Una noche dificil

Ok, I'm going to try to make this quick:

It is now 5 am, and I just got home. I don't want any of you to assume that i'm wasted and only got back because of all the mad partying I've done, quite on the contrary...

The group I went out with was fun, we split into smaller groups and went to a few bars to get a feel for the different types of Chilean night lives that exist... then at the last one (around 1245) some people skipped or didn't pay in whole on the tab. Now, I don't know why I'm the one to do these sorts of things, but I was stuck trying to gather the rest of the money. In the end myself and Zac ended up paying twice our bill in order to cover the charge and tip. I left the place upset...

So the remaining group was trying to figure out how to get home and I was done dealing with them so I decided to go pick up the 401 bus that will run all the way to my place. I left the group and the rest of my night began:

Circa 1 am: I was standing at the bus stop thinking that it was the right place. I listened as best I could to the conversations around me.

Circa 145 am: I'm informed by a well meaning fellow-bus-stopper that I'm on the wrong side of the street and in fact I have to walk a block north and cross to pick my bus up. I run to the stop and make it just as my bus is leaving.

Circa 215 am: I meet a Chilean dude who worked in California for a number of years and spoke excellent Engligh. We hit it off and talked for probably 45 minutes to an hour before deciding to walk toward his place while I try to pick my bus up at another stop as the night schedule is on a as-they-come basis; we talk about how Chile has progressed in the world picture.

Circa 320 am: I finally part ways with the guy and hop the 401 at a later bus stop. After a few minutes I approach the driver saying "perdon, una pregunta. mi espanol is no bueno pero donde esta apoquindo? tomas moro con apoquindo?" I was looking for the intersection of my streets. He said "derecho" meaning straight ahead. 

Ok, this is where I sum up, I got off the bus at the supposed end of the line knowing not the least about where I was, I walk for 15 minutes to a gas station and get general directions w/o understanding the specifics. I end up walking for another 45 minutes or so in a t-shirt (I gave my sweatshirt to a woefully under dressed USAC compadre earlier in the night) in 60 degree weather until I find myself at another gas station. Again I get general directions and walk one way until I find myself practically tripping over a supermarket I recognize. From that point on I back tracked until I reached home 10 minutes later.

Its been a difficult night. I hope my host family doesn't wake me up early.