Arrival in Chile

Sunday I arrived in Chile to my cousins who were waiting in the airport. It's odd because most people who go abroad have never been to the country they're going to live in, but I've been through the airport six times now, and even this time it felt like a vacation. At my cousin's, I wake up when I want to my aunt who is making me breakfast. I try to take the dishes in or do my own laundry and am shot down. It's basically like being at a hotel. I suppose I'll have to take it all in before I get started working and get my own apartment.

These past few days I've just been hanging out around my cousin's home, eating a bunch and sleeping. This week is what they call "una semana feriada" because the 18th is their independence day. It's pretty wild. They have these huge parties called "fondas" where you eat all this food, and everyone is wasted from chicha which is unfermented wine. The stuff is gross but I'm pretty sure they all love it just because it's Chilean and they try to do all things Chilean. They're much more patriotic than we are, all very proud of their little country stuck between the mountains and the sea. I wanted to go to this fonda by the Estadio Nacional, the infamous soccer stadium, where there was this huge one. However, no one would go because it was for the "lower class" people, but those people seemed to be having the most fun.

In any case, tomorrow is my birthday so we're all going shopping in the morning, for dinner to this chinese place, and then out with my cousins who are coming back to town for it. 

In regards to this blog, I'm not under any illusions about consistency or readership. I hope to post here about once a week and will try to be consistent but I know that that will go with time. Check back when you feel like to see if I've posted anything. I'll also put up pictures when I remember to bring my camera along.

Thanks y muchas gracias,

Derek