Que Los Cumplas Feliz

Highlights of my birthday week(end). The party lasted for five days straight!

• Going to my weekly Baha'i discussion/study group and once (like an afternoon tea--we usually have eggs and toast) with friends on Tuesday evening, followed by salsa dancing and a big glass of strawberry juice.
• Hearing live blues in the Salon Rojo (the Red Room, scarlet walls adorned with posters of Communist leaders, ha!) at La Piedra Feliz club in Valparaiso. Downstairs we got to see Congreso, a legendary Chilean folk rock band.
• Having a long weekend due to the celebration of the Naval Glories of Chile on Thursday. A national holiday, it celebrates the sacrifices of heroes like Arturo Prat in the Battle of Iquique in 1879, and all branches of the armed forces march through the streets of Valparaiso. I braved the crowds to watch the parade.
  
• Seeing Michelle Bachelet (president of Chile) in person as she arrived at the parade! Just so you know, she rides in a Honda.
  
• Dancing the night away at el Huevo and meeting a great new friend and salsa partner, who is just confused by salsa turns as I am and did not react with the usual disdain of Chilean men at my mediocre yet earnest dancing.
  
• As the club prepared the close, they started playing cueca and Valparaiso de mi amor and other Chilean folk music and we all danced like crazy people. It was one of those wow-I'm-actually-in-Chile-and-loving-it moments!
  
• A glorious afternoon on a perfect clear day at the botanical garden with my language exchange group. Two gringos + four Chileans + Uno + hiking + ducks + a picnic.
• The arrival of my cousin Sarah on Friday for brief yet awesome visit! I got to show off my new cities, celebrate with her, and convince her that Chile is superior to Argentina.
• Finally meeting my host brother's girlfriend, Marcela, who is adorable and very sweet.
  
• Having pizza with friends at Cafe Journal, followed by a showing of The Number 23, a Jim Carrey thriller that we all agreed was stupid, but which was chosen especially for my birthday--May 23.
• A Skype party with family and friends in SC! Thanks for the cupcakes, guys!!
  
• An unexpected phone call from my host brother (out of town for the weekend) to wish his hermanita a happy birthday.
  
• Eating seafood at a seaside restaurant on a foggy Saturday afternoon, followed by a visit to Pablo Neruda's house and a brief shopping jaunt, followed by once at my favorite cafe in Cerro Alegre and fruit wine at Ritual, an artsy little nightspot made artsier by live Chilean folk music (guitar, clarinet, and accordion) and an impromptu theatre performance by wandering actors in which a sailor-clown dealt with the consequences of knocking up his two girlfriends, Javiera Maria and Maria Javiera. A perfect evening and pure Valparaiso!
• A restful Sunday spent catching up on homework, emails, and, of course, blogging.

Happy 21 to me!