1 Month Countdown

To the minute, a month from today I will be in the MSP airport. People keep asking me are you excited to come home? The answer is yes...and no. The following list might make you laugh, but everything is true and is in the order of little things to the biggest things:

Things I am looking forward to-from the littlest to the biggest
1.    different shades of blush
2.    powder deodorant-it’s spray-on here
3.    big kitchen/dishwasher :)
4.    No beggars
5.    summer weather
6.    different clothes
7.    Presenting my ID
8.    People who like to read
9.    People not telling me to wear more clothes when I’m dressed in a t-shirt in 60? weather!
10.    Board games-Yes life consists of more than tv and food.
11.    Internet/Skype that WORKS
12.    Walking on the RIGHT side of the street and not having any confusion
13.    People walking on moving WALKways-now there’s a concept or at least having them divided to be able to walk if I want
14.    Not having to weigh fruits/vegetables
15.    Not smelling like smoke when I go to a bar :)
16.    People NOT Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk
17.    MY cell phone and  a PLAN-Instead of a quarter a minute. And you  wonder why Chileans speak so fast...
18.    no tv when eating
19.    good televisión programs-Reality shows in the 1800s, Judge Judy more or less in Spanish, and Spanish soap operas just don’t do it for me AT ALL
20.    Certain foods-quesadillas with cheddar cheese or mozz cheese that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, cheese with flavor in general, romaine lettuce, bagels, mac n’ cheese-Noodles and Company style, bread pudding, and real orange juice are at the top of the list
21.    Using spices in cooking
22.    Eating whatever i want
23.    Having fresh grown garden veggies
24.    Having distinct things for lunch and dinner-Since they don’t eat dinner here, my dinner is the same thing I had for lunch as the main platter in a smaller portion + bread
25.    Being able to put toilet paper in the toilet
26.    Being able to drive-This includes being able to leave a place at night and not having to walk to where the colectivos/buses are and then wait till they’re full to leave.
27.    BIKING
28.    Reliable transportation with a schedule!
29.    Being able to buy something in a store and walk out instead of getting the receipt, paying for it elsewhere, and then coming back to get purchased item
30.    Central heating/warm water without having to light the calefont
31.    Being able to go out before 12 minimum
32.    People with motivation that don’t complain
33.     Free bathrooms
34.    Toilet paper in the bathrooms
35.    Libraries!
36.    no flea bites, but there will be mosquitoes
37.     My guitar
38.    Having a piano
39.     US School system-textbooks (I never thought I’d say that!), grading, format, conduct profs responding to emails, etc.
40.    My pets/being able to touch a cat or dog w/o worries of fleas
41.     MY FAMILY and FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I will miss
1.    Chilean fashion-80s all over again, the bright-colored pants, straight leg, fanny packs, for some examples
2.    “Pancito” y “tecito” (Bread and tea at EVERYthing)
3.    Reggaeton
4.    Spanish worship songs/Friday nights afterwards
5.    Gringa power
6.    Public transportation-While I won’t miss the micros, it’s nice to be able to go wherever I want.
7.    Flea markets/cheap street vendors
8.    Kuntzmann beer
9.    Ferias-Where you can buy everything for cheap-fresh vegetables and fruits to jewelry to souvenirs
10.    sunsets
11.    Greeting people
12.    El Huevo
13.    Certain tragos-Mango sours, pisco sours, terremotos
14.    Carretes

Chilean folklore (I don't feel like renumbering)
15.    Chilean slang-cachai, pololo, etc.
16.    Extreme cardio
17.    The ambience of the plazas
18.     Talented caminero ambulantes (people who actually do something for the money they ask for)
19.    Having to speak Spanish
20.    Empanadas, Pastel de Choclo, Manjar, Papas Rellenas, Sopaipillas
21.    Seafood
22.    Cheapness
23.    Teaching English
24.    Mapuche culture
25.    Walking to school along the ocean
26.    Going out to dance-not grind
27.    Salsa dancing
28.    snorkeling
29.     Having class start late or end early on a regular basis
30.    Chilean hospitality
31.    People genuinely asking you how you are
32.    ADVENTURES!!!
33.    People