Fuel

You don't have to understand it, just accept it. These words have rung so true in my (Laura's) cluttered brain. A person can accept the fact that food nourishes one body; one doesn't have to know exactly how food breaks down and little enzymes carry the vitamins to nourish us. Unless you are a food scientists, or just really like Wikipedia, one won't be able to easily comprehend the complicated and detailed journey food takes to ultimately be used as fuel for our bodies. The same for Christianity. I don't have to understand why Jesus loves me, just accept His love. Move past the details and focus on the outcome, the fact that He does and will love. We were created to only run on one thing; God. He's the only thing that will ever satisfy, and the only thing we need. We were designed only to be fueled by Him, He that is Love.

Kilometer 25

Bienvenidos a kilometer 25, Puerto Varas aka el sur del mundo. This is where Lala and I (being Carolina, yes emphasis on that last letter) are being kept for the next two weeks. ideally these posts started last week, when we actually arrived, but we were being adventurous piratas and didn't find time for it. anyways, we still love you a lot and want to let you know what we've been up to.

first week summary: eat, fish, eat, ride horses, eat, sleep, eat, explore the rainforest in the backyard, eat, go to the lago, learn how to say "i want a cookie" (yo quiero una galleta) in spanish, eat again, yes really we're just so hungry all the time, especially when its grown in the backyard!

then one day we woke up and decided we really wanted to go to easter island, which is this crazy volcanic island in the middle of the pacific ocean that was just beckoning a visit. apparently they heard about our crazy escapades in puerto varas. essentially, somewhere between 4th century AD and 17th century AD, a bunch of tribes (7) from either polynesia or present-day chile arrived in easter island and somehow managed to carve huge 10 meter statues (maois) from a rock quarry in the middle of the island and transport them to the coasts. these actions were the catalyst for easter island's thriving and only industry, tourism. they also provided plenty of opportunities for exciting pictures. the local language is rapa nui, but everyone speaks spanish. this is where my french came in handy.



right so, we toured around the sites of the various maois, and became friends with about 8 italians. what? it just so happened that in our tour group were four different italian couples who didn't know each other previously. they were really fun and outgoing and we sort of became a family after only two days together.

i think that lala and i were more impressed by the landscape than the actual maois. the juxtaposition of high and low elevation, volcanic rock protruding from the cool ocean water...it was really just ridiculous. there were three volcanoes that originally formed the island and all have since become craters. gradually these craters collected rainfall so they are essentially lakes, with vegetation growing in them. we'll post a picture of it for you. its one of the most unique and incredible things we've ever seen. so i think those sites alone were worth the trip.

the interesting thing is that easter island is actually in the same time zone as new york (and, by extension, raleigh) but it is so incredibly far away, and in a completely different season. (yes, i hereby admit that i got sunburned during my winter break. and lala's is actually peeling, for the first time in her life. i'm thoroughly enjoying the pseudo-snowflakes of skin that keep falling down on me)

now we're back in puerto varas again. which means fantastic food from the backyard! we were welcomed home with an asada (like a roast out) with lamb on a spicket. laura, being vegetarian, thoroughly enjoyed the meal. as did i. no really, that meal was out of control. the next day i decided we should take it easy so i went canopying in the morning and then laura and i embarked on a kayak journey on the lake. but here is the problem. you see, i was paddling and it was great and everything but then i decided that i just wasn't going fast enough. and i was a little confused until i remembered the golden rule of, well life, really: when in doubt, use physics! you get the max amount of force at 90 degrees right so i had to put the paddle in the water at a 90 degree angle! but then there was another problem. its called current. and we were being pushed all kinds of crazy ways so i pulled out that dandy r x f = T equation, and adjusted the radius arms of each side of the paddle so that i would end up going straight. it was really just glorious. the only thing not glorious was the friends that were swarming around my head and haunting my path the entire time...taliban.



yes there are actually terrorists in chile. they are these huge horsefly-like beasts of an animal who come out for 21 days in the summer and wreak havoc on all that is good and right and just in the world. they are immune to all forms of bug spray and really seem to want to be bffls (best friends for life) with lala and me. some people call them 'talbanos' but i think this underestimates the sheer ferocity of their existence and the extent to which they have jeopardized our great american freedoms. but, as you all know, la la and i are both americans, which means...we win. every time. the key is not being intimidated, or ignorant of their ways. you have to understand the enemy before you can defeat him. his language "bzzzz," his mannerisms, his religion and way of life. for some, such understanding might actually lead to peace, but the taliban are just so evil and so opposed to our lifestyles that...they must die. so the first day, i admit, i was intimidated. but then laura schooled me in their ways. they are really slow, especially the old ones (what else is new). so you let them land on you, then you think about every cruel thing they've ever done to you as your hand comes flying down upon them in a gigantic BAM of a slap as they fall to the ground. but the story does not end here. see in every form of darkness there is always a light to be found. yes, we have found something good, even in this definition of all that is evil. you simply tear their heads off, squeeze out their bellies from what remains of their body, and enjoy the sweetest honey snack that has ever, ever, ever, been created! so i no longer see the taliban as my enemy, but as a tasty snack! you know how sometimes during a fight people will say "bite me" or "i could eat you for breakfast"? yes, i actually mean these things. so essentially laura and i have been victorious. and we eat the enemy rather than succumb to his illusive power. by the way i have never in my life even attempted to touch a bug. and now i am snacking on them. its so disgusting yet incredibly awesome all at the same time and i only wish we could all expand our limited horizons a little bit.