Hi!

Pics to come a bit later. For now, here are some of my thoughts in numbered list form:

1. Sometimes I forget if I´m speaking English or Spanish and muddle them up by speaking the wrong language or saying things like "It´s important to traduclate". (Traducir is the verb "to translate" and ¨traduclate¨ is worse than Spanglish.)
2. Sometimes I forget that Greg-o isn´t fluent and I ask him why he´s being so quiet. (Although, he has improved his language skills quite a bit since we´ve gotten here.)
3. I really like that celery is small tree size.
4. I´m very nervous to begin my research, but am going to start making arrangements after the weekend.
5. Miguel, we are going to live with Consuelo.
6. I like that olives actually taste like olives, not what they´ve been preserved in.
7. Most of my life is consumed with improving my Spanish, spending time with fam, food, and relaxation. How sweet it is! Must relish all of this before it slips away into research mode.
8. Chileans have more modismos and dichos (slangs and sayings) than actual words. I´m convinced. The most typical is ¨po¨which is derived from ¨pues¨which means well. However, it´s used like like is used in English. ie all the time as a filler, without logic or meaning. Many others are xxx rated. Lots about the body and sex, with everything about women representing awesomeness and everything about men representing rough times. Quite funny.Others that are just plain silly. As in, hey buddy, how did it go? Like celery. aka boring. What´s more boring than celery?
9. I feel at home here with the ocean just a few minutes away walking distance. I love the ocean. I think maybe I was a mermaid in a recent past life.
10. Love and miss you. Thanks for all of your comments. I´ve never had or read a blog before. What´s proper blog etiquette? Do I respond to comments? Will you read them?

Okay. Must go. Much love. Peace.
Eli