for those loyal fans, i am here to post my final goodbyes and reflections on my life in chile. at this moment i am sitting in the library at UCSD, pondering the speed with which a transition can be made. just seconds ago--or so it seems--i was sitting in a van being pulled away from my 6 1/2 month home. as i watched the city disappear, i knew that this transition would be a fast one, but not this fast.

my time in chile is something that i hope to never forget. i hope to keep it vivid in my mind, avoiding the "dreamlike status" that somehow overtook the memories of my summer in germany. i find it difficult to think about life continuing there without me...but i know that i can always go back.

i have learned so much about chilean culture over the past months. i have learned about their prejudices and racism, their beauty and culture, their style and politics. i have come to incorporate "po" into my lexicon. i have come to appreciate the cheap and delicious empanada and humitas. i have grown to love "jote" (red wine and coke) and "fanschop" (orange soda and beer) and--yes--even pisco. as i throw out the occasional chilean reference in my new life back in the states, i only hope that you all will bare with me and understand that these things will take a while to shed from memory and practice.

in the midst of "wrapping up" my chilean experience, i cannot overlook my most recent expedition to peru. i spent 10 days taking buses to different areas, making stops in arequipa (an adorable little town...host to a frozen incan corpse named Juanita!), cuzco (to see machu picchu), and puno (to see lago titicaca). it was an incredible trip in which i discovered that peruvians are incredibly friendly, incredibly attractive, and incredibly good cooks. the three of those combined made for great friends, great "sight-seeing," and yes...incredible food.

i made it back to chile...after struggling to find a means for transportation home due to a transport strike (classic!)...and was welcomed by the kindness of my former host family. it was nice to come full circle, being able to start and finish my life in chile with them by my side. they were so amazing to me--it was truly difficult to say goodbye. as i left i said, "until next time..." and hopefully that is the truth.

thanks to you all for your support throughout this experience. sometimes traveling is too glamourized--in no way was it easy. however, i could not have asked for a more perfect experience, nor more perfect friends and family to welcome me home.

que les vayan superbien....

beth. o.