Two More Weeks

The end of the semester is now only two weeks away and while I'm really going to miss my students I am glad to get a break. WE've only had short ones since we arrived, so it will be nice to have that vacation mentality again- although, I can't complain. My hours allow for me to spend late nights shooting the shit with Rafael and a bottle of wine (or two, sometimes three), and meeting people for late dinners after classes. Definitely nothing like my endless hours at the Fokin' office in Greenwood =).

On top of prepping for finals and getting all the grades and make up quizes taken care of, I'm totally slammed trying to get ahead for next week. SHANNON'S COMING IN TWO DAYS!!!! Como se dice "Hallelujah!"? I was really excited, but I lack the ability to envision, so it wasnt until a couple days ago that it actually hit. I can't wait to hang out with her and laugh my ass off. . . as is always guaranteed in her presence. I feel lucky because my friends here are pretty understanding of my crazy sense of humor and I was really appreciating that about them recently (during a PMS-y/hallmark-y moment). So, fortunately I've not been deprived of great laughs in Santiago. Actually, I can say that laughing with my gringas has been my medicine, because there were certainly times when I wanted to go right back home.

Since she couldnt come after I was done with school, we're going to take a trip to the coast- Vina del Mar and Valparaiso (maybe go to the fancy casino in Vina, on the beach). Then, with our next two-day stretch we'll head to some smaller towns for a more "south american", small town feel. One, in particular, is called Pomaire and is supposed to be great for shopping- she can get it all out of her system in one day (i hope) and also for good traditional chilean food. Rafael's uncle has property outside of Santiago that I hear is really cool- we'll see about convincing him to take a couple a' gringas out of town.

I told Rafael about the fart machine that Shannon and I have so much fun with, and we're planning all kinds of schemes for after she gets here. I'm pretty excited to watch Flito-tito (rafael) flirt with someone on the metro as he cues me or Shannon to make the machine fart. We're also going to plant it under a couch cushion and let it rip when his fart-despising friend Patricio is sitting down. I have a feeling that Shannon, Flito and I are going to be the only ones laughing. Apparently farting is particularly gross here. ??? ha ha ha

It should be good times. I'll keep things posted. we should have some funny pictures and/or stories. These Chilenos won't know what hit them.