Where is David?

The Chileans are definitely an amorous people. Due to the miracle of technology (a pen and a notebook), I am writing this in a restaurant, eating ceviche, drinking a glass of really good (and really cheap) cabernet, and watching a Chilean couple make-out. (not watching TOO much, though)

It’s not just them, however. It’s impossible to go to any restaurant, park, mall, bus stop, ice cream parlor, retirement community, etc., without seeing a kissing couple every other minute. Is this God making up for the time I spent in the land of amorous repression, Japan?

If that’s the case, one year of Japan is fixed after about one week in Chile on that scale. Must be the spicy food here or something…

Greetings everyone from the land of the hotdog, Chile.

Wow, I never knew hotdogs could be a staple food, but they really love them here in Chile. On almost every street corner, there’s a hotdog store. You can get a hotdog and a big draft beer for about $1.50. I haven’t stooped down to that level, yet.

And did you know that commas and periods are reversed here? For example one thousand fivehundred dollars and fifty cents is $1.500,50. This isn’t that confusing, but they also use the dollar sign ($) to mean ‘pesos’, which adds another dimension to this number madness.

Ok, maybe I’m being picky here. I’ll have some pictures soon, just have to find a place to live first. I’m staying in a room in a ‘residencial’, kind of like a hotel, but with a shared bathroom. It’s not bad. I’m paying about ten bucks a night, and the room is in an interesting old house. However, my room must have been the servant’s quarters or something, because it can’t be bigger than 4 meters by 3 meters.

Ok, I’ve got an apartment to find, but I’ll keep you posted.

Ok, maybe I shouldn’t write that as a title, but it’s partially true.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m back in L.A., preparing for my move to Chile. Had some minor setbacks, such as the apartment I had lined up in Santiago cancelling on me. So, I’ll be holed up in a hotel for at least 10 days until I can find a more permanent place. I guess it’ll be Shanghai all over again, right?

I meant ‘Still Alive, but barely’ because my life seems to thrive on the excitement of being in a foreign place, and L.A. just does not seem that foreign to me. So, I guess my life isn’t all that thriving right now. All my friends and family are doing great here, but my Mom put it best when she told me the quote that L.A. is just “96 suburbs in search of a city.” She’s originally from Chicago (a real city, with a downtown) in case you don’t know.

Of course, I shouldn’t get too down on L.A. It does have a downtown, you know. And if you don’t mind walking with an army of psychotic homeless people and fearing for your life after 7 p.m, I encourage to visit if you’re ever in town.

Ok, heading to Santiago soon….check the pictures section for some new pics!