...into argentina.
that's right. yesterday, at lunch (around 3ish, mind you), my host mom and dad asked if i'd like to go with them and my host sister for a little 'paseo,' which is like a little trip, i guess. they said we we'd be going to 'cajon de maipo,' which i know is about an hour or so away, but i've only heard of people camping there. so, i really had no idea what we were going to be doing.
as it turned out, we were just going for a drive through the andes. it was absolutely beautiful as we drove through, just barely passing into argentinian territory. we saw a volcano, with a glacier covering one part. we left the house at 4ish and ended up getting back at almost 10, just in time for dinner.
not only was it a beautiful view of nature and quality time with the fam, but it was a reinforcement for me of the latin american ethic of relaxation and spontineity. i understand that not everyone is like this, but honestly, the majority is. that is, they just decided during midday, while having lunch with the whole family together, of course, to go for a 6-hour drive for fun. let's be honest, that is foreign to most families in the united states. and, i find it fascinating that they asked me about 45 minutes before leaving and assumed i would accept. in my mind, i had of course planned out the rest of my day! luckily it only included reading, a run, a nap, and more reading, but it was assumed that i hadn't really thought that far in advance.
then today, after family lunch, the kids kind of tried to hurry and leave after about 30/45 minutes to go back to studying in their rooms and my host dad jokingly gave them a hard time, but conceded that since it's not sunday, they could leave the table before we were all done. after they left but before we stayed and talked for another 20 minutes he looked at me and said, "are things always this hurried in the united states?"
i wish.
chao.
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