La accion de gracias

While everyone back at home was stuffing turkeys, playing football, and spending time with family, I was sitting in class just like any other thursday would be. It was a rather weird feeling not being home for thanksgiving, as this is the first time in my life I have been outside the united states for the holiday. After somewhat of a crazy hectic week that seemed like the world was coming crashing to a halt, I was kinda bummed out not to be home. Fortunately however, through the use of technology I was able to skype with the hodge podge and hear all the stories and see everyone together. It almost felt like I was there. Couple that with a Patriots win and it felt just like turkey day. That night the gringos and their moms went to our programs Goodbye Dinner. We still have two weeks left but the advanced students are more or less done with their curriculum. It was a great meal at the Recreo Yacht Club and a perfect way to get my mind away from thanksgiving. Conversing with all of our chilean moms and seeing all the study abroad kids together one last time was fantastic. We got home and crashed that night because friday, it was our turn to put on a thanksgiving.

Friday morning Gabe, Anna, Nicole and I met at Jumbo to plan out and buy our thanksgiving feast; turkey, salad, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, bread, and green beans and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. By 11:00 Gabe and I were preparing the bird, while Anna was putting the stuffing together, and Nicole worked on the potatoes. It was a lot of fun spending the whole day in the kitchen, making food, eating food, and every once in a while searching google for one recipe or another. None of us had ever made a turkey before but somehow we managed to pull it off. And we didnt even have a turkey baster. At around 4:00 our chilean families started trickling in and we were eating by 4:30. With plenty of food to go around and a table full of people, it felt just like a thanksgiving should. Except for the fact that we were eating on the patio wearing shorts and sunglasses, but thats beside the point. It was an awesome meal, and of course the leftovers were great too. After the meal we just hung out for a while. Neds family came and we were introduced to them, as we shared stories for the rest of the day. That night it was warm enough to take a swim in my pool and then hang out some more an relax. After debating politics with Emilio, Gabes host brother, I came home and passed out. A long day, but a great thanksgiving none the less.

Saturday morning I woke up to Anna's phone call and I forgot that we were supposed to go parapente today. I use the spanish word beacuse I dont really know what it is in english. Its either paragliding or hangliding or parachuting or whatever. All I can say is that it was absolutely amazing. They strap you into this onesie and then connect you to your guide who has a parachute on his back. Then you just start running and in about 10 seconds you are airborne and literally flying. The place we went was Maitencillo a little coastal town to the north of Valparaiso. It was the first time in my life that I actually felt like a bird. The guide controlled the parachute so I didnt really have to do much other than sit back and look around. What a cool experience. Other than a slight complication with the bus, me and anna made it back to Vina, exhausted after a specatular day.

Contrary to what many of you have read in this blog so far, the next two weeks will be rather difficult academically. From writing a ten page research paper to a fifteen page business plan all in spanish, while coming up with a 10 minute presentation on the interaction between the environment and the economy, I think I will have my nose to the grindstone. If I make it out alive its on to Patagonia for an 8 day backpacking trek. I cant wait for the Torres de Paine.

En un dia para decir gracias y recordar todas las opurtuniadades en tu vida, tengo que pensar en la experiencia aca en chile, mi experiencia en la universidad, y mis decisiones en toda mi vida. Hay buenos y hay malos. Aprender las consecuencias no es facil. Pero en realidad, la vida es la vida, y tengo un monton de cosas para decir muchisimas gracias.