SPRINGTIME

I'm eating a peach right now. And there are some cherries over there...

Hi Mom. I know you're looking at this everyday in the hopes of more photos, despite my telling you how uninteresting they'd be. Well I've taken a break from my busy vacuuming and snacking schedule and put together a lil smattering. Here they are in all their glory. 

Pacifica Institute

It's a way of life, really. Not only are these pictures of my students and colleagues, but of my friends. My only friends.

Mika. Her 'tude is novel-worthy.

Studying the solar system. Our answer to the big bang theory.

Dancing the Cueca for Independence Day.

Nahuel planting peas and beans. He talked the whole afternoon about the wolves that lived in the grass. Obvi he's prepared for whatever happens.

Mika and Munay on a cupcake-and-trampoline-induced high.

A picture is worth a bazillion words. I think this is the greatest photo I've taken since getting here. I'm planning on using it in all our parent-teacher conferences.

Planting mystery seeds. I jumbled them all up in an attempt to avoid trouble with the fuzz in customs.  Whatever. We are going to eat whatever pops out.

Sophia, 2 second away from some crazy WWF shit on the trampoline.  If you have a  preschool and are thinking about getting a giant trampoline,  DON'T.

But if you teach 14 year old boys, please do get a trampoline.

Beer friday with Leo. Leo inspires poetry in me. He is the #1 reason why I love this place. He is my guardian angel. He would be so uncomfortable if he read this. Please don't tell him.

Photos Taken By Children

Always a great decision, letting them use my very expensive camera

We are both named Nina! Just a couple Ninas, wearing diapers.

Sweet sweet Carito. My partner in crime. And to the left, Panchito having teatime.

Dead. Just in case you thought we had captured a live humming bird and put it on a plate.

Travels

I am not the first nor the last person to seek legal shelter within the warm confines of Argentina.

The Cordillera. And the tunnel getting through.

I'd like to title this piece "5 hours in a Bus Terminal"

This is for Remy

Mendoza, Arg. 

San Pedro de Atacama. Round 2.

Antofagasta, Round 2.

and the misc.....

Nicky waiting outside the doctor's office. Vina del Mar.

PUPPIES GONE WILD

Happy Birthday Kristina!!

El General

Just because he gets us through the day.....

Tu Pum Pum

 Valparaiso 

This city rules. It's what SF would be if Google never happened.

 

Nighttime is the Right time

La Familia

Time with friends and family & Dieciocho at the Thai temple where my jefa lives...

I wanted one so bad. But they're 1/2 Bull Mastiff 1/2 Bernese Mountain Dog.
You'd need to take a loan out to feed one of those things after a while.

Ovaldo. This kid's a hot mess.

Leo grillin'. This meat's just the tip of the iceberg.
There's like $100-worth more just outside the frame.

Nango & Niki

Kristina & Niki

Marjorie, her BF with Lance Bass eyebrows, Diego, Jose Ignacio, Mama Maria
We're on, like, hour 4 of eating. Everybody's so over it in this photo. 

Entry #3 - Closing in...

So from the mystical Atacama we headed back to Antofogasta, a coastal copper mining town. A friend of a friend, Keka (shout out!), let us stay with her and her mom before our trip back down south to my home away from home, Cachagua. We spent the last week there wandering the beach, eating empanadas, and reading. Oh and getting geared up for the 18th.

Getting a lesson from Luisa about chorros (and so much more). The beach here is made of shells.
I guess that's only appropriate for a city built on sand.

Keka and Luisa breakin it down to what I remember is "Smoke on the Water"

Interlude - Emily eating empanadas "Queso-Camaron Queso"

'La Vanesa' had us waiting on those steps ever' day.
Claudia has made a deal with the devil.
These things are crack.

It's hard to get back on the wagon after a 4-week binge of empanadas. I'm feeling for my lady, who no longer has a steady supply of deep fried cheese pockets available to her at all hours of the night. If you or anyone you know has an inside tip to get some in Northern Cali/Nevada, please leave a contact number in the comments box. Much appreciated. 

                                                                               - Nina And Desparate Affiliates

CACHAGUA - AKA Stinson Beach, Chile

This is by far and away the most detailed map we have seen of the area. It was in a driveway in Valpairiso and everytime we tried to take this pic, a deafening alarm would sound.
Man, knowledge IS power.

See that island? 10 whole penguins live on it. 

My neighbors.
Those of you from West Marin will understand what this means.

EH! EH! EH! PAcifiCA! PAcifiCA! PAcifiCA!
I live here! It's a school!

My kitchen/ the school office. Secretary pictured (left).

So beautiful, right?!?!?!?!
It averages about 40F degrees in here.

September 18th is Chilean Independence Day. Nerds will tell you it was actually the 11th but pshhh whatever, Luis. The important thing here is that it's CINCO DIAS DE DESCANSO!. The way the holiday fell this year, we got 5 days of meat eating, cueca dancing, and an opportunity to watch cowboys push cows around (rodeo).

Antichucho with NikiPatti

Captive audience. 

SOMEBODY got shwill on chicha.

That's whole puff's goin inside that kid's stomach.

We don't even know this kid