ARICA SIEMPRE ARICA

Arica, the northern most city of Chile, the city of eternal spring, has been my home for the year.   Hard to believe that it´s time to go already.  But school is out and there is another few thousand kilometers of this diverse country to explore before I return to New Zealand.  My first post on here included a picture of the sun rising over the Pacific taken from Mangawhai Heads and while this will not be my last post from Chile, it will be my  last from Arica, where I have had the priviledge of watching the sunset over the other side of the pacific many evenings.

Felicitaciones San Marcos,
 making it through to the Primera Division!

I have made some precious friends and outlandish mistakes!  There have been times of elation and confusion. I have had both routine and adventure, mistakes and mischief.  But best of all I have learned!! I have learned a language, a new way of expression, and a new way of understanding,  I have learned a new way of life and of viewing the world.  And I have learned this from people, people who have been open and generous, taking time to teach me and to share with me, people who have laughed at me and with me, who have both questioned me and understood me.

Thank you, Paulina, Daniel, Maja, Nelson, Laura, Julio, Connie, Pamela, Emily, Rodrigo, Trevor and Patty... nos vemos!!!

And the delicious fresh fruit and veges available at every corner

Looking forward to bringing home these new understandings, to share them with my students... because as great as this adventure has been for me personally, that was always the point, to enrich my teaching and the learning of my students.  Keeping my eyes on the prize, I feel a real sense of satisfaction and appreciation.

I have down sized my apartment into to small bags that I will carry on my back for a month as I travel through Chilean Patagonia and Lake Ristrict, where I will no doubt encounter my first spot of rain in over 9 months!

Here are a few photos in tribute to favorite places and things I´ll miss!  Chau Arica ha sido genial, gracias para todas por todo x

Shameless gorging of barbequed meat!

Street Musicians

Trying new things in this case tumbo
a perfect cross between the tastes of a lemon and passionfruit!!
New favorite gelato flavour!!

The port, favorite place to see the sea lions basking the sun,
 buy fresh fish and eat at the local seafood restuarants!

Reflective view from my balcony -
as the sunsets on New Zealands yesterday