emily's hostmother wrote a children's book and we were invited to the release party. i pictured it like a chic nyc book release party, only on the top floor of a high rise in downtown santiago. it was actually in the cultural center of la reina. we entered through a hallway with very graphic portraits of various bare body parts; there was even a picture of a barbie doll with her legs spread. whatever, it's art. but then we enter a room with children's music playing, tables set up with cookies and cakes and a stage with a whimsical backdrop. kids are filing in, i guess through the porno hallway, and some are dressed in halloween costumes. shortly, a lady comes out and plays us a song on the guitar, and then enter a few kids and an older man in a costume who sit down to be the audience. emily's mom, teresa, had come in with them and she sat down to read the story. but, she only read selected parts. carl and issell bought the book later, and it was a solid 40-50 pages. a children's book. they sang another song, then there was some dancing and then they gave out candy, and as we sat eating it we noticed the costumed man get up and hug the guitar player, then kiss her, then they made out just a little. pda is very common in santiago, but for teenagers on the street who can't makeout in their houses. not in front of kids on sugarhighs. a few minutes later we noticed these adults plus a few more had moved into the courtyard to smoke cigarettes.
cultural adjustment.