Initial Chile Shots

CHILE!  We finally arrived.  But the arrival, come to find out, was the easy part.  I have thousands of photos taken while we were packing up our home in Charlotte, while in Oregon and San Francisco visiting family, and during our first month in Santiago.  While I sort those out, here are some shots from Chile.  I usually carry my camera with me at all times, but during the first couple of weeks here, I did not unpack it much, for some reason.  I was a bit overwhelmed with everything to consider the camera, I guess.  

This first one is from the end of our first week in Santiago.  At that time, we were staying in a hotel with about fifty (give or take) other people -- all "newbies" as we keep being called. After craziness each day looking for houses and furniture and cars - - this was our first opportunity to just hang out in a park with everyone.  

Look closely into the background.  While we are living in pretty flat terrain, everywhere you look, you see the Andes looking down into our little bowl of Santiago.

We made fast friends with Ty, Allie, and Kieran Trainor.  Kieran is three years old and is in preschool with Wyatt.  Ty and Allie are Nido teachers.  During our ten-day stint at the hotel, we hung out in the hotel hallways snacking on wine and crackers while our kids played, jumped, and watched movies.  The pool of new teachers is a nice mix of young and old, single and coupled, no kids and lots of kids.  We really like everyone we've met so far. 

Then, miraculously it seemed, on July 16th, we moved into our house.  The only thing we owned on that date was a bed.  One bed.  So we all snuggled under our towels and slept together for our first night out of the hotel.  The next day, our shipment arrived, and things got much more normal.

We are living in a neighborhood that is about 15 minutes from Nido.  It is called Vitacura, and it is more of a "house" neighborhood than an "apartment" neighborhood.  We have 100% Chilean neighbors here, and I cannot wait to begin making some local friends.  Around the corner is a large farmers' market every Thursday and Saturday, and just across the street is a pond filled with hungry and aggressive ducks.  About two blocks away, we have a lovely park which mirrors our local Noda park back in Charlotte.  It's our closest hang-out.  Greta and Wyatt were so happy to get some of their favorite toys and their bikes!

Chaos!

We also very rapidly were taken under the wonderful wings of Pablo, Ruby, and Paula (or is she Martina?), the amazing family with whom Maddi and Emma have a strong connection having each lived with this family at different times.  We were thrilled to have them host us on our first weekend in Chile at their home.  Having never met us, they drove an hour into Santiago, picked us up at the hotel, drove us all the way back to their home in the countryside, and did it all over again the very next day.  Since then, they have come into Santiago twice to visit us and to take us shopping and to show us around.  I have never known more generous people.  Inexplicably, I have no photos of this family save this one with Greta, Wyatt, and Paula making some treats.  Tonight Paula is coming for dinner at our house, and Sunday we are driving out to Pablo and Ruby's house for the day.  This marks the beginning of a long friendship, I know.

Kieran, Greta, and Wyatt play in the backyard.  Sweet kids and Spidy.

Same scene, different kitchen:  kids on the counter, baking away with Dad.  

Below, more Chilean treats, courtesy of Ruby and Paula.  

Loft beds and sharing a bedroom for the first time.  It's pretty stark white right now, but we have plans to add some color soon.  Under each bed is a cozy space to lounge, read, and play.  I love it that both of them begged to share a room.  Below, some bath time fun.  We have three showers in this house, but they still like to take baths together. 

Interesting aside, we have started juicing.  With inspiration from Aunt Heather and Uncle Matt, we bought a juicer and have been enjoying green, red, and orange juices.  Each juice has about 90% vegetable juice and 10% fruit juice.  Just enough sweetness to get anyone to drink it.  Each morning the kids are drinking spinach, cucumber, arugula, carrots, ginger, lemon, parsley, and oranges.  It's unbelievable.  

My view (above) outside my kitchen window during the day time.  Laundry on the line and kids playing under the parakeets in the trees.  At night, Greta and Wy (below) making a hangout under the drawers in the kitchen.  We are all still learning the quirks of this new house, but so far, we really like it.

The first day of Kindergarten finally arrived.  We've been talking about this day for over a year when Greta's older friends in Charlotte went off to kindergarten.  The day began at 5:45 am with a special lunch for little Greta.  

The standard photo by the front door . . . . Greta's school requires a hat to be worn at recess.  Greta chose to wear it all day.  Just covering her bases on the rules!

It's dark at 7:30 am in winter in Chile!  This is right outside Greta's classroom.  We get to see the sun come up like this each day.  Not a bad way to start!

Greta is in K2A class.  She was excited to see her name on the front door that first morning.

Below her classroom is the ECC - Early Childhood Center, or the main elementary school office.

Mr. Jon!  Greta's primary teacher is Mr. Jon who stands somewhere between 6' 7" and 6' 9".  He's a gentle giant and all the kids love this man. He makes lovely cozy corners . . . 

. . . sweet kitchens

. . . fun writing centers

and fantastic entryways!

This is Ms. Mariana.  She is Chilean and very kind and kissy with the children.  Lots of hugs and smiles and care.  Greta adores her.

Wyatt helps to drop Greta off at her room each morning at 7:30.  Then the two of us go to the playground or the library to hang out until Wyatt starts his day in pre-K.  He starts at 9:30, so we have two hours together each morning.  Another not-so-bad way to begin each day.

This is Greta's hallway in front of her room a little later in the morning after the sun peeked out. Below is the view from her room.  

No tornado drills - but there are earthquake drills.  I cannot think about it too much, or I get claustrophobic.

Below is Paul's Middle School. He is up on the third floor.  

This is what Wy and I did the first week when Greta was in school, and Wyatt wasn't going full-time yet.  We hit the mall pretty regularly - - which incidentally contains a doughnut shop - - and we worked on dinner.

This was Wyatt's first day of Pre-K.   I did not take my camera that day, in error. I took a bunch of photos on my phone, so be looking for those in coming posts.  Wyatt was so ready to begin school.  He loves it and wants to start earlier in the day and to stay later in the day.  He has had enough of hanging out with me!

They both love school so much, they play "school" on the weekends.  Greta is (of course) the teacher.  Wyatt is one of several other students here.  He's somewhat resistant to Greta's pedagogy, but she will bring him around.

Finally, and at very long last, we bought a car. Another VW.  Paul went to get it registered last weekend, and when he brought it home, he had us all go outside to christen it.  

As part of the christening, Wyatt threw some little bits of food in the floorboard.  

Greta put the Nido parking stickers on it.

And Paul applied his Spartan.  

Now, it's one of us!

Every time we tell folks that we live in Vitacura, they want to know where we are relative to Bicentennial Park.  Until last weekend, we hadn't a clue.  We finally found the park about a mile from our house.  It's fantastic!  Akin to Freedom Park for anyone familiar with Charlotte.  But instead of ducks and geese, it has swans, coy, and flamingos!

Our first month in Chile has been filled with far more adventure, chaos, and newness than these pictures can relate. We are excited for our future and are glad that we made the choice to come here.  So far, so very good.