When you have the best friends and family in the world it's tough not seeing them for such a long time. I've been doing well about being gone... until today. I didn't have an x-mas stocking at the end of my bed this morning or a sister to wake up or Grandparents to have breakfast with. I didn't have a turkey dinner or watch "A Christmas Story" with the fam in a packed living room. Today, I miss that and I miss them. I miss my friends as well, as they count down the days to New Years and celebrate together. This will be the first time in 5 years that I haven't thrown a party with everyone. While I'm having the time of my life and experiencing new things everyday, I can't help but to appreciate my friends and family back home even more. I love you all very much, happy holidays! 

With all that being said, I'm going to get ready for work while listening to my favorite Christmas song of all times. Mariah, take it away... 

Merry Christmas All,

Gareth Leonard

"Nobody ever gets the flowers while they can still smell 'em"

[My boy Pablo (waiter) & I enjoying the music]

Tuesday was the Private Christmas Party for friends and family at Buller. It was a long crazy night filled with great music, drunk employees and crowd surfing bosses.

With the bar packed with locals my spanish skills were really put to the test. Usually everyone who comes in sits down and orders a beer or cocktail and I give them a check at the end, without intense/rapid interaction. However, on this night everyone was there to just drink and socialize, so I had to step my bilingual game up.

Three things really helped me keep the awkward moments to a minimum. For one, all cocktails and beers were $20 pesos, so as long as I had 20,40,60, etc. down I was okay.  Secondly, We didn't have to serve a lot of crazy cocktails like Mai Tais or Cosmos. Lastly, the music was so loud that I could say "que?" if I didn't understand at first I could get them to repeat it louder (and slower) a few times.

The main attraction however, wasn't my incredible Fernet & Colas. My bosses and the owner's of Buller are great friends with the guys from the band Catupecu Machu. I guess they helped them out a lot when they were first getting started so whenever they are in town they stop in. As described to me, the Foo Fighters of South America... Basically a big f'ing deal I guess. I have to say they put on a great show and played some damn good music. I even took a brief hiatus from slinging bottles at one point to go jump around in the crowd. 

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