I’m not great at getting gifts. I’m good at spurring my family to embark on epic and immersive experiences, and on occasion will bring home flowers or perform other generous tasks. But when it comes to holidays and anniversaries, I’m the worst offender of procrastination in gift-buying or not buying gifts at all. I decided […]

Katie has previously written about mall culture being alive and well in Chile. We’re now living the Christmas mall miracle. The malls are the center of commercial activity in Santiago. The Christmas decorations are out, inventories are piled high, and people frantically rush through parking lots and stores. It’s such a nostalgic experience. It’s remarkable […]

I adore the holiday season. Christmas carols in November, fresh cut Christmas trees, and driving to look at Christmas lights bring me such happiness. A fire in the fire place with just the glow from the Christmas lights is my ultimate happy place. Chile doesn’t do real trees, and I wasn’t going to buy a […]

Katie would tell you I despise waiting in line. I don’t cut lines. I avoid them. When it comes to lines, I often decide I can live without whatever consumer-oriented gratification awaits at the end (e.g. the latest restaurant, a freebie, a game, a celebrity autograph, etc.). I can do without it. In this context, […]

While we were downtown in Santiago, we visited the popular Alice’s tea room, and cafe themed in line with the tale. It was a great experience, with delicious coffee, sandwiches, and treats. I felt I had been there before, as it bore a striking resemblance to Alice’s Teacup in NYC, a cafe with the same […]

Before we left for Chile, I searched many expat forums looking for suggestions on what to bring from abroad. The number one suggestion was any over the counter medication that we might take. So I purchased, Tylenol, Vicks vapor rub, Benadryl, NyQuil, and the kids equivalents and hoped we wouldn’t need them. They have some […]