Currently back in Chile, got the bus from Mendoza to Santiago, and then immediately headed on down to Concepcion where I am staying with a contact I have been given out here.
Had a very interesting first evening- it was someones birthday and so I was invited to a proper chilean fiesta. As it turned out, the group of people I was with was entirely composed of writers, musicians, feminists and socialists, I was asked soon after arrival to give an account of my political beliefs- I think the wrong answers may have resulted in some sort of excommunication or worse. By the end of the evening we were singing revolutionary songs, the choruses of which contained sentiments such as 'the people untied will never be defeated', and we were all addressing eachother as comrade!
Was actually a really good fun night- they properly know how to party, and even though most people were over 30, they easily lasted till 5 o clock in the morning, whilst I flagged at about 2. I haven't actually had to koin the Chilean communist party yet, but there is a considerable amount of the weekend left, so I don't know if I rate my chances of survival...