the Saperstones are in Chile!

Pictures to view:
Santiago
Family and Friends
Chiloe & Puerto Varas
Valparaiso-Vina del Mar

I´m writing this entry mostly to assure all friends and family that my parents indeed arrived safely to South America and are having a fabulous time! I was soooo excited and also somewhat anxious about their visit. Their arrival corresponded with the end of my school year (and therefore entire college career) which brings to an end a chapter of my time here in chile. I am no longer living here as a student, but will be traveling my final few weeks here.

Anyway, monday morning I woke up at the crack of dawn to go to Santiago with my host dad Sergio and Leah. While we arrived at 8:30 the anticipation was only extended due to the delay of their flight by several hours. It was a glorious reunion, I was so happy to see them in the end. Sergio could not have been a better host for them that day. He took us around Santiago and gave my family a wonderful history and geography lesson. I have to say it was an entirely new experience to act as a translator, both my parents and Sergio were so excited and full of things to say I could barely keep up with everyone. However, in the end I was amazed at how well everyone got along and were able to communicate. My parents have been practicing and vastly improved their Spanish since I last saw them (meaning they can actually speak spanish at all) and Sergio was very patient and was able to understand bits and pieces of their english.

That evening we came back to Viña to meet the family and that also went wonderfully. I feel like I have realized an amazing dream by bringing these two families together. I knew from day one they were destined to have a strong bond and I am so thankful that it happened.

Yesterday we arrived on the island of Chiloé. We haven´t seen much yet but what we have seen is beautiful. While we arrived to cold and rain (the expected weather) we were greeted with sun and rainbows today. The only downfall has been some minor mechanical difficulties. The window of our rental car appears to be permanantly stuck rolled down...hmmmm. Today´s agenda includes auto repair. Its cool though, we´ll get it solved :). Gotta run, daylight is in short supply on this island. Happy fourth of july!