some extremely delicious shrimp and steak they surprised me with dessert. The whole table sang me happy birthday! It's overwhelming (in a great way) to feel so loved and welcomed by people you just met. I truly feel that the best part of this trip is that I've made some life long friends.                   

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