Post written by Andrew Ford. Follow me on Twitter or Subscribe.

Hey guys, BarefootFord.com will always be the place for updates, but over the last few months I’ve also written for other publications and been lucky enough to featured in a couple. Anyway, other then some other social media links and some articles coming out soon in The Arbiter, this is just about every place I’ve been or written for.

Broadcast

Channel 7 News – KTVB of Boise

“Several Idahoans were in South America when the 8.8 quake hit…Boise State University junior Andrew Ford is doing a semester abroad in South America…” More… Video…

Social Media:

The Huffington Post

Live update, photo stream, reports from Chileans and NGO’s Here… Twitter

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Post written by Andrew Ford. Follow me on Twitter or Subscribe.

A chapel was turned into rubble in Santiago, Chile during the earthquake Saturday morning. The resident of the second floor apartment showed the room off to friends and appeared at ease Saturday afternoon, happy to have escaped the earthquake with her life, despite her wall toppling. The death toll rose past 700 Saturday evening as workers sought to rescue more residents.
The country will distribute food and aid to the hardest hit areas, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced Saturday afternoon.

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Post written by Andrew Ford. Follow me on Twitter or Subscribe.

Santiago’s modern downtown buildings danced through Saturday morning’s earthquake unscathed. However, older buildings, including some in Barrio Brasil, were battered by the quake, leaving walls, and interiors destroyed. After buying a 200-year-old home with hopes to restore it, one Chilean man was in disbelief to see his home battered and much of the decor thrown through out the home’s floor.

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Hey just wanted to let everyone know, I’m safe and my building is intact. I’m tired, sweaty and dusty but I am going to crank out some photos as soon as I can. I also have some incredible videos of some of the buildings that haven’t faired so well.

No matter how big a trip is, I always put off packing until the last minute. New York tomorrow? I’ll wake up early and get everything together. Chile in a week? Six more days to enjoy Taco Bell and Pie Hole.
Still, despite my packing habits, I’ve never been far from home without something critical. After a little bit of time away from home, heres a few things I wish I would have brought, and a few things I could have left at home.
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“I sold my piano, It couldn’t come with me. I locked up my bedroom And I walked out into the air.” Washington Square – The Counting Crows

It’s really, really difficult to comprehend how big Santiago is from the ground. Unlike Boise, where in order to see a tall building you have-ta’ look downtown, Santiago’s skyline and population (more than five million) is scattered through-out the city, all 250 square miles of it.

You could try and guestimate the boundaries of Santiago from a balcony, but your only going to see a fraction of Santiago. Your best bet is to join the locals and get up to city of Santiago’s second biggest hill, Cerro San Cristobal.

How to get there:

Take the red or green Metro lines to the Baquedano stop. Leave the Metro station and cross the big nasty brown river, Mapocho ( Not something to show when your parents are in town. It’s as contaminated as it looks.) Once you cross the river take Pio Nono to the base of the mountain.
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Holy crap! I’ve been in Santiago for almost two weeks. I’ve been wondering why it’s feeling so homey. I think half-of-a-month can do that to you.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

1. Santiago is pretty safe. (But that isn’t a guarantee I’ll be immune to getting robbed at some point…) Luckily, in South America’s safest city, getting robbed isn’t usually a gun pointed to your head, but is some grungy teen stealing your purse (man bag?), pick pocketing you on the Subway or just taking 10 mil from you ~$20 US) and being content with that.

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On Saturday and Sunday Chileans joined together to celebrate their 200th Birthday by splashing, singing and shouting across one of Santiagos busiest streets.

Avenue Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, or Alameda as most the locals call it due to one Stretch of the winding road, was twisted off for the celebration of all things getting wet.
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Post written by Andrew Ford. Follow me on Twitter or Subscribe.

“I’m no more than a friend girl, I can see that you need more. My boots are on my feet now, My bag is by the door.”  Pretty Girl from Chile – The Avett Brothers


Santiago, Chile — It’s warm, sunny and there’s a patio covered with grape vines – and grapes – just outside my door. I just got done working on some English homework for an online class and other than being thirsty (and too scared to drink out of the tap, for now) I’m pretty content with where I’m at. Something like red Jello in a cold fridge.

The down-low:

I’m a full-time student at Boise State. With a combination of online classes and internship credits, I can still do everything from use the library at Boise State to ride the bus.

Why using the bus to get around could be difficult:

I’m living, working and writing in South America this semester. So unless Valley Ride expands south, way south, I’m going to have to stick with the Metro system for now. I bought a ticket from Boise to Seattle, Seattle to Atlanta and finally Atlanta to Santiago, Chile. I’ll be living here 5-6 weeks before moving on to Buenos Aires in early March.

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