Since I’ve been in Santiago, I have been taking Spanish classes from 9am-1pm and “interning” from 2-6. My internship has been completely random, some days I’ll have nothing to do, some days I’ll have one 5 minute task, and some days I might even stay till 6. I don’t ever know how much work I’ll have (or not have) until the day of at 2pm and it sucks. I can’t make commitments and I don’t have a routine. I’ve been wanting to join a yoga studio and go to a class every day, but I’m not going to pay to sign up when I supposedly have an internship till 6pm everyday.
More importantly, I’m wondering what my daily life is going to be like when my classes and internship are over. I don’t exactly know when my classes and internships are going to end, but I’ve been here for 2 months.. so maybe another month? Whenever it happens to be, when I don’t have to wake up early and go to class or be on my computer waiting for assignments in the afternoon, what the heck will I do all day? I have never in my life, with the exception of summer break, not had school or something. I’ve booked a lot more weddings than I thought I would have by now (Yay!), so I’m “working” but weddings are on the weekends and I don’t have one every weekend.
One of my friends here is a freelance makeup artist and she is a crazy networker/self-marketer. She isn’t working with a client every day, but she’s definitely working every day. Our type of work, freelance stuff, is about 80% marketing ourselves and 20% actually doing our “job”. Actually, since I’ve been in Chile, my work has been 0% doing my “job” and 100% meeting with potential clients, going to a wedding expo to pass out my info, networking, answering emails, etc. My first wedding is next month in Valparaiso and my first engagement session is this weekend (if the weather gets better), so I’ll finally have officially worked in Chile and have the photos to prove it, which will defiantly make me more confident in marketing myself to Chilean clients.
I’m not complaining by any means, I know I’m going to love being a “full-time” wedding photographer and I’m sure I will find stuff to fill my days whether it be marketing myself, yoga, going to the farmers market, feeding stray dogs, or just walking around exploring this city. Also, I’ve got some fun plans coming up. Pablo and I are going to Mendoza, Argentina to renew my visa in two weeks, were going to Concepcion to visit his family in 4 weeks, my Mom comes and her and I are going to Uruguay in 5 weeks.. throw in a few weddings.. and it’s Christmas before I know it. Soon after that, Pablo will finally get the benefits of working for LAN so we can plan weekend trips.. and there’s nothing I love more than planning trips and traveling! I’ve been reading about and travel lusting over Cartagena, Colombia, I’m hoping it will be our first trip!
I apologize for such a boring, photo-less post, though the last dog video was pretty boring too.
Erin - Hi Lana! Thanks for the comment on my blog. I love reading about similar situations, too. In fact, I don’t think this post of yours is boring at all – it was kind of like therapy! I’m having a hard time right now too because I’m use to working all day and then going to yoga or tennis every evening. I have a completely different life here in Costa Rica. Tennis and yoga are too expensive here and work has turned into full time freelancing…or looking for freelance jobs full time lol.
so yeah, I can relate
You are a great photographer, hopefully more work will find you sooner than later. Pura vida!