From Tracura to Peñaflor....

Hello everybody!

So I currently am in Peñaflor, Santiago. I left with my chilean friends Pato and Rene yesterday before sunrise to catch the only bus ride out to Melipueco and then to Temuco. Pato departed from us in Melipueco and Rene and I continued on to Temuco. Once we got into Temuco, we had a completo and coffee (breakfast of chileano champions) and then went to a open air market to but some merken which is a dry chili powder spice that is prevelant in Chilean meals and is indigenious by origin. I bought about 1 mil of it. It is really good. After wards, we found a spot on the Pan American highway and began to try hitchhiking norte towards Santiago. My friend Julia and her boyfriend just got back from hitch hiking and had done it in one day. However, hitchhiking in Chile is so hit-or-miss. Sometimes you end up sleeping roadside for a day or two until you get a ride. Anyway, Rene and I had shit luck yesterday for hitch hiking. And we didnt have the extra days to spare for roadside camping. So, by 6 pm, we decided to by a bus ticket for an overnighter. We paid 8 mil each for a ride with a Bus line called Ben-Surr. We left at 9:30pm and got into downtown Santiago at 6:30am before the sunrise. Rene is totally this once weathered street squatter punk. We are both looking mightly dirty and homeless at this point. No shower for days....looking muy sucio and tired and grumpy with city life. Hanging on our packs are strange indigenious instruments. Rene always plays his trutruka (Mapuche horn) at the crack of sunrise and sunset. And him playing this instrument as we walk thru the city is another oddity and comfort at the same time.
Anyway, here i am in Peñaflore, Santiago. I it very chilean in this area. Literally no touristas just locales which is how i like it! Rene happened to have to come to Santiago for an appointment on the 27 and knowing about my limited money buget, had invited me to stay as a guest at his family`s house in Peñaflor. Newen! Newen!! Such good luck! Bueno suerte! So anyway, I just wanted to write quickly to say hello to everyone and that I am doing well. My host family is wonferful and kind to me. They also love the fact that I teach children. I get this from a lot of south americans...it`s great! Anyway, I shall write more about my farm experience laters when I have more time!
Much love to everyone and Newen!Newen! (Mapudengum for good/total/positive energy...like Namaste or chi)
ciao!
xo