Settling into my new home!

I've spent the past week getting to know Santa Cruz and its people, and I love the small town life here. My hosts, Monica and Rolf, always run into friends whenever we go into town and Rolf likes to introduce me to them as his daughter, which is actually believable since Rolf is of German heritage. Rolf has a typical dad sense of humor and jokes around with me (like pretending to push me in the pool and calling me a monkey because I eat a banana every day). Monica offers me candies and takes me to run errands and to the hair salon with her. They are really great people, and they make me feel very at home here. I love having sweet Chilean parents.

The work at the hotel is very laid back. It’s a very welcoming, intimate environment, so when guests come to stay, they are treated just like that; guests. Breakfast is served at a reasonable time, conversations are casual and sincere, and the whole experience is relaxed. I love getting to know guests as they pass through. Monica and Rolf always tell me stories of guests that have turned into friends, who send them gifts or bring them gifts from their home countries when they come back to Chile to stay at Finna Estampa again. What a fulfilling and cheerful business! I’m very happy to see this sector of the hospitality industry.

Monica and Rolf’s son, Alex, comes to stay here on the weekends and he’s been hanging out with me, showing me around Santa Cruz, taking me to meet his friends, and teaching me bartending tricks (he’s in bartender school here, which is actually very demanding. It involves learning history, theory, mixology, and bartending tricks like throwing bottles and martini shakers in cool ways. There are written and physical exams, and according to him, it’s very strict. PS I'm horrible at the bottle tossing, so you don't have to worry about me staying in Chile and bartending for rent). It’s really nice to spend time with someone closer to my age. Two nights ago, we ate junk food and watched The Conjuring and then Final Destination. It was such a wonderfully normal evening. He understands that being at the hotel all day can be a little boring, so he takes me into town with him and to parties with his friends. Everyone is always really friendly and welcoming to me, and I love getting to know them and what they do for fun in this sleepy town (Answer: barbeques and Pisco, which is a common liquor here, made from fermented grapes). Actually next weekend, we’re going to the nearby beach town of Pichelemu, so that should be fun!

This past week, I introduced Monica and Rolf and Alex to the PB&J. They were appalled that I would combine peanut butter (which isn’t a big thing here in the first place, just occasionally used for baked goods) and marmalade on a sandwich. When I explained that this was actually probably the most normal, common thing for kids to eat in the US, they thought I was actually crazy. Alex tried it, apprehensively, and thought it was weird but kind of liked it. Monica and Rolf wouldn’t even go near it. Then I told them that it’s a bit strange from an American standpoint that they eat so much cow tongue, and they once again thought I was crazy, as if questioning why anyone would ever pass up cow tongue. Oh Chile. Then I made 3 PB&J’s to go for Alex to bring to his friends with whom he drove back to Santiago. Can’t wait to hear their reactions to this wild and crazy American concoction!

I have a lot of time on my hands here, so I’ve been working on planning everything for the upcoming road trip when my parents come to Chile! It’s going to be an adventure, starting in Santa Cruz and wine country and making our way south to Chiloe Island over a little more than a week, stopping at all sorts of interesting places along the way. Things are starting to come together for it and I’m getting really excited for team Fuller to take on the Pan-American Highway in a station wagon (that’s actually what we’re driving). Stay posted on that!

The view from my guest room

My cozy little guest room

On top of a hill overlooking the town and the countryside

I was already at the hair salon with Monica, so why not?

I have to honor of spending each day with these cuddly cuties!

I’ve learned and seen a lot of Santa Cruz and the surrounding area this week, and gotten a lot more comfortable here. All the people I’ve met are genuine and caring, the weather is warm and sunny, and the ambiance is tranquil and inviting. I’m a bit sad that I’m already halfway through my time here. But I still have 2 weeks to enjoy :)

Also, here's the link to the hotel if you're interested in checking out where I've been working and living! http://www.hotelfinnaestampa.com

Besos 

xox