The Monday after a crazy week of Fiestas Patrias

Hola! It's a lluvioso (rainy) Monday, something to signal the return "back to real life." I just got through my first week de las fiestas patrias de Chile last week. Their "day" of independence from Spain occurs on Sept. 18, but these festive chilenos stretch the festivities for a whole entire week. They seriously drop everything and celebrate for an entire week, NON-STOP. For those who are familiar with the kentuckian life, los chilenos celebrate their "4th of july" more like our derby week. Trade in the mint juleps for lots and lots of chicha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicha) and pisco sours, horse races for el rodeo (note: chilean rodeo is different than american rodeo. In chile, it consists of 2 guasos (horse riders) trying to ram a poor cow into the wall of the ring...really sad actually), oaks and derby parties for fondas (barbeques and carnivals in the park), and derby cups and pins for all the goodies you'll find at las artesanias ("artisan booths", kind of like St. James Art Fair on crack --- in a good way of course). Now imagine all of this maddness for a whole week (Neat fact: in Santiago, last fiestas patrias are celebrated for a week. There's even a law that says all the festivities have to end by 6pm on Sunday. However, if you live in the north, it's tradition to celebrate las fiestas patrias for 2 more days because back then they didn't know that they got their independence until 2 days later). Here's a taste of what I've been doing for a whole week straight:

LA CUECA (the national dance) and EMPANADAS -- godly goodness

CELEBRATIONS IN THE PARK. Word in spanish is called = "Fondas." I went to las fondas en el parque inés suarez y el padre hurtado. However, the chilenos also have a fonda called "Jane Fonda" -- Yes, like the actress. Aren't they so funny.. (sarcastic laugh). Volantines (kites) are a BIG deal in chile. The skies are speckled with them, especially during las fiestas patrias.

ANTICUCHOS - OMG, TOTALLY ADDED TO MY LIST OF FAVORITE CHILEAN FOODS -- it has LARGE chunks of meat, fried onions, sausages, and a piece of bread all on a stick

Anyway, all in all, this week was a huge success, lots of fun! I feel a whole lot more chileno now. Every single day we did something to celebrate las fiestas patrias. However, I also took advantage of the week off of classes and some friends and I traveled south to Pucón (on the map, it's a little south of Temuco -- about a 13 hr bus ride from Santiago) from Monday to Thursday. There I climbed el volcán Villarica (however, didn't get all the way to the top. Only half-way, but still an accomplishment! It took about 4.5 hours just to get to the middle of the volcano and was another 2 hour hike to the top. One of the hardest things ever. Volcano 9340 ft, covered in snow and ice), one of the most active volcanoes in Chile, went biking, canopying, and sat en las termas de Trancura (termas= natural hot water from the volcano).



Life has been good so far, I think I'm finally adjusting to chilean life here. My host family is doing well, except for the fact that our dog, "La reina" got a hernia on Saturday, so we've been very preocupado con her. She's doing a little better, hopefully the medication is enough to make her feel better so that she doesn't have to get surgery. Too bad health insurance for pets doesn't exist because all the x-rays, emergency visit on Saturday night, y medicamientos are racking up!

All right, I never know how to end posts on my blog. Oh well, until my next post, chao chao!
Angela



oh yeah, just thought I might leave this here if anyone's bored, want to send love from the states? HINT HINT.
Angela Cao
c/o IES Abroad Santiago
Barros Borgoño 159
Providencia, Santiago, CHILE
750-0513