People in the Front!

Let me hear you grunt!

My adoring public, your cries have been answered.  I'm updating yet again about absolutely nothing.  

Maybe about something ... it's possible ... this page has been open just about all day.  I'm sure that you'll see all the different ways my mind is racing. 

Holy crap what a sunset this is shaping up to be.  Seeing black spots now ... stop staring.

Give me some reasons for returning to the States.  

I can't decide if this experience is just a much needed break or the beginning of something new.

Hungry 

I feel like if you know me from PC, then you know my obsession with walks.  And it's now getting to the point where its even more beautiful than when I arrived ... i.e. Spring.   I'm loving it. Otra vez.  I'm loving it.

I hope it's real. For real real ... I hope it is.

- McDonalds.

Seriously people, what are you doing with your lives?

As you sit behind your computer this very instant, wasting electricity reading my stupendous blog there's a revolution going on down here in Chile.  What can you say for yourselves in America?  I see it everyday.  I witness to this catastrophe and yet I am helpless to it.  I am ashamed.  I am ashamed for you all as well.  

The New York Times just published an article about it last week.  Catch your attention? Doubtful.  

You Americas sicken me.  

Here's a copy to it ... New York Times: Chile

I can't sit here anymore.  I must join my people.  Join in on the rebellion!

- Pokemon

It'll be a cold/hot/dry day in the Atacama ...

There is nothing like a 24 hour bus ride on a double decker bus to find one of the most beautiful places on the earth.  I like to think that things have to be extremely miserable so that I can fully appreciate how wonderful things are.  Take for instance my bus ride from Viña del Mar to Calama/San Pedro de Atacama.  I wake up at 7:50 to catch my 8:30 bus across town.  I sprint out of my apartment shouting 'choas' to my family with my backpacks.  Public transportation generally is not in favor for those with things in tote. (Like myself) So no colectivos (shared taxis) would stop for me due to the fact that it would take too much time.  And it's really easy to get pick pocketed on buses so I avoided that as well.  Looked down at my clock and saw that it was 8:05.  I had 25 minutes to get to the bus station which is about a 40 minute walk from my apartment.  So I take off running ... in my sandals, two bookbags, and yogurt in hand.  I arrived on time, but with yogurt explosion on my hand and with an immense amount of sweat.  I on the bus ... with some friends.  Top floor cause its way cheaper and we're in the front row.  Which should be amazing, except for the fact that these huge bay windows turn into an easy bake oven when the shining sun is applied.  Air Conditioner wasn't working so well.  So my already sweaty body increased into a dry seat with a puddle of Seth sitting.  The guy behind me snored so incredibly loud during the day.  He got off at another stop at night fall.  I though the misery was over, but a crazy gypsy family got on directly afterwards.  I've been told before that using the word gypsy to describe people can be rather offensive but this is completely accurate.  Gypsies here are crazy.  They will come up to you begging for money so that they can read your future and if you give them money they try to take all of your possessions.  But if you don't do anything they put a hex/curse on you.  Lose lose situation.  After the curses ended, they were sleeping behind me ... snoring in all.  When I reach down to my bag to get my iPod, but instead of my iPod I grab a tiny fury animal.  A puppy.  It would have been cute and adorable if I hadn't found puddles of pee/poo all around my row of seats.  Damn gypsy dog.  

We made it ... Trip back was equally as bad.

San Pedro de Atacama is so beautiful.  Completely changed my perception of the word desert.  A town smaller than 2000 people, only known for tourism.  Electricity cuts off at 10 for the entire town ... obviously scarce water.  It hadn't rained in 5 years.  

Pictures link again ... CLICK HERE!

Today is Chile's Independence Day.  Surprisingly similar to the Fourth of July traditions.  Minus fireworks.  Lots of food, lots of fellowship with family and friends.  Throw in some sweet Chilean traditions and you got yourself Fiestas Patrias.   

I've had quite a bit on my mind as of late.  Nothing like rambling blog entries to avoid life's mysteries.

... before I enjoy life here in Chile,

Seth of Viña

I Believe In A Thing Called Love

September 11th approaches, and I have been warned by many Chilenos that during this day there will be many protests and demonstrations.  Pretty excited in a weird way.  

Not the September 11th we Gringos associate with but the Chileno version.

Murder, Assassination, Suicide, Mutiny, Necessary, Unavoidable, Needed ... Whatever.

It happened.

Leaving for the Desert on Friday.  Not very excited ... I think its the TWENTY-FOUR bus ride I have to endure before I get there. 

Fiestas Patrias next week! Happy 18th Chile!

Listening to the rhythm of your heart,

Set Point.

Take My Hand, Take My Whole Life Too

Tres cosas, tres problemas, tres esperanzas.

1.) Mamaw got put in the hospital on Friday.  I called her yesterday and couldn't help but break down.  She's a trooper.  Mucho amor.

2.) Tía is having her cancer surgery this Thursday.  I kind of hope Mamaw y Tía can be roomies.

3.) Too soon to be real?  Too early to know? Signs, clear signs, but with two very distinct/opposite interpretations.  A little more clear, por favor.  Reason says one, heart says another.  Nothing can be deciphered.  Not sure what to do with doubt.

Atacama Desert here I come.

Holy Madre de Dios

I've been here for four weeks.  When did that happen?  A month.  It kind of scares me how fast this experience is going to go by.  I know I shouldn't already be dreading leaving, seeing how I still have 3.5 months left.  But seriously, the first month went by so fast.  

Everyday is amazing.  Even when I get really pissed off.  I love it.  

Take this morning for instance.  No Friday classes which is a blessing from Dios.  I love sleeping in, and I hate waking up early, especially by the means of someone else.  First let me say that I absolutely love my Chilean Mom.  I really do, but I swear if she wakes me up again by screaming my name and banging on my door just to ask why I am sleeping, I will have to politely rip her voice box out.  Not kidding.  My family starts their day so early and my room is next to the kitchen/dining area so I get all the feedback.  So sleeping in is hard.  But it's fine ... I love it here.

Holly I wanted to call you so bad last night.  

Acabo de hablar con mis padres Chilenos sobre Argentina.  Vas a ir the time of your life.  

I'm going to turn it into a year so we can visit.  Maybe a lifetime. 

Hahaha, funny story.  I think so at least.  Well two actually.  At lunch we were having the normal conversation about la vida and everything that we could talk about, when my sister all of a sudden asked 'Que significa douche bag' 

Spitting out my soup and laughing hysterically, I had to explain what a douche bag was in my broken Spanish to my Chilean family.  So funny.

And last night, I got asked by some de mis amigos Chilenos why in pornos do guys say 'Oh My God' when they are terminando.  Hahahahaha.  'Dios mio' translates into something people say when something goes terribly wrong.  AKA 'Oh Shit'

Bahhh.  So funny.

Writing this on my balcony listening to mi mar, mi vida, y mi paz.  

Ineffably happy,

Set point.

With Hand in Hand

Battling this super rare Chilean infirmity that has knocked me down from my day to day life has only put things more into perspective.  

Happiness is here.

I slept through my morning classes today.  Totally worth it.  

I honestly don't know what to put in my blog updates ... I don't really like to write about what I did today, or this week.  Just a few highlights I suppose.  

Skiing in the Andes, Chocolate Factory, Sunset Beaches daily, y felicidad. 

PC keeps pestering with their Study Abroad forms, apparently I didn't do everything to a T before I left.  But I think that it's their problem that they didn't tell me they were missing forms until after I left the country.  I am here now.  Don't really care. 

 Erm, I am not coming home.  I'm pretty sure.  Working on the details ... I'll keep you posted.

X-TREME!

Now who wants post cards!?