Here is to el dia numero 2

After many hours of traveling, especially when you include extra delays and one lost bag, our pre-arranged ride to our apartment wasn't at the airport to pick us up. However, Jorge, an extremely friendly, and almost too helpful chileno, wanted to give us a ride, but really wanted our money! In the end, with his help (that we probably paid too much for), we did arrive safely and exhausted to our apartment.

There we found another extra friendly chileno, Vinka, our landlord's mother. She helped us get situated and explained every little detail involved in running different aspects of our apartment. It was about this time that I became extra grateful for our small, yet very modern apartment in the States. See if I complain about lack of counter space again!

Shortly thereafter, we all wondered what on earth we were doing in Santiago, Chile, and tried to come to peace with that reality, but found it somewhat difficult. We all have since received enough sleep and food to feel sane, and we are happy to be here and enjoying discovering different parts of the city. With my spanish, or lack of it as J seems to think, his travel know how, and C's beautiful smile, we have managed to get just about everything we need, except for some familiar food, which I would give lots of pesos for at this moment.

I can't seem to remember how to cook anything...what did I ever cook for meals before? I have no idea! Last night we had plain boiled pasta with butter- how's that for gourmet dining! I really think that it's the lack of ingredients in our home currently, which we are working at changing each day, but will probably take a while since we have to walk the heavy food home in plastic sacks about 7 blocks- while also pushing a stroller. Once we are stocked, the menu might improve. We sure hope so. That or we are going to come home much lighter from eating much less food and walking much more to earn it. Maybe that's why so many women are wearing what have to be smaller than size 0 jeans! Wow!

Anyway, today J went to his first day of work and had a good experience, and later C and I ventured out to a local park with lots of things for her to climb up and around. We even had rice and beans for dinner, just like most of Chile.

Other good news for the day, we located an LDS chapel about 5 blocks from our place, and it actually looks like one, but one in South America (picture to come). That was true luck considering how many listed chapels there are, and us not being familiar with more than 20 street names to help us know where they might actually be in this very large city.

One day at a time huh? Here is to day #2! Things really are an adventure here which is good for all of us to have those new experiences to help us grow and appreciate certain things.