food packaging

so... chilean food isn't exactly good for you. this of course, excludes fruits and vegetables of chilean origin. but i mean.. the FOOD... the empanadas, breads, sweets, candy, hotdogs, fried dough with sauce (sopaipillas) and greasy beef sandwiches. there's also a ton of packaged items. they sell these twinkie-like things with either chocolate or vanilla frosting. they have bags and bags of different chips and salty sweets. they have like 15 different kinds of chocolate (chocolates bars, truffles, bonbons, alfajors), sugary candies like gum drops, different flavored marshmallows, jordan almonds, hard candies, candied nuts (did you know the guys who do the nuts 4 nuts stands in nyc are chilean?), brownies, manjar or marmelade stuffed donuts.... the list goes on...

you know how you look at a package of chips while you're eating them in new york and they say they were made in seattle? well i got used to expect that sort of thing in the states. half the reason why packaged food has a bad rep and you can convince yourself it's gross. in chile though, you might look at your bag of chips and realize it was packaged only a few miles away or in a town two hours away. does it mean this stuff has less preservatives? no. does it mean it's any better for you? i'm sure not. does it convince you that it's not completely gross and almost kind of desirable? kind of... and that's the scary part.

pleasant surprises

so i've been here for a little more than 3 months (mind you this post was written a month ago) since then we have done more cool things :)

i am impressed and amazed i have been able to do the following (in addition to teaching)...

1) hike a volcano

2) see a glacier lake

3) hitchhike and see some of the most amazing things ever

4) visit and chat with a mapuche about native culture

5) relax in hot springs during a rain storm next to a raging river

6) go whitewater rafting

7) go salsa dancing

8) participate in a couple of latin american jam sessions

9) navigate chilean public transportation in the depths of rural territory

10) visit and tour a chilean winery

11) hold an awesome party enjoyed by chileans and gringoes alike

and in less than two weeks we are headed to argentina to pick up some maté mugs and check out mendoza :)