I counted down to 2009 on a rooftop in Valparaiso, Chile, with an old friend and several new friends, and a glass of champagne in my hand.  Then we watched a spectacular fireworks display that stretched along the coast in both directions as far as we could see.  It was a nice way to start the year, and I’m feeling very optimistic about 2009.  

Last year was a challenging but rewarding year for me.  2008 started off with some personal struggles, from which I believe I have learned and grown more than I could have imagined at that time.  This last year showed me what wonderful friendships I have in my life, and what a wonderful life I have, really.

So here are some of my favorite memories from 2008:

1.  March: Going to the beach with Dad and Tamara.  Pichidangui is one of my favorite beaches in Chile.  It’s beautiful and not very crowded.  Dad and Tamara didn’t listen to my warnings about the sun in Chile and Tamara ended up with a blistering sunburn.  She had finger marks above her nose where she had hastily applied sunblock, and a man in Santa Lucia Feria asked her if she fell asleep with her hand over her face.

 

 

 

 

2.  April:  My short-lived experience as the singer of a band.  Jorge truly made one of my dreams come true when he called up his musical friends and scheduled a practice room and formed our band (which I’m not sure ever had an official name.)  I think the other band members were a little skeptical at first, but I won them over with my special peanut butter cookies, and we had some really fun practices, until I left for Peru and then Kentucky.

 

 

 

 

3.  May:  John’s visit and our trip to Peru.  We met a Belgian girl named Isabel on the bus in Chile, and she joined us for most of the trip.  John and I don’t always see eye to eye (fortunately we had Isabel there to break up some of our spats), but I’m so glad he came and impressed that we are still friends after all this time (and drama). “Buchas” gracias, amigo!

We started in Santiago, took the bus to San Pedro de Atacama, where we stayed a few days, then went on to Peru, where we stopped in Arequipa, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, and Machu Picchu. 

Machu Picchu was incredible, and our hotel by the river in Aguas Calientes was damp, but beautiful.

 

 

4.  June and July:  Being back in Kentucky after 1 and a half years.  It was so good to see everyone again, although sadly there were a few people I missed while I was in the states.  But I even ran into a few unexpected people in Mayfield.  I’ve always said you can’t go to the Mayfield Wal-Mart without seeing 20 people you know.

Jorge visited, too, and I made sure he ate plenty of fried okra, although his favorite thing he tried was “tater tots“.  We went camping at Land Between the Lakes, where the raccoons ransacked our trash, and we sat in the car through a flash thunderstorm (something I really miss when I’m here in Chile.)

5.  September:  Dieciocho in Cauquenes.  Julia, Leandro, Esteban and I spent the national holidays in an old adobe house in the country.  We flew kites, drank homemade wine, bathed in the well, and just enjoyed being there with each other.  The outhouse had a beautiful view of the rolling hills…How often do you get a view like that while you’re sitting on the toilet?

6.  November:  Haley and Fena’s wedding reception.  Beautiful location, buena onda, wonderful people, delicious food, open bar and dancing nonstop ’til the morning.  Need I say more?

7.  January-December:  All of the wonderful moments I shared with Julia and Leandro.  Julia has been such a wonderful friend since I arrived in Santiago 3 years ago (and long before that, too).  Chile feels a little lonelier since she and her son went back to the U.S. on December 30.  I wish the best for them in their new home and new adventures, and I know that I’ll see them again soon, but I have to get a little nostalgic right now and say that I will miss making lunch with Julia and talking about our lives and friends here, watching Leo grow bigger, learn to crawl, then walk, then speak, singing “Itsy-Bitsy Spider”, struggling to stay up watching Heroes with Julia after she finally got Leandro to sleep, then spending the night there and being woken by hugs and kisses from Leandro.  I will even remember with a smile the not so great times, like the night Leo got sick and I had to help clean up puke from the floor, bed, and everywhere else it reached (you should know how squeamish I am about vomit), and there was also the day Leo threw my cell phone down the water-filled drain in the garden (amazingly, it still works, after being taken apart, blow dried, and replacing some of the parts!).  I don’t know what I would have done without you both in the last year.  Thanks for everything.  Besos from Tia Tyra.

That is part of life as an English teacher in Chile; people come and go, and I find myself saying good-bye a lot more than I’d like.  But I am so lucky to have met the people and formed the friendships I have here.  Happy 2009 and thanks to everyone who made last year so memorable.