La plata complica la vida.

"Money complicates life." My Chilean mom and I were talking about a nice man at a fruit store. She said that he is always so generous despite not having much. We agreed that money complicates everything. My mom´s name is Silvana. She´s really nice, and she´s a wonderful paitner. She said she doesn´t sell her paintings because it turns into a business and isn´t fun anymore. My 13-year-old brother´s name is Tomy. He is FULL of energy and talks really fast, but he´s still funny and reminds me of Grayson.

The picture to the left is my house! It´s really cute.

Santiago is wonderful so far. Alex and I explored the Plaza closest to our house, Plaza Nuñoa. Lots of restaurants and bars. There is also 2 big parks that people hang out in. Last night they had a free movie showing. I think it was facing the giants which makes me laugh.

This picture is of Cerro San Lucia in Santiago.

The nights before we met our family were very fun. I didn´t get to sleep much on the plane, I sat in the very middle. But when we got settled into our hotel rooms, I slept very soundly. We had an amazing dinner at this place called El Meson Nerudiano. (Neruda´s Table). We had great appitizers, one was salmon in an oyster shell. It was incredible. The food and the environment were both wonderful. We also got to see one of Neruda´s (very very famous chilean poet) 3 houses. This one´s name was ¨messy hair". I forget the Spanish translation. I thought perhaps I should live there. One of his girlfriends had messy hair, so he named his house after her. My mama said that under the government of Pinochet (dictator in the 70s), most of his books in that house were burned. We have the chance to see his other houses, one in Isla Negra and one in Valparaiso. After our amazing dinner, we had a ridiculously dangerous taxi ride, in which the radio was playing "Pump up the jam". Alex being the techno lover that he is asked the taxi driver to turn it up despite riding through Santiago at 70 miles an hour. (it at least felt that way)

Afterwards, all of the seniors, professor tapia and dr. cass went out with us. We had a couple of other classmates with us. It was also a lot of fun.

Today, I´ve had time to journal, talk to my family, and eat 2 meals with my mom. So far we get along great. And mom, yes I have showered too. Alex and I are going to the Museum of Fine Arts today because they don´t charge on Sunday. I also get to meet my younger sister, Javiera, tonight. We unfortunatley have to leave by 4:45 a.m. tomorrow but we also get to go to the desert. So excited!!

¡Ciao!