i've just finished my mid-term report. phew. now all i have to do is practice my presentation until the commission convenes on the 27th. since i've a week to spare, i figure, why not do the practicing in chile's southern archipelagos? i've been wanting to go there all year.

chiloe is the largest island in patagonia after tierra del fuego; its age-old rural traditions have survived centuries of isolation. although current salmon-farming techniques are encroaching on the self-sufficient chilote way of life (the research topic of the friend and fulbrighter i am going to visit), the islanders are trying to strike a balance between the old and the new.

besides having been dubbed a world heritage site for its unique wooden churches, chiloe is rich in mythology, elaborate seafood dishes, and lush, misty landscapes. it also rains there about 90% of the year. i expect to get drenched, but i hear that the rain only adds to the beauty of the island. here's hoping the rumors are true!