Undas' Go Italian

The Latin culture is one that sticks with you. It's warm,  touchy-feely, generous and you get kissed a lot so much so that even if you're a wet-blanket, you're really forced out of your shell for with that kiss there's always at least a "Como estas" or how do you do.
  People even open and shut doors for you
 (well,a great majority do). 
I so love this, I love it all
  Although, coming from an Asian upbringing, I have many stories of adaptation.
  This experience I'm living has really opened my eyes to a world that I never dreamed existed.  I'm thankful, grateful,  that I've had the opportunity to live abroad from such an early age, I've always believed that the person I am today is really a product of the choicest I've made,
 take in the good and leave the not so good behind
(  I'm sure I've not necessarily chosen the best at all times, I'm sure my parents would agree)
 -  I'm the person looking through that window,
  I get to window-shop for the things that may add to my life
So below are the things that I've been so "loco", or "crazy" about,  factors that have made my first month in Chile an enjoyable one.

1) There's crazy passionate love - they might be living down the road or a city away,  but they'll call each other up at regular intervals, plan things to do even during the week and generally are very family orientated.  We fall back on family, don't we all?

2) You always feel so loved - you get kissed and you get to kiss everyone ( on the cheeks of course ). That trip around the table is essential when you enter a house - no time for hostility, makes you a better person no? and when you plan to leave you get all that loving again.

3) They celebrate each other - whether it's leaving the country to further studies for 3-6 months or more than a year , people take the trouble -  there will be a party, there's always a reason to party-away in the land of the Latinos!

4) People go-out of their way - you may be a lost soul in the streets of Santiago or Buenos Aires, but people are almost always willing to lend a helping hand and people really try their best to accommodate -Take example,  people will try to speak English when only 2% speak English and that's mediocre English - I always find this very endearing.

5) "Open House" concept - no, not Hari Raya kinda thing in Malaysia,  but what I mean is that people are ever willing to accept people into their homes even if they haven't known each other for long.  Also, at meal times, you can turn up with a whole other family and.... there will be food on the table even if it means fixing something up quickly ! ( this certainly freaked me out the first time)

6) The city never sleeps - well they do eventually, but they really live life, cramming as much as possible in a day. You can find yourself lining up at 11.30pm outside a restaurant for dinner. I certainly lived this one,  I remember being quite hungry and in Argentina at the time.

7) Kids are allowed to be kids- Parents bring up their kids with the notion of "fun" in the background
    - Have you done your homework?  Good,  now go out... , go play !

8) "Once" or tea-time - Turn up at a person's house around 6-7pm and if you're hoping for dinner you'll at least get tea ! Nice no? :)

9) People are not up-tight -  Tell you what, being called a name other than yours isn't always bad - the quicker you get one, the quicker you're in the group ! It's a good thing. We're looking at, Gordito ( little fat boy) to Negra ( black girl ). Gosh I really need to get sorted with one quickly ha ha, though people are quite amused calling me "Macha" which is easier as it's similar to a kind of delicacy here, "Machas a la Parmesana" which translates to," Pink Clam with Parmesan Cheese".

10) Asados- the BBQ's are nice and with no seasoning - there live by the, "no sweat concept" just salt and cook when people arrive.  They have the best cuts I tell you, just imagine all that flavour! Why cover it up?

So there's my top 10 :)

Below are our recent photos from a Unda gathering at 

a fancy Italian Restaurant at Borde Rio, Santiago Chile.
 

This covers my number 1 : Luis's dad shouting us dinner on a Wednesday night , just because  :)   



Borde Rio is fancy enough to bring out those pearls






And take my Gucci Bag for a stroll,

 




The Undas

 



This is the atmosphere around Bordeo Rio - This was around 11pm, people still having dinner, some just arriving





This is Luis all dolled - up for the night.  The shirt from Cuffs, cufflinks and blazer from Hugo Boss, jeans from Massimo Dutti, socks from Paul Smith and shoes and wallet from Alfred Dunhill ( shop much babe? :)







" Everytime we go out, its an opportunity to dress up", by Luis Unda the 4th

  



One for the camera before we called it a night