Cookout and Half Birthday

One exciting thing about Michelle´s house is you never know who will be coming over next. Michelle and I had a lazy few days after our huge day at the beach, but I stayed easily entertained... The day we returned Lily and Rafa came from Brazil. I feel blessed to have met them as they both are amazing!

Then was my HALF BIRTHDAY! I know very few people care, but my mother always made my half birthday special because my birthday was during the summer when my classmates couldn´t celebrate with me. I think it´s great to celebrate because it reminds you how short the year is.. I feel like a lot has changed in the last 6 months and it will continue to change for the next 6.

To celebrate Michelle and I went to ´the club´, a resortish pool, spa, work out area and country club in the Andes. It was GORGEOUS. We wore robes everywhere, laid out, had people serve us food, and ate chocolate ice cream. Perfect way to celebrate! That night a group of Michelle´s friends went to an improv show. I LOVE comedy, and even though it was in Spanish I understood most of the storylines.

The best part was afterward all the girls wanted to go to dinner... AT McD´s! More french fries! I think it is so cute how much they love McDonald´s here. We sat around in the parking lot eating and chatting.. All of Michelle´s friends are absolutely wonderful (not surprising) and really welcoming. Most of the conversation was about the elections on Sunday... will post more on that later! All in all a wonderful half birthday and I am excited to be 22 and a half.

On Saturday a Chilean and Canadian family joined the mix, and we had an amazing cookout with choripan (sausage and bread) and burgers. With three languages it was very interesting, but everyone was so nice. It was great to see a real community... no one seemed afraid to speak personally or explain struggles because the environment was so supportive. It was a true demonstration of how sharing with one another can be so positive and the vulnerability most people in the States are scared of is necessary for closeness. I strive to find such a group in Seattle and be that support system for all my friends back home, even with the distance!

I am going to continue posting tonight until I am caught up... stay tuned.