Shanti, Shanti: Livin' La Vida Loca

Yes, it has been a very long time since I have entered any text into this blog. Life’s ebbs and flows have kept me away, but I thought I should return to update you on a few important things.

Before I start I wanted to summarize the last entry that was uploaded November 14 and then December 18. The 14th one was probably memorable because I spoke about child abuse and a lot of other issues I was addressing while in Chile. The 18th one was basically me saying that sending the 14th one was a complicated decision and clarifying a few things.

Now, three months later I can give you some updates:

---My personal work in Chile was outstanding. I truly took the time to write in a diary, go to therapy, do a hell of a lot of yoga and have a lot of time with friends and fun. Together these activities allowed me to learn more about what is important to me, and how I want to live my life.

---In Chile I also was asked to help out my friend Romina with a project she was working on at the National Network of Kindergartens and Childcare Centers. This work resulted in our co-writing Chile’s national plan against sexual abuse and the maltreatment of children in the kindergartens and childcare centers of the country. It was amazing work and next Tuesday (4th) it is being presented at the Chilean congress, and it is now being implemented nationwide. It felt great to put my public policy skills to work, participate in a project so closely related to some of my growing up issues and help a friend who is an outstanding project manager.

---Chile also brought me the jewels of my travels – more amazing people. Juan Pablo (Juampy), Roberto, Rodrigo, Juan Pablo (Juampa), Manu, Mauricio, Max, Mane, Dulce, Fiore, Nacio were only some of the people that made my time in Chile and especially new year’s so memorable.

---Pepa (Romina’s) partner was my PAPA while in the city. I lived with him and we shared our mutual love for coffee, wine and Romina. He is heaven sent. He is an individual whose heart surpasses the imaginable and connects deeply and easily with you without saying a word. I miss him everyday.

---I also decided to skip Argentina. I had had it with being a tourist and needed to go home, so I left to my best friend Ana’s house in Rio. This was only a sad decision because I really wanted to see Christian, who is Ana’s brother-in-law, while in Argentina.

---Brazil was outstanding. It was the first time in about 15 years that I was there for carnaval. Ana was my carnaval specialist and made sure I made it to all the parties, events and samba schools. I danced many nights away, drank a lot and spend endless days on the beach. This trip was also memorable because three Americans and two Chileans joined me for carnaval itself. Tricia, Tonja and Yolanda from the States and Juampy and Roberto from Chile painted the town with me every night as the pictures will show.

---And, all of these changes made staying in my relationship with Drew impossible. This is perhaps the hardest part of it all. It does not help that I handled our separation quite badly. Drew is an outstanding person that I love very much, and who deserves all that he wants in this world.

---I am now in the United States. I am taking care of my two brothers Mitchell and Christopher while my parents are in Brazil adopting one of m cousins. He is 15 and his name is Jair. It will be a good change in the house, as we grow to 6 in our immediate family. It feels good and a bit funny after having grown up alone with my mother.

BIG NEWS ALERT:

Perhaps the biggest news from me is that I have decided to move to Santiago de Chile. My time in Latin America as I have written before truly moved me, and this is the right time to do it. Here are some reasons:

--Chile feels like home in my soul. Latin America has a texture that agrees deeply with who I am.
--Chile has one of the fastest, if not the fastest growing economy in South America and its internationalization makes it a place that has a global perspective on things.
--Chile’s army is not big enough to go bomb other countries in search of imaginary weapons.
--Santiago is a San Francisco in Latin America. It’s size and feel are perfect for me.
--Santiago is the only city in Latin America that has bikram yoga, a practice I know I need in my life.
--I want to speak a third language fluently.
--I want to be closer to Brazil.

NEED SOME ASSISTANCE:

--No, I do not have a job in Chile. And, well, I don’t even have the right to work right now. The principal way one is allowed to work is through being sponsored by an organization. So, please…

--Send me any and all job possibilities you hear about in Santiago.
--Send me websites or other places where you think I could find a job.
--Contact names for people who may know people who can help me out.

I leave on Tuesday, April 3rd.

Will keep this up from Chile…please ask questions, engage and most of all…know that you now have place to stay when you come visit the Andes.

Kisses,

Julio (Hulio)