1. After fully (or mostly) adjusting back to the United States, to being in New York City, to the freezing cold, to living at home, and to seeing my lovely NYC friends, my family moved to New Jersey. Now, this happened only two days before it was time for me to leave for Chile, so I didn't have to do much adjusting to the Jersey ways. I do, however, feel completely uprooted. New York City is one of the few 'things' that I really identify with, and I no longer have a permanent address there. Sad as this sounds, I think that I've secretly wished for this for a long time. As someone who's identity has become 'not knowing who you are,' parting ways with anything reminiscent of your 'true self' has become a sport, for it seems like the perfect way to 'figure yourself out.' And so I am freed yet again.
2. I turned twenty (one) and I already miss the days of not being to drink or rent cars in the good old US of A. I really never understood the excitement around turning 21. Things get better, but they also get worse, so what's the rush? My birthday was spent consuming way too much sugar, eating delicious Cuban food, and relaxing with my family.
3. Back to Chile! By February 16th I was ready to go back to the Southern hemisphere, but more importantly, the SUMMER. It was snowing when I left, and about 26 degrees centigrade when I arrived. I spent one day with my wonderful friend Mim before I went to Peru and she went back to Australia. Parting was difficult but well anticipated. We said goodbye to Mim, and then Ben, Christy, and I boarded our flight to the Arica, the town closest to the Peru/Chile boarder. Minutes after sitting in my aisle seat, I pulled out my notebook and began writing. I wrote that my friendship with Mim had brought on a sense of inner peace. Though I thought this was somewhat out of character for me, I still felt that it was honest comment. Despite all of my anxiety, some reflective part of my being had found calmness in a situation that I thought would bring on fear. Perhaps the traveling has really gotten to me; taught me how to truly hold the time spent with people, rather than dwell on it in time spent apart.
4. Peru! Peru was wonderful. We spent a couple of days in Arequipa and a couple more days in Cusco. We went on all kinds of tours, went horseback riding (only to get caught in the rain), saw ruins (though Macchu Piccu was closed), saw protests, marveled at old buildings, bought stuff (typical), had what felt like a potential near death experience on an icy road in the Peruvian mountains (cheap bus + night time + ice + mountains + crying babies + car crash that holds you up for two hours in the middle of the night = slightly alarming), ate good foods, went dancing, etc.
Arequipa:
Yep, that's guinea pig (and rice and toast):
Cuscus:
protest:
5. San Pedro de Atacama. After I successfully made it out and back into Chile without some important documents (I feel like they let Americans do anything) we went to the Atacama desert in the North of Chile. On the morning of our arrival we received word of the earthquake in the south of Chile. Christy recently reminded me that we - instead of immediately contacting our families - went on a tour of Valle de la Luna and waited until night time to inform people of our safety. My mom told me that many of my friends and family in the US were terribly worried - probably more worried than I have ever been about the earthquake situation here in Chile. I guess that's what happens when you aren't connect to global news. Fortunately, everyone that I know in Chile is safe - a little traumatized, but safe.
Still in San Pedro, the three of us went on some beautiful tours of the desert.
Desert:
6. Calama. After several emails back and forth with parents and Tufts administrators, Ben, Christy, and I were feeling reluctant about going back to Santiago as early as planned. We were not worried about going back, but, understandably, everyone else was. Either way, we were planning to fly out of Calama, a small city near San Pedro with a lot of miners. We immediately went to the LAN Chile office and asked about our flight. It was delayed until later in the week. So we checked ourselves into a little hotel and got comfortable. We were warned that there wasn't much to do in Calama and that it wasn't a safe city. Aside from being anxious to return to Santiago, I actually enjoyed relaxing in Calama. The three of us had some great conversations, did some reading, watched some fun movies, and drank lots of fruit juice.
7. I am now in the comfort of my temporary Chilean home. I have been enjoying Alejandra's cooking and the company of my fellow year long Tufts in Chile folk. Classes at the reserved and prestigious Universidad Catolica begin on Monday, and classes at the wild and prestigious Universidad de Chile start the following Monday.
que bellos lugares...
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