SIKE!

I thought that my super-sentimental post would be my last from Chile, but I figured I should update and say
A) I decided not to spend the weekend in Santiago because it was too much of a hassle to coordinate and mostly because I really, really love Valdivia and I wanted to spend my last days in Chile in this city that has been so good to me for four months. So I have 1.5 more days in Valdivia before I get on a 12-hour bus to the airport to take a 9-hour plane ride. And then I'll be home!!!
B) My birthday was yesterday! It was really lovely- my family had a celebration for me complete with red wine and cake, I had coffee with some friends (actually, I had mint hot chocolate, YUM), and at night we went out and I danced to all my favorite reggaeton songs. It was a great Chilean birthday.

The other day I mentioned to my host family that it's a little anti-climactic to have my 21st birthday in Chile since it's already legal for me to drink here, therefore it's not as important of a celebration. To which my host mom replied, "But it is an important age! It's the age you can legally get married in Chile without your parent's consent!" HA! Don't worry, not planning on getting married before Sunday. BUT I COULD, which I guess is pretty cool.

So with those brief updates about my life, I'm back to packing :( It will be a Chilean milagro if I manage to fit everything without having to buy another duffel bag.