Santiago de Chile
Regardless of geography, certain rituals are regularly practiced among friends....like ladies' night at the discotheques, Saturday morning yoga or a poker tournament. I miss my regular activities with my San Francisco friends, so when I was invited to join a group in their weekly "fuck-a-thon," I didn't hesitate.
Despite the name, this is not an orgy or anything remotely sexual. Every Sunday, a group of friends hailing from around the world arrive at Andres and Stephanie's apartment to watch movies that "fuck with your mind." Think Momento or The Shining or Inception. Typically the group starts in the early afternoon and continues well into the night with various movies. Popcorn, soda and chips are sustenance for the duration. Occasional stops are taken for bathroom breaks and refilling empty glasses. Discussion flows freely after each movie. It is great way to spend a gray afternoon.
I met Andres (Columbia) and Stephanie (Ireland) on the SPACE tour in San Pedro. They have been living in Santiago since March and were on a short holiday. They, along with their colleagues, are developing companies as part of Start Up Chile. The program is the largest facilitator of new tech companies south of the equator and has attracted entrepreneurs from around the globe. I'm shocked I hadn't heard about it. Perhaps it is fatigue from the Bay Area tech culture that put blinders on me.
The positive energy is wonderful and invigorating. Their company, TheMidGame, is a digital marketing organization that connects bloggers with advertisers to facilitate the sale of advertising space. A Romanian couple, Mauris and Raluca, have started Shape Your Way, a site that connects life coaches with people in need of guidance. Daniel of Honduras, works for a start up in the Bay Area. Everyone has been working intensely for months to transform their ideas forward into successful companies. For someone questioning her profession, it is inspiring to see people who so passionately love their work.
For this "fuck-a-thon," we watched The Game (appropriately set in San Francisco) and the original The Shining. I had seen both movies, but it was great to see them again. Moreover, it was wonderful to be welcomed into such a fun-loving group. Despite being the only native speaker, they were kind enough to converse in English (though Andres has tested my Spanish....I think I did okay). It was fun to talk with Daniel, who commutes via Caltrain into San Francisco every day and understands the Bay Area culture.
Like all good weekend rituals, the "fuck-a-thon" came to an end and the work week (well, for some of us) appeared on the horizon. Hugs and kisses were given all around. For me, it was the perfect way to close out the month in South America.
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