Goodbye, July

Lately it seems as though there are not enough hours in the day.

Between finishing up schoolwork, work, and trying to maintain a social life, I am exhausted. Phew, July, you have been quite a month. Thanks for everything, but I'm ready for you to be over. I feel completely brain-dead.

Today and tomorrow are also my two best friends' birthdays, topping off the craziness that has been this month.

Anyway, here are a few photos of our July, starting with Pepa and my trip to our friend, Gino's, farm.

Gino's farm is way out in the country outside of La Serena. 

We ate delicious food, walked for miles, ate handfuls of passion fruit and talked until late into the night. 

sand

So here's to you, July. You've done us well.
I can't wait to see what August has in store for us...

Like my two and a half year anniversary with this guy.

exhaustion

My Love/Hate Relationship with Chile

Sometimes Chile can be the most frustrating place in the world. Today I'm feeling more on the hate side of things.

Point #1 - After university begins its first semester all agendas go off the shelves, leaving me agenda-less.
Point #2 - Whenever you go to someone's house and leave something there it will be gone forever.
Point #3 - Littering. Every. WHERE
Point #4 - The lack of dryers makes for some really smelly clothes.

But then it surprises you and you have to laugh at how crazy Chile is.

Van and Me

Today, after a wonderful weekend of rest and friends, I'm having a hard time getting going. So I sat down with some Van Morrison and a cup of tea. just to think. I opened the sliding door and listened to the ocean and felt the warm breeze from the weird weather we're having (did I mention it's winter??)

I thought about our weekend. Our trip to the feria (farmers market).

See our two newest additions to the family on the left? They have now found their respective homes in our room and the living room.
And see our bounty?!

Did we just steal?

Can you believe it was all less than $16?
See that face? That's a combination of overstimulation and hiding a pair of braces. What's that you say? I don't have braces? I don't know.

For lunch we made yummy tuna burgers (recipe to follow) with rice and tomatoes.

Pedro was introduced to Nanci Griffith, a favorite of mine when I was little.
And I found out that tin foil can cut you.

We took a walk down by the water to say hello to the sea lions.

hi!

good morning, seagulls!

The Marine Science building

Then I worked away on some homework while Pepa snoozed.

That night I had my welcoming party with some friends and we went out dancing. Whoops... I forgot to take a picture of Martin and Paula! Sorry!

On Sunday we laid in bed for as long as possible. After opening all the windows for fear of overheating. 

We ate corn in bed... 

And I played with our funny little clementine...

Then we decided it was time to venture out of doors...

And out of our stifling little apartment. 

We watched the sunset with everyone else who had stopped their cars on their way home to take pictures. 

And we walked and walked. 

good evening world

It was a good weekend. Then, we woke up this morning and realized we had left the keys in the door. A sure sign of relaxation. Even though it gave me a little bit of a heart attack. 

So today it'll start again. Going through some normal routines and letting myself just be a little bit more. 

I'm trying my hand at "To-Don't" (even though as I write this i've already written my To-Do list for the day...). Sometimes things don't come easily. Sometimes you just don't feel like yourself. Maybe every once in a while you just need some time to remember who you are.