BirthDay

Hello all!
I am FINALLY 21! This now means that I can officially go to any concert, bar, liquor store and club in the USA and get Wasteeeddddd!!!!!!ha, just kidding about the getting wasted part. But really, it will be nice to not have my "maturity" questioned every time I want to go somewhere. I remember last summer when Mama´s Cookin came to Boulder and their show was 21 and up and I was SO pissed because its one of my favorite bands and my ID would not allow me to see them. So now, I may get down freely.
Im glad, also that it won´t be such a huge change to go back to the US and be able to do all of the things I already do here without being questioned. But now that I am 21, I actually DO feel a little older, wiser and overall good-er. I do feel more responsible for my actions, aware of my self and how the things I do effect the world around me, and a little more mature as well. The days before and after my birthday were really nice reflecting days for me to take a look back at the last year, and everything that has happened. It has been a good time to set more intentions for what I want out of this life with all of the new, old, and un-conventional wisdom I have accumulated and will continue to add on. Ive always loved my birthday. I think part of that comes from all the sweet parties I had when I was little, and how much fun they all were for me. And continuing that now being 21 has been great. There was a moment, on my actual birthday when I was painting my face for the costume party I was about to have when I realized that, maybe I haven´t changed much at all since I was a little girl; playing dress-up, painting my face and having a silly party (only more narcotics were involved this time). So, here are some highlights for how I celebrated the BIG 21. It was a whole weekend of fun, music, friends and all-of-a-sudden being 6 am.
Thursday night: Two girls from my program plus 2 Chilenos played an Awesome concert at this little bar in Viña. They all sounded so good,and had a sweet set. I got a free birthday drink, and a discounted one for Margot, too :). At midnight, everyone sang Happy Birthday to me and it was just great. Then, after a few other birthday "presens" (aka: tequila shots and Piscolas) we decided to go to Valpo and maybe do some dancing. So, we went and the club was expensive, so I snuck in to see what the scene was like and if it was even Vale la Pena to go in. I checked it out and it wasnt that great, so snuck back out and decided to go to another bar. This bar, Coyote Quemado usually has me walk in, and stumble out. As it was my birthday, I got Another free drink, and finally resisted ANY MORE Drinks! So, they were closing all of a sudden (is it Really 4:30???) and finally went home.
Friday: Woke up with my friends Jason and Sophie (who were staying with me for about 2 weeks- BTW they RULE!!!!) who made me a delicious birthday breakfast (Jason is a professional Chef!) and it was great. I was feeling a bit woozy, but went to class in Viña anyways. After that I attempted going to my Dance workshop but was moving pretty slowly. I knew once we started to do salsa and move our hips and stomach´s that I should probably go home and recover for a bit before my party that night. So I did,and my instructor understood. (I love Chileans...). So, I came home and felt shitty for a bit-damn those sugary drinks! But eventually got better and ate the blissful Baked Macaroni and Cheeze with Mashed Potatoes that Jason made :). THEN it was Party Time! "Dress up or pants off". I wasn´t sure exactly what to be, but morphed into a Butterfly costume. Face paint and all.
The party was Great and so many people came! nearly everyone was dressed up, and I knew at about 6AM when my neighbor was playing me Happy Birthday on the violin he just happened to have and be Amazing at playing, that it had been a successful Birthday. Violin friend and everyone else were jamming on instruments creating beautiful music, I was dancing, and the remaining people were just enjoying themselves. Perfect.
Saturday: I SOMEHOW woke up really early with like 8 people sleeping in my room, and managed to have a somewhat productive day and go to my host family´s house for a little birthday dinner. It was so lovely, and I felt so blessed to have them in my life,and to continue to share a beautiful relationship with them. Afterwards, I went out and met up with Sophie and Jason in Viña and went to a bar I hadn´t been to in a while. One of Sophie´s firneds came, and as they were catching up, Jason and I had one of the most incredible conversations. We went SO many places from the War to cigarettes, to stretching to God (or, "God") to family.... Just Everything. We were totally vibing,and it was great. Sophie went off with her friend and Jason and I went back to the place they were staying where I ended up staying as well. Sophie came home eventually and we all noticed that it was about 6 Am. And here we were just chatting all the while! Great.
The next day, Sunday, I was still in Viña and decided to take advantage of the Ocean. So, I stripped down to my sports bra and shorts,and took a transformative, metaphorical dip in the cooooooold Pacific. It was beautiful, and brought me back.
Then, from Viña I walked home to Valpo, helped my roomate move her stuff out, talked with my new roomates for next semester, and Finally went to sleep. Before 6 am.
phew. What a weekend it was!
Now: Last day of May. June will fly, and July will come. I will eventually part ways momentarily with this Country and go back to the one I know best. Ill probably have my freak-outs and feel strange, etc... But, DUH! I think it is my crazyness that keeps me sane, after all. So, happy birth day to me, happy birth day to you, too.
Chau Chau!