Transit

I'm currently sitting in Toronto Pearson International Airport, two and a half hours into a four hour layover before my long red-eye flight to Chile. Why did I have to fly in the completely wrong direction from Los Angeles for my connection? Darned if I know, but it saved me $500 on my plane ticket, so I'm not complaining.

For those of you who don't know, I'll be spending the next month and a half at a Yale observatory in Santiago, Chile, taking ASTR S205: Introduction to Observational Astrophysics; going on field trips all over the country; and exploring the local culture. Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge the financial generosity of Yale ISA for making this trip possible. I didn't expect to go abroad at all in college, but here I am, spending Yale money in a foreign country for the second summer in a row. Cool.

Since my trip so far has been short and relatively uneventful, this first post will probably be the least relevant to my actual study abroad experience. But I still think it's worth mentioning what I'll miss about LA, as is my habit after every trip home, and what I'm looking forward to in Chile. Here goes nothing.

Things I'll Miss

1. My family. Now that my sister has graduated from high school (with my brother following closely behind) and I've finished half of my college experience, there won't be many more chances for my family to all be together at the same time. Maybe I'm being prematurely melodramatic, but I can hardly remember what it feels like to have a family life all year long, and I regret taking it for granted before I came to college.
2. The weather. For all seventeen days that I was home, the weather remained nice, dry, and breezy, with temperatures in the mid- to high-80s. It felt amazing, especially after a particularly bitter winter in New England. Now I'm off to winter again, this time in the southern hemisphere. I hope I'll be able to handle it.
3. The food. I think this speaks for itself.

Things I'm Excited About

1. The astronomy. I wouldn't have applied for this program if I weren't a complete astro nerd, and though I know that the class/research is only supposed to be one aspect of this trip, it's probably the most exciting aspect for me. I've never actually performed real data collection and analysis, so this summer will be my first opportunity to put my academic knowledge to practical use.
2. The photography. Like the title of this blog implies, my attention in Santiago will be divided between a starry night sky on the one hand and a rich, colorful culture on the other. I'm sure that both will offer opportunities for amazing photography with my old friend, my Nikon D100, if I pay close enough attention.
3. The cooking. How appropriate that both lists end with food. This trip will be my first time having to cook for myself (along with the rest of my housemates). It's about time that I learn, since I won't have a meal plan forever. I won't be surprised if I lose weight while I'm in Chile, though.

The plane is boarding now. Santiago, here I come.