Doneski. Beginning.

Good evening, the past few weeks have been interesting, eventful, and a good learning experience. Too many stories and details for a lazy blog entry...

Yesterday we finished our project (the majority of it) and capped it off with a conference and presentations to the municipalities of Pica and Camina. Then we did a personal self and peer evaluation by our pool during sunset which was a good learning experience and a great way to end our trip together.

After a cocktail party in Pica, we drove to Iquique and this morning we flew from Iquique to Santiago. Arriving in Santiago, we came to Hostel de Sammy (named after a dead dog named Sammy), and left to go looking for gear and food.

I now have until the 30th at 6pm to do whatever I want. I don't know what that is, but I will certainly do it, whatever that may be. Justin, Christine, and I will take a train tomorrow heading south of Santiago and from there, there are no plans. But I do hope to make it to Puerto Montt.

I'll be busing around the south, and back to Santiago. I'll make to Toronto for a couple hours in the morning of the 31st, and to Vancouver in the afternoon. From there, I hope to catch a Greyhound bus (if the strike is resolved) from Vancouver to Kamloops where I will pick up and drop off some things for the summer. And then take a bus back to Vancouver, stay at one of Allie's friends' houses for the night, and then early in the morning of the 2nd catch a ride up to Squamish for an Accessibility Low Ropes course. And that will be the beginning of my summer in Squamish.

So, in closing, if nobody hears from me after the 30th, let the Canadian consulate in Chile know.

More photos:
http://cariboobc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1193&l=714ac&id=127300125 , and
http://cariboobc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1192&l=38903&id=127300125


Peace out,

Matthew

Desert or Dessert?

1. Mom, to check trip fotos, click these 3 guys:

San Pedro trip
http://cariboobc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1106&l=d3ea8&id=127300125

La Parva trip
http://cariboobc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1088&l=a2754&id=127300125

Santiago
http://cariboobc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1026&l=ea5ff&id=127300125


2. I'm in Iquique. Past few days: Flew from Santiago to Iquique, rented a small car, saw some sand, dropped off luggage at hotel in Iquique, drove trough the desert to San Pedro with our clothes off listening to Savage Garden, saw some more sand, went sandboarding, ate some sand, drove along the desert coast to Iquique, saw lots of sand, and arrived in Iquique. Last night and today we met with regional FOSIS and CONADI representatives to get more of the DL on our project. It was very interesting, and I pleased myself for understanding almost all of the spanish presentations prior to translation. We were also interviewed and photographed for the local newspaper - to let the locals know about what we are doing here. Now half of the group is gone to the mall to watch "Hombre Arana Tres" (Spiderman 3) and I'm at the hotel chilling out. Tomorrow I plan on going surfing for my first time and possibly paragliding tomorrow or Sunday. We will be leaving on Sunday to the communities which will be working with. I will not be back to Iquique or any other city until the 24th (ie. Very little, if any, internet or phone access).

Bleeeeeh, I'm out - time to research where to rent wetsuits, surfboards, and paragliding lessons.

Ps. Miss you all (most of you anyways)

Pps. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLIE (tomorrow) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luv ya!