Mayo (May/Mayonnaise)

In keeping with my recent trend of updating once every 3 weeks/when the guilt is so much I can't bear it, I'M BAAACK!

Well, readers of mine, I write to you a changed woman.  I had a rough couple of weeks in Chile and just recently resurfaced from a brief period of hybernation, filled with excessive chocolate eating and facebook stalkery.  Without being a drag, I will tell you that I got hit by a perfect storm of homesickness, real sickness, and petty crime (I lost my handbag in a non-violent, but nonetheless traumatic altercation with a Valparaíso hoodlum a few weeks back).  I think it was just a kind-of mid-semester schlump and, honestly, it was long overdue.  I had spent 4 blissfully happy months in South America without a single glitch...it was about time that karma came a knockin' to take me down a peg or two.  Knock it did, and I can honestly say that I am stronger and more world-wise because of it.  More importantly, I'm back to savoring every last moment in Chile.  I am reborn.

All in all, the month of May was pretty laid-back.  I did, however, have a nice little mid-month retreat with the Middlebury program in Santiago.  We gathered for a viewing of The Judge and the General, a documentary about the human rights trial against Chilean dictator Agusto Pinochet, followed by a question-and-answer session with Judge Juan Guzmán, the judge responsible for bringing Pinochet to justice.  Meeting Judge Guzmán, such an important figure in Chilean history, was absolutely unreal.  Afterwards, we went to La Museo de La Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, a museum dedicated to the countless Chileans who were tortured, oppressed, and "disappeared" under the military dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s.  From there, we moved on to El Cajón del Maipo, a beautiful nature reserve outside of Santiago, where we stayed in cozy cabins, enjoyed the fresh air, ate well, and drank good wine.  As a whole, the weekend was a perfect mix of learning and relaxation.

May also brought with it some great opportunities to celebrate with my host family.  My host sisters, host dad, and I teamed up to make an exquisite lunch on Mother's day.  My chocolate cake made big waves...TGMS (Thank GAWD for Martha Stewart).  Note that in the photo below my host dad is wearing an apron that says "I'm not whipped...BUT HE IS!" (with arrows)  ...pretty rich.

This past Friday my host family, some gringa friends, and some friends of the family gathered to celebrate my host mom's birthday at an establishment called "Donde La Cuca."  As far as I'm concerned, "La Cuca" is Chile's answer to a supper club.  We gorged ourselves on parrillada (heaping platters of grilled meat), ordered much pisco, rum, and wine, and then hit the dance floor to shake a leg to some outdated (though highly entertaining) live cumbia and salsa music.  It was without a doubt one of my favorite nights in Chile.

This week I'll be sneaking off to Buenos Aires, Argentina for a 5-day reunion with my Sister Cities host family from summer '07!  In the mean time, though, I'm going to get to work responding to the questions some of you have been sweet enough to post.