Back. Feels good...very much like coming home. I returned to Santiago last Friday, and have been spending the last few days decompressing (i.e. doing nothing other than hanging with old friends and listening to some jazz in a very cool club that I didn't know about before). It's felt really good. Not moving, having all my stuff back...

Also a bit sad. I still haven't really got my head around the fact that I'm going back to Alaska in about five days. I doubt I will until I finally get there.

It's not really an end, though. Looking forward to getting back, reuniting with my friends and family, maybe taking a spring ski, some bike rides, playing with my band again (we're all going to be in the same place a the same time, an event that happens once a century). A little after that is fishing in Bristol Bay, and maybe doing some volunteer work for the Obama campaign after that (if it's still around). After that is Apple Hill Music festival with my friend Matt Smith.

And then, of course, I start at Williams College as freshman. I can't describe how excited I am about this--I'm looking forward to the people, the East, and the environment. So I'm not doing too badly right now.

As weird as it will be to go back, it will be equally as strange to leave here, this place where I've spent the last 8 months of my life. When I get back, there will be no one saying "riiiiico" in Spanish, no "po" at the end of everything, and no kissing on the cheek as greeting. Be warned--I might still continue doing this.

Anyway...I hope all of you keep in touch, and I will be seeing many of you shortly. All pictures should be up soon, so check them out!

Love to all of you,

Matt