watched the lunar eclipse last night on the balcony with jaime and some of his friends. the moon looked like it was slowly being infected by a dark red shadow. the ancient chinese thought it was a dragon swallowing the moon. i like to think of it that way. it sounds a bit more fanciful.

this afternoon, i also dropped by jaime's studio at school to watch him smelt bronze for his latest scultpure. it was fascinating. the amount of energy and heat that is required to melt down metal is astounding: they have to attain temperatures of up to 1000 degrees celcius. by the end, the furnace was spewing bright green flames and its contents glowed white-hot, as if you were staring into the heart of a star. when they poured the liquid metal, sparks and bursts of light and color exploded upon contact, like a blinding miniature fireworks display. smelting...why did i never get to do this at school?

my absentee ballot came in the mail today! there are all these official forms and everything. i'm so excited. i have to research a few judges and candidates before making my choices and sending it in, but it should be out within a few days. that's one more vote against bush, coming through...

i've finally done it! i've found an apartment. it's right off the plaza ñuñoa, a bohemian corner of town with lots of cafes, restaurants, and small markets and specialty stores. i now live with an art student named jaime - his most recent sculpture is the centerpiece of the living room. he attends the universidad de chile, loves to cook, enjoys experimenting with lighting (there are all sorts of different lamps and candles around the apartment), and has a feisty and curious cat named niño. the best thing, though, is that my room has a balcony with a fantastic view of the city and the andes.

ñuñoa is about a twenty minute bus ride from the city center, but is a hotspot for nocturnal life itself. since buses here basically run 24/7, i have constant and easy access to the downtown area (i work there, so that's convenient), but i don't have to go too far to find entertainment if i'm not up to it. i'm really happy with the space i've ended up with. i hope it won't take me too long to settle in...

today i went to "la vega", santiago's central market area, where you can buy the freshest and widest range of vegetables, meats, and seafood...alongside the most random trinkets and handicrafts. the place is absolutely chaotic. it's packed with overflowing stalls, as well as these cramped little kitchens, where you can get cheap, delicious, and piping hot chilean food straight from the hands of the motherly women who operate them. it's quite a scene...and the only place i've been able to find all the random ingredients i need for my cooking (see: chinese food). i think i'll be frequenting it quite often.