Some photographs to document the last two, almost three, months of my life!
After having pneumonia and being out of work for almost two weeks ... I decided I needed a break from Santiago. I went to Viña del Mar, a beach city about two hours away, to celebrate my friend Camila's birthday. (Natalia, me, Camila)
With my only American friend in Santiago, Katie. However, she recently just left me to go back to the USA after being in Chile for almost three years. I am really sad about it (although it is good for her--i'm being selfish)...I now have no one to complain to about cultural differences, boys and all of the nonsense that girls talk about with their friends ;)
This picture is taking in my living room. I came home from work one day right when the sun was setting and loved the way it was shinning through the window.
This picture is taken about 40 minutes outside of Santiago in the campo (mentioned in previous posts). It belongs to the parents of my friend Seba and it is the perfect weekend escape from the city. There is something about breathing fresh air and sharing with a family when you are away from your own. Whenever I go I always manage to eat myself sick, relax, and return home to the city feeling refreshed.
This is a picture of me and the son (Nico) of my host sister Gabriela from when I studied in Chile three years ago. We were making our favorite foods out of play dough. I made a completo (what I was craving at the time). It is a typical Chilean food, which is a hotdog with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise on top. It's delicious...especially if you add mustard and aji ;)
This photo was taken at Punta de Tralca, which is a small beach town about two hours north of Santiago. I had a retreat with the other professors at the school I teach at. Although it was raining we still tried to enjoy the beach as much as possible. I was not at all looking forward to this weekend but it turned out to be really fun and I got to know a lot of my co-workers.
At the retreat we sang karaoke. This is my friend Ricardo and I singing to Morrissey's "First of the Gang to Die." We were booed off stage...I will never forget the look on my bosses face.
THIS WAS AMAZING. This was a dinner that I made with my roommates and people that had previously lived in my house. It consists of chorizo, tons of seafood, cabbage, onion and pork. It may or may not be one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. We spent the day cooking, watching soccer, eating, and dancing. This day was beautiful because it was the despidida (going away party) for my friend katie...and also for Carlos (the only boy in the photo below) because he will be moving out of the house in just a few short weeks.
The generations of 1315 Salvador. I would consider them as part of my family here in Chile. <3
TRIP TO THE USA: First time back in over a year.
I flew into Miami and we decided to stay for the weekend to enjoy the beaches and night life. This is a picture of Lucy and I swimming in the warm, Miami water. It was so great to finally be reunited with my family.
Some of my girlfriends from Virginia Tech came to visit me. Kate, Andrea and Erin. They all flew down and we had a blast catching up and spending the weekend at the beach. We laughed...a LOT. Once best friends...always best friends. I'm missing them already.
My friend Rick also came down to visit me! At Tech he was my neighbor and he always came with me to all of my date functions. Being the only guy he obviously heard a lot things he didn't want to hear and put up with a lot when he was in Florida with all of the girls. We went out with him one night and all of us girls were on the prowl to find boys at the bar...we kept referring to him as our "gay friend Rick." It turned into a joke the rest of the weekend...he handled it very well (FYI: he's not gay) We are planning to meet up in Costa Rica this January or February to visit our friend Bob.
After participating in a beer tasting and playing a bunch of American drinking games... I guess we found the old halloween costume box??? Every time I see this picture I laugh. We are a good-looking bunch.
With my best friend in the entire world, Kate.
BACK IN SANTIAGO! First night back in Chile I went to an asado with a bunch of friends.
This is a picture of me with the boys. These boys have become my brothers here in Chile. (Orlando, Javier & Leo) Without them I do not know what I would do. I was trying to lay across their laps to do a "sexy" pose. Unsuccessful.
I hope everyone is doing well. It has been difficult getting re-adjusted to Chile after having such an amazing vacation home for two weeks. I have a million stories but there are too many to write. However, I thought it would be fun to give everyone a glimpse into what's been going on. I have more pictures on Facebook under "Untitled Album."
I would love updates from everyone. Shoot me an email!
