Jane took to roller skates during Covid. Katie bought skates for her as something to do, and the interest blossomed from there. She loved the skates so much, she slept in them multiple times. She had hours of practice while lived at the beach, roller skating on the flat roads back and forth to her […]

When the kids attend choir practice on Saturdays, Katie and I walk through Parque Bicentenario. It’s an expansive urban park with fields, trails, and food carts. People partake in activities all over the park. Cycling, walking, roller blading, running, juggling, yoga, dance, karate, soccer, etc. Last weekend, I asked Katie if she noticed a high […]

Wilson and I are the early risers in the family. Wilson rises earlier than I do. On our RV trip around America, Wilson and I would spent the sunrise hour together. We’d leave the Airstream to let the girls sleep. It was a special time for me to slow down to spend this time with […]

I’ve realized through several long duration and long distance adventures that adventures can be boring. Adventures for me are mainly about immersion. Immersion includes: Changes in routine and daily habits Participation in new cultures and subcultures (e.g. backpackers, touring cyclists, Airstream owners) New, unexpected problems, which sometimes require new problem solving skills Testing my ability […]

Our school situation here in Chile was a priority for me. With the kids missing a year of school due to our travels, I wanted them to stay on pace for the easiest reentry possible. Our kids are incredibly bright, creative, and as all bright creatives are – a little ADHD. My first choice was […]

Chile has a trash issue. There’s a lot dumping in public places, especially along highways and in the outskirts of town. Looking beyond the obvious issue though, I see where Chileans outpace Americans in their elimination of single use plastics, reduction in packaging waste, and reduction in plastic bottles. For example, sodas are primarily sold […]

Welp, leave it to me posting about how fine I am without a drier to be smacked down by the gods of humility. I realized at 10:30 last night that Jane and I have lice or piojos. You need to realize, before I get into the situation, when lice went around in both kindergarten and […]

I had no idea that in South America it’s a rarity to have a dryer. Our AirBnB booking indicated there was a drier – there is not, unless it meant the drying rack. But of all the little things that have surprised me, this has been the least impactful. We’ve done a good job of […]

Every Sunday in Santiago, 30,000 people turn out with their bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, and running shoes to enjoy a five hour block of time in which certain roads in Santiago are shut down for recreation. We live within a few blocks of the route, and we had a chance last Sunday to participate. We cycled […]

We’ve mentioned how everything in Chile seems to be a multistep process. Even going to the grocery store requires parking in a deck and getting a time stamped ticket. They you have your temperature taken and hands sanitized before entry. You complete your shopping, sometimes having items unlocked or brought to you. Sunscreen and makeup […]