just another weekend in Chile...

Hello all,
Writing here after a weekend of doing things I love doing. Dancing and cooking for friends.
Friday night I had a party for the folks in my Theatre class. And by party, I mean asado-ing and drinks and Karaoke until about 4am. It was supposed to start around 7 so people could come, enjoy and get off to studying for their tests the next day (some of them had 8 AM Saturday tests... Fome...). And by "7" really meant that people didn´t start showing up until about 10. I think we started eating at around 11:30 or so? But, in any respect, it was a really fun time. I got to really take advantage of my Spanish skills, as I was the Only Gringa at the party (it was at my house, so duh...). But it was really fun, and at somepoint into the night, the people from my class asked me if I would dance for them. They were very curious about what I meant by "danza moderna" and had asked if I wouldn´t mind demonstrating. Well, duh! I love to dance, obvio, and so we turned the music off (because it can sometimes just restrict me), and I Danced in the wonderful space that we had made in my living room. I don´t really know for how long I danced, or how it looked "" or anything, but man it sure felt good. And I think my classmates and Profe were all pretty impressed as well. In all, it was a great night, and at about 4:30 or so, I said my goodbye´s and went to bed.
The next day, I woke up and, as planned, went to Santiago to visit a Chilean friend I had met a while back in Viña. He is from Punta Arenas (really beautiful in the South of Chile), and is studying archiecture in Santiago. So, I gathered my things, walked to the bus terminal and headed off to Santiago. I had told my friend that I would arrive at 2:30, and called him when I did. He said he was on his way, so I waited. And waited. And Waited. Finally at about 3:30, my friend came and got me and we hung out at his apartment ad did some art. His brother is this crazy-good artist, and super nice as well, so we all had a great time. When dinner time rolled around, I was not settled with just pasta, so I went to the market and bought fresh vegetables (almost un heard of to these guys), and cooked a most excellent concoction. Then, the next morning I bought some eggs, and again made a delishous breakfast for us all to enjoy.
I had almost forgotten how much I really love cooking. Some of my greatest memories involve cooking with my mom, listening to music, and the occasional glass of wine. But cooking is more than just food on a plate. It is about the actual food itself and How you chop it, What you add to it, and how you treat it. I believe cooking is one of the rare great gifts we can share with eachother across cultures, and above all else. It comes from the heart and goes to the stomach. What could be better!? So, after my weekend, I am feeling just dandy about everything in life, and am really looking forward to spending another lot of months here, getting deeper into myself, and my artestry as a person, dancer, cook and friend. Chile has treated me very well, and for this I thank it. I went to the beach when I got back to Viña, and ate an ice cream along the way. How wonderful!
Hope you´re all doing well up there. :)
chau chau!