First Chilean party… even though I still feel like a retard not being able to understand anyone, I had a really good time at my first Chilean family fiesta, courtesy of the new family I’m living with. Because Chileans struggle to understand my name, I have resorted to saying “Hilary, you know like Hillary Clinton”. And then they realize. Which is very lame, as in no way do I want to be like Hillary Clinton, and I feel like a complete dork saying it but that’s the only way they can pronounce my name correctly. In addition, I now know I’m definitely going to get fat here. Chileans eat a lot. And drink a lot. At most stages of the evening I had a red wine and a beer on the go at once, as did everyone. And it was always being filled up, constantly. Apart from eating and drinking Chileans love to “Salud”. Every 5 minutes we were salud-ing this, that, or something else... Of course I have no idea what. Chileans talk waaaay too fast, and even with my Spanish I haven’t got a hope in hell of catching what they say. That’s going to be my mission though, understanding the Chilean accent.
So in between all this salud-ing, drinking, and eating, I’m looking at my driver thinking CLEARLY they have no drink driving here, because you are downing them bro. And the guy next to him looks about 25, and his daughter next to me is also downing the booze faster than me. I swear she was only like 14, not an issue apparently. I can’t believe how young the parents are here. Amazing. I feel like a grandma, that’s nothing new though. As the gang get boozed, next, they turn every possible thing they can see into an instrument, and its songs for Africa. I love it. Its definitely a little different than the family gatherings I’m used too! From the patio we could see the snow capped Andes, and maybe it was the red wine talking, but was pretty amazing to see that from a city.
So am back at my apartment, a wee bit weary, I’m off to Valparaiso to walk some hills tomorrow and hopefully take some photos then. Then work on Monday. That’s going to be a shock to the system!