Jumping Back into the River...!

The birthday and wedding both were wonderful! Same as before: it was really nice seeing old friends again...! 

I'm haven't felt particularly inspired by anything here to write about in my blog, and I haven't been really feeling all the way HERE. So, I decided that what needed to be done was for me to change my plans quickly and do something spontaneous - like what every day of my travel life is usually made up of. So yesterday, as the bride and groom were about to drop me off at the bus station (on their way to Santiago) to get on a bus back to Linares, I asked them if it would be okay for me to tag along with them to Santiago.... Yes!

So, 4.5hrs later, I showed up at a friends apartment in Santiago (I had taken a snap shot of the address a while back, just in case), knocked on the door, and asked if I could stay for the night.... Yes!

In the evening, I went onto the workaway website and wrote to a few hostels around Santiago, Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, etc. (which are all within a 2hr bus ride radius) and asked if they needed some short term help...starting TOMORROW, and I decided that the first to respond would decide where I'd go! And if no one responded, I'd decide in the morning.

This morning (25/11/14) there were a few messages from workaway, most saying that they didn't need a helper at the moment or that it was too short a time for their preferences, but one did say that they'd be waiting for me!

So, I searched the Nona B&B online; found the address and the instructions on how to arrive; packed my things; walked to the metro which took me to the bus station; caught a bus to Valparaiso; and then a "micro" across the city; and one of the big elevators you need to get up the mountain that the city is built on; and finally, rang the bell!

This place is pretty perfect (Mom, if you ever read this, this is exactly the kind of place I could see you having!)! It's a couple, with new born twins and a grandmother who have lived here for many years and a few years ago decided to share their house and enchanting city with travelers. It only has 4 private rooms (one of which I am occupying now) so it has more of a homey atmosphere than hostels. The owner, René, emphasized, during his explanation of my duties here, that this is their house and they want the guests to really feel at home here. It has only been about 7 hours since I arrived, but I can tell you, I sure feel that way!!

The B&B in on Cerro Alegre, on of the more touristic cerros (mountain) of Valpo, due to it's mind-blowing graffiti, and perfect vista points of the inexplicable beauty and uniqueness of the infrastructure here!

I walked around for a couple hours after arriving, and I feel a bit more alive!!

It's late here...😊...more soon!

P.s. I'll be posting the photos to FB)

Craziness and Laziness

I'm at my host family's house in Linares now, and at this moment I am sitting on my bed trying to decide what to do. 

Everyone is still asleep, taking their siesta, and all around the house people are hustling around getting big tents and food and flowers ready for the graduation party that is happening here tonight. I tried for a while to chase around that nanas and help them with their cooking and cleaning, but soon realized that I was being more of a hinderance than help. Then I sat outside for a bit to read, and after about 20minutes, realized I had just gotten a nice, red sunburn. I would go out into town and try to meet up with people or just walk around, but seeing as everything is closed due to the heat, and my friends are all a) at University somewhere else, b) in classes now, or c) hustling around getting ready for the graduation today, I just decided not to run off, but to enjoy not having anything to worry about...oh, and maybe decide which country I'll be going to in a week!

Tonight, the graduation is at 21h, then the party at the house is at 22h, then another party that my host sister wants me to go to with her because her boyfriend can't is from 3-5am. Then I come back, pack up my bag, and get on a bus to Chillán where I was invited to go to a wedding...and do multiple hair-dos beforehand. And that'll go on until 5ish the next morning...!!! 

I arrived here in Linares yesterday, and surprised my host siblings and father who didn't  know I was coming. It was a glorious little reunion, and then lots of questions like "Why are you only staying for a week?! We thought at least a month. How rude!", and "How could you wear something like that?", and "Are you ever going to go to college?", and "Why don't you shave your upper legs? You've become such a hippie while traveling.", and "You need to be here for the holidays!" Etc. So, I guess I'm feeling a bit suffocated. But I know they mean best and that it's all just cultural differences, so I just try to pick my battles wisely, smile, and say I haven't made any solid plans yet...

We'll see how things go this weekend, and then when I get back here to Linares after the wedding, and then hopefully I'll write a more interesting blog post without just venting.

:) 

Back Here...

Being here in Chile with friends and "family" has been wonderful! It's comfortable, and that is nice, but it's also proving to be a bit suffocating. I'm starting to itch for adventure!

I spent 5 days in Concepción, Chile, visiting old friends, making new friends, relaxing, cooking and eating, biking, reading and writing, etc. It was very nice to spend time with Felipe (a friend from my exchange 3 years ago) again, and we got along just like before! 

I struggled a bit with the cultural differences at the beginning, but the culture shock was gentle this time around. Things like: men serving, asking, helping women with their EVERY move (I like carrying my own bag, and standing up on my own, etc.); and the way the nana (...another difficulty for me...) fills my plate for me at lunch, piling sooo much food on, half of which ends up being wasted; and the general laziness of everyone here, who drive 2 blocks to go to the store...and forget going for a run...! So, I need to try to keep myself on track and not fall into the routine here.

(I'm m going to just post what I've  written so far because I know I'll just keep putting it off if I don't...)

Another update soooon[er]!

Here I Go Again...!

So, I went home in mid July, for some much needed family time, for my mom's wedding, and to refill my bank account. It was a wonderful few months in the Berkshires surrounded by loved ones and beautiful nature, working a lot, and enjoying the change of pace and having a relatively steady day to day routine - which is a drastic lifestyle change from that of my traveling days. I also rekindled my love for dancing, and met some inspiring people through that as well!

I quickly got comfortable and lost my momentum; but thanks to my spontaneous decision to buy a plane ticket to S America, I didn't have too much of a choice about leaving come fall...which I do see is a good thing, even though sitting here in the San Salvador airport on a layover, there are few things I want more than to be home, cooking, or gardening, or at work... 

But I have absolutely no obligations to anyone, no future commitments on the calendar, and a bank account full of hard-earned $$$ waiting to be spent on some incredible and unforgettable adventure, so I am going to do my best to focus on making the very most of this fortunate life I was given, and this place I've gotten myself to!

My darling father and I got up at 3:30 this morning to drive to JFK Airport in time for my flight. In the car, we kept reminding each other and ourselves that we weren't just driving to a contra dance, or on some road trip, but that I was actually LEAVING! 

After a 5hr flight landing me in El Salvador at 13:30, I'm sitting here writing this blog, and this still doesn't feel real. Honestly!!

I have another 5hrs of waiting before the 2nd leg of my journey. I'll be flying from here (SAL) to Lima, Peru where we'll be la sing at 2am local time. Then I have a 21hr layover in Lima before the last leg of my trip which will be landing in Santiago, Chile at 3am local time!

But, now I need to go and figure out how to buy a bus ticket online (which is not easy in these less developed countries) out of Chile - or else they won't let me enter the country.

More soon...!

~Iolani