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May 18, 2008

No, that’s not jibberish…today is my blirgthday. Just Married Chilean Style was born one year ago to the day!

I just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who has ever taken the time to read, link or comment here, even if it’s just to tell me that I should leave Chile! I love this little online corner of the world so much that I don’t even mind the haters :)

Back in college, I had been harassed on my old Livejournal blog. I was ripped to shreds by people in my hometown because my beliefs are different from theirs…I’m a Democrat, I’m sometimes atheistic, sometimes agnostic, I love gay people, wish they could marry and don’t think they’re going to hell and I don’t think all illegal immigrants should be deported or forced to learn to speak “American.” My feelings were so hurt by nasty comments about those topics, from people I had known my whole life, that I made my blog private and then just eventually deleted it. Blogging had soured for me.

But, after a few non-blogging years, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed an outlet for my frustrations, more than ever once I moved to Chile. So I began this blog because I wanted to be able to publish my posts. Although I didn’t mind if anybody that I had never met before read me, I was hoping that it would stay a secret from people that I know in the flesh and blood. After about a half a year of not telling anybody about it, I “came out” as a blogger to my mom and sent her the link. After that, I told just one or two really close friends that I was keeping a blog. And finally, I decided that I would go all out…I put a link on Facebook. I’m past caring if people judge. I am who I am, I like what I like and I believe what I believe (profound, I know :P ). That’s not going to change. I’ll continue to post my perspectives on the way I view my life.

Any negative comments or emails that I’ve received along the way have far been outweighed by the good stuff that has come my way because of JMCS. Hearing responses from people around the world who have left their home countries and ended up moving abroad to Chile and elsewhere, for love or other reasons, have been so cool! Sometimes I can’t believe that from Japan, to Spain, to Russia to Chile, so many of us expats connect because of the similar emotions and experiences that we’re living. And I’ve also connected with people like housewives, or Chilean sociologists,that I may have never met in the “real world.” Without this blog, the chances are much slimmer that our paths would have crossed.

This blog and the friendships and support that have come along with it, truly enrich my life.

In celebration of the blirgthday, I decided to try something new and I uploaded a video of my night…stormy in Santiago. If you watch, mute it…my voice is annoying.

Facebook comments:

20 Comments

  1. Yay! Happy Blirgthday! Your blog is now a budding toddler. You must be so proud.

    Comment by kirida — May 19, 2008 @ 5:53 am

  2. one year old! now that is cause for celebration :)

    Comment by Emita — May 19, 2008 @ 6:51 am

  3. Happy Birthday JMCS (sounds soooo Sex and the City – SATC)!!!

    It’s been fun reading ya and here’s to another full year of insightful funny creative posts from Ms K herself!!!

    =)
    Fned.

    Comment by Fned — May 19, 2008 @ 9:25 am

  4. Your voice is Kyle and I miss you!! :)

    Comment by EvilJoy — May 19, 2008 @ 11:18 am

  5. Happy Blirgthday! I’m so happy to have found your blog and become blog friends with you.

    Often we US’ans become insular because we’re not exposed to life outside the US and you and a few others keep me from getting that way.

    And who said your voice was annoying? I didn’t think so.

    Comment by Ordinary Girl — May 19, 2008 @ 1:14 pm

  6. You say Blirgthday, I say Blogiversary. Whatever, hope yours was a good one ;-)

    Comment by cube — May 19, 2008 @ 2:46 pm

  7. Happy birthday blog. :)

    Comment by Jonathon Morgan — May 19, 2008 @ 3:25 pm

  8. Your blog is always a good read. Keep posting! Happy B-blog-day

    Comment by Carlos — May 19, 2008 @ 3:46 pm

  9. Happy 1 year mate! Keep on bloggin! xx

    Comment by Kristy — May 20, 2008 @ 12:48 am

  10. Happy Blogday and Anniversary all rolled up into one!

    Comment by Mexico Way — May 20, 2008 @ 10:55 am

  11. well I am one day late but….happy blirgday. I am seriously so happy you started this blog and even happier that I did a blog search for expats (or mixed marriages… can’t really remember). I remember when I found you I went through and read all your archives and I had the impression, from your writing, that you were really mid thirties or so. anyway I also loved seeing the area you live (what a great view) and your voice is so great…I HATE my own voice when I hear it so I know why you think yours is annoying but it sounds great to us who love you!!! oh yeah and tell S. “good job on all the bloggy moral support!”
    Happy Blog Day To You, Happy Blog Day To You…..
    (mine was last month but I didn’t mention it cause I’m shy…hee hee.)

    Comment by Rachel — May 20, 2008 @ 3:46 pm

  12. you rock honey!!! Keep on bloggin’!

    Comment by Girl.Meets.Chile — May 20, 2008 @ 4:03 pm

  13. OH MY GOD THE ALARMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I HAD almost forgotten that sound…

    Comment by Amanda — May 20, 2008 @ 8:12 pm

  14. Belated Happy Blirgthday!

    Comment by Reb — May 20, 2008 @ 11:56 pm

  15. Happy Blirgthday!! I’m so happy that you’re here…

    Comment by Chickenbells — May 21, 2008 @ 10:45 am

  16. Happy blirgthday! :)

    (I hope I spelled that right; I keep checking, and it still keeps looking funny. Heh.)

    Comment by Rebecca — May 21, 2008 @ 12:31 pm

  17. Congratulations on a year and I hope you keep on with it… From my own failed experiments I know how tough it is to keep these things going and I know it’s even harder to actually have anything worth reading posted… Thanks for the window into life down in Chile…

    Comment by blaark — May 21, 2008 @ 2:10 pm

  18. I’m very belated, but what the hell – it’s Chile! Congrats on all you’ve accomplished in this past year :)

    Comment by Emily — May 22, 2008 @ 5:38 pm

  19. Happy 1st year!!!
    You r very brave for having your blog and expressing all your ideas… u r very honest too… thats what I like in (on? from? of?) your blog…
    And your voice in the video sounds absolutely ok! (But I also hate my own voice when I hear it recorded)…

    Comment by Irantzu — May 23, 2008 @ 3:18 pm

  20. Ohh congrats! I love readying your blog!!! Ohh and if you know of any hot spanish guy living in south ga, north Fl let me know, I can use a good tutor!?! :o

    Comment by TD — May 26, 2008 @ 8:45 pm

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