Moved.

Dear Friend,

It’s a Sunday afternoon, so naturally nothing is happening. I’m outside on my new patio listening to the birds flit around in the ivy and the bush next to the pond. I don’t know what kind of bush it is. It has leaves.

It’s a shady patio. It only gets a few hours of sun a day since it’s enclosed by our apartment building. But when it does get sun it’s amazing. When it doesn’t get sun, it’s just a really nice patio. I imagine it being a prime location for parties some night in the future.

My new apartment is splendidly imperfect. I can’t complain about the neighborhood. It’s tucked away off of the main, downtown avenue but still extremely close to the center of the city. I ran through the capital last week; it wasn’t too great since it’s congested as eff, but regardless it was an experience to say that I went on a run… through the nation’s capital. And I live 3 minutes away. The building is super old. The streets are made of cobble stone and everything is really antique-like. I can roll with that, though, it has nice character. It’s a very international neighborhood. There aren’t that many Chileans, which is unfortunate, but there are people from everywhere. I live with a guy form England, a guy from Germany and a guy from California. Despite them not being native Spanish speakers, which is a slight turn-off, I am being exposed to different cultures and different people, which, at the heart of my study abroad experience, is what I’m looking for.

The apartment is self is actually kind of big, thanks to some remodeling. Our kitchen isn’t huge, but we each have our own rooms and we have a nice living room with comfy sofas and chairs. Positive: I have my own bathroom. Negative: My room’s windows open up to the wall of my roommate’s room. Shoddy remodeling plans. Positive: We have lots of windows and doors to the patio. Negative: They’re single pained and without door-jams.

But what’s a definite positive is that I can walk to class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Save some money, burn some calories… that’s called efficiency.

Since I moved from living with a family, I basically had to start from scratch as far as food and amenities go. My trip to the outdoor market with $25 yielded a ton of fruits and veggies: apples, bananas, oranges, kiwis, lemons, cilantro, zucchini, cucumber, onion, carrots and more. It’s ridiculous.

While I write to you, friend, my body feels so old. So incredibly tired and sore. Why? Because yesterday was the Ultra Marathon of the Andes 2009 in Santiago. Me and some teammates from school went up into the hills and raced what the event organizers call “North Face’s Endurance Challenge.” I ran 10K (6.25 miles) and won. It was nuts. It was awesome. I was super pumped. I got free North Face shoes and a Gore Tex duffel bag. And a head lamp. With batteries. (Results- http://www.ultramaratondelosandes.cl/resultados.html -- Listado por distancia-- 10K Masculino) (Photos of the race in general - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=560830685#/album.php?aid=148049&id=95079952639&ref=mf and http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=560830685#/album.php?aid=148205&id=95079952639 )

The race categories included 5K, 10K, 21K (half marathon), 50K and 80K. Cesar got 2nd in his category and 3rd overall in the 21K and Nacho got 3rd overall in the 50K. Beast. He started at 5 a.m. and finished a little after 11 a.m. Over 6 hours of running. Sounds enticing, right? The 80K competitors started at 2 a.m. Ick.

The winner was a guy from Massachusetts who runs for team North Face. I talked to him and his wife after the race for a bit (gringo connection). I think her name was Lisa… or Linda… maybe, I can’t remember. Regardless, she knew where Monson is. Shout out to the Sweeneys!

The first 3 men and women in the 80k and 50k races got money as well as other prizes. I was holding out for my check for a long time until I found out had to have run one of those races. Boo that.

But overall the race was fantastic. It was really hard. I was shuffling up the mountainside wheezing. And I admit/confess/confide in you that I walked for about 50 meters. I’m not proud of it. But I did it. Running in that countryside in the hills was such a good experience, though. To be out of the city running in trees and grasses and over creeks and alongside cows and through groups of horses… I want to go back and explore.

So those are the two big things that have been going on in my life. School ends in about 6 weeks. I’m pumped more than you can believe. I’m going to plan my first vacation trip up North today or tomorrow.

Also! Check out some work I’ve been doing with the Revolver Magazine (www.santiagomagazine.cl). I haven’t written anything significant yet, but I have a few stories in progress and some photos in their albums.

Carnaval Album: http://photos.santiagomagazine.cl/main.php?g2_view=slideshow.Slideshow&g2_itemId=12815

Feria Album: http://photos.santiagomagazine.cl/main.php/v/venues/Ortuzar+Feria/

Event Preview: http://www.santiagomagazine.cl/index.php/en/agenda/featured-events/23-agenda/416-preview-panic-at-the-disco.html