After returning to Santiago, we returned to our homes, briefly. I began to unpack, unloaded all of my photos, and said hello to Consuelo.
At 10pm, Joe, Michael, and I met far west of our homes, in Barrio Brasil, to visit Las Vacas Gordas, our favorite restaurant, one last time. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the wine was a treat. The wine, from the vineyard Apaltagua, was part of their “spring” line. A young wine, we had a 2013 bottle, even though it was still 2013: something you can only do in the Southern Cone of wine making!
Today was a long, albeit good, day. I continued to unpack from Patagonia, before heading into the center to meet up with Michael, and run some errands. We met up at the office, and after some dillydallying, headed out. We went to la Feria Santa Lucia to do some last minute shopping. I mostly walked around looking lost, not sure what I was buying for whom, or for whom I was buying at all. I realized that this would probably be my last opportunity to do any shopping before leaving Chile, so I did my best to remember everyone on my theoretical list. After shopping for far too long, we headed into the center to cross one more thing off of our todo list.
Afterwards, I headed to the Vinoteca while Michael headed off to Estación Central for more shopping. I needed to bring a few bottles of wine home for presents, and didn’t want to leave that until the last minute.
After successfully finding that wine for which I was looking, I returned home and quickly changed for dinner, before meeting with Joe to go to his cousin’s house for a last Shabbos dinner in Chile. It was lovely to see them again; they were so hospitable to me this whole semester, and I truly couldn’t thank them enough. It was a lovely shabbat dinner, and a heartfelt goodbye.
Today was a day that had a plan. It was a planned day. And yet, not one part of that plan was completed, except the first.
The first part of the day’s plan involved an interview about my internship with the Tufts-in-Chile supervisor, Peter Winn. The interview went pretty well, and lasted nearly the full hour allotted, until Michael arrived early and interrupted. Since we met near the mall, I ran over in search of a few last minute presents, though left deciding that I didn’t need what the mall was selling.
Originally, the plan had been to go to Fantasilandia, the largest amusement park in Chile, followed by one last party before heading to Mercado Central for breakfast in the morning, and finally, getting some sleep. However, Fantasilandia was closed for most of the month, rented out for end-of-the-year parties by various companies. The first part of our plan was out.
Instead, we headed to Carolyn’s house for a goodbye lunch, which was lovely, before heading over to Joe’s for a goodbye lunch. Michael, Joe, Evelyn (Joe’s host mom) and I, spent the afternoon hanging out, talking, and laughing. As the sun set, we headed over to Michael’s house to hang out for a bit, before heading over to Amalya’s for the final party, which was quite a bit of fun.
Originally, we planned on going to Bellavista for a final night out. However, Sunday was election day, so everything had to close early. The second part to our plan foiled. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the rest of the night. Early in the morning, we didn’t go to Mercado Central, as planned, since we believed it to be closed as well. Rather, I walked home and slept the morning away.
Today was a long day indeed. After sleeping in way to late, I began to pack, at least a small amount. Joe called me and invited me over for lunch with Evelyn and the family, an offer I couldn’t refuse. After packing a little bit more, I went over to Joe’s house, by way of bicycle.
I had been hoping to sell my bike to Consuelo, but that sadly fell through at the last minute. Michael had mentioned that his host family had said that they would have purchased his bicycle had he not sold it to someone else, so I asked him to ask them if they would be interested in purchasing my bike. Sadly, the answer ended up being no, but it was nice to bike to Joe’s house anyway.
Lunch was quite lovely. Although Joe and I were exhausted – I even accidentally work my shirt inside-out – he made lunch for everyone. It was a nice lunch, and I can’t thank Joe’s host family enough for taking me in. They were so kind and welcoming, and always put up with the fact that Joe, Michael, and I preferred to hang out at their house over any other. It was hard to say goodbye, but in the end, I left after a long and lovely afternoon.
I returned to the apartment to continue packing. Consuelo returned a short time later; she had spent the day in Rancagua, visiting her family. I had the dinner that she made me; I think she realized that she was wrong to have made me dinner for one on my last night in Chile, so she sat in the kitchen and we talked for a while, before I returned to packing for the rest of the night.
Although today was my last day in Chile, it does not me it was a relaxing day, by any means. It began with breakfast and coffee at Cafe Wonderful, where I also wrote a few thank-you notes to various people who had impacted my trip this semester. I then headed over to the post office, where I tried to buy stamps. However, the only stamps they had in stock were Christmas themed stamps. Normally, I would have no problem with using stamps such as those, but as I was mailing a letter to a Rabbi, I purchased the stamps, but then lated decided I didn’t want to use them. I also bought a cardboard box, in which to wrap some of the paintings and posters I had purchased this semester.
I then headed to the office, dropped off the box, and chatted with Loreto for a while. I ran into some other Tufts students doing some last minute errands, and talked with them as well. Then, I headed back to Feria Santa Lucia to purchase one last item on my list, and was successful and swift in that action. I walked across the street and into the Biblioteca Nacional. Although I had been many times, I realized, after Hannah left Chile, that I had no pictures of the building, and that I should really fix that. Thus, I spent some time walking around the building and trying to capture the essence of its beautiful architecture.
I headed out the back of the building, and went to a bookstore or two in an attempt to find a map of Santiago that I liked, and was finally successful in that venture as well. Since I was “nearby” the Plaza de Armas, I decided to go to the central post office. I had heard that it was beautiful inside, and I also thought they might have some other options for me to purchase stamps. I arrived, only to discover that, while beautiful, it is also a lot like the DMV, insofar as the line was so long I couldn’t even tell where it began or ended. Thus, I immediately left, and decided to try my luck elsewhere.
I then walked back towards the office to buy manjar and pisco, gifts for myself. After putting all of my newly purchased items (except the box) into my backpack, I headed back to the original post office. I had decided to simply buy international stamps, which were not Christmas themed.
After that, I headed to the calle Nueva York to exchange my final pesos, leaving only enough for lunch, to get to the airport, and for some food at the airport. I then met up with Joe for lunch at Mercado Central, where I had my last fresh Corvina for an indefinite amount of time. Lunch began and ended late, and so I had to take the metro to the office to pick up my box, before rushing to the apartment.
I arrived at the apartment at 4pm. I was to be picked up in an hour. I quickly realized that I was not nearly as packed as I had thought I was 6 hours before, when I left the house. That was the bad news, but I tried my best to pack as quickly as I could, and was done by the time I was picked up. Consuelo came home from work early to say goodbye, and I was office to the airport.
After spending nearly an hour picking people up; we went in a van that held 6 Tufts students, though it felt as if we were in a clown car by the end, we arrived at the airport three hours before takeoff. It took at hour to check our bags, many people had problems with weight. One of my bags was 5 pounds over, but my other bag was 5 pounds under, so I was allowed a pass. We hugged Carmen Gloria, Loreto, and Joe (who was extending his trip) goodbye, and went through passport control and security.
With only ten minutes before boarding, Michael and I ran to a restaurant to order our last beer in Chile, and eight empanadas to share. We stared at the “departures” screen, first thinking that our boarding had been pushed back 10 minutes, and then realizing it had been pushed up 15, and we were late. Thus, we quickly finished our food, and ran to our gate. I got in line, and he purchased us our final Chilean candy bars.
The flight wasn’t bad, and I slept for most of it, except for the meals, sadly, I arrived in Miami on time.
Tuesday, December 17, Back in the USA
Although the flight officially concludes my time on the Tufts in Chile program, I must include my escapades in the airport as they were just too ridiculous to go unmentioned.
We arrived at Miami at 4:30am. We slowly walked off of the airplane, and were greeted by new automated kiosks to do customs for us, as we were US citizens. After scanning our passports, answering a few questions, and having our picture taken, we took a printed receipt to an agent, who welcomed us home.
Then, baggage claim. However, one of my bags didn’t arrive. This wouldn’t have been that worrisome had it not been the bag that contained all of my presents and paintings and wine. There was another plane that was set to arrive in an hour from Santiago, and we were told that we could wait, but that there would be no promises it would be on board.
Thus, we headed through customs, and were led to a baggage drop area. However, the tag on my bag that did make it had fallen off. I had to exit the secure area and recheck my bag. I did so, though had to go through two different lines to do so. Afterwards, I went through security. As I had just arrived after an 8 hour flight, had had my bag lost, and then had to recheck another bag when I typically wouldn’t have to do so, I was understandably tired. Thus, I thought it was excusable that I had forgotten about my Tufts water bottle that was filled with water. The TSA agent informed me that I could exit security, dump the water, and reenter security, or I could relinquish the bottle as a whole. She refused my offer to drink its contents.
Thus, I exited the security line, dumped my water bottle, and got back in line, to go through security again. The second time was fairly easy, and I headed off towards my gate, D60.
On my way there, I checked the departures screen, and found Michael’s flight, gate D1, at the other end of the terminal. I continued to D60 such that I could drop my stuff off with Emily, who is also from Pittsburgh, but she wasn’t there. Thus, I got on the SkyTram, overheard some Chileans (which filled me with great joy) and arrived at gate D1 with 10 minutes to spare. Michael and I said goodbye, ate our Chilean candy bars, and he boarded. I headed back to my gate, during which time I spotted a young Modern Orthodox woman sprinting to her flight, two twins in the stroller, and arrived as my flight was boarding. I got into my seat, and proceeded to relax for the first time in the last 4 hours. What a weird feeling it was to be going home.