The year in pictures.

The New York Times, as well as many other highly respected news sources, does an annual year in pictures at (you guessed it) the end of each year. I'm joining the trend. Behold, 2008 in the life of Allie..... stuff was done.

The year started in Seattle with a New Years Eve Underwear Party at Nelly's house...

I held a goodbye party at my apartment before I moved to Chile. In a cathartic attempt at enlightenment, I gave away most of my stuff. I tried to give away those shoes, but everyone at the party said that we were meant to be together. I guess that they are now sitting in a box somewhere. I don't really remember... Also, Aaron, my shoe eating photo companion, moved from Seattle back to his former home of Minneapolis. So, who knows if I will ever see him again. Sad thoughts.

I arrived in Chile at the end of February, just in time to catch the end of Southern Hemisphere summer. A spent the better part of a mostly jobless month reading on the beach, trying not to spend money.

I met my first friends, Julie and Eoin, and began to settle into the awkwardness of expat life in Chile. We got bored, we amused ourselves by making clothing out of a phone book... Julie and I also took up knitting, gained a mastery of the local public transportation system and tested out some new recipes.

I taught English to adorably darling little children, intolerable teenagers, and some truly wonderful adults. I've worked with every type of student from a hotel maid to a Congress woman, beginners to the annoyingly advanced.


Jenn won the prize of first friend to visit me in Chile. She's actually come twice and is scheduled to return in February 2009. Yay for Jenn love! Her reoccuring presence has truly brightened my year!

I did a bit of hibernating and I was forced to discover the true genius in the design of the turtleneck sweater. As we've previously discussed, central heating hasn't made it big in Chile yet...


I explored Valparaiso, the most fabulously eclectic city I have been privileged to visit.

I moved from Vina to Valpo. I climbed a lot of hills...

I almost died (a few times), but I have overall maintained good health, perserverence, and something resembling sanity throught 2008. That's more than I can say for 2007!

Stay tuned for more adventures! Chau chau!

Besos and a happy new year,
Allie