New Years In La Union

Well the year 2011 has finally come. And where was I to celebrate the beginning of the 3rd decade of my life? That's right, I was in Chile. In La Union to be precise with my friend Pablo and his family. I had a lot of fun and it was probably one of the greatest New Years I have had for awhile. First of, this family is one of the sweetest and most welcoming family I have met abroad and in the states. I felt like another daughter and absolutely love them all. I loved hanging out with my friend Pablo and meeting his friends too. Great practice with my Spanish and new oportunites to meet cool people. We had a delicious dinner on New Years Eve as a family complete with strawberry wine and lamb. Which when cooked on the bbq is my lover. I am going to miss it when I go back to the states. We talked and laughed and put on masks to watch the celebration count down in Santiago on TV. It was so pretty watching the fireworks and everything. When the countdown ended 5 hours before western washington and we hugged and toasted to the new year with champagne and pineapple icecream in it. So good. Or en Espanol: Fue rico. Then we sat and Pablo and his oldest brother played the guitar and they sang. I didn't know much of the songs but the singing was so much fun, and everyone joined in to sing and it was just lovely. Spanish folk music is my other lover. (Pablo likes using this phrase.) We then went to his friend's house and met up with the other people and drank some more and talked. Then they sang for like 3 hours and we were up until 8 in the morning. Then I went to sleep and woke up and we had lunch and talked and relaxed all day. Then in the evening we watched a movie, but I went to bed before it was even 30 minutes in it. I taught the boys how to play cribbage, and they thought it was fun. I loved my time with the family, and can't wait to visit again.

Also an interesting fact about Chilean New Years is it is very superstitious. There is a custom Maria Pablo's sister did was she took her luggage and ran around the house. This symbolizes good travel for the new year. There are others, but I am failing to remember them. All in all very fun.